Kenevo SL Official 2022 Kenevo SL (KSL) Megathread!

Doomanic

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Jan 21, 2018
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@Doomanic I’m sure I saw one at FOD early April by Parkdean Cafe just after we saw you. Will you be going FOD a test ride and did you get a test ride on a Rise yet?

I’m going to test ride one for sure, but I think the Siryon will suit me better. I’m trying to arrange a Rise test ride from Surge Bikes and possibly a Levo SL as well.
 

Zimmerframe

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Jun 12, 2019
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Orbea will probably come out with a better bike than this.
It's not like you to point out the obvious but incorrectly. :p Orbea will probably come out with a different bike to this ... in the future .. as Specialized will probably come out with a different bike to this ... in the future ..

The other benefit is you aren't stuck with specializeds terrible colour schemes of late.
Thanks for the help there. I'm sure a lot of people aren't sure about their own tastes and decisions so it helps to have your guiding wisdom as to what's nice or not.

I thought I'd like this design more but if I'm honest I think it's worse than the current frame style
Again, I'm surprised. I thought the man who doesn't like any bike, design, manufacturer, supplier, shop, colour would definitely have given this the thumbs up.

Sorry mods. Please delete my off topic pointless drivel.
 

Hob Nob

Active member
Jun 4, 2020
152
149
UK
@Doomanic I’m sure I saw one at FOD early April by Parkdean Cafe just after we saw you. Will you be going FOD a test ride and did you get a test ride on a Rise yet?

That’s because a certain EMBN presenter local to the area has been out on one for the last month or so. Not exactly ‘hiding’ it away.
 

mike172

Member
May 12, 2021
145
85
Surrey
Im sure I saw on this week strapped to the back of a black Jeep headed towards the Surrey Hills


Is it me or does no one seem that hyped by this bike, even Rob. Just seems like, meh its ok.
 

Rob Rides EMTB

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Jan 14, 2018
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Im sure I saw on this week strapped to the back of a black Jeep headed towards the Surrey Hills


Is it me or does no one seem that hyped by this bike, even Rob. Just seems like, meh its ok.
It’s a very very good capable bike. I think the Gen 3 Levo is just such an outstanding bike and almost as capable downhill. They made the Gen3 so good with it’s longer slacker and adjustable Geometry and although they feel quite different to handle I think that you can do more with the Levo.

I really enjoy climbing on the Levo; you can challenge yourself to ridiculous things on it. Not so much on the KSL, climbing became a means to an end for me on it.

What about a full fat KSL though ???
 

Rob Rides EMTB

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To add, I ride 100% of my time socially with others on full fat ebikes. Hardly ever ride on my own and if I do it’s a 1 hour power lap of my local woods.

The FF bikes can make this power lap more interesting as I can blast around the flats on full turbo. It can make a boring trail quite interesting!
 

Jimbo Vills

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May 15, 2020
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To add, I ride 100% of my time socially with others on full fat ebikes. Hardly ever ride on my own and if I do it’s a 1 hour power lap of my local woods.

The FF bikes can make this power lap more interesting as I can blast around the flats on full turbo. It can make a boring trail quite interesting!

Sums up my thoughts really.

Times limited. Fitness isn’t what it could be. I’m sure there’s a lot of satisfaction from riding a pure mtb, but I like the speed of a full fat and tbh when I see super fit guys going quite slow on climbs and flats... I just think to myself where’s the fun in that....

DH maybe different but a FF bike doesn’t go slow there either.

Sure the feel is different but overall I think you get more from the FF bikes which are just getting better all the time

The SL is for lots of people, but I’d buy the bullit over that for similar riding but more motor
 

galaga187

E*POWAH Master
Apr 15, 2018
794
594
Wroughton
To add, I ride 100% of my time socially with others on full fat ebikes. Hardly ever ride on my own and if I do it’s a 1 hour power lap of my local woods.

The FF bikes can make this power lap more interesting as I can blast around the flats on full turbo. It can make a boring trail quite interesting!
@Rob Rides EMTB For some the higher prices will mean a quiver killer bike is a more realistic purchase. £/mile/smiles ridden. I do wonder what the 2019 Comp Carbon would retail at these days? mine is still going strong but it’s had an “easy paper round” life in the hills of Wiltshire ?
 

mike172

Member
May 12, 2021
145
85
Surrey
Times limited. Fitness isn’t what it could be. going quite slow on climbs and flats... I just think to myself where’s the fun in that....

Yep, my thoughts too as a reasonably fit person that can get round Pitch Hill/Winterfold and then go back for more without much of an issue. I mean there was a time when I couldn't get up some of the steeps there

Still, Its not fun going up some of the hills and I don't really gas out these days, its just slow going so I really want something like an SL to try get it out the way faster

My problem is, I think the SL motor is for me. I just wince at £9k.

I might convince myself the S works frame is a good idea so I can put my GX stuff on it..... Got my eye on that. £6k I can sort of deal with, plus a fork

Also got my eye on any 27.5 conversions....or Mullets. :)
 

Jimbo Vills

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Going down hill is fun on all bikes.

Going faster on flats is way more fun on full power bikes

Going up hill sucks on all bikes other than full power ebikes.

The brose is more fun than the EP8 because it just has that burst of power you can call on which isn't possible on the SL motors at all.

Its good to have options and the best options we now have are frame sets. Frame sets with adjustable geo are the most unpublished innovation because people focus to much on factory bikes supplied for free.

Framesets are not new but highly configurable ones are very new. This opens the door to some seriously bespoke bikes which will be better than this factory stuff.

