Not a detailed test, but a brief first impression: In this series, we show you interesting new e-bikes of the season in a compact format.
With its new Editor Hybrid series, Cube has released its first electric version of the Editor, a sporty urban bike with hub gears. Here we take a closer look at the top model with the somewhat bulky name Editor Hybrid SLT 400X.
Our impression
The combination of sportiness, light weight and a maintenance-free hub gear with a clean belt drive is still a rarity among e-bikes. So it’s all the more pleasing that Cube is bringing just such a model onto the market with the Editor!
To electrify the bike, the new Performance Line SX drive system from Bosch is used, which enables relatively unobtrusive integration into the bike. Cube has also dispensed with a typical display — the drive is operated solely via the System Controller on the top tube and the Mini Remote thumb switch on the handlebars. The power transmission from the motor to the hub gear is handled by a modern belt drive from market leader Gates. The Alfine 11-speed hub gear is also the top model from Shimano, which is controlled via a precise trigger switch on the handlebars.
In line with the geometry of the frame, the riding position on the bike is rather sporty and stretched, which is also helped by the straight flatbar handlebars. It’s therefore just right that the Bosch SX motor also favours a sporty riding style with a higher cadence. However, this can occasionally lead to conflicts with the Alfine 11-speed gear hub: instead of forcing the gears to shift, the hub delays the shifting process until the right time has been found — sometimes you can even hear the hub rattling. Although this protective mechanism protects the gears, it interrupts the flow when riding.
Although you don’t notice this problem as much if you’re riding at a leisurely pace, the sporty nature of the bike tempts you to ride it as fast as possible 😉 Perhaps the simpler, more robust Nexus 5e gears optimised for e-bikes, as we tested in Orbeas Diem, would have been a more suitable solution for everyday use. Another point of criticism seems to have already been resolved: the bell fitted to the Editor was firmly attached to the handlebar grip and stuck out so far that it was in the way of the thumb when shifting gears — for the new 2025 model year, however, the more compact Knog Oi bell will be fitted here, with which the problem should no longer occur.
A visual highlight of the bike is certainly the goblin’n’glossy matt flip-flop paint finish, which shimmers between dark green, blue and purple depending on the incidence of light. The smooth weld seams on the aluminium frame are also pleasing, while the fork is made of lightweight carbon. The bike is said to weigh 17.2 kg, making it very agile to ride.
However, a few compromises have been made for the low weight: firstly, the 400 Wh battery has been permanently installed in the frame, which means that the bike always has to be moved to the charger for charging. Cube has also dispensed with the commuter equipment with mudguards, lighting system and pannier rack on this model variant. However, these parts can be retrofitted as an option.
Cube’s Editor Hybrid SLT 400X is currently available for 3,299 euros. We have summarised further information on the features and other models in the Editor Hybrid series in this article.
