BIKE Verdict: One to fall in love with
Alongside the superb freeride bike, the Spindrift, the trail-oriented enduro Tyee has always had a bit of a hard time. This is the solution. The Tyee Trail declares itself an all-mountain bike. Its wonderfully balanced character and good suspension are just as impressive as its versatility. The bike is fun and responsive on flowing trails, yet powerful enough for rough terrain. - Adrian Kaether, Test & Technology Editor
A compromise? The happy medium!
Just a heads-up, this is getting a bit personal: I’ve always liked Propains. My first review for BIKE was an all-mountain comparison test with the first Hugene as the winner. With its touring capabilities, moderate weight and superb suspension, it was pretty clear back then which one to go for. Propain is also getting a lot right when it comes to e-bikes. The Ekano 2 with Powertrain Despite its generous suspension travel, it was one of the best and most versatile e-bikes you could hope for on the trail. The Sresh SL with a TQ motor It’s also a really good bike and came out on top in our latest Light comparison test.
When it comes to non-electric MTBs, though, I’ve been dabbling a bit with bikes from the Allgäu for quite some time now. The new Hugene trail bike, at nearly 15 kilos, is quite heavy for its suspension travel class. The Tyee enduro was already very similar to the Spindrift freerider, but had the inferior suspension. So really, the only option left was the heaviest bike in the stable, apart from the Rage downhill bike. The Spindrift really is a brilliant bike, but at 180 millimetres, it’s a bit too much of a good thing unless your plans mainly involve Finale, Vinschgau and the bike park.
So here it is, right in front of me: with its 160/145-millimetre travel, the Tyee Trail is moving closer to the classic all-mountain category and is available as a 29er or in a mullet setup. Incidentally, I rode the bike at a press camp organised by Propain, Schwalbe and DT Swiss in Molini di Triora in the spring of 2026. That’s why this isn’t a fully reliable comparative test, but rather a personal riding impression. Nevertheless, the event shows that Propain is back on the right track with the Tyee Trail.
Chassis: Well-defined, with plenty in reserve
At the heart of the Tyee Trail is Propain’s standard Pro 10 rear end with VPP kinematics. This hasn’t quite won us over on the Hugene and Tyee models recently. It lacked sensitivity, particularly at the start of the travel. The Tyee Trail offers a welcome change in this respect, thanks in part to a special feature.
The defined feedback remains, whilst the Tyee Trail impresses with a comfortable yet never mushy ride quality and a pleasant, not excessive, end-stroke progression. As soon as the suspension travel is really put to the test, the system performs convincingly and has enough reserves to allow for controlled riding even on more challenging enduro trails. This reminds me, in the best possible way, of long-travel bikes such as the Ekano and Spindrift, or the Sresh SL, which is very similar in terms of suspension travel. It makes you want to say: ‘It works after all!’
Freedom for the suspension: DEG DF
However, the DT Swiss DEG DF system was also a key factor in the bike’s performance: the Propain rear end benefits noticeably from the reduced pedal kickback effect. With the right settings, the rear wheel tracks significantly better, even over fast bumps, and feels smoother overall. The Fox 36 GripX2 fork fits perfectly into the picture: it remains responsive and precise, However, since the 2025 compression stage update, it has been performing wonderfully on big strokes. Even with just 145 millimetres of rear suspension travel, this encourages you to keep the brakes on a little longer on rough sections. It’s possible, of course, that the DF system also makes the rear end of the classic Tyee feel a bit more stable. We haven’t been able to test that yet.
Handling: Light on its feet, playful, well-balanced
On the trail, the Tyee Trail feels light on its feet and lively despite its longer chainstays. It takes to the air readily, can be lifted effortlessly into a bunny hop and encourages an active, poppy riding style. Manual enthusiasts might wish the chainstays were even shorter, though. For everyone else, however, the 446 millimetres chosen by Propain are a good choice and contribute to the balanced, confident ride feel.
The bike actually feels a bit more compact than the 475-millimetre reach specified by the manufacturer would suggest. Thanks to plenty of spacers and a riser handlebar, the front end isn’t set too low – which makes the bike responsive and agile. A real highlight: the bike pedals well. The rear end barely bounces when seated, and combined with a weight of around 15 kilograms, even longer climbs and alpine tours are a viable option. The Tyee Trail is therefore truly what its name suggests – a serious touring bike with downhill potential.
Features & Price
Our test bike, as a custom build, comes very close to the Factory version. With SRAM XX Eagle drivetrain, Shimano XT M8220 brakes and the Fox Transfer Kashima dropper post, the bike looks really smart. However, the price for this configuration is around 8,000 euros. Thanks to Propain’s configurator, though, you can customise the bike to your own taste. Bikes with similar specifications – featuring Factory suspension, good brakes and a mechanical drivetrain – are available for around 5,000 euros, whilst the entry-level version of the Tyee Trail starts at 3,499 euros.
There’s just one small catch: apart from Newmen wheelsets, Propain only offers the Tyee Trail with DT Swiss EX 1700 Enduro wheelsets that are fully ASTM 5 Downhill certified. For most riders, this is certainly a bit over the top in terms of stability. The XM series, which is at least slightly lighter and has ASTM 4 certification (Enduro), would probably be more than adequate for everyone except the most aggressive riders.
The Tyee Trail at a glance
Strengths:
- High versatility
- A well-defined chassis, yet still comfortable
- Wide range of applications
- Configurator
Weaknesses:
- The rear end still has some untapped potential without the DEG DF
- The standard EX wheels are almost a bit too bombproof for this class of suspension travel
Technical Specifications: Test Bike
| Model | Propain Tyee 6.1 CF Trail Individual 29" |
| Frame size | L |
| Suspension travel | 160 / 145 mm |
| Suspension fork | Fox 36 GripX2 Factory Kashima |
| Damper | Fox Float X Factory |
| Drive | SRAM XX Eagle drivetrain |
| Brakes | Shimano XT M8220 |
| Training wheels | DT Swiss XMC 1500 (not available as standard) |
| Tyres | Schwalbe Romy Radial (not available as standard) |
| Handlebars | OneUP V2 Carbon, 35 mm |
| Stem | Sixpack Millennium 50 ICR |
| Seat post | Fox Transfer Kashima, 210 mm |
| Weight | approx. 15 kg |
| Price of test bike | around 7,500 euros |
Adrian Kaether
Editor