{"id":57736,"date":"2023-12-13T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/95557dbe-6f07-46f7-9765-4b5d2cd94d0c"},"modified":"2023-12-15T17:47:25","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T16:47:25","slug":"bike-of-the-week-a-closer-look-at-propains-first-carbon-emtb-the-ekano-2-cf","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/bike-of-the-week-a-closer-look-at-propains-first-carbon-emtb-the-ekano-2-cf\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike of the Week | A closer look at Propain’s first carbon eMTB \u2013 the Ekano 2 CF"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 13 December 2023 at 18:00 PM<\/p>

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When it launched earlier in 2023, Propain\u2019s 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\u2019s new Eagle Powertrain motor and battery.<\/p>

With a 180mm fork and 170mm rear suspension, the Ekano 2 CF sits squarely in the enduro bikes<\/a> category, with Propain hoping it will take on UCI EDR-E racing next year.<\/p>

BikeRadar\u2019s technical editor Alex Evans<\/a> will be putting the Ekano 2 CF through its paces, so stay tuned for our full review.<\/p>

Propain\u2019s first carbon ebike<\/h2>
The Propain Ekano 2 CF features full carbon fibre construction. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The Ekano 2 CF is Propain\u2019s first carbon fibre electric bike<\/a> and uses a blend of carbon layers in its layup, which can be seen in the finish of this matt black bike.\u00a0<\/p>
Propain says this layering responds to the different demands of the material throughout the frame, enabling areas to be built stronger and lighter.<\/p>
$\"\"$
Propain offers the Ekano 2 CF in Mango, Forest or Raw colourways. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The bike shares the same frame layout as its aluminium counterpart, the Ekano 2 AL, using Propain\u2019s PRO10 linkage, which sees a vertically positioned shock sitting between two counter-rotating links.<\/p>
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.<\/p>
A flip chip in the PRO10 linkage enables the bike to be set up as a full 29er<\/a> or as a mullet<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"\"$
The Eagle Powertrain motor is protected by a plastic guard. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
SRAM\u2019s Eagle Powertrain<\/a> sits deep down in the bike, with the new electric bike motor<\/a> system providing 680 watts of peak power and maximum torque of 90Nm, taking power from a 630Wh battery sitting in the down tube.<\/p>
SRAM claims the drive unit weighs in at 2.9kg and the battery 3.1kg.<\/p>
A 250Wh Range Extender can also be mounted in the front triangle should you want to increase your time out on the trails.<\/p>
$\"\"$
SRAM AXS Pods control gearing, assistance level and the dropper post. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The Eagle Powertrain offers two levels of assistance \u2013 \u2018range\u2019 and \u2018rally\u2019 \u2013 which are selected via a SRAM AXS Pod on the handlebars<\/p>
The first mode is aimed at longer excursions, with less assistance, and the latter offers punchier support on the hills.<\/p>
$\"\"$
The SRAM Eagle Powertrain display features a scratch-resistant screen. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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.<\/p>
$\"Propain$
The Sixpack ICR stem guides the brake cables internally through the headset. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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.<\/p>
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.<\/p>
Ekano 2 CF geometry<\/h2>
<\/colgroup>

S<\/th> M<\/th> L<\/th> XL<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>

Frame height <\/b> (mm)<\/td> 410<\/td> 430<\/td> 455<\/td> 480<\/td> <\/tr>
Fork offset <\/b>(mm)<\/td> 44<\/td> 44<\/td> 44<\/td> 44<\/td> <\/tr>
Fork length <\/b>(mm)<\/td> 598<\/td> 598<\/td> 598<\/td> 598<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td> 110<\/td> 115<\/td> 120<\/td> 130<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 435<\/td> 455<\/td> 475<\/td> 495<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 644<\/td> 649<\/td> 653<\/td> 662<\/td> <\/tr>
Head angle <\/b>(degrees)<\/td> 64<\/td> 64<\/td> 64<\/td> 64<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td> 75.6<\/td> 75.6<\/td> 75.6<\/td> 75.6<\/td> <\/tr>
Effective seat angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td> 78<\/td> 78<\/td> 78<\/td> 78<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube length<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 571<\/td> 593<\/td> 614<\/td> 636<\/td> <\/tr>
BB offset<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 24.5<\/td> 24.5<\/td> 24.5<\/td> 24.5<\/td> <\/tr>
BB height<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 350.5<\/td> 350.5<\/td> 350.5<\/td> 350.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length <\/b>(mm)<\/td> 453<\/td> 453<\/td> 453<\/td> 453<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 1,239<\/td> 1,261<\/td> 1,283<\/td> 1,307<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover height<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 829<\/td> 826<\/td> 823<\/td> 822<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>