TESTED: Cube Stereo ONE44 C:62 Race trail bike

Here at AMB we have ridden and tested a number of Cube mountain bikes over the past five or six years – specifically in their eMTB category. As a European bike brand, Cube have a very large range of eMTBs using reliable systems from Bosch and with smart integrated design. Of course, their trail and enduro bikes are also well-accomplished, and we even had a super-fun alloy hardtail in our Budget Hardtail Test in 2023. The Cube Stereo line up has had a range of bikes at different lengths of travel and different budgets, across 27.5” and 29” wheel options, and you would have seen them alongside their pedal assist siblings at 99 Bikes store near you. 99 Bikes are the exclusive importer of Cube Bikes in Australia, but that means you can find them in just about every corner of Australia – and get some very good pricing if you sign up for Club 99, which only costs $5.

While the Stereo has been a popular model, after about 5 years in the market it would be easy to see some elements of the frame design looking a little dated. So in 2023 Cube released two new designs with the Stereo One44 C:62 and the Stereo One55 C:62. Globally, Cube also released the One22 and One77 shorter and longer travel models respectively. While the One44 we have on test sports 140mm front and rear, the burlier One55 has a 160/155mm travel mix. Both bikes run 29” wheels for fast rolling speed, and they have included updates to the geometry, frame features and more.

Photographer: Nick Waygood
Tester: Ryan Walsch
Riding experience: Decades of sends and repairs
Generally rides: Forbidden Druid V2, sideways
Height: 178cm
Weight: 74kg
Bike Test Track: Canberra and surrounds

The One44 C:62 we have on test sells for $6999, but Club 99 members will be able to get it much cheaper – making the $5 sign up cost pay for itself well over 200 times over. As a full-carbon 140mm travel 29er with Fox Factory suspension, SRAM GX Eagle and a nice pair of Newman wheels, the Cube sits at a very competitive price point.

In terms of other options around the same price, the Trek Fuel EX 8 that our Editor Mike had for long-term test last year sells for $6499 but doesn't have Factory suspension, and has an alloy frame. Giant's Trance Advanced Pro 2 is $6999 with Fox Performance and Rhythm suspension and a Deore 12-speed group set on a carbon mainframe. So the Cube may well be the best value – if it can back up the parts spec with ride quality. On their website Cube state that 'a great all-round full suspension bike must be several things. It needs to be quick-handling. It should be light. And, above all, it must be capable of dealing with rowdy, rock and root-filled trails.' So how did it stack up?

Initial Impressions

Cube’s completely redesigned Stereo One44 Race boasts some very clever design features and a far more elegant and less angular frame than we have seen from the German powerhouse in the recent past. Equipped with all the modern frame requirements such as a ISCG05 chain guide mount, frame storage, a UDH (universal derailleur hanger) and adjustable headset cups to increase or decrease the head angle by just over half a degree, there is no skimping on details.

The new Stereo has built in frame storage.

The One44 frame as its name suggests has 140mm rear wheel travel and is paired with a 140mm Fox 34 fork providing balanced and trail devouring capabilities. The Stereo One44 C:62 Race we have on review is specced with some choice parts and is the top model for the C:62 Carbon frame series with a lighter C:68 frame set sitting above that. The C:62 Race is fitted with Fox Factory Suspension, SRAM GX Eagle with a carbon GX Eagle crank and Guide RS brakes and includes some neat Newman alloy wheels and bar/stem combo.

The new One44 frame is a pretty versatile package, it has been dressed as a lighter weight trail bike in its stock spec at a very respectable 12.7kgs. Cube have been selective with the components chosen such as the Newman Evolution SL wheel set which is light and responsive when paired with the Maxxis Forecaster Exo tyres. Suspension is handled by a Fox Factory 34 with a FIT4 cartridge up front and the Fox Factory DPS Trunnion mounted rear shock out back. For those wishing to push the One44’s limits, meatier tyres with heavier casings and a chain guide can easily be fitted just as easily as a pair of marathon XC tyres or even race wheels for a forgiving yet capable all day machine.

Our Size Large Stereo One44 C:62 Race was all setup and mostly ready to ride from the team at 99 Bikes here in Canberra. I setup the wheels tubeless with the provided valves and opted for about 30% sag on the rear and matched the fork pressure accordingly. The Forekaster tyres mounted up without fuss on the pre taped Newman Evolution SL Tubeless wheels and setting up the ergonomics of the levers and shifters is always super simple with SRAM’s matchmaker lever and shifter mounting system.

The 475mm reach is a familiar feel for my 178cm tall frame, the One44 is on the conservative side for a size large being in the middle of the spectrum of large sized bikes I have tested over the last 12 months. I actually like that the German brand are not trying to push the longer, lower and slacker trend rather building a familiar and fun bike with revised and more efficient kinematics.

