Cube Fold Sport Hybrid 500 Cube

How does a Cube compare to other e-bikes?

It’s German! And, that means a lot. Germany is home to largest e-bike market in the world and also the highest regulations. This regulatory environment produces some of the best products out there since each brand competes with other brands for the highest level of safety. These regulations, known as the Straßenverkehrszulassungsordnung (try saying that three times fast!) cover everything from the nature of dynamo or electric lighting beams (and how they are not permitted to blind oncoming traffic) to the quality of everything from the kickstand to the rear racks. Built in Germany, Cube thus has access to tons of German parts that are made-in-Germany and are not easily available in China – where most e-bikes are made. Finally, there’s just something ephemeral about the deep experience and maturity that is built into a Cube bike. Where so many North American brands are still figuring out how to build e-bikes, Cube has that all figured out and leads from the front. 

Why Bosch as the motor/battery system?

Bosch has been supplying the automotive industry for over 100 years and when they entered the e-bike market in the early 2000s they did so with a commitment to carrying over their extensive experience and focus on high standards of quality and reliability. As evidence of this Bosch was the first e-bike brand to ensure all of its motors, batteries and chargers meet UL 2849, an international e-bike safety standard. 

Bosch also draws on its automotive experience to create and maintain a massive network of highly trained dealers and service centres. This means you won’t struggle to find service for your bike whether that’s with us or in another city around the world. 

Due to the high quality of the motor/battery systems and the massive network of service centres, investing in a Bosch system will save you time and money on maintenance and repairs over the life of the bike. Bosch also offers a spare parts guarantee, meaning they are committed to producing replacement parts, even for their discontinued systems, which means a longer life for your bike!

Does the battery lock to the bike?

Yep. That’s one expensive chunk of Lithium Ion. Frame-mounted batteries lock on to the down-tube and only you can remove them with the key provided. Internal frame batteries are built into the bike, so no need to worry!

How long does it take to charge the battery?

It takes about five hours to charge a single battery from flat to full. The batteries don’t have memory so there is no problem if you only charge the battery a little bit, halfway, or whatever. You’ll get over 1000 complete charges, which is typically 5+ years of use before a replacement is required.

Is the unit serviceable?

You bet it is. For years the e-assist market was dominated by small fly-by-night companies with good ideas and no balance sheet. The consumer took all the risk and were often left with technical assistance phone numbers that no longer worked. Cube partner with Bosch, a huge player in the e-bike market – and they are sophisticated, which means they are updatable, diagnosable, and if something does break, fundamentally repairable.

What’s the lifetime on the battery?

On average you will get about 18,000-20,000 miles from the battery before it needs to be replaced.

This is expensive! Will it get stolen?

Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs (unfortunately) and most bike losses are due to inferior or cheap locks. Make sure you buy a good ABUS U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe. You can read more about bike theft here.

What’s the warranty?

For the original owner, Cube offers a two-year warranty for manufacturer defects on frame and fork, five years for frame / swingarm breakage, and two years on the battery. Does not include wear and tear.