CUBE 20″ Compact Sport Hybrid Review

This in-depth review was not sponsored by CUBE, Cit-E-Cycles Electric Bike Shop, or any other third party. It was funded by the display ads and placements on this website and YouTube. I cover as many products as I can, based on what I feel is relevant, interesting, and available. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comment section below, and the CUBE electric bike forums.

Observations:

• The name of this ebike denotes the 20-inch wheel size. CUBE has had a Compact Hybrid in the past, and their latest model is called Sport. It’s available in Europe, Canada, and the US through official dealers. It’s one of the most premium compact models I have ever reviewed, and I appreciate the fancy swiveling steer post that makes it easier to stow and transport.
• The default pedals do not fold, but you could unscrew them with a special pedal wrench or get some spring-loaded folding platform pedals online (go for metal ones to get good performance vs. squishy flexy feeling). With the handlebar swiveled 45-degrees and the pedals removed or folded, this ebike would fit well in the storage bays of an RV if laid on its side.

Pros:

• Feature complete! This ebike has everything needed to ride at night, in wet conditions, with cargo or a child seat, and even off-road a bit on packed dirt or gravel. The high-volume puncture resistant reflective tires, integrated lights, custom fenders, and versatile cargo rack are all very well done.
• Sometimes ebikes with fenders and racks rattle a lot when riding fast or on bumpy terrain. The CUBE Compact is fairly quiet because the fenders are attached very well (two places for the front fender and four places for the rear fender). The rear rack attaches in two places to the fender and has a strip of metal below the fender that connects to the seat stays. The motor is also pretty quiet, much more than I expected. Very well done!
• Someties electric bikes will skip out on bottle cage bosses because they have a motor, battery, and extra wires to deal with. It costs more money to produce a custom hydroformed frame like this one… and they didn’t skip the bottle mount! They also included a mounting point for a frame lock below the seat stays. This is awesome, the positioning is perfect and since they used an Abus Plus key for the battery, you could actually match a frame lock to the same key to reduce clutter and confusion.
• While the bike is only available in one frame size, the extra long seat post, telescoping height steer post, and adjustable angle stem allow it to support short and tall people very well. These adjustable parts feel sturdy and safe, and since the frame doesn’t fold, the whole bike just feels solid.
• I appreciate the branded rims (that are actually premium Alexrims) with reinforcement nipples. This makes the bike able to support heavier loads, the wheels won’t go out of true as easily, and they won’t crack as easily.
• It’s cool that CUBE sells the Sport Compact Hybrid in two colors. I think they chose very well, because the white and blue could both appeal to any gender and age. The white is especially visible for night riding, and the fork is color matched which looks very professional. Great job with the internal cable routing as well, the bike is clean and beautiful with matching black hardware (fenders, battery, rack, posts, saddle, handlebar etc.)
• Smaller bikes tend to be easier to approach, and the step-thru frame makes this one especially easy to mount and stand over. I know people who have purchased folding bikes just for this aspect, and they never actually fold them… but folding adds weight and reduces frame strength. CUBE made a really capable little bike here that performs well and is actually fairly comfortable. It also has a great turning radius and is fairly nimble because of the smaller wheel size… which can be good for tight maneuvers in traffic and city conditions.
• The memory foam saddle, locking ergonomic grips, low-rise handlebar, and especially the higher volume 2.4″ wide tires really improve comfort here. Smaller wheels lower the frame but also raise the attack angle of the tires… having taller and wider tires reduces this and improves rolling comfort. They also feel more stable. More air inside means more squishing that can happen when you hit little bumps etc. so it’s all good. You could also swap the rigid seatpost with a 27.2mm suspension seatpost like one of these. Note that Thudbuster does have a longer version of their posts if you’re tall and need that higher saddle position to get full leg extension ;)
• The rear rack combines a deck for trunk bags or a child seat like the Yepp Maxi Nexxt that clamps from the sides, it has standard gauge pannier hangers on the sides, and even bungee loops at the bottom for securing lightweight items or a plastic box on top. It’s a great setup and adds a lot of utility here but CUBE also included provisions for mounting a front basket too! They put the mounts on the steer tube, which supports larger racks that won’t impact steering or tip when the bike is parked. It’s awesome!
