When it launched earlier in 2023, Propain’s Ekano 2 CF became the brand's first carbon fibre electric mountain bike and was one of the first bikes you could buy with SRAM’s new Eagle Powertrain motor and battery.
With a 180mm fork and 170mm rear suspension, the Ekano 2 CF sits squarely in the enduro bikes category, with Propain hoping it will take on UCI EDR-E racing next year.
BikeRadar’s technical editor Alex Evans will be putting the Ekano 2 CF through its paces, so stay tuned for our full review.
Propain’s first carbon ebike
The Ekano 2 CF is Propain’s first carbon fibre electric bike and uses a blend of carbon layers in its layup, which can be seen in the finish of this matt black bike.
Propain says this layering responds to the different demands of the material throughout the frame, enabling areas to be built stronger and lighter.
The bike shares the same frame layout as its aluminium counterpart, the Ekano 2 AL, using Propain’s PRO10 linkage, which sees a vertically positioned shock sitting between two counter-rotating links.
This design, coupled with the low-sitting motor and battery, is said to give the bike a low and central centre of gravity, which aids handling.
A flip chip in the PRO10 linkage enables the bike to be set up as a full 29er or as a mullet.
SRAM’s Eagle Powertrain sits deep down in the bike, with the new electric bike motor system providing 680 watts of peak power and maximum torque of 90Nm, taking power from a 630Wh battery sitting in the down tube.
SRAM claims the drive unit weighs in at 2.9kg and the battery 3.1kg.
A 250Wh Range Extender can also be mounted in the front triangle should you want to increase your time out on the trails.
The Eagle Powertrain offers two levels of assistance – ‘range’ and ‘rally’ – which are selected via a SRAM AXS Pod on the handlebars
The first mode is aimed at longer excursions, with less assistance, and the latter offers punchier support on the hills.
A display on the top tube provides critical information, such as mode selection and battery level, as well as featuring the power button for the bike.
Propain has given the Ekano 2 CF internal headset cable routing via its own Sixpack ICR stem, making for a clean cockpit with only the brake cables visible.
The underside of the bike sees frame protection around the motor, similar to a motorbike sump guard, which should help in limiting damage from rock strikes. The chainstay features a soft plastic protector to limit noise on bumpy terrain.
Ekano 2 CF geometry
| S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame height (mm) | 410 | 430 | 455 | 480 |
| Fork offset (mm) | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
| Fork length (mm) | 598 | 598 | 598 | 598 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 110 | 115 | 120 | 130 |
| Reach (mm) | 435 | 455 | 475 | 495 |
| Stack (mm) | 644 | 649 | 653 | 662 |
| Head angle (degrees) | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 |
| Seat angle (degrees) | 75.6 | 75.6 | 75.6 | 75.6 |
| Effective seat angle (degrees) | 78 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
| Top tube length (mm) | 571 | 593 | 614 | 636 |
| BB offset (mm) | 24.5 | 24.5 | 24.5 | 24.5 |
| BB height (mm) | 350.5 | 350.5 | 350.5 | 350.5 |
| Chainstay length (mm) | 453 | 453 | 453 | 453 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1,239 | 1,261 | 1,283 | 1,307 |
| Standover height (mm) | 829 | 826 | 823 | 822 |
The Ekano 2 CF shares a similar geometry to the Ekano 2 AL, with both bikes featuring a 64-degree head angle and 78-degree effective seat angle.
Reach measurements also line up, with both bikes sharing a 455mm reach for a size medium.
Chainstay lengths differ from the aluminium model, growing from 445mm to 453mm, which should make the bike feel more stable at higher speeds and possibly help on technical climbs by centring the rider's weight.
SRAM-heavy spec list
At £9,999 / $9,999 / €9,999, this Ultimate model of the Ekano 2 CF sits in the middle of the range, between the £7,794 / $7,794 / €7,794 Ekano 2 CF Base model and the £11,299 / $11,299 / €11,299 Ekano 2 CF Factory model.
With SRAM Eagle Powertrain at its centre, Propain has embraced SRAM’s holistic componentry and has specced X0 Eagle Transmission, which offers electronic shifting and works in tandem with Eagle Powertrain to provide Auto Shift and Coast Shift. This enables you to change gears while not pedalling and for the bike to shift gear automatically.
SRAM’s X0 Eagle Transmission mounts directly to the bike without a derailleur hanger.
SRAM Code RSC takes care of braking, with 200mm rotors specced from the factory.
The suspension is also courtesy of RockShox, with a 180mm RockShox ZEB Ultimate featuring up-front and a RockShox Vivid Ultimate sitting in the frame.
A RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post completes the SRAM Corp spec list and is actuated wirelessly by the ride mode AXS Pod on the handlebars.
The Ekano 2 CF rolls on 29in Newmen Evolution E.G.30 wheels, with the front wrapped in a Schwalbe Magic Mary Evo Super Gravity tyre and the rear using a Big Betty Evo Super DH.
Propain’s in-house Sixpack Millenium 805 handlebar features in the cockpit and an SQLab 611 Infinergy saddle finishes off the spec list.
