Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert on test – bottle cage meets dual crown fork

Bottle cage and a dual crown fork – how does that fit together? The Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert makes it possible with its powerful motor assisting the rider. We wanted to find out how an eMTB would fare in direct comparison to the best enduro bikes on the market – and we were in for a surprise!

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2020

**Specialized** Turbo Kenevo Expert | 180/180 mm | 24.20 kg | € 6,899

With 180 mm travel front and rear, the Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert stands out from the other bikes in the test field. The Kenevo is the only bike on test featuring a dual crown RockShox BoXXer fork, which you’ll usually only find on purpose-built downhill bikes. Paired with the fork is a RockShox Super Deluxe coil shock on the rear. Apart from that, you’ve got the Specialized 2.1 motor integrated into the frame, which is based on the Brose Drive S Mag. It puts out 90 Nm torque and is powered by a 700 Wh battery hidden in the down tube. It only assists the rider as long they’re pedalling and the assistance cuts out at a top speed of 25 km/h. There’s a small remote on the handlebar with which you can scroll through the support modes. Instead of a display, the beautifully integrated Turbo Connect Unit in the top tube gives you all the necessary information about the status of the battery and the selected support mode. In the highest support mode, the motor will increase the rider’s power output by up to 400 %. Specced with robust componentry, the bike weighs in at a total of 24.2 kg.

**Double D**
The times of dropper posts and dual crown forks being mutually exclusive are over with the new Kenevo.

**You choose…**
…which Kenevo suits you and not the other way around. Thanks to the short seat tube, you can choose the frame size based on your preferred reach and stack.

**Unusual**
Granted, the Kenevo looks more like a downhill bike with its BoXXer fork, but you quickly get used to the sight of a 180 mm travel dual crown fork on the trail.

**You’re the boss**
Thanks to control unit in the top tube, you can ride the Kenevo without the remote on the handlebar without losing any functionality. However, the remote is compact and ergonomic enough that it never bothered us.

Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert

€ 6,899

Specifications

Motor Specialized 2.1 90Nm
Battery Specialized M2 700Wh
Display Specialized TCU
Fork RockShox BoXXer Select RC 180 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select 180 mm
Seatpost Specialized Command Post IRcc 130 - 160 mm
Brakes SRAM CODE R 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX 1x11
Stem Specialized Direct Mount DH 45 mm
Handlebar Specialized Alloy 800 mm
Wheelset Roval Alloy DH 27.5"

Technical Data

Size S2 S3 S4 S5
Weight 24.2 kg
Perm. total weight 161 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 136 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no

Specific Features

fully functional even without cockpit remote
Mission Control App
integrated multi tool

**Out of its league**
The SRAM CODE R brakes don’t have SRAM’s SwingLink technology and aren’t up to the task of reliably stopping the hefty Kenevo.

**Haters gonna hate**
Thanks to the SWAT bottle mount, you’ll always have your water bottle and tools at hand on the Kenevo when you go riding off the beaten track, far away from the nearest bike park and Apres-Bike cabin.

**Simply quiet**
The ribbed chainstay protector performs just as well on the Kenevo as it does on the Enduro: perfectly.

Geometry and size of the Specialized

Specialized have realised that eMTBs can no longer be sized according to the length of their seat tubes. Instead, the short seat tube of the Kenevo and long dropper posts allow you to choose the frame size according to the desired length of the top tube.

Size	S2	S3	S4	S5
Seat tube	400 mm	420 mm	440 mm	465 mm
Top tube	585 mm	612 mm	639 mm	666 mm
Head tube	105 mm	115 mm	125 mm	135 mm
Head angle	64.0°	64.0°	64.0°	64.0°
Seat angle	77.0°	77.0°	77.0°	77.0°
Chainstays	454 mm	454 mm	454 mm	454 mm
BB Drop	14 mm	14 mm	14 mm	14 mm
Wheelbase	1,234 mm	1,263 mm	1,293 mm	1,322 mm
Reach	445 mm	470 mm	495 mm	520 mm
Stack	605 mm	614 mm	623 mm	632 mm

**Helmet** Fox Dropframe | **Goggles** Fox Main Race | **Shirt** ION Seek Amp Tee | **Pants** ION Seek Amp Jeans

The Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert on the trail

Despite its heft and the dual crown fork, the Specialized Kenevo will easily beat the competition on the climbs – as long as you haven’t run down the battery. Depending on the support mode, the assistance of the motor ranges from powerful yet natural feeling to riding with a constant tailwind! Despite its bulky appearance, the Kenevo Expert gets up even the most technical climbs. With its super-steep seat tube angle, the rider is positioned centrally between the wheels and, in combination with the long front triangle, the front wheel is kept sufficiently weighted in spite of the long fork. As a result, it stays planted on the ground and lifts only on the most extreme climbs where other bikes would long have come to a standstill. But let’s be honest: if you’re interested in the Kenevo, you’ll want to know how it climbs in Shuttle mode. Shuttle mode is a super powerful support level that you first have to activate via the Mission Control app. Once you’ve done so, the Specialized 2.1 motor loses its natural ride feel and pushes you along at maximum power. However, there’s a downside if you plan on using an actual shuttle. Given how heavy the bike is, you’re bound to put your back out sooner or later.

Es war klar, dass das Kenevo bergauf alle Bikes alt aussehen lässt. Das es aber auch bergab so überzeugt war eine Überraschung!

One thing is clear: the Specialized Turbo Kenevo is a capable descender. No matter how rough the terrain, it remains stable and precise. Whatever line you aim for, the Kenevo will hit it precisely and it’s damn fast doing so. That’s not a given for a bike with a motor, in case that’s what you were thinking. Despite its long travel, the suspension feels very defined and gives you a lot of feedback from the trail. The suspension is poppy enough to get the Kenevo airborne, though its weight does require more effort to do so. In general, the steeper and faster the trail, the more fun you’ll have on this bike. However, the tall front end, the long front triangle and the bike’s hefty weight take their toll on tighter more winding trails. When cornering in flat terrain, you have to weight the front wheel actively and the high degree of stability of the Kenevo demands a lot of rider input if you want to change direction at slower speeds.

How does the Specialized Kenvo compare to the competition?

As you’d expect, the Specialized Kenevo is in a league of its own on the climbs and as long as the battery has got enough juice left, it easily leaves the competition behind. Suddenly, climbing becomes fun and you discover new ways of getting to the trailhead. On the descents, it’s by far the plushest bike in the test field and it feels as stable as the Specialized Enduro or the RAAW Madonna. Manoeuvring tight sections and trying to catch air takes quite a bit more effort with this bike though.

Tuning tip: 220 mm brake rotors

Riding Characteristics

Uphill

sluggish
efficient

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Suspension

harsh
plush

Fun Factor

planted
poppy

Value for money

terrible
very good

Intended Use

XC

Trail

Enduro

Downhill

Conclusion

The Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert is one of the most capable eMTBs available today and it proves how much fun you can have on a modern eMTB. Climbs suddenly become more than a means to an end and the suspension and geometry instil you with confidence on the descents. Of course, this does come at the cost of agility. If you’re in the market for a capable eMTB, we recommend taking a closer look at the Kenevo!

Tops

unlimited downhill capabilities
confidence-inspiring on the descents
powerful motor
Shuttle mode

Flops

brakes are too weak for the intended use
boring on easier trails

You can find out more about the Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert at specialized.com

The test field