Cube Aim SL 29er (2017) - Review

Built from 661 lightweight aluminium, the Cube Aim SL 29er's frame has a square-profile down tube which boosts stiffness and the flattened top tube improves standover clearance. In the rear, the bridgeless chainstays provide sufficient tire clearance to prevent you grinding in mud. The ride Geometry provides on this frame is agile with lively handling that is easy to control and is perfect for having fun on the trails, as well as being comfortable and efficient on longer rides.This hardtail MTB features a Suntour XCM fork that offers 1mm of suspension travel to smooth the bumps on the trail. While the coil spring in the fork is heavier than the air springs found on more expensive bicycles the feel is actually smoother. The XCM fork found on the Aim SL features a remote lockout switch. This means that you can lock the fork for more efficient cycling on smoother terrains and then open it back up again on bumpy trails without taking your hands off the handlebar.

The Cube Aim SL 29er comes with Shimano's Alivio at the front and Deore at the rear. Both Alivio and Deore are mid to expert level performance gearing components from Shimano. The 27-Speed drivetrain had enough range for climbs on trails and also quick acceleration. There were absolutely no lags and the shifting ended up being very smooth during the test ride.

The Cube Aim SL 29er which I test rode came in a full black frame with dark grey and red graphics. The slating down tube and thin seat stays make the bicycle look sleek, while showing its roughness on the tires, head tube and suspension. The matte finish paint job was of high quality, giving a smooth finish. The rims, fork and saddle were colour coded to the frame's colours, which made this MTB looks aesthetic.

Shimano's Hydraulic Disc Brakes on the Aim SL 29er was ideal for off-road riding as they offer powerful, reliable and consistent stopping power in all-weather conditions and make it safe to ride fast on unpredictable surfaces.The 68mm stock Cube handlebar was almost fully flat with just a slight raise to give the much needed aggressive yet comfortable posture to keep the bicycle in full control on trails.

The Kenda K1193 29” x 2.1” wheels are fast and roll smoothly over rough terrain although they do a bit of weight due to the 29” rims. The treads were bulky and evenly placed to make sure there is enough balance even on fast turns. The stock Cube Active 1.1 saddle was ergonomically designed to make sure the sit bones of the rider is placed on the widest part of the saddle. The overall ride quality was fast and comfortable on trails.