Hello,
I bought a brand new 2025 Cube Stereo Hybrid One44 SLX 800 a few weeks ago. After the first test ride on mostly flat and paved roads (no trails or off-road), I wanted to clean it and properly set up the suspension.
I noticed a slight cracking noise coming from the top of the frame every time I put weight on the bike (i.e., when I sit on it). The sound was coming from the top of the rear Fox shock. The shock was pressing against the frame with substantial force. The force was so strong that after just one 30 km ride, it removed paint and started scratching into the layer beneath it—this was the source of the sound.
If I place a piece of paper between the shock and the frame at that specific point, the paper is loose. However, when I sit on the bike, the paper gets squeezed so tightly that it can't be removed without tearing. So yes, there is contact—and it's quite strong.
I brought the bike back to the seller, only to find out that another bike they had there (same XL version, different color) had the same problem! I tried the paper test on that one too, with the same result.
How is this possible? Is this a bad batch of frames? A human error? Or a design flaw affecting all Cube bikes of this model? I can't believe they'd sell bikes where the rear shocks are damaging the frame. Such force on the frame seems dangerous in the long term.
In the attached picture, you can see the damage on the left side. The right side looks exactly the same, with another spot where the paint has been removed.
I bought a brand new 2025 Cube Stereo Hybrid One44 SLX 800 a few weeks ago. After the first test ride on mostly flat and paved roads (no trails or off-road), I wanted to clean it and properly set up the suspension.
I noticed a slight cracking noise coming from the top of the frame every time I put weight on the bike (i.e., when I sit on it). The sound was coming from the top of the rear Fox shock. The shock was pressing against the frame with substantial force. The force was so strong that after just one 30 km ride, it removed paint and started scratching into the layer beneath it—this was the source of the sound.
If I place a piece of paper between the shock and the frame at that specific point, the paper is loose. However, when I sit on the bike, the paper gets squeezed so tightly that it can't be removed without tearing. So yes, there is contact—and it's quite strong.
I brought the bike back to the seller, only to find out that another bike they had there (same XL version, different color) had the same problem! I tried the paper test on that one too, with the same result.
How is this possible? Is this a bad batch of frames? A human error? Or a design flaw affecting all Cube bikes of this model? I can't believe they'd sell bikes where the rear shocks are damaging the frame. Such force on the frame seems dangerous in the long term.
In the attached picture, you can see the damage on the left side. The right side looks exactly the same, with another spot where the paint has been removed.
