A local German derby: CUBE Stereo Hybrid 160 vs. GHOST HYBRIDE SLAMR X

Only 25 km separate two of Germany’s biggest bike manufacturers, with both CUBE and GHOST laying down roots in the heart of Eastern Bavaria. This close proximity makes it the ultimate battleground for a dual. It’s time for a local derby, with a head-to-head between the CUBE Stereo Hybrid and the GHOST HYBRIDE SLAMR X.

Both CUBE’s Stereo Hybrid 160 Action Team edition and the war-like GHOST HYBRIDE SLAMR X beast promise serious downhill thrills. Yet other than this hype, these bikes are worlds apart and it’s set to be a local derby with grave ramifications. It’s the derby that sees aluminium face up to carbon, Bosch go against Shimano, an integrated battery meet its external counterpart, air against steel spring shocks, and 27.5″ wheels against mixed wheelsizes.

The winner will be determined by the state of their performances on technical Alpine terrain, singletracks, bike park trails, ability to climb, and their aptitude for long, all-day rides. Trust us, neither eMTB will get an easy ride here.

The CUBE Stereo Hybrid 160 Action Team 500 27.5 in detail

The CUBE Stereo Hybrid cuts a fine figure at first glance, with stylish integration of the Bosch PowerTube battery in the aluminium frame. Unlike the externally housed, more lightweight PowerPack, the PowerTube’s positioning means that the bike’s centre of gravity is somewhat raised. The Action Team replica model comes with a spec that leaves little to no room for complaint. Priced at € 5,799, this eMTB is kitted with the aggressive tread of the 27.5″ x 2.6″ Schwalbe Magic Mary tire at the front and Nobby Nic at the rear, with both coming in the puncture-resistant Super Gravity versions on premium NEWMEN wheels. The fork has 170 mm of travel and there’s another 160 mm on offer from the four-bar rear end controlled by a FOX Factory shock. Powerful Shimano SAINT brakes carry out their anchoring task on this 24.43 kg bike superbly in every situation. The Race Face SixC bars are super wide at 820 mm, which may take some getting used to for scrawnier riders, although broader riders will appreciate the width on downhills. Fortunately, it’s easier to narrow bars than widen them, and there are no real costs involved.

Fork FOX 36 FLOAT Factory FIT4 170 mm
Schock FOX FLOAT DPX2 Factory EVOL 160 mm
Motor/Akku Bosch Performance CX PowerTube 500 Wh
Drivetrain SRAM EX1
Brakes Shimano SAINT
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 150 mm
Stem Race Face Turbine Basic 55 mm
Handlebar Race Face SixC 820 mm
Wheelset NEWMEN EVOLUTION SL E.G.35
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary, ADDIX Soft, Super-Gravity/Nobby Nic ADDIX Speedgrip, Super-Gravity 27,5”x2,6” (v/h)
Weight 24.43 kg
Price € 5,799

The Geometry of the CUBE Stereo Hybrid 160

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	390 mm	420 mm	470 mm	520 mm
Top tube	581 mm	602 mm	619 mm	630 mm
Head tube	115 mm	119 mm	129 mm	146 mm
Head angle	65.8°	65.8°	65.8°	65.8°
Seat angle	74.3°	74.3°	74.3°	74.3°
Chainstay	473 mm	473 mm	473 mm	473 mm
BB Drop	12.5 mm	12.5 mm	12.5 mm	12.5 mm
Wheelbase	1201 mm	1222 mm	1236 mm	1249 mm
Reach	410 mm	430 mm	440 mm	446 mm
Stack	612 mm	616 mm	625 mm	640 mm

