Total Weight:
49.5 lbs (22.45 kg)
Battery Weight:
8 lbs (3.62 kg)
Frame Material:
Specialized M4 Aluminum Alloy
Frame Sizes:
16.5 in (41.91 cm)18 in (45.72 cm)19.5 in (49.53 cm)21 in (53.34 cm)Geometry Measurements:
Small 16.5" (420 mm Seat Tube Length, 746 mm Stand-Over Height, 584 Top Tube Length, 1079 mm Wheelbase, 580 mm Handlebar Width), Medium 18" (460 mm Seat Tube Length, 783 mm Stand-Over Height, 602 Top Tube Length, 1097 mm Wheelbase, 580 mm Handlebar Width), Large 19.5" (500 mm Seat Tube Length, 814 mm Stand-Over Height, 615 Top Tube Length, 1111 mm Wheelbase, 580 mm Handlebar Width), Extra Large 21" (540 mm Seat Tube Length, 847 mm Stand-Over Height, 635 Top Tube Length, 1131 mm Wheelbase, 580 mm Handlebar Width)
Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Satin Black
Frame Fork Details:
RockShox Paragon Suspension with 50 mm Travel and Remote Lockout
Attachment Points:
Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses
Gearing Details:
10
Speed 1x10 SRAM X7, 11-32TShifter Details:
SRAM X7 SL Triggers on Right
Cranks:
Aluminum Alloy 175 mm, 48 Tooth Front Chainring
Pedals:
Aluminum Alloy Platform
Headset:
Ahead, Cartridge Bearings, Alloy Top Cap, 8 mm Cone Spacer
Stem:
3D Forged Aluminum Alloy, 4-Bolt, 7-Degree Rise
Handlebar:
Specialized Stout XC, Flat Bar, Double Butted 6061 Alloy, 9-Degree Backsweep, 4-Degree Upsweep, 31.8 mm Length
Brake Details:
Formula C1 Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm Rotors, Dual Piston, Formula C1 Levers with Rubber Knubs
Grips:
Specialized Body Geometry XCT, Dual Compound, Lock-On
Saddle:
Body Geometry Targa, Hollow Cr-Mo Rails, Integrated Backlight
Seat Post:
Specialized, Aluminum Alloy, 2-Bolt, 12.5 mm Offset
Seat Post Diameter:
30.9 mm
Rims:
Aluminum Alloy Double-Wall, Pin Joint, 36 Hole
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 2.3/2.0/2.0 mm
Tire Brand:
Specialized Trigger Sport, 700 x 47c
Wheel Sizes:
28 in (71.12cm)Tire Details:
Blackbelt Puncture Protection
Tube Details:
Presta Valve
Accessories:
4 Amp Charger (Weighs ~4.5 lbs), Optional 1.6 Amp Charger (Weighs ~1.3 lbs), Replacement Battery Pack $800, Reflective Downtube Graphics, Optional Matching Rear Carry Rack and Fenders, Bell Near Left Grip
Other:
Locking Removable Battery Pack, Self Diagnostic System LED Readout When Powered On, Throttle Mode ~12 mph (Hold Up on Joystick, Once Flashing Hold Up Again, Bike Must Be Moving to Activate), EnergyBus Magnetic Charge Port on Battery, Battery Packed by Simplo (Does Apple's Stuff, High Quality), Battery Stops with 4% at Top and Bottom to Avoid Straining Cells
Jesse Diller
9 years agoI’ve had my Turbo X for about 2 months now and have a little over 300 commuting miles on it. What an insane piece of engineering. The bike is an absolute joy to ride and I look forward to getting on it every morning and evening on the way to and from work. Pretty spoiling to be able to arrive at work without being covered in sweat. A truly beautiful machine and one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Looks are great – performance is phenomenal. Bikes like this have the potential to positively change transportation in urban environments.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoWonderful to read your post Jesse! I feel the same way about ebikes in general and the Turbo X is one of my favorites… are you enjoying the suspension or feel that the rigid frames would be fine? This is something I get asked a lot. Also, what’s your average riding speed and maybe the top assisted speed you achieve regularly?
