2022 Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL Expert E-Bike

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In the last few years the e-bike category of mountain biking has continued to fill out and evolve, offering an impressive variety of specifically designed machines for almost every niche rider preference. With most models maintaining the heavy-yet-stable, motor-up-everything feel we’ve come to expect from pedal-assisted bikes, anyone who’s spent time aboard an e-bike has daydreamed of applying just the benefits of some motor assist to their mountain bike. A perceived unachievable blend of broader climbing potential matched with the agile, bomb hole smashing descending elements of a modern 160-170mm bike that blurs lines between assist and human-powered machine.

Well, we weren’t alone with our thoughts as Specialized figured many riders would enjoy just a helping hand on the climbs with no toll to be paid on the descents. Building upon a successful, downhill-focused suspension platform equipped with their own Turbo Super Light platform and many carry-over technology from other models, Specialized has blurred the lines between MTB and pedal-assist e-bikes with the all-new 2021 Turbo Kenevo SL.

Highlights

• FACT 11m full carbon frame
• 29-inch wheels
• 6 Bar Horst Link suspension design
• 170mm (6.75-inches) of rear wheel travel // 170mm (6.75-inches) fork travel
• 6 position geometry adjustment
• Bottom bracket height adjust +/- 10mm (when combined with HA adjustments)
• Head angle adjust 62.5 - 64.7-degrees (when combined with BB adjustments)
• 442-447mm chainstay length
• Fully guided internal cable routing
• 320 Wh Battery (Range Extender available separate)
• 240 Watt / 35 Nm Specialized Turbo SL 1.1 motor
• Fox Float 38 Performance Elite Grip 2 fork
• Fox Float Performance X2 shock
• 29x2.3 Specialized Butcher Grid Trail T9 front tire
• 29x2.3 Specialized Butcher Grid Trail T7 rear tire
• Specialized Roval Traverse wheelset
• 6 Bar Horst Link suspension design
• SWAT steerer tube integrated tool
• Boost 148 rear spacing
• Available in Specialized S1, S2, S3 and S4 sizing
• Measured weight as tested (size S4, no pedals): 42 lbs (19.5 kg)
• MSRP $11,000 USD

Overview

Building on a mixture of technology and features developed from various bikes launched in the past few years, Specialized has stepped up to the plate again, delivering a thoughtful, impressive and unique bike. Working off the chassis of the successful Enduro and Demo 6 bar Horst Link design, the Kenevo SL boasts sleek lines with much of the bike jammed into the bottom bracket region. It’s a clever trick, stuffing suspension links, motor, and internally routed cables into one low-hung gut that makes the Kenevo SL appear as a non-assist bike from afar. Upfront and easily visible for mid-ride glances is the Mastermind Turbo Control Unit (TCU). A feature first seen on the new Turbo Levo that really sets Specialized e-bikes apart with the amount of trailside information/customization that is possible. Some other tasteful small details also include a removable rear fender, a hard plastic formed chain protector over the rear pivot and an integrated steerer tube SWAT tool.

The Kenevo SL lineup consists of just two models - the S-Works build for $15,000 and the Expert build (tested) for $11,000. These price points resemble the recently released Levo we tested. Each build level comes in two color options. Additionally, there is a frame-only option for a meager $8,500.

As with anything S-Works, the build is top tier with FOX Factory suspension and SRAM's XX1 Eagle AXS drivetrain and matching dropper post. Roval's Traverse SL carbon wheels take care of rolling duties. SRAM Code RSC brakes with a 220mm front rotor and 200mm rear make the S-Works Kenevo SL stop.

Our Kenevo SL Expert shares many of the same brands as the S-Works but at a lower spec level. SRAM's X01 Eagle drivetrain and Code RS brakes are present. The wheel spec drops to Roval's Traverse Alloy rims. A FOX 38 Performance Elite fork and a FOX Performance X2 are on suspension duties.

Adjustable Geometry

From the visual similarities alone it should be no surprise that the Kenevo SL is built mostly off the geometry of the Enduro platform. A now proven descending machine built for white knuckle speeds that is fully capable of efficiently climbing for hours in the saddle. Specialized intentionally replicated many of the Enduro geometry numbers with the new Kenevo SL.

The Kevevo SL uses the “if ‘ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality in its inspiration but there was no lack of development for this new model. From talking with Specialized engineers, most of the time spent developing the Kenevo SL was addressing how to equip the frame design with an e-bike motor where there is already a low mounted rear shock and linkage of the 6 bar Horst link design. An impressive feat to achieve and in the end focuses weight low and centered in the bike, adding stability to an already planted design. In an effort to balance this increased weight in the gut of the frame, the Kenevo SL does have a 2-4mm higher bottom bracket compared to its MTB counterpart to limit pedal strikes. However, during our testing, we experienced an average to high amount of pedal strikes in both bottom bracket heights.

