The idea is that the very lucky rider (especially so considering the $3,800 price tag) who receives a Levo SL HT will be better equipped to keep up with their parents or other older, stronger, riding companions on longer rides.
• Aluminum frame
• 100mm fork
• 24″ wheels
• Specialized SL 1.2 motor; 50 Nm torque, 320 W power
• 320 Wh battery
• Weight: 36.6 lb (16.6 kg)
• MSRP: $3,800 USD
• specialized.com
I don’t have kids of my own, but I’ve spent enough time riding with my niece and nephew to know that the struggle is real – even just getting to the top of a small hill can end up feeling like an epic endeavor, especially when the tears start flowing and no amount of candy bribery can stop the meltdown. The Levo SL HT doesn’t come with a no-tears guarantee, but I imagine it’ll help reduce the likelihood of a trailside tantrum.
And yes, I’m sure that the mere existence of this bike will cause some outrage. “Kids these days have it too easy. Why, back in my day our bikes had cantilever brakes, tubes in the tires, and we rode uphill both ways. In the snow…” Keep in mind that Specialized isn’t the first company to offer a kids eMTB – Commencal, Woom, and Scott, among others have had one in their lineups for years.
Personally, I’m really curious to see the progression of riders that have access to an e-bike at a young age. Do they end up totally shunning non-motorized bikes, or does it become another option, a way to mix things up when they’re not on a regular bike? Is it a gateway to dirt biking? Or do they just end up forgetting about mountain biking altogether in favor of TikTok dances or whatever the latest teen craze is?
Getting back to the bike, there’s only one size, which has a 365mm reach, a 66-degree head angle with a 100mm fork, and 420mm chainstays. According to Specialized, the low standover height should allow the bike to accommodate riders between 48” – 60” tall (122 -152 cm), or approximately 6-years-old and up.
The parts kit consists of a RockShox Reba fork, SRAM Level T brakes, and an 11-speed NX drivetrain. 24” alloy rims are mounted up with 2.35” wide Specialized Ground Control tires, and there’s an 80mm Trans-X dropper post. The frame is available in three colors – Gloss Blaze, Gloss Oak Green, or Satin Black.
In conjunction with the launch of the Levo SL HT, Specialized is also donating hundreds of kids bikes and helmets to various local organizations. They issued the following statement:
“Specialized believes that kids hold the power to create our future and are dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling. With the introduction of their first ever electric mountain bike for kids, their focus was to not only expand the horizons of mountain biking, but to support greater access to the love of riding for all kids. To do so, Specialized is donating over 500 kids bikes and helmets to local organizations so that youth can harness the cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical well-being benefits of cycling.”
Photos: Harookz / Specialized