CUBE RE AC TI ON C: 62SL

£2,299 Snappy out of the gate, the Reaction has a powerful kick

From the first push of the pedals, it’s clear the Reaction is an XC race bike. Its stiff, box-like belly helps ensure every ounce of power is delivered to the rear wheel. Like all the bikes on test bar the Specialized, it’s traditional in shape, although its 110mm stem is an outlier here. Cube have used their buying power well to fit a decent spec, but how does this all tie in together between the tape?

The frame

The Reaction’s frame is a game of two halves, with the down tube and chainstays fairly big and boxy for maximum power delivery, and a more svelte top tube and seatstays keeping weight sensible and adding a touch of comfort, on paper at least. In theory, the skinny 27.2mm seatpost should add a bit of ‘give’ too. The frame is dropper-ready, but the seat tube diameter limits your options. Cables enter at the front of the head tube to minimise rub. There’s also plenty of protection against chain suck on the driveside chainstay, although this is less of a problem with 1x drivetrains, as fitted here. The rear axle requires an Allen key to remove, which will slow things down in a race situation. Mud clearance isn’t the most generous, so you’d struggle to fit a tyre much wider than 2.25in. Frame geometry is middle-of-theroad in this test, with 69-degree head and 73.5-degree seat angles plus a 441mm reach (21in size).

The kit

Fox’s 32 StepCast is a popular XC fork for good reason, with a low weight and race-focused damping, which prioritises efficiency over smoothness on small chatter. You get a full Shimano 12-speed drivetrain and brake set-up, and the bike rolls on Fulcrum wheels, which we had no issues with in testing. Schwalbe provide the Racing Ray and Racing Ralph tyre combo. The rubber compounds aren’t the softest, but the treads are among the most aggressive on test. Cube’s own Newmen brand provide the long stem, narrow bar (740mm) and fairly slim grips.

The ride

The Reaction’s reactions are punchy, with the direct-feeling back end thrusting you forward with each pedal stroke. That race-optimised damping keeps the 32 fork stable in open mode, and there’s also an on-bar lockout for tarmac sprints, which we used to good effect on our faster test loop. The Cube is great for sprinting up short, sharp climbs, but on rougher ascents the fairly hard-compound tyres leave the bike scrabbling for grip as they struggle

to mould over rocks and roots. That said, of the bikes here, the Reaction is the best in loose, muddy conditions. This is because the Ray and Ralph tyres have sharper, more spaced-out treads than the Ikons, Rekons and Fast Traks found elsewhere, giving more purchase in the slop. The difference is marginal, but the Cube fared best at powering up slippery climbs. On steep drags, the broad range of the Shimano gearing and the stretched position, thanks to the long stem, mean there are few excuses for not getting to the top. With your weight towards the front axle, there’s no front-wheel lift or wander.

On the way down, the Cube doesn’t quite make the grade. The back end is stiff and the tyres have to be run relatively hard (the skinny carcasses mean you can’t reduce pressure much to increase comfort without risking punctures), leading to a jarring ride that makes it hard to maintain speed over rocks or roots.

There’s little noticeable flex from the skinny seatpost.

On tight, twisty tracks, the long stem slows reactions, leaving the Reaction feeling a touch more ponderous than the other bikes. When it’s steep, your weight is shifted further forward over the front axle, leading to a more nervous feeling; the short 423mm back end does little to add stability here. On fast, flowy terrain though, the Cube holds speed reasonably well, and it thrives on mellower trails, carving between berms with the XT drivetrain and brakes never missing a beat. Fast reactions to pedal inputs help on climbs, but the stiff chassis affects descending capability

OF THE BIKES HERE, THERE ACTION IS THE BEST IN LOOSE, MUDDY CONDITIONS. THE TYRES HAVE SHARPER TREADS THAN THE OTHERS, GIVING MORE PURCHASE IN THE SLOP