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Cube Stereo One44 C:62 Race Review

The Cube Stereo One44 C:62 Race promises what many riders yearn for: a lightweight, well-equipped bike at an attractive price. But is the Cube Stereo One44 Race the most sensible trail full-suspension bike you can buy in 2024, or is there a catch?

Cube is renowned for kitting out its bikes with maximum specs at a great price point. One might even say: Among specialty retail brands, Cube is the king of value for money. And the 2024 Cube Stereo One44 C:62 Race absolutely nails the bang-for-the-buck ratio. For €3999, the Bavarian manufacturer delivers not just a complete Fox Factory suspension setup and a spotless XT groupset. Tipping the scales at a scant 12.7 kg (without pedals in size L), the Stereo One44 C:62 Race is also one of the lightest All-Mountain rides with 140mm of travel we’ve laid eyes on in a long time.

Cube sets the bar high with their initial spec reveal, leaving rivals playing catch-up. How does Cube deliver such a comprehensive package, and will the performance of the Stereo One44 translate from paper to trail?

The 12.7 kg on our workshop scale is what the Cube Stereo One44 Race hits in frame size L without pedals and with tubeless tires mounted. The table below not only helps to put the weight into perspective. It also makes it clear: lighter or similarly weighted bikes become significantly more expensive or have less suspension travel. Even at a higher price, with 140 millimeters of travel, they tend to be heavier.

As an All Mountain rig with 140 millimeters of travel, the Cube Stereo One44 is your quintessential all-rounder. However, a glance at the tire choice suggests that Cube has placed a particular emphasis on tour-readiness when spec’ing this bike. With the Maxxis Forekaster tires, the Stereo One44 clearly encroaches into trail bike territory that typically features slightly less travel. Other manufacturers tend to mount more aggressive, puncture-resistant rubber with deeper tread profiles on their 140mm travel machines designed for descending.

The result of this tire selection? The wheelset, complete with tires, cassette, and brake rotors, tips the scales at just 4490 grams. Such a lightweight build makes climbing more than 2000 vertical meters a breeze. This qualifies the Cube not only for trail-heavy tours through the low mountain ranges but also equips it for your next Alpine crossing. With a bit more tread on the tires, nothing is stopping you from hitting lighter bike park trails on this travel platform. Our field test reveals the true breadth of its capabilities, but also indicates that the Stereo One44 isn’t your go-to bike park shredder.

Right from the first few meters, it’s evident: this is about moving forward. The Stereo One44 climbs to the trailhead without any bothersome pedal bob in the rear suspension. Those looking to ride with a more athletic edge can easily access the shock’s platform lever while seated. The riding position strikes a balance, not excessively aggressive. In the saddle, one assumes a slightly upright posture, which relieves the wrists of excess strain. The smooth-rolling tires, lightweight wheels, and low total weight are sure to please any tour rider with each pedal stroke. Without a doubt, the Cube Stereo One44 and the Canyon Neuron are the most drive-efficient 140mm-travel All-Mountain bikes on the market.

When the trail points downward, the Shimano XT-Trail brakes bite hard. Utilizing high-quality IceTech rotors, the Stereo One44 in its C:62 Race version fully leverages the braking system’s power.

The suspension operates with a level of sensitivity that is expected from the highest quality tier of Fox components – no surprise there. The 34 fork is responsive even to the smallest roots. And it handles the bigger hits with aplomb, both the fork and shock absorbing impacts without missing a beat. The rear suspension works in a more linear fashion compared to similar designs. This is evident on the trails, where it delivers a more comfort-oriented performance throughout the entire range of travel. On bikes like the Raaw Jibb, the suspension provides more resistance in the last third of the travel, offering better support for a more active riding style. However, the Cube doesn’t wallow in its travel.

The geometry delivers superbly, providing a strong sense of security even at higher speeds. However, on wet or loose terrain, the Forekaster tires could offer more grip. While other bikes make a distinct character statement on the trail, the Cube stays a dependable but neutral ally on the descents. It performs very well, but it does not transcend its limits when tackling singletrack.

The fiercest competitor with 140 millimeters of travel on the fork is undoubtedly the Canyon Neuron. It approaches with a similar thrust-oriented design but can’t fully match up in terms of value for money. With comparable specs, the Canyon Neuron CF is always slightly more expensive. Discount retailers like Decathlon also find themselves grinding their teeth against the Bavarian manufacturer Cube with their Rockrider Feel 900s. When it comes to lightweight construction, the Orbea Occam SL is also an exciting sparring partner.

Mountain bikes such as the Santa Cruz 5010 or the Raaw Jibb offer a setup that’s far more downhill-focused compared to the Cube One44, despite having the same amount of travel. Choosing which concept appeals to you is a personal decision every rider can make. We’ve put the more pedal-efficient bikes from Canyon, Orbea, and Cube head to head for comparison.

As always, we deliver more than just in-depth insights into the details. Unlike any other media, our innovative and absolutely objective testing system allows us to provide information on the entire model family. The price point for the Cube Stereo One44 models starts at just over 3000 €. For those interested in the high-end of the price spectrum, we’ve also scrutinized the top model priced at 6999 €. If you want to ride gnarly trails for less, you’ll inevitably end up considering a trail hardtail like the Rose Bonero.