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Specialized Kenevo SL sheds 12 pounds to create a monster of an e-MTB

specialized kenevo sl e-mountain bike
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Wouldn’t it be awesome if the new Specialized Enduro was even more capable? It would be hard to make a more capable bike in terms of climbing and descending prowess, but what if it made you more capable?

Like, two times more capable thanks to the Specialized Turbo Super Light system introduced on the Turbo Levo SL. Now, the Kenevo SL gets the same lightweight update to make a bike that might be as fast up the hill as it is down.

Specialized Kenevo SL X-ray vision

At the heart of the bike, the Turbo SL 1.1 motor offers up to 240 watts of power and 35Nm of torque. That pales in comparison to the 595 watts of peak power and 90Nm of torque from the Turbo 2.2 motor found on the full power Kenevo and Levo, but the point with the SL is obviously to reduce the weight. By a lot. Specialized claims that the Kenevo SL is 12 pounds lighter (5.5kg) than the Kenevo. Or to put it a different way, the Kenevo SL e-MTB is only 4kg more than an Enduro mountain bike.

Clearly, the Kenevo SL won’t provide the same super boost as the full-powered bike, but the trade off is a much lighter platform that still provides that added push up the hills.

Part of that weight reduction comes in the form of a smaller battery as well. A 320Wh battery is housed in the downtube. Additional range can be added with a 160Wh range extender in the form of a water bottle battery. Specialized claims this will offer 4.5-7 hours of total supported ride time, though that will depend on how much assist is used, terrain, rider weight, riding style, etc.

Specialized Kenevo SL MasterMind TCU

Of course, much of that performance can be controlled through the Mission Control App which is now integrated with the MasterMind Turbo Control Unit found on the top tube. The new TCU allows for over-the-air updates to improve the Kenevo SL over time, MicroTune on-the-Fly adjustment of performance in 10% increments, real-time pedal efficiency, and a display screen that provides everything from battery life to rider power value.

Out-of-the-box functionality:
• Over-the-air updates
• MasterMind TCU displays the remaining charge as an easy-to-read percentage
• MicroTune feature allows on-the-fly adjustment of peak power and support
levels in 10% increments
• Personalization of display arrangement (4 choices) and 30 possible data values
• Clock
• “Live Consumption” teaches you how to pedal efficiently by displaying real-time
miles (or kilometers) per watt-hour
• Rider Power Value display allows you to see the power you’re putting into the bike
• Heart rate pairing capability
• Precision elevation tracking

Specialized Kenevo SL frameset

Part of the weight reduction is also owed to the new full monocoque FACT 11m carbon frame which uses a similar “6 bar” suspension layout as the new Enduro. Essentially an FSR four bar linkage with a Horst Link, additional tension links are added to drive shock compression. All of this is meant to eliminate side-loading of the rear shock for better performance, and improve handling with a lower center of gravity. If it pedals like the Enduro does, the Kenevo SL will be a very efficient, and very capable bike even before you turn on the motor.

Specialized Kenevo SL axle path diagram

Like the Enduro, the Kenevo SL axle path starts with rearward movement to help get the back wheel over obstacles more quickly without slowing you down.

Specialized Kenevo SL suspension curve

An Rx Tuned shock for the Kenevo SL is paired with a leverage curve that is fairly linear at the start for small bump compliance and mid-stroke support, but ramps up enough at the end to control the biggest hits at the full 170mm of rear travel.

Geometry? Take your pick

Specialized Kenevo SL geometry adjust Specialized Kenevo SL geometry chartWhen it comes to geometry, the Kenevo SL has options for days. Starting with an adjustable headset, you can choose from 62.5, 63.5, or 64.5° head tube angles. Add in two bottom bracket heights which vary by 6mm, and you end up with six different geometry settings for each bike. Since there’s a lot to process there, Specialized set up a Geo Finder Tool which will help you dial in the best setting.

The sizing itself is based on Specialized’ S-Sizing system which eliminates traditional size names in favor of S2-S5 for the Kenevo SL. The reasoning is that riders that are the same height may find themselves more comfortable on different sizes based on their preferred reach. Smaller S-sizes offer shorter reach, while bigger S-Sizes provide longer reach number for a roomier or more stable ride.

Models & Pricing

Specialized Kenevo SL s-works Specialized Kenevo SL s-works complete

Turbo Kenevo SL S-Works: $15,000

No, that’s not a typo. the top of the line Kenevo SL will set you back a full $15 grand. But hey, that’s less than the $16,525 Founder’s Edition Levo SL, right? That kind of cash gets you a full Fox Factory suspension package, Roval Traverse SL carbon bars and wheels, SRAM Eagle AXS wireless drivetrain and dropper post and pretty much top end everything else.

Specialized Kenevo SL expert complete Specialized Kenevo SL expert complete

Turbo Kenevo SL Expert

For a slightly more reasonable $11,000, you can pick up the Kenevo SL Expert which drops to Fox Performance level suspension, alloy bars and wheels, and a mechanical SRAM X01 drivetrain to drop four grand from the price tag.

Specialized Kenevo SL frameset

S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL Frameset

Feel like building your own e-bike from the frame up? That’s an option too, and it might be the preferred option if you already have an entire build kit since the price is *just* $8,500. That does include the Fox Float X2 Factory rear shock, Praxis Carbon M30 crank with SRAM X-Sync Eagle chainring and all necessary electronics though.

Following their recent trend of incredible launch videos, Specialized offers Monsters vs. Bikes. Enjoy.

specialized.com

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nooner
nooner
3 years ago

Sounds great and all but REALLY at the end of the day what’s a 320Wh battery gonna do for you? I’m heading out today with 504Wh x 2 (1,008 Wh) gonna put in about 30 miles with 4K ft of vert and prolly still run out… This new Kenevo is a $15K Dentist bike…putting in a 10 mile Epic ride! LOL

Seraph
Seraph
3 years ago
Reply to  nooner

Specialized’s SL models are designed to give an experienced rider just a little bit more power throughout a regular ride, allowing them to ride farther with the same amount of effort. They’re not ultra endurance bikes. If you want endurance get a regular Levo.

Christian
Christian
3 years ago

Squeezed 38km/6000ft out of the Kenevo SL on my testride. 25/100 motor setting, 70 Kilos rider weight and some real human effort resulted in waaaayyyy more downhill runs that would have been possible with the normal spesh enduro for me. The better mtb if used right.

nooner
nooner
3 years ago
Reply to  Christian

20 miles not bad… How far would it go in Boost mode all the time?

BMX
BMX
3 years ago

Anyway Eat loads of food , ride your bike loads , turn into an uber beast and screw this mobility aid nonsense. If you’re handicapped or 50 plus then fair play to be out and about, otherwise no .

Dinger
Dinger
3 years ago
Reply to  BMX

Or jist do the riding you like to do and don’t worry yourself about how others choose to do their riding.

Huffagnolo SuperMagna
Huffagnolo SuperMagna
3 years ago
Reply to  Dinger

Ding ding ding, someone gets it!

If you are so worried about other people riding and having fun you should probably get a lawn chair and sit out on your lawn and complain all day about “those damn kids”

Ride a bike enjoy riding a bike and if someone has a different bike cool and if there bike is better than yours cool and if not cool! You are on a dang bike have fun! No worries, be happy!

Tony Pepperoni
Tony Pepperoni
3 years ago

I like bikes, nearly all of them

Zippidy
Zippidy
2 years ago

Would have been nice if this shared the same shock size at the Enduro; could swap coil/air shocks between the 2 if you owned both.

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