First Look: The 2020 Specialized Kenevo Aims to Replace Your Shuttle Truck
Meet the new Kenevo, the electric counterpart to the recently released Specialized Enduro. It's designed to be a shuttle truck or chairlift replacement, with 180mm of travel, longer, slacker geometry than the previous version, and a dual-crown fork on the Expert model that further cements its position as a gravity-oriented machine.
There are two models, the Kenevo Expert, which is priced at $8,225 USD, and the Kenevo Comp, which goes for $5,525. The Expert build kit includes a RockShox Boxxer Select RC fork that's paired with a SuperDeluxe Coil Select shock, while the Comp model gets a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 single crown fork and a Bomber CR coil shock. Both models are equipped with SRAM Code R brakes, and Specialized's 27.5 x 2.6” Black Diamond casing Butcher tires.
There are two models, the Kenevo Expert, which is priced at $8,225 USD, and the Kenevo Comp, which goes for $5,525. The Expert build kit includes a RockShox Boxxer Select RC fork that's paired with a SuperDeluxe Coil Select shock, while the Comp model gets a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 single crown fork and a Bomber CR coil shock. Both models are equipped with SRAM Code R brakes, and Specialized's 27.5 x 2.6” Black Diamond casing Butcher tires.
Specialized Kenevo Details
• Wheel size: 27.5"
• Travel: 180mm front and rear
• Aluminum frame
• 64° head angle
• 77° seat tube angle
• 700WH battery on Expert model
• New Specialized 2.1 motor
• Sizes: S2, S3, S4, S5
• Weight (Expert model, claimed): 54.1 lb / 24.5 kg
• Price: $5,525 - $8,225 USD
• www.specialized.com
• Wheel size: 27.5"
• Travel: 180mm front and rear
• Aluminum frame
• 64° head angle
• 77° seat tube angle
• 700WH battery on Expert model
• New Specialized 2.1 motor
• Sizes: S2, S3, S4, S5
• Weight (Expert model, claimed): 54.1 lb / 24.5 kg
• Price: $5,525 - $8,225 USD
• www.specialized.com
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Frame Details
From a distance, the Kenevo strikes a profile that looks like a non-motorized bike; it's only when you get closer that the oversized tube dimensions become apparent.The Kenevo now uses the same sidearm frame design that's found on the Stumpjumper, a move that was done to increase stiffness and minimize flex in rough terrain. The aluminum frame is also 2.2 pounds lighter than before, and that's without the new, lighter motor. The battery is tucked into the downtube, which means that Specialized's SWAT box secret compartment isn't a feature here, but there is a multi-tool mounted underneath the bottle cage for easy access. Sizes S3 - S5 are spec'd with 160mm dropper posts, and the smallest size gets a post with 130mm of travel.
Eagle-eyed readers will notice that the complete weight hasn't changed much (54.1 pounds for the Expert, and 52 pounds for the Comp), but that's due to the fact Specialized went with a burlier component spec this time around - the heavier duty tires and dual crown fork add on the weight that was shaved from the frame and motor.
Geometry
The Kenevo's head angle went from 65- down to 64-degrees, and the reach numbers have been significantly increased for all models. For example, the new S4 size has a reach of 494mm, while a size large in the previous version was 455mm. The seat tube length has been reduced to give riders the ability to up- or downsize depending on their personal preferences, and the angle has been steepened – it now sits at 77-degrees.
Suspension Design
Like the new Demo and the Enduro, the Kenevo's kinematics have been revised in an effort to give it better bottom-out resistance and more speed over chunky terrain. The leverage ratio is more progressive than the previous model, and the axle path is almost identical to the new Enduro, with a few more millimeters of rearward travel in the initial part of the travel compared to the previous version. That change is intended to allow the rear wheel to move up and over obstacles more quickly, rather than getting hung up and impeding forward progress.
Specialized 2.1 Motor
E-bikes still aren't giving analog bikes a run for their money when it comes to overall weight, but they are getting lighter and sleeker at a rapid pace. Specialized was able to make their motor significantly lighter thanks to the use of a full magnesium housing and by mounting the motor directly to the frame, steps that helped them shed 800 grams.
According to Specialized, the 2.1 motor is 15% smaller than the prior version, yet also manages to be more efficient and powerful. Rider input is said to be amplified by 410%, providing up to 560 watts and 90Nm of torque. The motor hardware was developed in conjunction with Brose, but the actual software was developed by Specialized engineers in Switzerland.
