Cube vs Haibike

[Stefan Mikes]

The 12spd on Haibike doesn't offer any advantage over 11spd on Cube.

Let me disagree with you Trevor. It is the 51T granny gear that makes the huge difference on steep technical climbs.

Yamaha motors offer Zero Cadence feature. Meaning, the motor starts working as soon as you set your foot on the pedal. Fancy you got stuck uphill. It is doable to downshift all the way to the granny gear (with the rear wheel lifted and using the Walk Mode), then you stamp on the pedal and up you ride! The combination of the Yamaha motor and the granny gear produces such high torque on the rear wheel you need to push your body weight forward to avoid a wheelie!

 

[cratterbury]

Let me disagree with you Trevor. It is the 51T granny gear that makes the huge difference on steep technical climbs.

I agree with this, I thought my gravel 11spd bike would be much easier to climb road hills than my 12spd fs MTB being lighter, slimmer wheels etc. But that 1 gear made all the difference and they were on par effortwise which I was really shocked about and why I haven’t really used the gravel bike as it didn’t offer the benefits I hoped for. Thus why I’m now looking at e-bikes as I need help on hills.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I do not criticize the OP's choices. I never recommended another brand to him as I seem to understand the OP's needs and the financial limitation.
However, you are the last person to talk here as you are simply incompetent in the matters discussed here.
Adding to that you are in the wrong continent. (Haibike has ceased the North American operations).

 

[TrevorB]

Let me disagree with you Trevor. It is the 51T granny gear that makes the huge difference on steep technical climbs.

Yamaha motors offer Zero Cadence feature. Meaning, the motor starts working as soon as you set your foot on the pedal. Fancy you got stuck uphill. It is doable to downshift all the way to the granny gear (with the rear wheel lifted and using the Walk Mode), then you stamp on the pedal and up you ride! The combination of the Yamaha motor and the granny gear produces such high torque on the rear wheel you need to push your body weight forward to avoid a wheelie!

Stefan do your homework. Cube has 11-51t cassette.
Had odd super steep climb on Bosch where stopped because rear wheel broke traction. Couldn't start again because Bosch needs 1/4 to 1/2 turn to start delivering power. Would be interested to see how Yamaha instant power delivery would've worked out, suspect getting enough traction would still be issue. For rare occasions it happen just walk bike 20-30m till leveled out enough to start riding again. NB these are seriously steep hills which most riders wouldn't encounter on regular basis.

 

[pmcdonald]

Hi guys.

Total newbie when it comes to e-bikes, coming from a full suspension and gravel bike, I’m looking to get an emtb as I’m slowly getting tired of the other bikes, finding hills a chore as I’ve got a bad knee and health has gone downhill over the pandemic. I love cycling though as walking is more of a strain on my knee.

I’ve narrowed the bikes down to two, the Haibike Hardnine 7 2022 and the Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 625 2022.

I was all for the Haibike until the Cube came into stock and the air fork and Bosch motor kind of attracted me towards its, plus a nicer colour I think.
However I like the Yamaha display and I believe the brakes and derailleur of the Haibike is better.

So I’m basically stuck on which to choose. Will the extra 15Nm torque on the Bosch make much difference, same for the extra battery of the Haibike.
Will the 100mm air fork be better than a 120mm coil fork?

I’ll mainly be on road as I don’t drive but will be going off road. Forestry, blue and possibly red routes on trails. I live in rural wales so plenty coastal paths and lots of hills.

Any help appreciated

Thanks

Keep it civil folks. Budget FS option?

A full suspension eMTB for € 2,800 ? – What is the affordable Stilus 29” from Decathlon capable of?

We tested the full suspension Decathlon Stilus 29" eMTB featuring a Bosch Performance Line motor and 500 Wh battery to find out what you can get for just € 2,800!

ebike-mtb.com

Can always upgrade the bits down the track after tucking in under that 3k. Can't speak to their ride quality or after sales support, but at least it taps into the solid Bosch network.

OR

You could go the other way and get a (relatively) lightweight gravel ebike. Less pep that a full hardtail or emtb but potentially enough to do the job - you'd really need to ride one to try. Heaps of options in the UK, I'm quite jealous. All we get is the eSilex and Gain.

Best electric gravel bikes in 2023: 9 gravel ebikes rated and reviewed

How to choose an electric gravel bike

www.bikeradar.com

Otherwise the Haibike looks the plusher of the two. I ride an adventure-style ebike in a similar class to those two, a Giant Explore. It's a rock solid, stable commuter but too heavy to do much with above the low speed cut-off and too rigid to have fun on the trails with. My FS emtb is worlds more fun on the rough stuff. With your bike background I wonder if a jack of all trades hybrid will be too much of a compromise on all fronts?

