Cube has launched its new Litening Aero C:68X race bike, claiming a 150g reduction in frame weight and a 10.4-watt aerodynamic saving at 45km/h when fitted with its new IC Aero Max integrated handlebar.
The new bike has clearance for 34mm-wide tyres and a redesigned seatpost that Cube says improves comfort by 10 per cent.
Perhaps most notable, though, is the value. The range starts at £4,999 / €4,999, while the two highest-spec models cost £7,499 / €7,299 – arguably making it the best-value race bike ridden at this year’s Tour de France.
More on Cube's 2027 range update
Lighter and more aerodynamic
We first spotted the new bike, with its refined tube shapes, at the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes in June.
As the name suggests, the Litening Aero C:68X uses Cube's C:68X carbon, but the company says it has refined its manufacturing processes to remove excess material from the frame.
Cube claims this saves 150g from the frame and fork, while improving aerodynamics.
A 6.2-watt saving is claimed for the frame compared to the previous Litening Aero, and with the new IC Aero Max integrated cockpit included, the claimed saving rises to 10.4 watts at 45km/h.
Cube hasn’t published results of its testing, though, nor how it compares to other contemporary race bikes.
That said, the frame has been redesigned to accommodate 34mm tyres, up from the previous bike’s outdated limit of 28mm.
The geometry is reflective of the vast majority of race bikes in recent years, largely ignoring the more progressive trend of a super-steep seat tube and taller front end. In a size 56cm, there are parallel 73.5-degree head tube and seat tube angles, for example, and the stack is a racy-low 563mm.
| Geometry | 50cm | 52cm | 54cm | 56cm | 58cm | 60cm | 62cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube length (mm) | 460 | 480 | 500 | 520 | 540 | 560 | 580 |
| Top tube length, horizontal (mm) | 527 | 537 | 550 | 565 | 580 | 592 | 604 |
| Seat angle (°) | 75 | 74.2 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73 | 72.5 | 72.5 |
| Head angle (°) | 72.2 | 74.2 | 73 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 |
| Chainstay length (mm) | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 110 | 120 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 195 | 210 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 981 | 981 | 984 | 995 | 1005 | 1011 | 1023 |
| BB height to hub (mm) | 72 | 72 | 69 | 69 | 67 | 67 | 67 |
| Standover height (mm) | 747 | 762 | 784 | 804 | 824 | 840 | 855 |
| Reach (mm) | 389 | 389 | 389 | 398 | 403 | 405 | 412 |
| Stack (mm) | 514 | 524 | 542 | 563 | 580 | 594 | 609 |
| Seatpost length (mm) | 380 | 380 | 380 | 380 | 380 | 430 | 430 |
| Stem angle (°) | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 |
| Crank length (mm) | 165 | 165 | 165 | 170 | 170 | 172.5 | 172.5 |
| Maximum tyre diameter (mm) | 696 | 696 | 696 | 696 | 696 | 696 | 696 |
| Maximum tyre width (mm) | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 |
| Stem length (mm) | 90 | 90 | 100 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 120 |
| Handlebar width (mm) | 380 | 380 | 380 | 400 | 400 | 420 | 420 |
New integrated cockpit
The nominally pro-spec bikes come fitted with the new IC Aero Max cockpit, featuring very deep bladed tops. Cube's standard IC Aero handlebar comes fitted to the rest of the range.
The Max version features dedicated cut-outs for the handlebar tape, enabling the tape to terminate neatly, while indents on the tops’ flanks provide ‘Natural Fit’ palm support, according to Cube.
The drops feature a small (undisclosed) amount of flare, with the design intended to balance the aerodynamic benefits of an integrated cockpit with improved hand positioning and comfort.
Cube says the cockpit accounts for part of the 10.4-watt aerodynamic improvement claimed for the complete bike – 6.2 watts are attributed to the frame updates specifically.
The new Litening Aero also dispenses with the steering fork-stop pin found on the previous model.
Cube has also redesigned the carbon seatpost and claims the new design provides a 10 per cent improvement in comfort versus the old one.
The company has also expanded the size range, with a new size-62 frame to be made available for the first time, addressing the needs of taller riders who were previously limited by the range's maximum size.
Litening Aero C:68X goes 1x
Also new is the Litening Aero C:68X Orbit model, which uses SRAM's 1x13-speed Red XPLR AXS drivetrain with a 10-46T cassette and a single chainring.
Cube says removing the front derailleur reduces weight and offers an aerodynamic benefit. At a claimed 6.9kg, the Orbit is the lightest model in the range and costs just shy of £7,000 / €7,000.
At the top of the range, the SLT and SLX models use Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 and SRAM Red AXS drivetrains. The former is effectively a replica of the build used by UCI ProTeam Team TotalEnergies, and we’ve had this bike in for testing prior to launch.
All models are supplied with a power meter and Newmen carbon wheelsets as standard, although with some variation of the spec.
Competitive pricing
The most significant aspect of the new Litening Aero may be its pricing.
The Pro and Race models both cost £4,999 / €4,999, with the former using SRAM Force AXS and the latter Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100. The bikes share the same C:68X frame platform and all come equipped with dual-sided power meters (SRAM’s native power meter, or a 4iiii Precision 3+ on Shimano models).
All bikes feature Newmen Streem carbon wheels, with carbon-spoked ‘Vonoa’ versions appearing on the SRAM Red AXS and Shimano Dura-Ace-equipped models.
The 1x Orbit costs £6,999 / €6,999, while the range-topping SLX and SLT models cost £7,499 in the UK and €7,299 in Europe.
2027 Cube Litening Aero C:68X range details
Cube Litening Aero C:68X Pro
- Groupset: SRAM Force AXS
- Cockpit: IC Aero
- Wheelset: Newmen Streem A.49/54
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR, 30mm
- Price: £4,999 / €4,999
Cube Litening Aero C:68X Race
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100
- Cockpit: IC Aero
- Wheelset: Newmen Streem A.49/54
- Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero TLR, 28mm
- Price: £4,999 / €4,999
Cube Litening Aero C:68X Orbit
- Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR AXS 1x13 (10-46T)
- Cockpit: IC Aero Max
- Wheelset: Newmen Streem A.49/54 Vonoa
- Tyres: Pirelli P-Zero Race SL-R, 28mm
- Price: £6,999 / €6,999
Cube Litening Aero C:68X SLX
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS
- Cockpit: IC Aero Max
- Wheelset: Newmen Streem A.60/66 Vonoa
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR, 28mm
- Price: £7,499 / €7,299
Cube Litening Aero C:68X SLT
- Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200
- Cockpit: IC Aero Max
- Wheelset: Newmen Streem S.60/66 Vonoa
- Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero TLR, 28mm
- Price: £7,499 / €7,299