The Kenevo can be used with Specialized's Smart Control feature, which allows riders to enter the distance they'd like to ride in the Mission Control app, and then let the software calculate the correct power output to keep the battery from running out of juice. There's also a new mode that can be accessed in the Mission Control app – Shuttle Mode. That mode delivers the maximum amount of power with less pedaling force required, although the top speed that the motor will assist to is still 20mph in the United States, and 25kph in Europe.
The actual battery run time will depend on terrain steepness and how much motor support is being used, which is why the run time is listed as being between 1-5 hours. The battery can be charged on the frame (there's a charge port near the bottom bracket), or easily removed and charged off the bike.
The Kenevo Comp is equipped with a 500Wh battery and a 180mm Marzocchi Z1 fork.
Must Read This Week
378 Comments
eBikes YIELD TO REGULAR BIKES, UP AND DOWN!
I ride an ebike up trails i wouldn't ride up on my mountainbike - but you best believe I will stop if someone who earned their turn is riding down it.
Are your talking about E-Bikes or Fleshlights? If you take E-Bikes out of your comment and insert, pun intended, Fleshlight...it is hilarious.
Give it a shot...HAHA
Given the responses to the articles on PB about E-bikes I think the biking community are way more accepting of the Fleshlight.
Fact is, it's *almost* the same BUT you have a motor. So, not quite the same sport.
If you don't yield to no-moto descenders, you're a weiner. Yield to climbers is for no-moto. It's eeeeasy to start on a 10%+ grade on an ebike. So it's just plain courtesy.
Other than that, ride and have fun.
(PS - I hate "rules", I like sharing the trails with respectful trail users)
Just ask Stratos....
Everything over 25kmh here need to be registred and get insurance+ liscence plate = means illegal to ride in the woods ;-)
So why Bike up when you can shuttle faster and get better downhill with a lighter Bike?
This will be bought most often by people who ride mellow trails and need all the suspension because "Ive got kids and a job so no time for everything" or something like that
But oh well
But I do agree with you: All things being equal, I'd rather ride a chairlift and have a lighter bike.
But I do think that a 17 kg DH bike will be faster than a 24 kg "E-DH", because it will be easier to change direction and get fast lines. Obviously the e-bike gives you a certain boost, but I have never found that boost to outweigh the benefit of beeing able to move around the bike quicker. This might also have something to do with the fact that I am in good enough shape to pedal a bike at a pretty reasonable speed, even without electric assistance. I do however realize that not everybody has the time to exercise as much as I do.
Still, for me personally, I would say that a lighter DH bike (17 vs 24kg) is quicker and better.
Us?
You'll get to 45...maybe. I am.
I dont have an ebike, yet. Ive been mtbing for 30 yrs. I have 2 kids and squeeze 2/3 rides a week in.
E-bikes are really appealing though.
Just the cost keeping me away.
www.ktm.com/us/e-ride/freeride-e-xc/engine
m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=KF2X1o0FGA0
On the flip side, could also be a great bike for privateer riders. Those competing at higher levels but also need to hold down a day job, allows them to make better use of their time giving them more riding hours. Maybe allowing them to get a contract and go full time!?
There are plenty of benefits for able bodied riders being brought to the e-bike world, the only thing that needs to be addressed now is the price tag. Still totally unaffordable for most riders I know.
For batteries and motors that have a large embedded pollution, using them lots is important to recover the "dirtiness". So for a hill considering an uplift service, having a fleet of these as rentals instead of vans would probably be a clean option. Getting everyone to buy them, and only use them 2 hours a week leaves a lot of precious materials sat in garages doing nothing 166 hours a week.
I don’t think it’s a long term solution but maybe in the interim a smart change to help reduce the carbon footprint. All depending on the impact of the battery/motor production of course. That said, carbon frames are notoriously bad for the environment in terms of initial production but I remember reading that the amount of distance needed to travel to offset that v car usage was actually surprisingly low.
Personally lean toward less motors/more exercise, and definitely less land access disasters in the U.S.. And less hate.
I do agree that it would be a shame if land access became limited due to damage to trails and land surrounding them, education is key though. Some kind of regulation could be good too, clearly sign and close off certain areas to emtb's if there is likely to be land damage etc. A bit like what is in place for Motocross/enduro riders here, there a tracks and trails that can be used out in the deep forest in the autumn but close during the winter/spring/summer when they would suffer excessive damage.
Who knows? In the meantime I'll keep hauling my lazy ass reluctantly up the climbs, at least I know I earn a cake and beer at the end!
We had more fun riding the E bikes uphill. I may rent or demo one but I'm 48 and still climb better than most of the younger guys I ride with uphill. I like to earn it plus I love my MTB.
