Propain EKANO 3 AL Enduro vs. Sresh SL

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The bike world got buzzing. A new power era started with the Avinox M2S. And Propain jumped into the deep end of high-power e-mountain biking. But they did it with a twist, being a brand never one to follow the herd. Not just one all‑or‑nothing missile. Instead, they built two entirely different philosophies on the same chassis and there is a third player in the game.

On one side: the Propain EKANO 3 AL – a full-power, alloy-only bruiser that turns every fire road into a ski lift, available in an enduro and a trail build. On the other: the Propain SRESH SL—a carbon, mid‑power whisperer that makes you forget you’re on an e‑bike altogether.

• The Data Deep Dive

• Motors Tech Spec Table

• Geometry

• The Uphill Battle

• The Downhill Flow

• Conclusion

• The Final Line – Answering the Big Question

Three bikes. Two plattforms. Same brand. But also three bikes that couldn’t feel more different in comparison.

We wondered—are mid‑power bikes obsolete now that some 1300 watt monsters exist? To answer that question, we did plenty of testing, asked many questions, came back from rides surprised, and in the journey we learned a lot. This is not your average bike review. It’s a deep dive on the strengths of different systems—and which bike will fit the different preferences we as mountain bikers have.

Let’s get into it!

An important note: If you want a complete understanding of how the Propain EKANO Enduro, EKANO Trail, and SRESH SL differ in design, capability, and ride character, this deep dive is for you. We’ve paired the full written breakdown with a long-form video that includes our in-depth discussions and behind-the-scenes footage. For the best insight into all three bikes and their strengths, explore the article and watch the video together.

The Data Deep Dive – Same/Same, But Different?

Before we get into the dirt and the details on ride feel, let’s look at the numbers. Zee Germans crave for it. And already, here’s the first surprise: on some features, the EKANO 3 AL and the SRESH SL are much closer than you’d think.

The EKANO 3 AL is Propain’s full‑power e‑enduro. Built around the new Avinox M2S motor—a 150 Nm / 1300 W peak powerhouse that makes old‑school “full power” look like a gentle push. If your budget is tight, you can also get it with the Avinox M2 motor—with a lower price, you get some lower numbers: 125 Nm and 1100 W peak power.

The frame comes in alloy only. Something refreshing in a world of ever more expensive carbon bikes. More weight for a frame out of this material? A tad, but more freedom of mind when pushing hard and paying the price with those close inspections of the ground when you ran out of talent after getting yourself over the limit...

The Enduro version runs 170 mm front, 160 mm rear. The Trail version (same frame, shorter shock, different links) does 160 mm front, 150 mm rear. Enduro goes mullet only, while you get the option towards 29/29 on the trail version. You can get different dropout options to match it to your preferred style: mixed wheel long or short setup on both bikes and one 29er setting on the trail version. Battery options: 600 Wh or 800 Wh—(currently) no range extender. And with the optional 12 A charger, charging is absurdly fast: 75 % in 1.5 hours, full in a bit more than two.

The SRESH SL, meanwhile, is Propain’s first light e‑MTB. Carbon frame, starting at 18.2 kg. Powered by the TQ‑HPR60—60 Nm, 350 W, and a motor weight of just 1.9 kg. The SRESH SL also offers two battery options: 360 Wh or 580 Wh—a 160 Wh range extender is available as an option. And on this model, you can easily remove and swap out the battery—something that isn’t quite as easy to do on the EKANO. The suspension travel is 160 mm front, 150 mm rear—almost identical to the Ekano Trail version. But the feel? Same-same but different or what is going on here?

Note: We had multiple builds of all bikes available during testing. They had been modified in the spec of wheels and tires, so weight can differ, depending on the spec. Our EKANO SRAM build pushed just over 25 kg, and the SRESH SL with coil and heavy tires landed at slightly under 21 kg.