ReplyJesse Diller
9 years agoGood questions. I was initially totally set on needing front suspension (thus the X model). There are a few rougher road sections on my commute, and I felt that if I was going to be riding at faster speeds the suspension would be critical. The bike has a nice front fork lock-out lever on the bar so it’s simple to engage and disengage depending on upcoming road sections. When the fork is unlocked I lose some speed – so at this point I typically leave it locked out unless the road is really bad. After riding it for a bit here – If I was making the purchase again I don’t know if the front suspension would be as critical to me. Overall nice to have. I typically cruise flats at around 20-24 mph. Can clearly push more (have ridden at 28) but my top priority is arriving safely so I typically just take it easy.
Juan Agudelo
8 years agoHey Court I love the e bike movement we are heading on. I have had my turbo x for over a year now and it’s awesome to say the least. You are an expert so I wanted to ask you if you think it would make a significant difference if I bought a faster specialized hub motor (specialed turbo S motor) and installed it into my turbo x? I just would like that extra torque up hills on my long commute to work everyday and to maintain 28 mph easily instead of getting a real work out to stay at 24-25mph. I know that this will drain turbo x battery faster but I feel like it’s always above 50% because I have charged at work and at home.
I have called specialize and they believe it is possible but it comes with a price. So again, will it make a significant difference in speed or does $1300 for 4-5 extra miles per hour and some torque not really make a difference for the price.? Thanks
Al
9 years agoJust bought this bike last Saturday. Been commuting to work on it and it’s been an absolute joy. I easily hit 20mph+ on the flats and I can maintain 18mph on hills. My commute is fairly short (9 miles), but I get to work and I still have 75% battery left. When I get home I have usually about 54% left.
With the travel charger (I’m soon going to buy), I don’t think a bigger battery is necessary. I noticed the specialized website has two battery versions you can buy that have many more cells. Mine cost $3k, but doesn’t have the suspension. The specialized salesmen told me it was the 2016 model, but I’m skeptic (seems the price is low almost to good to be true). Under my bike it says 2015, but the sales guy later said specialized makes builds their bike a year ahead. What do you think?
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Al, thanks for sharing your experience with the Turbo! Maybe you have the standard Turbo if there’s no suspension fork… what color is it? I heard that the capacity of the battery cells increased for 2016 so maybe the number of cells is the same but the battery technology has improved and that’s how you get more range and also why it costs more. What are the volt and amp hours listed on your pack, they might be printed on the casing? Also, do you mind sharing the frame size you got along with height and weight to help put the range you’re getting into perspective for people?
ReplyAl
9 years agoI’m on vacation right now but I’ll look at the battery when I get back and I’ll report. The bike is a medium size frame and I’m 5 ft 8inches and about 155lbs. The color of the bike is like a darker silver. The tires are slick and the head light is on the lower part of the front of the bike and not on the handle bars like the one your review is about on this page.
Cub
9 years agoBought a 2015 Turbo X three weeks ago when Specialized put the 2015s on sale and have ridden over 300 miles – haven’t missed a day. What a blast!!! I’ve been riding for over 30 years and done my share cross country rides. Climbing a hill just became effortless! Agree with Jesse and everyone else – this is a beautiful piece of engineering and takes the bike to the next level. Does anyone know how long Specialized intends to make the Turbo with the Go Swiss hub motor? I see the2016 Levo moved to a crank motor and would want to invest in the newest version of battery and hub motor before they get out of production. I attached a rear rack and new seat, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing. BTW – EBR has been a huge asset. You do a great job and the in depth look at the e bike market is excellent. I’ve been looking at this technology for years and Specialized definitely hit the mark. Thanks
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoThanks Cub! Glad to hear this website helped you out, I do my best to present good images and video with some personal insights in the reviews. I love the Turbo models and appreciate the Go SwissDrive for sure… it has many advantages over mid-drive for urban riding and I haven’t heard or seen any deviations from this design or technology to date so I wouldn’t expect to see a mid-drive motor on a Turbo. Same thing with Stromer, they chose a gearless hub for how quiet and smooth it is (along with regen) whereas the mid drive system is good for torque and efficiency when climbing off-road :)
ReplyKathryn look
8 years agoI love this bike also. I have the Turbo X 2016 model. I ride 25-30 miles a day. Everything that has been said is true. It’s comfortable, stable, ergonomic, fast. However, I am on my third battery since i purchased it in May. I have close to 1,000 miles on it. The vendor knows nothing about the bike. They have to call specialized and that sucks if you have a problem on the weekend because no one is available to answer questions. I’m so disappointed.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoOuch, which shop did you get it from? I’m assuming it’s a Specialized dealer since most of their bikes are sold exclusively that way… I thought each dealer was supposed to be trained to help but even then, if they don’t have spare parts in stock I can see how it would be frustrating to wait for fixes. Especially when you want to get out and ride for fun on weekends! Thanks for the update Kathryn and sorry to hear about the delays and lack of support. I really home (and believe) that in the coming years ebikes will become more common and accepted so you don’t have to suffer as an early adopter.
