By no surprise, E bikes have taken the cycling market by storm and quickly became what riders desire. They are getting more people into riding who wouldn’t otherwise and putting an emphasis on FUN. But what about the core crowd that wants an E bike without the rather lethargic heavy feel that a full power EMTB brings? This is where the evolution of the “half-power” or “lightweight” E-bike comes into play. E bikes are changing fast and in this article we will break down what that means and some comparisons between some of the best in class. Here we compare the Forsestal Siryon and Specialized Kenevo SL, two aggressive 170mm travel lightweight E bikes.

Forestal Siyron:

The company based out of Andorra is on a mission to create a lightweight e-bike that out-looks and out-performs their competitors. Worldwide Cyclery is proud to be the exclusive North American retailer for Forestal Bikes, these are exciting electric mountain bikes. They take pride in producing their bikes’ whole ecosystem in house, from frame to battery and motor! With their own EonDrive motor producing 60 Nm of torque, there is plenty of power to be had to keep up with full power E bikes. For reference, a conventional E bike has around 85 Nm of torque. The 170mm travel Siryon as well as its little brother, the 150mm travel Cyon, have an internal Aurora Performance 350 Wh battery. These smaller batteries keep the bikes’ weight down significantly and allow the bikes’ performance to shine throughout the whole ride. Sleek lines, a unique design and truly amazing paint jobs make these bikes stand out from the crowd.

Specialized Kenevo SL Platform:

Specialized has been in control of the EMTB market for quite some time now as they were one of the first companies to market with their Turbo Levo. It seems like every other bike company has been playing catch-up to them, releasing an electric mountain bike just to stay somewhat competitive, while Specialized has been refining their Gen 3 models. In 2020 they introduced the Turbo Levo SL, the first of its kind lightweight E-Bike that weighed in at only 38 lbs, contrary to a normal full power bike at 50 lbs. A bit controversial at first due to having only 35 Nm of torque from their SL 1.1 motor and a 320Wh battery, why would anybody spend up to $15,000 for an e-bike that has half the power and battery? This would take some time for the industry to catch onto and realize how amazing this category of bike would be. The secret is in the ride quality and experience.

One year later, the Turbo Kenevo SL was released, a hard hitting 170mm travel lightweight enduro e bike. Coming in at about 40lbs for their S-Works model, this splits the difference between a conventional enduro race bike and a full power E-bike. A bike like this allows the rider to get to the top of the hill with minimal effort but more importantly, ride down the hill with arguably more confidence and control than a normal enduro bike due to the stability of its weight and suspension platform.

On-Trail Comparison:

As a preface, I outright own a Kenevo SL as my personal bike so I have spent a lot of time riding, racing and tinkering with it. That being said, I was lucky enough to test out the Forestal Siryon at our home trails in Newbury Park but also out at Snow Summit Bike Park for some proper downhill seat time.

The Siryon that I tested was the Diode model, the highest end spec in Forestal’s lineup, equipped with full XX1 AXS drivetrain and dropper post, Ohlins suspension front and rear, Formula brakes and CrankBrothers carbon wheels. We went ahead and installed some Delium tires front and rear to test out and off we went. With nothing on this build compromising performance, it was a great way to learn how the bike actually rides. Because of the unique winged rear triangle, chain slap is eliminated making the bike ride extremely quiet, something that I am always in search of. The motor does make a whining noise when it is active, but I kind of like that noise and more importantly it is quiet when disengaged riding downhill. The suspension platform is a very balanced ride and was a blast at the bike park. It doesn’t feel sluggish like you would expect a 170mm bike to feel, which is great considering there is a motor and battery in it. The Ohlins RXF 36 fork was however, a bit disappointing. It tended to be pretty harsh and the chassis chattered badly from braking bumps. I would much prefer a fork like a Rockshox Zeb or Fox 38 to handle the Siryon. The size large that I was testing did feel pretty big, even with its reach numbers at 488mm. Overall, I was impressed with the performance and liveliness that the Forestal brought and will keep on riding it in the future.

The Kenevo SL is truly meant to be pointed downhill and its performance differs greatly to that of the Siryon. With the S5 sizing on mine, this bike is huge with a 510mm reach. I am about 6’1 and the S5 is at the limit for my height. It excels when it is up to speed, in a straight line going as fast as possible as well as the opposite when you encounter a tight switchback or slow technical rock garden. I have it set up with a 180mm Zeb up front and a PushElevenSix Coil in the rear. Truly the dream suspension setup and it gives the bike incredible small bump performance and turning ability at speed. The coil shock does make the bike bottom out more often but that can be helped with a heavier weight spring and a little bit more compression damping. This bike is also extremely quiet. The motor does whine a bit when going uphill, which is to be expected but is dead quiet when it is disengaged, unlike other e bikes that we have tested. Downhill casing tires are a must on any E bike in my opinion as it compensates for the extra weight that the bike brings and saves your wheels from imminent destruction. I run a Grid Gravity Hillbilly and Butcher, a great combo for loose blown out trails that we know all too well in Southern California. This bike is great for putting an emphasis on descending when planning a riding route, capable of getting in multiple descents in one ride, making this bike not only capable but dynamic. 

Where Do These Bikes Excel?

With the Forestal Siryon we tested coming at 42lbs, its trail feel is very lively. Not so heavy that you can’t get it off the ground like a full power bike, but light enough to place it where you want to go and have it stay on line. The quiet ride gives confidence and it seems to work great on any trail that you put it on. With 25 more Nm than the Kenevo SL, the Siryon will drop it on any climb while also keeping up with your buddies on full power E bikes. The downside to this is that your ride time will be limited due to the smaller battery that allows the weight to be kept down. We have found that you can get in about 20 miles and 3-4k of climbing on a single charge depending on your power management and terrain.

The Kenevo SL as tested is quite the opposite of playful at 45 lbs, but it sure knows how to go fast and stay comfortable at speed. With its balanced suspension system and weight in the right places, it feels like a downhill bike at times, but has some assist to get you up the hill. Because of the lower power numbers (35 Nm) and the external extender battery in the bottle cage, your ride time can go for a while. Depending on which power mode you choose, and how steep of terrain you are climbing, it is possible to get up to 30 miles and 4-5k ft of ascending in on a single ride. WIth Specialized’s refined turbo system, it is also possible to tune your power and assist modes with 10% increments to be as efficient as possible.

Pro/Cons:

Forestal Siyron

Specialized Kenevo SL

Worldwide's Final Thoughts:

So what is Worldwide’s takeaway? We consider ourselves core mountain bikers through and through. When Ebikes came to market we were skeptical but remained optimistic that it may be the next best thing. Sure enough it was and it has evolved to the point where different, refined genres have come to light. Bikes like Forestal and Specialized’s SL E bikes are the bread and butter for core mountain bikers that want that raw experience but still would like a bit of assistance up the hill. You can still get a great workout in, and in turn save your legs so that the priority of your ride is when the FUN part begins, the downhill. Forestal offers a unique and complete package that will stand out on any group ride. Specialized offers a refined and downhill specified platform with the Kenevo SL that will still get you up the hill. Both great options for someone who wants to get in more miles, more smiles and a great workout as well.