Propain relaunches the Ekano 2 as a sleek carbon racer | Ride MTB

Propain relaunches the Ekano 2 as a sleek carbon racer

... sowie im poppigen «Mighty Mango».

Photo: Florian Falch

In August 2023, Propain presented the Ekano 2 AL, the E-powered and versatile fun machine. Now the South German bike makers are delivering the chic carbon sister. Lighter, more versatile, with Sram's powerful Eagle Powertrain drivetrain and no less potent thanks to 170 millimetres of suspension travel.

Propain has developed the new Ekano 2 CF with the Eagle Powertrain system in close collaboration with Sram. This means that the bike brand not only provides a basis, but also a complete drive system and bike. The frame follows the same basic concept as the Ekano 2 AL e-freerider, but with a broader focus. The arrangement of the shock, motor and lightweight battery reduce the weight of the bike to just under 23 kilograms and should ensure agile and light handling. The Ekano 2 CF should not only master rough descents, but also deliver uphill. Its intuitive and natural riding feel should make it easy for bike newcomers to get started, but also offer e-mountainbike racers full performance.

Geometry and suspension

Reach, seat and steering angle are identical to the aluminum Ekano 2. In contrast to the latter, the stack is lower and the chainstays are slightly longer, which should ensure a smoother ride. The suspension is very potent with 170 millimetres of travel at the rear and 180 millimetres at the front, but should never give the feeling that it is too much. The Ekano 2 CF also has the drive-neutral Pro10 rear suspension, which harmonizes with the powerful Eagle Powertrain motor. Even under full load, the suspension should not bob, but still remain active at all times and therefore offer the best possible grip.

Quiet and powerful drive with extras

The Sram drive system delivers 680 watts of peak power and a maximum of 90 newton meters of torque. For the sake of simplicity, there are only two support levels available, but the "Auto Shift" automatic gearshift, which also enables manual shifting, and Coast Shift, which allows you to shift gears without pedaling. The Eagle Powertrain system can be adapted to personal preferences and individual riding style in a versatile and intuitive way via the AXS smartphone app.

The 630 watt-hour battery from Sram weighs just 3.1 kilograms and offers a good compromise between range and agile handling of the bike. If you want to go further than the battery allows, Sram offers the option of using a range extender with 250 watt hours.

Frame with exciting details

For the carbon frame of the Ekano 2 CF, Propain uses the highest quality prepreg carbon fibers, which are also used in the latest generation of aircraft parts. According to the brand, all frames are tested beyond the prescribed standards, meaning that Propain's e-bikes are listed in category 5 and have unrestricted bike park approval.

In order to achieve greater rigidity in the heavily loaded drive area, the frame encloses the Sram motor. The drive and frame are protected from external influences by a fiber-reinforced motor guard. The chainstays and seat stays are also protected by newly developed protectors.

The cables on the Ekano 2 CF are routed internally using Integrated Cable Routing "ICR", where the cables are not routed through the stem, but through a pinch-through seal underneath the stem and through the headset into the frame. This makes it easy to replace the stem and adjust the mounting height using clip-in spacers without having to remove the stem. The headset bearings are additionally protected from moisture by an IPS seal.

Another interesting detail on the frame, or rear triangle, is the post mount brake mount. On the Ekano 2 CF, it is not only integrated in the rear frame triangle. No adapters are required for 200 and 220 millimeter brake discs. Only the position of the post mount has to be changed.

Sizes and equipment

Propain offers the Ekano 2 CF both in a mixed wheel setup and as a twentyniner, thanks to the flipchip on the same frame.

The bike is available in sizes S, M, L and XL. The stack is deliberately kept higher across all four sizes in order to achieve ideal handling despite the additional weight of the motor and battery.

The Ekano 2 CF is available in the colors "Deep Forest", "Carbon Raw" and "Mighty Mango". When selecting the components, Propain relies on a large and high-quality variety from which every customer can configure their dream bike. In addition to the individual configuration, the Ekano 2 CF comes with three fixed equipment packages, as recommendations from Propain to its customers. The Base model is available for 7794 euros, the Ultimate for 9999 euros and the Factory model for 11,299 euros.

propain-bikes.com

 

 

 


Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.