The Kenevo SL is using the now-familiar Specialized S-sizing which allows riders to pick from four sizes based on wheelbase and reach lengths as opposed to standard sizing that is reliant on rider inseam. By keeping the seat tube height low and adjusting stack height, the idea is to more freely choose frame size based on specific ride experience goals rather than limiting frame attributes.

Differing from the Enduro, the Kenevo SL flaunts the same geometry adjust features that were first seen on the Stumpjumper Evo and then updated Turbo Levo launched earlier this year. By using an eccentric upper headset cup and a flip-chip in the Horst Link, there are six geometry variations giving riders head angle options ranging from 62.5- to 64.7-degrees. There is also 10mm of bottom bracket height adjustment and 5mm of chainstay length adjustment. We’ll be the first to admit that’s a lot of freaking options! Specialized agrees and both the headset cup and rear flip chip are impressively simple adjustments for the complacent rider. Additionally, with the launch of the Kenevo SL is the new Geo Finder tool found on the Specialized website that lets riders input terrain or geometry to see what configuration will best suit their terrain or preferences. The frame ships in the high bottom bracket and neutral headset adjustments which put our S4 frame at 63.9-degrees, 489mm reach and 447mm chainstays. Again, configurations galore leave no geometry tweaker without their fix but these “stock” numbers provide a long, specious ride and are right on par for the aggressive descending the Kenevo SL is intended for.

Specialized Turbo SL Motor - Output, Range and Mastermind TCU

Sporting the Specialized Turbo Super Light system, the Kenevo SL has a smaller package compared to its Turbo Kenevo counterpart that still provides ample output and range. A system already seen on the Levo SL, the Specialized SL 1.1 motor offers 240 watts of power and 35 Nm of torque, which essentially doubles your effort at the pedals. Different from the Levo SL is an update to the system firmware that evens out the entrance of power as well as easing off assistance, especially at slower speeds. The previous iteration had the tendency to lurch and lag when stopping and going while climbing at lower RPMs. It now feels more like a natural progression of assistance. The Kenevo SL struck a fine balance of matching rider input with power and torque which made a noticeable difference when attacking steep, loose or technical climbs.

Powering the SL 1.1 motor is 320Wh of battery which can provide up to 4.5 hours of ride time or up to 7 hours when combined with 160Wh SL Range Extender. The Expert model we tested does not come with the water bottle mounted SL Range Extender but they can be purchased separately for $450 USD. During our time on the Kenevo SL, our longest ride amounted to 2.5 hours of mixed climbing and descending mostly in 50-80% motor assist and left us with 30% battery life remaining. During press camp, we did have the opportunity to ride with the SL Range Extender and while we ended up not needing the added juice, we enjoyed the peace of mind and simplicity of the exterior battery. While we would bet most people’s rides last less than 4.5 hours on average and the battery range being plenty sufficient, if you have the funds for the extender there is a benefit of more rides per charge. From fully drained to 100% battery life the Kenevo SL will take approximately 2.5 hours to charge.

Controlling and blending how rider input, motor, battery, and bike interact is the Mastermind Turbo Control Unit (TCU). Launched with the new Turbo Levo in March, this small but detailed top-tube display provides intuitive information for mid-ride data and bike details. With four display orientations and 30 possible data values, you can easily keep tabs on speed, ride distance, battery percentage, time, elevation tracking, assist mode, micro tune settings, and heart rate. Display views are toggled via a handlebar-mounted control that also has buttons for walk assist and plus/minus buttons to change motor assist modes. You can continue diving deeper into personalizing the Kenevo SL with the Specialized Mission Control App. When connected via Bluetooth you can observe battery health, odometer, diagnostic analysis, and personalized motor assistance in Eco, Trail, and Turbo modes. Notable features also include Smart Control where you can set ride parameters to ensure a given battery percentage remains at the end of your ride. This can be beneficial if you have two rides planned in a day and want to ensure you save enough battery for your afternoon loop - simply set parameters of ride length (time or distance), planned elevation gain, and battery percentage remaining after the first ride and algorithms will regulate motor assistance to maintain battery life. You can also input heart rate parameters so that only enough assistance is provided to keep you at a given heart rate goal throughout a ride. Pretty neat! Lastly, Specialized offers over-the-air updates so that as new features or technology is developed your bike remains current.

