It depends on the model. The Kenevo SL 2 uses Specialized’s SL 1.2 system with 50Nm of torque and a 320Wh battery. Some older Turbo Kenevo models are stronger. The Trek Slash+ uses a TQ system, with motor generation and battery size depending on year and build.
Specialized Kenevo vs. Trek Slash+: E-MTB Comparison
Written by: Chris Van Leuven | June 10, 2026 | Time to read: 7-8 min
Compare Specialized Kenevo vs. Trek Slash+ e-MTBs across motor, battery, suspension, and geometry specs, including Upway buying tips.
More about the Author: Chris Van Leuven
Chris is a writer, climber, and founder of Yosemite E-Biking in Mariposa, CA. When he’s not tackling Sierra Foothills trails or scaling rock walls, he’s crafting adventure stories with his boxer, Fenster. His work has appeared in Outside, Men’s Journal, Gripped, and Best American Sports Writing.
The Specialized Kenevo and Trek Slash+ are not “make the climb easy” e-Bikes. That’s too simple. These are the full-suspension e-Bikes you look at when the descent is the whole reason you left the house. Steep lines, sharp rocks, tricky landings, technical corners, long travel, big brakes, beefy tires, and enough motor to get back to the top without making every lap a sufferfest.
That’s the point. The Specialized Kenevo name has always lived on the gravity side of the e-MTB world. The Kenevo SL 2 keeps that downhill-first attitude but trims it into a lighter, quieter, more natural-feeling ride with Specialized’s SL 1.2 motor and a 320Wh battery.
The Trek Slash+ is different. Trek started with the Slash, a rowdy enduro bike, then added quiet TQ motor support and a bigger battery on many builds. It’s still great at descending, but it gives you more range.
In this blog, I’ll compare the Specialized Kenevo SL 2 and the Trek Slash+ in terms of motor, battery, suspension, climbing feel, and descending style.
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Table of Contents
What kind of rider should look at these e-MTBs?
Look at these bikes if you already know you want long travel. The Specialized Kenevo SL 2 has 170mm of Enduro-inspired travel, 29-inch wheels, adjustable geometry, and the SL 1.2 motor system. Specialized lists that system at 50 Nm of torque, 320W of power, and a 320 Wh battery.
Those numbers matter because they tell you what the Kenevo SL 2 isn’t. It’s not a full-power e-MTB with a giant battery and maximum power. It’s a long-travel electric mountain bike for riders who want help on the climb but still want the bike to feel lively, quiet, and fairly close to a regular enduro bike.
The Trek Slash+ also sits in the light-assist enduro world, but it also works differently. It uses Trek’s Slash platform, high-pivot suspension design, a TQ motor system, and a 580Wh battery on many builds. Depending on the year and availability, you may see TQ HPR50 or TQ HPR60, so the exact listing matters.
These bikes make the most sense for riders who care about:
- Steep descents
- Enduro-style terrain
- Bike-park laps
- Rock gardens and rough landings
- Long-travel suspension
- Quiet motor support
- More climbing without turning the ride into a shuttle day
Neither bike belongs on a mellow bike path. These are e-MTBs for riders who think in terms like enduro, bike park, rock garden, compression, bottom-out, and “I think it goes.”
How do the Kenevo SL 2 and Trek Slash+ specs compare?
Specs matter here, but not in the usual “bigger is better” way. With light-assist e-MTBs, the motor, battery, suspension, geometry, wheels, and parts all have to match the job.
| Bike | Motor and battery | Suspension and wheels | Frame and geometry notes | Best reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized Kenevo SL 2 | Specialized SL 1.2, 50Nm torque, 320W power, 320Wh battery | 170mm front and rear, 29-inch wheels | Adjustable geometry, S-Sizing, head angle from 62.5 to 64.5 degrees, 7mm bottom-bracket adjustment | You want a lighter, quieter, more natural-feeling long-travel e-MTB |
| Trek Slash+ | TQ HPR50 or HPR60, depending on year and model, often with a 580Wh battery | 170mm front and rear, mixed-wheel setup on many builds | High-pivot suspension, Slash enduro platform, OCLV Mountain Carbon on carbon models | You want enduro travel with more battery for longer rides and more laps |
The Kenevo SL 2 is the more precise-feeling option on paper. The adjustable geometry is a big part of that. Being able to change head angle and bottom bracket height lets a rider tune the bike for steeper trails, faster tracks, or a little more pedal clearance.
The Slash+ is the more battery-forward choice. The 580Wh battery on many builds gives it an advantage for bigger days, especially if your rides include long climbs before the other fun starts. Trek’s high-pivot suspension design also gives the Slash+ a specific downhill personality: more balanced through hard hits and a stable feel when the trail starts getting rowdy.
The biggest spec differences are:
- Battery: Kenevo SL 2 uses a 320Wh battery; many Slash+ builds use 580Wh.
- Motor feel: Specialized uses the SL 1.2 system; Trek uses a TQ system that can vary by year and model.
- Ride character: Kenevo SL 2 leans lighter and sharper; Slash+ leans more planted and range-focused.
