Cube's new 140mm travel 650B Stereo HPA Aluminium. The RockShox Pike equipped model has a spec that’s heavily aimed at harder UK trail riders - Andy Lloyd
The new bikes feature a redesigned rocker and much lower slung top tube, which helps create a much cleaner look as well as makikng it easier to throw around and have fun with on the trail - Andy Lloyd
With a Rockshox Pike, clean lines, and what we’re told will be a bargain price, this is a bike you can expect to see all over the UK next year - Andy Lloyd
The 160mm travel 650b bike hasn't undergone any changes, but this isn't a bad thing. It's been one of our favourite bikes out there since its launch two years ago - Andy Lloyd
The Fox Float X CTD Shock makes for a plush ride that still pedals well - Andy Lloyd
The 140mm travel 650b Stereo shown in another HPA (High Performance Aluminium) guise. This is the bike we rode, smashing it down a German downhill track for the day, testing just how far we could push the 140mm of travel - Andy Lloyd
The permanent marker on the shock tells a long story of shock setting perfection from Michael Prell, the bike's designer, and Fox. The result is one of the plushest and active inline shock setups we've ridden. For harder riders, shocks such as the Fox Float X and RockShox Monarch Plus with piggybacks, will fit the new bike too - Andy Lloyd
Most of the 140mm bike lineup is equipped with a Fox 32 fork up front, although for harder riders, the RockShox Pike version would be the way to go - Andy Lloyd
Cube uses its version of the Syntace axle system on nearly all its high-end bikes now. The axle threads into a conically seated mech hanger, which doesn't require putting a split in the frame to form a clamp. This means lighter frames and neater design, as well as a common mech hanger - Andy Lloyd
The EM Cube System wheels might be OEM models, but after hammering a pair of these for two years, we know they're built to take a beating. They are tubeless compatible right from the off too - Andy Lloyd
Neat and compact, the new 140mm travel Stereo really does look the part - Andy Lloyd
We headed to a small German DH track with a council-run chairlift to check the 140mm travel bike's performance. A lot of development on the bikes happened here, only a 20-minute drive from Cube's headquarters - Andy Lloyd
The Fritzz 180mm travel bike still clocks in a competitive weight and can be wound back up the hill easily thanks to good pedalling characteristics and a double chainring or XX1 setup. We'd always opt for the single-ring option - Andy Lloyd
Cube hasn't help back on the spec of the top model of the Fritzz 180. It has a custom-tuned Fox Float X Shock, Raceface Turbine Cinch cranks and Narrow/Wide chainring and SRAM X01 gearing setup - Andy Lloyd
Last week we took a trip to Cube’s massive factory and offices in Waldershof, Germany, to take a look at the brand’s 2015 range.
We can’t tell you about the majority of the lineup for another week-and-a-half, but we can share all the details of the revamped Fritzz and Stereo bikes.
Stereo
The Stereo 160 650b is one of our favourite middle-wheelers of the last two years. The whole Stereo range has been updated for 2015, including the introduction of an entirely new 140mm (5.5in) travel 650b bike.
The 160mm (6.3in) travel 650b wheeled model and the 140mm travel 29er are now available in both carbon and aluminium versions.
The 160mm travel 650b bike hasn't undergone any changes, but this isn't a bad thing. it's been one of our favourite bikes out there since it's launch two years ago: - Andy Lloyd
The 160mm travel 650b bike hasn't undergone any changes, but this isn't a bad thing. It's been one of our favourite bikes out there since its launch two years ago
But the big news is the new Stereo 140 650b. The frame has been designed around fast, manoeuvrable geometry, clocking a 67.5-degree head angle, and longer horizontal top tube lengths than typical throughout the sizes, which results in a stable ride. It also comes in both carbon and aluminium flavours.
The seat tube lengths have been slashed – the 18in frame size has a 400mm seat tube length despite the horizontal top tube length staying the same. The result is a lengthy ride that looks long and low, and makes the bike easy to throw around, especially on downhills with the saddle dropped low.
The 140mm travel 650b stereo shown in another hpa (high performance aluminium) guise. this is the bike we rode, smashing it down a german downhill track for the day, testing just how far we could push the 140mm of travel: - Andy Lloyd
The 140mm travel 650b Stereo shown in another HPA (High Performance Aluminium) guise. This is the bike we rode, smashing it down a German downhill track for the day, testing just how far we could push the 140mm of travel
We like that the reduced seat tube lengths increase sizing possibilities too, giving riders who like a longer top tube the chance to upsize without an impractical increase in frame height and standover height. We spent a lot of time on the Stereo 140, so look out for an in-depth First Ride review soon.
Fritzz
The Fritzz name is now reserved for a new 180mm travel, 650b-wheeled bump-eater, which we also got to test-ride in Germany. The frame’s design is similar to the new Stereo 140 – it takes the same, chopped-down seat tube lengths and combines them with an even longer top tube, a slacker (65.5-degree) head angle and 180mm (6.7in) of travel controlled by a Fox Float X CTD shock. It’s only available in aluminium.
The spec hasn't been held back on the top model of the fritzz 180, with a custom-tuned fox float x shock, raceface turbine cinch cranks and narrow/wide chainring, and sram x01 gearing setup: - Andy Lloyd
Cube hasn't help back on the spec of the top model of the Fritzz 180. It has a custom-tuned Fox Float X Shock, Raceface Turbine Cinch cranks and Narrow/Wide chainring and SRAM X01 gearing setup
Even though the Fritzz boasts 180mm travel, the bike is still specced with a double chainring up front and has been pitched as the 'ultimate super-enduro bike', which can be pedaled up hills as well as smashed down them.
Pricing
Pricing is still to be finalised for the whole range, however we can expect similar price points to 2014 with all the aluminium bikes starting somewhere below £2,000, working up to around £6,000 for the high-spec carbon versions.
As soon as we can, we'll bring you more information on the rest of Cube’s 2015 range.
