New 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF 2024 first ride review – Custom eMTB shredder?

It’s finally here! With the new Ekano 2 CF, Propain just launched their first ever carbon eMTB, which features the German manufacturer’s proven PRO10 rear suspension system and SRAM Eagle Powertrain motor with automatic transmission, all wrapped up in carbon fibre. Generating a very generous 180/170 mm of travel front and rear, it’s capable enough to tackle the toughest of trails. How did the Ekano 2 CF fare in our test?

The Ekano 2 is the long-awaited successor to Propain’s eMTB debut, the Ekano. After launching the Ekano 2 AL alloy version last summer, the German manufacturer is following up with the Ekano 2 CF, Propain’s first ever carbon eMTB, designed for uncompromising trail performance. Despite its great ambitions, the Ekano 2 CF is aimed at a wide range of riders, from beginners to seasoned trail warriors. Like its alloy counterpart, the Ekano 2 CF employs Propain’s proprietary PRO10 rear suspension design. Another typical feature is the manufacturer’s extensive online configurator, which allows you to customise the spec and look of your bike to suit your needs and preferences. If you’re not too keen on speccing your bike, you can choose from three pre-configured models. Regardless of the spec, the Ekano 2 CF generates 180/170 mm of travel, at the front and rear, respectively. Unlike the alloy model, the Propain Ekano 2 CF is available both as a mullet bike and full 29er. However, the wheel configuration has to be selected at the moment of purchase, as the motor software is tuned according to the rear wheel size and can’t be adapted afterwards. While, at first glance, the new alloy and carbon Ekano models look pretty similar, they’re quite different, with the biggest difference being in the motor. The Propain Ekano 2 AL relies on a Shimano EP801 drive, while the Ekano 2 CF comes equipped with SRAM’s new Eagle Powertrain motor and automatic Transmission drivetrain – but more on this later! As you’d expect, the carbon version is significantly more expensive than its alloy counterpart: our Ekano 2 CF Ultimate test bike, for example, retails at € 9,999 and tips the scales at 23,4 kg in size L. The Factory flagship model, on the other hand, cost € 11,299, making it the most expensive Propain bike to date. Given the current market developments this isn’t surprising, with many bike manufacturers seemingly engaging in a fierce battle for the highest price point.

The 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF in detail

If you’re familiar with the original Ekano, you’ll notice that the shock is now mounted vertically, no longer forming a straight line from the seat stays. The geeks amongst us might have already guessed what’s going on: the latest iteration of the Ekano relies on Propain’s PRO10 rear suspension system, which the manufacturer also uses with their analogue bikes, like the Spindrift, Tyee and Hugene. As a result, the new Ekano 2 fits seamlessly into Propain’s portfolio, and was the last bike of the German manufacturer to get the PRO10 suspension upgrade. With its unmistakable frame silhouette, the Ekano 2 CF is distinctly recognisable as a Propain and relies on a modern design language with curved lines. With its bright Mighty Mango paint finish and black decals, Propain’s carbon eMTB reminds us of 90’s construction machinery, which makes it a real head turner. If you prefer a more discreet style, there are two more colour variants to choose from: the greenish-blue Deep Forest, and fancy Carbon Raw. For the cable routing, Propain rely on their proprietary “ICR” Integrated Cable Routing system, which can be found already on their analogue enduro rig, the Tyee. With this system, the cables disappear into a rubber adapter under the handlebars, then run straight through a stack of split spacers directly into the headset. Both the system itself and the two-piece spacers make it easy to adjust the stem height, while a seal in the cable port should prevent water and muck from contaminating the headset bearings. The rear brake line reappears just above the motor and runs along the chainstay all the way to the brake calliper. That said, the cable routing is much tidier on the alloy model, which also routes the rear brake line internally through the chainstay – and the advantages of external cable routing are marginal, unless you want to replace the whole swingarm.

The SRAM Eagle Powertrain motor system of the 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF

As already mentioned, the Ekano 2 CF comes equipped with a complete SRAM ecosystem, consisting of an Eagle Powertrain motor and electronic Transmission drivetrain, which enables automatic shifting thanks to SRAM’s new Auto Shift function. This relies on a shifting algorithm to change gears automatically depending on the riding speed and pedalling cadence. Furthermore, the system features the Coast Shift function, which allows you to shift gears manually without having to pedal. Simply put, the drive unit advances the drivetrain at the chainring to facilitate the shift, although this only works when the rear wheel is turning. With its 90 Nm of torque and 680 W peak power, the SRAM Powertrain motor might look familiar to many, which comes as no surprise given that it’s based on the proven Brose Drive S Mag drive. The motor is seamlessly integrated into the carbon frame, but the bottom bracket area is noticeably beefier than the rest of the frame, which shows that the basis of the SRAM Eagle Powertrain motor is getting on a bit. In our in-depth review of the SRAM Eagle Powertrain motor, we’ll get into a bit more detail about the technical features, and how it performs out on the trail.

