When the single trail flushed the test riders onto the wide forest path after a few small berms and roots, the handling winner was clear: no other hardtail meanders through the descent as unerringly and manoeuvrable as the Cube. The bike also takes smaller bumps in its stride - the handling is so playful. The sporty riding position with the low front and the Reba fork give the rider a lot of feedback from the ground. Despite its average spec, at 11.65 kilos the Cube is right behind Bulls. The Rapid Rob tyres from Schwalbe, specially labelled for Cube, made a good impression on wet leaves. Cube shows that you don't need expensive XT components to get the best ride, but a good suspension fork with balanced geometry.
PLUS High-quality fork, best riding characteristics, protective film on the down tube
MINUS Colourful mix of components for the gearstick
Tuning tip Possibly longer stem; colour (grey/blue instead of black)
Conclusion: manoeuvrable handling winner with a reasonable weight despite average equipment.
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