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It is, above all, the stable, confident handling that immediately won the testers over to the Cube. You sit in a slightly upright position, yet always feel relaxed and comfortable; the wide handlebars sit slightly above saddle height and feel good in the hands. A robust adjustable stem allows the handlebar position to be raised by up to 90 millimetres, if desired. Thanks to the solid construction of all components, the heavily loaded headset and the cockpit of the Cube Touring One Smooth and torsionally rigid. Large-diameter, profiled frame tubes with neatly finished welds make the frame torsionally rigid and responsive to ride. It is the same frame, in a different colour scheme, that is used throughout the Touring series, including the more expensive models.
The Wheel in Practice
The colour-coordinated, simple suspension fork with steel springs, stanchions and steerer tube introduces a certain amount of steering lag due to its relatively high weight. Yet, at least when brand new, it performs as unobtrusively and efficiently as the solidly constructed telescopic seatpost with steel spring damping beneath the tester’s rear end. The Cube Touring One handles rough gravel tracks or cobblestones without shaking its rider around too much. The generously wide 47-millimetre tyres from Schwalbe also contribute to this. Their block tread runs smoothly on tarmac, but also provides reliable lateral grip and traction on gravel tracks. With a triple chainring and an 8-speed cassette, the derailleur offers a gear ratio range of 492 per cent – enough to always find a suitable gear, even on hilly or mountainous terrain.
The Cube Touring One in detail
Compared to higher-end groupsets, there are some limitations when it comes to the crankset: the three chainrings are riveted together rather than bolted, and are pressed firmly onto the crank. Admittedly, the steel chainrings do not wear out as quickly as the more expensive aluminium ones. However, if they do wear out, you have to replace the entire crankset rather than individual chainrings. The cassette offers three fewer gears than current top-of-the-range trekking groupsets. The gear range is sufficient, but the individual gear steps are larger than on higher-end groupsets.
Across all model variants, Cube fits the Touring One with the same low-vibration, in-house-branded mudguards, sturdy rear stands and a luggage rack fully suitable for carrying travel luggage. This puts it on a par with significantly more expensive model versions. Only the hub dynamo and front light are sourced from cheaper suppliers. The latter provides a narrow beam, but one that is still adequate even on unlit roads.
The Price of Things
Due to its more affordable components, the Cube Touring One is noticeably heavier than its higher-spec, more expensive siblings. At just over 17 kilos, however, it is still within a range that is easy to handle. As well as adding weight, the budget gear system results in larger gear steps, less precise shifting and slightly higher maintenance requirements. Overall, however, the positive aspects outweigh these, offering great practicality for everyday use, touring and travel.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Well-engineered frame; high stability and riding safety; exceptional versatility
- Minus: Derailleur system with large gear steps; chainrings cannot be replaced individually; relatively heavy
Key details of the Cube Touring One
- Price: 749 euros >> available here
- Frame sizes: Men's: 46, 50, 54, 58, 62 cm; Women’s: 45, 46, 49, 50, 53, 54 cm
- Weight of test bike: 17.1 kg
- Permitted total weight: 140 kg
- Frame: Aluminium, welded
- Fork: Suntour NEX 28, steel spring, steerer tube, stem; 63 mm
- Circuit: Shimano Acera, Tourney
- Translation: 48, 36, 26/12–32 teeth, 3 x 8 gears, 492%
- Brakes/ø: Shimano BR-M200 Disc/160 mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe Range Cruiser 47-622
- Lighting system: Cube Shiny 50 LED, Acid rear light, Shimano DH-3D37 hub dynamo
- MYBIKE rating: 2.3
Conclusion on the Cube Touring One
Despite the need for a retailer’s margin, the specialist brand Cube holds its own against direct-to-consumer retailers: the entry-level Touring One model benefits from the design and technology of its more expensive sister models. As a result, it offers excellent value for money.