Model	Propain EKANO 3 AL Enduro	Propain EKANO 3 AL Trail	Propain SRESH SL
Travel (Front/Rear)	170/160 mm	160/150 mm	160/150 mm
Frame Material	Alloy	Alloy	Carbon
Motor	Avinox M2 or M2S	Avinox M2 or M2S	TQ HPR60
Battery	800 or 600 Wh (integrated)	800 or 600 Wh (integrated)	580 or 360 Wh (removable)
Range Extender Option	No	No	160 Wh (960 g)
Chargers	4A Standard 12A Fast	4A Standard 12A Fast	4A
Display	2" touchscreen (top tube) or 1.4" handlebar display	2" touchscreen (top tube) or 1.4" handlebar display	2" display (top tube)
Wheel Size	Mullet only	29" or Mullet	29" or Mullet
Color	FUNKY OYSTER VENOM BLACK DIRTY MUSTARD	ELECTRIC TEAL VENOM BLACK DIRTY MUSTARD	CARBON RAW GLOSS MOON SHINE GLOSS FIRETRUCK RED MATTE
Price	Starting at € 5.199	Starting at € 4.999	Starting at € 5.994

A refreshing approach. The frame of the EKANO comes in aluminium and can adapt to different travel settings by changing links and shock(stroke). Also the modular dropouts offer room for customization.

E-bikes come with some extra pounds. And you should love them. The trail version of the EKANO helps you getting a slightly lighter package and the reduced travel make for some more agility.

SRESH SL. Slick. Carbon. Lighter. Same travel as the EKANO trail, but a lighter assist. How would it compare on the trail?

The Propain Customization Edge

Here’s where Propain gives the big brands something to think about. As a customer, you aren’t stuck with a prebuilt box. As goes for the full portfolio; On the SRESH SL, you choose battery size and add a range extender (the 160 Wh extender is no bigger than a 500 ml water bottle).

On the EKANO, you choose the M2 or the fire‑breathing M2S motor. You want Öhlins? RockShox? Fox? You can also choose from two options each for the display, battery, and charger: a 600 Wh or 800 Wh fixed battery, a more affordable or a smarter display, and a 4A or 12A charger. It’s your bike. You build it. That’s not marketing speak—that’s how Propain actually works. The nerds and custom enthusiasts will cheer!

Motors Tech Spec Table

Note: All figures are manufacturer claims unless otherwise noted. Peak power figures are often transient and measured at different points in the drivetrain.

Manufacturer / Model	Avinox M2	Avinox M2S	TQ HPR60
Max. Torque	110 Nm (125 Nm Boost)	130 Nm (150 Nm Boost)	60 Nm
Max. Power	1100 W Peak	1300 W Peak	350 W Peak
Nominal Power (Continuous)	250 W	250 W	250 W
Support Factor	800 %	800 %	200 %
Voltage	36V	36V	36V
Motor Weight	2.7 kg	2.6 kg	1.92 kg
Battery Capacities	800 Wh (integrated) 600 Wh (integrated)	800 Wh (integrated) 600 Wh (integrated)	580 Wh (removable) 360 Wh (removable)
Battery Weight	3.74 kg 2.87 kg	3.74 kg 2.87 kg	2.68 kg 1.83 kg
Power Density	407 W/kg	500 W/kg	182 W/kg
Energy Density	214 Wh/kg 209 Wh/kg	214 Wh/kg 209 Wh/kg	216 Wh/kg 197 Wh/kg
Range Extender	No	No	160 Wh, 960 g
Chargers	4A Standard 12A Fast	4A Standard 12A Fast	4A
Charging Power	168 W 508 W	168 W 508 W	235 W
Support Modes	Eco, Trail, Turbo, Auto, Boost	Eco, Trail, Turbo, Auto, Boost	Eco, Mid, High
Display	2" touchscreen (top tube) 1.4" handlebar display	2" touchscreen (top tube) 1.4" handlebar display	2" display (top tube)
Controller	Wireless controller	Wireless controller	Handlebar remote
App	Avinox Ride App	Avinox Ride App	TQ E-Bike App

