Attention gravity bikers. The new Ekano 2 AL belongs to the rare species of motorised bikes. Big bikes and freeriders with built-in shuttle. If you want to use the words of the Propain press release: "Power up, party down! The bike should feel right at home on the 'Big Stuff'." The newcomer is therefore the motorised version of the popular Freeriders Spindrift, which our colleagues from FREERIDE magazine have alreadyn various tests. This puts the new Propain Ekano e-bike in a similar league to the the new Canyon Torque:On CFa Husqvarna HardCross, Focus Sam² or the Voima from Pole.
The facts about the Propain Ekano 2 AL
- Motor: Shimano EP801 or EP6
- Battery: Darfon, 626 Wh, removable
- Aluminium frame with MX wheel mix of 29 and 27.5 inches
- 180 / 170 mm suspension travel, optional 190 mm suspension fork
- Available with air or steel spring damper
- Online configurator for customising the equipment
- Price from 4995 euros
- Three basic models: Price2Ride 5960 euros; Shred² 7210 euros; Goldrush 9000 euros
- Four frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Weight: from 23.5 kilos (manufacturer's specification)
- Max. permissible total weight: 130 kg (bike, rider and equipment)
The aluminium frame offers a full 170 millimetres of suspension travel, which can be combined with forks with 180 or even 190 millimetres of travel. In comparison to the predecessor the German mail order company has considerably increased the suspension travel. The bike is also available exclusively in the Mullet setupwith a 29er front wheel and 27.5 inch rear wheel. The developers' primary goal: the new Ekano should be a fun machine for gravity bikers. They wanted to avoid the cumbersome handling that e-MTBs tend to bring with them due to their high weight. Proven remedy: a lightweight battery. With a 626 Wh battery, the developers explicitly reject the arms race in battery capacity.
Shimano EP801: Update for the drivetrain
Propain remains loyal to its motor supplier Shimano, but the Ekano still comes with a new drive. The aluminium chassis contains the new EP801, which was significantly more powerful than its predecessor in our laboratory and practical tests. This gives the Ekano a leap forward in terms of engine thrust. If you want to save money, you can use the configurator also the more favourable EP6 choose. It should weigh around 300 grams, but otherwise deliver the same performance data. Progress is also being made with the battery. With 626 watt hours, the battery is larger than its predecessor with 500 Wh. However, this is still rather low compared to the market. On the other hand, the Darfon energy carrier remains quite light at 3.3 kilos and is also easy to replace. The battery is unlocked with a 4-way Allen key and then folds out of the down tube together with the cover. In the bike or trail park, the second battery from the boot can be quickly replaced. The smaller battery also fits comfortably in the rucksack for long mountain tours.
Pro10 rear suspension kinematics: Premiere on the E-MTB
The makers of the German direct mail order company are particularly proud of the rear triangle design with virtual pivot point. The Pro10 system is the trademark of the Propain fleet. For space reasons, the developers of the original Ekano were not yet able to transfer this linkage to the e-bike. The motor and battery restricted the installation space too much. Thanks to the space-saving Trunnion Mount shock absorber, the feat has now been achieved. Propain promises a lower centre of gravity and better suspension performance thanks to its special design. The kinematics have been further refined for the e-bike - and should harmonise with both air and steel spring shocks. Both variants can also be found in the model range and in the online configurator.
The geometry of the Propain Ekano
When you look at the new Ekano from the side, it immediately becomes clear that modern stops have been pulled out. The Steep seat angle immediately catches the eye. Propain specifies 78 degrees, which should feel even steeper in practice due to the straight seat tube, especially when the dropper post is extended. This should make steep climbs quite relaxed. Reach, wheelbase and head angle are modern, but by no means extreme for a bike in this travel class. Propain wants to give the bike a lively and agile character.
The Propain Ekano 2 AL on the trail
Models and prices
As is usual with the direct seller Propain, you can order individual equipment details in the Online configurator according to personal preferences select. In addition to the classic details such as gears, brakes and suspension, there is also an economy option for the motor. Instead of the EP801, the slightly heavier Shimano EP6 can be configured. This saves 300 euros. The following motor options are available: Shimano EP6 without display. Shimano EP801 without display, +300 euros. Shimano EP801 with display, +400 Euro. You can also choose between 180 and 190 millimetres of suspension travel for the fork. This also has a slight effect on the geometry. The entry-level price for the cheapest model is 4995 euros. As a starting point there is three basic configurations for the Ekano 2 AL.
Propain Ekano 2 AL Price2Ride - 5960 Euro
At just under 6000 euros, the cheapest basic model can no longer really be described as a bargain. On the other hand, it leaves little to be desired in terms of functionality. Shimano's EP801 is already on board, albeit without a display. There are also high-quality Newmen wheels (Evo EG 30). The Bikeyoke Devine dropper post is also top-notch. The gears are mechanical with Srams GX. The suspension comes from Rockshox and has a ZEB Select+, which comes with high-quality Charger3 damping, as well as a steel spring damper. Braking is with Formulas excellent Cura4. Cost: 5960 euros.
Propain Ekano 2 AL Shred² - 7210 Euro
The mid-range base model for 7210 euros has been updated to Rockshox's high-end Ultimate suspension. There's also a wireless seatpost from the Rockshox AXS range. The drivetrain also works wirelessly and has Sram's new transmission technology on board. Braking is provided by the Code RSC, also from Sram.
Propain Ekano 2 AL Goldrush - 9000 Euro
The top-of-the-range Goldrush model comes with Fox Factory suspension and steel spring shock absorbers. The fork and rear triangle also feature high-quality carbon wheels from Crankbrothers. Magura MT7 brakes and a wireless X0 Eagle Transmission from Sram round off the high-end package. The price tag is 9000 euros.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
