The Specialized Kenevo SL - more powerful, less expensive!

Article Gallery
Motor
Specialized SL 1.2 - 50 Nm
Battery
320 Wh + 160 Wh range extender
Fork Travel
170 mm
Rear Travel
170 mm
Weight
19.6 kg for the Expert, weighed w/o pedals
Specialized was among the first to make a mild, lightweight full suspension emtb, the Levo SL. I very much enjoyed riding this bike. But I liked the Kenevo SL even more. This was a more capable bike on the descents while still being a light and nimble bike.

2022 Specialized Kenevo SL

2022 Specialized Kenevo SL
2024 Specialized Kenevo SL

2024 Specialized Kenevo SL

The Kenevo SL was introduced for 2022, so it is of course much to soon to drop a new Kenevo SL in 2023. That’s why Specialized isn’t launching a new bike. Look at the photos above, can you see the difference? Well, it’s not really possible spotting a difference apart from the new one being less yellow.

The colors have changed but the frame and the geometry remain the same. The 320 Wh battery remains the same. The 160 Wh range extender is the same. Even though the motor looks the same on the photos, it’s not, it’s the new Specialized 1.2 SL, and it’s a great motor.

The Specialized 1.2 SL motor
The 1.2 SL was introduced for 2023 along with the gen 2 Specialized Levo SL
The 2024 Specialized Kenevo SL does of course get the new MCU (display)

After Specialized recently updated the Levo SL and made it a bit burlier, I guess it’s “stolen” a few customers from the Kenevo SL. With the new 1.2 SL motor, the 2024 Specialized Kenevo SL is ready to bite back. We enjoyed riding the Specialized 1.2 SL motor when we tested it earlier this year.


Three versions​

The 2024 Specialized Kenevo SL comes in 3 versions, and it appears the price has come down by € 900-1.500 over the old model! The Specialized Kenevo SL Comp is €7.000, the Expert costs €9.000, and the price of the S-Works is €13.500. The bikes can be ordered as of now, but there is a limited number of bikes available at launch.

2024 Specialized Kenevo SL Comp specs
2024 Specialized Kenevo SL Expert specs
2024 Specialized S-WORKS Kenevo SL specs
  • Love
  • Like
  • Hot
Reactions: uspsa2011, RoJo, Semmelrocc and 2 others
About author
knut7
Knut Nes
Started mountainbiking in the 90s. Moved to emtbs in 2014 and have been reviewing them since 2016. Contact me here https://emtb.no/contact/

Comments

#lazy
Still available;

Turbo Kenevo Comp

The Kenevo is the most capable eMTB you can find—complete with 180mm of front and rear suspension, the smoothest and most powerful motor available, and ...
www.specialized.com
 
#lazy
The only things on it that’s ancient are the 27.5 wheels but that’s easily fixed .
 
Zimmerframe
RoJo said:
Fair enough. Expensive upgrade to get new fork lowers and front wheel on a brand new bike.
Click to expand...
There's a whole thread on this, I'm sure @knut7 would rather you didn't spam his article with comments about a totally different bike.

It's for the Gen2 (ignore the faulty short code)

Kenevo Gen1 - 29er Front and Rear Kenevo

Anyone setup their Kenevo with 29er Fork (170 / 180mm) and 29er rear? Wondering for a project....
www.emtbforums.com www.emtbforums.com

To answer your other question. There is no next (Gen3) Kenevo. If you want one, buy one now whilst you can. It's still top of the class for what it does. Search Gen3 Kenevo for the thread. Or Official Kenevo for that thread. Ciao !
 
R
Zimmerframe said:
There's a whole thread on this, I'm sure @knut7 would rather you didn't spam his article with comments about a totally different bike.

It's for the Gen2 (ignore the faulty short code)

Kenevo Gen1 - 29er Front and Rear Kenevo

Anyone setup their Kenevo with 29er Fork (170 / 180mm) and 29er rear? Wondering for a project....
www.emtbforums.com www.emtbforums.com

To answer your other question. There is no next (Gen3) Kenevo. If you want one, buy one now whilst you can. It's still top of the class for what it does. Search Gen3 Kenevo for the thread. Or Official Kenevo for that thread. Ciao !
Click to expand...
Thanks for answering about the Gen3 full fat, actually I had already looked and hadn't found a definitive answer (maybe I didn't look hard enough).
I think it is relevant to anyone considering an SL to discuss the full fat brother. From the thread you linked, Rob made a 22.9kg full fat 29er. That's 3.85kg difference to SL. If a Gen3 Kenevo with carbon frame was in the pipeline (sounds like it isn't) that could shed 400g, a 500Wh battery could lose 680g, difference would then be 2.77kg... so the future plans for full fat are very much relevant to discussions about SL. That said, people seem to love the full fat so much, and considering the price, maybe it is worth considering a 29" upgraded regular Kenevo over a SL regardless of Specialized future ambitions 🤷‍♂️
 
2WheelsNot4
#lazy said:
The only things on it that’s ancient are the 27.5 wheels but that’s easily fixed .
Click to expand...
Whats wrong with being able to turn quicker ?

Anyway, mirth aside. Whats the actual actual weight ? if you add on the 160w/h extender ?

TBH its lighter yes, cheaper yes, but its a battery driven affair and thats all down to range, and smaller battery even with the extender is a lot less range.
 
Top