Future proofed and ready for years of riding and potential upgrades, the frame is equipped with a Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) which I personally believe all new bikes for road, gravel and mountain biking should be sporting now. While the end game for the introduction is compatibility SRAM's direct mount group sets, it also means riders can go into any bike store and pick up an easy to install replacement hanger for $22. The frame neatly hides down tube frame storage which is located underneath the bidon cage mount and opened via a button on the underside of the down tube. I was interested to see how this works on the trail long term as the button itself is subject to roost and trail debris from the front wheel being aimed straight at it, in addition the cover was pretty sloppy from new, it did however have adjustable keyways which we “snugged up” which reduced the slop of the bidon when full significantly but it was not entirely eliminated.

With our test bike ready to roll, I hit my locals on what would be the biggest mixed bag of conditions possible with the BOM failing us most days with continual severe storm and hail warnings, lightning storms and extreme heat.

On The Trail

Climbing to the trailhead is pretty comfortable on the Stereo One44, the size large has a wheelbase of 1230mm in the slacker 65.4 degree head tube position but I did notice while the seat tube angle was virtually 75.9 degrees on paper, the ST angle was actually 70.5 degrees pushing my seating position back over the rear wheel slightly with my “Average Joe” saddle height of 910mm from top of pedal to top of saddle. To get the suspension balance right, I increased the rear shock pressure slightly to 27% sag to even out the position. This small change made a noticeable difference.

While I have no firm figures on suspension kinematics, pedalling feels efficient and most likely completely neutral, neither squatting or rising under seated efforts, this highly desirable sweet spot offers the rider the perfect balance between pedalling efficiency and traction on rougher climbs and despite the supple 140mm of travel, the Cube Stereo One44 climbs well. Thanks to the respectable 66/65.4 degree head angle the steering remains composed on tight switchbacks too, neither flopping from side to side like many trail and enduro bikes of late.

We'd happily see headset cable routing in the rearview mirror.

Unfortunately Cube have opted to route the cables through the headset via an Acros headset with rubberised top assembly. This does cause some additional friction and the odd squeak in dusty conditions. The effects on the steering precision is minimal however noticeable at low speed and very noticeable when riding no hands, I was interested to see how the reliability goes throughout the test.

On the rough, the bike is manoeuvrable, flickable and responsive without being twitchy. I was happy pushing it hard into high speed flow trails, just as much as I was happy taking it across the air lines on other trails. It's a really versatile trail bike. Given I had the bike over summer, through testing I rode it in lots of different locations, from sandy XC trails, alpine adventures, bike park, a little bit of rocks and it help up well on all accounts.

If I owned this bike myself, I would potentially look to be changing a couple of things if I were hoping to get the most out of it, depending on the trail types I was riding. That could be burlier or faster tyres depending on the surface being ridden, and possibly the addition of volume spacers which I would have liked to have added for the more park style trails I rode. Both changes would move the bike more towards light trail or aggressive use and are inexpensive. These changes really come down to rider preference and what sort of riding you'll be doing – and where.

Our Take

What I like most about the One44 on the trail is it’s a great mountain bike, its not really bound by any genre as such it’s a trail bike without any indication that it prefers either up nor down. Yes Cube has situated models with travel options either side of the One44 and if that’s what you're chasing then great. If you want a mountain bike to do a bit of everything then the One44 is a really well mannered all rounder – and for the money this model is astounding value.

I didn't like the headset cable routing but this is pretty standard on new carbon frames now. The rubber section did squeak with summer dust in it, and I feel like the bike industry's move to doing this has just created more maintenance for riders to do, or for riders to pay their mechanics to do. Of course, this isn't a downside to the Cube One44, it's a downside to just about any new mountain bike with headset routed cable outer or hoses.

Where the One44 not surprisingly excels is the big all-day rides, its pedals along with ease, climbs very well on a variety of terrain and bombs unknown trails with confidence making it a joy for exploring new trail networks or epic trails you may be visiting. Cube did state that a good full-suspension bike needs to be capable of many things – and I truly believe that is true of the One44. While a lot of riders may err to a burlier bike or something with longer travel, a good 130-150mm trail bike will always be more versatile, and I think Cube have set a great benchmark for 140mm trail bikes with the One44.

Full specs lists

Cube Stereo One44C:62 Race
RRP: $6999
Weight: 12.7kg (as tested)
From: 99bikes.com.au

Available Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL
Frame Material: C:62 Monocoque carbon
Fork: Fox 34 Float Factory FIT4 140mm
Shock: Fox Float DPS Factory 140mm
Shifter: SRAM GX Eagle 12sp
Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle 12sp
Crank: SRAM GX Eagle 12sp Carbon 170mm
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA
Chain: SRAM NX Eagle 12sp
Cassette: SRAM GX Eagle 12sp 10-52t
Wheel set: Newman Evolution SL Alloy 29er
Tyres: Maxxis Forekaster EXO 29 x 2.35”
Brakes: SRAM G2 RS 200/180mm
Stem: Newman 31.8mm x 50mm Alloy
Handlebars: Newman Alloy 31.8 x 760mm
Seatpost: Cube 150mm x 30.9
Saddle: Natural Fit Nuance SLT Carbon