Specialized Kenevo 2020 - First Ride: Downhill fun without compromise?

Test / First Ride: Since its introduction in 2017, the Specialized Kenevo has been the full-throttle counterpart to the already extremely potent Turbo Levo. After the latter was recently relaunched and was able to up the ante with downhill performance, the Kenevo had to step up. We were at the press launch in Todtnau and were already able to do a few laps on the Specialized Kenevo 2020.

180mm and double crown fork: full throttle!

Well, let's talk about the proverbial elephant in the room right at the beginning - yes, that's a double bridge fork! Apart from a few exotics like the Husqvarna EXC 10, this is an extremely rare occurrence on E-MTBs. According to Specialized, the decision was ultimately made to use the double bridge on at least one model of the new Kenevo after numerous buyers of the previous model had retrofitted one on their own.

Such a fork on a bike like the Kenevo definitely makes sense: With 180mm of spring travel front and rear, it was designed for the roughest trails of all and this is exactly where the double bridge comes into its own: the enormously stiff construction gives you the power, especially at high speeds an unrivaled steering precision. However, the fork does not offer more spring travel - even on the Kenevo Comp, which is equipped with a conventional single crown fork, the full 180mm spring travel is available at the front.

Outside Levo, inside Enduro?

At first glance, the new Specialized Kenevo 2020 is reminiscent of its e-brother, the Levo, or the current Stumpjumper due to the asymmetrical rear triangle. However, the Californians promise that the outward appearance is deceptive: the Kenevo has far more in common with the Enduro than one might initially think. The fact that it looks more like the other models is due to the additional space required by the engine; this is where the damper sits on the new enduro.

But why the comparison with the current Enduro? Well, first of all there is the special wheel elevation curve, which the two bikes share in the beginning: the rear wheel axle moves upwards to the rear for the first few millimeters of suspension travel - this way obstacles don't slow you down and you stay fast for longer. A second thing they have in common is the extremely progressive geometry – flat head angle, long reach, steep seat tube: Compared to the predecessor, the adjustment screws here have clearly been turned in the direction of smooth running.

New motor generation and up to 700Wh battery

At the heart of the new Kenevo beats the next generation of the in-house drive with the Specialized 2.1 motor. In terms of hardware, this is based on the powerful Brose Drive S Mag, but has been specially adapted and further optimized with its own software to meet the needs of Kenevo drivers. The impressive performance data of the motor: Up to 90Nm torque and 410% maximum support. It unfolds its full potential in conjunction with the Mission Control app. Not only can the support level be fine-tuned here, it also offers extremely practical features such as the Power Assistant. If you set a tour end point or a total number of kilometers here, this regulates the support performance so that you can definitely get to the end with one charge - or warn you accordingly if the tour is too long.

Another decisive advantage compared to the engine predecessor is the weight saving; It weighs 400g less thanks to its magnesium housing. The newly developed motor mount on the frame saves another 400g - this is how Specialized was able to save almost a kilogram of weight on the new Kenevo.

The battery hidden in the surprisingly slim down tube is also new. This energy storage called M2 now holds up to 700Wh and is said to offer up to 40% more range than the 500Wh counterpart. However, the new, large battery is only installed in the top model Expert. The Comp version uses a 500Wh battery.

Two model variants from 5.499 euros

The new Specialized Kenevo will initially be available in two configurations and two colors each at market launch. Both models share the frame, but differ in a few not unimportant points: In addition to the double bridge, which is reserved for the top model Kenevo Expert, there is also the 700Wh battery, which is also only installed in the Expert. The entry-level model Kenevo Comp has to cope with "only" 500Wh.

Specialized Kenevo Expert 2020

The top model goes by the name of Kenevo Expert and, with the Rock Shox Deluxe Coil damper and the Boxxer Select RC, offers an enormously potent chassis that should pull the teeth out of even the toughest trail. The drive is rather pragmatic with the Shimano GX and an 11-42 cassette, but is definitely sufficient for a bike in this class. Braking is done with the Sram Code R, the wheels are of course from Roval. Invisible from the outside, but one of the highlights of the top model: the 700Wh battery in the down tube.

Weight: 24,58kg (manufacturer information)
Price: € 6.899

Specialized Kenevo Comp 2020

The Kenevo Comp is only marginally less potent. Even if you have to do without the double bridge at the front, you still get 180mm of travel - here provided by Marzocchi, more precisely the Z1 at the front and the Bomber CR coil damper at the rear. The Sram NX circuit is hardly inferior to the GX counterpart on the Expert, and the Code R brake is even the same model. The differences in the wheels are also limited – the Comp has the in-house Roval hub at the rear instead of the DT Swiss. Perhaps the biggest difference lies in the battery – there is “only” 500Wh in the down tube of the Kenevo Comp.

Weight: 23,63kg (manufacturer information)
Price: € 5.499

First driving impressions

We were able to test the new Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert on the trails around Todtnau and Freiburg. It doesn't matter whether it's on jump-heavy routes or on blocked trails, the Turbo Kenevo doesn't let itself be ruffled.

The 180 mm suspension travel at the front and rear harmonize perfectly with each other and always give you the feeling of always having enough reserves at hand. A double crown fork on an e-bike? Makes perfect sense in this travel class! Paired with the steel damper at the rear, the chassis literally sucks itself to the ground.

Uncompromising downhill performance often means that the bike has to make compromises on the climbs. Not so with the Specialized Kenevo! The steep seat tube angle and modern geometry ensure that the bike pedals surprisingly well uphill – even when things get technical.

Only criticism: the brakes. The SRAM Code R brake system does its job well, but reaches its limits with hard gear and long descents - despite 200 mm rotors at the front and rear.