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Highlights Of The Cube Bikes 2017 Range

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Just a fortnight ago, Singletrack was invited to fly over to Germany to see the new 2017 Cube Bike range, whilst touring their enormous new factory in Waldershof. Cube have invested a significant amount of money in their new assembly plant, which they use to assemble and ship all of their complete bikes for European distribution. It’s pretty darn impressive, and once up to capacity, it will allow Cube to produce assemble some 3500 bikes per day.

You may have already read our article on the new AMS 100 dual suspension XC race bike, but we also had the chance to look through the rest of the 2017 Cube mountain bike range. Here we take a look at some of the highlights from that range, to show you what you can expect to see at your local Cube dealer.

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The Cube full suspension range is enormous. The Stereo line alone includes 120mm, 140mm and 160mm travel options across 27.5in, 29in and 27.5+ wheel variants.
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Long legged XC machine from Cube. The Stereo 120 is one of their most popular mountain bike models.

This is the Stereo 120 HPC SL. As you can probably tell from the name, it has 120mm of travel, and it’s one of Cube’s most popular full suspension models. It’s a bit of a marathon mile-muncher/trail bike, with upright geometry and fast-rolling 29in wheels.

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You can get the Stereo 120 in carbon and alloy versions, with five different spec options to choose from.

The Stereo 120 range is available in five different trims, from £1299 up to £2999 for the SL model you’re looking at here. For nearly three grand, you get a full carbon fibre frame, Fox Factory suspension with Kashima gold-goodness, and a Shimano XT 2×11 drivetrain.

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With 29in wheels and a wide-range 2×11 Shimano XT drivetrain, the Stereo 120 is designed to cover a lot of ground, and cover it quickly.
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Elegant and shiny carbon frame on the Stereo 120.
cube full suspension xc carbon bike ams fox kashima race face next 2017
The Stereo 140 is available in alloy and carbon frame options, and in both 27.5in and 29in wheel options.

This guy here is the Stereo 140 C:62 SL 29. It bumps up the travel to 140mm in a similar four-bar suspension design as the Stereo 120, but with slacker angles and burlier components. If you’re into more technical trail riding, this is a more stable and confidence-inspiring ride than the 120mm travel version.

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Chunkier Fox 34 fork up front, and a smooth Fox EVOL rear shock out back.
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The C:62 carbon construction isn’t quite as light as Cube’s C:68 carbon fibre, but it does come in at a more attractive price point.
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While many Brits are all about the 1x drivetrain, our Euro brothers and sisters are still very keen on 2x shifting for maximum range and climb-ability.
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Nice matchy-match components throughout the Cube Bike range.
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Same travel, same suspension design, but smaller wheels. The Stereo 140 with 27.5in hoops.

This is the Cube Stereo 140 C:68 SLT 27.5. It’s the top-of-the-range model that’s available in both 27.5in and 29in wheels. An interesting side note on wheelsize is that Cube’s Enduro World Series team is racing on the 29in version of this bike, with a bigger 160mm travel fork up front. However, Cube spec almost all of their full suspension bikes with matching travel front and rear.

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Bold carbon weave for the SLT model, and no paint (it’s lighter see?)
cube full suspension xc carbon bike ams fox kashima race face next 2017
Carbon fibre, gold Fox goodies, and SRAM 1×12 Eagle. The Stereo 140 SLT is packed to the brim with the good stuff.

The C:68 number refers to Cube’s highest level carbon construction, which is both lighter and stiffer than their C:62 carbon fibre. The SLT model eschews paint to keep things as light as possible, and features a premium parts kit that includes Fox Factory suspension front and rear. Price is £5199, though the Stereo 140 range kicks off at £1999 for the base-level alloy model.

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Presumably the 12-speed cassette offers enough range that even Ze Germans can deal without a front derailleur. But the Stereo 140 frame will take a front mech if you really want one.
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Neat captured hardware on the Stereo 140 SLT, with anodized alloy pivot bits.
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We like the colours on this one – blue and green keeping it bright and Euro, with classy all-black suspension.

