While the Stereo 160 27.5 and Stereo 140 29 remain fundamentally unchanged for 2015, there’s a new 140mm(5.5in) travel, 650b wheeled model in a choice of aluminium (HPA) or carbon (HPC), which is good news for UK riders after an aggressive trail bike.
The new design is centred around a longer, lower frame that keeps up
with current geometry trends and means it can really be thrown around on the
trail.
There’s been a drastic reduction in seat tube length – it’s 400mm on the
18in frame, 70mm shorter than on the Stereo 160 – and the effective top tube
length has been stretched too (590mm on the 18in size), creating a long, low
frame that’s built to go fast.
The relatively slack 67.5-degree head angle aids downhill performance.
For riders keen to go even slacker, the alloy frames are angled headset
compatible.
Cube have worked on the kinematics and shock tune to produce a bike that
pedals extremely well yet has enough ramp-up later in the travel to handle the
big hits.At their 2015 launch in Germany, we were amazed by just how active and
plush the shock felt.
Most models come with Fox 32 forks, but Cube have equipped one bike with
a RockShox Pike and harder-hitting build kit to suit the way we ride here in
the UK.
The alloy frames have ISCG chain guide tabs, which is an indication of
just how hard Cube are happy for them to be ridden (they left them off the
carbon frames because most riders now use narrow/wide rings).
All the frames go through some serious testing – they’ll withstand being
ridden into a wall at 45kmh.
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