Cube Nuroad C:62 SLT Review

Cycling Weekly

Cube's Nuroad C:62 SLT might deliver some of the best value for money you can find, on just about any gravel bike out there. It managed to pair Sram's top end RED XPLR AXS groupset to a full carbon frameset, wheelset, with carbon handlebars and seatpost too. Cube may have created one of the best 2025 gravel bikes out there, so in this video Sam Gupta dives into the detail to find out what it's all about why it's such good value.

Transcript

00:00Let's face it, gravel bikes are everywhere. Standing out in the mixed surface space is tough,

00:06but I think I've found a bike that cuts through the noise. And no, it's not from a brand that you

00:12might expect. I'm talking about the Cube New Road C62 SLT. And on the surface, it has all the right

00:20tools. It has a lightweight carbon frame, top-tier components, all-terrain capability, yet it manages

00:26to undercut the Trek Checkmate by a staggering £4,000 for a similar spec. So what's the catch?

00:35Well, let's find out.

00:46Like with any bike, it makes sense to start out by taking a look at the beating heart of this

00:51two-wheeled machine, the frame set. Two-thirds of the new Road C62 SLT's list price is made up by the

00:59group set alone. So what exactly do you get when it comes to the frame? Cube hasn't just slapped

01:05together any old carbon frame here. The C62 SLT is built using the brand's range-topping C62 carbon

01:13layup designed to be ridiculously light while still soaking up vibrations for all-day comfort.

01:20But here is where it gets interesting. Cube has gone a step further. The resin in this layup is

01:26reinforced with nanoparticles bonding with high-modulus fibres to create a frame that's not just lighter,

01:33but also stronger and more durable than before. Cube's advanced twin mould process ensures every fibre

01:41is exactly where it should be. The first mould is said to guarantee a perfectly precise layup,

01:47while a secondary inner mould locks everything in place during the curing.

01:51The result is a tighter tolerance and frames that are stiffer,

01:55tougher and impressively refined, all without the eye-watering price tag of big-name competitors.

02:02But even the best carbon layups can be ruined by bad geometry or a lack of features. So how does the

02:09new road stack up? As far as geometry goes, Cube has given its new road gravel endurance geometry.

02:15It's designed to keep you comfortable on those all-day adventures while still feeling sharp and

02:20responsive when you put the power down or dive down some more technical single track. And it will

02:26handle single track. The new road clears up to 50mm tyres or 45mm tyres with mud guards.

02:34When we put that into numbers, we are looking at a middle of the road 71.5 degree head tube angle

02:40paired with longer 440mm chainstays for a size medium. This combination keeps things stable on

02:47tough terrain yet shouldn't feel sluggish when you want to throw the bike around a little bit more.

02:52Speaking of fit, Cube has done a very good job of keeping things inclusive with sizes from extra small

02:59to extra large. Every brand, small or medium, is slightly different, but Cube covers everything

03:05from a 50cm frame to a 61cm frame for taller riders, allowing pretty much every single rider to get

03:13comfortable on a capable gravel geometry. Cube has also included a whole host of features you would

03:20expect to see from any high-end gravel bike, once again sticking it to the likes of Canyon and Giant.

03:27First up, the drop seat stays. Borrowed from Cube's road and cyclocross bikes,

03:32they let the seat post flex just that little bit more, giving you extra comfort on rough terrain

03:37without killing efficiency.

03:39For those who like to venture deep into the unknown, Cube has loaded the new road with mounting points

03:45in all the usual areas, making it as adventure ready as you need it to be.

03:50The C62 comes with two carrier mounts and even a hidden top tube mount for Cube's in-house acid

03:57top tube bag range, tucked neatly under a rubber grommet to keep things looking sleek when not in use.

04:03The frame itself can also hold three bottles, with a third mount under the downtube, leaving room for

04:09a frame bag if you're heading off-grid. The new road has been around for a fair few years now,

04:15and generally speaking, there has always been a fully equipped bike in the range for commuters.