Still 140mm travel, but this blue beast is the Stereo 140 HPA SL 27.5. In case you hadn’t already picked up, Cube include the wheelsize as part of the bike’s name (as long as there are wheelsize options within the same chassis), and the ‘HPA’ bit refers to the alloy frame.

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Price is £2599 for this guy. You don’t get the bling carbon frame, but the money goes straight back into the top-drawer parts kit and suspension package.
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Add plus tyres to the Stereo platform, and you get the Cube Stereo 150.

Ok, so this one is just plain badass. The latest model to join the Stereo line up is the Stereo 150. It’s Cube’s first plus full suspension option, with 2.8in wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres strapped to the lightweight Stereo platform. Travel sits at 150mm travel on the rear, and it features a 150mm RockShox Yari fork up front.

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Same four-bar suspension design as the Stereo range, with the added grip and cushioning of the 2.8in Schwalbe tyres.

The Stereo 150 is available in two models that both use the same alloy frameset. This one is the cheaper of the two, coming in at £2299, though a few upgrades to the SL model will set you back £2799 in total.

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Squish from the shock, and squish from the tyres too.
cube full suspension xc carbon bike ams fox kashima race face next 2017
Want an enduro bike at a great price? That’d be the Cube Stereo 160 HPA Race at £2099.

The biggest travel option in the Stereo range is the Stereo 160. Whereas the Stereo 120 comes only with 29in wheels, the Stereo 140 comes with either 27.5in or 29in wheels. The Stereo 160 however, only comes in a 27.5in option. There are six Stereo 160 models in total, with three models using alloy frames, and three models getting carbon frames. This black and red number is the entry-point into the range; the Stereo 160 HPA Race 27.5, which will set you back £2099.

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Lovely lines on the hydroformed alloy frame, which features the same geometry and suspension layout as the £5199 Stereo 160 C:68 Action Team model.
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Smooth four-bar suspension design controls the 160mm of rear travel.
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On the Fritz. It’s like a Stereo 160, but with 20mm more travel front and rear ya?

Stepping up the brawniness and the travel is the Cube Fritz. This is an interesting model of bike, because the Fritz features 180mm of travel front and rear, along with a big Fox 36 fork up front. However, Cube does not describe it as a ‘park’ bike. In their eyes, this is a long travel all mountain bike, which looks ready for the gnarliest and most rugged of backcountry singletrack.

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The Fritz only comes in two spec options, but both come with the same alloy frameset. £2399 will get you into Fritz-land, and £3499 will get you this Fox Factory suspended model.
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Long climbs in the alps? That’d be why the Fox Float X rear shock features a neat remote lockout to control all of that 180mm of rear suspension travel.
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Likely the best-looking bikes we saw in the 2017 range belonged to the women’s specific range.

For 2017, Cube will be expanding their women’s mountain bike lineup, with a range of purpose built machines designed to offer stability and confidence for entry-level riders. For the higher end models, Cube relies on the same frames as their unisex models, but straps on more suitable components for female riders such as modified cockpits and women-specific saddles.

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The women’s Access 27.5 hardtail range features lightweight air suspension up front and nimble handling for eating up the miles.

This model is called the Cube Access WLS GTC Pro, and it sits one step below the top-end women’s carbon hardtail. It shares the same carbon frame, but features a cheaper parts spec to get the price down to £1399. It’s a good looking bike for riders wanting a lightweight XC bike.

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Lightweight alloy frameset, 140mm of travel, and a relaxed riding position make the Sting an excellent option for riders wanting to get out onto more trails in more locations.

New for 2017 is a women’s offering in a 140mm travel suspension package that matches the Stereo 140. Called the ‘Sting’, this range features the same suspension design as the unisex Stereo 140, but is available down to a tiny 13.5in frame size for shorter female riders. You can get into the Sting range for £1799, though the Sting WLS 140 SL (pictured here) will set you back £2599.

