New Member: North Vancouver, Canada: Cube Reaction Hybrid EXC E750 Hardtail

[slenemtbforums]

Hey All,

Looking so forward to the new bike and getting back into mountain biking. This E-bike revolution has changed things significantly for me and allowed a 50+ year old, over weight guy to get back into something that has been missing since my 20s. I have a young son that is just getting into mountain biking as well and this allows us to ride together wherever on the North Shore mountains we want that matches out abilities with loads of room to expand on them.

I took a mountain bike course last fall and have been renting E-MTB bikes over the past year to get myself back into this world with the correct skills, mindset and understanding of trail etiquette.

I had originally decided on a Rocky Mountain Growler Powerplay, but instead after some research decide on the new Cube Reaction Hybrid EXC E750 hardtail. I decided to go hardtail as I was told and believe that it is a better platform to learn your skills on and then move to fully suspended if the terrain progression requires it. I also went with the hardtail as it will also act as a commuter bike. So a rear pannier and lights will be added.

I have been watching YouTube videos on how to build a bike out of a box (its being shipped from Edmonton, AB), things to check on a new bike before your first ride and first upgrades I might go for. All super useful info. I joined here to increase my access to a more concise knowledge base that I can leverage for specific questions and to help out once I get a feel for the new bike.

I plan to do a full review of the bike once I have it built out to my spec. Looking forward to all of this.

Cheers

 

[slenemtbforums]

Hey All,

Looking so forward to the new bike and getting back into mountain biking. This E-bike revolution has changed things significantly for me and allowed a 50+ year old, over weight guy to get back into something that has been missing since my 20s. I have a young son that is just getting into mountain biking as well and this allows us to ride together wherever on the North Shore mountains we want that matches out abilities with loads of room to expand on them.

I took a mountain bike course last fall and have been renting E-MTB bikes over the past year to get myself back into this world with the correct skills, mindset and understanding of trail etiquette.

I had originally decided on a Rocky Mountain Growler Powerplay, but instead after some research decide on the new Cube Reaction Hybrid EXC E750 hardtail. I decided to go hardtail as I was told and believe that it is a better platform to learn your skills on and then move to fully suspended if the terrain progression requires it. I also went with the hardtail as it will also act as a commuter bike. So a rear pannier and lights will be added.

I have been watching YouTube videos on how to build a bike out of a box (its being shipped from Edmonton, AB), things to check on a new bike before your first ride and first upgrades I might go for. All super useful info. I joined here to increase my access to a more concise knowledge base that I can leverage for specific questions and to help out once I get a feel for the new bike.

I plan to do a full review of the bike once I have it built out to my spec. Looking forward to all of this.

Cheers

View attachment 90649

Well, its been 3 years since this post and this bike in this spec has been discontinued. But, Id still like to post a review of what I have done to this bike and what I have learned as point of reference for those future first time emtb buyers.

First, this was absolutely the best choice for me as a person getting back into mountain biking. I love this bike and where it has brought me. Especially the hardtail choice. Im a better rider for it. No regrets.

Second, what I did to upgrade it. Full-on mountain bike tires. Dropper post. Shorter/lighter crank arms. Seat, pedals & grips. After taking a bad fall it became very clear proper mountain bike tires had to happen. The crank arm upgrade from 175mm to 155mm to improve ground clearance. The dropper post was my first upgrade. I will never ride without one now.

Thirdly, things I have learned. Weight and geometry matter! This thing weighs a LOT and the geometry ain't great. It has been an amazing first bike but I have outgrown its specs even with my upgrades and the biggest shortcoming that I cant fix are weight and geometry. I wish bike companies were putting out more options for hardtail emtb bikes. But alas.

Anyways I hope this finds people that where I was 3 years ago and is of some use.

Cheers

 

[Paulquattro]

Hi
Thanks for the update
Depending on your style of riding weight isn't such a problem but geo definitely is

 

[Stihldog]

I agree, geometry was the final touch for me once the correct bike size was determined. It took a number of rides, on different terrain, to decide my “fine-tuning”.
Bar width, bar angle, stem length, seat position, seat type, crank length, peddle type, grips, etc.

And then I did the same thing to my new Fuel EXE. If I was to close my eyes, and sit on either bike, I couldn’t tell the difference…until I started to peddle.

 

[slenemtbforums]

Hey All,

Looking so forward to the new bike and getting back into mountain biking. This E-bike revolution has changed things significantly for me and allowed a 50+ year old, over weight guy to get back into something that has been missing since my 20s. I have a young son that is just getting into mountain biking as well and this allows us to ride together wherever on the North Shore mountains we want that matches out abilities with loads of room to expand on them.

I took a mountain bike course last fall and have been renting E-MTB bikes over the past year to get myself back into this world with the correct skills, mindset and understanding of trail etiquette.

I had originally decided on a Rocky Mountain Growler Powerplay, but instead after some research decide on the new Cube Reaction Hybrid EXC E750 hardtail. I decided to go hardtail as I was told and believe that it is a better platform to learn your skills on and then move to fully suspended if the terrain progression requires it. I also went with the hardtail as it will also act as a commuter bike. So a rear pannier and lights will be added.

I have been watching YouTube videos on how to build a bike out of a box (its being shipped from Edmonton, AB), things to check on a new bike before your first ride and first upgrades I might go for. All super useful info. I joined here to increase my access to a more concise knowledge base that I can leverage for specific questions and to help out once I get a feel for the new bike.

I plan to do a full review of the bike once I have it built out to my spec. Looking forward to all of this.

Cheers

So a 2nd update is required here as I forgot about another upgrade that I should have mentioned in my 1st update. The front fork. I going to upgrade to the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 in a 140mm with a 44mm offset. It offers a big upgrade at a great price point. Its lighter than the stock Judy fork, its stiffer with 34mm stanchions, offers more travel, more adjustability and slightly slackens the front end. Win. Win. Win. After that I'm pretty well at the end of what I can do and will probably move to a SL style of full suspended ebike like the Specialized Evo SL.

 

[slenemtbforums]

Hi
Thanks for the update
Depending on your style of riding weight isn't such a problem but geo definitely is

Geo makes a huge difference in regards to actual riding and handling but weight makes a difference in everyday use. Lifting it onto our car bike rack, a bus bike rack, a ski lift at the bike park ar just a few examples. Plus in the ride performance at 56+ Lbs this thing gains speed going downhill, especially when jumping, at a frightening rate. Also a lighter bike is easier to flick around the tight technical stuff. This bike doesn't flick.

 

[slenemtbforums]

I agree, geometry was the final touch for me once the correct bike size was determined. It took a number of rides, on different terrain, to decide my “fine-tuning”.
Bar width, bar angle, stem length, seat position, seat type, crank length, peddle type, grips, etc.

And then I did the same thing to my new Fuel EXE. If I was to close my eyes, and sit on either bike, I couldn’t tell the difference…until I started to peddle.

The Fuel EXE, Levo Sl and others in the SL category will be my next move to a new full suspended emtb.