Geometry

Propain Ekano 3 Al Enduro vs. Sresh SL

EKANO 3 AL ENDURO	MIX LONG				MIX SHORT
Size	S	M	L	XL	S	M	L	XL
A Frame Height	410	430	455	480	410	430	455	480
B Fork Offset	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	44
C Fork Length	586	586	586	586	586	586	586	586
D Head Tube	110	115	120	130	110	115	120	130
E Reach	435	450	475	500	435	450	475	500
F Stack	633	638	642	651	633	638	642	651
G Head Angle	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°
H Seat Angle (real)	77.1°	77.1°	77.1°	77.1°	77.1°	77.1°	77.1°	77.1°
I Seat Angle (effective)	78.0°	78.0°	78.0°	78.0°	78.0°	78.0°	78.0°	78.0°
J Top Tube	570	586	611	638	570	586	611	638
K BB Drop	8/28	8/28	8/28	8/28	8/28	8/28	8/28	8/28
L Chainstay	452	452	452	452	447	447	447	447
M Wheelbase	1238	1255	1282	1312	1233	1250	1277	1307
SRESH SL	29 LOW				MIX HIGH
Size	S	M	L	XL	S	M	L	XL
A Frame Height	390	410	430	460	390	410	430	460
B Fork Offset	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	44
C Fork Length	576	576	576	576	576	576	576	576
D Head Tube	100	110	120	130	100	110	120	130
E Reach	428	453	478	503	423	448	473	498
F Stack	616	625	634	643	619	628	638	647
G Head Angle	64.3°	64.3°	64.3°	64.3°	63.8°	63.8°	63.9°	63.9°
H Seat Angle (real)	76.2°	76.2°	76.2°	76.2°	75.7°	75.8°	75.8°	75.8°
I Seat Angle (effective)	77.8°	77.8°	77.8°	77.8°	77.3°	77.3°	77.4°	77.4°
J Top Tube	561	588	615	642	562	589	616	643
K BB Drop	23	23	23	23	29/10	29/10	30/10	30/10
L Chainstay	452	452	452	452	450	450	450	450
M Wheelbase	1213	1243	1272	1301	1212	1241	1271	1300

The Uphill Battle – Two Different Sports?

Now for the part that started this whole discussion: climbing. E-bikes made for new passions. People who just climbed to get down again suddenly enjoyed the uphill process. They looked for more technical (uphill) challenges. More power made everything easier, right? It is not only about the power, and all motor brands made big steps forward in providing software that enables everyone to get the support from the motor into the ground without making you do a dirt burn-out.

So would you mind saying now that you just go for the strongest motor to have the most fun and feel like Superman crushing the steepest climb? More is always better? More fun?

The Sresh SL — “The Natural”

The first time you pedal the SRESH SL, something strange happens. You look down. You’re moving. You look down again. Wait—is the motor even on?

The TQ‑HPR60 is so quiet, so smooth, so invisible that you almost forget it’s there. 60 Nm doesn’t sound like much on paper. But it’s not about the number—it’s about how the power arrives. No abrupt punch. No “motor feel.” Just a gentle push that makes you feel like you’re having the strongest leg day of your life.

Technical climb? Shift your weight, pick your line, and pedal. The SRESH SL doesn’t do the work for you—it just makes your work feel easier. It rewards finesse, not brute force. And if the battery dies? You’re pedaling a 19 kg trail bike. There are easier things in life, but you’ll be just fine getting back home. You might even enjoy the workout.

Geometry is dialed. Propain sits on the steeper end of the seat angle spectrum. Good for some and (almost too) newschool for others. Seldom did you read this in a bike magazine, right? It always needs to be steeper, right? Not for this bike. The range you get out of the saddle rails to adjust your position is perfect.

It means you don't bother sitting and pedal along to your favorite trail. When it gets technical, you rely on your skills, your power, and a little extra. The TQ motor is there to support you, and you will conquer sections that you couldn't on your regular mountain bike. It won't help you out if you are being lazy, not bothering about the right gear, and just hoping for the motor to drag you up.

Plan your line. Look forward and enjoy the very natural feel of you being supported. At some times you can even misunderstand the bike and think you did it alone. Turn the motor off and try again. You probably won't make it. What do you learn from this? The proper delivery of power from the TQ motor.

There are no ways around gravity and your body weight. Power-to-weight ratio not only applies to your bike. We tested a spectrum of 30 kg difference on the riders. The learnings: Being a big dude will eat up your motor power. Period. A lighter rider will benefit more from ANY motor out there, while the 0.1 t category feels like there is some push missing on the lighter-assist’s.

