Kenevo SL Official 2022 Kenevo SL (KSL) Megathread!

Doomanic

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My first motor was uncharacteristically quiet by Mahle standards, significantly quieter than my mate's KSL. The new one is a lot louder.
 

CjP

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It’s obviously just poor quality control on the production line. Like every product these days it seems like a full strip down and proper rebuild is the key to quality control.
 

CjP

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I actually thought about that and adding some water protection to the relevant areas too.
Well I pulled my bike apart the day zi got it to get it painted. I rebuilt it with precision, like I was performing brain surgery. I am a little ocd though. Bike runs like a dream!
Not sure about water protection though. I have ridden in rainstorms and never had an issue. I just make sure all plugs are fitted tight and correctly and wires are well routed and no kinks in wires etc.
 

JetSetDemo

🍦Two Scoops🍦
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Apr 1, 2018
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Ashby de la Zouch
New bike day. Ditched the Bullet, thanks to Rich at race co for sort me out a mega DVO build KSL.

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KnollyBro

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Dec 3, 2020
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New bike day. Ditched the Bullet, thanks to Rich at race co for sort me out a mega DVO build KSL.

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Nice bike! I am interested to hear your impressions on the DVO suspension. Which model is that? Was it sold by the LBS with all the upgrades as that would be awesome or did you put those on yourself and are now taking home a box of parts you now have to sell/have to explain to your wife "NO... they GAVE me these as spares!"?
 

JetSetDemo

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Ashby de la Zouch
Nice bike! I am interested to hear your impressions on the DVO suspension. Which model is that? Was it sold by the LBS with all the upgrades as that would be awesome or did you put those on yourself and are now taking home a box of parts you now have to sell/have to explain to your wife "NO... they GAVE me these as spares!"?
All fitted by the shop, and my wife is used to this kind of shit so no worries when I got home.
 

KnollyBro

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Dec 3, 2020
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All fitted by the shop, and my wife is used to this kind of shit so no worries when I got home.

Hey that's great! Its so frustrating having to buy a bike, which is spec'ed with a variety of sub par components on it, only to have to shell out a pile of money to get the parts you want AND have to sell all the crap you took off of it. I wonder how the bike stores in the UK do it as here in the Colonies, LBS only sell bikes as delivered by the manufacturer.
 

KnollyBro

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After looking at the pics side by side i gotta say the Ohlins Levo actually looks better imo (never thought I'd say that!). I think the more subtle frame decals along with the Ohlins fork and black spring just set it off real nice. Obviously the KSL is a better bike (in my eyes)...a set of Ohlins 38 forks would look good ;)

Ok. I hope we can agree my latest modifications are a compromise in aesthetics, performance and cost effectiveness (I am not sure if I want to powder coat the coil as it could affect the temper)! Any ways, I took the new bike out for its first spin on the North Shore today and it ran great! I am really looking forward for Whistler to open :D

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ebikerider

Active member
Oct 1, 2019
706
484
Australia
Ok. I hope we can agree my latest modifications are a compromise in aesthetics, performance and cost effectiveness (I am not sure if I want to powder coat the coil as it could affect the temper)! Any ways, I took the new bike out for its first spin on the North Shore today and it ran great! I am really looking forward for Whistler to open :D

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Love it! I like the contrast of the matte and gloss, gives me more confidence if I have to choose a black frame as my replacement frame colour.

I'd still sell the 38's, people are paying silly money for them and get a DH38 Ohlins. You know you want to :D
 

KnollyBro

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Dec 3, 2020
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Love it! I like the contrast of the matte and gloss, gives me more confidence if I have to choose a black frame as my replacement frame colour.

I'd still sell the 38's, people are paying silly money for them and get a DH38 Ohlins. You know you want to :D

I would get an Ohlins RXF38 M.2 AIR if I had to do it again but I had the Fox 38 from a previous build, before the Ohlins was released. I wouldn't put a dual crown fork on an enduro bike as it makes it less maneuverable and is really not necessary with how stiff the 38s are.

Previous Build
Keneva.jpg
 

CjP

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Looks good! I used to have a Kenevo but it was too difficult to ride with the dual crown. I can ride 95% of the trails in the Whistler Bike Park on my Levo SL but prefer Tech over Jumpy trails. To each their own!

Where I ride:
https://www.youtube.com/user/solaris8118
Yeah mate, I know what you mean. I actually loved the dual crowns. They gave me confidence knowing they could take anything I threw at it, plus it was fun trying to navigate obstacles. In the end I went with the RFX38 as I wanted to lighten the bike up. Really solid fork the RFX. So far no complaints, they are way better than my old Lyriks and not far off the DH38.
 

