Specialized has just unveiled the new Specialized Como SL (Super Light), an electric pedal assist Class 3 ebike designed for anyone and everyone. Building on Specialized’s decades of industry knowledge, the everyday commuter can now benefit from the same Super Light technologies that go into Specialized performance models like the Vado SL, the Creo SL and the Levo SL. SL e-bikes are approximately 40% lighter than traditional e-bikes, and yet will still assist you up to 28mph.
The Super Light motor and battery technology, first introduced in 2019, is now incorporated into a comfortable and upright ride delivering a blend of performance, portability, and possibility for all riders. The Specialized Como SL is a light, easy to use, easy to maintain, and incredibly fun e-bike for commuting, fitness, and riding around town.
Related: 7 of the Best Budget E-Bikes under $1000
The Specialized Como SL is Available in Two Models
The Como SL 4.0 ($3299.99 USD) and Como SL 5.0 ($3699.99 USD) both feature integrated lights, fenders, racks, a front basket, and option for a battery extender. You can carry up to 68 pounds of cargo.
These bikes feature an Internal Gear Hub for low maintenance and the ability to shift when at a stop. This comes in helpful when you are fully loaded and you forget to downshift. Even better, the 5.0 model is equipped with a Gates Carbon Drive, grease free.
Light and Versatile
The Specialized Como Super Light is a low-maintenance joy machine, equipped with everything you need for spontaneous fun. Carry it down stairs, zip across town, pack it full of groceries, it’s ready to take flight. It also just so happens to double your power when you pedal—with super-smooth assistance that makes you feel like the superhero you are.
E-Bike, Emphasis on “Bike”
It’s true: the Como Super Light amplifies your power up to 2x thanks to its 240-watt Super Light System motor. Also true: it feels just like riding a bike.
Specialized has taken the same Specialized Super Light System developed in-house to power the best road and mountain bikes and brought an entirely new and more maneuverable experience to the upright and comfortable Como family of bikes.
Start pedaling and the assist kicks in naturally, without knocking you back. It’s still you doing the pedaling, only now you can conquer every steep hill that comes your way.
Minimal Maintenance
You don’t need to become an amateur mechanic to own the Como SL — just charge up and it’s ready to ride. The internal gear hub (IGH) keeps the gears housed and sealed inside the rear wheel, protecting them even at the most packed bike rack, and the optional Gates belt drive doesn’t need lubrication like a chain does. Ultra-bright lights are built in and powered by the internal battery, so you’re always lit.
Don’t Worry About the Weather – It’s a Ride for All Seasons
The Como Super Light isn’t slowed down by bad weather. Specialized designed this bike for all seasons in all regions. With powerful disc brakes and wide Nimbus tires, you’ll feel stable and well-connected to the road. DRYTECH fenders deflect the dirt and water away from you, while integrated lights illuminate the road ahead. And the most important components—Internal Gear Hub, battery, and cables—stay protected from the elements and running clean.
The Specialized Como SL is Equipped to Carry Twice its Weight
The Como SL comes fully equipped to carry most anything with you. A built-in rear rack is ready to hold two panniers up to 20 kg/44 lb. And a front porteur rack with a removable front basket can handle up to 15 kg/33 lb of groceries. The bike comes standard with a kickstand, and because the front rack is frame-mounted, you don’t have to worry about the basket flopping around when you park.
Powered for Fun, Even on the Run
The Como SL delivers the assurance of a 320Wh battery, good for up to 62 miles / 100 km of range in Eco mode, plus the security of having it integrated within the frame. An optional Range Extender adds up to 31 miles / 55 km of additional range. It’s fully removable, compact, and easy to charge whenever you are, so you can top off on the go.
Performance of the Specialized Como SL
California designed and Swiss engineered, the new Specialized Super Light system represents the very best in lightweight e-bike performance. Ultralight and quiet, the Specialized SL system doubles your effort with a smooth power delivery. No unnatural power curve, lurching, or motor jumps. It delivers up to 240 watts of power that are in sync with your cadence all the way to 28mph. If you outpace the motor’s assistance, there’s no awkward cutoff or drag, just smooth riding for miles.
