DOWNHILL SUPERSTAR ON E
Specialized have been pushing boundaries since diving head-first into the e-bike market with the original Turbo S several years ago. The S was a great bike, and since its introduction, Specialized have invested heavily in new designs and models, each greatly refined from the one previous.
The Turbo Levo – available at various spec levels – remains one of the best and most capable electric trail bikes you can buy. Specialized have also broadened their range with the introduction of the commuter-friendly Turbo Vado, and the outrageously quick Turbo Creo road bike, which was unveiled during the 2019 Tour de ▶rance.
The most recent creation to come out of Specialized’s Swiss e-bike engineering facility is the Turbo Kenevo. It’s the beefed-up cousin of the Levo, ready to tackle the gnarliest downhill trail – and then take you back to the top swiftly and easily.
Downhill and enduro riding are still growth areas in South Africa, but in ▲urope they’re huge. Riders usually take a ski lift or a shuttle to the top of a run; but with the Kenevo, you don’t have to. The Specialized 2.1 motor, based on the exceptional Brose Drive S Mag, is 400g lighter than its predecessor but still delivers 90Nm of torque and up to 410% pedal assistance.
▲ven better is the battery, which has been bumped up to 700Wh in the ▲xpert model, delivering ample power for run after run after run.
Battery and motor can both be controlled via the Specialized Mission Control App, which is by far the best in the business. You can make custom adjustments to the various ride modes, and you can take a quick glance at the overall health of the system.
While you’re riding, it’s easy to switch between the modes using the handlebar control or the button on the top tube. The battery life indicator – also on the top tube – is clear and accurate.
The suspension befits a bike that wants to go full tilt down rough, rocky trails: a 180mm RockShox BoXXer Select fork upfront, with a double crown for extra stiffness and control; and a 180mm RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select at the back, which is reliable, simple to set up and unlikely to overheat.
▶rame geometry is long and low, with an aggressive 64° head angle and a steep 77° seat angle for better climbing ability. The seat tube is low across the size range, which means you can choose your size according to length rather than height, depending on how much reach you want. It’s a different way of looking at sizing, but it works in this context, where a longer bike is generally faster and more stable when rocketing down black runs at →onkershoek.
Geometry and suspension combine to deliver a full-blooded gravity bike, and this is where you need to start asking the hard questions. Will you actually ride it as it’s designed to be ridden – downhill and fast?
If not, it can feel a bit sluggish, especially on level, flowing trails. If your regular riding routes include lots of cross-country sections and moderate singletrack, this kind of e-bike is overkill. Rather consider the Turbo Levo, which is a snappier, more versatile machine.
But if you live for berms, jumps, rock gardens and drop-offs that make normal riders sweaty with fear, the Kenevo is an absolute winner. It’s poised, and balanced, and the suspension soaks up everything in its path.
And when you get to the bottom of the run, you can turn around and zoom back up to the top again.