The bike really comes into its own on rough terrain. This is thanks to the sensitive rear suspension with plenty of travel and the voluminous 2.8 mm Schwalbe tyres. But it doesn't shy away from tight bends and playful trails either, the handling is balanced. Only the somewhat spongy plus-size feeling remains. The front end is also a little high for sporty riding, but we were able to solve this problem with a reversed stem. To tame the downhill urge, a 200 mm brake disc on the front wheel would be better. The Stereo takes it easy on the climbs, the riding position is upright. The weight is high at 14.75 kilos ready to ride and the suspension also pumps noticeably. At least the fork and shock can be stabilised using a platform. In combination with the 2x11 gearing suitable for mountain biking, the Cube conquers even the nastiest climbs as long as the stopwatch doesn't play a role.
Conclusion: Top tourer for all those who like to let it rip downhill and are more comfortable on the way uphill.
The alternative: The HPA Race version costs 2999 euros. Instead of Fox suspension, there are suspension elements from Rockshox and a Sram GX drivetrain.
You can read this article or the entire issue of BIKE 6/2017 in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
