Propain Ekano AL 29 in review – An online configurator for your dream bike?

The Propain Ekano AL 29 has plenty of travel, a Shimano EP8-Motor, a 504 Wh battery and is supposed to turn the toughest trails into a playground. Propain’s extensive online configurator and three wheel size options allow you to adapt the spec and look of the bike to suit your preferences. But can the Ekano benefit from the (supposed) advantages of a smaller battery on the trail?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2021 for € 5,500 – 7 budget eMTBs go head to head

Countless configuration options that leave you feeling like a king: with the Ekano AL 29, Propain let you pick every component to suit your preferences and budget. In addition, you can order your bike with either 27.5″, 29″ or mixed wheel sizes. Our € 5,529 test bike is the 29” model, though all setups are built around the same 170/165 mm alloy frame platform, which can be adapted to the respective wheel size using a flip-chip and interchangeable dropouts. While the Shimano EP8 motor feeds off a small 504 Wh battery, at 24.92 kg, the Ekano is still on the heavy side. Does the chain still grind against the chainstay protector in the lowest gear? Nope! As promised, Propain’s engineers went back to the drawing board and have finally solved the problem. As a direct sales brand, Propain have to put stock in their assembly quality, with bikes leaving the factory door and ending up straight in the hands of the customer. However, the German brands has dropped the ball. Twice On our test bike, the battery rail wasn’t installed correctly, causing the battery to come loose inside the frame and fall out when we landed a big drop. Thankfully, Propain were able to rectify this safety-relevant assembly error. Secondly, the brake rotor adapter wasn’t installed correctly, causing the brake to overheat and lose power. Not great omens, but Propain have assured us that they’ll improve their quality control during assembly.

Customer is king – Propain’s extensive configurator lets you tailor the Ekano AL 29 to suit your preferences and budget.

Propain’s extensive configurator gives you several useful options for each component. That said, if you aren’t too fussed about choosing your own spec, you can pick from several pre-configured builds. We went for the € 4,999 Ekano Start build with 29” wheels and upgraded some of the components, including the 170/165 mm suspension. We opted for an air-sprung suspension setup with a RockShox ZEB Select+ fork with the Charger 2.1 damper and RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ shock. We strongly recommend the air shock, because we found our coil-equipped test bike back in 2020 lacked progression and support. Shifting is taken care of by a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain while powerful Formula Cura 4 brakes with 200 mm rotors do stopping duties. For the wheels, Propain rely on a robust Stan’s NoTubes ZTR Baron S1 wheelset even for their cheapest build. We decided to keep the standard 29 x 2.6″ Schwalbe Eddy Current tires, which come in the Super Trail casing at the front and puncture-proof Super Gravity at the rear. If, like us, you decide to go for the Ekano Start build, we strongly recommend upgrading the standard rigid seatpost to a 185 mm BikeYoke REVIVE dropper post. This offers more freedom of movement and is easy to operate thanks to the ergonomic remote lever.

Thanks to the countless configuration options, you can build your Ekano AL 29 to suit your preferences and budget.

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The riding position, geometry and range of the Propain Ekano AL 29

With a reach of 455 mm in size L, the Ekano AL 29 is very compact for a 29er. In return, the 459 mm chainstays make for a rather long rear end. The 460 mm long seat tube offers enough insertion depth for long-travel dropper posts, ensuring plenty of freedom of movement backwards and downwards. While on the paper, the 75.6° seat tube angle doesn’t look particularly steep, without a distinctive kink in the seat tube, it doesn’t slacken out as the dropper extends, ensuring a central pedalling position even for long-legged riders. The suspension is very comfortable but the pedalling position puts too much pressure on your hands, making the Ekano unsuitable for long tours. As concerns range, the small 504 Wh battery can’t keep up with the big 630 Wh batteries of the Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7 or MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 700, significantly restricting the Ekano’s long-distance capabilities.

Size	M	L	XL
Seat tube	440 mm	460 mm	480 mm
Top tube	599 mm	620 mm	641 mm
Head tube	120 mm	125 mm	130 mm
Head angle	64.6°	64.6°	64.6°
Seat angle	75.6°	75.6°	75.6°
Chainstays	459 mm	459 mm	459 mm
BB Drop	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm
Wheelbase	1,234 mm	1,255 mm	1,276 mm
Reach	435 mm	455 mm	475 mm
Stack	636 mm	640 mm	644 mm

The long-travel Propain Ekano AL 29 on the trail

The pedalling position is pleasantly central going uphill, even on very steep ramps. With the Propain Ekano AL 29, you don’t have to worry about the front wheel lifting or any understeer. The sensitive suspension efficiently transfers the power of the motor to the trail and takes the sting out of climbs. The Schwalbe Eddy Current rear tire with its Super Gravity carcass allows for very low air pressures, contributing to the great climbing performance of the Ekano. Spinning tires in Turbo mode? No thanks! The Ekano AL 29 negotiates steep ramps, slippery roots and big steps without batting an eyelid. On flowing trails, the Propain holds your line and is easy to ride. That being said, it’s not the sort of bike that begs you to manual out of corners – the front is simply too heavy and the chainstays are too long. Challenging uphills are real fun onboard the Ekano AL 29.

Whether you’re riding up- or downhill, no trail is too gnarly or too steep aboard the Ekano AL 29. When the going gets rough, the Propain is truly awesome!

Tuning tips: more volume spacers in the air shock (don’t order the bike with a coil shock!) | toolbox and mechanical skills to fix minor assembly errors

Downhill, you feel nicely centred and firmly integrated between the big wheels, with the composed character of the Ekano putting you in control in all situations. Together with the powerful brakes and great braking traction of the tires, this conveys huge confidence on steep terrain and at high speeds. Unfortunately, the Ekano doesn’t benefit from the small and resulting short and light battery. The battery is positioned far up in the down tube, resulting in an uneven, front-heavy weight distribution. The suspension eagerly swallows up small hits and generates lots of traction but bottoms out abruptly on bigger hits and larger obstacles. Once more: get your Ekano with an air shock and add a few volume spacers if you bottom out harshly. And don’t worry, you’ll know if that’s the case, because the Ekano produces a loud clunk! Manuals require great physical effort and jumps are only possible with an active riding style and the help of a take-off. On flowing trails, the Propain gets as bored as a Lamborghini in central London. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a pro, the Propain Ekano AL 29 only starts coming to life on proper downhill tracks.

Conclusion

Climbing to the trailhead in a straight line and ripping your way back into the valley – the Propain Ekano AL 29 is your trusted companion for fast-paced post-work trail sessions. Whether you’re looking for a safe ride and plenty of reserves for low to medium speeds or searching for a high-speed adrenaline rush, the Ekano delivers. The climbing performance is pretty impressive too – no trail is too steep for the Ekano AL 29. However, the small battery and uncomfortable pedalling position make it unsuitable for long tours.

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You can find out more about at propain-bikes.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2021 for € 5,500 – 7 budget eMTBs go head to head

All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7 (Click for review) | FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE (Click for review) | Haibike AllMtn 4 (Click for review) | INFRONT IF-2.1 Fully (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 700 (Click for review) | Propain Ekano AL 29 | SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 920 (Click for review)

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Words: Photos: Jonas Müssig & Felix Stix