LUKE’S CUBE STEREO 170 RACE 29 £3,499

Tester Luke has been trying out the Stereo’s shock mounts

I should point out that the Stereo 170 has been superseded by a new model for 2022, the Stereo ONE77. However, the bike seen here is still potentially available in shops.

I have found one limit of the Cube, and that’s its narrow seatstays, which mean you can’t fit a tyre wider than 2.4in without it rubbing when riding. For me, it’s not a big deal, because I’d rarely choose a tyre bigger than that, but I do think it’s a shortcoming in these days of 2.6in trail/enduro rubber.

The rear wheel, a Newmen SL A.30, is starting to show signs of fatigue after nearly a year of abuse. Its bearings need replacing and a few spokes keep unwinding. It’d be wise for me to get it into a jig, make sure it’s all true and tight, and give the persistently loose spokes a drop of threadlock.

Otherwise, things are going well with the bike. Thanks to its choice of shock mounting positions, I’ve been able to bolt on a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil for testing, in place of the stock, air-sprung Fox Float X2. I’d expected a big difference in off-thetop plushness, but it’s actually the coil shock’s firmer mid-stroke support that stands out. This holds the bike up in its travel and means it uses less of it through mid-sized hits. At first, I felt I was being robbed, because I had the travel but wasn’t using it. Still, the shock provides plenty of grip, helps keep the bike from wallowing in turns and compressions, and gives a stable platform to push off. www.cube.eu