Kenevo Gen1 Never again Specialize e-bike

[jose castillo Australia]

One-year-old Kenevo 2020 owner and three motors. I love my Kenevo 2020 until now. This time they replace the motor with a motor that makes a grinding noise when I press on the pedals on a clime. The issue started on day one after I picked up the bike from the shop. Also, the motor displays a red line light so far once after climbing a small hill after 10 minutes of riding. I am waiting for a response from the bike shop. I didn't have any issues when they replaced the 2nd motor. I notice both motors broke after 2400 Km or every 5 months. They are asking me to keep the cadence at 80 but it is impossible. How I am going to read the display when I am going downhill or trying to generate more speed to clear a jump? I am not a happy customer. New buyers should be aware, these bikes cost a lot of money.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Noooooo ... I remmeber when you got this and you loved it .. There's no way you should be on motor 3 already.

When they say cadence of 80 .. I think they mean that when you pedal, make sure you keep the cadence at over 80. A lot of motor failures are caused by people riding in using the motor to provide assistance, but when they have a very low cadence.

You don't need to keep it AT 80 whilst you're riding, jumping, falling, parked, descending and so on ..

@Christian ... one of your neighbours in need of help !

 

[Rosemount]

G `day Joe

I blew the motor in my Levo @Gympie on Sunday .
So about to start the process ...

 

[roccobarocco]

I just sold my Levo today, because I am fed up with these motor issues. My last holiday was just ruined with a faulty motor. I totally get your anger there....

Cheers

rocco

 

[CjP]

@Christian ... one of your neighbours in need of help !
[/QUOTE]
I know Jose well, I saw him just last week.

Jose, that’s bad luck mate. A real shame to hear about your problems.
Have you spoken directly to Specialized Australia? I’ve called them in the past regarding warranty issues and they’ve been really helpful.
Maybe try them if the bike shop hasn’t given you the answer you wanted.

Hope you sort the issue out soon and your back riding again.

 

[Rosemount]

@Christian ... one of your neighbours in need of help !

I know Jose well, I saw him just last week.

Jose, that’s bad luck mate. A real shame to hear about your problems.
Have you spoken directly to Specialized Australia? I’ve called them in the past regarding warranty issues and they’ve been really helpful.
Maybe try them if the bike shop hasn’t given you the answer you wanted.

Hope you sort the issue out soon and your back riding again.
[/QUOTE]

I stopped in at an Enduro Race Meet on my way home .
Saw a marquee of the local Spesh shop wandered down and asked where is the boss ? Kid at the tent told me he worked at the shop and was very familiar with blown motors .
Boss man returned from an Enduro stage . Waited till he caught his breath and had a drink , then introduced myself . Explained the motor was making grinding noises and went into limp mode . He said no probs . They keep motors in stock . Same day service if I book a few days ahead .

 

[Mcharza]

If I had broken three engines within a year, I would definitely change the brand. No quality assured.

Luckily for me, I haven’t gotten any engines broken from either of Kenovo that I have had (put here a smile "fingers crossed")

 

[CjP]

So many variables as to why it could of happened. Specialized are renown for their warranty, so if that fails then I wouldn’t blame anyone for leaving the brand.

 

[Rosemount]

To the Specialized shop yesterday .
Quick conversation . Turned on the system , rotated the cranks . Yep ! You have a blown belt . Replacement motor is in transit . [ They keep spares in stock ] . Ordered Friday . Looks like 2-3 days and I will be up and running again .

 

[RodC]

It’s really sad to hear about this. I’m really scared, mainly because I haven’t been able to use my bike on the last 4 months. When I’ll be ready to ride the time will eat my warranty up

 

[CjP]

I’d be asking for extended warranty if I had to wait longer than 2 weeks.

 

[Bille]

One-year-old Kenevo 2020 owner and three motors. I love my Kenevo 2020 until now. This time they replace the motor with a motor that makes a grinding noise when I press on the pedals on a clime. The issue started on day one after I picked up the bike from the shop. Also, the motor displays a red line light so far once after climbing a small hill after 10 minutes of riding. I am waiting for a response from the bike shop. I didn't have any issues when they replaced the 2nd motor. I notice both motors broke after 2400 Km or every 5 months. They are asking me to keep the cadence at 80 but it is impossible. How I am going to read the display when I am going downhill or trying to generate more speed to clear a jump? I am not a happy customer. New buyers should be aware, these bikes cost a lot of money.

