Kenevo 2023

The Specialized Kenevo 2024 is the long-travel enduro and bike-park sibling of the Specialized Levo line, built on an aluminium FSR chassis with 180 mm of travel front and rear. It runs Specialized's in-house 2.2 motor with 90 Nm of torque and 565 W of peak power, paired with the M2-700 removable 700 Wh battery. Headline numbers: a claimed 25 kg system weight, a 64 degree head angle, a 450 mm chainstay and reach growing from 450 to 525 mm across four S-sized frames (S2 to S5). £6,500 base trim. Production status: discontinued. Community verdict: a brilliant gravity-focused aluminium chassis that owners adored, with the 2.2 motor's well-known long-term reliability concerns and Specialized's pivot away from the Kenevo name reshaping the buyer landscape.

Drive system and range. The Specialized 2.2 motor is a Brose-derived in-house drive that delivers 90 Nm of torque and 565 W of peak power. It is generally smooth and well-tuned but has a recurring community-flagged reliability profile, with owners reporting motor and battery replacements within the first two years of ownership. The motor weighs 2.98 kg, on the heavier side of the modern eMTB motor market. The 700 Wh M2-700 battery is removable for off-bike charging. Real-world enduro use on 700 Wh in mixed assist typically delivers 50 to 80 km depending on terrain and rider weight. Specialized firmware updates push through the MasterMind TCU and Specialized app for ongoing motor refinement.

Geometry and handling. A 64 degree head angle is properly slack for gravity-focused use, matching modern enduro rivals. Reach grows from 450 mm in S2 to 525 mm in S5, in Specialized's signature S-sizing system that lets riders pick frame size on reach rather than rider height. The 450 mm chainstay is identical across all sizes, on the longer side of the modern enduro market, which favours stability over agility. Wheelbases run 1250 to 1340 mm. The FSR (Horst Link) suspension is one of the most refined in eMTB, with multi-generation development behind the kinematics. 29-inch wheels across the range on the 2024 generation.

Build and value. One trim, £6,500 base. The aluminium chassis brings 180 mm travel front and rear, FSR suspension, the Specialized 2.2 motor and the 700 Wh M2-700 battery. Build details at this trim are typically a mid-spec FOX 38 or RockShox ZEB fork, FOX DHX2 or RockShox Super Deluxe coil shock and a SRAM or Shimano drivetrain. Higher-trim Expert and S-Works variants previously sat above the base price point. The standout strength is the FSR chassis and 700 Wh battery package at £6,500. The questionable note is the 2.2 motor's history (see caveats) and the discontinued production status.

Community-verified strengths. Long-term Kenevo owners universally praise the FSR suspension and bike-park-ready chassis. Owners regularly describe the Kenevo as their favourite eMTB after switching from Bullit, Levo and other rivals, with the chassis stiffness and stability called out as exceptional. Spec quality at the Expert trim historically included Ohlins TTX shock and Boxxer Ultimate dual-crown fork conversions, demonstrating the chassis's dual-crown compatibility. The S-sizing system fits riders cleanly, with multiple owners reporting S3 sizing fits a wide range of heights via stem and seat adjustments.

Caveats and known gripes. The Specialized 2.2 motor (and its Brose-derived predecessors) has well-documented reliability issues, with owners reporting requiring 2 motor replacements and 1 battery replacement within the first 2 years. The FOX DHX shock on the 2024 trim has been reported as failing at 16 months even after rebuild. Stock Maxxis 2.8 plus-size tyres on 38 mm internal Roval rims have shown sidewall failures at the bead at 25 psi. Drivetrain shifting on the Kenevo has historically been clunky due to cable routing and lack of shift sensor on the 2.2 motor. And the Kenevo name has been discontinued for 2025, with Specialized consolidating into the Levo and Levo EVO family.

Verdict. The Kenevo 2024 suits the experienced gravity rider who wants Specialized's well-developed FSR chassis with 180 mm of travel and S-sizing, on an aluminium platform with a 700 Wh removable battery, particularly at end-of-line dealer pricing. Riders chasing current production status, newer Bosch CX Gen 5 or DJI Avinox motors should look at the Specialized Levo EVO, the Mondraker Zendit or the Marin Alpine Trail E. Production status: discontinued.