Propain Ekano Review - SRAM Powered

[@bfranco1519]

I wish bike companies would just prioritize reliability over features. Auto shift for example. Just make a strong reliable motor! I’ll handle the shifting and cadence. Also, gen 1 anything is a gamble. I’ll wait till they work the bugs outs. Bike looks sweet though!

[@MrStgPepper]

Isn’t it a well proved brose motor?

[@bfranco1519]

Not sure. But I recall Brose motors having lots of problems in the past. Maybe they figured it out. Really my point was adding silly features that nobody is asking for. Same with cars, I don’t need my car to park itself. Keep the tech to a minimum and lower the price or make it bulletproof.

[@adamhart9555]

Can’t agree more. Some features make sense but the simpler the better, imo.

[@finroddd]

Thank you, guys! In this kind of reviews, honesty is the most important thing!

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thanks we appreciate that and feel the same way.

[@thetrailcatalog]

Loved this bike at Bentonville bike fest. The SRAM motor really is so quiet.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[@KurtRWalker]

@@TheLoamWolf Been hearing from many how quiet this bike is so I was surprised you didnt mention it. and isnt it one of the few you can pull the battery easily and travel on the plane with?

[@bmemtb6619]

i ride the ekano 2 AL and love it. I've had some issues but they keep taking care of me.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Good to hear thanks for sharing

[@jojoaspi7398]

I have the E2 AL and I definitely noticed the high stack height. Also, wondering as well if you noticed any (front) wheel flops on turns? Caught me off guard at first but definitely happening from time to time.

[@rockandchilimtb]

Can you review the new Sresh?

[@8664antonio]

since 2016 when turbo levo starts, is this the best motor in the ebike world.

[@EvanShowsMTB]

I noticed this one’s got the exact same reach as the Pivot but no one complained about this one. Maybe the slacker HTA and longer wheelbase make it feel better?

[@TheLoamWolf]

While we would be cautious on using the word “better” as a whole, in some situations the Propain did feel more stable in certain DH scenarios. We’d attribute that to overall wheelbase as the stays are longer and yes as you pointed out, the slacker head tube angle also contributed to that.

[@Nile49]

The taller stack will make the propain front end longer as well compared to the medium pivot. So comparing reach on each can be a bit misleading

[@EvanShowsMTB]

@@Nile49 that’s sort of backwards as to how I understand it. Taller stack makes effective reach shorter all other things equal. The top tube on the pivot is longer than the Propain. Id be interested to know exactly what stem, bar and fork offset are on each bike

[@Nile49]

@@EvanShowsMTB - yea I wasn’t very clear. I was just trying to say that the front center needs to grow to achieve the same reach number at a greater stack height. If you matched stack between the two bikes by adding spacers under the pivot’s stem then the effective reach would be longer on the Propain at that point. Anyway just trying to drill into and understand the numbers more as I research my next bike.

[@EvanShowsMTB]

@@Nile49 yeah, I see what you mean now

[@applicablerobot]

I'm curious, why wasn't the repeaterPT included in the test?

[@TheLoamWolf]

Transition opted to sit this year out. Based on the age of the current repeater one could make assumptions as to why..?

[@applicablerobot]

@@TheLoamWolf I thought the new Repeater PT (the one with the sram drivetrain) was only a year old. Oh you guys reviewed it last year, I'm a doofus. Thanks by the way, these reviews are helpful

[@dukeandace2010]

Is a review of the giant reign e 2024 coming?

[@TheLoamWolf]

We don’t have this bike in our group test, nor in for a solo review sadly.

[@sparksfly369]

Seems the feedback on the SRAM (Brose) motor wasn’t the most favorable. Also some complaints about the suspension. I tested the AL version of this bike at Bentonville Bike Fest and loved it. I’d be curious how different the two variants feel. The AL version has the EP801, and the one I tested had Fox Factory Suspension front and back. I will say I rode the bike exclusively on flow jump lines and it felt amazing to jump. Really poppy, which is consistent with your review.

[@mark124567]

Seems like they didn’t like much about this bike. Very little info on this bike and I have one on order. Wondering if I should cancel my order and move on.

[@Killerkuchen]

@@mark124567 Have you canceled it?

[@mark124567]

No I received it. The bike is bad ass. The auto shift works wonderfully, think of it as a tool to make micro adjustments as you’re riding . Obviously it can’t see what’s ahead so you’ll always need to prepare , but the micro adjustments as you move work really well. The thing rips.

[@benjaminb4]

Hey LoamWolf, I noticed you’ve got Hand guards on all these test bikes, is that for protection on sample bikes or are you preferring the guards for Howler Hill. Thanks for the Great reviews day after day!

[@TheLoamWolf]

We equipped a few test bikes with them for riding around Bend, OR, prior to heading to Howler for the shootout. Howler keeps their trails well pruned and we didn’t feel as if we needed guards, but equally they don’t detract anything from the ride..

[@jessehill3780]

This was one bike I was considering before I bought my new bike but the stand over height was a bit of a turn off. The other thing I noticed when considering it is that it is very progressive leverage (something like 40%) and while they do offer it with air shock options I’m not so sure it’s the best match up for this bike. It’d be interesting to do the same test with a coil as it almost sounds like it’s not an off the top sensitivity (since being so progressive in theory should be extremely sensitive initially) but I’m wondering if you’re hitting a wall of progression after sag point with the air shock and leverage rate stacking up making it really firm.

[@robinschwirz8833]

8:05 it is Not 720 Wh it is 630 wh without the extender 👍

[@duanethompson2879]

Joining the curse of the 90nm category motor?......inconsistency of performance like the Brose?

[@WM.1981]

The Alloy w/ the EP8.1 on gen 2 frame is better than the CF w/ the SRAM powertrain

[@topchoice1621]

1st 🥇 and this is the bike I’ve been waiting for

[@TheLoamWolf]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@H4rZ3r]

I'm in the same situation - ordered it 4 days ago, it will be delivered on July 3rd. I live in Stuttgart, which is only 2 hours away from the headquarters :D so I'll pick it up ♥️

[@AndreFran.11]

​@@H4rZ3r and, are you happy with your new Bike? Tell us about it! 😯

The Pole is the BIKE, but unfortunately they are in problem...if Pivot throw the Bosch motor on the Shuttle LT , then we are talking.

[@mustclime5311]

Please add a grand to the cost of my bike with Sram transmission and know that all the replacement parts cost double to that of the cable stuff..Headset cable routing is a deal braker...the stand over on that bike is really high IMO.

[@H4rZ3r]

Money is no object.

[@porroco]

Sram is much better than shimano by far, shimano ep801 even use sram t type transmision

[@gpearce11]

Sram doesn't actually make this motor. It's the Brose motor off the Specialized Turbo Levo in a new case with auto-shift added.

[@porroco]

@@gpearce11 yeap it is the same case as giant, a YAMAHA tuned by Giant

[@thetrailcatalog]

*Propain

[@marko6706]

Misfits👍