KnollyBro

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Dec 3, 2020
1,003
2,346
Vancouver
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Yeah mate, I know what you mean. I actually loved the dual crowns. They gave me confidence knowing they could take anything I threw at it, plus it was fun trying to navigate obstacles. In the end I went with the RFX38 as I wanted to lighten the bike up. Really solid fork the RFX. So far no complaints, they are way better than my old Lyriks and not far off the DH38.
Agreed. If you ride big stuff, big forks give you wings and save your bacon! I believe in the mystery of the mullet, Assegai/DHR tires and Code RSC brakes. I also have the "can do attitude" of a teenager but the body of a 60 year old. What kind of trails do you ride? Have you ridden Thredbo? I think the forks need decals. You can get any color you want from :
Ground Keeper Introduces Custom Decal Builder for Fox, RockShox & Marzocchi - Pinkbike
 

JetSetDemo

🍦Two Scoops🍦
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Apr 1, 2018
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Ashby de la Zouch
Nice bike! I am interested to hear your impressions on the DVO suspension. Which model is that? Was it sold by the LBS with all the upgrades as that would be awesome or did you put those on yourself and are now taking home a box of parts you now have to sell/have to explain to your wife "NO... they GAVE me these as spares!"?
Ok so first proper ride done yesterday in a slightly wet Forest of Dean. Hit Dowies and shut castle. I didn’t like the butcher rear tyre, I got the guys at the shop to put an Assagi on the front and should have swapped for a DHR for the rear but didn’t and as a result the grip was not what I expected in the damp.

The fork is fantastic. I have been running a fox 38 on my bullet and had always found that to be very harsh on the initial stroke, the DVO is much faster and feels at lot more supple. I do need to work a little more on the set up but I think it’s a much smoother ride. Rear tracks beautifully, not sure if I need a lower rate spring. Might get one and see, really I need to check the sag later but you know new bike day and all that you just have to ride!

I am so pleased to have switched out of the EP8 to the SL. I still have a 2019 Levo expert that a put over 2.5k miles on and is still going strong. The EP8 for my was a terrible package. The SL in trail feels not to dissimilar to the EP8 in trail and the battery life yesterday blew me away.

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R3Z3N

Member
Mar 2, 2022
82
64
California
^ Not sure what I just read there as it seems contradictory.

Either way, 36s would be fine for even the hardest of riders. The stuff is so good that it comes down to preference and a good rider on 36s could show someone up that is on 40s....

A buddy I ride with just uses the Fox 36, was 50th DH ranked ~ decade ago. The **** he hits when his DH bike is down is still just nuts. He runs the Fit4 36 and doesn't even worry about static sag, just feel.
 

CjP

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pufff, I have it from before the 38 went on sale, and let me tell you that the tracks I ride are full dh, that the 36 is for little trails is why you don't know how to use a bike

^ Not sure what I just read there as it seems contradictory.

Either way, 36s would be fine for even the hardest of riders. The stuff is so good that it comes down to preference and a good rider on 36s could show someone up that is on 40s....

A buddy I ride with just uses the Fox 36, was 50th DH ranked ~ decade ago. The **** he hits when his DH bike is down is still just nuts. He runs the Fit4 36 and doesn't even worry about static sag, just feel.
One thing to note is once you go over 160/170 on a 29 fork you start to get noticeable flex. Sure a great rider can make anything go down well but if you were to compare the two, the 38 will always outperform a 36 on the rough stuff, like for like of course.
I have done just this and found this out for myself.
My 29/180 Ohlins 38 is as close to my 180/200 DH38 as you can get where as my 29/180 Lyric ultimate was a noodle fork in comparison. I used to watch it bend before my eyes. Sure maybe I can’t ride as good as a pro but that’s irrelevant, I am simply stating facts based of my own personal testing.
 
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Hob Nob

Active member
Jun 4, 2020
152
149
UK
One thing to note is once you go over 160/170 on a 29 fork you start to get noticeable flex. Sure a great rider can make anything go down well but if you were to compare the two, the 38 will always outperform a 36 on the rough stuff, like for like of course.
I have done just this and found this out for myself.
My 29/180 Ohlins 38 is as close to my 180/200 DH38 as you can get where as my 29/180 Lyric ultimate was a noodle fork in comparison. I used to watch it bend before my eyes. Sure maybe I can’t ride as good as a pro but that’s irrelevant, I am simply stating facts based of my own personal testing.

Just because it’s stiffer, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. Some flex and compliance is a good thing when riding down trails.

For the same reason why people don’t run carbon wheels & complain about the harsh ride. Other than they break, too easily 😆
 

R3Z3N

Member
Mar 2, 2022
82
64
California
^So you are confirming it doesn't make much difference for the 170mm KSL, but of course something can be felt.

Anyway, trying to decide between Push 11-6 and EXT LOK V3/E-Storia. I would like the 11-6 to have a a trail and enduro tune via switch, but hate that it has the elastobumper. I do not believe the EXT can be tuned for 2 types of riding like the 11-6? As to EXT, not sure if the E-storia is needed as the bike is not ~50lbs full fat+

I will be keeping the Air Spring Float X for flatter trails or when I want to be jibbing. Still waiting on part to convert Float X to have the compression knob.... Sadly sold my Hightower V2 which was a nice compliment to the KSL, when I wanted to play and work on more trials type climbing tech.
 

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