LevoSL quandary

Do you have somewhere secure to lock it at work?

Yes……

I'm one ride in on a comp carbon... I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with it tbh. The weight I bet you don't notice, I can jump it over a fence no problem, it doesn't feel that much heavier than the bike it's replacing (cotic jeht.) The fork/shock I'm happy with. I had ccdb il and a fox 36 with all the hlr/lsr etc adjustments before and tbh I never felt that happy with either end. The more simplistic set up suits me better and I already think it feels nicer! I have test ridden a bike with axs, and I'd quite like that..... But I'm happy not paying for it!!

If you get the comp for £2200 via c2w, that is a proper bargain

Thanks for that. TBH riding factory and rhythm (2019) models back to back on old bikes (which are now the kids, hence a nice new bike for me ?) I did notice a bike difference across bumpy roots but not to much on smooth bike park so I think factory or performance elite is a worthwhile updgrade for me….. but the cost of replacement chains and cassette for AXS are mental and it the derailleur breaks!

Btw.... I can't jump it over a fence..... That's meant to say "hump" it over a fence, as in pick it up!! I can't jump a bloody thing, but that's not the bikes fault

You can get fox factory forks dirt cheap at the moment. If that’s the thing you want most Just buy a set and flog the basic ones it comes with. I did just that earlier in the year. Factory upgrade cost me c.£350 difference.

But I would probs just go for the Pro spec… better and more adjustable shock, better brakes, considerably better everything for only an extra grand after tax.

For that price difference I'd be getting the pro, had a budget orbea rise before and the spec on it did my head in, wooden feeling forks, dull transmission. On a high spec levo sl now and it's definitely preferable but it really depends on you and what your taste is.

I e not looked at full specs, but AXS is brilliant and makes a lot of sense on an ebike

The only thing that wwould UK’s potentially put me off are carbon wheels but will bow to those with more experience of them than me. My ebike is 2 months old and the black alloy rims are already scratched just from hitting rocks at wrong angles or lifting the bike over stuff. Alloy can scratch just not sure how carbon deals with similar?

Get the better spec you won’t regret it and it saves more money than going upgrade as you are doing it via SS

Get the better spec and some cheap(er)  wheels to go with it. If you buy a cassette and rotors too you can chop and change at will depending on what you’re planning to ride.

I bought a lower spec bike and then spent loads upgrading it to SWorks level but ultimately without the benefit of the sworks frame, so next time round I just bought the sworks and it will save me money in the long run (that’s what I told Mrs OS anyway! ) …

carbon wheels aren’t necessary for my standard

What does this mean? Do you mean you won't notice the benefits or that you'll destroy them in the first rock garden you'll plough through?

It means, I ain’t the best mountain bike rider. I don’t make all the jumps and have an affinity for hitting square edges hard. My favourite is heart break ridge in ballater - can’t get any more rim crushing rocks?

That's some commute you have if you need a bike like that to get to work.

That’s the weekend commute. The weekday is far harder 🙂

But I would probs just go for the Pro spec… better and more adjustable shock

Fyi, the Fox Float X Performance fitted tocthe Comp model is a triumph of marketing.  It has the exact same adjustments as the Factory model including comoression damping - it just has a black plastic blanking plug fitted. The blue knob is avsialble from fox, chuck it on and boom fully adjustable shock.

So you could get a Pro for less than the price of the non discounted Comp....

Is this really a question?

Might be able to help. I was lucky enough to get a couple of days free loan of an SWorks last year. Very nice bike, but then I borrowed a Comp Carbon and thought…..Oh, hang on, this shouldn’t be this good!! I could tell the main difference between the two was in the wheels. The electric gears on the higher spec bikes are nice, until water ingress or stick in mech happens.

Unlike previous Specialized Carbon frames, the Carbon Comp has the same layup as the SWorks, only difference is the shock yoke material on the SWorks.

I bought an ex demo Comp Carbon last spring. Upgraded the wheels and immediately, the bike felt so close to the SWorks. Swapped to handlebars to OneUp carbon for personal preference.  Previous bike was a high spec Orbea Rise, and the Comp Carbon Levo SL is in a different league.

As someone has already mentioned, the shock on the Comp is a hidden gem. I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by the Rhythm fork - just find the right balance of tokens for your weight and bingo, it’s great (no faffing around with the four different damping adjusters on the Factory either;))

For context, I’ve been riding bikes off-road for over 40 years, and have a bad bike acquisition habit, so been through a lot of bikes!

Yes...

The expensive one then  🙂

I'm not convinced HR is a rim breaker by any means. Certainly compared to the big routes round there...

Yep the frame on the comp is pretty nice, (gross, colour not withstanding).

I'm only 3 rides in but enjoying it. Swapped my 36 factories on. I do use the grip 2 adjustments so its worth it, touch lighter too but the Rhythm are a great feeling fork. Got the knob to add to the shock.

Swapped to my one-up dropper and fitted my hope brakes, plus my Hope/ DT wheels. Already knocked a chunk of weight off.

If you have some nice parts 'in stock' and/or reckon you'll prefer it on full 29 then I'd say get the comp and upgrade it. Cant go wrong with eithet though - no point paying for a carbon mullet wheel your not going to use.

Thanks everyone! So the consensus is go for the Comp, upgrade the wheels, handlebars (carbon bars is always a necessary upgrade for me) and potentially the fork…. Almost the cost difference between the Comp and Pro for me and I get AXS for free

If it was me I would go with the Pro. We have a SL carbon comp that has been upgraded to S Works spec. With shopping about, what we had as spares and selling the stuff on its still not a cheap option

I was also lucky to pick up a S Works Turbo Levo at half price. I've clattered the carbon wheels all over the UK and Europe including Hearbreak Ridge. There are some marks on them but still going strong.

For the difference in price you have said it would be a no brainer for me

As an Alloy comp owner  (so not swayed by bling) I'd get the comp as I'd not be happy with carbon rims or the cost of drivechain maintenance on the pro. The rhythm fork is decent if serviced, if you don't like it there are some good deals on factory and PE forks, or perhaps fit a Marzocchi coil kit. The only things I'd do in day one (apart from tubeless)  are to service the fork and fit a gravity rear tyre or insert. Either way they are great bikes!

Get the Pro and IF the worst happens to the AXS kit, there’s nothing stopping you replacing it with mechanical at that point.

Can you get a deal on the Expert Carbon? It sits between the Pro and the Comp and has Performance Elite suspension, GX AXS and better brakes etc than the Comp. I have one and thought it was the sweet spot in terms of spec. My concern with the Comp was the number of parts that I might have ended up upgrading/replacing and my understanding is that the Rhythm fork can't be upgraded so if I didn't get on with it I'd have had to replace it. The Pro seemed a bit over-the-top in terms of spec e.g. kashima, carbon wheels, XO1 AXS etc. Having said that if the Expert isn't an option I'd go with the Pro, especially at the price you are being offered. It might also be worth try to get a deal on a range extender at the same time, depending on the type/duration of the rides you intend to do.

The expert carbon would have been a good choice but it is the same price as the pro! No brainer to go for the pro!

definitely getting a range extender!

For that price go with the Pro.

Have an original carbon Comp, rhythm forks where rubbish upgraded to 2nd hand 36 factory's.