Propain's Ekano e-MTB is the latest addition to the rapidly growing list of bikes that use Shimano's
recently announced EP8 motor.
The new aluminum machine has 165mm of rear travel, a 170mm fork, and can be built up with 29”, 27.5” or with mixed wheel sizes thanks to a flip chip on the swingarm and shock link. Despite all that travel, Propain bill the Ekano as more of an all-rounder rather than a solely gravity-oriented ride.
According to Robert Krauss, Propain's CEO, they listened to customer and athlete feedback during the bike's development to help them create a bike that's "even more versatile, balanced and uncompromising than before."
Propain Ekano Details • Travel: 165mm (r) / 170mm (f)
• Aluminum frame
• 27.5", 29", or mixed wheel size options
• Shimano EP8 motor
• 504Wh battery
• Price: 4,899 EUR (Start model)
•
propain-bikes.com There are three complete models, with prices beginning at 4899 Euro for the Start version, which is spec'd with a RockShox Zeb R fork, SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, Magura MT5 brakes, and Stan's Baron S1 wheels. Propain also offers customers the ability to choose their preferred handlebar rise, stem length, and even pick the headtube badge color.
DetailsThe Ekano's new Shimano EP8 motor is powered by a 504 Wh Shimano battery. Propain chose that size due to the fact that it's a little lighter, and spares can more easily be carried in a backpack compared to the 630Wh battery. The battery's position in the down tube allows for easy removal, and it's shielded from impacts by a thick protector.
Cartridge bearings from Acros are in place at all the pivots, complete with custom covers to keep water and grit from getting inside. There's even room for to mount a side-loading bottle cage inside the front triangle, a details that's often missing from e-bikes.
GeometryThe bike's geometry varies depending on which wheel size configuration is selected, and size small frames are only available in 27.5" or mixed-wheel versions. The head angle ranges from 64.3- to 65-degrees, and reach numbers for a size large are between 452mm to 460mm. With a 29” rear wheel the chainstay length is 459mm, and it drops down to 445mm when in the 27.5” setting.
Cirque! Cirque! Cirque! Cirque!
Cirque!! Come to Phoenix and let's go ride electric MOUNTAIN BIKES!!!
He is right. Electrics are not mountain bikes and the poor souls that ride them are not mtb-ers.(probably their wives also use electrics...in bed)
So, similarly intelligent to a beach pebble and you ride an electric while being a a$$hole about it. If you're overweight and live somewhere in country fields america, next to a cow's shite, you really..really fit the trump-estist profile(and electric bike user)
Ffs, even pinkbike's staff don't consider electrics as to be real mtbs and riding them to be something similar with mtb-ing.
If you still don't get it, let me dumb it down enough for you to get it.
Mtb-ing is food for soul, it is a warrior's path, it's a connection with the elements of the universe, all on OSTs by Teflon Sega.
Electric riding is Karen asking for the manager.
Stop being Karen my friend; it is not healthy!
Yes, I love eating as much as I love mtb-ing. 25-30 miles with 3000ft of elevation is regular. I do 50 miles marathons with 5500-6000 ft of elevation. I do not like donuts though, I pizza, thx.
Ooh, and I did tried extensivelly electrics. They are shite on wheels. They do not feel nor handle like a mtb..so, I'm not gettin' one soon. I'll wait though for the next generation of Levo SL. That shows promise. The rest of them are useless $hits with wheels.
Excellent, do keep on non-mtb-ing.
Cheers!
Also geo numbers could be more modern especially reach which is a size smaller than most bikes today.
The "secret" is, the non-mtb crowd, for which this bike has been made, can't tell the diff on their XC terrain type loops. Also, they need to be comfy. Modern enduro geo and comfy for a non-mtb rider are not in the same sentence.
They want a bike that assists as much aus possible uphill and is comfy both up and downhill
They dont care about long geo
99% from the electric riders I know can tell shite about compresion or how geometry affects the handling. I call for direct BS!