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Turbo: Frequently Asked Questions

Our Turbo bikes are on the precipice of cutting-edge technology, so we understand that you have questions. Luckily, we also have answers. Read below to see some of our more frequently asked questions.

Turbo: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Turbo?

Turbo refers to Specialized electric bike technology system. Every Turbo delivers smooth, powerful, and silent pedal-assistance, maximum range, and superior connectivity solutions, with every aspect of the system working in harmony with the bike. And while it’s not an easy route to go, real innovation rarely is.

What is an electric bike?

Commonly known as an e-Bike provides electric assistance as you pedal, via a small motor and battery. With Specialized’s Turbo system you can also tailor the amount of assistance you receive, depending on your desired speed, your fitness or the length of your ride and the terrain.

Is it a motorbike and am I cheating?

Specialized Turbo e-Bikes are all pedal-assisted, so if you stop pedalling the bike will also stop giving you assistance, there is no throttle. Numerous studies have proven e-Bike owners ride longer and more often and because riders are able to ride for longer at a slightly lower heart rate it is brilliant below-threshold training. Cadence is King (or Queen), the more you pedal the more assistance you receive, so you can also exhaust yourself if you want to race the shuttle to the top or the bus to work.

How fast will my e-Bike go?

Due to Government regulations in New Zealand the maximum amount of speed assistance on the trail is 32km/hr and 45km/hr on the road, although the bikes will go as fast as your legs will take you. The Turbo SL models are also easier to pedal above the assisted level due to the decoupling nature of the motor. It’s you, only faster.

How long will it take to charge?

A full charge on any of our batteries will take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.

Can I travel with my e-Bike?

We only recommend e-Bike approved roof racks, and to place the bike inside the car where possible in wet and wild conditions. You can travel with your e-Bike on a plane without the internal battery and most airline carries allow you up to a 160Wh battery, like our Turbo SL Range Extenders, however you should contact your airline carrier before flying to confirm.

Most likely you will have to arrange an internal battery at your destination, luckily, we have a huge range of Specialized Retailers locally and internationally who can assist you with hiring a battery.

Why is there such a big price difference between e-bikes in the market?

We are proud that our Turbo e-Bikes are the leaders in technology, and been awarded a range of Globally renowned honours including best e-MTB brand, best e-MTB model in the Turbo Levo 3 years running, Grand Fondo choice awarded to the Turbo Creo SL and Choice Consumer award for Turbo Vado just to name a few. Designed in California and engineered in Switzerland we have taken a no compromise approach to delivering the best e-bikes in the market.

Many cheap options will compromise on technology, integration of the motor and battery, component quality and by fitting range limiting smaller batteries. This compromised approach can lead to a riding experience, which can be poor and unenjoyable.

With our rider first approach keeping you on the trail, path or road you can be confident that purchasing a Specialized e-Bike ensures you have a whole team of e-bike specialists behind you, as well as warranty and technical support in house and with a reputable Retailer network around the country.

Is it true I can control my bike via my phone?

Did we mention our e-Bikes are created by the tech obsessed Swiss, yes Turbo e-Bikes are smart bikes that connect to your phone via our very own Mission Control App. Mission control allows you to customize motor characteristics, control range, tune modes, heart rate control, diagnose any system errors, record rides and see real-time ride data. It’s pretty mind blowing so if you still have questions see a further Mission Control QnA here.

What are Watt hours?

Watt hours (or Wh) refers to the energy capacity of your bikes battery and provides an indication of its range, think of it as the amount of assistance available provided by the battery.

Who is Torque and Newton?

You’ll hear Newton meters (Nm) referred to when measuring the Torque of a bike, that is the rational power of the motor that is used to assist the rider while pedalling. Essentially the higher the torque, the greater assistance/power the rider will receive.

What modes are on the e-Bike? Eco mode, Sport mode and Turbo mode. Eco provides the least amount of assistance and therefore draws the least amount of energy from the battery and will ensure longer range, where Turbo gives you the most assistance but will drain your battery quicker. Each mode is fully customiseable via mission control.

What is the ‘range’, i.e how far can I go off one charge?

There are many factors that affect this from terrain, rider weight, assistance mode, even cadence. Therefore, the bike can last from 40km to over 180km, hence we recommend utilising the Mission Control App to ensure you get home with enough charge.

What is the difference between Turbo e-Bike SL models and non-SL full power models?

