Anyone looking for a full-suspension e-mountain bike will eventually stumble across one bike: the Cube Stereo Hybrid. The Stereo has been around for years in a countless number of versions featuring different amounts of travel – and always at a fair price. For the new season, Cube has entirely revised their portfolio, and we have all the details!
For the new season, Cube has maintained the three well-known models of the Stereo: the HYBRID 120, HYBRID 140 and the HYBRID 160. This year they have placed each bike into a very specific field of application and offered more options by producing a wider range of models. The new Powertube battery or the popular Powerpack? A carbon or aluminium frame? 27.5” or 29″ wheels? Cube customers have the choice – only the 2.6″-wide tires remain consistent across the entire range.
The Cube Stereo HYBRID 160 2018
For the forthcoming season, Cube not only integrated the Powertube battery into the frame of their brand new Stereo HYBRID 160 but also refined its suspension kinematics and frame geometry. The new bike now sports a longer frame and a more progressive suspension platform allowing for more stable handling and more feedback on the trail. Cube didn’t want to compromise on the spec either; The extra tough 2,6” Schwalbe Magic Mary and Nobby Nic tire-combo (with Super Gravity casing) prove this clearly. Apart from offering more grip this also significantly enhances puncture resistance whilst the 165 mm cranks make for a better ground clearance on technical climbs.
The brand new Stereo HYBRID 160 Action Team is without a shadow of a doubt the flagship of the new Cube fleet. With a whopping 170 mm travel up-front, 160 mm travel at the back and a well thought-out spec this bike will make everyone happy, from the inexperienced e-mtb-novice to the seasoned rider seeking the ultimate trail-performance.
Specs of the Cube Stereo HYBRID ACTION TEAM, € 5,799
Fork FOX 36 FLOAT FACTORY 170 mm
Rear shock FOX DPX 160 mm
Motor Bosch Performance CX
Battery Bosch Powertube 500
Brakes Shimano Saint
Groupset SRAM EX1
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary 2,6″ / Nobby Nic 2,6″ Super Gravity
Rims/Hubs Newmen Evolution SL
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In addition to the top of the range Stereo HYBRID 160 Action Team, Cube also offers two 160 mm-travel models. The Cube Stereo HYBRID 160 SL 500 27.5 for € 4,499 and the Stereo HYBRID 160 RACE 500 27.5 at a more affordable price of € 3,999. All bikes come with extra-durable Schwalbe tires but only the two expensive models feature the new Powertube battery and a 170 mm fork.
The Cube Stereo HYBRID 140 2018
The new Cube Stereo HYBRID 140 is aimed at those riders who are looking for a reliable e-mtb to use in a wide range of situations. All models are powered by a 500 Wh battery, which is either an integrated version (Powertube) or the classic type (Powerpack), respectively placed inside and underneath the downtube. Whilst a dropper seat comes as standard on high-end models, Cube also offers this as an upgrade for their cheaper models at an additional price of € 99– that’s great! There is a total of 4 models to choose from and Cube offers their Race and Pro versions in two different colour schemes. All 140-mm models share the same 27,5″x 2,6″ tires and an aluminium frame.
The top of the range Trail-Motion with 150 mm travel (otherwise 140 mm) and tougher tires is optimised for trail use and clearly represents one of the highlights of the lineup.
Also, the HYBRID 140 models feature a more progressive chassis thanks to a revised suspension link and come with the same 2,6″ tires. For the new season, all bikes with the external Bosch PowerPack have been granted a revised rear-end to make room for wider tires. Other than that the frame remains the same.
The Cube Stereo HYBRID 120
When Cube reviewed their new Stereo HYBRID 120 riding comfort and safety were clearly their priority. For this reason, the new version has a longer headtube and a higher bottom bracket. All bikes come with 2,6″ wide tires on either 27,5″ or 29″ wheels, depending on the frame size. Models with a Powertube battery are available in five sizes, PowerPack versions come with an even bigger choice of 6 frame sizes. The three most expensive models of the STEREO HYBRID 120 have a carbon frame and are only relatively expensive with prices starting at € 3,999.
Our opinion on the new Cube Stereo line-up
After the new Cube lineup presentation, we were lucky enough to take the brand new Stereo HYBRID 160 ACTION TEAM for a ride on the Kösseine-massive, which is just around the corner from the showrooms. On our 18 km ride with a 400 vertical-metre climb and some very challenging trails, the bike left us with a good impression, even though the rear shock wasn’t fine-tuned. The modern geometry makes for a noticeably safer ride and the spec is spot on. It was still too early for an extensive test but we can confidently say that Cube took a big leap in the right direction with their new line-up. A clearly segmented portfolio and a great choice of equipment will help customers find the right e-mtb. In our opinion the Stereo HYBRID 160 and the Stereo HYBRID 140 TM were the highlights of the line-up and we are looking forward to testing them extensively over the next few months.
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