Kenevo Gen1 Advice on mullet setup on 2020 kenevo

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fragledoozer

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Sorry if this has already been covered. Have a 2020 kenevo and fancy running a mullet setup do i need to change from forks if so what forks would you recommend, if not what front wheel do you recommend i buy any advice would be amazing cheers
 
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I have ridden this summer with mullet mode. With original fork Zoggi Z1 Bomber and 2.3 and 2.4 wide tire. Not much clearance.
It is good to try the mullet mode before buying a new fork, if you don't like it.

Because I'm keeping the mullet, now I have to buy a new fork or change the lower legs. Zoggi and Fox 36 29" legs are fine.

If I end up buying a new fork, I’ll pretty likely buy a Rockshox Lyrik or Zeb fork. Their maintenance and spare parts are cheaper than Fox's and there is not much difference in operation.
 
Kenevo Zeb X2.jpeg

Went with the Zeb Ultimate 180 and a Crankbrothers Synthesis up front. Toned it down from the Fox 49 before that but was able to keep the ride height more or less the same.
 
You’ll need a 29er fork. I used my extra fox 38 29er 170mm fork. Stock boxxer will have tight clearances between tire and fork if you fit it with a 29er wheel.

I sold my friend a fox 49, pictured, and he still needs a 29er wheel. I am waiting for my 2021 fox 40 to arrive then I’ll have a dual crown mullet.
F5416152-983D-457D-A008-0B2F954066B3.jpeg

8F80381E-B24B-4CEF-864B-D5D7B661B82F.jpeg

D8EC88E1-40FE-4A34-B742-4845710CCFF9.jpeg
 
Took mine out for the first time yesterday since swapping lowers and the new mullet wheelset. I've got an s5 so, it had some issues lifting the front. Took a lot of effort. The 29 made a huge difference. I'm still not going to loop out on anything but floating the front through turns and over roots is so much easier. Jumps much better also. I did a mullet set up on my Levo and it was good, felt better but this was a huge difference. I left the stantions right were they were clamped. I thought I would have to change that. I figured I would ride it and make adjustments. Nope. I think it is a great upgrade for sure.
IMG_1840.jpg
 
ive got an s5 as well got a levo also so will swap front wheel over tomorrow and give it a whirl. Mines a comp with the Bomber Z1 why don't you upgrade the RockShox Boxxer Select RC and sell it to me :) Put some shorter hope crank arms on it as well which helped with pedal strikes
 
I must say this is my project for 2021 which will hopefully prevent me from buying a new bike.
Buy some 29 lowers for my existing boxxers, about £300 & a 29" reserve carbon wheel to match the rear - £800
Good to read about others positive experiences.
 
Mcharza said:
I have ridden this summer with mullet mode. With original fork Zoggi Z1 Bomber and 2.3 and 2.4 wide tire. Not much clearance.
It is good to try the mullet mode before buying a new fork, if you don't like it.

Because I'm keeping the mullet, now I have to buy a new fork or change the lower legs. Zoggi and Fox 36 29" legs are fine.

If I end up buying a new fork, I’ll pretty likely buy a Rockshox Lyrik or Zeb fork. Their maintenance and spare parts are cheaper than Fox's and there is not much difference in operation.
Click to expand...
Any chance of seeing a pic showing the 29 clearance on the original Z1 fork ? ..
 
Thanks mate ....nice pics ....I can see what you mean now ...a tight fit .....thanks for sending me the pics very helpful ???
 
Is it easy to change/fit the lowers ? ..I’m gonna try the mullet set up with the Z1 fork and see how I goes
 
Boring numbers as I obsess about this sort of thing when working out how much higher the front end will be.
Wheel
27.5 rim = 584mm
29 rim = 622mm
difference = 38mm /2 = 19mm

Fork - Now specialized dont appear to use the sram measurement of 163mm from top of lower crown to top of stanchion. They use about 156mm. This takes the stock 180mm boxxer, which would have an a2c of 561mm to 568mm. I assume to more align with the 569mm a2c on the 180mm marzocchi on the comp model.

I have a 190mm airspring in my bike.
27.5 boxxer 190mm default ac2 =571mm
27.5 boxxer 190mm specialized a2c = 578mm

29 boxxer 190mm default a2c = 592mm
29 boxxer 190mm specialized a2c = 599mm

boxxer 27.5 difference to 29 = 21mm height increase

raise the fork through yokes from specialized setting of 156mm to sram setting of 163mm = brings 21mm height down to 14mm increased height

total height raise is wheel 19mm + fork 14mm = 33mm

So with hindsight I would have purchased some 15mm riser bars rather than the 30mm I have just fitted! But we will see next week when the bits arrive.
 
I try to compensate it by reducing the suspension by 10mm and taking one 5mm spacer out from under the stem.
 
