The Ekano 2 CF is an eye-catcher, regardless of which of the three colors it comes in. Only the open cable routing in the area of the motor is a little eye-catching. On the other hand, the carbon frame is very slim, which is why you might think it's a light e-mountainbike at first glance, but it's not. However, it is not too heavy. The bike with 170 and 180 millimetres of suspension travel, a powerful Sram Eagle Powertrain drivetrain and robust equipment weighs just under 23 kilograms in the top version, which is a good value for this type of e-mountainbike.

In times when many manufacturers are squeezing the largest possible batteries into their frames, it is courageous of Propain to "only" install a 630 watt-hour battery. The weight saving achieved should benefit handling.

A freerider as agile as a trail bike

With a body height of 178 centimetres and a preference for size L frames, this time we hit the trails with a size M frame. A good decision, because it felt like the bike didn't need to be a centimeter longer. Transferring the usual settings from the private bike to the Ekano 2 CF, it's now time to mount up.

The familiarization period takes place on the flow trail. There, the bike rides intuitively and very agilely, but at the same time conveys a lot of safety. So much so that the following jumps up to medium size are taken without hesitation on the first descent. However, berms and jumps are not the entire trail repertoire. The test menu includes various routes with open to tighter and fast successive bends, drops, fast passages and crisp root carpets.

At high speeds on rough terrain, the Ekano 2 CF is characterized by a very smooth ride. The potent and sensitive suspension also plays a major role in this. The Pro10 rear suspension seems to iron out braking bumps and roots effortlessly, even if you miscalculate a jump and land hard. Despite this enormous smoothness, the bike can be chased around corners very nimbly. It comes as a very positive surprise that the handling of the Ekano 2 CF feels more like 150 millimetres of travel than the 170 millimetres at the rear.

What goes down must come up. Propain's latest e-mountainbike doesn't seem to be able to keep up with the best on the first attempt. Only the other climbing attempts are more conciliatory. After a short familiarization phase, the carbon Ekano performs quite well on technically demanding climbs and very steep ramps, and even very well in view of the generous suspension travel and downhill-oriented geometry.

Propain states that the Ekano 2 CF can easily be ridden by beginners as well as professionals, i.e. e-mountain bike racers. In fact, the bike is very easy to ride, and the statement "sit on and feel good" really does apply to the Ekano 2 CF. The excellent handling further underlines this.

On the other hand, E-Enduro racers also benefit from these characteristics, but also have a very good chassis and a lot of smoothness, which are required in such races, among other things. And the 90 Newton meter drive is also perfect for beginners and racers alike, not least because of the simplified controls. In this respect, Propain have not promised too much.

Conclusion

Building an e-mountainbike that works equally well for beginners and pros is quite a balancing act, which the Allgäu-based company masters with flying colors. The Ekano 2 CF boasts excellent riding characteristics that harmonize just as well with the Sram drive system. The bike is a hell of a lot of fun, and a certain pull in the corners of the mouth is one of the pleasant side effects. In terms of color and equipment, there is something for everyone on this bike, and the open cable routing above the motor can be overlooked.

The ride report on the Eagle Powertrain system from Sram installed in the Ekano 2 CF can be found in the article below.