Kenevo Gen1 2023 Gen 3 Turbo Kenevo

Eduardoramundo

Well-known member
Aug 8, 2019
391
303
Glasgow
I think the Kenevo will be discontinued and a slightly longer travel Levo will come out next year.

It does not make financial sense to have both when the Levo is so capable. 170mm F and 160mm R Levo will do it all.
 

Chairman

Active member
Feb 25, 2022
221
121
Nz
What can the Levo do that the kenevo can’t ?
Edit apart from bringing in more £££
Anyone who is asking this question will in all likelihood be more than happy with a Levo, which is indeed a very capable bike. The Kenevo offers that little bit more at the rowdiest end of the scale. Some might say quite a bit more
 
Jul 1, 2022
18
34
Finland
If the Levo has been creeping up to become more capable each model generation, reaching out from trail to enduro category, why not make the Kenevo also even more of a bruiser than it already is. 190-200 mm of travel, full DH stroke shock…

Levo-to-Kenevo sales ratio surely is what it is, but would be really gutted if they went and quietly discontinued the FF Kenevo product line.
 

Kenevo cambo

Member
Sep 7, 2018
60
52
Australia
If the Levo has been creeping up to become more capable each model generation, reaching out from trail to enduro category, why not make the Kenevo also even more of a bruiser than it already is. 190-200 mm of travel, full DH stroke shock…

Levo-to-Kenevo sales ratio surely is what it is, but would be really gutted if they went and quietly discontinued the FF Kenevo product line.
There’s definitely a place in the market for a DH ebike, let’s keep fingers crossed that the Gen 3 Kenevo delivers this 🤞
 

Zimmerframe

MUPPET
Subscriber
Jun 12, 2019
14,028
20,817
Brittany, France
Erased the bits which shouldn't probably be public .....

Weirdly, my favourite bike at the moment is my old Gen1 (Which still goes great some days despite it's sh1tty fecked up motor which Spesh didn't change in 2 years of begging/pleading/jumping through hoops - Thanks Spesh, great job).

1685099834047.png
 
Last edited:

CjP

PRIME TIME
Subscriber
Jan 1, 2019
1,671
2,394
Everywhere
I normally make it a policy to say something nice to someone I don't know each day ..

Today .. it seems not ...

Just had a look and I can't see any Full Fat Kenevos listed in 25/26.

So if you want one .. get one now and don't wait for then.

Anyone want to swap an S3 Gen2 for a Jam2 6.9 Medium .. I quite fancy one and I'm bored of the Jam.

Weirdly, my favourite bike at the moment is my old Gen1 (Which still goes great some days despite it's sh1tty fecked up motor which Spesh didn't change in 2 years of begging/pleading/jumping through hoops - Thanks Spesh, great job).

View attachment 115807
S4 Gen 2 Zim. S3 is too small.
 

Rack and Ruin

Member
Jun 10, 2020
2
0
UK
One more colour change for Kenevo for 23MY, then that's it. Kenevo will be discontinued, in the UK at least, that's what Specialized UK are saying anyway. I would guess at a Levo Evo
 

guile80386

Member
Jan 23, 2022
21
24
PT
This past weekend I struck a large loose rock that the front tire lifted while descending with a considerable speed on my 2022 Kenevo Expert. The bike behaved as usual: if it weren't for the loud bang I wouldn't even have noticed it, it's so incredibly composed and supple. The hit broke the battery rock guard and made its way to the frame, bending the bottom part to the point of making it impossible to remove the battery without bending it back - which I did and then ordered a new rock guard piece.

Anyway it got me thinking - which bike would I get to replace it? For me right now it would probably be another Kenevo. The dual crown fork is a game changer for me: I don't have any problem with tight switchbacks and by comparison it makes the front of my Reign E+ with a FOX 38 feel like it's made of jelly. I would never have imagined this if I hadn't tried it and I absolutely love the precision and increased sense of security (not having great technique I feel like I can muscle it up to where I want more easily). The more travel the better, for me - I'd love it if it had 200mm front and rear instead of 180mm.

I took a look at the Fantic XXF 2.0 (Fantic Motor: Moto e Ebikes Made in Italy) - looks great on paper (as far as I can tell, at least), but the main issue is that I'm really into Specialized's EMTB design language (Kenevo, Levo, SLs and even some non mountain e-bikes).

