First look: Cube Stereo Super HPC SL 160
Dan from Cube dropped off the Stereo 650b bike last Friday morning. Friday afternoon it had pedals on it and by Friday evening I was up the woods. I was still up the woods on Saturday and Sunday (I’d gone home for tea though) having a rather good time on this inbetween wheel sized bike.
I’ve ridden a few 29ers and found them efficient machines for getting around the trails but seemed to lack a bit of simple fun, they were 120mm bikes though. This 160mm 650b Cube Stereo on the other hand was fun out of the box (boom box?) lively, well balanced and playful, maybe because this was the medium 18″, at 6ft I could probably do with the 20″ anyway went uphill well and just wanted to go faster and faster on the descents. Was the wheel size helping out or was it just that this bike has good angles? Jones (Dirt tester, he’s actually out on the bike now) will hopefully tell us in a magazine feature soon. I’d like to ride this 650b 160mm back to back with a good 26″ 160mm machine to compare things but first impressions on the Stereo were bloody good.
The office scales have broken so no exact weights, the Cube webber says 12kg/26lbs, it certainly does feel light. And quiet too, even with a triple ring set up. Alas no ISCG tabs for a chain device if you wanted to go 1*10.
If you want one it’ll cost you £3999 (RRP).
More info over at www.cube.eu and stay tuned for some words and photos in the magazine soon too.
Any of you lot ridden any 650b machines? What did you think?
Up the Kymin before a night ride.
Carbon frame, Kashima coated Fox CTD bouncers, some internal cable routing and a black stealth finish all adds up to a neat looking machine.
She’s just itching to get up the woods.
How the Stereo looks on the website.
How it looks in the carpark at night between bays 6 and 5.
| Frame Size | 16 “ | 18 “ | 20 “ | 22 “ | |
| Seat tube mm | A | 420 | 470 | 515 | 565 |
| Horizontal top tube mm | B ‘ | 566 | 586 | 598 | 606 |
| Degree seat angle | C | 74.6 | 74.6 | 74.6 | 74.6 |
| Head tube angle degrees | D | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.5 |
| Chainstay mm | E | 441.5 | 441.5 | 441.5 | 441.5 |
| Mm rear travel | F | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 |
| Headtube mm | G | 100 | 110 | 120 | 140 |
| Wheelbase mm | B | 1150 | 1170 | 1183 | 1193 |
| BB height to the hub axle mm | I | -14 | -14 | -14 | -14 |
| Reach mm | R | 407 | 423 | 432 | 434 |
| Stack mm | S | 598 | 607 | 616 | 634 |
That looks awesome!
A 160mm travel bike with no change guide mounts?? Ridiculous
i realy dont understand What is the true nature of the bike?
only trail?am?enduro?agressive am? can you jump with them without braking the frame?
mind you that cube are Not sure…
is this is the fritzz Replacement?
this is the bike that’s just taken 1st at the trans prevance and i think second at the mega, seems a pretty tidy machine
Looks great, not a fan of the wheel size.
Would consider one with 26″ and iscg
Ride one back to back with a Fritz if you can track one down. Instant measure of whether Cube are moving forward sideways or backward with the new bikes.
Tidy looker, all spindly and understated.
i ride the fritzz… for me they were the ultimate 160mm bike
till now…
Looks like a….snigger…looks like a TREK hahaaahaaaa!
This is a new Platform and replaces the Sting, Stereo + Fritzz bikes.
Yes no ISCG tabs, but with a top mounted guide and Type 2 mech there is no need for them.
Nico Lau won the Trans Provence + 2nd place at the Mega on a Carbon AMS 150 with Fox 36′s up front. Other than the forks everyhting else was standard.
Since then he has also won a German Enduro race aboard this bike, the rest of the Action team are spilt between the Stereo 140mm 29′er and this model.
The kinematics of the suspension, have been designed to be similar to the origional Stereo/Fritzz but be able to handle the bigger hits better, and place the shock in a more friendly UK mud loving position.
The BB height is also 5mm higher than before.
Hope this answers most questions and I look forward to the full review.
Currently I ride the fritzz and thats the first answer from cube that that makes me smile since im about to have one!!and i was not so sure about the strength of the frame….
thanks
Much as I like the Type 2/Clutch mechs, still not convinced that a guide isn’t needed. Either way, not having the option is poor.
looks sweet, any chance of a wallet friendly alu version?
I’ve ridden a bike with just a top mounted chain guide and a type 2 mech (well shadow plus) and there is still definitely a need for ISGC tabs.
If you back pedal at all on a rough descent you will lose the chain, unless you have a bottom roller that is always going to happen.
I’ve got the older shape Stereo and use the Bionicon guide and cheap Superstar top guide which work great, never lose the chain.
160mm bike with no iscg tabs? Bit like alcohol free beer pointless and highly annoying if you buy it by mistake.
Thanks Dan Black@Cube. Yes i’ve been out and am just heading out again. First impressions are of evolution here rather than any major innovation. Its a 160mm bike that’s just got that little bit better. @Phil ive had no issues with chain derailling so far. My gut feeling is that it stands pretty close to the top in 160mm performance, just have to do some back to backs
can you define them ?its a true agreesive AMENDURO BIKE.?
How does it compare to the slash?
i am curious why they went with that rear end and not their normal suspension design…..something to with the wheel size or is this their new direction? Can DIRT comment?
DOH!! just read the comment from Dan.
This suspension design was chosen because with the bigger wheels not more travel was achievable than the old Stereo/Fritzz had. Also the double compression on chain stay and from linkage bent the shock and so gave more friction, which made the bike loose sensitivity. The new design also directs the forces from the compression towards the BB which is already a very stirdy point of the frame and so the rest of the tubes can be build relatively light.
For the rougher terrain there is now also the newly designed “crap deflector” which absorbs stone hits much better.
yeah to be fair… joking a side. that REAAALLY looks like a Trek . (Fuel Ex anyone)
It would be good to see a review of this and the Intense Tracer/Carbine 275′s to get a heads up on their performance compared with the other wheel sizes. I’m in the market for a new AM/Enduro bike and it’s as clear as mud (as usual!) which bikes I should attempt to get a test ride on.
Picked mine up from Evolution Bikes in Bangor. I’ve owned 3 x Fritzzs and loved them, but this bike blows them away. Light, efficient, confidence inspiring and super comfortable its the best bike I’ve ever ridden.
I’ve got 29er version. Climbs like crazy. As if you want details
*Ask
Hi Michal.
Can you give details on your bike ? How have you made your choice between 27,5 and 29 ? On jumps 140 mm are enough ?
Thanks.
Got to say that this bike seriously rocks. I’ve been a 29er man for ages and never though id change until i rode this. What a bike. Soooo light (SL version), stiff, swallows bumps, and has transformed my riding from someone who hangs on to the bike going downhill to playing, bouncing, jumping over stuff. The faster you go, the easier it gets. I’m in love. My mate has a Yeti SB66 carbon, and despite being a bigger bike (22inch version) its way lighter.
For the price you simply cant beat it for the spec it has. Full carbon with all the toys you need including kashima sus. No other bike can touch it for weight/price/spec. I dont know how cube can do it.
Get one if you can because typically cube bring out their latest model all blinged up at a good price then the following year, change the spec options around and for the same bike it will be more expensive.