Kenevo SL 2023

The 2023 Specialized Kenevo SL is the Gen 1 lightweight Kenevo, a carryover of the platform launched in 2021 and now discontinued. It uses a FACT 11m full-carbon FSR Horst-link chassis with 170 mm of travel front and rear on 29in wheels, paired with the Specialized SL 1.1 motor, a deliberately low-output 35 Nm and 240 W peak unit, fed by a fully integrated, non-removable 320 Wh SL1-320 battery with an optional 160 Wh Range Extender for the bottle cage. The aim is Enduro-style handling with light assistance and much lower weight than a full-power eMTB, managed through Specialized's MasterMind TCU display and the Mission Control app.

Three builds ran for 2023. The Comp at GBP 7,750 pairs a FOX 36 Rhythm fork and Float X Performance shock with a SRAM GX and NX Eagle drivetrain, SRAM Code R brakes on 220 and 200 mm rotors and Specialized alloy wheels. The Expert at GBP 9,250 steps up to a FOX 38 Performance Elite Grip2 fork, Float X2 Performance shock, SRAM X01 Eagle, Code RS brakes and Roval Traverse alloy wheels. The flagship S-Works at GBP 13,200 adds a FOX 38 Factory Grip2 Kashima fork, Float X2 Factory shock, wireless SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS, Code RSC brakes, a Roval Traverse SL carbon bar and a RockShox Reverb AXS post. All three run 220 mm front and 200 mm rear rotors and a Butcher T9 front, T7 rear 29x2.3in tyre pairing.

Geometry is shared across the trims and sizes, with a 63.5 degree head angle, a 76 degree effective seat angle and a 350 mm BB height. Reach runs from 435 mm on the S2 to 510 mm on the S5 across Specialized's S2 to S5 sizing, on a fixed 447 mm chainstay. A geo adjust head tube and geo adjust Horst pivot allow the head angle and BB to be fine-tuned; Specialized publishes only the single nominal table recorded here, and lists no claimed weight for any build.

This is the first-generation Kenevo SL and is now discontinued. UK prices rose over its life, from a 2021 launch of GBP 7,000, 8,750 and 12,500 to the 2023 catalogue figures above, and Specialized later offered an SL 1.1 to SL 1.2 motor-upgrade programme for owners before the second-generation Turbo Kenevo SL 2 replaced it. As a used buy it is identified by the SL 1.1 motor, the 320 Wh battery and the spec above.