Does anyone know the reason why Specialized can't gear the motor such that it runs at the RPM it likes and we pedal at the cadence we like?

 

[Zimmerframe]

Does anyone know the reason why Specialized can't gear the motor such that it runs at the RPM it likes and we pedal at the cadence we like?

It would need a CVT gearbox built into the motor

 

[Mcharza]

Moti
motor not engine! It's not a train!

Got it!

 

[KennyB]

Is it the motor that breaks or a different part of the "power pack"? I'm feeling particularly pedantic this afternoon.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Is it the motor that breaks or a different part of the "power pack"? I'm feeling particularly pedantic this afternoon.

Invariably, the actual motor continues to work fine and can be heard screaming away to itself....

Failures seem to revolve around the belt - sometimes. Which can fail from people using low cadence and high power- or just bad luck. Weirdly, the people several people who get the failures, get several fails - it's almost as if there's something about the brose configuration which just doesn't fit with some peoples riding styles. One advantage of the belt is it makes the brose relatively quiet.
The other fail is the sprag clutch. This has been upgraded lately. Again, for some people - it will never fail.

 

[Pawel]

I just got my 2018 Kenevo back from a motor replacement. It started to make grinding noises after just 600km and 1 month after warranty expiry. Specialized offered assisted purchase with a 35% discount. £600 including fitting. Painfull.

 

[Gordon]

After 4800kms on my 2020 Turbo Levo the only problem I've had was the battery charging cable. Motor is perfect.

 

[Rosemount]

WTF !!??

Oops! We ran into some problems.
You may not start a conversation with the following recipients: Specialized Rider Care.

 

[Zimmerframe]

WTF !!??

Oops! We ran into some problems.
You may not start a conversation with the following recipients: Specialized Rider Care.

Lol. Some users lock their pm so you can't contact them. They can contact you though. I believe SRC is configured that way, probably so they don't spend all their time fielding personal conversations.

 

[SwissChess]

Same here I love my Kenovo but,
5100km, 1 year, 3 motors, 2 times not starting after washing, dirt in the motor, this can get frustrating. LBS told me, to look after my bike and not go out in the rain?
So I guess I need to visit the engineers next door, as the testing on the same hills I’m on. and ask them what they are testin?

 

[Bille]

Same here I love my Kenovo but,
5100km, 1 year, 3 motors, 2 times not starting after washing, dirt in the motor, this can get frustrating. LBS told me, to look after my bike and not go out in the rain?
So I guess I need to visit the engineers next door, as the testing on the same hills I’m on. and ask them what they are testin?

Yes! Please do ask them what they are testing and then let us know.

 

[naharris212]

Moti
motor not engine! It's not a train!

I believe engines use combustion and motors are more synonymous with electricity.

 

[KeithR]

I believe engines use combustion and motors are more synonymous with electricity.

Yet "motor sport", motor car", "motor bike", "motor boat", ""motor mechanic", "rocket motor", "Bayerische Motoren Werke " ...

And in the US, it's the "Department for Motor Vehicles", isn't it?



There's no fundamental rule about this, but yes, the convention is that motors are driven by electricity.

But all engines are, by definition, motors.

Except search engines...

 

[KeithR]

Got it!

Unless you want to call it an engine.

'Cos it's as much an engine as it is a motor.

 

[thewrx]

yep, would agree, there is something with your riding style or something is setup incorrectly.

What temps is your motor averaging? whats your normal rpm range? elevation? current calibration? weight?

its supplemental power, you should be the primary input not the drive unit.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Let’s be real. We’ve all said ‘never again’ from a drunken night waking up next to a whale.

Well, that saves me asking how you got on with my sister "Brian" ....

 

[GrandPaBrogan]

There's no fundamental rule about this, but yes, the convention is that motors are driven by electricity.

But all engines are, by definition, motors.

Except search engines...

Agree.

But then there’s also fire engines... which I’m guessing means a ‘truck’ as in - a fire truck. ? ?

 

[thewrx]

motor is still an accurate description according to the dictionary. However, most people will associate "motor" with and ICE, and the EV geeks want to try and make sure people don't get confused so they come up with more generic or different descriptions is all.

 

[Mcharza]

Agree.

But then there’s also fire engines... which I’m guessing means a ‘truck’ as in - a fire truck. ? ?

Since English is not my native language, I dare not get involved in this thing. Would it be then motor, electric motor, electrically operated mechanical machine, or whatever