• Excellent hydraulic disc brakes here! They are easy to actuate, the levers offer adjustable reach for different hand sizes, and the rotors are 160mm rear and big 180mm front! That’s almost overkill in terms of mechanical advantage for a smaller 20″ wheel size. The benefit of the big front rotor is improved leverage and cooling, but the rotor could also hit bike racks and curbs more easily, which could bend it and create scraping noises forever after when braking, so be careful with it ;)
• Excellent lights! Both run off of the main battery pack and the headlight is positioned high up on the handlebar. This is important for being seen by cars and other cyclists, especially for a lower bicycle like this. The headlight is easy to aim and has side windows to increase your visual footprint. The rear light has two LEDs vs. just one, so it’s extra visible too.
• I was blown away by the 10-speed drivetrain here. Not only does it have 10 gears, but the spread is 11-36 vs. 14-28 or 11-32 like many comparable models. The Shimano ZEE derailleur is very rare to see, it’s even higher than Deore and SLX in the mountain line, so it’s built heavy-duty for off-road use. The derailleur uses a short cage which won’t hang down and hit obstacles or curbs as easily, and it has a one-way clutch that can stiffen the derailleur and reduce chain bounce or drops. CUBE also put a sticker slap guard on the right chainstay and an aluminum alloy guard on the 44 tooth chainring to reduce drops and keep your pants clean. Awesome all the way around!
• Both wheels, the seat clamp, and the stem utilize quick release mechanisms. This makes the bike easier to disassemble and stow, as well as perform trail maintenance if you get a flat tire. But it also makes parts easier to steal… so consider a lockset to secure the wheels and seatpost, I posted their dimensions in the stats section above.
• Even though this ebike is fairly heavy for it’s visually small size, I feel that they positioned weight really well (low and center). The removability of the battery is great for lifting and transporting the bike, and I love that the battery has a handle built into the top for safe carrying.
• I love the Bosch PowerPack battery, it’s my all time favorite design. The PowerPack 500 is the highest capacity that it is offered in, and its overall lightweight and durable design is great. The battery mount interface and charger are cross compatible with the PowerPack 400 too, so you could rent or borrow an extra for long trips.
• The Bosch Performance Line CX is almost overkill for a bike like this… it’s super responsive, powerful, and now fairly quiet with the 4th generation updates. The default torque is 75nm but you can upgrade to 85nm with the new software release (just ask a shop for help). The full sized chainring does not require a reduction gear, so there’s no drag when pedaling unassisted or over 20mph.
• The motor controller measures pedal speed, pedal torque, and rear wheel speed over 1,000 times per second and includes shift detection to reduce drivetrain wear, it’s a great setup, and you get over 120 RPM pedal support, so you won’t outpace the motor like with Active Line from Bosch, which only offers 105 RPM.
• Since the motor does use more electricity given the high power setup, and the lights draw some power, it’s great that CUBE included the PowerPack 500 here vs. the 400.
• The Purion display panel isn’t my favorite, because it lacks some readouts, isn’t removable, and doesn’t offer micro-USB charging, but it does make sense here because of the swiveling bars and compact size of the bike… as well as the headlight mount position at the stem. In general, the display is easy to read and operate with big buttons.
• I like the Shimano Deore trigger shifters that CUBE chose for this electric bicycle, because they offer two-way action on the high lever. This means you can use your right index finger for braking and dedicate your right thumb to shifting to higher or lower gears. Some of the cheaper shifters have one-way high levers that don’t support this option.
• Sealed bearing headset and bottom bracket provide protection in wet environments. This reduces creak and premature wear. Note the tighter BNI (Bosch Narrow Interface) splined spindle and slightly shorter 165mm crank arms on this ebike. These are thoughtfully chosen performance parts… the shorter cranks reduce the possibility of pedal strikes when leaning the bike and turning. Try to always keep the inside crank up when turning ;)
• CUBE is one of the bigger European (German) brands that I perceive as being reliable and trustworthy. They offer great value on their ebikes, and provide a two year comprehensive warranty with five years warranty on the frame