“The SRESH feels like riding a normal mountain bike on a really, really good day.”

Going for that extra steep line you just couldn’t make with your own power alone? The TQ will give you the help you need without putting himself in the front. You are still the main player.

The Ekano 3 AL Enduro — “The Rocket Sled”

Then you swing a leg over the EKANO. And the world changes.

The Avinox M2S delivers 150 Nm and 1300 W of peak power. On a fire road climb, you don’t pedal so much as engage warp drive. The bike surges forward. You hang on. You laugh.

But here’s the catch: power like that demands respect. If you just mash the pedals in Boost mode on a loose, technical climb and think every uphill trail is now a piece of cake, you’ll spin out before you know it. The EKANO 3 AL teaches you a new climbing technique when going full force—stay focused, look forward, keep the weight balanced between front and rear, stay low, and use the momentum. It can do the heavy lifting but needs to be understood to put the power into the ground. It’s not hard. It’s just different and you need to learn it.

And the speed? On all but the steepest climbs, the 25 km/h European speed limit is the limiting factor—not your legs. You’ll hit the assist cutoff, and depending on the setting you run, it can hit faster. 32 km/h may be more suitable for this bike, but that is a different discussion.

The EKANO 3 AL teaches you a new climbing technique when going full force—stay focused, look forward, keep the weight balanced between front and rear, stay low, and use the momentum.

Geometry is similar to the SRESH, some riders even ended up pushing the saddle all the way back to avoid an unnatural knee position during pedaling. On the trails you mostly won't use the saddle anyway when climbing technical bits. Slam it all the way down and hover. If you are good at a quick line choice on the downhills, you will benefit from it now. There is an interaction between you and the motor, and you need to understand its behavior. Figuring out how the power is delivered and when makes or breaks your climbing challenge.

For the character of the M2S you go with the flow. Or rather say "speed". It offers you relentless power, and this will help you conquer the steep and high step that has always been your nemesis. Just don't doubt you actually will make it. Go for it.

The Catch: If you get carried away on the trails, lost deep in the forest and the battery dies, you are pedaling a 24 kg enduro bike with heavy duty tires. Frankly: This is no fun. So don’t let it die. Don’t boost all the time. And with some proper route planning, maybe even using navigation, you won’t. Doing a second large ride-out after your lunch break? Fast charging will enable you to do it.

The same weight principle as for the SRESH also applies to the EKANO, just the other way around. The heavyweight riders cheered and welcomed the bigger power. They also could use their body weight to their advantage in some scenarios. Increased traction on the rear wheel, but they needed to keep the momentum more. Starting again in a steep section will always be harder for them than for the lighter riders. Those reported more of a "moto" feel on the bike. The bike-to-power-to-rider-weight ratio shifted like on an old-school Mini Cooper.

The pure speed you can get to on most trails is mind-boggling. For the tech bits, you would like to get a reduction with some diesel power like on a Hilux.

Verdict Uphill

• Save your legs, smash the climb, and hit more descents? → EKANO 3 AL.

• Still want to feel like a mountain biker who just has superpowers? → Sresh SL.

The Downhill Flow – Heavy Plow vs. Light Jib

Motorized bicycles made climbing more enjoyable and got us plenty of new playgrounds to challenge your friends in “impossible sections”. But most of us still ride up to come down again. Here the two bikes show again how their personalities differ.

The Sresh SL – The Playful Weasel

Don’t let the “mid‑power” label fool you. With 160/150 mm of travel, the SRESH SL is a proper trail bike that is even pushing in the enduro segment. The low weight for a motorized bike—our test bike had just 20.9kg with heavy tires and a coil shock—transforms the ride you’d expect from an eMTB entirely.

On the descent, the SRESH SL gives you plenty to think about. Is it a trail bike that happens to have a motor? How does it feel to be so planted? Is the weight actually helping me? Why does it still pop off roots? It manuals through rollers. It changes direction easily and encourages you to play. You can throw it into a corner, lean it over, and feel the suspension work without any of that sluggish, front‑end‑heavy feeling that plagues so many e-bikes.

