At € 3,699, the CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT is the cheapest bike in the test with electronic gears. On paper, its other components also suggest a high-quality and coherent overall package. Our group test reveals whether this is also the case in practice.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test

CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT | 8.04 kg in size 56 | Manufacturer’s website

The CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT is the top model in the German bike brand’s gravel line-up. CUBE put high hopes on the best horse in its stable: it needs to combine the handling of a road bike with the robustness of a cyclocross bike and offer the comfort of a touring bike. Can the Nuroad C.62 SLT achieve this feat or is it too much to ask? More on that in a moment.

First, let’s take a look at the spec: our test bike costs € 3,699, making it the cheapest bike with electronic gears in the test field. The SRAM Force eTap AXS XPLR gears with a 40 t chainring and 10–44 t cassette suit the CUBE well and, thanks to the low weight of 8.04 kg in size 56, are suitably low even uphill, at least without luggage. When riding fast downhill, you can’t keep on pedalling quite as long as on a bike with a 2x drivetrain and a larger chainring.

Light and shade
The CUBE does have a few additional attachment points and mounting options for mudguards. However, we would happily do without the rack mounts in favour of mounting points on the top tube or under the down tube.
Space for more
The tire clearance of the CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT is 45 mm and the bike should take advantage of this for some extra comfort.
Form follows function
The bridge between the seat stays isn’t a visual delight, but it is necessary for attaching the CUBE mudguard and luggage rack solution.

CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT

€ 3,699

Specifications

Seatpost NEWMEN ADVANCED Carbon
Brakes SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD 160/160 mm
Drivetrain SRAM Force eTap AXS XPLR 1x12
Stem CUBE Performance Stem SL 100 mm
Handlebar Easton EC70 AX 440 mm
Wheelset NEWMEN ADVANCED SL X.R.25
Tires Schwalbe G-One Allround 700 x 40C

Technical Data

Size 50 53 56 58 61
Weight 8.04 kg

Specific Features

mudguard and rack mounts
clearances for 700 x 45C tires despite its slender shape
mounting points on the fork


Appearance or reality?
The seat post clamp fits harmoniously into the overall appearance of the bike, but strictly speaking it isn’t a fully-integrated solution.
Good choice
CUBE use 160 mm direct mount brakes front and rear, which makes perfect sense on a gravel bike of this class.
If you like it …
Oil-slick finishes are used on the dropouts and the headset. This gives the bike a bit of colour, but some might find it tacky.

From gravel highways to all-road tracks, the 8.04 kg CUBE plays to its strengths. When the going gets rougher, the stiff bike reaches its limits.

The very light NEWMEN ADVANCED SL X.R.25 carbon wheels also contribute to the low weight of the bike. With an inner width of 25 mm, they provide ample support for bulky gravel tires. Nevertheless, the 700 x 40C Schwalbe G-One Allround tires measure only 39 mm wide. It also remains a mystery why the tubeless-compatible tires and wheels come set up with tubes.

Size 50 53 56 58 61
Seat tube 434 mm 464 mm 494 mm 514 mm 544 mm
Top tube 522 mm 537 mm 560 mm 575 mm 592 mm
Head tube 102 mm 124 mm 154 mm 174 mm 197 mm
Head angle 69.0° 70.0° 71.5° 72.0° 72.5°
Seat angle 75.3° 74.5° 73.5° 73.0° 73.0°
Chainstays 440 mm 440 mm 440 mm 440 mm 440 mm
BB Drop 70 mm 70 mm 70 mm 70 mm 70 mm
Wheelbase 1,041 mm 1,042 mm 1,041 mm 1,046 mm 1,058 mm
Reach 386 mm 386 mm 389 mm 392 mm 402 mm
Stack 519 mm 544 mm 578 mm 599 mm 623 mm
Helmet POC Ventral Air MIPS | Glasses 100% Hypercraft | Jersey Rapha Trail 3/4 Sleeve Jersey
Pants Rapha Trail Shorts | Shoes Suplest Crosscountry Pro
Socks Rapha Pro Team Extra Long | Special Watch Uhr

For the bars, CUBE rely on one of the best options for gravel on the market: the Easton EC70 AX. With its 440 mm width and sensible 16° flare, it provides full control over the bike. And that’s necessary! Because of its comparatively stiff frame and the higher pressures required by the non-tubeless setup, the Nuroad bumps awkwardly over anything bigger than a golf ball. This makes for rather limited confidence in the bike, as does the accompanying soundscape. When it gets bumpy, the CUBE rattles like a can of nails. Both the SRAM Force eTap AXS shifters and the brake lines in the frame make a lot of noise. The bike feels much more comfortable on more moderate terrain, where its character and tires fit much better. The low-profile Schwalbe tires tend to lose grip on coarse gravel or very loose ground when braking or cornering.

