Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 Review

Cube knows value for money. But can the Bavarians also deliver ride joy? The Cube Stereo Hybrid One55, with its 160 mm of travel, is eagerly encroaching into the enduro segment. Does this downhill-focused design pay off?

Cube epitomizes bikes with a stellar price-to-performance ratio. Their bikes feature forgiving handling, vibrant colors, and high-quality components, which have become the hallmark of the brand’s success. Cube has mastered the mainstream market with great success. Until recently, sharply tailored e-mountain bikes for seasoned enthusiasts were somewhat scarce in Cube’s lineup. That’s changing now, as Cube ventures beyond its established boundaries.

The new Cube Stereo Hybrid One55 is designed to deliver uncompromising riding fun, truly coming into its own in extreme terrain. We put it to the test to see if it lives up to its promises. The Cube was put through its paces in Finale Ligure, and we were surprised at how well it performed.

Cube is asking for €7,000 for the most affordable model of the Stereo Hybrid ONE55, which comes with the slightly cumbersome additional name “C:68X SLX 750”. €7,000 is a hefty price tag, one that we’ve unfortunately become all too accustomed to in the e-bike market—a topic we’ve critically addressed more than once. Even if leasing models make many things possible, we remain skeptical about the cycling industry’s pricing trends. Not everyone has the option of a job bicycle leasing scheme.

Compared to models from other manufacturers at this price point, the Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE55 SLX 750 rolls out with an exceptionally high-quality spec. That’s typical for Cube – and it’s a good thing. The level of attention to detail Cube has put into the component selection is particularly commendable. You won’t find any lazy compromises on the Stereo Hybrid ONE55 – every part serves its purpose. This kind of thoroughness is usually only seen on pricey, high-end rigs.

Braking is handled with Magura’s aggressive MT7 brake. As soon as the trail points downhill, the brake impresses with its biting power and reliability – even if the descent stretches over several hundred vertical meters into the valley. A great detail are the brake discs. Cube enhances the braking system with Magura’s premium MDR-P rotors. Thanks to their two-piece design, they are especially heat resistant and won’t fade on long, steep descents.

Tire selection is also key. The Maxxis tires, with their sturdy DoubleDown casing on the rear wheel, can handle even the gnarliest of stresses. On the front wheel, you save a bit of weight with the lighter EXO+ casing. And the soft MaxxGrip rubber compound essentially glues the front wheel to the ground, while ensuring endless traction at the rear as well. Sure, rolling resistance and wear skyrocket with the softer compound – but who cares, after all, the bike has a motor.

Some riders believe that small parts like grips or saddles don’t make a difference on bikes over €5,000. The rationale: those who can afford a bike in this price range can also afford different grips if the factory setup doesn’t suit them. Many manufacturers see this as a license to outfit the bikes with cheap contact points straight from the factory.

It’s all the more commendable when a manufacturer delivers a complete package right off the assembly line, one that you can sit on and immediately feel at ease. That’s exactly what Cube has achieved. Saddle and grips: top-notch. The heavily foiled grips provide excellent grip and superb cushioning. Cube proves that aside from a successful geometry, details in equipment also foster confidence in the bike.

The Lyrik Select+ fork with 160mm of travel performs reliably, but it’s not a marvel of engineering. It shines more with its simplicity than with a plethora of tuning options. Yet, it offers a solid response and keeps up well with rapid successions of hits. But when you really let it rip, the fork seems a bit undefined and struggles to track the terrain.

It’s nitpicking at a high level, but the difference to a Fox 36 in its Factory iteration, as found on the Specialized Turbo Levo SL, or even a Lyrik Ultimate is noticeable. The rear suspension with a Super Deluxe Select+ shock can do more than the fork. And that’s despite having nominally 10 millimeters less travel. Cube extracts everything out of the 150mm travel rear end thanks to well-engineered kinematics.

