Reaction (Hardtail)
Origin
Cube was founded in 1993 by Marcus Puerner in Waldershof, Bavaria, starting in a tiny 50-square-metre corner of his father's furniture factory. Over three decades it grew into one of Europe's largest bike brands by pairing German engineering rigour with aggressive value. The Reaction has been a fixture of that catalogue for well over 15 years as Cube's mainstream hardtail: not the pure race weapon (that role belongs to the lighter Elite / AMS-adjacent race frames and later the Phenix), but the do-everything cross-country and trail hardtail that put reliable Shimano groupsets and air forks within reach of ordinary riders. The line has repeatedly split into an aluminium 'HPA' tier for value and a C:62 carbon tier for weight, and in recent years spun off the burly 'TM' (trail) builds with 140mm forks and dropper posts, alongside the electric Reaction Hybrid.
Specifications
- Frame
- Aluminium 'Lite' (double-butted, HPA) on core models; C:62 carbon monocoque (Advanced Twin Mold, ~62% fibre) on carbon models
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Shimano 1x12 (Deore / SLX / XT mix, e.g. XT M8100 derailleur, 10-51T cassette); ~510% range
- Brakes
- Shimano hydraulic disc (Deore/SLX/XT M8100). 180/160mm on XC; 203mm front on trail TM builds
- Wheels
- 27.5" and 29" options by size; e.g. Cube Z20 (alu) or Newmen Performance 30 rims
The verdict
- Excellent value with dependable Shimano XT/SLX/Deore component packages
- Refined, tough frame that rides quietly and handles mud and abuse well
- Wide range: XC 100mm, carbon race, and burly 140mm trail TM builds in 27.5 and 29
- Older-generation XC geometry runs short in reach and long in chainstay by modern standards
- Entry builds cut corners (basic fork tunes, ProWheel bottom bracket, budget tyres)
- Sizing gaps between L and XL can leave taller riders cramped
Generations
Older gen (approx. up to ~2024)
- Well-built and reliable but sizing/reach dated by modern standards
- Frame
- Aluminium Lite / earlier C:62 carbon, internal routing
Current gen (2025+)
- Split into a leaner carbon XC family and a dedicated aggressive TM trail family
- Frame
- C:62 carbon with semi-integrated routing + UDH; refreshed alu
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | CurrentReaction Pro (alu) | CurrentReaction TM One (alu, trail) | CurrentReaction SLX (alu) | CurrentReaction TM Pro (alu, trail) | CurrentReaction C:62 One (carbon) | CurrentReaction C:62 Pro (carbon) | CurrentReaction C:62 Race (carbon) | Reaction C:62 SLX / SLT (carbon, top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2020 |
| Frame | Aluminium Lite double-butted | Aluminium Lite | Aluminium Lite | Aluminium Lite trail geometry | C:62 carbon monocoque | C:62 carbon, semi-integrated routing, UDH | C:62 carbon, semi-integrated routing, UDH | C:62 carbon monocoque |
| Drivetrain | Shimano XT derailleur / Deore 12sp, 10-51T | Shimano 1x12 Deore | Shimano SLX/Deore 12sp | Shimano 1x12 Deore | Shimano Deore/SLX 12sp | Shimano XT/Deore 12sp, 510% range | Shimano XT 12sp | Shimano XT/XTR or SRAM, 12sp |
| Brakes | Shimano XT M8100 (180/160) | Shimano hydraulic disc | Shimano hydraulic disc | Shimano hydraulic disc, 203mm front | Shimano hydraulic disc | Shimano XT (180/160) | Shimano XT hydraulic disc | Shimano XT/XTR |
| MSRP | €999 | €1,099 | €1,199 | €1,499 | €1,499 | €1,999 | €2,499 | €2,999 |
| Purpose | Value | Value | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Flagship | Flagship | Flagship |
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