The geometry helps, too. The 64.3° head angle is steep enough to keep the front wheel planted in corners, but not so steep that it gets twitchy at speed. And the short(ish) chainstays make it easy to lift the front wheel when you need to.

Hint for the bike build nerds: If you want to get even more of this behavior, you might opt for the shorter (smaller) battery to center the weight in the BB area even more. You also can shave some weight off it with a lighter overall build.

This bike inspires you to be active and go for an aggressive riding style. It wants you to be involved, even if you don't need to be. You don’t just survive the descent—you dance with it. When things get spicy, you get the feeling of a non-motorized enduro bike, but with actually having less travel under you. Yes, it is only about one centimeter, but the whole mix of this bike, with its weight, geometry, and travel, gets you active—in a positive way.

The limits of this bike? They are not sharply set. Its agility can get you out of trouble when overcooking it on rough parts of the trail. Finding the tiny lip to just jump the roughest part of the rock garden? Yes, this is the way!

We skipped back and forth between the SRESH and the EKANO. What did we learn? Be careful. The amount of input it takes to lean the bike, jump it, pull up… it's way less on the lighter SRESH. So don't overcook it. This bike will follow you more like a regular enduro bike than a full on e-bike.

The Ekano 3 AL Enduro – The Gravity Rocket

Now step onto the EKANO. And hold on. Yes, literally.

This is the bike that won’t hold you back and still gets you out of this spicy situation, which is totally your fault because you overcooked it. The Enduro version is a tad less of a point‑and‑shoot enduro bike, like its former iteration. But still, the geometry and the heavy chassis mean it plows through rock gardens that would deflect the SRESH SL.

You are ground-hugging the trail. Traction seems endless. The suspension absorbs hits that would have you bracing for impact on a lighter bike. It wants to go straight, fast, and through the rough stuff. Being dynamic and jibbing over the trail? You need to bring some skill and speed to the table, even though Propain managed to imprint a lively character on this bike—considering the weight and the category.

There is no way around the trade‑offs. That weight that makes the EKANO so stable on the descents will ask you for input to maneuver. Lifting the front wheel over a log takes more effort. Popping off a lip requires commitment. This is not an all-around playful bike—it’s a fast bike. Especially comparing it on the same day, on the same trail, against the SRESH SL.

Some of the bikes you can ride in this manner will show their weakness if you claim the intended use because they wanted to be too light on the scale. The alloy frame of the EKANO sucked up all the abuse we threw at it. No tire marks in the rear triangle, no creaking. Heavy dudes might go for the metallic pads on the brakes. Yes, you are the freight train, and some corners need adjustment in speed.

Verdict Downhill

• Love jumping, weaving, and playing on the trail? → SRESH SL.

• Love plowing through boulders at warp speed? → EKANO 3 AL.

Conclusion – Which One and Why? The personal choice

This whole read made you undecided between the two options? You forgot the third one. The EKANO 3 AL Trail. Propain maxed out the customization options on these two platforms. Everything in between the full gravity build on an EKANO in mullet setup towards 29/29 trail-oriented light SRESH SL 18.2 kg build is possible via their configurator.

It is like a computer game character creation: Put all the stats into power and attack or into agility and dexterity? You match it to your demands and get exactly what you want.

After a couple of hundred kilometers and many heated debates, here’s how it breaks down for two of our test riders.

Alex’s Pick – The Sresh SL

“If I could only have one bike, this is it.” – Alex Bike Tester

Alex already owns a non‑motorized enduro bike. For him, the Sresh SL isn’t a replacement—it’s the perfect addition. It extends his range, saves his legs on long days, but still feels like a real mountain bike. It’s playful. It’s light enough to throw around. And the silence? Addictive.

His advice: “If you’re coming from acoustic bikes and you’re worried about losing that ‘bike feel,’ get the Sresh SL. You won’t regret it.”