I may have been going over 20mph I didn't look down at the time.
It's hard not to have fun on these.
You put yourself in a different mind-set.
Your out to have fun and get as much DH in as possible. The new Levo's can get 8500ft on a single battery.
For example, my lunch ride takes 50 min. I did it in 25 on the Levo.
I put in 30% effort and it put in 70%.
Yes, I was that guy blowing by climbers. And I am sorry, not sorry.
But I had my HR up, I sweat and it actually rode pretty darn good on the DH.
Would this be my only ride?
Heck no
But when I become a dentist...I will def add it to my stable.
Get out and demo one...if you have a bad time, then something is wrong with you.
Hikers won't notice wether it's an eBike or mountainbike. They may not be the same, but the only trail users who will notice are mountainbikers.
I think the main conflict (if any) will be between assisted and unassisted riders. I believe riders with assist should yield in both directions. Other than that who cares.
interesting perspectives from trails building orgs: www.singletracks.com/blog/trail-advocacy/we-asked-four-major-trail-organizations-for-their-thoughts-on-emtb-trail-access
eBikes should yield to Mtb. Ride them wherever but yield to all non motorized traffic.
If that description fits you, I would suggest you consider this other bike, which goes for the same price:
www.ktm.com/us/mx/250-sx
Like are we still doing this?
What would the moto guys say to someone jumping on an article about a KTM and asking why would anyone buy one, when you could buy a world cup level V10 instead?
A world cup level V10 has world cup level components on it. This is an aluminum frame with middle of the road suspension. Why does it cost the same as another bike with better suspension and a more complex, powerful motor, and a gearbox?
Moto is just more dangerous and difficult to transport. I could go on and on why I ride mtb over moto now.
Mostly I'm old and work for a living and want to keep my risks reasonable.
Or i could just self shuttle laps from my house on something that's way more fun (to me) and still get cardio.
They ain't the same buddy. Pretending eMTB is a 2-stoke moto is even dumber than pretending an eMTB is same as MTB.
Some of us don't have moto legal trails that close.
Some of us prefer less noise than a moto.
You seem to be switching arguments from:
a) why would someone spend $X for any one particular thing when they could simply choose another that you, in your opinion, deem to be a more direct line to tickling the pleasure senses, to:
b) why the hell is a bicycle that isn't the top of the line (despite being one of the best in its class) the same price as something else that is kinda sorta but not really similar but in your mind more expensive to build because OMG ICE!!
Which not so roughly translates to:
a) Why buy a $500 phone when a $500 laptop has way more power, and can do way more things, has a keyboard, has usb, expandable etc. At least you can take either of these on a plane. Unlike a dirtbike.
or
b) How can a bicycle cost as much as _________ (fill in the blank). Now, just because you're ok that V10 costs as much as a moto doesn't get you off the hook for asking this question about a bicycle that also has a motor.
And since we've been dealing with non-mtb'ers for decades asking b), it's quite dissatisfying to have to deal with an MTBer on this same issue. At least you can now point when they say 'where's the motor'.
-- boomer logic, 2019.
ROFL.
Step 1. Make a comment on the interwebz.
Step 2. Get called out.
Step 3. Double down/get called out again.
Step 4. Triple down/accuse others of having a big ego.
Step 5. Quadruple down/tell everyone you're just joking and insult them for being crybabies.
Step 6. Learn absolutely nothing from the experience.
And in case you missed it: "what value does an $8K bike bring" has been the mantra of every non mountain biker ever that heard someone bought an $8K bike. Been involved in this conversation since 1991 from the other side when I told a guy I would never ever spend $1600 on a stupid bicycle the week before my first MTB ride, when I heard my friend paid that much. Instead of arguing he invited me to go riding, and 2 weeks later I put a deposit on a $2500 bike. Maybe you should go ride the bike in the article instead of repeating 3 decades worth of nonsense. Right after you drop me a courtesy down arrow again of course.
my original comment is still sitting in positive upvotes, baby!!
The point is this what is going on with manufacturing if it costs so much to produce an ebike with middle end suspension! You can buy a comparable YT tues for $3k, and i find it hard to suggest its $5k for the motor.
It's almost as if they enjoy disliking something? And then really enjoy telling people that they dislike it?
Odd.
Isn't there an E-Bike haters support group forum they could migrate to somewhere??
The guy was getting a crazy work out.
The big truck, which is also their work truck, as most work construction; the liftgate pad; the METAL MULITIA stickers on the back window; the flatbills sticking out the side windows; the Korn blaring from the speakers; the Monster Energy drinks in the cooler--an e-bike will not displace that. Ever.
