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

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.

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.

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

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

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

All bikes in test: Canyon Strive CFR 9.0 LTD | CUBE Stereo 170 SL 29 | Giant Reign Advanced 29 0 | Ibis Mojo HD5 | Norco Sight C1 29 | Nukeproof Mega 275C RS | Nukeproof Mega 290C Pro | Orbea Rallon M-LTD | Pole Stamina 180 LE | RAAW Madonna V2 FOX Factory Built | Rocky Mountain Slayer Carbon 90 29 | Santa Cruz Megatower CC X01 Reserve | SCOTT Ransom 900 Tuned | Specialized S-Works Enduro 2020 | Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert | Trek Slash 9.9 X01 AXS | Yeti SB150 T2 | YT CAPRA 29 CF Pro Race