Cons:

• Priced at $3.5k, this is one of the most expensive compact electric bikes that I’ve seen and tested. The money goes towards excellent components and drive systems, but it may be unnecessary and overkill for some riders. The Bosch Performance Line CX motor could have been Active Plus or just Performance, the battery probably could have been PowerPack 400, the drivetrain could have been eight speeds, and the bike would still perform great for 95%+ applicable use cases.
• Despite the relatively high price tag and high-capacity Bosch PowerPack 500 battery, CUBE chose to include the slower Bosch 2 amp charger vs. the 4 amp. This means it will take longer to refill the battery pack… but at least you’ll save 0.3lbs and a bit of space since it’s physically smaller.
• The 20″ Compact Sport Hybrid comes with the most basic Bosch Purion display panel which eliminates average speed, max speed, clock, and some other readouts that Intuvia, Kiox, and Nyon offer. It’s not compatible with Bosch Connected smartphone apps, and it’s not removable. I think it’s a decent choice for this semi-folding electric bike because it’s small and stays out of the way. it’s also simple to use, it’s just a compromise and doesn’t offer Micro-USB charging for your portable electronics like the other displays do.
• I love that CUBE chose the Bosch Plus keyset for their battery pack, because it can be keyed-alike to a folding lock or frame lock… and there’s even space to mount both of these to the 20″ Compact Sport Hybrid! However, I’ve heard from shops that it can take weeks or even longer to actually order a matching lock from ABUS, so I wish CUBE would have just included a matching frame lock by default, especially given the value and price point of this ebike.
• The kickstand mounting point, at the center of the frame, can cause pedal lock. This happens when the stand is deployed and the bike is walked backwards. It’s frustrating and inconvenient if you’re parked at a busy bike rack or in a tight space like a garage next to a car. I wish they would have positioned the stand further back to avoid pedal lock.
• Because this ebike is so low and has fenders, it can be difficult to mount on some car racks. I have the Küat Sherpa 2.0 and just barely got it to work by using bungee cords and inserting the front arm through the triangle portion of tubing at the front of the bike. Consider using a crossbar adapter like this.
• Despite its smaller “compact” size, the bike still weighs a lot. This is likely due to the combination of powerful motor, high-capacity battery, fenders, rear rack, lights, fancy adjustable steer post and stem, and the reinforced frame. For people who want to save space and maybe carry the bike up stairs, this could be disappointing, so lift the bike at your shop to get an idea of weight, and consider removing the battery pack during transport to make it a bit easier to lift.
• Minor gripe here, the extra long fenders are sturdy and provide great coverage to keep your feet and legs dry… but the front fender is so long that it scraped on curbs and stairs as I walked the bike around my house and the neighborhood. Perhaps a flexible rubber end piece or slightly shorter front fender could have solved this
• This is a minor consideration, but the included 430mm seat post is so long that petite riders may have to cut the base in order to get the saddle all the way down to its lowest point. I’m glad that they stocked a long post, because it allows for taller riders to enjoy the bike too, but keep the cutting part in mind and ask your shop for help sizing if you choose to purchase this ebike.
• Very minor consideration here, but the bike doesn’t come with a suspension fork or suspension seatpost. This is not uncommon for compact bicycles, but there are some that do include this added comfort design. The tires on the CUBE Compact can be aired down a bit to reduce vibration, and you could replace the rigid seatpost with a suspension post, but finding a suspension fork that would work here is very unlikely. If you ride on gravel a lot or have a sensitive back, shoulder, neck, then keep this in mind.
• The chainring has a sturdy alloy guard on one side, but not a full guide. The chain bounced off during transport of the bike and was a bit difficult to re-attach here (my hands got very dirty and I thought the chain was wedged into the crack and would scratch the frame at one point). Keep the derailleur clutch in the up “on” position to reduce chain bounce like this.
• CUBE products are mostly sold through dealers. They are a well-known global company, but their dealer base is somewhat limited in North America (Canada and the US). If you don’t live near a big city, you may struggle to find this bike, and it may not be available online.
• I really love the fourth generation Bosch Performance Line CX mid-motors because they are powerful and natural, but they do produce additional whirring noise compared to lower power options and even some similarly rated products from competitors like Yamaha, Brose, and Shimano. This motor also has a sort of clunk feeling when you stop pedaling. It doesn’t fade out as smoothly as older versions (which had their own minor issues with noise and reduction gearing drag). Perhaps the clunk feeling will go away over time with use? I welcome input in the comments section if you own the 4th gen Bosch CX motor.
• The location of the battery charging port is very low on the left side of the seat tube, pretty close to the left crank arm. When plugged in, the charging cable actually blocks the rotation path of the left crank, so be careful not to bump the pedals, or consider charging the battery off the bike.
• CUBE chose to use the older left chain stay mounted Bosch speed reader and spoke magnet vs. some of the newest designs which are positioned near the disc brake caliper mount so they won’t get bumped out of position as easily. Pay special attention to this even when buying brand new, because it can cause read errors and make pedal assist not work consistently. Given that this is a compact electric bike that might be stored in tight spaces, I feel that the fully integrated reader would be extra useful and relevant here.
• A commenter on YouTube named Skúli Arnlaugsson who recently bought this ebike said “The back rack is rated to 15Kg (it’s noted on it), and after trying to fit a full size pannier, I can safely say that it doesn’t quite fit. It clamps on alright, but the bottom fixture doesn’t grab anything. So I’m expecting Cube to release their own size.” so for me, these are two cons. It would be nice if the front rack were rated a bit higher, and the point about some full sized panniers not working perfectly is a bit of a bummer.

Useful Resources:

• Official CUBE website
• Bosch Purion ebike display settings
• CUBE ebike shop directory to find a CUBE dealer near you for fitting and test rides