For hardpack or other compacted, dry surfaces, the comfort of the bike is sufficient and high-frequency vibrations are pleasantly absorbed by the frame. However, impacts are noticeably transmitted to the rider, especially at the rear. The zero-offset NEWMEN ADVANCED carbon seat post is significantly firmer than the Easton handlebar at the front. Larger tires, which the bike has space for, would do the bike’s comfort a lot of good. The riding position on the CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT is sporty and compact, yet very comfortably integrated with the bike.

If you stay on the CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT’s preferred terrain, namely compact surfaces, you will be rewarded with balanced handling. Thanks to its low weight, the bike is very agile, corners responsively, willingly and precisely. The bike remains smooth until you venture onto rougher ground. Then the bike quickly becomes nervous due to its stiffness and you have to hold onto the handlebars tightly.

Tuning tip: convert to tubeless and fit larger tires with a more aggressive tread

It’s a similar story when it comes to speed: on compact surfaces, the CUBE accelerates light-footedly thanks to its low weight and has enough traction to get propulsion to the ground. Once brought up to speed, it efficiently keeps going. When the going gets rougher, the Nuroad’s stiffness makes it bounce around too much and significantly more power input is required. On loose ground, the tires spin out when accelerating hard or when cranking uphill due to their low profile. All in all, the CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT is a bike that excels on easier surfaces between gravel highways and all-road tracks. Here it can use its sprightliness and low weight to its advantage and, thanks to the possibility of mounting racks, also serve as a nippy touring or commuting bike.

Riding Characteristics

4

Agility

  1. cumbersome
  2. playful

Stability

  1. nervous
  2. confident

Handling

  1. demanding
  2. balanced

Fun factor

  1. boring
  2. lively

Comfort

  1. firm
  2. comfortable

Value for money

  1. terrible
  2. very good

Technical Data

CUBE
Nuroad C:62 SLT

Size: 50 53 56 58 61
Weight: 8.04 kg
Price: € 3,699

Indended Use

Smooth tarmac 1
Allroad/Gravel 2
Everyday/Commuting 3

CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT conclusion

The CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT manages the balancing act between handling, comfort and robustness well, as long as you ride on compact surfaces. Despite a solid spec at a bargain price, its stiffness and narrow tires fitted with inner tubes limit it too much compared to the best bikes in the test to be able to emerge as the winner. Nonetheless, if you are looking for great value for money for all-road use, you will find it here.

Tops

  • good spec at a competitive price
  • many mounting points
  • low weight
  • ergonomic Easton handlebar

Flops

  • not set up tubeless
  • rattling of brake hoses in frame
  • tires with limited reserves off-road

You can find out more about at cube.eu

The testfield

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test

All bikes on review: 3T Exploro Ultra (Click for review) | BMC URS LT ONE (Click for review) | Cannondale SuperSix EVO SE (Click for review) | Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension (Click for review) | Cervélo Áspero GRX Di2 (Click for review) | CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT | Curve Kevin of Steel III (Click for review) | Falkenjagd Aristos R (Click for review) | Felt Breed 20 (Click for review) | FOCUS ATLAS 6.8 (Click for review) | GIANT Revolt Advanced 0 (Click for review) | OPEN WI.DE. (Click for review) | Ridley Kanzo Fast (Click for review) | ROSE BACKROAD EKAR LTD (Click for review) | SCOTT Addict Gravel Tuned (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Crux (Click for review) | Stelbel Nina XCr (Click for review) | Storck GRIX.2 Platinum (Click for review) | Wilier Rave SLR (Click for review)


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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf, Peter Walker