This year, the Cube 2019 product range was officially presented within the framework of a factory visit in Germany. It’s fair to say that cyclist won’t be lacking new products from the German brand next season: the full suspension bike range will see the greatest development along with an unparalleled e-bike selection and some interesting road bike offerings.
This Cube product launch clearly established that a 2-day event featuring the next-generation bike offering with a separate factory visit is much more efficient for both dealers and journalist, provides vastly more information than a general display presentation at Eurobike. Cube has chosen this route, which was not only a success with us, but the brand representatives also reported less costs for the 4-week-long program (dealers came in groups from all regions!) than a 3-day Eurobike-style exhibition! (You might be surprised how much Eurobike charges the brands, so it’s no coincidence that more and more manufacturers choose this route, and there are fewer visitors to the above-mentioned bike exhibition…)
In the course of the 2 days, we were introduced to the entire 2019 Cube product range, from traditional bikes, e-bikes to accessories, and had the chance to touch and feel each product. There is a huge number of bikes and other cycling components available from the Cube brand, so it was great to have a product manager present for each segment, who demonstrated the special features in detail. Returning home from Waldershof, I was constantly thinking about how to include so much information in this article. Maybe the best approach would be to solely concentrate on the new products and interesting novelties.
Let’s begin with the new full-suspension offerings! The main novelty in this area is the new Stereo with 120mm travel, which is completely redesigned frame. The Cube has done away with the conservative frame geometry, the new model will feature a flatter head tube angle (67 degrees), 14mm shorter chain stays and a much longer top tube. It offers a modern design, perfectly matching the Stereo 140-150mm travel lineup. Thanks to these changes, the Stereo 120 is expected to provide better control on the downhill sections. A rather interesting technical detail is the two-way routing of the rear brake cable, which can be mounted on the frame so that both front and rear facing calipers attachments are catered for, resulting in the cleanest lines for any systems.
The 29er Stereo 150 will have a brand new top-of-the-line “Action Team” model, which has a spectacular finish, it is fitted with the new XTR component group, and the frame weights a mere 2100gr. By the way, it was developed in conjunction with the Cube-sponsored Enduro World Series team. The top model versions are made from “C:68” (68% carbon composite), while the cheaper versions have C:62 as raw material.
The AMS we have tested have only changed concerning finish and equipment, nevertheless it is worth taking a look at its TrailMotion version. Despite being a lightweight XC frame, the short stem, the longer the fork, the wider rim and the dropper seat post make it into quite a playful machine, that can show it`s mettle on a variety of terrain.
Apparently, Reaction TM was not only got a rave review from our team, but buyers in general were happy with it. So from 2019, no less than three Reaction models are available with aluminum frame and “plus” size tires, additionally these fine models are also compatible with 29″ wheels.
The TWO15 DH bike will also receive new features: the SL model in size L and XL will be available with 29er wheels, adapting to the needs of the increasingly fast downhill world cup racing courses.
The new AIM SL will be available in a real special color scheme, although this new design divided opinions among the dealers. Retro fans will certainly take to the once so popular green color with the brown side-walled tires from the 90’s. As it’s expected from the German mega-brand, this model will be available in more color options, so if you do not like it, you can purchase it in another design.
We would not have believed even 2 months ago that we’ll see 1×12 drive bikes at the 1000 Euro price level. The new Acid NX Eagle group set has arrived, and it’s a huge hit to this segment. The improvements in gear shifting technology have now tricked down into the low-middle price range, while this kind performance was only available for bikes costing four times as much just a few years ago…
The Cube gravel bike model is called Nuroad, which will be available in four versions in 2019. There are Shimano 105 and Tiagra component options, and cyclist can also choose to spend an additional 100 Euros for mudguards and dynamo lights.
The Cube road bike range officially does not change for 2019, but since the Wanty-Group Gobert UCI team’s bike have been on display in the showroom, we immediately noticed some interesting model variants to satisfy our hunger novelties. For example, the Aerium “decorated” with UCI sticker was not the model in the catalogs. (It was enough to have a glance at the seat stays.) Likewise it was clearly not designed for triathlon racing as the original model, but for Tour de France level road time trial races. We asked the Cube representatives about this, and the answer was “yes”: this bike was specifically designed for the above-mentioned professional team. Up until now Cube because had no UCI-certified time trial frame, and since Wanty-Group Gobert needed one, Cube got on with it. It will be available as a frameset only, and it’s not even included in the consumer catalog.
Cube’s e-bike segment is clearly on par with traditional bikes, no coincidence, since an incredible number of e-bike are now sold in Western Europe. So manufacturers have to keep up with consumer demand, at Cube this entails having essentially an electrically-driven sibling for each standard model. I’d like to highlight three models from the vast Cube e-bike offering.
In front of the showroom building we “met up” with one of Cube’s great pride, the Stereo Hybrid 160 Action Team 500, which received the prestigious “EMTB of the year 2018” award. With 160mm of suspension travel and 27,5+ tires, this bike is a veritable “destroyer”, both uphill and downward, it uses brute force the get the rider through any terrain.
The Reaction Hybrid model family is also worth mentioning. Interestingly, it is also available with both a fully integrated battery and a semi-integrated version. The existence of the latter is explained by the fact that some prefer to ride longer distances, so it’s practical to make replacing the battery easier. We looked at the mudguards and lamps on this performance-oriented model with wide eyes, but it turned out that there is a real need for this on the German market. This feature is not intended as an urban “trimming”, but it’s there for multi functionality. There is also a special version of the Reaction Hybrid that is specifically designed for heavier riders, it features stronger components for up to 150kg load.
Last year we have written about Agree Hybrid, which was apparently well received by the customers. Hence next year 3 new models will be available in the Cube e-road category, along with a less expensive version added to the range. The top-of-the-line SLT is reported to weight a mere 12.5kg, and provides a look that could be pleasing for even the traditional road cyclist. We had the opportunity to ride the midrange model, so a review is coming soon. It was an interesting experience, to say the least!
A look at the Cube accessories caught us flat-footed! The new Acid brand will be launched next year, which is a group of Cube-branded components, including extremely thought-out fenders, luggage racks, bags, lamps and pumps. This product line will also have special waterproof bags that securely attach to the racks and could be removed with one hand. These products are not only compatible with Cube bikes, but a separate console adapter allows them to be used on ones from other manufacturers.
Natural Fit grips and saddles are designed for comfort, both have a suitable model variants for every type of bike and riding style. Additionally, there are the saddles are available at different price levels.
There is no shortage of Cube-branded helmets, shoes, clothing and bags, my personal favorite is the e-bike backpack, which contains a separate pocket for the spare battery. A few years ago who would have thought we would be riding one of these!
More information:
https://www.cube.eu/hu/cube-bikes/