The Lineup - A winded discussion on where the heck the Kenevo SL stacks up among the rest

With the addition of the new Turbo Levo in March and the option of the existing Levo SL and Turbo Kenevo, the obvious question is, where does the Kenevo SL line up against the other e-bikes? Simply put, this is the bike for riders who want their e-bike to excel on the most demanding descends and feel very similar to an enduro bike. This rider is okay with less battery capacity, motor output, and range as long as they can get back to the top of their favorite descent with less energy output. Now before everyone is up in arms arguing their opinions about why a full-size e-bike is a superior choice or why just staying on an enduro bike makes way more sense - let’s all look at the bigger picture with open minds. (We know, it’s hard)

Anyone who has ridden a full-size e-bike knows that the ride characteristics are drastically different from a mountain bike. As an example, the added weight of the Turbo Kenevo provides a stable ride that is very laborious to maneuver, requiring added effort to set up and brake for corners, hit trail side jibs, or even just get the wheels off the ground. The increased battery capacity and motor torque is awesome for shortening climb times, increasing ride lengths and if desired, can require minimal input from the rider to keep the wheels turning. These differences can be subjectively positive or negative, but when compared to mountain bikes or smaller motor/battery capacity e-bikes (such as the Turbo SL motor) there is no doubt the ride experience is unique. They are a great option for riders who prioritize increased range with ample motor power and can warrant the added weight penalty and specific descending characteristics.

On the opposite end, mountain bikes, and in particular, enduro bikes of today are insanely capable, fun-having machines! However, ego and Strava times aside, most riders are still limited by their own fitness and ability to ‘do one more run.’ Again, this is subjective as an exhausting loop for some might be an after-work spin for others. Regardless, if you are riding a modern ‘enduro’ bike in the 160-180mm travel range you better be prioritizing your descents and who would be upset with the option to tack on more descending if their bodies allowed?

Specialized looked to bridge this gap between MTB and e-MTB originally with the Levo SL and succeeded in providing an e-bike that is appropriate for all-around trail riding with the added benefit of less weight to lug around compared to their full-size e-bikes. A great option if your local (e-bike legal) trails are already fun on a trail bike and you are looking to lengthen your ride distance over a shorter timeframe with some motor assistance. Unfortunately, the 38-pound weight, 150mm travel platform and 66-degree head tube is not the most stable or fun on fast, rough descents - oftentimes feeling like you are on a heavy trail bike once gravity takes over.

With the Kenevo SL, a very blurry line has now been drawn on whether this bike feels like an e-bike or an enduro bike, which we believe is the intended goal with the bike. The almost 10-pound weight savings over the Turbo Kenevo and 170mm suspension platform is a huge factor that makes the Kenevo SL descend much like a downhill bike with the ability to easily change direction and perform precise maneuvers, all while maintaining awesome speed and stability as you smash through bomb holes. While climbing speed, power and range are carbon copies of the Levo SL, the Kenevo SL truly maximizes the SL 1.1 motor to take the edge off climbs compared to a mountain bike and then descend better and more traditionally when compared to a full-size e-bike or other low watt e-bikes.

If you prioritize blazing down trails and pulling up irresponsibility into compressions, this concept should make complete sense because the addition of a motor shortens the time between runs. If you can’t understand why you would want a less powerful e-bike that is so focused on one aspect of riding, hopefully, one of the other options detailed above checks your boxes. And lastly, if you love working for your descents and feel like your current mountain bike descends like a couch on wheels already - stick with what puts a grin on your face.

Setup

In April, we attended a Specialized press camp in Port Angeles, Washington for two days of proper riding to thoroughly assess the abilities of the Kenevo SL. We rode a mix of downhill race tracks and backcountry singletrack. At 6 feet tall I was provided an S4 frame size that required no major adjustments. The S4 offered a roomy cockpit without leaving my upper body strung out on climbs or riding passenger on the descents. A personal preference of my own - when riding bikes geared towards aggressive descending with more travel I’ve always enjoyed having room to move within the bike which allows me to drop my heels and ‘sit’ into the bike when things get rough. To play devil's advocate, a promoted benefit of the S-sizing format is the ability to put someone my size on an S3 for a more playful and maneuverable bike if desired.

