Cube Phenix C:68 Review

The 2026 Cube Phenix Racehardtail is old school. 100mm of travel, a rigid carbon post, and a 100mm stem make it clear even before the first test ride: this is all about propulsion. Despite our love for singletrack, we were surprised by how much radical lightweight construction can still impress in 2026.

Let’s be honest. What you really want with a mountain bike is to simply ride through nature and clear your mind with some physical exertion. But that doesn’t fit with the modern world of self-optimization. Riding for the sake of riding isn’t something you can boast about.

Today, getting on a mountain bike means wanting to hit the trails. It’s not just about enjoying nature and challenging your body, but also about creating Instagram-worthy photos and experiences. That’s what the industry’s marketing preaches.

And with this mindset often begins the swirl of disappointment. Because when you optimize yourself, your gear, and the trail choices to meet modern needs, you often miss out on many experiences and the sheer emotions of the bikesport.

Undoubtedly, the Cube Phenix is technically optimized down to the last carbon fiber in the spokes. That’s the only way to achieve an incredible total weight of under 9 kilos with pedals. But the focus on blending radical lightweighting with terrain capability still brings out the charm of simplicity.

If you jump on the Cube Phenix, you’re not expecting a trail raider. In a separate article and video, we’ve thoroughly analyzed that hardtails like the Rose PDQ with more travel and a dropper post cover a much wider range of uses. From a pure bike like the Phenix, you really expect nothing but forward momentum.

And this exact forward momentum can be captivating. If you’ve never ridden a mountain bike under 9 kilos, the sprint will hit you with a surge of endurophins. Those who’ve had the pleasure before will think: Awesome, mountain biking hasn’t been this nimble in a long time.

You can enjoy the ride with this bike, or rather, let it captivate you, without even veering off the gravel path onto a trail. The feeling of lightness is simply brilliant and doesn’t require specific terrain to unleash its potential. Get on, ride, enjoy.

The low weight provides an almost weightless riding experience that can be addictive—nimble, efficient, direct. Even in undulating terrain, the bike shines with a lively start and agile handling. The Newmen carbon wheels, weighing in at under 1200 grams, contribute to its lively character. The Vonoa carbon spokes bring the weight into the range of road bike wheels. Even the exclusive Bike Ahead Composites wheels from our last test were heavier.

The not-too-steep seat angle allows for powerful pedaling even on longer straights.

A high saddle secured with two bolts clearly limits the Phenix’s downhill capabilities. The 2.35-inch-wide Schwalbe tires offer good grip. Even the slender 32 Fox SC fork performs better than one might expect. The rear-positioned fork bridge actually provides a very stiff and precise steering response.

The geometry fits. However, the handlebar-stem combo with a stem length of 100 mm in frame size L feels a bit long. Other brands like Scott or Rose, which also use handlebar-stem combinations, have much shorter stems for more direct handling. As long as you stick to easy trails, that’s perfectly fine. The shifting and brakes work flawlessly.

Even though Cube consistently offers attractive prices, a high-end hardtail is a significant investment. Before you splurge, it’s essential to keep an eye on the key facts and scrutinize the details. That’s why we’ve captured the most intriguing features of the new Phenix for you. With some technical know-how, many details can surely be tailored to personal needs.

If you are into lightweight designs but can’t get on board with the purist concept of the Phenix, you should check out our reviews of the Rose PDQ, the Bike Ahead Composites The Frame, and the Cube AMS. These bikes are significantly more fun-oriented on the trails and are only marginally heavier. The Orbea Oiz is also a hot bike in this price range.