Puncture-resistant tires, a biting brake system, and a solid suspension setup. Plus, a hefty 750 Wh battery and a robust Bosch CX motor. The Cube is a full-fledged full-power e-MTB, built for extreme terrain. But the real bombshell drops when you look at the scale. It’s a lightweight 22.7 kg downhill-oriented shred machine. Impressive.

For comparison: A Canyon Spectral at the 7,000 euro mark tips the scales at 22.9 kg. A Focus Jam in that price bracket is over 24 kg. That begs the question: How does Cube do it? Have they cut corners on frame integrity and durability?

Determining the durability of a bike is fairly straight-forward. You thrash it relentlessly on the gnarliest trails, sending it off every lip imaginable. Said and done. The Cube got a serious thrashing from us in Finale Ligure. It didn’t hurt it – well, almost not.

Despite its low weight, the frame of the Hybrid One55 proved to be rock-solid. While there’s a noticeable flex in the rear triangle, it makes the Cube ride in a forgiving and error-prone manner. The lateral flex of the rear triangle also positively affects the grip. In terms of durability, the frame remained unimpressed by our dastardly deeds.

However, the rear wheel didn’t escape unscathed. When things got rough in one of the rock gardens, the rim gave in. The dent in the rim flange was the least of the concerns. The real annoyance was that several spokes completely lost tension from the impact. The expert diagnosis: rim deformation. Given our testing in Finale, it’s not a death sentence, but it is damage to the Newmen wheels that one should expect when riding hard.

Ascending, the Cube impresses with enormous traction and, of course, a potent motor. Particularly, the combination of low overall weight, robust motor, and playful handling makes the Cube the ultimate tool for uphill flow. Without a doubt, thanks to a relaxed seating position, the Cube also masters long-distance trails – but its real home turf is the “Power Hour”. Covering the most elevation gain in the shortest possible time is a breeze for the Cube. On ascents, we preferred to take the most direct route – that is, straight up the trail.

The suspension provides plenty of comfort even when seated and ensures the tires remain firmly planted on the trail. Even when the trail becomes steep and twisty, the Cube confidently digs its way up the mountain. And with 750 Wh in the battery, you can confidently shift into Boost mode and start celebrating Uphill Party Laps right away.

From the get-go, the Cube instills confidence. Hop on, feel at ease, and turn the trail into a playground. Conveying this sensation is something few manufacturers can accomplish. Specialized is probably the most renowned for this. Now, with the Stereo Hybrid One55, Cube has also joined this elite group.

The suspension gobbles up the rough stuff impressively. And it does so even though the travel is only 160 mm at the front and 150 mm at the rear. The Cube’s sprightliness is particularly noteworthy. The bike handles with agility and vitality – a rare find in a Full Power E-MTB.

The rear suspension really pops, offering solid support in corners and tempting riders to launch off terrain lips into the air. That’s where the fun begins. If you botch a landing, the bike forgivingly absorbs the rider’s error. This is also thanks to the noticeably progressive kinematics—no worries about bottoming out here.

No matter how rough it gets on the trail, you’ll feel securely cradled deep in the bike behind the lofty cockpit. However, the high cockpit has a flip side: you need to exert a lot of pressure on the front to navigate through corners without understeering. Another slight disappointment is the telescopic seatpost: it offers a 170 mm drop, but we would have liked a bit more travel. Unfortunately, even in its lowest position, the saddle can sometimes get in the way.

The Hybrid One55 is perfect for E-MTB riders who love to spend the whole day in the saddle racking up as many descents as possible. It’s for those who enjoy actively weaving through rough terrain and tapping into their bike’s full potential.

As always, we provide not just an overview of all models, but also the ability to directly compare individual models against each other. By pressing the arrow icon on the widgets below, you can align the specs and geometry data of various models. All competing models for comparison can be found in our extensive E-MTB market overview, which can be perfectly sorted using useful filters. If the Stereo Hybrid One55 is too downhill-focused for your taste, be sure to check out the new AMS Hybrid One44 from Cube.