Kenevo SL 2025
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.
Long-travel lightweight enduro eMTB with Turbo SL 1.2 motor (50Nm, 320W)
The Specialized Kenevo SL 2025 is the Californian brand's lightweight enduro eMTB, a carbon Horst-Link chassis with serious 170 mm of travel front and rear, powered by the Specialized SL 1.2 motor system. Headline numbers: 170/170 mm of travel, SL 1.2 motor at 50 Nm and 320 W peak (1.95 kg, the same lightweight platform as the Levo SL), a non-removable 320 Wh internal battery, a properly slack 63.5 degree head angle, reach 435 to 510 mm across S2/S3/S4/S5 with two chainstay/wheelbase flip-chip options (8 geometry rows), 20.32 kg claimed base weight, and a £6,250 base price stepping through Comp (£6,500), Ohlins Coil (£7,999), Expert (£8,500, 19.6 kg), to S-Works (£12,500). The community verdict, summed up by @p3eps, is that "those who are saying the Kenevo SL and Levo SL are underpowered are clearly missing the point of these bikes": this is for the rider who wants the lightest possible 170 mm enduro chassis with a polite assist.
Drive system and range. The Specialized SL 1.2 motor at 50 Nm and 320 W peak is the lightweight motor used across the SL platform. The 320 Wh SL1-320 battery is the small-pack defining choice and is not removable per @Neeko DeVinchi, which "creates complications for international travel and range extender battery management". The optional Range Extender bottle adds 160 Wh for big-day rides, taking total capacity to 480 Wh. Real-world range on 320 Wh in a 20.3 kg full-enduro chassis is realistically 25 to 35 miles in Eco/Trail modes, dropping significantly in Turbo. @Bullit notes that "TQ engine reduces performance when constantly driven in turbo mode", though the Kenevo SL uses Specialized's own SL motor rather than TQ.
Geometry and handling. The 63.5 degree head angle is properly slack and bang on the modern enduro brief. Specialized uses size-naming (S2 to S5) with reach 435, 460, 485 and 510 mm and chainstays available in two flip-chip settings: short (437 to 440 mm) for nimble handling or long (447 mm) for stability. Wheelbase scales 1225 to 1316 mm. The flip-chip plus four-size programme gives genuine geometry flexibility, more than most rivals offer. Specialized ran a full 29 inch wheel setup on this generation, which @cycle101 flagged as a step away from the original Kenevo's 27.5 mullet character.
Build and value. Five trims with a £6,250 to £12,500 spread. @Utah Rider notes 2023 Kenevo SL stock has been heavily discounted in the US (one example marked down to $3,800 from a Utah dealer), so off-season buys are available. Standout choice across the range is the carbon-everywhere construction at 20.32 kg base/19.6 kg Expert weight. Questionable: the £12,500 S-Works premium for largely cosmetic and finishing-kit changes is hard to justify against the £6,250 base when the SL 1.2 motor is identical.
Community-verified strengths. First, the chassis quality and weight: 19.6 to 20.3 kg for a 170/170 mm full-enduro is genuinely impressive. Second, the geometry flip-chips and size-specific reach give proper fit options. Third, @Neeko DeVinchi notes the "revised linkage placement designed to prevent stone and crud accumulation in compression areas", a real-world durability touch.
Caveats and known gripes. Pedal kickback is the most consistent technical flag: @alleeex reports the Kenevo SL "suffers from significant pedal kickback on large cases and hard drops to flat, severe enough to cause ankle injury risk". @alleeex separately notes O-Chain compatibility is "not available for this motor". The non-removable battery and small 320 Wh capacity are deliberate weight choices but limit utility for longer or international trips. @1234 flags that "TQ motor can be upgraded on Trek Slash+ unlike Specialized Kenevo SL which is locked", and the Specialized SL motor offers no firmware upgrade path to higher torque.
Verdict. The Kenevo SL is in current production. Buy it if you want a 19 to 20 kg full-enduro chassis with proper 170 mm travel, a slack 63.5 degree front and the lightweight-and-polite-assist character of the Specialized SL platform. Look elsewhere if you need 70 Nm-plus assistance, a removable battery, a 600 to 800 Wh native pack without range extenders, or O-Chain pedal-kickback protection. The Kenevo SL remains a niche but excellent execution of the lightweight enduro brief.
