May 26, 2020 - Whether pavement or gravel, the Specialized Turbo Creo SL is ready to go wherever the path of adventure lies, and beyond. The new Turbo Creo line features six performance e-road models as Specialized expands its family of high-powered e-bikes.

The stock X-Fusion Manic Dropper Seat post and 3mm wide tires makes it easy to notice that the Turbo Creo SL is unique, and at 26.81 pounds, it’s hard to believe this is an e-bike.

The frame is comprised of lightweight Fact 11r Carbon that features stiffness and compliance whether on or off road. The geometry is very similar to the Specialized cobble-killer Roubaix, yet with a slightly longer wheelbase and top tube. These characteristics offer the cornering and quick maneuverability of a road bike with the comfort and stability of a gravel rig. The adjustable Future Shock 2.0 with damper adds that next level of comfort by taking the edge off road chatter and rocky trails.

The thru-axle frame and fork have ample room to run a full range of gravel specific rubber like the stock Specialized 2Bliss Pathfinder 38 mm tires mounted on Roval C 38 Disc carbon wheels. This clearance also makes fender installation a breeze, especially when using the stock frame mounts. The internal cable routing delivers a clean pallet for the frame to showcase its high gloss, green-blue chameleon paint job.

The Creo SL Expert EVO is equipped with Shimano’s 11-speed Ultegra Di2 road shifters paired with it’s mountain bike cousin XT rear derailleur. This combo provides fast, reliable shifting with the ability to use an 11-42 rear cassette, something to appreciate when encountering steep off-road climbs. The confidence to control speed along with quick stopping are courtesy of Shimano’s hydraulic disc brakes.

The drive behind this stealth machine is the 240-watt custom lightweight Specialized SL 1.1 motor that intuitively matches your cadence and power to provide the optimal assist at that specific moment. The 320 Wh battery is discreetly tucked in the downtube with enough juice to last up to 120 km. An optional Range Boost battery is easily secured on the seat tube via special mounts contributing up to an additional 80 km of saddle time. With up to 200 km of range, it won’t be the bike giving out on that extra long day in the saddle. Charging both batteries is easy using the 2-way charging cord.

The Creo SL Expert EVO allows the option to connect, or not to connect. The Mission Control App can map, track, display speed/distance, and can tune the motor to manage battery consumption based on specific rides. The built-in power meter transmits data to any Ant+ compatible device. Our test bike came with a bar mounted display unit which provided most of the pertinent information. To keep things simple, the top tube integrated Turbo Connect Unit allows easy one finger switching between Eco, Sport and Turbo mode while monitoring battery levels via led lights.

During the test ride I hit the amazing rural roads and gravel trails in the B.C. cities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge just west of downtown Vancouver. Look for a more detailed outine of this amazing gravel adventure soon to be released on eBikes International.

Pitt Meadows offers over 60 km of flat, rideable dykes in a very scenic, historic area. The majority of this part of the journey was in Eco mode with the bike providing a very comfortable, effortless ride. When strong winds from the north hit my face, it was a quick shift to Sport mode to easily maintain my 32-km-per-hour pace.

The hills in east Maple Ridge were a great place to utilize the many gravel features of the Creo SL Expert EVO. The Future Shock, Roubaix bar tape, Body Geometry Power Expert Saddle and carbon frame provided just enough trail absorption to take the edge off the roughest of terrain. I appreciated the side mounted bottle cage as it allowed me to bring along one large water bottle as the other cage was occupied supporting the Range Boost battery.

A combination of Eco and Sport mode conserved battery and was more than enough to assist on the flat and easier climbs. The 42-tooth rear cog and Turbo mode helped get me up and over the steepest climbs, even from a dead stop. And for those hike-a-bike sections, this 26-pound ride was not a burden.

The bike’s geometry provided enough stability for descending while providing snappy handling as I pushed limits down more technical trails. The road bike geometry really shone with the more skill and riding technique put into it, something like maximizing performance on an XC mountain bike. The dropper post was a definite savour and prevented a couple potential loamy face plants.

Arriving home with the batteries almost completely depleted, it was great to be able to do a quick re-charge in under three hours so I could do an evening motor pace session on the flat rural roads of Pitt Meadows for my daughter’s scheduled high cadence / tempo workout.

If there is room in the garage, and money in the wallet, the Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert Evo is a great choice to acquire a road, gravel and e-bike all in one. The biggest challenge might be whether to wear bibs or baggies!

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