Posted on August 31, 2022 by Andrew McLemore

This week, Specialized announced an expansion of a May 2021 recall affecting battery packs used with two of its electric mountain bikes.

The initial recall affected battery packs for first-generation Turbo Levo and Kenevo models manufactured between 2017 and 2019.

2016 Specialized Turbo Levo. Photo c. Zach Overholt

Now, the company has expanded the scope of the recall with additional battery part numbers and manufacturing dates. It posted the safety notice on its website.

Specialized plans to contact riders that may be affected, both via email and a notification on Turbo Mission Control, the company’s proprietary app.

For an uncertain number of the battery packs (likely less than 15 percent of all units), conductive water (salt or chlorinated, for example) can penetrate the seal around the Control Pad. In “very rare cases,” that could trigger a short-circuit, posing a fire or burn hazard, Specialized said.

It’s only likely to happen through repeated pressure-washing, the company said. As of this writing, Specialized had not specified whether it received reports of any incidents or injuries due to the recall. Understandably, the brand seems to be erring on the side of caution given that as ebikes have surged in popularity in recent years, reports of deadly fires ignited by their batteries from unspecified brands have increased.

The recall includes first-generation Levo and Kenevo bikes, which have the Control Pad located on the side of the battery.

2018 Specialized Kenevo. Photo c. Specialized

If your Control Pad is not located on the side of the battery, then the recall doesn’t include your bike. Affected bikes and parts include:

Specialized also offers a handy video to help customers identify if their battery is included in the recall.

Do you own one of the above bikes or batteries? If so, Specialized asks you to reach out to the closest Authorized Specialized Retailer.

They will inspect the bike and repair the battery pack for free, which involves re-gluing the Control Pad to seal it more effectively.

“If you checked your battery pack as part of the original recall and determined it was not affected, please check it again to confirm whether your battery is now included within the expanded scope,” Specialized said in the recall.

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Riding along the beach with a 25 knot on shore wind (all week long). Salt spray is real…

So what happens if your e-bike bursts into flames in backwoods forest in the middle of the summer and causes a billion-dollar forest fire? Again, e-bikes are dumb and don’t belong on trails.

I don’t think ebikes are dumb, I think suggesting strict and rigid regulation would be better than just turning your nose up to it….food for thought

I have a Levo and Kenevo and both are at home in the woods. Reliability has been an issue but these are by far the funnest (not fastest) bikes I’ve ever ridden.

eBikes don’t cause forest fires. Even if one did, it doesn’t mean we should stop harnessing the power electricity.

Like most intelligent life we improve and move on. It doesn’t have to be your cup of tea but that doesn’t mean it can’t be mine.

Phones, gopro’s, wireless shifters Ect have batteries. You best get. A single speed direct drive hard tail rigid front … all that gear ghanging causes sparks. I’m sure a smart person like you knew that

This is a bigger problem than perhaps Specialized is willing to admit. Their own UK office and warehouse burnt down last year – battery fire perhaps?

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