ReplyAl
8 years agoOne thing I wanted to add that Court might want to add to either the pros or cons is that the travel charger seems to only charge the battery when it’s off the bike. I went biking to my parents house a few weeks ago and I tried to charge my battery with the travel charger. The travel charger did not work or even charge the battery. I had the dealer get me a new travel charger thinking that it might have been faulty. I tried to charge the battery again while it was in the bike and it was the same no-go. I tried to charge the battery off the bike and it worked. I did not see this explained anywhere. Hope this helps.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHmm… I didn’t realize this Al, thanks for chiming in. My experience charging was mostly with the larger charger which can charge on or off correct?
ReplyAl
8 years agoYes the larger charger can change off and on the bike. I was mentioning the travel charger. I had one swapped out thinking there was a default in it when I was trying to charge the battery while it’s on the bike. The second travel charger did the same thing so I tried it off the bike, and it worked. Maybe my bike is faulty?
It could be that the amperage is low enough that if the battery is on the bike and you’re using the travel charger, then it’s to much.
Melany Edge
8 years agoI am considering this bike. I noticed I can’t see how much torque or Newton Meters is listed for this bike? I already have a Felt Sport E 95 which is a great bike, but I am thinking of changing to a bike with a little more versatility that can be ridden on trails and road. Would this bike have more power than the Bosch Gen 2?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoIn my experience, no. You get higher top speed, quieter operation and less wear on the chain and sprockets but it’s not delivering higher torque than the Bosch Centerdrive.
ReplyNick S
8 years agoHi Court and fellow readers,
I’m strongly considering the Specialized Turbo or Turbo X for my 8 mile commute and weekend recreation in very hilly Seattle, WA. In addition to several steep hills along my route, I’m close to 200lb, 6’1″. Do you think these bikes offer the power to get me up hills here without a huge amount of strain?
I just came from a test ride of a 2016 Turbo X which I loved (my only other experience with electric bikes was years ago on an old NiMH Giant LaFree / Lite), but unfortunately the bike shop is in a completely flat area so couldn’t test hill climbing at all.
The 2017 Turbo (unchanged from last year, I believe?) is available for order at $2500, and wasn’t in stock for a test ride. The 2017 Turbo X (also a carryover from last year, I believe) that I took for a test ride is priced at $4000.
I’m wondering if the differences between the two models are worth a 60% difference in price? The 2017 Turbo specs list a “Custom Specialized G45c X12” motor, whereas the 2017 Turbo X lists “Turbo S Specialized Motor, 250 Watt, X12 axle”. I also see the the battery capacity is 468 vs 562 Wh.
The Turbo X also offers the suspension seat post, front suspension fork, and moves to Shimano Deore vs SRAM X7. I don’t see many other differences between the bikes (other than the niftier black/cyan Turbo X color scheme).
I do wonder if I would really regret the lack of suspension going with the Turbo. The roads are in bad shape here in Seattle, and ruts, potholes, and ruts are everywhere.
Lastly, there seem to be deals to be had online for 2015 Turbo X’s, that place them close in price to the 2017 Turbos. Any risk with getting a potentially 2 year old, floor model battery pack?
I’m also considering waiting for spring next year to see what new models may introduce (and lower the prices on the current models).
Thanks so much for your insight. EBR has been a tremendous resource, and I’ve watched enough of the YouTube videos that I almost feel I’ve met you!
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Nick! In my experience, nearly every electric assist bike with a decent drivetrain is going to significantly improve the climbing experience. Yes, you’re heavier than me, and taller… but you’re going to be doubling the consistent power output vs. just using your legs. If you switch down to lower gears and pedal along, I think you’ll have a great experience.
Regarding your other questions, yes I think the 2017 models are changing significantly but I cannot say for sure. Many companies are introducing mid-drive systems for their bikes and Specialized might go this route too… which I feel mixed about because the 2015 and 2016 gearless hubs are fantastic! I feel that they offer some of the smoothest, quietest and most fluid performance. They don’t disrupt shifting and in some cases offer regeneration. I’d feel comfortable getting an older Turbo but note that the battery cells do slowly degrade over time and are expensive to replace. My personal favorite model is the Turbo X because of the suspension. Riding faster and further (with e-assist) means you can end up with more body impact. I love the suspension, often get suspension seat posts and sometimes even swap tires for larger ones running at lower PSI. Hope this helps!
