At CUBE we don't jump on bandwagons. But when something comes along that's genuinely useful, we're always willing to work with it. That's how we ended up developing the Stereo Hybrid HPA 120 SL 27.5+, built around the incredible grip and comfort of 27.5+ tyres. It's a trail-devouring monster, blending the speed and precision of regular tyres with the float and traction of a fat bike: the best of both worlds.
Designing a frame to incorporate plus size wheels, 120mm of travel and Bosch's superb drive system isn't easy. It's a good thing, then, that our designers are up to the task. Using our decades of experience in aluminium frame construction and a neat trick or two, we built a chassis that's light, stiff, strong - and has the clearances required. Boost hubs ensure accurate tracking and precision steering, even when things are getting rowdy. Just like our other Stereo Hybrid bikes, the low top tube and Agile Ride Geometry make for a highly nimble, easily controlled trail companion. Meanwhile, Efficient Trail Control kinematics provide a neutral, easily adjustable suspension setup that'll tackle anything you throw at it.
A bike this capable needs stop-and-go components to match. So we teamed Bosch's superb CX drive unit - with its mountain-taming 75Nm of torque and 500Wh battery - with Shimano's wide-ranging, super-reliable 11-speed XT transmission. The 11-46 tooth cassette and slick, smooth shifter are the perfect match for the Bosch's seamless power delivery, ensuring smooth gear changes in all conditions. Shimano's superb XT hydraulic disc brakes means you'll always be able to keep your speed in check, while Fox's 34 Rhythm fork and Float DPS Performance EVOL shock handle trail smoothing duties with easy aplomb. Answer Plus Atac wheels shod with Schwable Nobby Nic tyres provide epic levels of grip, and the CUBE dropper post means you don't have to stick to the easy line.
e-Bikes come in as many shapes and sizes as non-powered bikes, so you can have an electric road bike, mountain bike, city bike or general hybrid style. But, there are extra choices for you to make as well, so this is a brief guide to choosing the e-Bike best suited to your needs. For a more complete guide, please visit our Blog post on Choosing Your e-Bike.
Frame design
The primary choice is whether there is a top tube or you have a step-through frame. If you have any limitations in your hip flexibility and find it hard to raise your leg around the back wheel and saddle, then a step-through frame will be the better option for you. Given e-Bikes are heavier than other bikes, a step-through is also easier to handle if you're not very strong.
Battery power & capacity
"How far can I go between charges?" is the most common question, and the answer is "It depends", but here are some useful guidelines. Firstly, you control how quickly you deplete the battery. e-Bikes have power assist settings that you use to control acceleration and the amount of assist. If you choose "economy", it will take longer to get up to speed, and your top-end speed will be lower than if you select "turbo" mode. In addition, most e-Bikes are pedal assist, so you need to turn the pedals, and the more force you put in, the less you consume the battery charge. Finally, hills consume more power than flats, so your route selection makes a difference.
Batteries are rated in Watt hours (WH), and you can use this to compare the expected range between bikes. You simply multiply the voltage (V) by the amp hours (Ah) to calculate the Watt hours. On average, if you didn't pedal at all, each mile of flat travel will consume 15 WH. The e-Bikes we sell all have batteries with 300 - 400 WH, so that is 20 - 27 miles on a flat road with no pedaling.
Motor location and drive system
There are three primary positions for the drive system, the front wheel, the rear wheel and the crankset (to which the pedals are attached). By far the best is the crankset, as it is the most efficient, and it keeps the centre of gravity low. Motors in the wheel hubs are more common, as they are less expensive, and there are offsetting pros & cons for front versus rear wheel. drive.
Throttle or Pedal-assist
Our FreeGo e-Bikes have a throttle, so you can choose to be powered exclusively by the electric motor. Our other e-Bikes are all pedal-assist, which means the motor amplifies your own pedaling. The amount of power added by the electric motor in all cases is controlled by the setting, for example "economy" or "turbo".