News - August 14, 2019

First Look: CUBE Stereo 170 – CUBE 2020 mountain bike news and highlights

If you’re following the EWS, you’ve probably noticed that CUBE has released a new enduro racer. We gathered all the information about CUBE’s Brand-new Stereo 170 and even had the opportunity to test one for you for a short time. Read on to find out all about new German long travel enduro rig and to get an insight into CUBE’s 2020 mountain bike lineup.

**CUBE** Stereo 170 SL 29 | 180/170 mm (f/r) | Weight: n/a | € 3,999

The days of CUBE’s popular Hanzz freeride-banger are numbered. With its 29″ wheels, 180 mm front- and 170 mm rear-travel, the new Stereo 170 replaces CUBE’s popular freeride bike. Long, slack and customizable are the three words that best describe the new enduro racer – the same bike, the Cube Action Team has been racing on over the last few months.

CUBE Stereo 170 TM 29

At € 3,599, the CUBE Stereo 170 TM 29 will be priced exactly between the affordable Stereo 170 Race 29 model and the almost € 400 more-expensive CUBE Stereo 170 SL 29. As far as suspension goes, the TM version features a 180 mm RockShox Lyrik fork and 170 mm Super Deluxe coil shock.

Whilst CUBE combines the stylish XT rear-derailleur with an SLX shifter…

… we would have preferred it the other way round! Why? Because the XT shifter works a lot smoother.

Both the RockShox Lyrik fork and the Shimano four-pot XT brakes impressed us right from the get go.

The elaborate chainstay protector is made of a super-soft material. Unfortunately, it’s also way too short. In the picture you can see how the paint has already chipped away in a few spots on the chainstays.

Ideally, you should adjust the rear-end kinematics of a bike according to the type of shock you’re running – coil- or air. A special shock mount on the CUBE Stereo 170 allows you to run both types of shock without compromising efficiency. Very cool!

The RockShox Super Deluxe coil-shock provides a buttery-smooth response …

… and can be locked out directly from the handlebars for quick race sprints: Full Enduro!

If you take a look at the geometry chart, you’ll notice that CUBE’s size designation still refers primarily to the seat tube length. If you want to increase the reach, you’ll have to play with the seatpost height. However, you could also adjust the head-angle by using a standard angle set: Cool!

Die Spec of the CUBE Stereo 170 TM 29

Fork RockShox Lyrik Ultimate RC2 180 mm
Schock FRockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate Remote 170 mm
BrakesShimano XT 200/180 mm
Antrieb Shimano XT
Seatpost Cube Dropper Post 150 mm
Stem e*thirteen Plus 35 mm
Handlebar e*thirteen Plus 800 mm
Wheelset e*thirteen LG1 EN Plus
Tires e*thirteen LG1 EN AT Race/Plus 2.35″

The geometry of the CUBE Stereo 170

Size	18″	20″	22″
Seat tube	420 mm	470 mm	520 mm
Top tube	582 mm	606 mm	632 mm
Head tube	103 mm	113 mm	133 mm
Head angle	65°	65	65°
Seat angle	76.5°	76.5°	76.5°
Chainstay	434.4 mm	434.4 mm	434.4 mm
BB Drop	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm
Wheelbase	1.212 mm	1.237 mm	1.265 mm
Reach	444 mm	464 mm	484 mm
Stack	621 mm	630 mm	648 mm

Our first impressions

We were able to collect some first impression of the CUBE Stereo 170 TM 29 on a very short ride in the Fichtel mountain range. Considering the very harmonious spec and the clever choice of components, the price tag is more than just reasonable – actually, incredibly good! Except for some minor details that could have been solved better, like the chainstay protector and the SLX shifter, the overall concept (and in particular the suspension) already revealed what the German enduro racer is capable of. We can’t wait to see how the new Stereo will perform during a more extensive test.

More CUBE news for 2020

At their in-house exhibition, Cube presented the brand new Stereo 170 29 as well as other exciting new bikes and updates. And of course, we want to share all of it with you.

CUBE Stereo 150

The CUBE Stereo 150 drifts into the new season with the same frame and some updates on paint-finish and spec. The Stereo 150 C:62 SL 29 retails at € 3,699 and comes with a rad Action Team paintwork and top-end FOX-Factory suspension. Surprisingly CUBE uses the heavier C:62 carbon layout for this model. The Germans reserve the superlight C:68 frames exclusively for their € 4,999 SLT and € 4,499 TM models.

… and 36 GRIP2 fork. On this model, even the best stuff is just good enough!

CUBE also presented a number of new in-house components: for example the ACID Natural Fit Nuance Lite saddle.

Experience teaches! The TLE carcass used on the rear wheel of the Stereo 150 might be a lot lighter, but is simply too weak for a bike in this class.

The times when CUBE was virtually married to Schwalbe and Shimano are over. Of course, CUBE is still relying on Japanese groupsets and German rubber for most of their bikes, but they’re also opening up to other suppliers. The best example is the CUBE Stereo 150 C:62 RACE 29 with its SRAM drivetrain, Magura brakes, MAXXIS tires and a sexy paint finish. We like it a lot!

**CUBE** Stereo 150 C:62 RACE 29 | 160/150 mm (f/r) | Weight: n/a | € 2,999

Big at the front, small at the back: CUBE uses a 4-pot Magura MT Thirty caliper at the front and a 2-pot caliper at the back.

The Rockshox Super Deluxe shock provides the rear-end with 150 mm of travel.

Not only do the MAXXIS Minions “TanWall” look extremely good, they’re also a little more robust than the Schwalbe tires of the CUBE Action Team model.

CUBE Stereo 120 YOUTH

Just by looking at the CUBE Stereo 120 YOUTH, you can tell it’s fast as hell. And the special ‘Cube Action Team’ paint finish will put a smile on the faces of tomorrow’s stars. This children-specific full suspension rig is designed for the trail and available in two sizes at a retail price of €1,799. Finally the kids can keep up with the grown-ups, and perhaps even kick their ass. The spec includes Magura brakes and a 12-speed SRAM SX/NX Eagle groupset. The only thing small shredders will be missing is a dropper-post. Luckily, the frame is ready for retrofitting.

More info at: cube.eu

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