Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 SLT on test: Cube e-mountainbike with Bosch CX on a diet course

With the One55 industry giant Cube heralded a new era in its e-bike portfolio. Particularly modern, trimmed for lightweight construction and almost aggressive, the bike is intended to appeal to a very sporty target group focussed on trails. A special feature is the low weight of the top model. At 22.6 kilos, it is clearly the lightest bike of our eight most-wanted candidates that EMTB readers have chosen to test in our next issue. The value alone is very good, but definitely not record-breaking. The weight is really strong considering of the heavy Bosch system with 750 watt-hour battery and the easily removable battery. With these variables, the One55 SLT is definitely the lightest CX-E-MTB that we have had the pleasure of welcoming to the test lab so far. It is not uncommon for bikes in this category to weigh over 25 kilos. Reason enough to take a closer look at the well-equipped Cube e-bike.

You have chosen which bikes we should test: Readers most wanted - the most popular E-MTBs of the year! Under this motto, we have selected the most exciting e-mountainbikes from our readers' suggestions. Exotic specialists, absolute blockbusters or cheap discounter bikes? All of them had to face the objective EMTB test in the lab and in practice. Your favourites from Alutech, Bulls, Cube, Haibike, Husqvarna, Olympia, Rockrider and Scott. The following have already been published:

• Test of the Alutech eFanes Nextgen AXS: Brushed e-bike jewel
• The Haibike Nduro 8 Freeride on test: A clear edge for rough daredevils
• The Bulls Sonic EVO AM SL1 on test: How good is the affordable lightweight after the update?
• The Husqvarna Mountain Cross MC5 on test: Stylish all-mountain bike with motorbike DNA?
• Testing the Olympia Hammer CC04: Italo underdog as an e-bike high-flyer?
• Rockrider E-EXPL 520S test: Does Decathlon build the best e-bike fully for under 3000 euros?
• Scott Patron ST ERIDE 900 Tuned on test: The new Scott - the ultimate all-mountain E-MTB?
• An overview of the test of our readers' dream bikes can be found here

The facts about the Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 SLT

• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX, 85 Nm max. torque
• Battery: 750 Wh (removable)
• Frame material: Carbon
• Suspension travel: 160/150 mm
• Wheel size: 29 inch
• Frame sizes: M, L, XL
• Price: 9999 Euro >> available here
• Weight: 22.6 kg (test bike in size L, EMTB measurement, without pedals)
• Permissible total weight: 135 kg (manufacturer's specification)

An important step towards the low weight of the Cube speedster: for the first time on an e-MTB, the Upper Palatinate company has also used carbon on the rear triangle. The rear end has a filigree design and the bearings are rather slender for an e-mountainbike with a strong downhill performance. There is even potential for tuning the weight: if you want, you can ride the bike with a 500-gram battery and save another 1300 grams. Despite the diet course, the One55 is fully designed for trails and terrain. 160/150 millimetres of suspension travel, shock with reservoir, robust brakes. Only the narrow Nobby Nic rear tyre noticeably limits the downhill qualities.

>> Want even more downhill qualities? Click here to test the Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 TM for 7999 euros with Enduro equipment!

The e-bike drive

A Bosch motor seems to be a must for Cube E-MTBs. The powerful CX pushes sportily and powerfully and is very reliable (to the long-term test of the Bosch Performance CX). The motor has a very long range with a 750 battery. The battery is secured with a lock and can be conveniently folded out to the front. This is special because weight-optimised E-MTBs usually rely on a more complicated downward removal or the battery is completely fixed. Also exciting: Cube offers adapters with which the bike can also be ridden with smaller batteries. The Powertube 500 makes the bike a further 1300 grams lighter. Ideal for short trail rides. The Bosch system controller is located in the top tube and the gears are changed using the wireless Bosch mini-remote.

Another plus point of the popular Bosch system: with the large Powertube 750, the bikes have a really powerful range. In our standardised altitude tests, the Bosch bikes with the heavy battery climb significantly more metres in altitude than other bikes with batteries of around 700 to 750 watt hours.

The geometry of the Cube All Mountain E-MTB

The low bottom bracket is striking and gives the bike a good cornering position. The steering angle is slack and the seat tube is very short, which are modern dimensions. The rear triangle is rather long and the seat angle somewhat slack. With a fairly long wheelbase, the geometry is aimed more at smoothness and purposeful riding than maximum agility.

EMTB measurements at a glance (frame size L)

• Seat tube length: 416 mm
• Wheelbase: 1275 mm
• Reach: 468 mm
• Stack: 641 mm
• Steering angle: 64 degrees
• Seat angle: 75.5 degrees
• Chainstay length: 454 mm
• Bottom bracket height: 332 mm

The features of the Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 SLT

When it comes to equipment, Cube reaches for the top shelf. Sophisticated Fox Factory suspension, lightweight carbon wheels and carbon handlebars from Newmen, Sram's electric drivetrain - hardly anything is left to be desired. The One55 is specially designed for use on trails and off-road, and the diet course doesn't change that. The e-bike has a suspension travel of 160/150 millimetres, a shock with reservoir and robust brakes. Magura's MT7 brakes are powerful and very stable thanks to the thick discs. Unfortunately, they need to be carefully bled to realise their full potential. However, the downhill capabilities of the One55 SLT are clearly limited by the narrow Nobby Nic rear tyre.

• Fork / shock: Fox 36 Factory / Float X Factory
• Gear system: Sram XX1 Eagle, 12-speed, 10 - 52 teeth
• Brakes: Magura MT7, 203/203 mm
• Wheels: Newmen Advanced SL A30 Carbon
• Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary / Nobby Nic Supertrail Soft, 29 x 2.4''
• Special features: Angled headset for adjusting the steering angle, also works with a smaller battery (625 or 500 Wh)

Practical test: How the Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 SLT rides

The One55 shows its sporty side on the trail. With strong suspension and smooth geometry, you can really let it rip - the carbon bike almost has enduro qualities. The rear suspension responds well and offers significant end progression. This means there is always some reserve for really hard impacts or misplaced landings. On rough terrain, criticism is mainly levelled at the skinny rear tyre, which lacks damping and traction. On bumpy descents, this means that the rider and rim take more rough hits than necessary. This doesn't quite match the bike's powerful character, but fortunately this weak point is easily remedied.

The character of the bike is lively on shallower trails. The low weight and light wheels pay off. However, the bike is not really playful or extremely manoeuvrable with its long rear end and wheelbase, and it is reluctant to be pulled onto the rear wheel. It prefers to zip over the trail light-footedly and directly on the ideal line rather than incorporating wild swerves and gimmicks into the ride.

On steep climbs, the One55 is a little rear-heavy, so the bike doesn't climb as confidently as the long rear triangle would suggest. However, thanks to the Bosch drive and high-traction rear suspension, there's no need to hide from demanding climbs. In technical terrain, the low bottom bracket can cause cranks to bottom out and the traction is not ideal with the narrow and tame-profiled Nobby Nic tyres in difficult passages.

EMTB review of the Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 SLT

Strengths

• Lightweight, despite heavy and easily removable battery
• Balanced, powerful handling
• Powerful range, lively engine

Weaknesses

• Rear tyre too weakly dimensioned
• Rear suspension flexes clearly

The EMTB conclusion

If you're looking for a lightweight Bosch bike with a large Powertube battery, you've come to the right place. The Cube One55 SLT is a lively trail bike with an enduro edge. It is fun to ride off-road and keeps the upper hand even on rough terrain. - Florentin Vesenbeckh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief EMTB Magazine