ReplyNick S
8 years agoThanks for your reply, Court! That’s very helpful. I guess I was mostly afraid that I’d start to ride a 50lb bike up one of our long, steep hills here and have the motor (and my legs) just peter out. 18-21% grades are pretty common for many of our blocks here, and some of the hills just keep going,… and going,.. I think I’m going to search around for another local bike store carrying the Turbo, one where I can take a test ride on some real hills.
Good also to know how important you consider suspension; I tested the Turbo X with the lockout engaged, since I was testing on a paved surface, but that would be another reason to take another test ride.
I also saw the announcement for Specialized’s Turbo Vado bikes linked to from the forums here, and wonder how this significant redesign will also affect future availability of the current battery pack (say, past 2017). I actually rebuilt the Giant Lite’s NiMH battery pack before selling it some years ago, and that was fairly easy; undo some screws to separate the two halves of the battery shell, de-solder several wires and remove temperature probes, then replace with a new 24V 10Ah cell pack from BatterySpace.com, and re-solder connections. It took maybe 35 minutes, going slowly and methodically.
I suspect the packs from Specialized are not designed to be easy to access and rebuild, and that’s a serious concern if Specialized is ceasing production of the Turbo, Turbo X, and Turbo S and moving to a different form factor. Without a functional battery, this (and any other electric bike) would become a very heavy, uninspiring bike to ride around town!
Carl
8 years agoNick: Did you end up with a Turbo X? I just saw your original post and thought I would inquire. The Turbo X is probably my favorite e-bike based on research and features and I am considering buying one myself. I spend half of the year in the mountains of Western North Carolina and was looking for an eBike last spring. I had the opportunity to ride quite a few different models and to check them out on some hills. I tried Stromer, Raleigh, Specialized and several iZip models. I will tell you that I went in that day with every intention of taking home the Turbo X, but that’s not what happened.
I am 53 and Weigh about 195, and recently recovered from fractures in both of my feet. I wanted an eBike to get back out on the road for exercise, without killing myself on the hills. The TurboX was the smoothest, quietest and best looking bike I tested. I really wanted to buy it, but when I got on the iZip Dash, I instantly felt the torque difference which made the hills much more manageable for me. In addition the Dash was on Sale for $1,800, which made it any easy decision for me. I still like the TurboX and I am considering one to keep in my Florida home which is mostly flat riding. The Turbo X is pretty stealth and most wouldn’t guess it’s an electric bike on first glance, so I think it would be better for the bike trails. It’s nice to have so many options and such a great resource here EBR! Good luck with your decision.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoGreat feedback Carl, thanks for sharing your thoughts and the details about your test ride. Glad you’re enjoying the IZIP E3 Dash and maybe you’ll find a great deal on the Turbo X too now that we’re transitioning into 2017 and it’s the Fall ;)
Nick S
8 years agoHi Carl, I haven’t pulled the trigger (throttle?) yet. I’ve been doing a lot of research on different models, and hoping to score a good deal on a bike during the off-season. Before I purchase, I’d like to compare back-to-back, on hill-climbing, the Turbo X with a mid-drive system like Bosch or Brose. Happily, I’ve found an e-bike shop in Seattle, called Electric Lady Bicycles, that’s located in terrain similar what I’ll be commuting on. That should allow me to get a real world idea of what the performance will be like for me.
I’ll readily admit that I’m vain enough that I’d sacrifice some performance and pay a little more to avoid the protruding, obvious battery pack on the downtube that the iZip Dash and many other electric bikes have (including the Bosch mid-drive units). I really love the stealth, super integrated look that the Turbo X, Stromer, and some other bikes offer. That said, I completely understand your rationale in selecting the iZip, and really appreciate the feedback, it gives me food for thought!
Wally
8 years agoHi court I was wondering since you rode the Turbo x 2015 and the trek XM 700 which bike did you like better I can buy the turbo x for roughly 2500 however the XM 700 2016 is 3500 do you think the extra money is worth it they both have outstanding reviews?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Wally! This is a really difficult question to answer because yes… both are awesome ebikes. I prefer the Turbo X because the battery is integrated vs. the external Bosch but I actually love the mid-drive motor on the XM 700 and would choose it if I weighed more and was planning to climb a lot of hills. It’s going to be louder, wear the chain and sprockets a bit more and possibly ride less comfortably because the suspension is shorter travel but the bike does weigh about 3 lbs less. I just launched the new compare tool and here are the two bikes side by side with as much info as I could gather. Hope this helps!
