Kenevo Gen1 Motor Replacement, Pairing Required?

sp00n

Member
Jul 11, 2021
62
31
Germany
I've just been informed by my online dealer that I'm being sent a replacement motor for my Kenevo 2021, as my original motor has now failed after 5000km.
Which I actually prefer than having to send the whole bike back to them, but now I wonder if I have to go to a local authorized dealer to install the new motor, i.e. if there is some sort of pairing/registration/update required that can only be done by a dealer.

I have already removed the old motor from my bike, and installing the replacement one shouldn't be much of a problem (although a bit fiddly), so the only question remains is if the new motor will just work out of the box with the bike or not.
Maybe somebody has already some experience with this.
 

Cb750stu

Well-known member
Subscriber
Nov 6, 2020
504
471
United Kingdom
I think when you buy them the dealer has to plug it in to their computer and do something, I see a video of a levo being built straight out of the box and the guy plugged the TCU into the computer!!
 

Sofaboy73

Member
May 26, 2020
69
35
UK
I've just been informed by my online dealer that I'm being sent a replacement motor for my Kenevo 2021, as my original motor has now failed after 5000km.
Which I actually prefer than having to send the whole bike back to them, but now I wonder if I have to go to a local authorized dealer to install the new motor, i.e. if there is some sort of pairing/registration/update required that can only be done by a dealer.

I have already removed the old motor from my bike, and installing the replacement one shouldn't be much of a problem (although a bit fiddly), so the only question remains is if the new motor will just work out of the box with the bike or not.
Maybe somebody has already some experience with this.

don't know the answers to your question, however i'd get authorised repair centre to fit it to remove any comeback on any future warranty claims - ie. they can say you did something wrong fitting it
 

CruJones

Member
Nov 24, 2021
47
13
USA
Funny enough I had my motor on my '21 Kenevo replaced last week at a local shop - new motor was more quiet than my original motor ever was. I suspect my original motor was messed from the start. :|
 

sp00n

Member
Jul 11, 2021
62
31
Germany
My motor began to make quiet "singing"/"screeching" noises a couple of rides ago, and then it suddenly dropped all support. I can also not rotate the chainring backwards anymore (or roll the bike backwards), it's blocking. It may be a defect belt.

The 2019 FSR Technical Manual doesn't mention anything regarding pairing, so I guess I'll try my luck. And any firmware updates should be possible through the Mission Control app.
 

muzzman1

Active member
Feb 11, 2019
153
140
Los Angeles CA
I recently replaced my own motor since my LBS was "too busy" to get it done in any sort of reasonable time frame, so since I know the shop pretty well, they were willing to let me have to motor and do the work.
I had no issue with the install, but he did indicated to me that he would have to hook it up to the computer for it to run. Sure enough that was the case.
He plugged the computer into the bike and with the dealer app entered my bike serial number to tie the motor to it. After he did so, bike was like new again.
Actually better than new, and quieter.
 

sp00n

Member
Jul 11, 2021
62
31
Germany
So I just finished installing the motor and had a quick test ride around the block. Everything seems to work fine. In fact, even better than before, even when the previous motor was brand new.
I never understood the claim that the Specialized motors were "easy" to pedal, I always felt a noticeable drag when I turned off the support or exceeded the 25 kph limit. Now with the new motor I didn't experience that (as far as I could tell during the short duration), it almost felt normal when I turned off the support or went above 25 kph.
So my old motor may have been faulty to begin with.


And to my surprise I didn't receive any instructions (yet?) to return the old motor, so I might open it up at some point to check what the actual failure has been.
 

sp00n

Member
Jul 11, 2021
62
31
Germany
After neither Specialized nor my dealer have contacted me since, I finally opened up the motor. Which was harder than I anticipated, in the videos it always seemed to be relatively easy, but I had to pry somewhat hard, marring the material a bit. The bearing around the axle was very tightly fitted into the lid for me, almost like pressed in.
I did get it off eventually, and was presented with a catastrophic belt failure.

At least I now know that riding in bad weather conditions wasn't the reason for the failure, which is a bit reassuring (and I always avoided using a pressure washer anyway).

1673209611830.png
 

irie

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
May 2, 2022
2,520
2,532
Chichester, W.Sussex, UK
After neither Specialized nor my dealer have contacted me since, I finally opened up the motor. Which was harder than I anticipated, in the videos it always seemed to be relatively easy, but I had to pry somewhat hard, marring the material a bit. The bearing around the axle was very tightly fitted into the lid for me, almost like pressed in.
I did get it off eventually, and was presented with a catastrophic belt failure.

At least I now know that riding in bad weather conditions wasn't the reason for the failure, which is a bit reassuring (and I always avoided using a pressure washer anyway).

View attachment 104250
That belt is horrible!
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
6,535
5,012
Weymouth
I think the things that are most likely to damage the belt are hard pedal strikes and hard landings from jumps or drops.
 

sp00n

Member
Jul 11, 2021
62
31
Germany
So all you need is a new belt and the motor is good to go?
This and a new seal and a new crush ring, which are included in the belt kit.
At least I suppose it would work, I couldn't see any other damage and the cogs worked fine once the belt was removed.
The tension adjuster seemed to be fine as well, it's on the right in the image (on the lid).

// Edit
Maybe this one would be better, it says "updated and reinforced". And it's cheaper.
 

EMTB Forums

Since 2018

The World's largest electric mountain bike community.

552K
Messages
27,924
Members
Join Our Community

Latest articles


Top