---

More info at: cube.eu

The GHOST HYBRIDE SLAMR X SL 7.7+ in detail

For the new € 6,499 HYBRIDE SLAMR X, GHOST deployed two different wheelsizes, going for a 29er at the front and a 27.5+ at the rear. Housed externally on the carbon frame, the battery of the Shimano STEPS E8000 motor has been placed low to retain a low centre of gravity for the bike. Its position is designed to preserve agility and precision when on the trails, aided by the 2.5″-wide Maxxis Shorty front tire. At the rear, there’s a wider 2.8″ Minion DHRII to add the requisite traction on climbs. GHOST have gone all in for a coil rear shock, opting for a RockShox Super Deluxe Coil RCT that provides 140 mm of travel to the aluminium rear end. Up front, there’s an adjustable RockShox Lyrik fork with 160 mm to 130 mm of travel. GHOST have relied on own-brand carbon bars at 780 mm wide and short 155 mm cranks, both bearing the name Ground Fiftyone.

Fork RockShox Lyric RCT3 Dual Position Air 160 mm
Schock RockShox Super Deluxe Coil RCT 140 mm
Motor/Akku Shimano STEPS E8000/504 Wh
Drivetrain SRAM EX1
Brakes SRAM Code R
Seatpost Kind Shock LEV INTEGRA 175 mm
Stem Ground Fiftyone Team 45 mm
Handlebar Ground Fiftyone Carbon 780 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss H 1700 Hybrid
Tires Maxxis Shorty 29”x2,5”/Minion DHRII 27,5”x2,8” EXO 3C MaxTerra
Weight 21.20 kg
Price € 6,499

The Geometry of the GHOST HYBRIDE SLAMR X

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	390 mm	430 mm	460 mm	500 mm
Top tube	574 mm	596 mm	636 mm	670 mm
Head tube	90 mm	100 mm	120 mm	140 mm
Head angle	65.6°	65.6°	65.6°	65.6°
Seat angle	75.2°	75.2°	75.2°	75.2°
Chainstay	455 mm	455 mm	455 mm	455 mm
BB Drop	23 mm	23 mm	23 mm	23 mm
Wheelbase	1.185 mm	1.209 mm	1.252 mm	1.290 mm
Reach	411 mm	430 mm	466 mm	495 mm
Stack	616 mm	625 mm	644 mm	663 mm

---

More info at: ghost-bikes.com

Round 1 – Design

The CUBE looks tidy thanks to its integrated PowerTube battery and completely internal cable routing–which, incidentally, is also rattle-free. The multi-coloured team-issue paintjob of the CUBE Action Team has a high quality finish and grabs your attention.

The GHOST’s war-like approach hails from its angular edges, striking details and steel sprung shock. The carbon frame is slung really low, and flaunts a subtle grey-red paint job. Unlike the CUBE, the external battery disrupts the flow of the frame, although you could argue it adds to the bike’s edginess and modern aesthetic.

Design credentials dissected, it now comes down to personal taste and it’s not easy to select an outright winner. The GHOST channels a more rock’n’roll lifestyle, while the CUBE’s racing genes are visible in its lean silhouette and flashes of colour.

Round 2 – Reaching the trailhead

Whether you’re squeezing in a short ride after work or heading out for an all-dayer, you shouldn’t have to wait until you reach the trailhead for a good time on your eMTB. Once you’ve reached the 25 km/h imposed speed limit, you cruise along comfortably. The GHOST has a more stretched-out, performance-led position with more pressure on your wrists, while the more compact CUBE lends itself to a sort of Chopper-style ride with those wide bars and slacker seat angle that puts your in-saddle position slightly too far back over the wheel. In this instance, the GHOST would win the first game-changing point were it not for those short cranks that mean you’ve got to spin a high cadence in order to keep up with the CUBE. So while the Shimano STEPS E-8000 motor actually works optimally with a high cadence, the effort that went into riding the GHOST on long rides and over flat sections meant more sweat on our brows.