If you were forced to replace your Kenevos what would you go with?
 

Alexbn921

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2021
545
511
East Bay CA
I long shocked mine to a 232x66 for 190mm of rear travel and have front to 190 with a spring kit.
I always ran it in the high setting so now I can run it in the low settings as the flip chip is 3mm.
BB is lower than the high setting and it rails.
 

CjP

PRIME TIME
Subscriber
Jan 1, 2019
1,671
2,394
Everywhere
You can run a Levo shock extension which is 12mm shorter and run a custom 242/70mm shock for 200mm travel rear.
I ran this set up with 29s front and rear and was magic! The 200mm front fork works well too but it does slacken out the bike a bit. Not an issue for gravity and realistically not an issue for trail work unless your a real geo whore.
 

Sinkrate

Member
Jan 27, 2020
37
7
Uk
Ahh ok thanks mate, think I’ll have a shop around and see if I can find one. Any suggestions on a good one from anyone? Thanks
 

Ribinrobin

Well-known member
Subscriber
Apr 16, 2021
336
331
Berkshire, UK
Im surprised specialized would get rid of the kenevo, as It still has a few unique features to the Levo beyond more travel, E.G the ally frame and the 27.5 wheels.

I agree with others that it would be cool to see them go for a downhill/free ride style bike like the new canyon torque on.
Big travel, Big battery, big wheels, just a full beast of a bike! it seems alot of ebike riders want these mega bikes that just run over everything.
 

Rack and Ruin

Member
Jun 10, 2020
2
0
UK
Im surprised specialized would get rid of the kenevo, as It still has a few unique features to the Levo beyond more travel, E.G the ally frame and the 27.5 wheels.

I agree with others that it would be cool to see them go for a downhill/free ride style bike like the new canyon torque on.
Big travel, Big battery, big wheels, just a full beast of a bike! it seems alot of ebike riders want these mega bikes that just run over everything.
I think the problem, is the industry is moving away from F&R 27.5 and like you said most buyers want or at least think they need Full 29er/Mullet, Big Battery, Big travel ebikes. The UK/Euro market is really dictating what manufactures are going to start offering. The 27.5 crowd is getting smaller and smaller - Cube and the current Kenevo is really the only two options in the market that offer bikes to the mainstream.
 

Ribinrobin

Well-known member
Subscriber
Apr 16, 2021
336
331
Berkshire, UK
like you said most buyers want or at least think they need Full 29er/Mullet, Big Battery, Big travel ebikes.
Bit off topic but...
I couldn't agree more with the "at least think they need" seems loads of people are over biked and think it somehow makes up for things.

There is no harm in people wanting these 180+ bikes etc but the majority don't need the travel and would see better progression in their riding on a shorter travel bike with some coaching.
I understand travel/weight is not as much of a issue on full power emtbs, but it is mad how many riders want to just bulldoze trails and have a less active ride.

I wonder with the possible demise of the FF kenevo they will rework the KSL to add more battery life or more power.
 

mustclime

Active member
Apr 19, 2023
438
355
New Jerzy
You want to understand where the industry is going on bikes look to smaller companies like transition and salsa. Salsa came out with the Blackborn and Cassidy and transition came out with the Spire and Patrol. Make one front triangle and different rear ends for 2 different bikes. This idea makes even more sense on e bikes where all the e components are in the front triangle. I could see a Levo with a different shock, fork and rear triangle being the next Kenevo if there is one.
 

Chairman

Active member
Feb 25, 2022
221
121
Nz
I put a 200 mm Boxer on my Cannondale moterra, new pick up link that increased rear travel from 160 to 185 and now have a bike that does everything I ask of it. Don't know why more bikes don't come with triple clamps imo and that of many others they are far superior for very little weight gain
 

mustclime

Active member
Apr 19, 2023
438
355
New Jerzy
Nothing wrong with making a Kenevo 3 with a 29er front wheel.
I want comfort and a bike that can hit stuff outside of my comfort zone. You can have my Kenevo when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

Levos's are great, but not what I want.
I tried it and thought the bike was to slack for technical single track.
 

EMTB Forums

Since 2018

The World's largest electric mountain bike community.

555K
Messages
28,049
Members
Join Our Community

Latest articles


Top