The SRAM motor draws its power from a 630 Wh battery that can be removed from the bottom of the down tube for external charging, making it easier to charge your bike if you don’t have a plug in your garage or basement. The twist lock that secures the battery cover can be opened without the need for tools – at least, in theory it can. In practice, however, the lock is so stiff that you need very strong fingers or a pair of pliers to release it. After loosening the retaining bolt, you can easily pull out the battery from the down tube, while metal clips prevent the battery from falling out when you loosen the bolt. For big days out, Propain also offer a 250 Wh range extender, but this only releases its power when the motor is in the weaker range riding mode. Moreover, you can’t simply store the range extender in the bottle cage, but have to clip it into a recess in the frame. If you charge the battery internally, you just plug the charger into the easily accessible cable port above the motor. However, the cover is rather fiddly and takes some getting used to.

Propain integrate a SRAM AXS Bridge display into the top tube, which provides all essential riding data, like the support and shifting modes as well as the battery charge status in percent. The display also doubles as the control centre of the motor system, and relies on a protruding antenna to communicate with the other components, which prevents it from sitting flush with the frame. SRAM forgo a remote altogether, relying on a pair of AXS pods instead. These ensure a clean, symmetrical cockpit and provide excellent haptic feedback, while at the same time allowing you to control the rest of the system. To make this possible, some of the buttons are assigned with two functions, which takes a bit of getting used to on the trail: for example, you can use the top button of the right Pod to shift to an easier gear by pressing it briefly, or long-press it to toggle the Auto-Shift function. That said, the buttons can also be freely assigned according to your own preferences using the SRAM AXS app.

The spec of our 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF test bikes

Our Propain Ekano 2 CF test bike is the pre-configured Ultimate spec variant with RockShox suspension. This consists of a ZEB Ultimate fork with RockShox’s top tier Charger 3.0 damper and a brand new Vivid Ultimate air shock. Both the fork and shock are easy to adjust and deliver a tremendous performance on the trail, proving an excellent option for both beginners and experienced riders. SRAM CODE RSC Stealth four-piston brakes provide reliable and powerful deceleration. The flagship RSC model features tool-free lever reach and bite point adjustments, as well as SRAM’s proprietary SwingLink technology, which is designed to minimise deadband and optimise modulation, reducing arm pump as a result. The brakes are paired with a big 220 mm rotor at the front and 200 mm disc at the rear, which ensure excellent braking torque and good modulation even on long alpine descents.

The SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission drivetrain ensures smooth, precise shifting and forgoes a mech hanger, with the rear derailleur bolting directly to the frame – a very sturdy solution! Unlike with conventional AXS drivetrains, the Transmission rear derailleur draws its power directly from the bike’s main battery rather than from a secondary battery in the mech. While on one hand, this means that there’s one less battery on the bike that needs charging, on the other, it only allows you to shift gears when the motor is switched on. The wireless RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post is extremely fast and super precise, but only offers a meagre 170 mm of travel, which isn’t enough for a modern eMTB in size L and restricts freedom of movement on the bike. German component manufacturer Sixpack supply the cockpit, consisting of a Millenium stem and matching 805 mm Millenium alloy handlebars.

Our test bike rolls on a robust NEWMEN EVO EG alloy wheelset and MAXXIS tires, with an ASSEGAI in the soft MaxxGrip rubber compound and EXO+ casing at the front, and a Minion DHR II with slightly harder MaxxTerra compound and robust Doubledown casing at the rear. This is an excellent combo that can be selected from Propain’s online configurator.

Other spec variants of the new Propain Ekano 2 CF 2024

Propain’s online configurator gives you almost endless possibilities when building your dream bike. If you want to bring a little more colour into your life, you can pick from three base colours for the frame, then you have a wide range of decal colours available to spice things up. Once you’ve decided on the finish, you can pick your components, choosing from different options for the suspension, brakes, drivetrain, wheels and tires. If the massive choice of components is overwhelming, you can choose from three pre-configured spec variants called Base, Ultimate and Factory, or select one of them as a basis and swap around individual components. All spec variants share the same SRAM Eagle Powertrain motor and Transmission drivetrain with automatic shifting function.

The entry-level Base model retails for € 7,794 and comes equipped with a RockShox ZEB Base fork and Super Deluxe Select Coil shock. The fork’s Rush RC damper is easily adjustable but struggles to keep up with its top-tier Charger 3.0 counterpart in terms of performance. SRAM also supply the DB8 four-piston brakes, which are their entry-level model and use mineral oil instead of DOT brake fluid, which is rather unusual for the American manufacturer, but doesn’t affect braking performance. The SRAM GX Eagle Transmission is the gateway to SRAM’s direct-mount groupset heaven, but offers the same awesome features as its higher-end counterparts, the Auto and Coast Shift functions. Bikeyoke supply the cable operated Divine dropper post, which eliminates the need for a left AXS pod and relies on a conventional dropper remote instead. However, this also means that you lose the walk mode and that the support modes have to be selected directly from the display on the top tube.

The Ekano 2 CF Factory flagship model retails from € 11,299 and, as the name suggests, comes equipped with a FOX Factory suspension, which consists of a 38 fork with superior GRIP2 damper and a DHX 2 coil shock. Both the fork and shock offer countless adjustment options and deliver a top performance on the trail. Shifting is taken care of by a top-tier SRAM XX Eagle Transmission drivetrain, while powerful MAGURA MT7 four-piston brakes do stopping duties. FOX also supply the cable-operated Factory Transfer dropper post. While the fancy Kashima coating might add to the Ekano’s bling factor, the additional remote doesn’t leave room for the left AXS pod. If you opt for the Factory version, you should pick a wireless RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post from the configurator, which ensures a cleaner cockpit. Alternatively, we recommend picking another cable-operated dropper with more travel, which ensures more freedom of movement and also saves you a few euros.

The geometry of the 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF

The Propain Ekano 2 CF is available in four sizes, S to XL. Our test bike in size L combines a moderate 475 mm reach and rather long 455 mm seat tube, which restricts freedom of movement on the trail, especially in combination with the short-travel 170 mm RockShox Reverb AXS. Chainstay length is 453 mm across the board and doesn’t grow with the frame size.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	571 mm	593 mm	614 mm	636 mm
Seat tube	410 mm	430 mm	455 mm	580 mm
Head tube	110 mm	115 mm	120 mm	130 mm
Head angle	64°	64°	64°	64°
Seat angle	78°	78°	78°	78°
Chainstay	453 mm	453 mm	453 mm	453 mm
BB Drop	24,5 mm	24,5 mm	24,5 mm	24,5 mm
Wheelbase	1.239 mm	1.261 mm	1.283 mm	1.307 mm
Reach	435 mm	455 mm	475 mm	495 mm
Stack	644 mm	649 mm	653 mm	662 mm

The 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF on the trail

When cruising around on level ground, the Propain Ekano 2 CF puts you in a comfortable yet slightly front-heavy pedalling position. However, as soon as you start climbing, this prevents the front end from lifting off the ground, allowing you to tackle even steeper climbs without having to actively weight the front wheel. The rear suspension generates excellent traction and bobs only marginally, absorbing smaller impacts when riding over roots and ledges without sinking into its travel – which is impressive considering the generous amount of travel. The Ekano’s good climbing qualities are complemented by the powerful SRAM Eagle Powertrain motor, which allows you to negotiate even steeper climbs without breaking a sweat. The Auto-shift function quickly reaches its limit on steep and technical climbs, shifting gears when you probably wouldn’t. It is better suited for cruising to the summit in a relaxed manner on moderate forest paths.

As soon as you drop into a trail to shred your way back down into the valley, the Ekano 2 CF integrates you nicely between its big 29” wheels, with the high front end adding to the reassuring feeling of safety. Nevertheless, the front wheel always remains planted on the trail, following steering inputs with clinical precision without requiring you to actively load the front end. On technical trails with tight hairpin turns, the Ekano is easy and intuitive to manoeuvre, allowing even inexperienced riders to focus on the trail ahead. At the same time, the lively character makes it easy for experienced riders to play with the trail and spontaneously change their line. Despite its inherent liveliness, the Ekano 2 CF always feels composed, allowing you to plough through nasty rock gardens without throwing up your breakfast, encouraging you to keep your finger off the brake for just a few more seconds. This is partly due to the excellent rear suspension, which is on the firm side but always works sensitively while providing plenty of feedback from the ground. At the same time, it offers enough support to bail you out with botched landings without blowing through its travel.

When descending in Auto Shift mode, it’s hard to understand which gear you’re in, because the algorithm shifts gears rather often. And while the gear choice works most of the time, with hard, sudden braking manoeuvres, the automatic function doesn’t react quickly enough, meaning that you’re still in a harder gear when you resume pedalling. That’s where the Coast Shift function comes in handy, allowing you to quickly shift into a lighter gear without pedalling, either before a corner or on technical climbs, where you could risk smashing the cranks into a rock.

Who should take a closer look at the new 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF?

The Propain Ekano 2 CF is a high-performance eMTB with excellent all-round qualities, which makes it suitable for both quick post-work trail blasts and epic weekend expeditions. Furthermore, Propain’s extensive online configurator gives you the choice to build your dream bike.

Our conclusions about the new 2024 Propain Ekano 2 CF

While at first glance, the Propain Ekano 2 CF looks like a rowdy trail machine, upon closer inspection it’s capable of far more than that. It’s an excellent all-rounder and cuts a great figure both on trails and long-distance tours, where it convinces with a high level of comfort. Unfortunately, the Auto Shift function quickly reaches its limit for sporty riders on technical trails, and makes more sense when riding at a leisurely pace. Propain’s extensive online configurator allows you to customise both the look and spec of your Ekano down to the smallest detail.

For more info, visit propain.com

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Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Mike Hunger