CUBE Kathmandu Hybrid 45 625 Review

This review was provided for free, but Cit-E-Cycles supplied a temporary demo bike for me to test. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of CUBE products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the CUBE electric bike forums.

Observations:

• The Kathmandu is a popular model in the CUBE lineup, and the 45 here is their speed pedelec (Class 3) version of the bike that can go 45km/hr (28mph) vs. just 32km/hr (20mph) like the others. It’s an excellent choice if you want to ride faster to keep up with traffic or shorten your commute time. This particular model is only sold in the US and parts of Europe that allow Class 3 models. For those who do purchase in Europe, the bike will include an electronic horn, bar-end mirror, brake light activation, and license plate holder as they are required by law.
• While this particular model comes stock with the older (but very good) Bosch Intuvia display panel, Bosch has also made the Kiox and Nyon display panels available as retrofit upgrades to be sold and installed separately for those who wish to utilize the Bosch Connected ebike app, heart rate monitors, and GPS navigation features which I describe in more detail in this forum post.
• I was impressed that the CUBE website listed the bike as weighing 57lbs and my own measurement was 57.5lbs. That’s very accurate and makes me trust the company because some competitors do sneaky things like weigh without the pedals or just don’t list a weight at all. Furthermore, they were up front with me about the possibility of some delays based on international shipping and availability. They just seem like a good company.

Pros:

