New CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 first ride review.

With the AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29, CUBE introduce their very first light eMTB and, as usual, the German manufacturer offer a top spec at a very fair price. Generating 140 mm of travel, the AMS Hybrid falls into the all-mountain category in CUBE’s portfolio, which should make it suitable for most trail scenarios. But is it just a bold claim or is CUBE’s € 8,999 full carbon all-rounder really that versatile?

CUBE’s product range is truly massive and includes every conceivable bike category, from city cruisers and triathlon rockets to dual-crown DH rigs and capable full-fat eMTBs. Until now, there was only a light eMTB missing in their range. With the 2024 AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X, the Bavarian manufacturer is finally closing the gap in their portfolio. CUBE’s first light eMTB rolls on 29” wheels and generates 140 mm of travel front and rear, while a Bosch Performance Line SX motor and 400 Wh battery provide a gentle breeze of artificial tailwind. On our office scales, the needle stopped at 18 kg.

The 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 in detail

The 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 2024 relies on a rectilinear frame silhouette with a discreet, understated look and simple olive green paint finish, which blends in perfectly with the forest surrounding our test track. The clean look is underlined by the internal cable routing, which neatly routes the cables through the headset directly into the frame, with the cables only reappearing briefly at the component where they’re needed. However, while the internal headset routing might look great, it makes it a lot harder to service the bike.

The motor cover merges seamlessly into the down tube, protecting the frame against stray rocks, while a big, soft plastic chainstay protector prevents chain slap and paint chips, ensuring a quiet ride on the trail. There’s also a small rubber patch at the rear-end of the non-drive chainstay that prevents your shoes from rubbing off the paint – though this doesn’t work if you have small feet.

The motor system of the CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29

Like most of CUBE’s ebikes, the AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 2024 relies on a Bosch motor system. To be exact, a Bosch Performance Line SX motor, which is seamlessly integrated into the frame and delivers 55 Nm of torque and 600 W of peak power. The motor draws its power from a 400 Wh battery, which is permanently integrated into the down tube and can be charged using the easily accessible charging port on the seat tube. Thank goodness, CUBE rely on their own charging port cover rather than Bosch’s flimsy, rubber cover. CUBE went for a hard plastic cover, which seals the charging port tightly and keeps it clean. Here you can also plug in the optional 250 Wh range extender when embarking on longer tours – if you do so, be careful not to lose the cover! The range extender fits into the bottle cage, meaning that you’ll have to find another way to carry your water bottle. To underline the bike’s sporty character and keep your eyes on the trail, CUBE replaced the usual display with a Bosch System Controller, which only shows the battery charge status in 20% increments and the support level via coloured LEDs.

The spec of our 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29

In typical CUBE fashion, the AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 comes with a top-tier spec at a comparatively affordable price. FOX supply the suspension, consisting of a 36 Factory GRIP2 fork and FLOAT X Factory shock, which both feature the fancy Kashima coating and offer countless adjustments, delivering a tremendous performance on the trail. To match the suspension, CUBE rely on a 175 mm FOX Transfer Factory dropper post.

The German manufacturer also relies on the finest components for the rest of the spec, including an electronic, 12-speed SRAM XX Eagle Transmission drivetrain. This ensures butter-smooth shifting under load and relies on a sturdy, hanger-less rear derailleur that bolts directly to the frame – the perfect match for an eMTB! The drivetrain is paired with a lightweight E*thirteen crankset.

For the brakes, CUBE rely on a mixed MAGURA setup with a powerful four-piston MT Trail Carbon calliper at the front and lighter two-piston variant at the rear. The brakes are paired with a 203 mm at the front and 180 mm rotor, which, in combination with the smaller calliper, provides disappointingly sub-par braking performance and overheats quickly – a 203 mm disc at the rear would partly solve the problem and inspire more confidence on steep descents. For the cockpit, CUBE rely on their in-house, one-piece Stereo Carbon handlebar/stem unit, which ensures a clean look but doesn’t allow for fine tuning. The elegant-looking NEWMEN Advanced SL A.30 carbon wheelset is paired with a MAXXIS ASSEGAI tire at the front and MAXXIS DISSECTOR at the rear, both in the harder MaxxTerra rubber compound and EXO+ carcass – this is relatively thin, but offers adequate puncture protection for moderate trails.