Specialized recommended 18mm of shock sag (30%) in the rear which resulted in 206 psi for my 165lb build. Through the camp, I played around with the low-speed rebound and compression settings found on the FOX Float Performance X2 and settled on a relatively open setting (rebound and compression both 4-clicks out) to provide a responsive, active rear end that has since fared nicely on our fast, dry conditions in Boise, Idaho. In Port Angeles, we rode most of the downhill tracks the NW Cup Series has used for races this past decade and I did have a few expected bottom outs. Overall, I was kept comfortably in the mid-stroke of the shock. With the fork being a now-familiar FOX 38 Performance Elite, I simply applied my preferred settings of 98-psi with rebound and compression both set middle-to-open leaving things active off the top. Much of the ride time was spent mid-stroke with the occasional bottom out. (fork settings: low-speed compression 4-clicks out, high-speed compression 10-clicks out; low-speed rebound 8-clicks out, high-speed rebound 6-clicks out)

On The Trail

Our ride time was spent on two opposite terrains with press camp taking place on steep, sloppy Northwest hillsides. All post-camp rides happening on our dry, fast trails around Boise, Idaho. Kudos to Specialized for picking Port Angeles as the terrain provided perfect testing to really shake down the Kenevo in its preferred habitat. Over the two-day press camp, we rode a mix of downhill race tracks, moto trails and fresh-cut loamers that left us with a serious shit-eating grin. The cherry on top (other than avoiding multiple rainstorms) is we would have never had the energy to visit all the trails we did in the 48hrs on a mountain bike. Once back home, time was spent on familiar high-speed moto trails littered with jumpable rollers, sweeping corners and some rock gardens for good measure.

Climbing

With much of the design and geometry focused on descending behaviors, the Kenevo SL is still a comfortable climber. When things get steeper than are climbable on a mountain bike, the slack 63.9-degree head angle and roomy 489mm reach (high bottom bracket, middle headset cup configuration) can make it difficult to keep weight over the front wheel. In most cases, the motor helped power through these moments but it was something to watch out for. The Float Performance X2 does have an independent 2-position Open/Firm lever that provided marginal gains while climbing. The Kenevo SL already pedals with very minimal pedal-bob and we chose to just leave the lever open to avoid forgetting to open things up on the descents.

The 240 Watt SL motor with 35 Nm of torque provides plenty of power to pull you up most climbs with close to no effort if you choose. The only price to be paid is a slower average pace when only compared to larger e-bike motors. Of course, with multiple power modes available one can still limit assistance and achieve a great workout while climbing. As mentioned, updates to the Super Light system firmware provides controlled power while climbing that keeps torque consistently applied for improved traction as well as maintaining speed. Motor assist is preset at 35% power in Eco, 60% power in Trail and 100% power in Turbo. These can be personalized within the Mission Control App. We found ourselves instead using the new Micro Tune feature to adjust power in 10% increments as the ability to fine-tune assistance reminded us of shifting to find the right gear while climbing. When sections of trail would meander with mellow rises and descents we could toggle incrementally between 30-60% power to maintain speed and cadence. When a punchy climb would present itself, we could bump up between 80-100% power. To maximize power, efficiency and battery life, Specialized does recommend shooting for a cadence of 75 RPM and we found Mirco Tune the best way to achieve this.

Rear Suspension - Six Bar Horst Link

The Kenevo SL is sporting the Six Bar suspension platform first developed with the Specialized Demo and then used on their Enduro model. A four-bar FSR linkage at heart, it still uses a Horst Link found forward of the rear dropouts along with two tension links that drive shock compression. What this provides is a tunable system with great anti-squat feedback while pedaling, a rearward axle path to manage harsh, square edge hits and a centralized mass to improve handling. Also noteworthy is the addition of a jounce bottom out-bumper in the Float X2 shock. A feature usually reserved for coil shocks, this bumper allows the progressive suspension curve to ease into bottom out much smoother.

DH/Technical Performance/Fun Factor

As anticipated the Kenevo SL can handle a freaking beating and promotes charging into sections at full speed. During our time in Port Angeles, the trails were steep, rocky, root-filled and relentlessly rough. We enjoyed immediate confidence on the Kenevo SL. The 170mm of travel and rearward axle path is exceptional at managing repetitive compressions and maintaining speed. When combined with the slack and low geometry and long 1282mm wheelbase (S4 size, high bottom bracket, middle headset cup configuration) any decent seems tameable. With the majority of the mass located low and centered, the ability to set up and lock into corners confidently is incredible. This low-hung weight is also beneficial on fast, rough sections of trail allowing the bike to remain close to the ground with minimal twitches or kick-outs.

At a manageable 42 lbs (29.2kg) we found the Kenevo SL feels relatively light in hand and is capable of quick line adjustment or tackling tight, back-to-back corners. You aren’t going to find yourself as easily pulling up for trailside gaps and you’ll need a bit more muscle to keep the Kenevo SL tracking where you’d like, but overall it’s much more maneuverable than a full-size e-bike. Would the Kenevo SL be fun on tamer, smoother trails? Of course! The motor assist does help maintain speed when the trail flattens out but with a bigger, aggressive bike comes a level of stability and burliness that will definitely neutralize simpler terrain.

