2023 CUBE

REACTION PRO

Cube has just two models in its Reaction HPA range of hardtails. The longer travel TM with a 130mm travel fork and this, the Pro, with a more XC-orientated 100mm Rock Shox Judy leading the charge. And it’s not just the fork travel that sets them apart; they have completely different alloy frames. Best hardtail mountain bikes As you’d expect, the geometry numbers differ between both bikes, but so does the seat tube diameter, rear brake mount, bottom bracket standard and sizing structure. Need to know: Sorted lock-on grips are best of the bunch Full Shimano 12-speed drivetrain performed faultlessly in all conditions RockShox PopLoc remote lets you lock out the 100mm travel Judy fork Shimano XT brakes provide powerful, consistent stopping power With that in mind, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Reaction Pro is an out and out, lightweight XC focused aluminium race hardtail filling the same niche – and price point – as Giant’s XTC. But drill down on the details and it quickly becomes apparent that this bike shares the same aluminium frame as the £1,149 Attention SL hardtail that we tested back in the summer of 2022. To bring you up to speed, we had mixed feelings about that bike. Yes it was well finished and had a stellar build kit, but the sizing and geometry both felt very dated. With the same frame pitched against three hardtails with a definite XC focus, where headline weights and long, fast-paced rides are near the top of the design brief, would the Reaction Pro make more sense? Before we answer that question, let’s take a closer look at the bike. The Reaction Pro is offered in two colours; the stealthy black finish that we have on test and a sparkling Switchblue ’n’ Black. The frame has a clean, minimalist finish, without the visual bulk of some aluminium frames. Its sleek silhouette accentuated by the slender 27.2mm diameter seatpost – a rare sight now, as are the traditional quick release rear dropouts with 135mm hub spacing. In that respect the frame shows its age, which makes it even more surprising to see that it has a flat mount standard for the rear brake, something that only recently arrived on mountain bikes. With five frame sizes available, Cube has taken a similar approach to Trek and designed the size small around 27.5in wheels, with the four larger bikes all benefiting from the improved roll over of the bigger 29in wheel. It’s a sound move as the lengthy 447mm chainstays on this XL are replicated on all of the 29in wheel options and would be way too long for smaller riders. And while size-specific chainstay lengths are starting to appear on trail hardtails, they are still a rare sight on hardtails from mainstream brands. And while the chainstays are long, reach measurements are short. Jump on the Cube straight after riding the Giant and although both are marked as XL frame sizes, the difference in fit is remarkable. …Continue reading »

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Fast reactions to pedal inputs help on climbs, but the stiff chassis affects descending capability

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