Now you can not only choose the travel but also the motor power and also how you set the bike up before you order a single part for it.

The main problem with Frame sets for the foreseeable future is being stuck with a frame and not being able to acquire the parts to complete the build....

fine if you are swapping over.

but the shortage of parts is surely why specialised are now doing framesets. to keep frame sales moving as they struggle to build complete bikes.
 

CjP

PRIME TIME
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Jan 1, 2019
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Going down hill is fun on all bikes.


Framesets are not new but highly configurable ones are very new. This opens the door to some seriously bespoke bikes which will be better than this factory stuff.

Now you can not only choose the travel but also the motor power and also how you set the bike up before you order a single part for it.
The only sense you have ever spoken
 

Rob Rides EMTB

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I’m going to test ride one for sure, but I think the Siryon will suit me better. I’m trying to arrange a Rise test ride from Surge Bikes and possibly a Levo SL as well.
I’m very interested in the Siryon too. This Bafang system especially - knowing that my “95Nm” Bafang motor felt weedy compared to Brose and Bosch, I hope their 60Nm Eon Drive feels true to what you’d expect it to feel.
 

Rob Rides EMTB

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Now I’ve had time to digest I could see myself taking one of these to BPW with 1 or 2 range extenders and having a great day.
Yep, would be great there. This bike really makes sense for anyone that wants no weight compromise to get in the way and the best, most playful handling on the downs.
 

Rob Rides EMTB

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Just remembered a point. I remember on a YouTube public live stream we did, Marco from Specialized was talking about modular motor upgrades being something they were looking at.

Given that the SL motor first came out July 2019 I have been wondering on the life cycle of that motor and how it fits in with the typical 3 year life cycle of frames.

Assuming this KSL frame will be around from model year 2021-2023... will we still see the 2019 SL 1.1 motor in a 2023 SL?

I’d not be surprised if we see a new uprated Mahle motor at some point in the future and I really hope that it can be retrofit into the current SL type bikes.

Same can be said with the Brose on the Gen 3 Levo...
 

p3eps

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Dec 14, 2019
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That begs the question... I wonder what a Levo SL frameset is worth?!
 

Ribinrobin

Active member
Apr 16, 2021
245
255
Berkshire, UK
Love the look of this but for someone who has a levo sl for trail riding and a kenevo expert for steep stuff it dont fit my bill. Like rob most my riding is in group rides, i have my sl for riding with normal bike mates and solo, and the kenevo for group FF rides and parks Think my current set up is the perfect balance.
 

maramouse

Active member
Mar 24, 2018
182
123
Genoa Italy
this bike is 19kg ( expert ) with undersized tires and air shock, if we fitted two reinforced tires, such as maxxis dd or schwalbe sg and a spring shock, we will add about 1.5kg ....
the bullit of a dear friend of mine, in xt coil version in size m, weighed by me, with feedback scale, is 21,7 kg with dd tires and spring shock absorber, therefore, with the same set-up, we would probably be very close, as weights, but with the difference that the santacruz has a full power ep8 and a removable 630 wh battery and costs less ...
 

zorro77

Active member
Apr 13, 2021
230
413
Italy
Aesthetically it's very nice, but I think Specialized are brave. I don't know from you if these light bikes are sold, but in Italy No. The Orbe Rise with 60Nm engine is sold much more. As in the whole world, here too there are few bikes in this period, instead the shops no longer know how to give (-30% discount) these Levo SL and I am afraid that it will end the same with these Kenevo SL, perhaps a slightly more powerful 35Nm engine was the way ...

For example:
 

Harold

Member
Oct 30, 2020
42
56
Brussels
Aesthetically it's very nice, but I think Specialized are brave. I don't know from you if these light bikes are sold, but in Italy No. The Orbe Rise with 60Nm engine is sold much more. As in the whole world, here too there are few bikes in this period, instead the shops no longer know how to give (-30% discount) these Levo SL and I am afraid that it will end the same with these Kenevo SL, perhaps a slightly more powerful 35Nm engine was the way ...

For example:
I think you are confusing the current booming in demands with standard ebikes’ demand. Currently a lot of non bikers are rushing to EMTB cause COVID, and the new (temporary) paradigm... Those people will go for full fat ebike, for sure. Light ebikes a are niche for now at least. That is why you see more stocks for SL than Levo or other ebikes... This will balance out at some point.

Finally, as regard with the rise, sure it is a good competitor being more powerful, it is also heavier, more backcountryish,it has poorer lbs support/service, and the brand resale value is clearly below... Also if the rise sale well at launch it is because, well it is a brand new bike...
 

Zimmerframe

MUPPET
Subscriber
Jun 12, 2019
13,771
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Brittany, France
Stripped naked on a bed ...
slk.jpeg
 

cycle101

New Member
Apr 9, 2021
3
13
socal
A perspective for what its worth...
Bike looks great.
Not happy with the full 29 Wheelset...one of the best attributes of the original kenevo was the 27.5 Wheelset. They should have at least made it a mullet set up.
1.1 motor is underpowered to say the least.
Pretty good spec but hard to see a true value for the cost.
Specialized had a real opportunity to close the door on all other 'light e-mtb's" with the new Kenevo- but they blew it.
By not AT LEAST matching Orbea's EP8 RS 60NM torque Shimano motor they did all consumers a huge disservice.
It's not say the new KENEVO isn't a nice bike... but it could have been soooo much better. Having a hard time with a shuttle bike that you have to walk up the hills after the third lap... no thanks. Look at all the reviews so far...Downhill is its strength. Horrible uphill. Not a technical climber. Might as well buy the enduro...
 

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