Round 3 – Uphills

You’re often torn when out riding an eMTB, either taking the leisurely route up the gravel fire roads or throwing down the hammer and tackling the rocks and roots on uphill singletrail. Put the GHOST into Trail and the CUBE into its eMTB- Automatic mode, and both bikes bring a decent punch to the trail, with consistent, nicely delivered power. There’s no shortage of grip from either bike’s suspension when riding up and over steps, rocks or roots. In fact, both bikes can reach summits without spinning out – mainly thanks to teaming of the efficient suspension with those wide, aggressive rear tires (2.8″ on the GHOST and 2.6″ on the CUBE). On super steep and technical terrain, those short cranks and the adjustable-travel fork on the GHOST are a major asset, with more ground clearance and a more efficient position for climbing. The point goes to GHOST here.

Round 4 – Downhills

Of course, climbing is one consideration… but these are bikes that are primed for the descents! It’s only on burly terrain, with boulders, nasty drops, drawn-out root sections and rock gardens that rider and machine are really brought to their limits. And they both came out excellently. The CUBE has slightly more suspension and rides like on rails. Confidence-inspiring and stable, its suspension knows exactly what you need and when, with an ultra comfortable rear end that soaks up every sized hit superbly. Combined with the 170 mm FOX 36 Factory fork, this isn’t a bike that will ever hear you complaining about arm pump. Particularly dynamic riders might want more support from the rear shock and a better sense of what’s going on underneath their wheels.

  Go hard or go home – the GHOST HYBRIDE SLAMR X needs an experienced and adrenaline-hungry rider to weasel out its full potential, but once unleashed it’ll be a true downhill weapon.

The big 29er front wheel on the GHOST rolls deftly over big boulders, adding a touch of compensation for the slightly shorter fork. The HYBRIDE SLAMR X does demand higher speeds and a bit more muscle for manoeuvring, but once you’re versed in how to ride this eMTB well, you’ll get a super smooth ride with surgical precision. The 140 mm suspension from the steel spring rear shock responds sensitively to bumps and lends the sense that there’s more than the prescribed 140 mm. While this particular GHOST eMTB is let down by the high susceptibility of its rear tire to puncturing, it’s still superior to the CUBE when it comes to rough terrain. However, if you’re happy to push a mellower pace, then the CUBE represents a really forgiving bike that can comfortably ride all those same trails – just, well, a bit slower.

Round 5 – Fun on the trails

While the true test comes in the form of proper mountainous trails with gnar and techy bits to master, the opponents still have to cut a fine figure on flow trails and bike park tracks. And that they do, with the CUBE showing added composure and performance.
Even with 170 and 160 mm of travel, the Stereo Hybrid 160 is a lively, agile ride, but it’s necessary to flick the FOX Factory rear shock into the firmer Medium mode in order to get enough support. Trust us, you’ll soon be plastered with a grin once your carving berms and generating speed on every roller.

  The CUBE is well versed in confidence and handles with a forgiving style that many will appreciate

The HYBRIDE SLAMR X needs a lot more muscle when it comes to last-minute line choices, which makes this eMTB seem a little more lumbering on the trails. Best way to tackle any turn is to charge into it with the front wheel weighted so you’ll come out grinning. The rear tire doesn’t have the same feel though, tending to wallow on berms to leave a distinct sense that there’s something spongy going on out back.

Fazit

The GHOST is an eMTB for the extremes. This well-thought-out bike has two prime disciplines: mastering steep and technical climbs and excelling as it tears down the roughest descents at high speeds. It’ll take experienced and adrenaline-hungry riders to weasel out its full potential, but once unleashed it’ll be a true weapon for those specialists.

But the victory at the local derby was always going to be fraught with controversy, so at the end of the rounds it was the Action Team edition of the CUBE Stereo Hybrid 160 that narrowly clinched the win. Whatever the gradient, this bike delivers comfort en masse, and shows a superlative capability for long rides. For riders of all abilities, the CUBE is well versed in confidence and handles with a forgiving style that many will appreciate. While second-rate to the GHOST on extreme terrain, if you’re looking for agility, comfort, spec and value for money, then the CUBE is a deserving winner.

---

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl