Specialized is currently introducing their first full-suspension SUV e-bikes with the Turbo Tero X versions. There are many uses for ordinary e-mountain bikes with motors up to 90 Nm pedal assistance and spring travel of 130 mm at the front and 120 mm at the rear wheel.
Would the Turbo Tero X be able to dominate the SUV e-bike market like the Volkswagen Tiguan consistently does with four-wheelers?
| Frame | E5 Aluminum, full suspension, |
| Motor | 250W nominal and 90Nm torque |
| Battery | 710Wh |
| Charger | 42V4A |
| Chain | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed |
| Rear Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select+ 45x190mm |
| Fork | RockShox Lyrik Select+ 130mm |
| Stem | Specialized Stealth Stem |
| Crankset | Praxis forged M30 |
| Kickstand | Specialized kickstand |
| Rack | max. 20kg load |
Specialized Turbo Tero X 6.0: Design and Build Quality
The Turbo Tero X is Specialized’s first full-suspension “SUV bike,” or a bicycle with a suspension fork and an additional spring in the rear triangle. Although SUV bikes are considered to be equally ideal for off-road vacations and for commuting to work, the distinctive combination of an e-mountain bike with lights, mudguards, a luggage rack, and a side stand is growing in popularity as a genre in its own right.
Although the Turbo Tero X is authorized to pull bicycle trailers, it has 130 mm of fork and 120 mm of rear travel. The Specialized Ground Control tires, which are 2.35 inches wide, strike a balance between acceptable on- and off-road performance.
The Turbo Tero X is a mullet bike, meaning it has a huge 29-inch front wheel and a smaller 27.5-inch rear wheel. It is available in frame sizes M to XL. In this design, the larger front wheel’s good rollover characteristics are combined with the smaller rear wheel’s superior agility. A small 27.5 inch wheel is also installed at the front of every Turbo Tero X in frame size S, allowing for a more compact design and a shorter wheelbase.
Overall, the Turbo Tero X scores with the geometry of a contemporary E-MTB, although with a 66.5° steering angle, it has a little steeper wheelbase than this. An observation that points to the Turbo Tero X’s friendly handling and maneuverability. The Turbo Tero is obviously not the ideal option for the trickiest climbing and the tightest trails because its overall weight, depending on the equipment, is roughly 27 kg.
The Turbo Tero X comes “fitted” with a side stand, mudguards, a built-in lighting system, and a solid luggage rack that supports a weight of up to 20 kg in all three model variants. Moreover, all three versions come with SRAM 4-piston brakes and 12-speed gears. It is worthwhile to check our equipment table to determine which parts are included in each model. The fact that Specialized equipped every Turbo Tero X with a dropper post with handlebar remote control is another indication of the bike’s mountain bike heritage. The Turbo Tero X’s saddle can be lowered with their assistance for mounting and during downhills.
All Turbo Tero models have an electrical anti-theft device as a unique feature. If this feature is turned on in the Mission Control app, an alarm is sounded as soon as the bike is moved without permission. The main frame of the Turbo Tero X also has four embedded threaded sleeves that can hold a fixed lock.
Specialized states that the Turbo Tero X suits riders as short-statured as 4-foot-11 in terms of sizing (size XS). I could easily fit the LG size frame at 6-foot tall. The big gives the impression that the frame is smaller because it has a ton of standover clearance. But after I found the right seat height and bar position and sat down on the bike, it seemed roomy enough. If you prefer motorcycles with very long reach measurements or are taller than 6 feet 2 inches, you might want to test sitting on Turbo Tero X in person first before clicking the “Purchase Now” button.
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Specialized Turbo Tero X 6.0: Motor and Battery
Three different configurations of the Specialized Turbo Tero X are offered, and each has a distinctive motorization: While the Turbo Tero X 4.0 comes with a 530 Wh battery and a 50 Nm Specialized 2.0E motor, the Turbo Tero X 5.0 has a 70 Nm Specialized 2.0 motor. The top model is known as Turbo Tero X 6.0 and has a 710 Wh battery in addition to a Specialized 2.2 drive with a maximum torque of 90 Nm that we use from the Specialized E-MTB.
From the casual cruiser for the city and countryside to the performance E-MTB-like 90 Nm drive, with which even steeper passes and less pathable terrain are possible to ride, the numerous Turbo Tero X models cover a rather wide range of applications.
Beyond the specifics of the suspension systems utilized, a lot has evolved in mountain bike technology in the 20 years since the debut of dw-link. Fork and shock performance improved, 1x drivetrains and dropper seatposts became common, new wheel sizes gained traction, and geometry changes spread to all mountain bike subcategories. The trail bikes used today are substantially superior than the bikes thought to be cutting-edge when Weagle developed dw-link, although maybe seeming aesthetically comparable.
This returns us to the present moment. When so many rival designs on the market perform so well, does dw-link still matter? Yes, in a nutshell. At least on the Turbo Tero X, which absolutely rockets up hills as well as down them.
Most of the trail bikes I have rode in recent years have had decent pedaling. Better than others, but none of them gave me the impression that the suspension system was restricting me. Thus, I was quite interested to see how much better this dw-link-equipped Specialized would perform than identical bikes from competition.
Any notion I had that the dw-link was past its prime was dispelled the instant the trail began to ascend. The Turbo Tero X gently sat into its journey even with the Fox DPS’s compression adjustment in the fully open setting. The suspension movement never prevented me from climbing; rather, it just absorbed the minor jolts as I rode. During ascending, the bike gives a secure feeling.
The Turbo Tero X’s soaring power is partly – but not entirely – attributable to its relatively light weight as a whole. The Turbo Tero X’s steep 76-degree seat-tube angle also aids in keeping your weight over the taller height of the 160mm-travel fork and forward on the bike.
The test bike I rode had a weight of slightly over 27-12 pounds, according to Specialized, whose Mach 4 SL cross-country bike is only 45 grams heavier than the 429, which has a shorter travel. The Turbo Tero X has a lot more travel than those race-bred vehicles, despite not being an XC bike’s lightest.
The 180mm rotors suffered some fade even though the brakes were four-piston XTR types since they were unable to withstand the heat of constant braking on downhill runs. If you intend to occasionally shuttle or ride in bikeparks, the Turbo Tero X frame can accommodate coil-over shocks and 203mm rotors.
Specialized Turbo Tero X 6.0: Conclusions
The Turbo Tero X is an electric bike from Specialized that is intended for carrying high loads over challenging terrain in comfort. According to the manufacturer, the new full-suspension “SUV in ebike form” has the range and capacity for a weekend camping trip or a full grocery store with kids in tow. Among Specialized’s line of electric mountain bikes, the Turbo Tero X will be available alongside the hardtail Turbo Tero.
Although there isn’t a single mountain bike that performs on every surface, models like the Turbo Tero X might be the closest thing. It can handle climbs well enough because to its weight and pedaling effectiveness. Descents are quick and enjoyable because to the Turbo Tero X’s tuned geometry, great suspension performance, and smaller-sized wheels. The Specialized Turbo Tero X 6.0 demonstrates that 27.5-inch trail bikes are still relevant, unless you frequently ride buffed-smooth trails, frequently ride incredibly long and difficult downhills, or are aiming to compete frequently at a high level.
