CUBE Kathmandu Hybrid Pro 625 Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I regularly charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was not sponsored by CUBE or Cap’s Bike Shop. 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:

• Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, a country famous for the Himalayan mountains and Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world above sea level. This is also the largest city in Nepal! Perhaps CUBE named the bike after it because of its excellent climbing ability and long range battery pack. It combines many comfort features with trail-worthy hardware for what I consider to be a great price point.
• The Kathmandu electric bikes utilize fourth generation Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive motors. This makes them eligible for a software update (available Summer 2020) that will increase motor torque from 75 newton meters to 85nm. Additionally, the update will increase power output at low cadence levels and add “Extended Boost” for the eMTB assist setting. This feature provides continuous support to smooth out starts and climbs, which is relevant for heavier bikes, passengers, and loads. 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.

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, packed dirt trails
• 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 (which causes noise)
• Ergonomics and comfort are addressed by the adjustable suspension fork, adjustable suspension seatpost, premium adjustable angle stem (with two bolts for added strength), locking ergonomic grips, and custom memory foam saddle. These upgraded accessories, combined with five frame sizes and three frame styles (low-step, mid-step, and high-step) really set this ebike apart. Comfort is important when riding long distances, and this ebike has the highest capacity battery from Bosch right now, the PowerTube 625.
• 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’s really the best of all worlds.
• Excellent integrated lights here! The headlight has a bright 50 LUX beam that is angled down so as not to blind oncoming traffic or cyclists as well two side windows to keep you visible from more angles. The rear light uses two LEDs instead of just one, and it’s inset on the rack; protected from impact while still shining out at multiple angles.
• Great drivetrain with 10 gears and a wide 11-42 tooth cassette. This provides easier starts and climbing, as well as comfortable high-speed cadence support. The Shimano Deore derailleur has a one-way clutch to reduce chain bounce and there’s a rubberized sticker on the right chainstay to protect the paint if the chain does touch it when riding off-road
• 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.
• Great Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with capable 180mm rotors. The three finger levers give you plenty of braking power, and offer adjustable reach for different hand sizes. Given the taller 28″ wheels of this ebike, the larger disc brakes provided a necessary mechanical advantage
• 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, using thicker 13 gauge wire, to last and last. The rims also come tubeless ready if you wish to convert for less weight and lower tire pressure options
• Excellent Schwalbe Big Ben balloon 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 or train tracks.
• 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)
• 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 locks the bike from 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.
• The 4th generation Bosch Performance Line CX is one of my favorite ebike motors ever. It’s super smart (responding to pedal cadence, pedal torque, and rear wheel speed), lightweight at just 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 can now be upgraded from 75 newton meters of torque to 85nm for free! Bosch certified ebike dealers can help with this, and it should take just 30 minutes or so. 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.
• 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. Notice the plastic motor housing with cooling vents below and on the sides, there are even bottle cage bosses and additional mounting points for different rack or fender accessories at the rear portion of the frame, which is awesome and fairly rare.
• 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, but it requires complete bolt removal. 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.
• 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:

• Weighing in at 58lbs (26kg), the Kathmandu is fairly heavy for a hardtail electric bike. Some of this has to do with the coil suspension fork, high capacity Bosch PowerTube 625 battery pack, and frame-integrated rear rack.
• I like the rear rack because it matches the frame color and has a versatile Racktime carrier 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 extra support.
• 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 while also holding the battery 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.
• The suspension fork isn’t bad, but it’s fairly basic. This surprised me given the higher level components found elsewhere on the bike. This fork has two preload clickers (that should be adjusted in tandem). There’s no compression lockout or rebound, and the coil fork is heavier than an air fork… but the tapered head tube makes this an easy part to replace or upgrade if you’d like, but that means the new fork won’t be color matched to the frame.
• The saddle on this ebike is clearly an upgrade, it has orange accents to match the frame color scheme and uses memory foam! Still, I found it a bit convex and rounded compared to some Ergon saddles that just feel better. This is a personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt ;)
• Even though the drivetrain has a nice wrap-around cover to protect pants and dress ends, there is no chain guide mechanism to reduce chain drops. 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. Thankfully, the Shimano Deore 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 in bumpy terrain.
• I was surprised that CUBE chose the slower Bosch Compact ebike charger for this model considering how nice everything else is, and how large the battery is! This charger could take 11+ hours, based on my calculations, to fully charge a drained battery. The good news is, the charger is smaller and lighter… and it probably costs CUBE less, which contributes to a lower overall price of the bike.
• 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.
• 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 three 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 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
• 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, 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. The demo bike I tested actually had the spoke magnet twisted a bit already, so pay special attention to this even when buying brand new.
• Minor consideration, the headlight is mounted to the arch of the suspension fork and may bounce up and down in this position because it’s unsprung vs. if it was mounted to the stem or handlebar which are sprung and higher up, offering improved visibility.

Useful Resources:

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