Propain has widened its custom-build suspension choices to include EXT on selected bikes, including the Sresh SL and Ekano eMTBs. The announcement gives buyers another way to spend more on suspension without automatically choosing the most expensive complete build.
The change was announced on 1 October. Alongside the two electric models, Propain lists the Tyee and Rage as eligible platforms. Availability remains model- and market-dependent, so this is a configurator option rather than a single new bike specification.
What has changed?
In its announcement, Propain quotes an EXT Storia upgrade at US$750 above the Super Deluxe Base, or US$250 above the Vivid Ultimate. Those are US-dollar upgrade figures, not confirmed UK prices. A British buyer should compare the final configured bike price, rather than convert the headline supplement into pounds.
The appeal is the freedom to keep a less expensive drivetrain while directing more of the budget towards the suspension. That is a useful choice for riders who care more about descending behaviour than collecting the highest-tier parts across the whole bike.
How EXT fits into the Sresh SL
Propain’s Sresh SL product page already presents an EXT-equipped recommendation with an Era 170mm fork and Storia shock. The company says its EXT shocks receive a Propain-specific tune and that each fork and shock is checked on a dynamometer before delivery.
The page describes hydraulic bottom-out damping operating during the final 15 per cent of shock travel. It also describes the fork’s AS3 spring as using two independently pressurised positive chambers and a self-balancing negative chamber. Those features give the rider more setup choices, but they are not a substitute for choosing an appropriate spring rate and taking time to set the bike up.
What it means for buyers
Our take: compare complete builds around your riding priorities. A suspension upgrade makes more sense when the frame, tyres and brakes already suit your terrain. It is less compelling if it pushes the bike beyond your budget or leaves too little for protective kit and routine servicing.
This is an equipment announcement, not a ride verdict on the new combinations. See Propain’s Sresh SL range and the brand’s announcement for the available build choices.