Confidence
When you’re comfortable, you’re confident. The Specialized Como SL is built to deliver comfort without compromising capability. High-volume 650b x 2.3” Nimbus Sport tires soak up imperfections in the road and handle well on smooth or chunky pavement, delivering stability at all speeds. All Como SL models are equipped standard with disc brakes for maximum stopping power, simple internal gear hub shifting that lets you change gears when stopped, integrated front and rear lights to see and be seen, high visibility reflective decals and reflective tires, and ergonomically designed saddles and grips.
Mission Control
Connect your bike to your phone and control everything about this bike. Before you take off, enter your ride distance or time into Smart Control and let your bike manage the power output so you never run out of assist on your ride. You can diagnose potential service needs, record and share ride info with friends, and even give your bike its own custom name.
Which Turbo Como Rider Are You?
Technical Specs of the Specialized Como Super Light
- 8-speed Alfine Internal Gear Hub and Gates Belt Drive for shifting when stopped, extended bike performance, and minimal at-home bike maintenance.
- Fully integrated Specialized 320Wh downtube battery w/optional Range Extender compatibility for up to 120 miles of range.
- Specialized SL 1.1 custom lightweight motor, peak 240W / 35Nm, 2x you rider amplification (180% assistance), assist up to 28mph.
- Bright, integrated front and rear lighting to see and be seen.
- Integrated front rack with a basket and top net.
- Turbo Super Light mounted pannier-compatible rear rack and DRYTECH fenders.
- Turbo Connect Display included and centrally located on the handlebars.
- Clean internal cable routing, fender/rack mounts, and reflective graphics.
- TRP Flow Set hydraulic disc brakes for maximum stopping power.
- Durable 650b wheels paired with Nimbus 2.3 tires smooth out rough roads, while providing BlackBelt flat protection and reflective accents to increase visibility.
Stack (mm) 623 641 697
Reach (mm) 401 426 433
Front Center (mm) 680 713 742
Seat Tube Length, Center to Top (mm) 380 390 420
Top Tube Length, Horizontal (mm) 634 666 694
Chainstay Length (mm) 484 484 484
Wheelbase (mm) 1154 1187 1216
Standover Height (mm) 575 575 600
Head Tube Length (mm) 190 210 270
BB Drop (mm) 75 75 75
BB Height (mm) 280 280 280
Head Tube Angle (°) 68 68 68
Seat Tube Angle, Actual (°) 69.5 69.5 69.5
Non-Turbo
How much tire clearance does the Turbo Como SL have?
The Turbo Como SL has clearance for 2.3” tires with 650b rims, even with built-in DRYTECH fenders, for a smooth and compliant ride.
Can I use 700c wheels with the Turbo Como SL?
No. The Como SL is only designed for 650b wheels.
How many sizes are available for the Turbo Como SL?
The Turbo Como SL comes in three sizes: Small (59–65 in / 150–165 cm), Medium (65–70 in / 165-178 cm), and Large (70–75 in / 178–190 cm).
Turbo System
How much does the motor weigh?
At just 1.95kg, the Super Light System motor is essentially half the weight of other crank-based motors.
How much power does the motor output?
The Super Light System motor amplifies rider power up to 240 watts and 35Nm of both peak and sustained power. Specialized tuned the motor to deliver constant, strong support across a wide cadence range for a very natural feel while pedaling.
What makes the Turbo Como SL lighter than other upright e-bikes?
At 47–48.5lb / 21.5–22kg, the Como Super Light saves weight over similar upright IGH e-bikes. This is thanks to its Smartweld aluminum frame combined with the lightweight Super Light motor, a magnesium housing, and the battery integrated into the frame.
How many riding modes are there and how much assist do they offer?
There are three standard modes—ECO, SPORT, and TURBO—plus SMART CONTROL and OFF (unassisted). ECO matches your effort up to 30% of the motor’s power, SPORT matches your effort up to 60% of the motor’s power, and TURBO matches your effort to 100% of the motor’s power—or 240 watts. All three standard assist modes can be tuned almost infinitely to personalize power levels via our Mission Control App. SMART CONTROL automatically tailors the e-assist in real time based on your ride input (like how long you plan to ride). And OFF (unassisted) riding mode is just like riding a classic bike—except the built-in lights remain on. The motor was specifically designed so it doesn’t add drag when the bike is in OFF mode.