Geometry · hover a row to highlight the measurement on the bike
| S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 435 mm | 460 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm |
| Stack | 618 mm | 626 mm | 635 mm | 644 mm |
| Chainstay | 437 mm | 437 mm | 437 mm | 440 mm |
| Headtube Angle | 63.5° | 63.5° | 63.5° | 63.5° |
| Seattube Angle (eff) | 78.5° | 78.2° | 78° | 77.5° |
| BB Drop | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1225 mm | 1255 mm | 1275 mm | 1315 mm |
| Headtube | 105 mm | 115 mm | 125 mm | 135 mm |
| Standover | 792 mm | 802 mm | 779 mm | 779 mm |
| Front Centre | 788 mm | 818 mm | 838 mm | 875 mm |
Trims · 4
Comp £6,500 | Ohlins Coil £7,999 | Expert £8,500 | S-Works £12,500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | Specialized SL 1.2 · 50 Nm | Specialized SL 1.2 · 50 Nm | Specialized 1.2 SL · 50 Nm | Specialized SL 1.2 · 50 Nm |
| Battery | Specialized SL1-320 · 320 Wh · all trims | |||
| Travel F/R | 170/170 mm · all trims | |||
| Frame | Carbon · all trims | |||
| Fork | RockShox Zeb Select, Charger RC damper, 15x110mm, 44mm offset, 170mm of travel | Öhlins RXF38 m.2, TTX 18 damper, 15x110mm, 44mm offset, 170mm of travel | RockShox ZEB Select+, Charger RC damper, 38mm stanchions, 44mm offset, 170mm travel | FOX FLOAT 38 Factory, GRIP2 damper, Kashima, 44mm offset, 170mm travel |
| Shock | Rockshox SuperDeluxe Select rear shock, 230x62.5mm | Ohlins TTX coil shock, 230 x 62.5mm | RockShox Vivid Select+, 230mm x 62.5mm | Rockshox Vivid Ultimate, 230x62.5mm |
| Stem | Alloy Trail Stem, 35mm bar bore | RaceFace Aeffect R 35mm bore, 40mm length | Specialized Trail alloy, 35mm bar clamp | Deity, 35mm bar clamp |
| Handlebar | Specialized, 6061 alloy, 6-degree upsweep, 8-degree backsweep, 30mm rise, 800mm width | Raceface Turbine Alloy, 35mm dia, S1/S2: 20mm rise, 800mm width, S3-S6: 40mm rise, 800mm width | Specialized 6061 alloy, 800mm width, 30mm rise, 6 upsweep / 8 backsweep, 35mm clamp | Roval Traverse SL Carbon, 800mm width, 30mm rise, 6 upsweep / 8 backsweep |
| Grips | Specialized Trail | Deity Lockjaw | Deity Lockjaw | Deity Lockjaw |
| Saddle | Bridge Comp, Hollow Cr-mo rails, 155/143mm | Bridge Comp, Hollow Cr-mo rails, 155/143mm | Specialized Bridge Comp, hollow CrMo rails, 143/155mm | Specialized Bridge, hollow titanium rails, 143/155mm |
| Seatpost | X-Fusion Manic, infinite adjustable, two-bolt head, bottom mount cable routing, remote SLR LE lever, 34.9mm, S2: 125mm, S3/S4: 150mm, S5: 170mm | Bike Yoke, Revive Max, 34.9, S2: 125mm, S3: 130mm, S4: 185mm, S5: 213mm | PNW Components Loam dropper (125mm S2 / 150mm S3 / 170mm S4 / 200mm S5) | RockShox Reverb AXS dropper, electronic wireless |
| Brakes | SRAM Maven Bronze | TRP DH-R Evo brakes | SRAM Maven Bronze, 4-piston (220mm front / 200mm rear rotors) | SRAM Code Ultimate Stealth, 4-piston (220mm front / 200mm rear) |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM S1000 Eagle Transmission Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless | SRAM XX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless |
| Crank | SRAM Alloy crankset, S2/S3: 165mm, S4/S5: 170mm | SRAM Alloy Crankset, Dub interface, S2/S3: 165mm, S4/S5: 170mm | SRAM Eagle Alloy, DUB (165mm S2/S3, 170mm S4/S5) | SRAM Eagle Carbon DUB (165mm S2/S3, 170mm S4/S5) |
| Shifters | SRAM AXS POD Controller | SRAM AXS POD Controller | SRAM Eagle AXS POD Controller, 12-speed wireless | SRAM Eagle AXS POD Controller, 12-speed wireless |
| Cassette | SRAM XS-1270 Transmission Cassette, 12spd, 10-52t | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Cassette, 12spd, 10-52t | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission XS-1275, 12-speed, 10-52T | SRAM XX Eagle Transmission XS-1297, 12-speed, 10-52T |
| Chain | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Flattop Chain | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Flattop Chain | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Flattop, 12-speed | SRAM XX Eagle Transmission Flattop, 12-speed |
| Drivetrain | SRAM S1000 Eagle Transmission Derailleur; SRAM Alloy crankset, S2/S3: 165mm, S4/S5: 170mm; SRAM AXS POD Controller; SRAM XS-1270 Transmission Cassette, 12spd, 10-52t; SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Flattop Chain | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Derailleur; SRAM Alloy Crankset, Dub interface, S2/S3: 165mm, S4/S5: 170mm; SRAM AXS POD Controller; SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Cassette, 12spd, 10-52t; SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Flattop Chain | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless; SRAM Eagle Alloy, DUB (165mm S2/S3, 170mm S4/S5); SRAM Eagle AXS POD Controller, 12-speed wireless; SRAM GX Eagle Transmission XS-1275, 12-speed, 10-52T; SRAM GX Eagle Transmission Flattop, 12-speed | SRAM XX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless; SRAM Eagle Carbon DUB (165mm S2/S3, 170mm S4/S5); SRAM Eagle AXS POD Controller, 12-speed wireless; SRAM XX Eagle Transmission XS-1297, 12-speed, 10-52T; SRAM XX Eagle Transmission Flattop, 12-speed |
| Wheels | Specialized 29, hookless alloy, 30mm inner width, 32h, tubeless ready; Specialized sealed cartridge bearing hubs | Traverse HD Alloy 29", DT Swiss 370 | Roval Traverse HD Alloy 29, DT Swiss 370 hubs (15x110mm front, 12x148mm rear) | Roval Traverse SL, hookless carbon, sealed cartridge bearings, 29 |
| Tyres | Butcher, GRID GRAVITY casing, GRIPTON T9 compound, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3" | Butcher, GRID GRAVITY casing, GRIPTON T9 compound, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3" | Specialized Butcher, GRID GRAVITY casing, GRIPTON T9, 2Bliss Ready, 29x2.3 front and rear | Specialized Butcher 29x2.3 front / Specialized Eliminator 29x2.3 rear |
| Weight | 20.13 kg | 20.49 kg | 19.6 kg | — |
| Price | £6,500 | £7,999 | £8,500 | £12,500 |
Rides similarly
Other eMTBs with the closest geometry to this one.
Spot a mistake?
Suggest a correction. We review every submission before publishing.