With six geometry configurations, it’s hard not to go down the rabbit hole of what will best suit the riding on hand. However, during our testing, we were pleased with how balanced our S4 Kenevo SL rode in the high bottom bracket setting (356mm) and middle headset cup configuration (63.9-degree head angle). This setup appropriately matched both the steep, technical riding in Port Angeles and the high speed, rolling terrain of our Boise foothills.

We were hesitant to flip the Horst Link chip and lower the bottom bracket even further as pedal strikes while climbing were already common. In the spirit of tweaking numbers, we did spend time in the low bottom bracket and slack head angle configurations to see how the most descent-oriented geometry felt (348mm bottom bracket height, 62.5-degree head tube angle, 447mm chainstay, 1298mm wheelbase). As expected, the 16mm longer wheelbase did increase stability and despite a very slack head angle the bike still felt balanced. A great setup for ultimate security in tackling burly trails, this configuration was noticeably more difficult to jump around and numbed any playful demeanor the Kenevo SL does have. Moving forward we could see the benefit of running the middle headset configuration (63.5-degree head angle) and the low bottom bracket (350mm bottom bracket height, 447mm chainstay) to land in the middle with some added stability at speed while still allowing for ease of muscling the bike around.

FOX Float 38 Performance Elite

A staple aboard many modern e-bikes, the Kenevo SL benefited greatly from the stiff chassis and supple yet supported damping of the FOX Float 38. The Grip 2 damper is known for its mid-stroke support which did wonders keeping the Kenevo SL balanced and straight without diving. We didn’t do anything crazy with our setup and appreciated how well the fork handled the abuse and disrespect we put it through.

Specialized Butcher Grid Trail T7 and T9 Tires

Despite the foldable casing, the sidewall support provided by the Grid Trail casing was perfectly suited for the Kenevo SL. A new favorite tire combo of ours, the damping of the new T9 compound worked wonders for hooking up in both muddy and dry conditions alike while the T7 compound was an appropriate choice for the rear tire to better handle braking wear.

Specialized Roval Traverse Wheelset

The Roval Traverse wheels are marketed as affordable, big mountain capable wheels designed to be durable under aggressive riding. During our time testing, we found the extruded E5 aluminum to bend (literally) under most tough situations when really pushing the Kenevo SL. A likely upgrade early on for most, this was one parts spec that fell short compared to the rest of the build.

Sram Code RS Brakes

When you need to drop anchor, the SRAM Code RS brakes with 220mm front rotor and 200mm rear rotor did a great job slowing down the welterweight Kenevo SL. During our testing, we did experience rear brake fade on longer descents and have worn through the rear pads much faster than the front. Looking forward, we could see riders with steep terrain swapping to a 220mm rear rotor to better regulate brake fade and pad wear.

Long Term Durability

During our month and a half piloting the Kenevo SL we did our best to find where this bike would tap out but so far things have been bulletproof with no creaking, loose pivots, or areas of concern. We did not take any pivots apart but with the majority of links centered above the motor, it could be intimidating to overhaul for the amateur mechanic. As for the SL motor, everything has remained consistent and smooth since our first ride with no electrical or motor glitches to report. Other than the few components mentioned above that could use an upgrade down the line, the Kenevo SL looks to be a solid ride for many miles to come.

What's The Bottom Line?

If your flavor of mountain biking is chasing long, rough, fast descents and you simply need a bike to reach the summit eventually and comfortably - why not be greedy and climb faster so you can descend more? Aboard the new Kenevo SL, you’ll still burn some calories on the climbs and might even get passed by some full-size e-bikes along the way. Once gravity takes over, its expertise will shine through. Specialized's Kenevo SL is an impressive blend of e-bike benefits with a low center of gravity and leg saving assistance matched with the nimble, direction-changing demeanor of an enduro bike. Overall, the Kenevo SL truly stands alone in offering riders a new standard in ride characteristics for an assisted mountain bike for those who crave just one more lap.

Visit www.specialized.com for more details.

About The Reviewer

Jason Schroeder - Age: 26 // Years Riding MTB: 15 // Height: 6-feet (1.8m) // Weight: 165-pounds (74.8kg)

A once-upon-a-time World Cup downhill racer turned desk jockey, Jason has spent years within the bicycle industry from both sides of the tape. A fan of all-day adventures in the saddle or flowing around a bowl at the skatepark, he doesn't discriminate from any form of two wheel riding. Originally a SoCal native now residing in Boise, Idaho you can find Jason camped out in his van most weekends at any given trailhead in the greater Pacific NorthWest.