How Do You Charge the Como SL?
Included with every Como SL is a Specialized 48V charger that plugs into a port on the bike’s seat tube, just above the bottom bracket. The Range Extender is charged with the same charger. Plug in your charger, and after a few seconds, the TCU will light up and the battery bars on the bike will pulse to indicate charging. When all blue bars are illuminated, the bike is fully charged. A green LED on the charger indicates “standby,” while a steady red light indicates “charging.” If you are within Bluetooth range of your bike, you can monitor live charge status from our Mission Control App, and you can know when you are ready to go again.
How Long does it take to Charge?
You can expect your Turbo Como SL’s internal battery to charge from 3% to 100% in approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. A Range Extender will charge from 3% to 100% in approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes. Both the internal and Range Extender batteries will charge from 3% to 100% in approximately 3 hours 20 minutes with a “Y” cable.
Can the internal battery be removed for charging?
Nope. The Turbo Como SL’s internal battery is fully integrated, as part of our effort to make the lightest, sleekest, most theft-resistant battery and motor systems. It’s designed to be charged in the frame. You’ll want a qualified mechanic to remove the battery, as it requires removing the motor first.
What happens if the battery dies?
Once you’re down to about 20%–15% charge remaining, the Como SL will begin reducing motor power automatically—first to 75%, then 50%, then 25%. Like any other battery, the exact timing of e-assist reductions is affected by factors like temperature, terrain, and whether or not you’re running a Range Extender. At about 5% battery, the battery stops e-assist and directs all remaining battery to the lights, ensuring you’ll still be able to see and be seen. The lights should run for up to two hours after the e-assist shuts off (again, depending on factors like temperature).
What impacts the range and how can I get the most distance possible?
There are many variables that influence range, but a simple rule of thumb is that the less the motor works, the longer the battery lasts. Factors that will affect how much the motor works include which mode a rider chooses, the rider’s cadence, weight, fitness, and position on the bike, as well as the bike build, bike weight, tire choice, and tire pressure. Several environmental influences, such as road conditions, elevation, and temperature can impact range as well. Riding in ECO mode will generally provide the longest battery life. Smart Control can help you get the most out of your bike. And a Range Extender adds more battery capacity and thus more range. The Turbo Range Calculator helps riders predict the range riders can expect given certain key metrics.
Range extender
How does the range extender attach to the Como SL?
While the Range Extender fits in a normal water bottle cage, we recommend using the Specialized Z-Cage along with the included band to best secure the Extender to your bike—especially on rougher terrain.
Is a range extender included with every Como SL?
The Range Extender is available aftermarket through retailers.
When a range extender is used, which battery is used first? The range extender or the internal?
When using a Range Extender, the default setting is for the Range Extender and internal battery to be drained simultaneously. By using Mission Control, however, the protocol can be changed to drain the Range Extender first.
Mission control/smart control
How much motor tuning ability does the mission control app have?
With the Mission Control App, you can tune the level of assist almost infinitely (both peak power and sustained assistance) for each of the three standard modes: ECO, SPORT, and TURBO. The Mission Control App allows you to fully customize your Turbo Como SL motor to your personal needs and riding preferences. Of course, we only allow the rider to tune the motor and its behavior within the given speed limits in their respective country. Riders cannot tune the motor beyond the legally allowed speed setting.
How does smart control work?
Using the Smart Control feature of our Mission Control App enables you to enter how far, or how long, you want to ride, as well as how much battery you would like to have left at the end of your ride. Smart Control then takes care of all battery management to reach those targets. It does this with a smart algorithm that checks the bike’s status every 10 seconds. Keep in mind, with Smart Control initiated on the app, assistance modes cannot be altered via the TCU on the bike’s top tube.
Can the Turbo Como SL’s firmware be updated?
The Turbo Como SL firmware can easily be updated at your local Turbo dealer through Turbo Studio, our retailer service platform. Once connected, the bike automatically checks for the latest software versions available and installs them, if needed.
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WOW THOSE ARE SOME NICE BIKES. THANKS FOR INFO . MY WIFE IS CONSIDERING AN E BIKE.
Good luck with that Gary! Hope she enjoys it as much as we do.