04:21Arguably then, the mounting points for full-length mudguards and rear rack is almost trickle up

04:27technology. Either way, coupled with clearance for 45mm tyres, the new road should keep you rubber side

04:34down and dry too. There's an integrated seat clamp at the top of the bike, which not only makes the bike

04:40look sharper, but it also shaves off a few grams. And let's not forget the fully integrated headset

04:47cable routing. Love it or loathe it, there's no denying it makes for a cleaner, more aero cockpit,

04:53something you certainly won't find on every gravel bike at this price point.

04:58Oh, and in a move that will split opinions, Cube has even included a kickstand mount.

05:06Is it necessary? Maybe not, but if you ever need it, then it's there. And that sums up the new road

05:12C62 SLT, designed for adventure with the details to match.

05:22However, we really need to address the star of the show, or at least put it into context,

05:28the SRAM Red Explore Axis groupset. The new road C62 SLT has been paired with

05:35SRAM's range-topping gravel groupset, complete with the American brand's UDH technology,

05:41improving longevity as well as shifting performance. If you tally up the cost of SRAM's Red Explore

05:48Axis groupset, you'll quickly realise that the list price of the groupset comes in a shade under £4,000.

05:57How then has Cube managed to build the bike, complete with all carbon finishing kit, for just six?

06:04Well, Cube has kept things in-house, but that doesn't mean poor quality. Not by a long shot.

06:11Rolling duties are handled by the Neumann Advanced SL XR36 Vinoa wheelset, which come tubeless ready,

06:19and feature a 24mm internal rim width. Thanks to the carbon spokes and lightweight hubs,

06:26the wheelset weighs just 1245g. That's seriously impressive. And if you were in any doubt of the

06:35wheels being good quality, then do remember that Neumann wheels are Tour de France proven. You only need

06:41to look at Binium Gourmet's green jersey to see that. Tyres can often be a common cost saving area when

06:48brands are speccing up a new bike, but Cube, once again, has gone all out. The new Road C62 SLT is

06:56finished with Schwalb G1 Kevlar tyres as standard, which can be set up tubeless thanks to the tubeless

07:02ready wheels. Both handlebar and seatposts are carbon fibre, once again thanks to Cube's in-house

07:09component manufacturer Neumann. A carbon seatpost aids not only weight saving, but comfort too,

07:15allowing for a little more fore-aft movement at the rear of the bike.

07:20And the advanced G318 gravel handlebar tops things off, weighing a scant 200g. The bar comes with

07:2912.5 degrees of flare, allowing for maximum control while you're in the drops, while not slowing you

07:34down when you're on the hoods. When you add all of this together, you are left with a high-end gravel

07:42frame set, which has stood the test of time. SRAM's latest and greatest groupset and a 1245g

07:50carbon wheelset. That's all very impressive indeed, and it boasts a total weight of just 7.5kg.

07:56But to understand how good this really is, I need to bring in some spec sheets from some rival brands.

08:03Take the Trek Checkmate SLR 9.0 for example. The Trek boasts the same SRAM Red Explore Axis groupset,

08:09in-house carbon wheels, internal cable routing and carbon finishing kit. The only obvious difference

08:15is a one-piece handlebar over the Cube's two-piece affair, which is arguably

08:19more user-friendly. You might think then that both bikes have a similar price, but you'd be wrong.

08:25The Trek costs £10,000. That is 165% more than the Cube. Even Canyon, king of the great value

08:35performance space, cannot keep up. The Grail CFR Explore features a similar spec sheet, even down to

08:42the 7.5kg weight, yet still costs £7,899. So, what's the takeaway?

08:50Well, first off is that the Cube New Road C62 boasts incredible value for money. When comparing it to

08:57competitors, the build offers all the same key components in the right material, leaving you

09:03wanting for very little. The geometry and mounting options mean it can work for riders who want to

09:08travel far and wide, while the stripped back lightweight spec will also serve those who are

09:13wanting to push the pace. The word versatile is often thrown around. However, in this case,

09:19it's clearly very applicable. If you want top spec components and a bike that can seemingly do it all,

09:25then be sure to check out the Cube New Road C62 SLT.

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