The new racing bike was created in collaboration with the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux world team. The first prototype of the Litening Air C:68X rode in the 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné. This was followed by many more appearances in classics and grand tours in 2021 and 2022.
In addition to stage wins at the Belgium Tour, the Tour de Wallonie, the Giro dell'Appennino and the Sazka Tour, Jan Hirt's victory in the queen stage of the Giro d'Italia 2022 crowned the test phase of the new bike.
TOUR has already seen and scrutinised the as yet unreleased Litening Air at the Tour de France. Here see the pictures and the report.
After the prototype: the launch of the Cube Litening Air C:68X series
At the start of the Vuelta a España In 2022, Cube will present the three models of the Litening Air series. The lightest racing bike from the Upper Palatinate company to date is expected to be launched at the fourth stage made its debut on the first climbs of the Tour of Spain - in a special livery for the Vuelta.
Development of the Litening Air series
As with the Aero model Litening the carbon composite material C:68X (hence the name) to minimise the weight. The frame weighs 799 grams in a medium size. For the lightweight model in the SLT equipment A weight of 6.6 kilograms is specified for the bike, which is below the UCI standard. The road bike has an integrated handlebar/stem unit, an integrated seat post clamp and offers space for tyres up to 31 millimetres wide.
How does the Cube Litening Air SLX ride?
Even before the official presentation, TOUR had the opportunity to Litening Air SLX to test. The assessment of the TOUR test editors is:
The bike is as agile as some much more expensive top models: lively on climbs and a fun rocket on fast descents. The frame has a strikingly sporty cut and stands out from the rest of the bike. Agree marathon road bike Those who want to emphasise racing in the saddle will get their money's worth.
The three Cube Litening Air models
Litening Air SLT
Switching group: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 incl. power meter
Impellers: Newmen Advanced SL R.50 CS Streem with aero carbon spokes
Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT with Schwalbe Aerothan tyres
Weight: 6.6 kilograms (medium frame size, manufacturer's specification)
Permissible system weight: 115 kilogrammes
Price: 7999 Euro
Litening Air SLX
Switching group: Shimano Ultegra Di2 with watt measurement
Impellers: Newmen Advanced SL R.50 CS Streem with carbon aero spokes
Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT with Schwalbe Aerothan tyres
Weight: 6.9 kilograms (RH 54, weighed in the TOUR test lab)
Permissible system weight: 115 kilogrammes
Price: 6599 Euro
Litening Air Race
Switching group: Ultegra Di2 with compact crank
Impellers: Newmen Advanced SL R.50 CS Streem
Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR with Schwalbe Aerothan tyres
Weight: 7.1 kilograms (medium frame height, manufacturer's specification)
Permissible system weight: 115 kilogrammes
Price: 5299 Euro
The Cube Litening Air SLX in the first TOUR test
The Cube road bike is as agile as some much more expensive top models: lively on climbs and a fun rocket on fast descents. The frame has a strikingly sporty cut and stands out from the rest of the bike. Marathon road bike Agree; anyone who wants to sit in the saddle in a decidedly racing style will get their money's worth. You will become familiar with the Cube lightweight competition road bike in no time at all: the top link is not excessively flat and the grip on the lower link is less extreme than on many other bikes. Because the bike has the same seat post as the Aero model Litening This is one of the reasons why the seat tube of the Litening Air is so noticeably aerodynamically shaped - comfort does not reach record levels, but is still in a good range. If you want more suspension comfort, you can switch to wider tyres: the frame and fork officially allow 32 millimetre wide tyres.
Technical data and measured values for the Cube Litening Air SLX
- Weight: 6.9 kilos
- Price: 6599 Euro
- Weight frame/fork/steering bearing* 892/373/75 grammes
- Frame sizes** 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 cm
- Seat/top tube/head tube 477/555/143 mm
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 548/393 mm mm/1.39
- Wheelbase/caster 985/54 mm
Equipment
- Drive/Circuit Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-30 t.)
- Brakes Shimano Ultegra (160/160 mm)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Newmen Advanced R50 Streem/Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT (1042/1476 grams)
More information about the new Litening Air series can be found on the Cube website.
*Weighed weights
**Manufacturer's specification, test size bold
***Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube / STR (stack to reach): 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 a very upright riding position
****Wheel weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/ thru axles and brake discs if applicable
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
