What comes after a Kenevo Expert - a downhillers emtb

[DudefromtheMTN]

So my wife has been riding her 2020 Kenevo Expert and done quite some miles on it. Coming from the sport of downhill mountain biking she immediately wanted that Kenevo Expert in 2020. Well time flies and she doesn't often switch bikes but it seems like the time has come. I ride a Vala and love it. It is not for her. Maybe a bullit? She really loves those triple clamp forks but there is nothing to be found on modern emtbs. Any ideas? Coming from a Kenevo weight is not really an issue. Also the Boxxers not really a must but a nice to have. Anybody made the same decision?

 

[#lazy]

I’ve just had my 2020 kenevo”s motor serviced , the forks and shock totally rebuild ( shout out to Sprung Suspension in the fod , if anyones forks creak they’ll fix it ) and it rides better than when I bought it …….so your wife could just spruce her up and keep riding !

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

So my wife has been riding her 2020 Kenevo Expert and done quite some miles on it. Coming from the sport of downhill mountain biking she immediately wanted that Kenevo Expert in 2020. Well time flies and she doesn't often switch bikes but it seems like the time has come. I ride a Vala and love it. It is not for her. Maybe a bullit? She really loves those triple clamp forks but there is nothing to be found on modern emtbs. Any ideas? Coming from a Kenevo weight is not really an issue. Also the Boxxers not really a must but a nice to have. Anybody made the same decision?

What about a Merida e180?
They are Category 5, so bike-park ready and are essentially a DH bike with trail abilities.

eONE-EIGHTY - MERIDA BIKES

eONE-EIGHTY micropage

www.merida-bikes.com

I understand that dual-crown forks can be used too.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

 

[Plummet]

If you have time then wait for the next drop of Crestline E bike. 180mm rear travel, 200mm triple clamp compatible. Designed and built by downhillers for getting more laps when not on the dh bike at the bike park.

A truly fantastic piece of kit. I have the Bosch powered S180 and am a downhiller and use it for exactly the purpose of getting more laps living in a town without a shuttle served bike park.

The next drop is early 2026 delivery.

Crestline Bikes – Bikes That Like To Get Down

crestlinebikes.com

 

[cozzy]

What about a Merida e180?
They are Category 5, so bike-park ready and are essentially a DH bike with trail abilities.

eONE-EIGHTY - MERIDA BIKES

eONE-EIGHTY micropage

www.merida-bikes.com

I understand that dual-crown forks can be used too.

Just looked. Being Merida i expected some dumb shit and wasn't disappointed by a headlight and headset cable routing, plus weird geometry when looking closer.

Its not a big ask for manufacturers for a decent 180mm+ ebike. Come on specialized, put a motor and battery on bruni's world cup bike and release that, make up for the disastrous gen4 levo.

I would also suggest refurbing the kenevo at this point.
I was going for a voima last year but we all know what happened to pole.
Maybe the Nicolai rob is building in another thread?

 

[CarolinaCrawler]

Maybe the Nicolai rob is building in another thread?

If I wasn't in the USA the S16 MGU would hands down be my next ebike.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

The only valid DH spec that I could see is the Nicolai S18. Proper DH (225x75mm) shock with 190mm rear travel, 200mm DH fork compatible.

But only 600wh internal battery, then add the 250wh range extender if you need more.

Mine coming imminently.

 

[mtbbiker]

If the Kenevo is still running good, keep it. I had one, love it, climbed great and one of the best DH e-bikes still out there. I replaced it, because I’m 200 lbs and ride with much lighter weight riders. Which is not issue until you ride longer distance and I would have to manage my power output or run out of power. Plus at my weight I also went through 2 motors. I’m sure your wife is much lighter than me, I assume range and motor reliability is not a concern for her.

I bought a Crestline and a 250 wh extender battery. No problems going the distance now. Personally, the Kenevo is just as cable as Crestline!

 

[Zed. (Justin is short)]

I'm currently riding a gen3 Norco Range vlt (180/170mm, 230x62.5mm shock) its a downhill beastie and Norco warrant it for twincrown forks

my previous bike is a Canyon Torque:ON (180/175mm, 225x70mm shock), *without complaining & discussing the battery issue* these bikes are a downhill weapon (& I guess there'll be a fair few cheap secondhand examples available c/o the battery thing)

think Canyon copied a few ideas from Norco there, both bikes have good dh geometry BUT are not small

as an aside, my mrs has (2 ) S-works Kenevo SL framesets & one is constantly ridden in our local bikepark on the bigger stuff - a little contary to Spech though as it's running 180mm front travel Manitou Dorado twincrown forks and eats everything

 

[cozzy]

