Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp review: Perfect companion for fun off-road adventures?!

Test: With a spring element at the front, a dropper seat post and a light carbon frame, the Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp seems to be a perfect e-gravel bike for fun off-road adventures. We have tested for you whether this is the case and how it really drives.

For a long time now, the US manufacturer Specialized has used the “Turbo” label to indicate bikes with e-support. And they also want to do justice to the slogan "It's you, only faster!" with all their bikes, but especially with sporty e-bike models.

Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp - With in-house drive to success

So that the ride with the E-Graveller from Specialized feels as natural as possible, the conscious decision was made to develop its own drive system. The recipe for success: Californian design paired with Swiss engineering. The biggest disadvantage of the in-house system: the battery cannot be removed and all maintenance has to be carried out by a specialist dealer. But let's get back to the With up to 240 watts of support and 320 Wh of internal battery power, which can be increased by a further 160 Wh with a range extender, the in-house Turbo SL 1.1 motor delivers constant power and harmonious support behavior, which is primarily due to the Cadence has been tuned by sporty riders. However, if the engine is decoupled above 25 km/h, the system does not offer any resistance and can be driven relatively smoothly. We especially like the decoupling because you can't really feel a cut. So it happens that on flatter sections you can read 30 km/h on the speedometer without even noticing it.

Good handling and a lot of comfort equal lots of driving fun?!

With many e-bikes, however, the additional weight often gets in the way of the natural riding experience. The relatively low 13,6 kilos should certainly be one of the strengths of the Creos. In addition, the downhill behavior and handling of the bike is really impressive, because the FutureShock 2.0 system, which acts like a kind of suspension fork and offers 20mm of travel at the front, ensures more control and comfort. The Creo SL Comp also has a dropper post that can be adjusted at the push of a button, which means even more trail fun and better handling. However, so that the liveliness is not completely lost, the FutureShock system can also be made rigid while driving in order to still benefit from the sporty properties of the carbon frame. However, the Creo SL in the Comp variant is no longer an acceleration pro.

But the other add-on parts can convince with their pleasant ergonomics. Especially the handlebars and saddle from our own company fit like a glove from the very first kilometer and the Shimano GRX levers are more than just easy to hold. With DT Swiss wheels suitable for gravel and the 38mm wide Pathfinder tires you will find a good compromise between robust off-road suitability and faster driving characteristics. The high-quality Shimano GRX group offers gravel-friendly shifting and braking performance at the highest level and is completed by a Praxis Works crank with a chainring.

Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp – equipment