DtEW
Active member
This makes me think there is a newer smaller motor coming next year for the full power kenevo based on the new frame. Same mounting points.
If by "same mounting points" you mean that of the Mahle... I would very much doubt it. Have you looked at it? The Mahle's mount points constrain the overall size of the motor in three directions, not to mention the most-important and constraining location/placement: the size of the gear on the spindle.
All these motors are compactly-packaged to within-an-inch-of-their-lives for weight, packaging (as it relates to the battery), and geometry (pivot placement and chainstay length) considerations. There is little reason to suspect that the first versions gave away advantages in those that could have been reaped-but-weren't, or that anybody is motivated enough to shoehorn a bigger design into an existing-but-constraining "standard". Because the Mahle was never popular enough where it would be worth it to compromise and/or resort to work-arounds to allow newer, bigger motors to fit the older smaller mounts. It simply be much easier to just use a new mount.
Can't see the current kenevo and brose being here after this last levo
Whether the Brose Drive S Mag is going to persist with Specialized is going to depend on whether the 2020 Q1/Q2 hardware reinforcements (most notably the aramid belt) and the firmware changes will prove reliable. Having rolled-back the warranty for the MY2021 to the 2-year industry normal, it seems like Speshy is confident. The last thing they want is a re-flaring of the firestorm they worked hard (and spent/will-spend a good amount of money) to quell.
Aside from the perception of unreliablity (and it is admittedly up-in-the-air if this is actually resolved) and the marketing desire for new hotness... there is no business reason to abandon the Brose Drive S Mag. Aside from still comparing favorably to much of the existing market in terms of specs, it is also widely-acclaimed for its feel/response, NVH, and the tweak-ability of the Mission Control software. If they can fix its one major failing after all this effort, it is hard to justify going to a wholly-new design given that too can reveal its own failings that would consume even more time/effort/market-cachet to fix.
So abandoning the Brose Drive S Mag? No. But taking the lessons learned from the Brose Drive S Mag and evolving it into a new version? Maybe.
Last edited: