To all competitor developers, enduro fans and eternal 29er sceptics: you need to be very strong now. Here comes a machine that takes the sport of mountain biking to a new level. Yes, it has 29-inch wheels. Yes, it only weighs eleven kilos. And yes, it has more than 120 mm of suspension travel. 140 mm, to be precise, a value that was not considered feasible in combination with 29-inch wheels until recently. The engineers in Waldershof have worked their magic. The carbon frame weighs just 2246 grams with shock - in 20 inch, mind you. This puts Cube in the bag with most Marathon 29ers. The total weight of the 20-inch bike (not yet fully equipped as standard) is well above the promised 9.95 kilos, especially as you have to add a telescopic seatpost - essential for the area of use. On the trail, the frame feels much stiffer than the 62 Nm/degree measurement indicates. The fork and rear end fit together very well, and in trail mode the suspension has exactly the comfort, traction and drive efficiency you need. The riding position is versatile: sporty and suitable for long distances, a steep seat angle for climbing, with sufficient visibility for downhill riding. There, the Stereo 140 is one of those bikes with which you can target nasty root carpets and rock gardens - just to snuff them out like a Bavarian snuffs tobacco. You thunder into berms and use small hills as a launch pad. It's amazing how manoeuvrable the bike feels (light wheels), helped by the stiffness of the 34 mm fork. The superiority of the 29er wheels is clearly noticeable. The sensible SL model costs 4199.
ConclusionThe 29-inch Stereo opens a new chapter. Depending on your choice of tyres, it can be an enduro competitor or a great touring bike. The (very expensive) bike can do everything and deserves the BIKE judgement Super.
PLUS Powerful chassis, superior handling, wide range of use
MINUS Low overhang height
