Cube Nuroad SLX: Electronic SRAM at a top price

Cube Nuroad SLX review: With its combination of an aluminum frame and electronic groupset, this new gravel bike offers exceptional value for money. It's not only incredibly affordable, but also remarkably good.

This is unprecedented: a gravel bike with a modern electronic groupset for under €2.000. At a time when price reductions are commonplace in the cycling industry due to full warehouses and weakening consumer spending, Cube is pulling out all the stops and undercutting its competitors by a full €1,000. This is also due to a simple trick: the combination of an aluminum frame and SRAM Rival XPLR makes the Cube Nuroad SLX quite unique.

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Cube Nuroad SLX: the highlights

• Aluminum frame with integrated welds and balanced geometry
• Numerous mounting options for add-on components, fully integrated cables
• Permissible tire width 50 mm
• Electronic SRAM Rival XPLR 1×13, Newmen Performance XR25 wheelset
• Weight 10,04 kg, price 1.999 Euro

Cube Nuroad SLX: The most affordable way to 1×13

Those wanting to ride SRAM's most affordable 13-speed gravel groupset are typically limited to a carbon frame, which already costs around €3.000 from price-aggressive manufacturers like Canyon. In the premium segment, the Rival XPLR is fitted to gravel bikes costing up to €4.500. The groupset itself isn't actually that expensive – so it makes sense to mount it on an aluminum frame along with some simpler components to create an affordable complete bike with top-of-the-line parts. Those who calculate carefully can give the competition a run for its money – although, of course, the competition could be using the same strategy.

The aluminum frame, to which Cube mounts the high-end SRAM components, has already proven itself on various models starting at just under €1.100. Thanks to its tubes, which appear seamlessly joined in the upper section, it looks like a carbon model at first glance, and the "nose" in the head tube, the flattened top tube, and the slightly lower chainstays hint at modern aerodynamic lines. Besides the silver test bike with the striking CMYK logo, there's a version called "Autumn'n'Black" with a shimmering paint finish.

The frame triangle offers various mounting options, and a lowrider rack can be attached to the carbon fork, along with a dynamo cable. Mudguards can also be fitted, although this reduces the maximum tire width from 50 to 45 mm. A special adapter allows a rear rack to be mounted without removing the rear wheel. The brake lines are routed internally from the cockpit, with the rear line routed externally around the bottom bracket shell.

The Cube Nuroad SLX is based on a balanced, sporty geometry with a noticeable increase in height and a relatively small increase in length between the individual sizes. Those who prefer a more upright riding position can easily opt for a larger frame. Conversely, a more aggressive riding position is also possible, especially since the stem can easily be replaced with a longer version.

At ten kilos, it's neither heavy nor light.

At just over ten kilograms (size M), the aluminum bike isn't particularly light, but it's worth considering that carbon bikes in a similar price range with simpler components generally don't weigh much less. However, converting the 1.700-gram Newmen wheelset to tubeless can save a good 100 grams per wheel. The saddle and aluminum seatpost together weigh 650 grams – investing 200 euros here improves damping comfort and shaves off another 200 grams.

While the weight isn't the main attraction of this bike – it's the superbly functioning SRAM components that truly stand out, components that would normally cost significantly more. A highlight is the ergonomic shape of the brake levers, which can be gripped with the whole hand while simultaneously allowing for effective braking with the index finger. The large shift paddles beneath the brake levers are easily accessible and intuitive to use: a tap on the right shifts to a harder gear, a tap on the left to an easier one. The button assignments can also be reversed. The Rival differs from the more expensive SRAM Force and Red groupsets in only three aspects: it's heavier, primarily due to the aluminum crankset, has a more understated design, and lacks the additional shift buttons on the controls.

SRAM's 13-speed cassette is available in a single, but very well-chosen, gear ratio: the four hardest gears are finely spaced in single increments; these are followed by four double increments, and the gear jumps become progressively larger towards the climbing gears. The gear changes are therefore extremely smooth, and with a 460% range, the cassette's overall gear range is also very wide. Incidentally, even the high-end SRAM Red groupset doesn't shift faster or more precisely than the Rival on the Cube Nuroad SLX, especially since the electronic components are identical.

Electronic SRAM Rival XPLR with optimal shifting performance

The full-mount derailleur stands out due to its unusual size; more important, however, are its internal features: The battery is neatly integrated and easily removable for charging, with an indicator light showing green, yellow, or red during each shift to show the charge level. Removing the rear wheel is a breeze: the derailleur cage swings forward and locks into place, making the process incredibly simple. Furthermore, the derailleur is very robustly designed, and individual components can be replaced if necessary. In short: SRAM has achieved a major success with its "XPLR" gravel groupset – and with the new Nuroad SLX, Cube is now making this technology accessible to a significantly wider range of riders.

And what about the rest of the bike? The Cube Nuroad SLX offers more than just a high-quality groupset for riding enjoyment. Rearranging the spacers from below to above the stem lowers it by 15 mm, resulting in a sporty and compact riding position. The 90 mm stem and relatively steep head angle contribute to very agile and responsive handling. The aluminum handlebars are also not too wide, further emphasizing the Cube's sporty character.

Driving pleasure on asphalt as well as on trails

With its 45 mm wide, grippy Continental tires, the Nuroad is also suitable for winding trails; at the same time, the bike tracks straight and can be quickly brought up to speed thanks to its stable frame. The double-digit weight isn't too noticeable – and as mentioned, a pound or so can easily be shed.

Our conclusion? For anyone who doesn't have specific requirements like optimized aerodynamics or maximum weight reduction, the new Cube Nuroad SLX offers everything you could currently expect from a gravel bike: versatile usability from everyday riding to trail riding, a balanced and sporty riding and steering geometry, and a state-of-the-art electronic component group. Mounting all of this on a proven aluminum frame allows for a price that no competitor can currently match. Hats off to Cube!

Are you interested in the new Cube Nuroad?
If you would like to buy this – or any other – bike online, please use this link.
By doing so, you support Velomotion; this allows us to continue being free to read.
This will not put you at a disadvantage.