If you’ve ever stopped by our brick-and-mortar shop, you’ve probably noticed and played with the wide array of intricate, interactive, and eye-catching displays we have to showcase products. That shopping experience wouldn’t be possible without our Sales Floor Manager, and man behind the magic, Evan. EK goes above and beyond to create an environment that bring products to life, both visually and physically. Grips you can grab, derailleurs you can shift, brakes you can squeeze, hubs you can ratchet, and even pedals you can stand on—not to mention he's an encyclopedia when it comes to anything related to MTB parts. Evan’s approach to tactility in our retail space transforms the experience into something truly unique.
The Kraus-inator is always on it, making sure our shop stays fully stocked with parts and gear—but when he’s off the clock, he’s out ripping around our incredible local trail systems on his Levo 4. To make the most of every ride, he built a custom Turbo Levo e-bike with top-shelf components, turning it into an ultra-plush 850W hot lap machine.
BIKE DETAILS
Frame: S-Works Turbo Levo [Gen 4]
Size: S4
Shock: Rockshox Vivid Coil Ultimate RC2T w/ 550lbs Spring
Fork: Fox 38 Performance Elite w/ Vorsprung Smashpot Coil Conversion (55lbs)
Wheels: Roval Traverse HD Carbon // DT Swiss 350 // DT Swiss Competition Race Spokes
Tires: Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial Gravity 29x2.5 [Front] // Schwalbe Albert Radial Gravity 27.5x2.5 [Rear]
Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle Transmission E-Mtb Groupset // Hope ISIS E-Bike 155mm Crankset w/ 34T Chainring
Brakes: TRP EVO PRO // TRP S05E Rotos 220mm [Front & Rear]
Cockpit: OneUp Carbon E-Bar 35mm Rise, 800mm Wide // Burgtec MK3 Stem 42.5mm // Deity Supracush Grips
Seatpost/Saddle: OneUp V3 Dropper 210mm // Wolftooth Remote Pro // Specialized Power Pro Mirror 143mm
Pedals: Wolf Tooth Waveform
LET'S CHAT WITH EVAN
Evan on his Eeb! Your e-bike is pretty sweet, what made you choose to build up this custom Turbo Levo over other e-bikes?
For me it really comes down to performance, quality, and support. I feel like Specialized has invested a lot of time into R&D in the now booming e-bike category. They’ve got lots of resources, the tech is all in-house, and they really stand behind what they make. Having that peace of mind—knowing how much can potentially go wrong with electronics—gives me the confidence that I can get out for a ride, have fun, and not be worrying about the bike.
These newer Levo 4’s feature one of Specialized’s strongest Brose motors and a super intuitive user interface–a system that has proven to be fast, reliable, and very user friendly. What are some of your favorite elements of Specialized’s e-system?
I think the reliability, smoothness/quietness...but most noticeably for me is how predictable & natural the power comes on. Specialized has clearly spent a lot of time working with the torque sensor on the new Gen 4 'bro•suh' motors hahaha gotta say it right. The Gen 3 motors were great to me, but there were some times when I'd look down at the data screen because something felt off and I would notice some funky power numbers. Usually on very long climbs in turbo.
With the new motors I don't have that problem at all, it puts out very consistent power numbers, even when the battery is sub 20%, and is totally predictable and smooth. The overrun is also a lot smoother now too, which makes a big difference riding here in Bellingham, especially in the winter with all the wet, slick roots because the power disengages way more naturally. It honestly just feels better than any other e-bike I’ve ridden.
The new power update for the Gen 4 Turbo Levo was just announced, have you updated your bike yet? How does it compare?
Oh yeah, on the day it was released. Took it out for the commute to work the next day over Galby and WOW! The 850 watts really woke the motor up. A completely different ride while climbing in the steeper and technical sections, in a very good way, and the already smooth drop off in power when hitting the speed limit got a bit better. Still felt very natural in the power delivery even with the major increase in power.
Let’s dive into your components a bit. If you had to pick one part you can’t live without on your Levo what would it be?
The Vivid Coil! This bike is kinda heavy because of the massive 840wh battery. Having that buttery smooth coil shock definitely keeps my tires planted in steep techy terrain and I think is a very noticeable advantage over any air sprung shock.
Sounds like you really enjoy the RockShox coil, yet you opted for a Fox fork up front–what made you choose these two different suspension products?
I wanted to try the vivid coil and it certainly lived up to all the hype! And my Smashpot Fox 38 has been flawless and reliable. A fully coil sprung rig is quite the luxurious ride!
Rocking the TRP EVO Pro brakes I see, how do you feel they perform with the added weight and inertia of an e-bike?
I'd say they are not for everyone with big E-Bikes, but I really like them. I think most people would prefer something like a Sram Maven for some more bite and power on a bike like this.
But, I love the ergonomics of the new TRP lever blade, and love that you have to pull for the power. I have always liked brakes that require a bit more effort for braking power and aren’t so touchy. I feel like I have way more control over my braking power than the on/off feel of a touchy brake, even on a heavy E-bike. It may add a bit more forearm fatigue to the ride, but it's worth if for me for the gain in bike control through technical terrain.
Some people like having the extra weight of an e-bike because they feel it helps keep the bike planted on the trail. Do you agree with that opinion or would you rather your e-bike be as light as an analog bike yet still have the full power it has now?
Can’t it be both?! Yes, I love the planted bike feeling. It definitely changes the way you ride and inspires lots of confidence. But there is something to be said about the playfulness of lighter bikes that is keeping them relevant despite all the power of these new motors. But like I said, "can’t it be both?" and I think it can. These new Gen 4 Levo’s have a few different battery combinations. I can swap in the 600wh battery if I want to lighten my bike up a bit.
What are 3 of your favorite things about riding your e-bike vs. your analog bike?
Time, Motivation, Commuting.
Not enough time for a regular ride? Squeeze in a ride on turbo!
Freezing temps? Bundle up and turbo up that climb!
Got a world class trail system between home and work? Ride in over the mountain, work 9+hrs on the sales floor, then ride back home over the mountain!
How often do you ride your analog bike? Do you think it still has a place in your garage after owning an e-bike?
My analog bikes still have a place in my garage, they are so fun and playful! I usually want to maximize my fun per hours when I'm out riding, so the E-bike gets picked most days. The E-bike makes me feel like when I was a kid with no full time job and have more time—I can get multiple laps on my rides. I have a pretty ideal bike-to-work commute up over Galby, which I couldn't do on an analog bike. So yeah, I still have an analog bike but I’m definitely E-biking way more.
If you could magically get a battery that would never run out of charge on full turbo mode, where would you take your bike? What kind of massive ride would you do?
I’ve already got something close to that battery! 840Wh plus a 280Wh range extender gives me 5+ hours in Trail/Eco mode. But with “infinite” charge and power, I’d probably plan a huge route all around Lake Whatcom. I’d start at Brown Pow, then go to the Y Road trail system for a couple of laps, then head into town through Whatcom Falls Park to my favorite hot dog spot in Bham—El Capitan’s. After that, I’d take some of my favorite Galbraith trails all the way back to my home in Sudden Valley.