SL stands for lightweight system and is a whole new category of super-light e-Bikes, fitted with a smaller motor that provides x2 power compared to our x4 assistance in our full powered Turbo bikes.

Right. So do I get an SL then? Which one is for me?

Well that depends what ride experience you’re after and what ride characteristics are most important to you – as an example with our e-MTB family the Turbo Levo; if you want the playful and agile feeling on the way down the trail and love to sweat it a little up the climb we would recommend the Turbo Levo SL, however if you’re after maximum climbing speed, increased range and want to cram in as many laps as possible beating the shuttle each time we’d recommend the full powered Turbo Levo. Give us a call or speak with your local Specialized Retailer for more information.

What happens if the battery runs out?
For starters, kudos to you for being out on the trail or road for so long that you ran out of juice! The Mission Control App gives you complete control over the time or the distance you want to achieve, and if you do run out you can still pedal the bike home, which will be easier with our lightweight SL models and will just be a great leg day on our full powered models.

What is the life expectancy of a Turbo e-Bike and can the batteries be recycled? Specialized frames come with a lifetime warranty, and all Specialized Turbo e-Bike batteries and motors come with a 2yr/15,000km warranty and an assisted purchasing program post warranty period. Faults due to our own manufacture defects are covered during this period and handled by your local Specialized Retailer.

If looked after correctly and regularly serviced, you and your bike will enjoy a very long relationship. Lithium ion batteries can be charged more than a 1,000 times with little to no degradation. However, should you need a new battery, in New Zealand we stockpile these batteries and ship them back to the manufacture to be recycled and repurposed.

What accessories are compatible?

Common accessories like fenders, mudguards and racks will fit most of our e-bikes, and fortunately many already come equipped with such features!

What service is required?

Maintenance is generally the same as other bicycles, however we are regularly developing brand new software technology that will be compatible with your current Turbo e-Bike, which can be updated at your local Specialized Retailer, who will reach out when new software has been released, a little like updating your phone or computer … Pretty amazing hey!

How do I clean my Turbo e-Bike?

The most important rule is not to wash your Turbo with a high-pressure washer. This could easily damage seals, bearings, electronic units, and other sensitive parts. Instead, use a low-pressure garden hose, wet cloth, or sponge for removing heavy dirt.
Before cleaning your bike, switch the system off.
We recommend leaving the battery inside the frame to ensure the connectors are protected
Apart from that, you should maintain your Turbo as any other bike, except cherish it even more than your first born because this is a Specialized e-Bike.

Does the Turbo e-Mountain bike damage the trail?
It won't make anymore impact than a regular trail bike. In fact World Trail utilise our Turbo Levo’s and Kenevo’s to maintain and build trails as they make it easier to carry equipment up and down the trails and to access difficult areas. The bike does weigh a little more, so there’s marginally more braking force required to pull it up, but in the context of an average 80-100kg bike/rider combo, the effect of an extra 10kg is negligible.

Can I try before I buy?

Absolutely, our Specialized Retailers carry a range of Turbo test bikes for you to demo to get a better understanding of which one or two is best for you. We also host a number of test ride days direct to public so be sure to sign up to our email database to be the first to know where and when.

Any tips on how to ride this majestic machine?

Specialized pedal-assist Turbos are bikes first and foremost. They handle exactly as you would expect a high-end Specialized bike to ride. You might be a pro at riding, however yes there are a couple of tips to get the best out of your ‘pedal-assist’ riding experience:

Shift the gears earlier than you would on a traditional bike.
Ease up on pedalling power when shifting.
Be gentle and consistent on the pedals – you don’t need to press any harder down on the pedals than you would crush a can of soft drink.
Spin lower gears on the climbs – cadence is King (or Queen) – the more consistent you pedal, the more assistance you will receive.
Go further and faster than ever before… Enjoy it! If you’re not smiling by the end of it than we’re doing it wrong… Or you forgot to charge the battery.

Is it true some riders have strained their face from excessive smiling?
Yes, it's called the 'Turbo Smile'. It is contracted almost immediately once you begin pedalling ... we're not looking for a cure. Seriously though, this is what it is all about – more time on bikes = happier humans.

If you didn’t find the answer you’re looking for, firstly, we apologise and recommend contacting your local Specialized Retailer and speak with one of our friendly Specialized Turbo e-Bike experts. Ride safe and thank you for considering a Specialized Turbo e-Bike!