Cube Stereo Hybrid One77 SLX Review

More travel, more downhill – but is the One77 really the better enduro? And is there a catch with the price of 5000 €?

Cube stays true to one thing: a carbon main frame with an aluminum rear triangle. Cube employs this strategy for almost all its e-bikes, and it’s a key factor in enabling Cube to implement its low-price strategy. The weight doesn’t suffer much either. At 24.9 kg, the bike is considered light despite its long travel, good price, and removable battery. The Cannondale Moterra or the Centurion NoPogo are significantly heavier, despite their higher prices.

The geometry of the Stereo Hybrid One77 is clearly geared towards downhill, though it’s not excessive. With a head angle of 63.8° in the slack setting, it remains moderate, precisely matching the value found on many other e-enduros. It can also be adjusted to be 0.6 degrees steeper via the headset. Notably, Cube achieves a very low bottom bracket despite the generous 170 mm rear travel. With the bottom bracket positioned 13 mm below the rear axle, the bike remains super stable in long, fast turns. The bike comes stock in the MX setup: 29″ in the front, 27.5″ in the rear. This is also common for e-bikes in this travel class.

The Stereo One77 doesn’t boast thrilling details. However, Cube clearly stakes its claim against accessory manufacturers with one feature. The X-Connect interface on the headset allows for the easy plug-and-play connection of Cube lights. The power for the light is drawn from the main battery of the motor.

No mounting bracket is necessary, as you can simply clip the light onto the handlebar clamp of the stem. This is very well designed. The light we tested was indeed very bright. However, the spotlight is not included in the package. An extra 100 € is required for that.

The cable routing through the headset looks tidy but makes wrenching a bit more challenging. Especially when, as with our SLX model, cables for the brake, dropper post, and shifter run through the headset. It’s not a Gordian knot to unravel, but should you need to replace a cable, it’s certainly more of an effort.

The Bosch Performance CX Gen5 is the most popular motor on the market—powerful, direct, proven. It’s also the quietest motor Bosch has ever built. Nothing rattles on the trail going downhill. When providing assistance uphill, it operates more quietly and at a lower frequency than its predecessor.

Following the latest power update (which we, of course, extensively tested), it delivers up to 700 watts of peak power. Although DJI’s Avinox system is significantly stronger, this may not be relevant for most tour riders. 700 watts are more than sufficient for steep climbs.

Our model doesn’t have a display but only a LED indicator on the top tube. However, the frame allows for retrofitting a Kiox 400 C display on the top tube. And we would recommend that because it enables navigation with the bike.

The 800 Wh battery can be removed from the bike at the push of a button. The large plastic cover is made of plastic and is one of the few parts on the bike that is produced in Germany. If you really hit the trails hard, you might provoke a slight rattle of the battery cover against the battery.

A small piece of foam can solve this issue in such a case. On the plus side, if you want to save weight, you can swap the 800 Wh battery for a 600 Wh battery—without any adapters or modifications. This will save you approximately 1 kg of weight.

On the trail, the Stereo Hybrid One77 showcases its strengths and specialization. The high front end ensures an upright position behind the bars even on steep descents, providing a lot of security. The combination of the Fox 38 fork and X2 shock works sensitively and absorbs big hits with ease. Especially in steep, technical terrain, the bike feels “at one with the trail.”

The linear action of the rear suspension creates a vacuum cleaner feeling in rock gardens. Even at the deep end of its travel, it does not harden and offers a very high level of grip. Additionally, this suspension setup always feels very comfortable.

In technical uphills, the bike sits a bit deeper in its travel than others. The cranks can also hit the ground quickly when pedaling in technical terrain. Shorter cranks than the installed 170 mm cranks (160 mm or 155 mm) would be a good option here. Otherwise, the Bosch CX motor of the 5th generation provides powerful assistance and leaves nothing to be desired uphill. Both power and control are excellent.

When it comes to riding position, the Stereo Hybrid One77 is pleasantly comfortable. The upright posture is well-suited for long rides. Cube hasn’t limited the bike entirely to the bike park. Especially since, at 24.9 kilos, it is still relatively light.

Other bikes with this amount of travel and a similar orientation, such as the Cannondale Moterra LT, weigh even more. Especially considering the price of 5000 €, Cube has really achieved something remarkable here.

Details such as frame protection, battery cover, and fastenings appear well-thought-out and high-quality. However, the bike started to creak loudly after less than 100 km. One definitely needs to address this by greasing the rear triangle and headset. Simply tightening the bolts did not resolve the noises.

The overall finish is very good. The charging port cover for the e-bike system could be more robust for a bike in this category. A kickstand can be mounted on the rear triangle, though it is not strictly necessary on a bike with 170 mm of travel.