All available spec variants of the 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29

Alongside the 2024 AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 we tested, CUBE offer three more spec variants. Our test bike retails at € 8,999 and is aimed at a more downhill-orientated crowd. The TM model comes equipped with a FOX 36 Performance GRIP fork and matching FOX FLOAT X Performance shock, while shifting is taken care of by an electronic SRAM GX Eagle Transmission drivetrain. MAGURA MT7 brakes do stopping duties.

The remaining two spec variants are an interesting option if you’re into touring, or if you’re simply looking for a lighter eMTB. The cheaper CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SLX 400X 29 retails at € 5,999 and relies on a FOX 34 Performance GRIP fork and XT drivetrain, while the € 7,999 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SLT 400X 29 comes equipped with a FOX 34 Factory GRIP2 fork with fancy Kashima and a top-tier XTR drivetrain. Both models come standard with a FOX FLOAT air shock.

The geometry of the 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29

The CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 is available in four sizes, S to XL. Our test bike in size L relies on a rather moderate geometry, combining 474 mm reach with a 65.4° head tube angle, which is pretty much what you’d expect from a modern all-mountain bike. However, the reach intervals between sizes are rather big at 30 mm. On one hand, that means that CUBE cover a wide range of rider sizes but, on the other, it means that you’re more likely to find yourself on the fence between two sizes. At 420 mm, the seat tube is pleasantly short but at the same time allows you to fully slam the FOX dropper post all the way into the frame. Chainstays are 450 mm across all sizes, which is on the long side.

A system of rotating headset cups allows you to alter the geometry of the bike slightly to suit your needs and requirements. However, the change is minimal and affects mainly the bottom bracket height and head tube angle – we rode the CUBE mainly in the low setting.

Größe	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	575 mm	598 mm	625 mm	658 mm
Seat tube	370 mm	405 mm	420 mm	470 mm
Head tube	102 mm	112 mm	122 mm	142 mm
Head angle	65.4°	65.4°	65.4°	65.4°
Seat angle	76.6°	76.6°	76.6°	76.5°
Chainstay	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm
BB Drop	33.5 mm	33.5 mm	33.5 mm	33.5 mm
Wheelbase	1,193 mm	1,217mm	1,246 mm	1,281 mm
Reach	429 mm	449 mm	474 mm	501 mm
Stack	615 mm	624 mm	633 mm	652 mm

The 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 on the trail

The 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X TM 400X 29 places you in an upright yet slightly sporty pedalling position, which makes it suitable for long days in the saddle. The efficient suspension always remains active and reliably absorbs bumps, providing a high level of riding comfort.

The sporty riding position prevents you from having to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking uphill. The Bosch Performance Line SX motor packs a punch on climbs, proving to be one of the most powerful light eMTB motors currently available on the market, especially at high cadences. In combination with the efficient rear suspension, this allows you to negotiate even steeper, technical climbs without breaking a sweat.

When gravity takes over, the CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29 impresses above all with intuitive, predictable handling, making it easy to shred your way back down into the valley and even forgiving the odd riding mistake, whether you’re a beginner or advanced rider. On flowing trails, it allows you to generate plenty of speed by pumping through rollers and berms, while encouraging you to pop off tree stumps for extra air miles. If you get too excited, the suspension offers enough reserves to bail you out with botched landings and doesn’t blow through its travel when ploughing through nasty rock gardens. Overall, the CUBE strikes an excellent balance between composure and agility, allowing you to spontaneously change your line without getting in trouble. On steep descents, the high front end inspires huge amounts of confidence but the CUBE requires you to actively shift your weight over the front wheel to keep it tracking in flat corners.

Who should take a closer look at the 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29?

The 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X TM 400X 29 is an excellent choice for all trail riders who are looking for a lightweight eMTB at a fair price. The intuitive handling and confidence-inspiring stability make it great fun to ride, whether you’re a newbie or seasoned trail veteran. Moreover, the lighter spec variants of the CUBE are also suitable for touring, which makes it particularly interesting for sporty tourers.

Our conclusions about the 2024 CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X SuperTM 400X 29

With the 2024 AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X TM 400X 29 2024, CUBE offer a top-spec light eMTB with a discreet looking carbon frame and beautiful motor integration – all at a very fair price! And most importantly, you’ll get a lot of trail performance for your money. The confidence-inspiring, intuitive handling makes it an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced riders, while the plush suspension and comfortable pedalling position also makes it a great companion for longer trail tours.

For more info, visit CUBE.com

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Words: Sebastian Dirscherl Photos: Mike Hunger