ReplyBob A
8 years agoHi Court. I am interested in purchasing the Turbo X from my local dealer at a discount. My concerns are that there are no brake motor inhibitors on this bike. Is this a safety issue and why would Specialized build a bike without them? It seems that most of the bikes you review have them. In addition, the fact that you cannot turn on/off the lights is also odd being the company has a very good eye for detail on their bikes. The travel charger not being able to charge on the bike is also odd. Perhaps it was intended to be done off the bike only while being on the road and about?? Despite my Cons, I would still consider purchasing this bike over many others I have reviewed. Keep up the GREAT work Court! You are the best!
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Bob! The Turbo X is my favorite road model from Specialized so far and if you have access to a discount… sounds like it could be a great bike. I’ll try to address your concerns. Since the motor uses a torque sensor you don’t really need inhibitors as much, I believe it may actually have one on the right lever to engage regenerative braking but I can’t say for sure, it seems like some had that and maybe others did not. Not being able to turn off the headlight really bothers me and that’s the one major gripe and true “miss” in my opinion, but at least it has a light ;) and the concern about on-bike charging seems odd to me, I thought you could charge on or off the bike? It will just go slower with the portable charger than the fancier fast one that’s included. Hope this helps!
ReplyAustin
8 years agoGreat write up. I’m not so sure I’d recommend Specialized to anyone after my experience with them after buying my Specialized Turbo X. Check the story out here. It gives you pause when you learn that such a major company can be so terrible to customers. Austin
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoThanks for sharing your experience Austin, I’m sorry you had to suffer through the waits and non-response to figure out that the rack system wouldn’t work for the Turbo X… I hope your story helps other people who might be considering the bike and I hope Specialized handles things differently (both with information availability and support) for people like you in the future :(
ReplyWill
8 years agoHey there everyone. Wow, this is crazy love this site. Ok, I would really appreciate any advice that I can get. Im one of those people who will research for months prior to making a purchase so that if I must spend a good deal of money, I will do it one time. I live in Los Angeles, have a 20 mile round trip commute which I currently do by a mixture of light rail and a Trek Soho (sold my car). Im trying to decide if I should buy a 2015 Turbo for $2500. A large reputable dealer in Culver City has them on sale. I fully understand the mechanics and electrical theories behind the bike, but I’d like to know if you think that this bike can actually be my sole mode of transportation. Should I get the good deal or wait, save, and get something from Specialized or Stromer in the 5000$ range? Oh, so the commute is about 20 miles 5 days per week, and maybe 50 miles on Saturday and Sunday each. I test rode a Turbo 4 weeks ago and loved it but I couldnt ride for long so I cant say for sure how it really will be. I’m 5’9″, 155, in pretty good shape, and want to maintain at least 20mph without sweating. My commute through metro LA, through downtown, and into an industrial area. Pretty flat I would say.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Will, the most reliable drivetrain for commuting (with the ability to replace batteries in the future) seems to be Bosch. The Turbo X is going to be replaced by the Vado later this year and I don’t know enough about it (except that it will use the Brose motor and a custom battery pack) to say whether you should wait. I personally would consider a speed pedelec from Bulls with Bosch or one of the new Riese & Müller bikes given your aim towards reliability and quality. The Turbo X is an awesome bike and if you want a deal… then yeah, that’s great. But if you want something that has a higher likelihood of lasting and being fixable with replaceable batteries then Bosch is the best. I hope this helps!
ReplyRadek
2 years agoHey folks, I recently bought this bike 2nd hand, but it has a defect – who is a good source of information on how to troubleshoot and repair it? Thanx-a-million, R
ReplyCourt
2 years agoHi Radek, even if you bought it used, the Specialized dealer would be the best place to find parts and get repair work done. They have a large network across the USA and Canada. Hope this helps!
ReplyRadek
2 years agoHi Court, Thanks; it’s more of a forum I’m looking for. Cause I’m a DIY-person and bought 4 different defect bikes, as i think it’s the best way to learn something about the technology. I’m in EU, Spain :)
Cheers,
RJ