Just in time for the start of the season, Cube is launching its new flagship: the Sting Super HPC in carbon. With just over 120 millimetres of suspension travel on the fork and rear triangle, the Sting is aimed at the All Mountain Sport category. However, with its weight of 10.5 kilos (18 inches, without pedals), it also qualifies for marathon use. The frame is made of high-modulus fibres and stands out with its completely revised geometry and increased standover height. Cube calls its four-bar system "Dual Trail Control", in which the Fox shock is floating. The bike has also been equipped with all the latest technical innovations. The Magura fork with tapered steerer tube for more steering precision, integrated headset, rear triangle with industrial bearings, integrated bottom bracket. The rear wheel is clamped with the new Syntace X-12 thru axle. We took the opportunity to compare the newcomer with its predecessor, and it looks really old now - see table on the right. The new Sting is a completely new bike and not just a facelift.
Compared to the renowned All-mountain sports competition (see BIKE 3/09) however, the Sting doesn't reach top marks in terms of weight or stiffness. Although the bike feels very stiff when riding, the measured value is at the lower end of the scale. The problem is clear when viewed in isolation: the moderate STW value is due to the flex in the rear triangle. According to Cube, the last word has not yet been spoken on this and work is still being done on the final layup of the carbon fibres.
The top model tested, the Sting Super HPC, costs 5799 euros. www.cube.eu
