Test E-Mountainbike: Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 SL 27.5
2014 will bring along some hot new E mountain bikes. The most anticipated E mountain bike is definitely the new Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 SL 27.5. Good for us that we introduced “2014” a little earlier than everyone else – leading to some interesting glances around the office!
In 2014, Cube will take their first step into the E mountain bike sector with their Stereo Hybrid; this aggressive trail bike represents Cube’s ambition to be among the big players in the field from the very beginning.
The centerpiece of the Cube Stereo Hybrid is of course the BOSCH Drive Unit Performance Cruise mid-engine, nicely integrated in the main frame. A low center of gravity, 250 watts and a torque of 60 Nm max promise a sportive riding style on nice single trails. We are excited! Therefore: Let’s hit the trails!
Equipped with the neatest Fox chassis, Shimano XT components and a Rock Shox Reverb telescopic seatpost, the Cube makes a pretty solid and potent first impression.
The front is fitted with a Fox 34 Float CTD Adjust FIT shock and the rear with a Fox Float CTD. At first sight, the large brute of a swing arm at the rear is very distinct and offers 140mm of travel thanks to its elaborate leverage ratio.
The Rock Shox Reverb Stealth telescopic seatpost can be controlled via the handlebar and offers a high level of safety and fun on varying trails.
The seating position on the Cube is pretty central and comfortable, which should be especially noticeable on demanding trail sections.
No matter if it is a trail or gravel path – the Performance-Bosch-engine, the efficient chassis, and the ergonomic seating position provide exhilaration when pedaling uphill.
Even though some bikes convey the feeling of sitting on a washing machine on spin cycle when chasing downhill, constantly straining at your wrists, the Stereo Hybrid 140 SL 27.4 is not one of those bikes; on the contrary: it absorbs hits flawlessly and is controllable at all times. Even tricky downhill sections full of stones and roots can be mastered easily. The Cube also possesses reserves that are only needed for bigger jumps and a very fast riding style.
Reaching the end of the trail, we were surprised by one more thing: the chain was still where it belongs, on top of the chainring! On other bikes, I have lost count of the number of times I had to get off my bike in the middle of the trail, annoyed to have to tinker a chain out of a narrow gap, and getting covered in oil. The “old” Bosch engines all had relatively large gaps between chainring and engine body, often leading to the dropping of the chain. With its second-generation drive engine, Bosch managed to solve the problem and lost chains are now a thing of the past.
E mountain bikes are heavy! That also applies to this example. The blue and green Hybrid tips the scale at 21.3kg. Nevertheless, the engineers at Cube did their best in being creative in order to let the weight subjectively seem less. The overall low center of gravity allows great handling, even in corners.
The small chainring at the Bosch engine represents a major challenge to the engineers of full-suspension E-MTBs. Considering the construction technology, the main pivot point of the suspension system should be located in line with the chainring in order to minimize pedaling impacts – the Cube team has managed to achieve this by locating the pivot point relatively far to the rear, behind the engine! And that is also noticeable on the trail. No annoying sagging of the suspension when accelerating. The Stereo Hybrid is definitely a propulsive bike!
The only drawback: Due to its compact design, the chain rattles against the chainstays noisily, especially over rough terrain.
Simple and secure: The control unit on the handlebar allows simple and secure selection of assist modes and provides additional information.
The display had to take several scratches due to a drop or two. Apart from speedometer functions like top speed, it also displays the battery life, remaining reach, and the level of assist selected.
The BOSCH Drive Unit Performance Cruise engine with 250 watts is great fun in its turbo mode for the average consumer, sometimes maybe even a little overeager. For me, the electronic assist could be a little smoother because only slight pedaling was required to get the full thrust of the power-assist. Generally, this would be a great feature but in real life it actually leads to slight bucking at every single start. Like having accidentally touched the switch for laughing gas, the bike promptly and quickly surges ahead. It has to be noted that this issue will be slightly adjusted for serial production. The BOSCH Power Pack 400 Performance battery unfortunately did not last as long as we expected on our tour and was empty after only 30-40 kilometers. For a trail excursion, this is quite a task for a day!
On the whole, the Stereo Hybrid 140 SL 27.5 is a perfectly well-made trail bike, putting a smile on your face on both uphills and downhills. The 21.5 kg E mountain bike is available at a price of 5299€. Not exactly a cheap amusement but it definitely conveys a special and subjective “hop-on-and-feel-good-factor”. This new generation of E mountain bikes defines trail biking all over again. 2014 is coming!
More Infos: www.cube.eu
Text: Christian Lämmle Fotos: Patrick Sauter
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