Bicycles

Specialized's $16,500 carbon e-bike is a gorgeous glimpse at an electrified cycling future

Specialized's $16,500 carbon e-bike is a gorgeous glimpse at an electrified cycling future
The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is the range-topping model of Specialized’s new Creo family of e-bikes
The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is the range-topping model of Specialized’s new Creo family of e-bikes
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At just 11.9 kg (26.2 lb), the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is going to be heavier than a typical road bike, but not overly so
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At just 11.9 kg (26.2 lb), the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is going to be heavier than a typical road bike, but not overly so
Other features of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition include hydraulic disc brakes, an 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and a Custom Roval CLX 50 wheelset dressed in 28-mm tires
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Other features of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition include hydraulic disc brakes, an 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and a Custom Roval CLX 50 wheelset dressed in 28-mm tires
Other features of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition include hydraulic disc brakes, an 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and a Custom Roval CLX 50 wheelset dressed in 28-mm tires
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Other features of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition include hydraulic disc brakes, an 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and a Custom Roval CLX 50 wheelset dressed in 28-mm tires
Other features of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition include hydraulic disc brakes, an 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and a Custom Roval CLX 50 wheelset dressed in 28-mm tires
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Other features of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition include hydraulic disc brakes, an 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and a Custom Roval CLX 50 wheelset dressed in 28-mm tires
Detail on the new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition
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Detail on the new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition
The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is adorned with gold foil logos, highlights and gold ceramic pulley wheels
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The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is adorned with gold foil logos, highlights and gold ceramic pulley wheels
The new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, which packs 240 W of pedal assistance power into a beautifully (and very expensively) engineered full carbon frame
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The new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, which packs 240 W of pedal assistance power into a beautifully (and very expensively) engineered full carbon frame
A power meter is integrated into the top tube of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, while power distribution can be managed through the Mission Control smartphone app
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A power meter is integrated into the top tube of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, while power distribution can be managed through the Mission Control smartphone app
The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is the range-topping model of Specialized’s new Creo family of e-bikes
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The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is the range-topping model of Specialized’s new Creo family of e-bikes
View gallery - 9 images

The e-bikes are coming and it's safe to say most will be a whole lot heavier than what cyclists are used to, especially those plying their trade on lightweight road frames. In no small way, Specialized is looking to close the gap with its new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, which packs 240 W of pedal assistance power into a beautifully (and very expensively) engineered full carbon frame.

At just 11.9 kg (26.2 lb), the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is going to be heavier than a typical road bike, but not overly so, and certainly falling at the ultra-light end of the scale when we're talking bikes with batteries stuffed into them.

In this case, Specialized has built a 380-Wh battery into the down tube, which it says packs enough juice for 80 miles (128 km) of assisted pedaling. Also, 160-Wh range extenders can be latched onto the bike to stretch that range out by 40 mi (64 km) apiece, with two thrown in as part of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition package.

The bike is powered by Specialized's own, in-house-built SL 1.1 motor, which outputs up to 240 watts in response to the rider's own torque curve and is claimed to create zero drag when riding without assistance.

A power meter is integrated into the top tube of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, while power distribution can be managed through the Mission Control smartphone app
A power meter is integrated into the top tube of the Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, while power distribution can be managed through the Mission Control smartphone app

A power meter is integrated into the top tube, while its distribution can be managed through the Mission Control smartphone app. Here, users can choose from Eco, Sport and Turbo assist modes and tweak where the power tops outs and how much support they want along the way.

Other features include hydraulic disc brakes, an 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and a Custom Roval CLX 50 wheelset dressed in 28-mm tires. The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition also comes with Specialized's latest bump-absorbing headset, the Future Shock 2.0, which offers 20 mm of vertical movement to help smooth out trips over uneven terrain.

The Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition is the range-topping model of Specialized's new Creo family of e-bikes, so less expensive versions are available but even these won't come cheap. They are a little heavier and use less sophisticated parts, with the Turbo Creo SL Expert carrying a price tag of $9,000 and the S-Works Turbo Creo SL priced at $13,500. The Turbo Creo SL Expert EVO, comes with 38-mm tires for off-road adventure and is priced at $9,000.

The new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, which packs 240 W of pedal assistance power into a beautifully (and very expensively) engineered full carbon frame
The new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition, which packs 240 W of pedal assistance power into a beautifully (and very expensively) engineered full carbon frame

But if you've come this far then you may well be tempted by the stunning, statement-making Founders Edition, which is adorned with gold foil logos, highlights and gold ceramic pulley wheels. Significantly, Specialized will be making just 250 of them, so if you're after exclusivity and extra layers of envy as you breeze past sweaty, traditional cyclists on your way up the mountain, then this could be the horse for your course.

Source: Specialized

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4 comments
4 comments
Eric454
This ebike is sexy....but how long until that internal battery only gives you half of that 80miles. Your $16k bike starts losing a lot of value with that added weight that's semi useful. And until bike racks have chargers, a removal battery makes life so much easier for commuting. Not required when you get 80miles, until that battery gets less and less overtime.
bwana4swahili
" an electrified cycling future" At this price it'll be a long time coming. Ridiculous price for a bicycle, electrified or not!!
Douglas Bennett Rogers
This actually makes a lot of sense but you need one for about $2K. You have something you can pick up and throw in the back of a van without breaking your back. You can leave your feet clipped in without fear of stalling on hills or in strong wind. You could probably get a $500 Chinese carbon frame and build it out for $2K, then add a Rubee or similar.
Dan Fidler
I own one…Founder’s Edition. Extraordinary ride, performance and options while riding. I own several bikes…some Pro level racing bikes that I love. This bike allows me to do anything I wish in great comfort as well. Battery fears….500 charges goes many years. And if the battery loses performance, a battery change takes under 30 minutes and you start 500 more cycles. 500 cycles is about 40,000 miles. Worry? Naw. Nothing rides or performs this well, especially for me at 75 years of age. Just love the damn thing. Brilliant design, build and engineering.