Specialized S-Work Turbo Kenevo SL in review

The Specialized S-Works Kenevo SL is the only eMTB in our “Best enduro bike of 2022” group test. How does the most expensive bike in our test fare against its opponents with its small motor and small battery? Here’s a little spoiler: everything has its pros and cons!

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike of 2022 – 11 models in review

With its small electric motor, the Specialized S-Works Kenevo SL falls into the category of Light eMTBs. This makes it the only motor-assisted bike in our big “Best enduro bike of 2022” group test. The emphasis here is on “motor-assisted”. Uphill, the 35 Nm output of the Specialized SL 1.1 motor lets you pull past the competition with a gentle breeze of artificial tailwind but still requires you to work hard on long climbs compared to more powerful ebikes. Needless to say, the Specialized S-Works Kenevo SL is the strongest climber in our group test. The small drive unit consumes less electricity than conventional motors, allowing you to cover decent distances despite the small 320 Wh battery. For long rides and epic backcountry adventures, you can increase the capacity of the internal battery using Specialized’s optional 160 Wh Range-Extender, which is stowed in the bottle cage. However, all of this comes at a price. At € 14,500 and 18.7 kg, the S-Works Kenevo SL is the most expensive and heaviest bike in the entire test field. Both the SL motor and MasterMind display are neatly integrated into the frame. A remote on the handlebars lets you switch between support modes while Specialized’s Mission Control app allows you to customise the assistance modes and personalise the layout of the display. With its 29” wheels and whopping 170 mm travel front and rear, the Kenevo SL resembles its analogue counterpart, the Specialized Enduro.. That similarity is more than just skin deep, with the two bikes also sharing many frame details, such as the SWAT mini-tool integrated into the headset, which includes all the necessary tools for quick trailside repairs. The Kenevo SL also features Specialized’s renowned seat and chainstay protector and small rear mudguard. Like the Santa Cruz Bronson, the Kenevo hides its shock deep inside the frame, making it hard to adjust the compression and rebound settings.

Crème de la crème? The spec of the Specialized S-Works Kenevo SL

For the flagship S-Works Kenevo SL model, Specialized rely on a complete SRAM AXS groupset consisting of an XX1 12-speed drivetrain and Reverb dropper post. SRAM’s electronic paddle shifters are attached to Specialized’s in-house 800 mm carbon handlebars. Like the YT Capra, the Kenevo SL relies on SRAM’s Matchmaker clamps to connect the SRAM shifters to the levers of the SRAM CODE RSC four-piston brakes. However, there’s a big difference: unlike the German brand, Specialized run a massive 220 mm rotor at the front and 200 mm disc at the rear and the heavy Kenevo SL really benefits from that bigger front rotor! There’s one more difference: the Kenevo also has a data cable that runs from the minimalist remote straight into the frame.

The suspension consists of a FOX 38 Factory fork with a GRIP2 damper and FLOAT X2 Factory shock. This setup offers countless adjustment options to fine-tune your ride. For other components like the tires and wheels, Specialized rely on their own components, including a Roval Traverse SL carbon wheelset and 2.3” Butcher tires. Both come in the puncture-prone GRID Trail casing, which will require you to run higher air pressures to prevent pinch flats and irreversible damage to the expensive carbon rims. However, higher tire pressures come at the expense of traction and support and the marginal weight reduction isn’t worth the risk.

The geometry of the Specialized S-Works Kenevo SL

The geometry of the Specialized S-Works Kenevo SL can be adjusted using different headset cups and a flip-chip in the chainstays. The headset cups change the head angle from 63.2° to 64.7° while the flip chip alters chainstay length by 5 mm and the bottom bracket height by 6 mm. The S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL adopts Specialized’s S-sizing system. Unfortunately, the sizing concept doesn’t really work with this bike, because the seat tube of the Kenevo doesn’t allow you to insert the 170 mm AXS Reverb dropper all the way into the frame. On top of that, the AXS dropper has a greater stack height than most conventional dropper posts, which restricts freedom of movement on the bike even further. As a result, as some of our riders found, you may not be able to use the maximum dropper travel. The Kenevo SL is available in four sizes, S2 to S5. At 489 mm in size S4, the reach is relatively long.

The extra mass of the battery contributes to the intuitive handling. However, we recommend braking a little earlier, because the additional weight tends to pull you and the bike downhill.

Intuitive, smooth and lots of traction – The S-Works Kenevo SL on the trail

Yes, uphill the S-Works Kenevo SL pulls past the entire test field without batting an eyelid, teasing its opponents with a distinctive hum. However, while it’s definitely the fastest bike uphill, it is certainly not the most comfortable. The relatively slack seat tube angle makes for a very stretched-out pedalling position that can become uncomfortable on long rides. To make up for this, we recommend sliding the saddle forward a little.

The Specialized S-Works Kenevo SL is the climbing king in this test. Given that it’s the only eMTB in the test, that doesn’t come as a surprise. While the motor is neatly integrated into the frame, the loud humming noise gives away the electric nature of the Kenevo SL, even from a distance!

Downhill, the Kenevo SL impresses with its super intuitive handling and excellent traction, not least due to the additional weight of the battery in the down tube. As a result, it doesn’t force you to actively load the front wheel and is always easy to control, generating lots of traction even with a passive riding style. On narrow trails, the Kenevo feels sluggish, reminding us of the Nukeproof Giga a little. Only the GT Force requires more physical effort to snake your way through the trees on winding trails. That said, the Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL is incredibly stable and smooth and matches the plush ride of the other bruisers in this test, the Nukeproof Giga, Orbea Rallon and Simplon Rapcon. That being said, the extra mass of the battery and motor pulls the Kenevo downhill, requiring you to hit the brakes a little earlier than you would with a lighter analogue bike. On big hits, the rear suspension lacks progression and doesn’t offer sufficient reserves. On very steep descents, the limited insertion depth and tall stack height of the AXS dropper result in the saddle getting in your way, significantly limiting the freedom of movement on the bike.

Tuning tips: more robust tires | put a volume spacer in the shock | fit a dropper with less stack height (e.g. OneUp V2)

Conclusion

The S-Works Kenevo SL enters our group test with extra motor power but also extra weight. Specialized’s Light eMTB steams past the competition on the climbs and shines with its smooth, intuitive handling and excellent traction when you point its nose down into the valley. Unfortunately, on the descents it lacks agility and the suspension doesn’t offer sufficient reserves. Moreover, the flimsy tires limit the range of applications and the flexibility promised by the S-sizing system doesn’t work with the limited freedom of movement on the bike.

Tops

• intuitive handling
• motor support without major drawbacks downhil

Flops

• long seat tube and short insertion depth limit freedom of movement
• flimsy tire casing combined with carbon rims
• shock bottoms out too easily

You can find out more about at specialized.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike of 2022 – 11 models in review

All bikes in test: Cannondale Jekyll 1 (Click for review) | Canyon Torque CF 8 (Click for review) | GT Force Carbon PRO LE (Click for review) | Nukeproof Giga 290 Carbon Factory (Click for review) | Orbea Rallon M-Team (Click for review) | Pivot Firebird Pro XT/XTR – Air (Click for review) | Rocky Mountain Altitude C90 Rally Edition (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Bronson CC X01 AXS (Click for review) | SIMPLON Rapcon 170/165 (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL | YT CAPRA UNCAGED 6 (Click for review)