- Geometry: Kenevo SL 2 gives you more obvious adjustment options; Slash+ brings high-pivot enduro suspension into the e-MTB conversation.
Component spec depends on the build. You may see RockShox ZEB or Vivid suspension, Bontrager Line wheels, SRAM or Shimano drivetrains, wireless dropper posts, and different tire setups depending on model year. That’s why the listing matters.
Which one climbs better?
The Kenevo SL 2 climbs best if you like a bike that still makes you work. The SL 1.2 motor isn’t there to erase the hill. It gives you help, but the bike still rewards smooth pedaling, smart line choice, and patience. The MasterMind TCU and MicroTune setups are great because you can adjust support in small steps rather than jumping between big assist modes. That helps on loose climbs where too much power just spins the rear tire. That kind of climbing feels more like riding.
The Slash+ has the battery advantage. If you’re doing a ride with more climbing, more distance, or multiple descents, the larger battery gives you… just more. You can use the assist more freely without watching the battery percentage every few minutes.
For climbing, I’d look at it this way:
- Choose the Kenevo SL 2 if you want a more natural climb and do not mind managing assist.
- Choose the Slash+ if you want more battery for longer approaches, repeated climbs, or bigger days.
- Check the exact listing because motor generation and battery size can change by model year and build.
Which one descends better?
Both can get rowdy. The difference is how they get there. The Kenevo SL 2 has 170mm travel, big wheels, and geometry you can adjust for terrain and ride style. Specialized’s S-Sizing also matters. A smaller size can feel easier to move around. A larger size gives you more room and stability.
The Kenevo SL 2 is the one I’d want if the trail is tight, steep, and physical. It has enough travel to handle real terrain, but the smaller battery and lighter assist system help keep it from feeling like too much bike all the time.
The Slash+ feels like the heavier hitter. Trek’s high-pivot suspension design is made for rough enduro riding, and the bike has the battery power to stay out longer. On fast trails, chunky rock, and repeated descents, that balanced feel makes sense.
That doesn’t mean the Slash+ is automatically better at downhill. Some riders prefer a bike they can pick up, move around, and corner quickly. Others want a bike that settles into speed and stays balanced when the ground gets tricky.
The descending difference is like so:
- Kenevo SL 2: lighter-feeling, more adjustable, easier to move around.
- Slash+: balanced, better for longer days and repeated rough descents.
- Both: built for aggressive trails, not casual cruising.
The Kenevo SL 2 feels like a high-end long-travel tool. The Slash+ feels like a quiet enduro brawler with more fuel in the tank.
How to compare these bikes on Upway
With bikes like this, the certified pre-owned pricing on Upway—with savings up to 60%— gets your attention fast. I get it. A certified pre-owned Kenevo SL or Slash+ can cost thousands less than a new one.
But I’d slow down before getting too excited. Start with the exact model year. A Specialized Kenevo, Kenevo SL, and Kenevo SL 2 are not the same bike. A Trek Slash+ 9.7, 9.8, and 9.9 can also differ in motor generation, battery size, suspension, drivetrain, brakes, dropper post, wheels, and tires.
Then check the motor and battery. On the Specialized, look for SL 1.1 vs. SL 1.2, battery condition, range extender compatibility, MasterMind TCU function, and Specialized App connectivity. On the Trek, check whether the listing mentions TQ HPR50 or HPR60, and confirm the battery size.
Upway helps because certified pre-owned e-Bikes go through a 50-point inspection before they’re listed, and the listing photos show the exact bike. Plus, they come with a 14-day return period and a 1-year warranty. That matters on an electric mountain bike. These bikes are made to be ridden hard, so I’d study the photos closely.
For the Kenevo SL 2, focus on battery condition, SL motor generation, range extender compatibility, suspension condition, and whether the smaller battery fits your trails. For the Slash+, focus on the exact TQ motor, battery size, rear suspension condition, drivetrain wear, and wheel condition.
The right answer for you isn’t the one with the bigger savings. It’s the one that fits your terrain, your climbing days, your descending style, and how much bike you want to manage when the trail gets really challenging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Specialized Kenevo more powerful than the Trek Slash+?
Is the Trek Slash+ better for long rides?
Often, yes. The larger battery gives the Slash+ an advantage for longer rides and repeated climbs, especially compared with the Kenevo SL 2’s 320Wh battery. Range still depends on rider weight, assist mode, elevation, trail surface, temperature, tires, and how much you use the motor.
Which bike is better for aggressive descending?
Both are built for aggressive descending. I’d pick the Kenevo SL 2 if you want a lighter, more adjustable, more natural-feeling e-MTB. I’d go with the Slash+ if you want more battery, high-pivot suspension, and a more balanced enduro feel on rough, fast terrain.
Key Takeaways
- The Specialized Kenevo SL 2 is the better pick if you want a lighter, quieter, more natural-feeling long-travel e-MTB with adjustable geometry.
- The Trek Slash+ is the better choice if you want 170mm enduro travel, high-pivot suspension, and more battery under you on 580Wh builds.
- When shopping for certified pre-owned e-Bikes on Upway, compare exact model year, motor generation, battery size, wheel setup, and photos of the exact bike before buying.