• This is a fully featured electric bike with everything you need to ride comfortably in almost any kind of environment including sunny, rainy, pavement, gravel, and packed dirt trails. Notice the air suspension fork with lockout and rebound adjustability, the hybrid tires that offer additional stability based on their width and air volume, and the integrated fenders and lights. All of this, and it’s the speed pedelec version that’s capable of higher speed riding. Here’s my review of the standard Kathmandu with Bosch CX motor that’s well suited to trail and mountain conditions where Class 1 ebikes are allowed but not Class 3 like this one.
• The fenders and chain cover are made from plastic that won’t get bent, won’t rust, doesn’t weigh as much as metal, but is thick enough to feel sturdy and not vibrate a whole lot. They were fairly quiet on pavement and packed trails, but I did hear some rattling on clumpy grass at higher speeds (as shown in the video review above).
• Ergonomics and comfort are addressed by the adjustable suspension fork, higher volume tires, locking ergonomic grips, and custom memory foam saddle. These upgraded accessories, combined with five frame sizes and two frame styles (low-step and mid-step) really set this ebike apart. Comfort is important when riding long distances and at higher speeds, and this ebike has the highest capacity battery from Bosch right now, the PowerTube 625. For even more comfort, consider swapping the rigid seatpost with a 30.9mm suspension post like this, or a cheaper one that might require a 30.9mm to 27.2mm shim adapter like this.
• Unique integrated rear rack provides a clean look while reducing rattling and failure points. Most rear racks are bolted on to the frame at four points, but this rack was welded to the frame and painted to match! The Racktime platform on top is bolted on, but adds a spring latch, slider accessory interface, space for a trunk bag and additional pannier hangers on the sides that won’t interfere with a top bag. The platform is positioned far enough back that the seat can be lowered all the way down without colliding with your gear. It supports up to 25kg (55lbs) of weight, and will probably work with most child seat carriers that connect from the sides, like this one. It’s really the best of all worlds, except that it lacks bungee loops at the very bottom. I do appreciate that it also supports the rear fender in two spots, which reduces rattling noise there.
• Excellent integrated lights here! The headlight has a bright 110 LUX beam that is angled down so as not to blind oncoming traffic or cyclists, and it’s positioned up high on the handlebar vs. down on the suspension arch. This means the beam won’t be blocked by the fender and wheel. The rear light uses four LEDs instead of just one, and it’s built into the fender, it won’t get blocked by the rack or bags as easily as many other designs, and it appeared to be very durable.
• Amazing drivetrain with 12 gears and a super wide 10-51 tooth cassette (over 500% gear ratio)! This provides easier starts and climbing, as well as comfortable high-speed cadence support. The Shimano Deore XT derailleur is durable, lightweight, and somewhat adjustable because it has a one-way clutch to reduce chain bounce at speed. You can click this clutch into the downward position to loosen the derailleur for easy wheel removal (and both wheels have quick release for easy trail maintenance). Note that there’s a clear plastic sticker on the right chainstay to protect the paint if the chain does touch it when riding off-road.
• I like the Shimano Deore XT 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. And, they offer a multi-shift low lever for dumping gears quickly as you approach a hill. Some of the cheaper shifters have one-way high levers that don’t support this option and very few have rubberized grip like the XT model here, it feels great.
• Top of the line Magura MT5e electric bike specific brakes with lightweight carbotexture housing material, radial quad piston calipers that follow the curve of the rotor, and huge 203mm rotors that offer an increased mechanical advantage for stopping and more surface area for cooling. These brakes are really excellent, Magura is one of the nicer brands, and their levers actuate very predictably, offer adjustable reach, and just feel great. The European version of the bike has a brake light switch built into the levers, so you get an added feature vs. the American version where the rear light is just on or off based on your choice from the control pad.
• I was impressed to discover that the lights on the American version can be turned on or off, just using the dedicated light button on the Bosch Intuvia display! Some speed pedelecs do not allow users to turn the lights off or they force them to be on during charging (cough, Specialized, cough), so I love the freedom here that CUBE is offering.
• Larger wheels create a lower attack angle, which provides a smoother ride. The bike comes with name brand ALEXRIMS that have reinforcement eyelets for extra strength and 36 spokes, to last and last (great for touring or trekking). The rims and tires also come tubeless ready if you wish to convert for less weight and lower tire pressure options.
• Excellent Schwalbe Marathon E Plus ebike specific tires here. They come with a puncture protective liner built in, as well as reflective stripes on the sides to keep you visible. At 28″ x 2.15″ these tires provide enough air volume to act as a shock absorber at lower pressure, and enough width to provide stability that reduces falls if you ride across cracks, train tracks, or loose gravel trails.
• Both wheels offer quick release for easy trail maintenance and transport. The removable battery is nice for reducing weight if you’re mounting the bike on a car rack or storing the bike frame in a hot or cold environment (try to keep the battery charged and store it in a cool, dry location), and even the seat clamp is quick release… it’s setup for versatility vs. security, so consider a long cable and saddle cable to secure them with your U-lock or folding lock when visiting cities.
• CUBE paid extra for an ABUS locking core and key to secure the battery, and this particular model can be matched to other ABUS accessories like U-locks, frame locks, folding locks, and cable locks. This means you don’t need as many keys to operate and park the bike, it reduces clutter and saves time. However, I’ve heard that ordering custom keyed locks can take months, depending on the hardware and season… ask your shop.
• The Bosch Intuvia display panel is one of my favorites. It’s large, easy to read day or night, even bright conditions. And, it has a Micro-USB charging port built into the side for maintaining a phone or other electronic accessory. This display is also removable, which prevents tampering and reduces scratches and fading of the LCD. Bosch now offers the Kiox and Nyon as optional retrofit upgrades if you want a color readout, smartphone app, heart rate monitor support, and GPS integration. I actually really love the Intuvia.
• The 4th generation Bosch Performance Line Speed motor is one of my favorite ebike motors ever. It’s super smart (responding to pedal cadence, pedal torque, and rear wheel speed over 1,000 times per second), lightweight at roughly 6.4lbs 2.9kg, and uses a full sized standard chainring with no reduction gearing drag. The motor controller even provides shift detection, easing back power when it thinks you are changing gears. This reduces drivetrain wear and derailment.
• The 4th generation Bosch Performance Line CX, Speed, Cargo Speed, and Cargo motors have been upgraded from 75 newton meters of peak torque to 85nm! Additional features are increased power at lower cadence and Extended Boost which smooths out power between pedal strokes, which is great for climbing technical terrain. So, even though this is the Speed version of the motor, it is still very capable of climbing and hauling heavier loads. The bike is rated to carry a total of 140kg (308lbs) which includes the 57lb weight of the bike, so keep that in mind, it’s closer to 250lbs total, with 55lbs of that being available for the rear rack.
• The custom frame was purpose built to hide the battery pack and orient the motor in such a way that shorter reach can be achieved on the smaller frame sizes and the chainstays can be shorter for tighter turns. Notice the plastic motor housing with cooling vents below and on the sides, the motor has a plastic shield surround for protection off-road.
• I love that CUBE squeezed two bottle cage mounts onto the high-step frame, and one bottle cage mount on the mid-step. Interestingly, they even seem to have a fender or rear rack mount in addition to the existing rack and fender near the rear dropout. I point this out in the video review. They just nailed it, which could make a difference for travelers with special add-on gear.
• Another small detail is the kickstand hardware. It’s very tight and sturdy, not rattling around much when stowing or riding over bumpy terrain. You can adjust the length by simply twisting the plastic base section… no tools required! It’s a proprietary stand that mounts at the rear using just one bolt. It’s positioned far from the cranks, so you won’t get pedal lock like many other ebikes I’ve tested.
• Overall good weight distribution, the motor and battery are positioned at the center of the frame and kept very low. This improves stability and handling, which is important if you’re transporting gear, traveling off-road, or navigating wet or icy roads.
• Sealed bearing headset and bottom bracket provide protection in wet environments. This reduces creak and premature wear. Note the tighter ISIS splined spindle and longer 175mm crank arms on this ebike. These are performance parts… the longer cranks provide smooth, efficient, natural pedal movement but are only possible when a frame is higher off the ground with 28″ 700c wheels, otherwise you risk frequent pedal strikes. The smaller sized frames may have shorter 170mm crank arms, but I couldn’t confirm this.
• 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.
• The saddle on this ebike is clearly an upgrade, it has red accents to match the frame color scheme and uses memory foam! I appreciate how all of the little details on this bike were taken care of to optimize performance and aesthetics. Notice the black hubs, spokes, and rims with glossy branding marks (like the Alexrims logos), it’s very tasteful vs. loud and obnoxious.
• One very minor detail, the cranks don’t spin backwards freely. There’s a bit of resistance built-in (even though the drivetrain chainring and chain don’t actually cycle backwards like a normal bike, as is the case with many mid-motor ebikes). Anyway, the benefit here is that the cranks and pedals won’t spin out of control and hit your shins, which hurts ;)

