Every few years, VW gives its Golf a makeover. Thousands of Golf fans are waiting for it and willingly upgrade to the next evolutionary stage. What the Golf is to cars, the Cube AMS is to mountain bikes. A popular full-suspension bike like the thousands of bikes that have travelled through German forests and mountains. Impressive engineering work at a fair price - developed in Germany. But is it worth switching to the 2014 model? Unfortunately, our duel is not quite on an equal footing, as the race version has been upgraded and is slightly more expensive. If you look at the official Cube price list, there is a difference of 400 euros between the two fullys. If you scour the internet, you will find the discontinued model starting at 1499 euros. That's 1:0 in favour of the 2013 AMS. If you compare the equipment in detail, it's hardly surprising: an SLX mix, Magura brakes and performance tyre compound on one side (2013), complete XT branding, ergonomic XT brakes and high-quality Schwalbe tyres on the other. That's what you pay the "surcharge" for. However, the inner values clearly speak in favour of the new AMS HPA Race: although the frame has gained 200 grams, even the heaviest riders no longer have a problem with stiffness. Overall, the geometry has been fundamentally modernised: steeper seat angle, slacker head angle, shorter head tube and the slightly more voluminous 27.5-inch wheels. The 1:1 balance.
The decision is made on the Isar trails. While the "old" AMS has a high front end (long head tube and tapered end spacer), the riding position on the successor is pleasantly engulfing. This is noticeable in the handling: instead of poking through bumpy root carpets, the 2014 AMS steers you safely through every tricky situation with a lot of pressure on the front wheel. The shorter stem further favours the more direct handling. Even when the gravel track rises steeply towards the sky, the new AMS has the edge. Thanks to the steep seat angle (1.8 degrees steeper), you pedal uphill much more comfortably and efficiently. On the AMS from 2013, the centre of gravity often moves far behind the bottom bracket and you're left hanging at the back. The suspension also makes a more harmonious impression for 2014 than its predecessor: the Float fork responds more sensitively and the rear suspension travel is even easier to utilise - without immediately bottoming out on big bumps. Final result: 2:1 in favour of the new development. No surprise, just like the Golf.