Imagine being able to open a Coast Gravity Park like facility minus the need for stupid shuttle trucks or lifts. That’s a game changer. Wanna do more than 4 laps in a day? Swap your dead battery for a new one at the bottom. Environmental impact is way lower than building lifts or running shuttles, you get a bit of a workout on the way up and a good one on the way down, it’s a ton of fun.
What’s the downside? Oh right, there isn’t one.
Of the three, I ride the Levo the most because it is the most fun.
That is the point, right?
My only issue is with the sticker shock, but I think when the price comes down they will be a boon for smaller bike parks. The shuttle replacement idea is a legitimate thing.
Hold up guys forgot to charge my bike last night, got an extra cigarette lighter handy?
Plus would only make a noticeable difference on really really long downhills.
Save it for urban e-mopeds, that tech is mediocre for class 1 even on pavement bicycles.
What happens when a faster rider regardless of bike comes along? Should they have to stay behind others who are slower?
The bike still needs to be pedalled, so it's a mountain bike. if you are doing twice if not 3 times the distance you are still riding aren't you?
I think a massive amount of people on here forget that a lot of the world doesn't have public vehicle access into the woods to shuttle. Outside of the US fuel appears to be a hell of a lot more expensive. Fuel to an uplift venue of say 50 pounds split over 2 riders, 20 to 30 for the uplift day each plus food on the road/at the venue you are easily looking at 60 quid each which certainly doesn't take long to get the difference made up between ebike and none ebike. i think that the difference between my Kenevo and an Enduro of the same spec was only about 800 thats only 14 uplift days split over say the 3 years that we would mostly likely keep the bike.
How many bike park runs can you squeeze out of that battery? 3? 4 maybe?
They have their place for the older generation or people with low fitness or disability, but don’t try and sell them to the mass market. They are bloody ugly, heavy and completely against the principle of a bicycle. Thankfully, the sport is driven by competition and the likes of the EWS and World Cups will not support these bikes at pro level.
because dh is all assisted uplift and enduro features plenty and doesn't time climbs...
But this bike has three HUGE FAULTS.
1. the chainstay is bloody long. So this bike will feel like the cheap sleds of E bikes I rode years ago. Such a shame.
2. The reach starts at 445mm. This is way too long for many people. The bike is longer than many DH machines. Bizzarre.
3. It weighs KILOS more than a Pivot Shuttle. And at that price? wow.
I have never commented on bikes here in a negative way, but building a bike this long (and this heavy for the price) is a very poor decision.
Bonus: cleanest damn fire roads/access trails in the country.
There'd probably be money left over to dress them up like little dinosaurs or baby seals or something too.
Just by those 2 graphs, IRL does the Kenevo suspension behave nearly identical to the Enduro & Demo on the trail (besides the obvious diffs in travel, steer angle, etc)?
Anyway. I would buy this. But I am poor.
I think it's the second ebike equipped with 2.6" where you'd've expect some 2.8" just 6 months earlier.
odd they don't provide a flip chip or anything. ?
I don‘t know about Canada, but here in Europe, with a much higher population density, and a lot of trails already highly frequented by hikers, climbers, horse riders, and mountain bikers, a new group of trail users will in most likelihood not do any good. Especially, since one ebiker tends to equal rather not one but at least two mountain bikers, because current batteries, still getting bigger with every new generation of ebikes, allow them to simply ride more. So, yes, I see trails around here deteriorating faster than before. And trails that are a little more remote and were ridden infrequently in the past, because most people couldn’t be bothered to put in the extra effort to get there, are now ridden on a daily basis. Land owners start complaining, conflicts over matters of access and trail usage, where some fragile truce had been reached are erupting again... yes, it might still be a good thing if ebikes get more people outdoors, but quite often I’m struggling to see it that way...
There is a bicycle and E-moped
I seen one of those edh mopeds (hibike) with bar ends ala 90s with side view mirrors and double., and rider were riding it on pawed roads in motor bike helmet and mx hard shell protection
Slow, expensive electric dirtbike. f*ckin lame.
Its not easier to pedal uphill, because you have assistance, you’re juste going faster and you do twice as much distance.
Is that distance... several miles? It looks gopping awful, like any bike with a motor bolted to the bottom bracket. Painting those bits black does little to improve things.
.......$152/Lb. Maybe the S-Works will shave 12oz.
m.pinkbike.com/news/former-specialized-director-of-graphics-alain-lanusse-joins-kali-helmets.html