Listen up, XC and marathon racers! The combination of a new and even lighter, high end C:68 carbon frame with brand new Shimano 2x11 XTR transmission and a RockShox SID suspension fork promises every racer the perfect riding experiene.
The new Elite C:68 chassis represents frame construction perfection. The basics include weight under 1000g, huge stiffness with superb comfort thanks to an advanced twin mould monocoque construction method, and completely new design features including a tapered head tube, PressFit bottom bracket shell, X12 axles and internal cable routing. Incorporating the rear disc mount in the chainstay enables us to spec slender seatstays for extra comfort, backed up by the 27.2mm diameter seat post. The frame features internal cable routing for a stealth dropper post. Agile Ride Geometry displays the manouvrability and precision handling you'd expect from CUBE.
The XTR 2x11 gear system is perfect for transmitting the rider's power to the trail. An 11-40 cassette and stiff and light double chainset (26/36) with side swing front mech combine to offer optimal gear shift performance. The XTR XC brakes make use of magnesium and carbon to reduce weight, without sacrificing performance or control. Super light CSW MA 3.9 Straightpull system wheels with high grade hub technology from DT-Swiss back up the transmission's performance with superb acceleration. A 100mm RockShox SID RL suspension fork completes this race-ready bike.
This technique uses a complete core to provide the perfect frame form during the lay-up process. As with the Twin Mould technology, precise inserts are used to ensure extra strength at high-stress frame points. This combination offers maximum control over fibre orientations during the lay-up and production process. The Advanced Twin Mould high-tech carbon manufacturing process translates to outstanding product safety and quality together with optimum weight and stiffness characteristics.
We ran innumerable tests to develop the Agile Ride Geometry in our series of big wheel bikes. We also added the 27.5in wheel size to the very well received portfolio. Three important details lead to the very agile character. Increased fork offsets let us achieve the same trail as our 26in bikes without having to steepen the head angle, thus maintaining generous toe clearance to the front wheel. Secondly we shortened the chain stays without compromising the seat angle. We invented a patented construction to mount the front derailleur to give us more tyre clearance while keeping a conventional seat angle, leading to a perfect riding position for every rider size. Last but not least we kept the BB height the same as on our 26in bikes. These measures lead to a natural riding position. Every mountain biker will feel immediately at home on a CUBE 29er or 27.5.
Internally routed cables offer many advantages. Cables are protected from dirt for longer life, weight is saved thanks to the absence of external housing and the bike has a clean, sleek appearance.
The post mount rear brake system is found on all carbon fiber frames and top aluminum full suspension models. Two bolts and the IS adpater arent needed anymore, and fewer parts means less weight. In this case we save 30 grams. This may not sound a lot. But there's potential to save weight in every detail.
With Press Fit bearings, the bottom bracket bearings are pressed directly into the frame and not screwed in as usual. This gives a wider bottom bracket shell and allows us to build a wider down tube and more broadly-spaced chainstays. Every millimetre of additional width gives a significant improvement in lateral stiffness.
Dropper seat posts are getting more and more widespread, but to integrate them optimally in the frame, they have to be factory fitted. With the Stealth Ready frames, it is possible to build in a dropper seat post with internally routed cables, which besides the clean look, helps prevent any cables getting jammed. The exit of the cable on the frame if not required will be sealed with a cover for protection.
This steerer tube design is stiffer than a conventional straight steerer and yields a more secure ride feel even in difficult terrain. Minimal flex at the front of the frame means the greatest possible steering precision. With the larger steerer, the forks become more rigid. At the same time weight is saved due to the absence of bearing shells as the lower bearing is fully integrated into the head tube. On all of our CUBE carbon models the upper bearing shells are also directly in the frame, so that once more a few grams are saved and the energy transfer is very direct.
In this system, a cone is used to form a play-free connection. It is only necessary to tighten the axle from one side. The position of the wheel is done by an insert in the right-hand dropout which is secured by a bolt. The main advantages of the Syntace system are quick and simple changing of the wheel, reliable position of the brake disc and higher stiffness of the rear of the bike. This allows the assembly to be made lighter than a conventional through-axle.
We optimized our new dropout design based on the Syntace X12 through-axle system, enlarging the area of the frame where the hanger is mounted. We can now fit the longer Direct Mount hangers. Shifting precision and stiffness is therefore improved. With the new design it's also possible to swap the whole contact area of the axle with the hanger should the system be worn out.
CUBEs highly innovative new C:68 carbon fibre technology allows us to build better bikes than ever. Typically,
carbon fibre frames are around 60% carbon fibre, with the rest being the resin that bonds the fibres together. By distributing carbon fibres evenly, we can make thinner layers within the frame and reduce the amount of resin. Those fibres are a mixture of Ultra High Modulus, High Modulus Spread Tow and Intermediate Modulus carbon, each chosen for the needs of the particular area of the frame. Nanoparticles within the resin itself allows it to be distributed more evenly when under pressure in the frame mould. The result is a range of frames with 68% carbon fibre lower weight, higher stiffness, more fun.
