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
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.
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
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 |
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
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
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)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf, Peter Walker