 

[TrevorB]

Decathlon fork is on par with HT, rest components aren't terrible. While rear suspension may not be greatest its still big step up from no suspension especially on rough fire roads. I have trekking ebike with same motor and gearing will climb most offroad hills with ease. Swapping cassette for 11-46t would make it even more capable.
Tires are same as HTs so no difference there and can be easily upgraded if need be.

EMTB mag is bit hard on most bike's brakes, unless they are high end 4pots on 220mm rotor are rubbish. Unlike mag, bike manufacturers realise lot of their customers ride lot more conservatively and 2pot brakes on 180mm rotors work just fine. Friend took his bike down some long and seriously steep descents on these brakes, they did job even if bit hot at end.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

As a United States based Haibike owner, I know which one I would take: the bike made by the company that pretty much invented the e-mountain bike game. My 2016 model year Full FatSix is as good today as it was when I took it out of it's shipping box in March, 2017. Yamaha PW drive on mine. Now mind you, I never beat or mistreated the bike or drive motor by asking it to do things no ebike should do; no big mountain jumps into air that alot of these manufacturers like to sell to the younger crowd........no fording of streams or creeks up and past the motor..........no applications of high pressure water to wash off road mud or dirt........no slamming of the crank arms into rocks, shock loading and internally breaking the motor components.

In return, I got an ebike that started up and ran flawlessly without issue every. single. time. If I were in the market for a new ebike (I am not), the first requirement would be that it is powered by Yamaha.

Compare the rear drop outs between the Cube and the Haibike. The Haibike's a good bit beefier. Regards to components like forks and other gear, that is all upgradable as ownership morphs from months into years. The Kinekt rear suspension seat post is also a viable alternative and lower budget alternative to a full suspension bike. Besides, just how deep and serious are one's off roading ambitions going to be that requires the latest and greatest in full suspension technology?

The only regret I have about the Haibike Yamaha lineup is that I do not believe they have the ability to piggyback an external 500wh battery that would nicely fill in that big open gap within the frame triangle. The Haibike Bosch lineup does, so does Riese and Muller.

 

[cratterbury]

Thanks guys - I ended up going for the Haibike which should arrive within the next few weeks (stock comes in 3rd August then will be built etc).

I have slight hopes I may have better forks than advertised - I noticed on all videos on this bike that they all said and showed the bike had air forks. I contacted Haibike who said no Hardnine/Hardseven 7 had air since 2020 - despite all videos showing different. I also contacted a few stores to ask if they had stock and to check for me and a couple came back saying they had air.
So I’m hoping that despite the spec saying spring steel, they are replacing them with air it seems. Whether it’s a misprint or if it’s a supply issue, it seems the bike comes with a better fork. One owner told me his has a Recon Silver RL Solo Air fork when he entered the s/n or model number into Rockshox website. Not the best no, but better than what’s on the spec sheet!

Fingers crossed, but I’m excited regardless. Can’t wait to finally get out and further than I’ve been along the Welsh coastal paths and forests

Thanks for all the helpful comments and apologies for asking a question that lead to arguments.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I think you made the right decision, having read all the replies above. Thing is you are starting a journey, next part is getting to know both your new bike and exploring all the roads and trails around you. Plenty of time ahead to tweak and upgrade if and when you gain the knowledge to know what you need having got experience under your belt. You’ll have a lot of fun along the way. Good luck.

 

[cratterbury]

I think you made the right decision, having read all the replies above. Thing is you are starting a journey, next part is getting to know both your new bike and exploring all the roads and trails around you. Plenty of time ahead to tweak and upgrade if and when you gain the knowledge to know what you need having got experience under your belt. You’ll have a lot of fun along the way. Good luck.

Thank you and exactly. With the scheme, after 18 months I either get to pay a lump sum to keep the bike at reduced and remaining price of what the bike is worth then, or I can return and get a different bike. So essentially I can see how I get on and in 18 months upgrade to a full suspension maybe as prices come down or get an older model.

Can’t wait

 

[TrevorB]

Good choice. If you decide on FS in future the HT would make great commuter.

Consider getting headlight fitted by shop when you buy it. I ride with mine on all the time. Must for commuting and nice to have you get caught out on trails after dark.

 

[rich c]

I ride 2 different 2016 Haibikes. 7,000 miles on the most ridden Trekking bike. It's never been back to the dealer. I'm a big fan!