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Fox 34 Rhythm fork up front for a smoother feel and added confidence when dumping the front wheel into steep downhill chutes. Add grippy tyres and a dropper post, and you’ve got a confident women’s specific full suspension bike.
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Neat internal cabe routing, and masses of standover clearance on the Sting 140.
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For 2017, Cube have already received forward orders from their dealers, with 25% of those orders encompassing pedal-assisted e-bikes.

Also big news for Cube’s 2017 range is the dramatic increase in e-bike models. Just three years ago, Cube had only a couple of e-bikes in their lineup. For this season, they will have over 140 different e-bike SKU’s across hardtail, full suspension, fat bike, hybrid and city platforms. Clearly Cube is ready for the e-bike phenomenon to explode.

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Smooth lines on the carbon Elite Hybrid e-bike hardtail frame, which drops an incredible 1.5kg from its alloy counterpart.

Highlighting just how far the e-bike movement will be heading in 2017 and beyond, Cube had this SLT version of its 29in Elite Hybrid model. For £4999, you can get your hands on one of the lightest e-bikes on the market. With a full carbon frame that has dropped 1.5kg off the alloy version, the Elite Hybrid C:62 SLT comes in at 18.5kg. Still a lot of weight, but if you know e-bikes, you’ll understand just how light that actually is.

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1×12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain and custom carbon cranks on the Elite Hybrid SLT complete the high-end build. We’re not so sure about the 2.25in wide LiteSkin Schwalbe tyres though, and especially the Thunder Burt on the rear – those are very lightweight indeed!
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The Bosch PowerPack 500 battery delivers greater range, so you can rack up some serious mileage on this lightweight carbon hardtail.
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There are no less than six models of the Reaction hardtail, which all use in the same alloy frame that is brand new for 2017.

While not quite as exotic, the alloy Reaction Hardtail range is arguably more exciting for a number of reasons. The Reaction frame is brand new for 2017, with a new cast downtube that aims to tuck the Bosch battery pack into a more streamlined package. Cube have also partnered with Bosch to create a custom skid-plate for the motor, which ties in quite nicely into the Reaction’s colour scheme.

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New cast downtube on the Reaction hardtail is super neat in the way that it tucks the battery into the frame (Cube hinted that it was in answer to Specialized’s Turbo bikes). However, the new cast downtube actually adds 400 grams over last year’s Reaction alloy hardtail.
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Custom coloured skid plates look sweet, and they’re quite necessary as Cube have rotated the Bosch motor downwards to allow for shorter chainstays and added tyre clearance. This also lowers the centre of gravity, but does make the BB area quite close to the ground.
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Also new with the Reaction hardtail range is the single Bosch display on the bars. We like this a lot, because the typical Bosch system features both a head unit in the middle of the bars, and a toggle switch near the grips, which adds additional wires that don’t really need to be there. The setup on the 2017 Cube Reaction hardtail is much cleaner. And really, who rides an e-bike in anything but turbo mode?
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The Cube full suspension e-bike range grows in 2017, with Stereo 120, 140 and 160mm travel options.
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This is the 120mm travel Stereo Hybrid model, which is available in 27.5in and 29in versions.
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Confusingly, anything in the Cube range with ‘Hybrid’ in the name refers to it being an e-bike. So the WLS Access Hybrid is simply a e-bike version of the women’s specific Access hardtail.

Like the Reaction hardtail, the Access WLS hardtail gets the same cast downtube that tucks the Bosch battery pack into a hollowed-out pocket in the frame. Accented skid plate also comes standard, giving more of a colour pop.

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Available in four sizes across 27.5in and 29in wheel options, the Access Hybrid provides a comprehensive line of electrically-assisted mountain bikes for budding female riders.
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Schwalbe’s new 2.6in wide tyre option delivers more stability and puncture protection than a 2.8in plus tyre, but more traction and comfort than regular 2.2-2.3in mountain bike tyres.

And that about wraps up our highlights from the Cube 2017 launch. This by no means is an exhaustive list – the Cube 2017 line up is absolutely huge, and there is seemingly a model for every budget and every riding type. If you want to know more about the range, then roll on over to the Cube UK website to see all of the new bikes.


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