Test: The Cube Nuroad SL is an aluminum gravel bike that is extremely popular in this country and is already entering its third season in 2020. For an attractive price you get excellent equipment and a pleasantly smooth-running, versatile gravel bike.
Cube Nuroad SL: The facts
Frame material: Aluminium
Wheel size(s): 700 tsp
Maximum tire clearance: 40 mm
Axle dimensions (v/h): 12 × 100/142 × 12
Mudguard Eyelets: Rear only
Luggage carrier eyelets (v/h): No Yes
bottle holder: down tube up, seat tube
Weight wheels v/h/total (with tires and brake discs): 1.560g / 1.754g / 3.314g
Weight complete bike without pedals (size M): 9,82kg
Price: € 1.699
Nice frame, light fork and sporty geometry
When it was launched on the market two years ago, the Cube Nuroad was probably one of the bikes that saw the gravel bike outgrow its niche and finally reach the masses. A sporty and versatile bike at an attractive price and with consistently solid equipment - as you are used to from Cube. This was exactly what many had been waiting for at the time. No wonder little has changed from the basic Nuroad recipe to this day. A total of five model variants between 2020 and 999 euros are available for 1.699, which not only differ in their equipment, but also in their area of application. Nevertheless, they all have the aluminum frame in common, which, in addition to a thru-axle at the rear, also offers mounting options for mudguards and a luggage rack. There is also space for the usual two bottle cages in the frame triangle.
The designers have also done their homework on the subject of tire clearance. Cube states that 40mm wide tires including mudguards fit into the frame - if you can do without the latter, you should also be able to mount 42mm tires without any problems. Let’s stay with the subject of fenders for a moment and take a quick look at the equipment of our test bike: A lighter fork is installed on the Cube Nuroad SL top model than on the other equipment variants – with a carbon shaft and a weight of less than 450g. Unfortunately, you have to do without mounting eyelets for a mudguard. That's a pity and limits the field of application a little.
According to the company, the geometry of the Nuroad is based on the endurance bike Attain, but you could make the right adjustments to make the Nuroad a real Graveller. In any case, an endurance bike is much better suited as a basis for a gravel bike than a cyclocross bike, for example. Expressed in figures, this means that the Nuroad has been given a slightly slacker steering angle and noticeably longer chainstays - both of which should noticeably benefit the smooth running.
Geometry Cube Nuroad SL
| 50 | 53 | 55 | 58 | 61 | |
| seat tube (in mm) | 470 | 500 | 520 | 550 | 580 |
| Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 517 | 537 | 560 | 575 | 592 |
| head tube (in mm) | 118 | 140 | 170 | 190 | 213 |
| chainstay (in mm) | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 |
| Wheelbase (in mm) | 1018 | 1023 | 1032 | 1037 | 1048 |
| Steering angle (in °) | 70 | 71 | 71.5 | 72 | 72.5 |
| Seat angle (in °) | 75.2 | 74.5 | 73.5 | 73 | 73 |
| Reach (mm) | 376 | 382 | 386 | 389 | 398 |
| Stacks (in mm) | 533 | 557 | 588 | 609 | 632 |
First-class equipment for an entry-level bike
At 1.699 euros, the price of the Cube Nuroad SL is roughly in the middle of our entry-level gravel bikes. In terms of weight, it is one of the lighter at 9,8 kg, which, in addition to the rather light frame set, is undoubtedly also due to the equipment, in which the bike does not show any weaknesses. In addition to a complete Shimano GRX group including the right brakes, there are the very good Mavic Allroad wheels and attachments from Newmen, among others - that's first class considering the price.
There was hardly any other innovation that shaped gravel bikes like Shimano's new GRX group. So it's not surprising that Cube also donated this to the Nuroad SL; There's a chainring at the front and the 11-42 cassette at the back. So you get a decent range of not quite 400%, which should make most drivers happy, especially since the 40-point sheet softens the hardest gear a bit.
| frame | Cube Nuroad 6061 |
| suspension fork | Cube Nuroad Disc C:62 |
| Wheels | Mavic All Road Disc |
| Tubes | Schwalbe G-One Allround 40mm |
| derailleur | Shimano GRX RD-RX812 |
| Gear levers | Shimano GRX ST-RX810 |
| Crank | Shimano GRX FC-RX600 40t |
| Front derailleur | Without |
| Brake | Shimano GRX Disc |
| Seat post | Newman Evolution 27.2mm |
| Saddle | Natural Fit Nuance Lite |
| Stem | Newman Evolution 318 |
| Links | Cube Gravel Race Bar |
As mentioned at the beginning, the Mavic wheelset is really a highlight in this price range. The Mavic Allroad presented two years ago are pleasantly light at just under 1.900g (without tires) - despite the 22mm wide rim, which allows the gravel tires to develop optimally. The 40mm wide Schwalbe G-Ones are factory-fitted here – a good thing, after all the tire is one of the best all-rounders on the market. Also nice: The combination can be converted to tubeless without any problems and without much effort.
Some components from our own company are used for the add-on parts, such as the good Nuance Lite saddle. The support and stem are based on Newmen quality. The 460mm wide Cube Gravel Race handlebar is striking.
More tests, products and background information about the Velomotion Gravel Month:
- Storck Grix Platinum Ultegra Di2 gravel bike in test: Race tourer for gravel and off-road
- GT Grade Carbon Pro in the gravel bike test: Comfortable triangle for lots of driving fun?!
- Orbea Terra M30-D in the gravel bike test: Lively bike for training and gravel tours
- NS Bikes Rag+ 2 in the gravel bike test: Convincing aluminum all-rounder
- Rondo Ruut CF 2 in the gravel bike test: Fast gravel bike with a striking look
Let's Gravel: The Cube Nuroad SL
The Cube Nuroad is already two years old as a gravel bike, making it one of the longest-serving representatives in the test field. In practice, however, this does not have a negative impact: the designers have pretty much hit the mark with the seating position and have found a good balance between comfort and sportiness - just as we would like for a gravel bike. Otherwise, a lot of emphasis was placed on smooth running - you can tell. The extremely good-natured behavior is positive, even when it rattles quite a bit, on the other hand the bike rides almost a little on stilts at times. The extremely wide handlebars also play their part, for which the same applies as for the bike as a whole: A lot of control is offset by somewhat bulky handling.
You've done your homework on comfort. The Nuroad was one of the most comfortable bikes with an aluminum frame in the test field. The Mavic Allroad wheels and the 40mm Schwalbe G-One tires certainly play a part in this. The former in particular are an equipment highlight. Reliable technology based on experience meets low weight and pleasantly wide and tubeless-capable rims.
In general, the great equipment in this price range is anything but a matter of course. The complete Shimano GRX 600 group offers everything a gravel rider could wish for, because after all it was only designed for this purpose. The ergonomics of the handles, which are comfortable to hold even on uneven ground, are particularly pleasant. Although they cannot quite keep up with Di2 STIs, these are only available on significantly more expensive bikes. At almost 400%, the bandwidth is sufficient for most areas of application - only in very mountainous regions do you either have to make compromises or bring the appropriate thighs with you.
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