Propain Ekano 2 CF long-term test: Premium freerider for rough terrain

I'm actually a convinced light-assist biker. Ever since I was allowed to swing a leg over the Specialized Levo SL just over 4 years ago, I look rather pityingly at the heavy powerbike faction. But you should still be able to learn even at an advanced age! During the test rides for the "Cheap versus expensive" duel (here to the test) of the Propain Ekano 2 CF against its cheaper aluminium counterpart, I rediscovered my love for the classic power e-bike.

One reason for this was the sensational downhill performance of the Ekano CF. Fast, smooth, stable - and still agile enough to pulverise all my old best times on the test trail at Lake Garda. Sram's Eagle Powertrain motor with only two motor modes and optional Autoshift (automatic shifting) was the second reason for me, as a self-confessed tech nerd, to put the Ekano CF on the list for a longer test. A fully integrated system that is supposed to increase fun with little chichi and fiddling around - is that possible? In the first test, it certainly did, but how reliable and suitable for year-round use is this concept?

The Sram motor is based on the latest development stage of the Brose Drive S Mag. With 90 Newton metres, it is known to be powerful and efficient, but it has not always been the most reliable. That should have changed. And just how forward-looking the powertrain's "fully integrated, electronic system with intuitive user experience" (marketing quote) really is will have to prove itself in a wide variety of situations - and at best, it will have to shine without system failure in order to justify the price.

Equipped with a second battery - and therefore the potential for many thousands of metres in altitude and depth per tour - I started the test as a living endurance test bench. And didn't get very far at first...

The Propain Ekano 2 CF: The E-freerider at a glance

• Motor: Sram Eagle Powertrain (Brose), 90 Nm max. torque
• Battery: 630 Wh (removable)
• Frame material: Carbon
• Suspension travel: 180 / 170 mm
• Wheel size: 29 / 27.5 inch (Mullet)
• Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Price: 10,029 euros in test configuration
• Weight: 23.74 kg (test bike in size M, EMTB measurement)
• Permissible total weight: 130 kg (manufacturer's specification)

Sram Powertrain with Autoshift: Awesome or a load of rubbish?

Unlike its cheaper aluminium counterpart, the Propain Ekano 2 CF has been consistently around the Powershift unit from Sram designed around it. Unlike the competition, Sram relies on a greatly reduced customisation option for the motor power. There are only two modes, Range and Rally, which can be customised in the app, but are predefined in their basic setup. Either range or bang. This is combined with an autoshift function, which can also be customised in its response to driver input. Or you can switch it off. All of this, together with the shift function, only works if you also order the AXS seatpost. With a mechanical seatpost, there is no shifting mode, or you have to put up with the confusion of the Sram Pod and the unergonomic dropper lever on the handlebars. You need to know.

The motor itself can do a lot and is a very good unit. This is hardly surprising, as the hardware comes from Brose's well-known Drive S Mag. Together with the removable 630WH battery, you can go a long way in terms of watt hours. The motor and battery work together efficiently. The battery can be charged on and off the bike. Removal is quick, but you need a multi-tool or an Allen key. The motor is powerful, not too loud, high-torque and sensitive and not too pushy in range mode. In Rally mode, there is plenty of power and you get a lot of support even with a low cadence. However, low cadence is one of those things. Keyword Autoshift. Without this function, there is no Ekano 2 CF.

So if you're practically forced to buy the Propain Ekano CF with Autoshift - which is expensive fun overall - then it should work well and make sense. Prevent pedalling too slowly, downshift in good time on sudden climbs, always have the right gear ready when approaching a bend or rolling out of a berm. In fact, the system can be easily fine-tuned while riding and reacts sensitively to the different settings by adapting the gear changes to the cadence. At least most of the time. That was the conclusion after the comparison test drives in the duel. But the bottom line is that a system like this can potentially do a great deal, but it requires long-term and sustained engagement. Ergo: This endurance test.

Propain Ekano CF: What do you get for the money?

As is typical for Propain, the Ekano 2 CF is available in three equipment options, which can be varied in the configurator for almost every component. It starts at 7794 euros (Base), the Ultimate costs 9999 euros and the most expensive equipment model (Factory) is 11,999 euros. You can go even higher if you order one or two additional bling-bling parts. Our test bike for 10,029 euros is a mix: suspension elements and brakes are from the top model, wheels from the Base and the X0 drivetrain and AXS seatpost from the mid-range. The bike can be ordered with 29" front and rear wheels or as a mullet.

Because I gave up on growing from 172 cm tall, I prefer to ride a little smaller at the rear so that I don't constantly touch down on the rear tyre on steep gradients. In my opinion, cornering handling also benefits. I'm happy to accept the fact that the bike loses some traction and rollover characteristics on rough uphills as a result. The uphills on my tours tend to be on gravel anyway. On the other hand, the descents are usually brutal, or the bike park trails are always black. Consequently, the suspension elements and brakes had to be uncompromisingly super. The Fox Factory 38 suspension fork and the DHX2 coil shock are great parts that can be tweaked so much that anyone can find the perfect setup. If the line doesn't fit, or the time was bad - it's not the suspension. And the MT7 is an anchor - full stop.

Because I wanted the full scope of the powertrain, there was no way around the AXS dropper post. To prevent the price from going through the roof, I stuck with the X0 groupset, which is already very classy. And the aluminium wheels seemed to be a sensible money saver for the time being. Spoiler: Wrong thinking.

How the endurance test is going: strong performance, first problems

As soon as the bike arrived, the weather was perfect for my first bike park visits and mountain tours. I got going. And came back from day 2 in the bike park disillusioned: the rear wheel showed fatal signs of disintegration. Three spokes gone, a big eight in the rim. Bummer. This surprised me in that the Newmen wheels are actually of excellent quality and have not shown such signs of failure on my personal bike or on various test bikes. Bad luck? Monday model? I don't know. However, the speed with such a powerful downhill bike is more like that of a downhill bike. Now the Propain, at least for the time being, has been tested by me for years. Zipp 3 Zero Moto wheels so that the kilometre scrubbing can continue. In addition, the bike has already developed annoying cracking and creaking noises in the head tube area. The cables run internally through the headset bearings - is that the problem? I will also get to the bottom of this problem during the endurance test.

Good news: The actual riding characteristics are and remain superb. 180 millimetres at the front, 170 millimetres at the rear, low centre of gravity, flat geo. Plus a real hoover performance from the rear suspension kinematics. Nasty rocky deserts? Bring it on! High drops - was that something? Only bunny hops and playing with the terrain require a lot of grit from the rider. But hey, e-biking is sport too! And: The Powertrain system is doing what it's supposed to so far. A day in the Bikepark Bischofsmais without a gear lever on the right was an exciting but successful test of the intuitive automatic concept.

>> And so it goes on: The endurance test has only just begun, we will update this article regularly. Stay tuned!