FAST BIKE FRIDAY – CUBE TWO15 RACE

For Fast Bike Friday this week we’re in full-on gravity mode with the Cube Two15 Race downhill mountain bike. Despite the rapid growth of Enduro racing and the ongoing development of versatile Enduro and Trail bikes which prove popular with the masses there’s still a demand for race-ready downhill bikes that can take on a season’s campaign on the most demanding race tracks out there.

Focused 100% on downhill performance the Two15 Race is built to race and shred resort parks.

 

The tough but light HPA Ultralight, Advanced Hydroform chassis can handle the bit hits that come with downhill racing.

 

If you’re a privateer downhiller, racing on a tight budget then a bike like the Two15 Race is the ideal racing companion; spec’d with everything you’d expect from an out-of-the-box race-ready machine. This 2022 model features the same frame that was introduced in 2021 with Cube giving it a longer reach, a shorter rocker for an optimised rear wheel path and a slacker head angle with built-in angle set allowing you to tune fine tune your headtube angle from 63,3° to 63,8°. Cube’s ETC (Efficient Trail Control) geometry means you get nimble handing with a stable feel at speed while their tough hydroformed alloy frame includes chainstay and downtube protectors and a clever fork bumper that’s incorporated into the frame’s internal cable routing channel.

Nice little frame details include the cable guide that doubles-up as a bumper to protect from triple-clamp fork uppers in a crash.

 

ETC geometry includes a longer reach and a slacker head angle which is adjustable between 63,3° and 63,8°

 

The Two15 Race is designed around 27.5″ wheels and 200mm of front and rear travel.

 

When it comes to suspension kinematics and smooth, progressive control on race courses that include flat-out speed sections combined with more steep, technical and rocky sections the Cube Two15 Race excels thanks to its clever suspension configuration and optimised rear wheel path. When it comes to suspension forks and rear shocks you may already be familiar with the Bomber name. The legendary Bomber is synonymous with downhill racing and the history of the sport and that’s why Cube have spec’d the Two15 Race with a Marzocchi Bomber CR rear shock and a matching Bomber 58 FIT GRIP fork up front, both providing 200mm of plush suspension travel.

The 200mm Marzocchi Bomber CR rear coil shock is super-plush and tuned to excel on fast downhill tracks.

 

Upfront there’s a Marzocchi Bomber 58 FIT GRIP fork with 203mm of travel and tuneable low speed compression & rebound.

 

The Bomber 58 FIT GRIP triple clamp configuration copes better with the higher forces incurred in downhill racing.

 

The triple clamp Bomber 58’s are fitted with a compact Race Face Chester 35 Direct Mount stem.

 

There’s 203mm of plush travel to get you out of trouble when things get rowdy.

 

Rounding out the spec of the Two15 Race is a downhill-specific 7-speed GX DH drivetrain from Sram complete with an MRP SXG chain guide and a pair of super-tough 27.5” Answer Atac DH wheels shod with durable Schwalbe downhill tyres. Magura’s powerful, easy to modulate MT5 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes keep you in control regardless of how rowdy your riding gets.

Cube have spec’d the Two15 Race with a downhill-specific SRAM GX DH short-cage 7-speed rear derailleur.

 

This downhill-specific MTB features a compact 11-25T cassette and short-cage rear mech, keeping the drivetrain simple and less prone to damage.

 

Cube have spec’d a Race Face Atlas chainset fitted with a 34T chainring, paired with an MRP SXG chain guide to keep your chain secure.

 

Powerful Magura MT5 hydraulic brakes allow for one finger braking regardless of what track you’re riding.

 

Those 4-piston brake calipers are designed to scrub of speed quickly, keeping you in control on tight, technical descents.

 

There’s 203mm disc brake rotors, front and rear as you’d expect on a gravity-focused bike like this.

 

Tough 27.5″ Answer Atac DH TR29 wheels are shod with downhill-specific Schwalbe tyres.

 

On the rear there’s a super-grippy 2.4 Schwalbe Big Betty featuring their durable Super Gravity construction.

 

That open, blocky tread pattern has plenty of bite and sheds mud well.

 

Upfront the Schwalbe Magic Mary features strong shoulder studs for plenty of control in tight, loose turns.

 

Angled studs on the middle portion of the Magic Mary are faster rolling.

 

A wide 820mm Race Face Atlas 35 handle bar with its large-diameter 35mm clamp area adds strength and enhances steering precision.

 

Raced by Danny Hart (international downhill racer – former World Champion and friend of Wheelbase) the Cube Two15 has had a successful racing campaign at the UCI Downhill World Cups and World Championships this year proving just how good this bike is and how every aspect of it has been informed by racing at the highest level. If you’re a privateer downhill racer on a tight budget who is looking for a race-ready off-the-peg downhill bike then the Cube Two15 Race is a great option. Built to excel on the race track and shred at your favourite bike park during an uplift day this 200mm travel bike is 100% focused on gravity-assisted fun.

If you’re a privateer downhill racer looking for a race-ready MTB then the Cube Two15 Race is a great option.

 

Full Specification:

• Frame: HPA Ultralight, Advanced Hydroform, Triple Butted, Carbon Rocker Arm, ETC 4-Link, ISCG Mount, 200mm travel
• Rear Shock: Marzocchi Bomber CR, 250x75mm, Rebound & Low Speed Compression Adjust
• Fork: Marzocchi Bomber 58 FIT GRIP, Low Speed Compression & Rebound, 20x110mm, 203mm
• Headset: ACROS Integrated, Top & Bottom 1 1/8″, Fibre Inserts for Angle Adjustment
• Shifters: Sram GX Trigger 7-Speed
• Rear Derailleur: Sram GX DH, 7-Speed
• Cassette : Sram PG-720, 11-25T, 7-Speed
• Chainset: Race Face Atlas 34T, 165mm
• Chain Guide: MRP SXG Chain Guide
• Brakes: Magura MT5
• Rotors: 203 F / 203 R
• Wheelset: Answer Atac DH TR29, 20x110mm/12x157mm, Tubeless Ready
• Front Tyre: Schwalbe Magic Mary, Addix Soft, Super Gravity, Tubeless Easy, 2.4
• Rear Tyre: Schwalbe Big Betty, Addix Soft, Super Gravity, Tubeless Easy, 2.4
• Stem: Race Face Chester 35 Direct Mount
• Handlebar: Race Face Atlas 35 820mm 35mm
• Grips: SDG Thrice
• Seat Post: CUBE Performance Post, 31.6mm
• Saddle: Natural Fit Venec Lite

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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