Jens’ Pick – The EKANO 3 AL Enduro

“When I want the power, I want ALL the power.” Jens, Testpilot

Jens mostly rides non‑motorized bikes. But when he grabs an e‑bike, he wants the full experience. The Ekano smashes climbs—especially the German-style fire roads—and then demolishes descents. He actually likes the stability of the higher weight. And the fast charging means a big morning ride, a quick lunch charge, and then another massive afternoon session.

Less fatigue. More laps. More fun.

His advice: “If you want a shuttle in bike form—something that gets you to the top fast so you can focus purely on the descent—get the EKANO. Just be ready to wrestle the weight a bit on the way down when you want to ride playfully.”

Which bike fits which riding?

There are plenty of build options for all of these bikes. We test rode overall five different versions of those bikes and teamed up with our CoPilots to expand the impressions. While preferences are always something personal, we can give you a simplified overview of which segment we see the bikes in their unique variations.

Model	Motor	Wheelsize	Use Case
EKANO AL Enduro	M2S	29/27.5 *	full shred
EKANO AL Enduro	M2	29/27.5 *	shred
EKANO AL Trail	M2S	29/27.5 *	full trail with enduro flavor
EKANO AL Trail	M2	29/27.5 *	full trail
EKANO AL Trail	M2S	29/29	trails but fast
EKANO AL Trail	M2	29/29	trails
SRESH SL	TQHP60	29/27.5 **	playful trails with natural feel
SRESH SL	TQHP60	29/29 **	trail with natural feel

* All Mullet setups on the EKANO come with the option of two different chainstay lengths. You can order the different lengths dropouts to your liking

** SRESH features a low and a high position via a flip chip to adjust it for the 27.5 or 29 rear wheel.

The Final Line – Answering the Big Question

Are mid‑power e‑bikes obsolete now that 1300 watt monsters exist?

No. Absolutely not.

Propain just proved there is more room than ever for both.

• The EKANO 3 AL is for the rider who wants something that sits above an eMTB. The German term “Mofa” (motorized bicycle) fits the shuttle style so you can focus purely on the descent. It’s a gravity weapon. It’s the kind of bike that makes you laugh out loud on the first pedal stroke.

• The Sresh SL is for the rider who looks for super‑legs but still wants to feel the trail, earn the turns, and hear the forest. It’s for the “bio‑biker” who’s curious about e‑MTBs but doesn’t want to lose the essence of mountain biking.

Propain shows exactly the right kind of independent thinking. They aren’t forcing you into a category. They let you choose your own adventure.

• TQ HPR60 (Sresh SL) offers a smooth, silent, natural platform that scales beautifully. As battery tech improves—and it will – this system will only get better.

• Avinox M2/M2S (EKANO 3 AL) opens a new dimension of riding style and raw speed. It changes how fast you can get out there, literally. The fast charging alone is a game changer for big days in the saddle.

Join the alloy train.

So here’s the bottom line:

Know yourself. Know your trails. Then go build your Propain.

Because whether you choose the brute force of the EKANO or the pure flow of the Sresh SL—you’re not buying a bike. You’re buying a philosophy. And Propain is one of the few brands left that lets you make that choice yourself. With the addition of the EKANO and the choice to go all in on power with the strongest motor on the market, they not only created an e-mountain bike. They give you a broad spectrum to choose from. Understanding that mountain biking and motorized mountain biking both have plenty of facets and nuances. Putting all discussions about which one is best aside, choose what fits the trails you ride and get the best possible bike and spec on it.

Now get out there and ride.

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Want to build your own? Head over to Propain’s online configurator and see what you can create. And if you can, book a demo day. Because nothing—absolutely nothing—beats the feeling of swinging a leg over both of these bikes and deciding for yourself.

Blasting up? Playing on the way down? It is up to the riders decision to choose the bike which fits best. Categories like Trail and Enduro became even more nuanced when adding a motor.

You want more reviews?

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AutHor – JENS STAUDT

Height: 191 cm

Weight: 103 kg

Riding style: With his racing background, the lines are planned, even if there is anything bigger in his way. If possible, sections will be jumped over. You should use the entire width of a trail. Others would say - uncompromising.

Motivation: A product should function carefree and for as long as possible. If you have to screw less, you can ride more. He likes to tinker and see how the bike can be optimized.

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