Specialized updates Kenevo SL with 1.2 SL motor
The e-MTB also gets six-way geometry adjustability
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After reaching high praise from many, Specialized has gone back and given its Kenevo SL e-MTB a refresh for 2024. a visit. The new heavy-hitting lightweight e-bike now gets Specialized's SL 1.2 motor and heaps more adjustability.
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The Kenevo SL takes the foundations laid by the full-fat Kenevo and pairs it down to a lightweight but still full-send package. The 2024 model has two key updates, the first of which is the SL 1.2 motor that we first saw on the Levo SL Gen II and the Creo 2.
Spesh's SL 1.2 motor has received a tonne of tweaks and changes, all to make it an altogether more efficient and capable package. The brand says that it now offers 320 watts of power, which is a 33 percent increase, and 43 percent more torque, up to 50Nm. Specialized also claims that it's the quietest e-bike system in the world, which is a very bold claim.
2023 specialized kenevo 2 non ds.jpeg, by Liam Mercer
The SL 1.2 motor is paired with a 320Wh integrated battery and it gets all of the features found prior, such as MicroTune and comparability with a 160Wh range extender, upping the potential range from five hours up to 7.5 hours of riding time.
As before, the Kenevo SL 2 is built around a FACT 11m carbon fibre frame which holds the motor as low and centrally as possible in pursuit of the best handling it can offer. The frame has been tuned to reduce lateral and torsional flex.
2023 specialized kenevo 2 motor.jpg, by Liam Mercer
The second key change found on this bike is that the bike comes with six geometry settings. The new Kenevo's head angle can be changed from an already slack 64.5 degrees right down to a mega slack 62.5 degrees and the bottom bracket can be tweaked by 6mm in height. Elsewhere, an S4 frame gets a 485mm reach, a 76-degree seat tube angle, and a 447mm chainstay length.
The new Kenevo Sl 2 runs Specialized's renowned FSR six-bar linkage that's said to decouple braking forces from the suspension's movement for grip while braking. It also gets what Spesh calls 'tension links' which drive shock compression and allow the leverage rate to be tuned from the axle path to further improve performance. This design also lowers the bike's centre of gravity.
2023 specialized kenevo 2 tt.jpeg, by Liam Mercer
This version of FSR gives the bike a slightly rearward axle path that should keep the rear wheel from hanging up on square-edged hits and it's said to also aid anti-squat earlier in the travel, which should then boost pedalling efficiency. The shock and suspension layout gets a special tune in order to work at its best with the extra weight, and hopefully speed, that comes as a result of the motor.
Of course, there's then the MasterMind TCU which offers a full-colour display of all of the ride information.
There are three models of the new Kenevo SL2 available with prices ranging from £6,500 for the Comp carbon model, going up to £12,500 for the top S-Works build, all of which benefit from Fox suspension and SRAM drivetrains.
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1 comments
"The brand says that it now offers 320 watts of power..." exploiting the "average continuous power" loophole in the regs to essentially ignore the 250W max power rule. Averaged over what period, I wonder? Obviously any cyclist will be coasting for significant periods, drawing zero power from the motor.