I'm currently riding a gen3 Norco Range vlt (180/170mm, 230x62.5mm shock) its a downhill beastie and Norco warrant it for twincrown forks

my previous bike is a Canyon Torque:ON (180/175mm, 225x70mm shock), *without complaining & discussing the battery issue* these bikes are a downhill weapon (& I guess there'll be a fair few cheap secondhand examples available c/o the battery thing)

think Canyon copied a few ideas from Norco there, both bikes have good dh geometry BUT are not small


View attachment 166264
as an aside, my mrs has (2 ) S-works Kenevo SL framesets & one is constantly ridden in our local bikepark on the bigger stuff - a little contary to Spech though as it's running 180mm front travel Manitou Dorado twincrown forks and eats everything

Like that norco now ive looked into them. Never really noticed them before probably as they aren't that common in the uk. Guess its an older gen of bosch as it doesn't seem to have the massive downtube the latest 800wh battery requires.
Yeah that would make a good kenevo replacement

 

[Zed. (Justin is short)]

Like that norco now ive looked into them. Never really noticed them before probably as they aren't that common in the uk. Guess its an older gen of bosch as it doesn't seem to have the massive downtube the latest 800wh battery requires.
Yeah that would make a good kenevo replacement

Mine is actually the previous model with the Shimano ep8 motor, I actually wanted this system as I prefer the power delivery over Bosch - also this one has the option of 3 different batteries (mine has 725wh?) with ~500wh and 900wh options

As an aside, the older (2023) Range & sight vlt have the same frame design and use different travel forks & shocks with different rear linkage parts to have the range’s 170mm or sight’s 150mm rear travel

And, Williams racing in Australia make a mullet link to convert the range from 29” rear while keeping the bb hight

 

[Andres_Mora]

My answer was the bullit and overall pretty happy with it. Honestly the biggest upgrade (beyond motor which only wanted so I could do some enduros) is being able to run a longer dropper. Was limited to 150mm on Lenovo so which was rough but beyond that love both bikes.

 

[mustclime]

Another option, get a Levo 4, a cascade long shock kit and a 230x65 shock for 170mm in the rear , then mount a 180mm fork….if you start with the base alloy Levo, it would be cheaper that a base bullet

 

[TonTonUB]

Despite Spesh demonstrated a total void of vision with the levo gen 4 release, i keep on crossing fingers for someone to wake up, at their headquarters, stop releasing 1990"s emtb, and simply release a levo SL / KSL with a maxon or an avinox (or anything on par).

 

[Deleted member 9676]

225x75 /190mm , 225x70 / 175mm, 230x65 /170mm , what are these leverage ratios, for kids or ants?

My bike has 250x75 shock for 170mm.

Look at this chonker!

Just kidding, the Nicolai S18 looks pretty good, i don't even know why more manufacturers don't make long travel full fat bikes like that.

 

[mustclime]

Despite Spesh demonstrated a total void of vision with the levo gen 4 release, i keep on crossing fingers for someone to wake up, at their headquarters, stop releasing 1990"s emtb, and simply release a levo SL / KSL with a maxon or an avinox (or anything on par).

And the Amflow is not a copy of a Levo sl? Guess the Amflow is a 1990’s Emtb…. Good to know.

 

[surlyrides]

I picked up a Scor 6080z from Jensen for sub $4k with Bosch gen and 750 power tube. 180r/190f. The thing is a beast - will handle most anything - I'm a big fan

 

[TonTonUB]

And the Amflow is not a copy of a Levo sl? Guess the Amflow is a 1990’s Emtb…. Good to know.

Dogs bark.
Amflow barks.
Amflow is a dog.

wow ...Amflow just double double-dropkicked the industry in the nuts. Irrelevant reply / syllogism. try again, or not.

 

[DudefromtheMTN]

So after having a huge variety of bikes to pick from we narrowed it down to the Bullit or the Regulator CX. The Regulator can be equipped with a longer shock and longer fork which brings it closer to the Kenevo.
The point is, when getting a new bike she wants it to be close to the rise characteristics of the Kenevo but get rid of the few weaknesses, those being super low bottom bracket and really the 26 Kilo weight that is a significant percentage of her own weight. The Bullit is around 21. No idea about the Regulator but it should be close.
The plus for the bullit 90 or GX is it could be ridden as it comes.
The Regulator needs a longer shock and fork and also SRAM Stuff, as she has been riding Sram Gears all since 2000. So we lean a little towards the Bullit. Both from the same dealer around the corner.
Nicolai is not so much ours anymore. We had a lot of early Nicolais around 2000-2006 (Helius DH, Helius FR, M-Pires etc) and have just had enough.