If you fit a Boxxer or 49 you'd then have the adjustment to fine tune axle to crown, head angle and bar height.
Both of those forks can be set up to have more travel but a shorter A-C height than a long travel single crown fork.
 
@Mykp8 I'm suddenly having a panic that the boxxer lowers I ordered won't come with seals or foam rings. Can you confirm if yours had them ?
I'm already annoyed that I missed the black Friday deal and would have saved £47 if I had waited 1 more day :mad:
 
Yes, mine were all set to go. Pulled the old ones off, cleaned up the stantions. Added a little extra grease and put the new lowers on.
 
Hurray my rim, hub, spokes and 2.6 tyre have arrived! Slapped it all together and yes, the 29 boxxer lowers are definitely needed with about a 2mm gap on the 27.5 lowers.
Hopefully they will be here by the end of the week.

EDIT although the spokes are too short. Santa Cruz have increased the erd of the 30mm rim by 6mm since I lasted looked. More spokes ordered.

IMG_20201124_145419.jpg
 
Last edited:
Mcharza said:
I try to compensate it by reducing the suspension by 10mm and taking one 5mm spacer out from under the stem.
Click to expand...

Ive ordered the thomson direct mount stem as it was on offer @ £55, which will drop my bars by 20mm. It was cheaper than a new set of bars as ive only had these a few weeks! Plus the stock stem is a bit cheap looking.
Handlebar height should only be approx 10mm higher than it is currently once this is all complete :)

66409_thomson_direct_mount_dh_stem.jpg
 
Last edited:
So my project is compete.
boxxer 29 lowers from bikeinn £320
ewild tyre from merlin £40
Thomson drop stem from merlin £55
santa cruz reserve rim from 18bikes £580
dt 350 hub from bike24 £50
dt swiss comp spokes & nipples x2 from bike24 £65 (I had to buy twice, as SC have changed the erd of the 30mm rim, from 590mm to 596mm on the am29-02 rim. So the spokes I ordered at 290mm were not long enough, 293mm required)

I have a 190mm airsrping & the shock is in the low position.
BB has increased from 340mm to 346mm
HA from 63 to 62 degrees
Bottom of bar height has increased from 1015mm to 1020mm
s4 with 15mm spacers under top crown

The modest height increase of the bars was due to what I detailed a few posts up, changing the boxxers to the sram setting of 163mm + using a thomson drop stem. which brought the bars down 15mm from standard.
IMG_20201125_165542__01.jpg


Hopefully will get a ride in tomorrow to test.

IMG_20201127_141639.jpg


IMG_20201127_141624.jpg
 
Last edited:
cozzy said:
So my project is compete.
boxxer 29 lowers from bikeinn £320
ewild tyre from merlin £40
Thomson drop stem from merlin £55
santa cruz reserve rim from 18bikes £580
dt 350 hub from bike24 £50
dt swiss comp spokes & nipples x2 from bike24 £65 (I had to buy twice, as SC have changed the erd of the 30mm rim, from 590mm to 596mm on the am29-02 rim. So the spokes I ordered at 290mm were not long enough, 293mm required)

I have a 190mm airsrping & the shock is in the low position.
BB has increased from 340mm to 346mm
HA from 63 to 62 degrees
Bottom of bar height has increased from 1015mm to 1020mm
s4 with 15mm spacers under top crown

The modest height increase of the bars was due to what I detailed a few posts up, changing the boxxers to the sram setting of 163mm + using a thomson drop stem. which brought the bars down 15mm from standard.
View attachment 45667

Hopefully will get a ride in tomorrow to test.

View attachment 45666

View attachment 45668
Click to expand...
Beautiful build - I reckon a red RS spiring would top it off nicely to match those lowers . .

Screenshot 2020-11-27 at 22.36.37.png
 
cozzy said:
So my project is compete.
boxxer 29 lowers from bikeinn £320
ewild tyre from merlin £40
Thomson drop stem from merlin £55
santa cruz reserve rim from 18bikes £580
dt 350 hub from bike24 £50
dt swiss comp spokes & nipples x2 from bike24 £65 (I had to buy twice, as SC have changed the erd of the 30mm rim, from 590mm to 596mm on the am29-02 rim. So the spokes I ordered at 290mm were not long enough, 293mm required)

I have a 190mm airsrping & the shock is in the low position.
BB has increased from 340mm to 346mm
HA from 63 to 62 degrees
Bottom of bar height has increased from 1015mm to 1020mm
s4 with 15mm spacers under top crown

The modest height increase of the bars was due to what I detailed a few posts up, changing the boxxers to the sram setting of 163mm + using a thomson drop stem. which brought the bars down 15mm from standard.
View attachment 45667

Hopefully will get a ride in tomorrow to test.

View attachment 45666

View attachment 45668
Click to expand...
If you use a Levo shock link bracket and run a 10 to 12mm longer shock with around a 69/70mm stroke you can get 200mm travel without any problems.
 
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