Cons:

• CUBE has a Canadian website, and a European website, but they don’t seem to have a United States website. So, you might struggle to get the official price and see photos and details relating to the North America version of this ebike. I did, but was able to reach official reps at the company to get my questions answered, which are all conveyed within the stats and review details here.
• Weighing in at roughly 57.5lbs (26kg) for the high-step, the Kathmandu is fairly heavy for a hardtail electric bike with premium parts like the air suspension. Some of this has to do with the high capacity Bosch PowerTube 625 battery pack, lights, fenders, and frame-integrated rear rack. While the fenders and rack platform can be removed, the metal support structure of the rack cannot.
• I like the rear rack because it matches the frame color and has a versatile Racktime platform on top with spring latch and pannier supports, but CUBE could have easily welded bungee loops or pannier blockers to the lower portion for an extra cargo option, and they did not.
• I found it time consuming and somewhat difficult to remove the battery pack from this ebike because of the crowded front wheel + fender position. It’s a multi-step process where you first remove the plastic cover, then insert the key and twist hard against a spring lock, then press the battery lock tab and carefully remove the 7.8lb pack.
• Since the plastic cover for the battery pack does not lock to the frame, it could get stolen more easily than some alternative designs… but at least it’s standardized and probably easier/cheaper to replace.
• I was a little disappointed to discover that the key must be inserted and twisted against the lock spring to re-insert the battery pack. This can be difficult to accomplish while also holding the battery in position and trying to align it properly, it requires extra coordination. The upside is that it probably locks the battery more securely than some of the alternative battery mount designs.
• Even though the drivetrain has a nice plastic cover to protect pants and dress ends, there is no chain guide mechanism to reduce chain drops and the chainring is standard vs. narrow-wide. I usually see two alloy plates, a seat tube mounted plastic guide, or narrow-wide tooth pattern on the chainring for ebikes that are designed for light off-road use or high speed riding. Thankfully, the Shimano Deore XT derailleur has a one-way clutch that adds tension for riding (just click the grey lever into the up position to lock it), this will also reduce chain slap and noise when riding on bumpy terrain.
• 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) and this particular model is only being sold in the US and Europe. If you don’t live near a big city, you may struggle to find this bike, and it may not be available online.
• The bike is only available in one color scheme. It looks pretty good and I feel that the tones are gender neutral, but given the five sizes and two frame styles, it’s a bit of a drawback if you’re getting one for you and a partner who wants to look unique or different to tell the bikes apart.
• I really love the fourth generation Bosch Performance Line Speed 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. I’m glad that they are using standard sized chainrings now vs. the earlier generations that had reduction gearing.
• The location of the battery charging port is very low on the left side of the downtube, pretty close to the left crank arm. When plugged in, the charging cable actually blocks the rotation path of the left crank arm, so be careful not to bump the pedals. Consider charging the battery off the bike, and do store it in a cool dry location when not in use as extreme cold and heat will impact the cells.
• 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. I’ve tested demo bikes that actually had the spoke magnet twisted a bit already, so pay special attention to this even when buying brand new.
• While the fenders that come with this ebike appear to offer great tire coverage, the front one produced a noticeable rattle noise when riding through grass because it’s only connected to the suspension fork lowers and arch with rubber band type clasps vs. screws. Plastic seems to rattle more than aluminum alloy or steel, but is very flexible, durable, and lightweight.
• The headlight is super bright, positioned well, and appeared to be very durable with a metal housing, but it doesn’t have side windows that could keep you visible from more angles. This is a minor complaint, but something that is done well by competing lights as seen on something like the BULLS Iconic EVO TR 1 Speed.
• As much as I love the Bosch Intuvia display panel, it does not offer bluetooth or Ant+ wireless connection that would work with the Bosch smartphone apps and other fitness devices. You can upgrade to the Kiox or Nyon in many cases, if you order the part and pay your shop for some help.
• The stock plastic pedals aren’t as wide as I’m used to, so my foot didn’t feel as secure when testing this ebike. It’s pretty affordable to replace them with something like the Wellgo MG-1 Magnesium platform pedals, which have great traction and are lightweight.

Useful Resources:

• Official European CUBE website.
• Bosch Intuvia ebike display settings.
• CUBE local ebike shop directory.