To Cube or not to Cube?

phoenixliston

So i've been thinking about a new Bike for the winter and Cube has been mentioned a few times.

Then i read this article about the manufacturer and their bikes which caught my attention a little more: http://www.imbikemag.com/issue7/?page=35

Which led to me thinking about getting this one: http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-XMS-Mountain-Bike-2010-Full-Suspension-MTB_31248.htm it is kind at the top end of my budget but i can afford it if its a good buy..

what do you all reckon? worth considering/buying? :?

Eyon

been looking into cubes big time lately and im on the hunt for a Stereo RX. Test rode one the other day and damn they ride well, and very good quality. Sat on an AMS 100 too, real nice stuff, i dont think you'd be dissapointed

phoenixliston

Hey Eyon, what would you compare it to feel-wise? any better known brands?

rockland

Hi Mate,

In the market for a Cube myself. Going for a Reaction RX.

I liked the idea of full sus this time, but looking at the XMS and AMS, both have a pretty basic rear shock and looking into them further, I came across quite a few bad reviews. They all seemed to say that you should go for the next model up (can't remember the next model), but it has a fox shock, that comes highly recommended.

I know that's not what you want to hear. It wasn't that I wanted to hear either, so I decided on the Reaction RX (hardtail), as I can get a top of the range (sub 1K) hardtail, or a bottom of the range full sus.

Eyon

phoenixliston wrote:

Hey Eyon, what would you compare it to feel-wise? any better known brands?

To be fair im not looking at the same sort of bike than you, im after a 140mm ish travel bike so it will be a little different

However, I have ridden a Trex EX8 and a Lapierre Zesty 314, and of course the Cube Stereo RX.

The Trek felt stable, but heavy, took a lot of effort to peddle it. It was OK, i guess on the trail it would feel safe, but just wasnt "right" to me.

The Lapierre was a lot better, it was lighter, more nimble feeling, light to peddle, all in all for me a better bike, the rear suspension however was quite bobby with hard peddling compared to the other two. It only had the foat R so no pro-peddle and you could feel this compared to the Trex and the Cube

The Cube however was superb, it was very quick to turn, but with the wide bars it felt rock solid. Easy to get speed up, peddle bob was next to nill, yet the rear sus soaked the bumps up. Had a small hill to climb back up into the carpark, sitting on my arse it got a little light at the front but lean forward and i had no doubt in my mind that this would climb very well for 150mm up front, certainly better than the other 2 i bet.

Only had a chance to test ride on the roads and carparks, but i found some staircases to play with, but it gave me a good feel of the bikes.

As for quality, well, six to one half a dozen and all that, the cube certainly has the best gear and was the cheapest too.

I know where my money is going

If you're after a XC machine, the AMS 100 felt good too, but its VERY long. I'm 6'1" and a bit and the L frame felt a little too long. As a XC machine the geometry would be right i guess, but as i mentioned above, im not after XC.

Eyon

oh and here is a bit more money off, if its at the top of your budget: http://www.cyclesuk.com/394-304131

its all deore so good reliable but not the lightest. Not heard anything about the fork and the shock so do some research on those items first.

Ian

phoenixliston

Thanks for the info and the link - really helps getting nother perspective!

I had been told a Mongoose would be a good move, but despite always likling the look of them never rated them as high as some brands - what do you reckon?

fletch8928

Back to the XMS, I was looking at a new bike july 09 and I had decided that a CUBE AMS was for me after a few tests of all the other contenders.

Then I started looking at the XMS.I couldn't really figure out what the bike was about, intended use and why it figured solely in the CUBE range.

In the end I got lucky and got a AMS 100 for less then a XMS(not the 1 linked), which i had decided against anyway.

If you have a dealerclose to you go visit them and talk. Cube have just launched their new range and i think old stock will need to be shifted sharpish. Mention c2w even if your not buying that way, they will be open to negotiation if you are buying cash or credit.

I guess your budget is £1000ish. Take a look at KHS too

I just don't know why the XMS is not the entry level AMS.

Great bikes anyway.

phoenixliston

Thanks man, im definately going to investigate and see if i can get a little credit maybe..

Quick questions..does anyone know which model of Cube this is: http://www.imbikemag.com/issue7/?page=37 (in the picture) i cant read the name and really like the look of it, especially the colour scheme.

Andy B

It's a Cube Fritzz not a standard spec one either different bars and brakes to the 2010 & 2011 ones from what I can tell from the pic

jonnyboy66uk

Hiya Buddy,

Well i am teh proud owner of a cube pro ams 100 elixir, I bought it from leisure lakes back in april and i have had a blast this summer on it having been to the lakes, brecon, afan and doing lots of stuff round my local area. The bike has been faultless and teh quality is amazingly high. I originally bought it for the spec, full xt running gear with Elixir r brakes on dt swiss rims for 1600... But i am totally chuffed with everything.

Just recently it developed a fork problem with the reba's where i lost damping so LL have given me a yeti 575 demo bike worth 3k, Twice as much as teh cube. The yeti has an awesome frame but for my ability its a waste and get this, The cube has far higher running gear for half teh cost...

My advice... Get a cube.. they are brilliant but if you can wait for a 2011 model as they look stunning with awesome gear and most now have tapered headstock and an maxle front...

do it!!

phoenixliston

Hi Johnny,

Thanks for the advice and reccomendation - how were the manufacturer in terms of warranty and fixing/dealing with the fault?

My mother does always say..make sure the aftercare is first rate before buying.. haha!

Eranu

When my Reba failed on my Reaction it was the bike shop who dealt with it, sent off to Fishers and they repaired it, took about 2/3 week from memory.

When my Reaction frame cracked Cube were very good. Spoke to the guys in Germany who put me in touch with the Cube UK guy and it took about 4/5 weeks to get a new frame. I would add I only rang Cube because the bike shop I got it from was closed that week as the owner was getting married and I was off on holiday for two weeks.

All I had to do was send them some photos and drop my bike off at the shop when I got back off holiday, no denial, no questions they just replaced it and rebuilt my bike. Can't ask for more than that imo.

Moteymoney

Got a 2010 cube stereo the one..... It's brilliant. Rides so well uphill downhill its a great all rounder. Would defo recommend. Great quality gear and frame. My mate has the same bike and luvz it! You won't be disappointed.

jonnyboy66uk

Well i had issues with teh reba fork as it would not lock out and it appears that there is an issue with teh o ring between lower air chamber and the oil filled damper in the top of teh fork leg. Oil has been leaking into the air chamber and not giving me the lock out option and also restricting full travel.. I phoned Leisure lakes and they took the bike in 10 days ago and sorted me a yeti 575 to have while they have mine.

The forks will be back next week from fishers and i can collect when i want. So overall they been brilliant..

Although i am not going to lie, i Now want a YETI!!!!!

8)

Andy B

The fault with the Reba's is quite well known, and has happened to a fair few Reba's

Fishers have sorted 2 forks for us with this issue & turned them around in about 10 days

Not a fault of Cube bikes, it's a RockSkox issue which has affected plenty of manufacturers

Can't fault my AMS Pro R1, it's freaking awesome 8)

jonnyboy66uk

Got them back today and all seems good.. I think they are a cracking fork!!!

phoenixliston

This is all sounding really positive guys, you've been instrumental in helping me decide..still wondering if anyone can tell me what model bike is on the second page of the article link i posted as its the one i really like the look of? 8)

Eranu

It's a Cube Fritzz not a standard spec one either different bars and brakes to the 2010 & 2011 ones from what I can tell from the pic