Kenevo Gen1 29er Front and Rear Kenevo

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Anyone setup their Kenevo with 29er Fork (170 / 180mm) and 29er rear?

Wondering for a project....

 

[CjP]

Yes, what would you like to know?

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Yes, what would you like to know?

Everything haha with pics

OK some thoughts / questions
- 29er vs Mullet?
- Geo changes vs stock (positive and negative)
- Dual Crown vs Single

Basically if I were to build either a 29/29 or mullet how can we not fcuk up the geo too much (dont want a 60 degree DH sled) more a super enduro rig, 63 ish HA and maintain balance on the bike and climbing abilities. Not too bothered about higher BB.

I assume going 29 on the front will lift it 35mm-40mm (if going to single crown) which seems quite extreme.

 

[CjP]

Definitely 29 F/R for me.
I loved my dual crown on the big Kenevo but never got to try a 38.
Brother runs EXT 170 front and 180 rear on 29s, flip chip high, which gives him a 62 HA according to his phone level. He loves his set up and shreds well on that.
He swaps between 27.5, Mullet and 29 and always goes back to the 29s. Just rolls better.

I ran Ohlins DH38 and 200 front and rear on 29s, HA at about 61
That was DH sled and loved it, I took it everywhere including places a dual crown shouldn’t and loved the challenge. Was fun trying to navigate tecky climbs. Think Chris Akrigg with none of his skills! Was super fun though.

I would have loved to throw a 180 single 38 to see the difference. Would definitely make the bike more playful while still having the front end stiffness.

As for geo changes, Brother loves his and says it’s better than stock.
My bike was a little floppy at low speeds but you adjust to it.
I would say with current 38 fork options a single crown 29/170/F/R Kenevo would be ideal.

 

[#lazy]

I went mullet , we swapped the zeb 180 lowers for the 29 version and also swapped the damper for a 170mm . Fitted a hope fortus 30 wheel with a Michelin wild enduro 29 / 2.4 tyre !
The bb and ha is slightly different but don’t know the numbers and doesn’t feel any different when climbing or on tight switchbacks. Everywhere else it’s fast , love it !

 

[#lazy]

I was a bit dubious about the smaller width
2.4 tyre but didn’t notice the size difference and as it was the magix dh compound along with a rimpact insert you can go as low as 10psi , i went with 15 around Surrey hills and it felt mega grippy . Didn’t notice the extra weigh either ! Just one regret …I wish I’d done it earlier

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Definitely 29 F/R for me.
I loved my dual crown on the big Kenevo but never got to try a 38.
Brother runs EXT 170 front and 180 rear on 29s, flip chip high, which gives him a 62 HA according to his phone level. He loves his set up and shreds well on that.
He swaps between 27.5, Mullet and 29 and always goes back to the 29s. Just rolls better.

I ran Ohlins DH38 and 200 front and rear on 29s, HA at about 61
That was DH sled and loved it, I took it everywhere including places a dual crown shouldn’t and loved the challenge. Was fun trying to navigate tecky climbs. Think Chris Akrigg with none of his skills! Was super fun though.

I would have loved to throw a 180 single 38 to see the difference. Would definitely make the bike more playful while still having the front end stiffness.

As for geo changes, Brother loves his and says it’s better than stock.
My bike was a little floppy at low speeds but you adjust to it.
I would say with current 38 fork options a single crown 29/170/F/R Kenevo would be ideal.

Did you run a 230x65 shock? any issues with tyre clearance if so, with a 29er rear wheel?

 

[CjP]

I ran a custom 242/70 Ohlins shock with Levo shock extension (12mm shorter than stock) no clearance issues with 29er/2.6 and 200mm rear.

 

[Jason M.]

Hello Rob I have both front 29/rear 29 on my kenevo. I chose the 29 not for Geo numbers but for overall rideability The Bike sits alittle higher than stock and I like how I don't encounter pedal strikes when I ride chunky trails.

 

[jray17]

180mm fox 38, 29er front and rear, fox x2 rear. Bike rips no issues.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Hello Rob I have both front 29/rear 29 on my kenevo. I chose the 29 not for Geo numbers but for overall rideability The Bike sits alittle higher than stock and I like how I don't encounter pedal strikes when I ride chunky trails.

