For a few years now Specialized have produced quality electric mountain and hybrid bikes. Year on year has seen the motor and battery technology developed to give more efficient power and greater range. The Specialized Turbo bikes now have a new sibling - The Turbo Creo SL. This incredible road e-bike looks and performs as you’d expect a top-end non-electric road bike to perform. As Specialized put it… It’s you, only faster!
So what makes the Turbo Creo such a special bike? For starters, Specialized has put all their road bike development know-how into producing the Creo SL. Each model features the Specialized FACT 11r carbon frame (the Expert EVO, designed as a gravel and adventure bike has more clearance for wider tyres). The FACT 11r carbon frame gives the Turbo Creo SL a proud boast - lightest e-bike in its class, being literally KGs lighter than its competition. It’s also unbeatably stiff, so throwing the bike into corners and accelerating out feels as good as it would on a conventional, top-performing road bike.
Obviously a light bike makes climbing hills easier, but with the Turbo Creo SL, you have the added assistance offered by the lightweight SL 1.1 motor (only 1.95kg). This smooth, 240-watt unit is, not only light but incredibly quiet (shussssh quiet). It delivers full power between a pedal cadence of 60-100 rpm and offers assistance up to 25km/h. The internally mounted 320Wh battery gives a range of 130km with an optional range extender giving an additional 65km (the range extender is included with the S-Works model). And when the time comes to re-juice the battery, a short charging time of 2.5 hours, gives a very quick turn-around, so you won’t have to wait long to get back out and up those hills.
Specialized also have their Mission Control App so that the power delivery and battery management are all at your fingertips. But if you don’t want to connect, the Turbo Creo SL has an integrated Turbo Connect Unit (TCU) on the top tube to ensure you still have control.
Each model is also fitted with the Specialized Future Shock 2.0 to reduce fatigue, no matter what terrain you want to tackle. The Future Shock has a control knob on the stem which can be adjusted from fully-open to stiff and hydraulically-damped internals controlling rebound.
As for spec, Specialized have ensured each model has wheels, gearing, braking and finishing that you’d expect a top-end road bike to have. The S-Works model is fitted with Roval CLX 50 Disc carbon wheels and includes Dura-Ace Di2 11 speed gearing with a Shimano XTR rear mech. Dura-Ace hydraulic disc brakes keep the beast tamed when you need to shave some speed. The bars are S-Works Carbon Hover Drop and the seatpost is S-Works FACT carbon with a 20mm offset.
The Turbo Creo SL Expert, as previously mentioned, comes with the same quality frame, motor, battery and Future Shock 2.0 with Ultegra Di2 11 speed, Shimano XT rear derailleur and Ultegra hydraulic disc brakes. They’ve fitted Roval C38 Disc carbon wheels to the Expert with alloy Expert Hover bars and Body Geometry Power Expert saddle.
Specialized have also realised that more and more cyclists are enjoying the adventure offered by gravel biking and this is where the Turbo Creo SL Expert EVO comes in. The Expert EVO shares the same frame, wheel-set, gears, brakes and Future Shock as the road version but comes with Specialized Adventure Gear Hover, flared bars and X-Fusion Manic dropper seatpost with 50mm of travel. With clearance for wider, gravel coping, 38mm Pathfinder Pro tyres, the Expert Evo also has the ability to take 650b wheels for even wider tyres, should you want to rough it a little by taking in some gnarly single track. It’s longer wheelbase, raked-out fork and lower bottom bracket will ensure you keep control with increased stability even at higher speeds.
No matter which model you choose, the Turbo Creo SL is sure to put a smile on your face, even when faced with steep inclines. Once again, “It’s you, only faster” and possibly happier.
