Axial (Women)

Name: Cube Axial (Women)
Brand: Cube

road

Origin

Cube was founded in 1993 by Marcus Puerner in Waldershof, Bavaria, starting in a 50-square-metre corner of his father's furniture factory. It grew into one of Europe's largest bike manufacturers, known for delivering high component value at aggressive price points. The Axial is Cube's women's road platform: for most of the 2010s it carried the 'WLS' badge — 'Woman Like Series' — a full sub-range rather than a single bike, running from sub-EUR900 alloy builds up to carbon GTC race frames. Cube's stated philosophy for WLS was to design around female proportions (shorter reach, women's contact points) while keeping a genuine performance geometry, deliberately avoiding the 'shrink-it-and-pink-it' cliche common at the time. Around 2020-21 the line was renamed 'Axial WS' as Cube tidied its naming, but the underlying formula stayed the same. As the wider industry moved toward unisex frames with size-based fit, dedicated women's road ranges like the Axial were gradually wound down, making these bikes a well-supplied, good-value niche on the used market.

Specifications

Frame: Alloy models: Cube Superlite 7005 / 6061 T6 aluminium, double-butted. Top-tier: GTC / C:62 carbon fibre (varies by trim/year)
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: Ranges by trim: Shimano Sora/Claris 8-9sp (entry) up to Tiagra, 105 11sp, and Ultegra 6800 11sp (GTC SL). Compact 50/34 or 50/32 chainset, 11-32 cassette
Brakes: Rim (Shimano 105/Ultegra) on early/classic builds; mechanical disc (TRP Spyre) on WLS Pro Disc; Shimano 105 hydraulic disc (160mm) on later WS Race
Wheels: Trim-dependent: Mavic Aksium Elite, Fulcrum Racing 55/77, Cube RA 0.8/1.9 Aero Disc

The verdict

+Strengths

Outstanding component value — one or two groupset tiers above rivals at the price (105/Ultegra where others fit Sora/Tiagra).
Genuine women's-specific geometry (shorter reach, WLS contact points) that reviewers rated as thoughtful, not tokenistic.
Stiff, efficient frames (alloy and carbon) with good power transfer, praised as lively yet composed.

−Weaknesses

Wide gearing (11-32 cassette) leaves big jumps between sprockets — fine for climbing, less so for racing on the flat.
The stock Selle Italia X1 WLS saddle and some own-brand bars drew complaints (racy but firm; bar shape awkward in the drops).
Alloy builds can feel harsh on very rough roads, and home maintenance is fiddly (internal routing, press-fit BB on some).

Generations

WLS alloy era (~2012-2018)
- Entry to mid, EUR900-1200. Best value used; watch for older rim-brake wear parts.
Frame
Superlite 7005 / 6061 alloy + carbon fork
Brakes
Rim, then mechanical disc on Pro Disc
WLS GTC carbon era (~2015-2018)
- Lightweight race builds; GTC SL with full Ultegra was the flagship value pick.
Frame
GTC carbon fibre
Brakes
Rim (Ultegra on SL)
WS rebrand era (~2020-2022)
- Same lineage, new name. WS Race added 105 hydraulic disc and endurance clearance.
Frame
6061 alloy + carbon fork (also C:62 carbon)
Brakes
Shift to hydraulic disc on Race

Versions & builds

Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.

Versions & builds
Spec	Axial WLS Pro Disc	Axial Race WLS	Axial WLS GTC Pro	Axial WLS GTC SL	Axial WS (Claris)	Axial WS Race
Year	2017	2016	2016	2015	2021	2022
Frame	Aluminium 6061 T6	Superlite 7005 alloy, carbon fork	GTC carbon fibre	GTC high-modulus carbon	Aluminium, carbon fork	Aluminium 6061 T6, carbon fork
Drivetrain	Shimano Sora 9sp, 50/34	Shimano 105 11sp (Ultegra shifting)	Shimano Tiagra/105 11sp	Shimano Ultegra 6800 11sp	Shimano Claris 8sp	Shimano 105 11sp
Brakes	TRP Spyre mechanical disc, 160mm	Shimano 105 rim	Rim	Shimano Ultegra rim	Rim (some disc variants)	Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, 160mm
MSRP	€899	€1,150	€1,500	€2,400	€799	€1,799
Purpose	Value	Balanced	Balanced	Flagship	Value	Flagship