View attachment 88732

How are you running the DT HX1501 wheels with 20x110? Is there an adaptor?

 

[Jason M.]

Hello Rob yes I am running a conversion kit 20x110 to 15x110 . The kit is made by Forkmods. This mod is temporary till I receive my new 20x110 wheelset.

link : Conversion Kits (forkmods.com)

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Hello Rob yes I am running a conversion kit 20x110 to 15x110 . The kit is made by Forkmods. This mod is temporary till I receive my new 20x110 wheelset.

link : Conversion Kits (forkmods.com)

Thanks for that. Out of interest, which 20x110 wheels you getting?

 

[Jason M.]

Hello Rob I am having a wheel built for me as we speak. The build spec : 29 front/rear DT swiss FR560 with DT swiss 240 20x110 hub, 12x148.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

I think I will try a 180mm Fox Factory 38 E-Optimised, X2 230x65 and 29er front and rear in S4

I suspect in this configuration the geo will shift a bit, overall higher BB with 29er front and rear, with a +20mm raise on the front, 63 degree head angle and reach of around 490mm.

 

[George_KSL]

No need to wonder, takes few minutes to calculate exact geo with perfect graphic comparison :- ).

bike-stats - everything about bike geometry

 

[CjP]

I think I will try a 180mm Fox Factory 38 E-Optimised, X2 230x65 and 29er front and rear in S4

I suspect in this configuration the geo will shift a bit, overall higher BB with 29er front and rear, with a +20mm raise on the front, 63 degree head angle and reach of around 490mm.

You will love it Rob!

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

No need to wonder, takes few minutes to calculate exact geo with perfect graphic comparison :- ).

bike-stats - everything about bike geometry

Looks good, but doesnt take into account Axle to Crown differences between a Dual Crown and Single Crown fork. The Boxxer 27.5" 180 to 29" Fox is pretty different

EDIT - seems like theres an option to do this!

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

stock 27.5 with dual crown, vs full 29er 180 single crown:

 

[Zimmerframe]

srock vs 29er 180 single crown and dual 29er, S4

View attachment 88809

What's a bevor modification ? Is that like something bevelled by a beaver ?

 

[Doomanic]

Those Boxxers would sweet on my KSL...

 

[GDAS]

I think I will try a 180mm Fox Factory 38 E-Optimised, X2 230x65 and 29er front and rear in S4

I suspect in this configuration the geo will shift a bit, overall higher BB with 29er front and rear, with a +20mm raise on the front, 63 degree head angle and reach of around 490mm.

Rob, I seem to recall that a couple of years ago you switched from a Gen 2 XL Levo (480 reach) to a Gen2 Kenevo in S5 (520 reach) and said "this is the first bike I've had that really fits me". So I was a bit surprised when you chose L rather than XL for the Rail. Are you seeing some rewards from adapting to a shorter bike, more agile I guess?

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Rob, I seem to recall that a couple of years ago you switched from a Gen 2 XL Levo (480 reach) to a Gen2 Kenevo in S5 (520 reach) and said "this is the first bike I've had that really fits me". So I was a bit surprised when you chose L rather than XL for the Rail. Are you seeing some rewards from adapting to a shorter bike, more agile I guess?

Exactly this to be honest. 480 to 520 a bit jump in size.

480 is really my lower limit, that being said, at 480 with a plenty slack head angle (63.5 ish) I can ride no issues. 480 with a 66 head angle (Gen 2 Levo) then it’s quite a bit more twitchy.

the 520mm Kenevo S5 is big, and for me was super stable and rode real nice.

but over the years I seem to have found 490-500 with 63-64 head angle seems the sweet spot for nimbleness and stability

 

[Desert_Turtle]

I tried my Kenevo with a 170mm Fox 38 w/29 wheel and 230x65 x2 shock. It went downhill great but even with rear in the high position the head angle was in the 62 degree range and the bike felt lazy when turning. I then swapped on a Fox 38 specific to a 27.5 wheel and changed the length of the x2 back to 62.5mm. In the high position with the bike back on 27.5 wheels the head angle is 64.3 degrees and the bike feels better than ever. I’m not necessarily a fan of 27.5 bikes but of my 4 ebikes I love riding the Kenevo, with its new setup, the best. The new set up also feels really good with a coil. If you want a super slack long travel 29er get yourself a Norco Range VLT. I have one of those too. It’s not as fun to ride as the Kenevo but it’s stable and rolls downhill well.

 

[jooles]

6’2” and 78kg.

Kenevo S5. 2021 Fox x2 shock. 700wa battery in what was a comp version.

Have tested

27/27. with z1 180

29/27 With lyric 170

29/27 With Zeb 180

29/29 with Zeb 180 (Run flip chip high/low and fitted offset bushings to top of shock eyelet)

Running timed runs on local easier DH and hitting technical climbs the best feel was/is the following setup:

zeb 180 29 front
29 rear
Offset bushing
Flip chip low.


This gives me:
HA 63.5
BB 350
SA c. 78
No contact saddle/rear wheel
Running Eliminator 2.4 in rear with plenty clearance

The bike climbs like a goat. Runs anything DH…I bail first. Corner grip is superb.

It’s a 180/180 Levo Turbo now with option to chuck a 27 in back for even slacker/ lower however I find sweet spot for BB height with 180 travel to be 345-350 with sag around 25%.

Just love the covert flexibility of this bike. Plush, sensitive, poppy and 23.5kg with pedals and 700 battery.

I’ve run Spesh for decades now and can’t think of a better geometry, kinematic, feeling and all round bike than this one….and it has a motor.

Think I’ll setup a YouTube channel documenting my project ;-)…mind think Robs rather good at that…

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

6’2” and 78kg.

Kenevo S5. 2021 Fox x2 shock. 700wa battery in what was a comp version.

Have tested

27/27. with z1 180

29/27 With lyric 170

29/27 With Zeb 180

29/29 with Zeb 180 (Run flip chip high/low and fitted offset bushings to top of shock eyelet)

Running timed runs on local easier DH and hitting technical climbs the best feel was/is the following setup:

zeb 180 29 front
29 rear
Offset bushing
Flip chip low.


This gives me:
HA 63.5
BB 350
SA c. 78
No contact saddle/rear wheel
Running Eliminator 2.4 in rear with plenty clearance

The bike climbs like a goat. Runs anything DH…I bail first. Corner grip is superb.

It’s a 180/180 Levo Turbo now with option to chuck a 27 in back for even slacker/ lower however I find sweet spot for BB height with 180 travel to be 345-350 with sag around 25%.

Just love the covert flexibility of this bike. Plush, sensitive, poppy and 23.5kg with pedals and 700 battery.

I’ve run Spesh for decades now and can’t think of a better geometry, kinematic, feeling and all round bike than this one….and it has a motor.

Think I’ll setup a YouTube channel documenting my project ;-)…mind think Robs rather good at that…

So the offset bushing, are you running it in low AND also an offset bushing?

 

[jooles]

Hi Rob,

Yes an offset bushing in the top eyelet and flip chip set low at the bottom (Yoke end).

This gives a pretty good overall geometry as above.

Static BB height a little higher maybe 350-352 however once you load it its fine. I find that with an eMTB if you want to both techincal/rocky climb and hit the downs a lower (sub 345) BB gets in the way a bit.

If you wish to just session a place like BPW there is the option to lower the BB by sticking the original 27.5 in back, running as a mullet with a 5mm lower BB and a degree or so slacker head angle.

With reference to 29 rear wheel, as above plenty of clearance. No contact with seat post when shock fully compressed (s5).

Hope this helps fella, well worthwhile experimenting with this bike as it unlocks huge flexibility for differing types of terrain, riders and environments.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

just built. Surprised at the weight!

180mm Front / Rear Zeb ultimate 29er Kenevo

 

[jooles]

....Snap !

Mines 23.5kg with pedals and mud ;-) 700wh battery, is yours the same battery?

You'll love it ...I'm on Zeb Select and they suit the bike a treat.

Have you offset the top shock bushing yet. This does make it feel a little more planted in corners as lower.

Give a run down on how it feels and we can compare notes.

Looking ace.

 

[jooles]

Oh ...what size frame ?