Ella Ride

trekking849–3299 EUR

Origin

Ella — short, gentle, easy-to-pronounce female name across most European languages. Successor to the earlier 'Elly' name (also a feminine diminutive). The name signals the line's purpose: a gentle, friendly, no-fuss bike for everyday riding. Cube uses thematic names for their model lines. Ella sits in the city/trekking comfort segment alongside Cube Aruba (unisex retro trekking), Cube Touring (more sporty), and Cube Kathmandu (touring/adventure). The 'Ride' suffix denotes the comfort-oriented variant; the 'Cruise' twin (separate node) is positioned slightly more upright and casual. Pre-2021 the line was called 'Elly'. Cube changed it to 'Ella' around 2021-2022 when the frame was fully redesigned (new IC 2.0 internal routing, PowerTube integrated battery, double-butted tubing). The rename coincided with a softer aesthetic — retro-styled grips, saddle, fenders, colour-matched accents. ~2017 Cube does not publish exact debut year of either Elly or Ella. The earliest widely available review is Court Rye's Elly Ride Hybrid 400 first ride (electricbikereview.com, ~2017). Cube the company was founded in 1993. Most accessible step-through women's-style city/trekking bike Cube — entry point for casual riders, commuters, and senior cyclists who want low standover and upright posture medium aggregated

Specifications

Frame: Aluminium Superlite, double-butted (alloy)
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: Non-hybrid: Shimano Acera/Altus 3x8-speed (FC-T801 48-36-26T crank, CS-HG31 11-32T). Hybrid 500: Shimano Deore 1x10 (SL-M4100, RD-M5120-SGS, CS-M4100 11-46T)
Brakes: Non-hybrid: V-Brake (rim brake). Hybrid: Shimano BR-MT420/MT410 hydraulic disc, 180/180 mm rotors
Wheels: 700c (28"/29"), CUBE SX24 rims 36H; non-hybrid front Shimano hub dynamo; Hybrid Shimano HB-M4050/FH-M4050 disc hubs

The verdict

+Strengths

Bosch Active Plus motor + 500 Wh PowerTube — top-tier e-bike drivetrain at this price tier; quiet, smooth, predictable; 50+ km range realistic Premium battery, motor, display system (Court Rye)
Easy Entry low-step frame — accessible to all body types, mobility levels, riders in skirts/dresses wave step-thru electric bike (Court Rye)
Retro styling that ages well — chrome SKS mudguards, brown/cream contact points, classic bell — looks at home for years looks pretty in a retro lady's bike way (Pedelecs)
Full-spec equipment from factory — lights, mudguards, rack, kickstand, bell — no extras to buy
Big Ben 50c balloon tyres + 50 mm fork = effective comfort suspension on cobbles and gravel paths
Hydraulic disc brakes on Hybrid — Shimano BR-MT420/MT410 with 180/180 rotors — strong, fade-resistant, all-weather

−Weaknesses

Heavy — 26.4 kg on Hybrid 500 makes lifting onto apartment floors, car racks, or up stairs awkward lifting, stairs, and rooftop racks more awkward (Opticycles)
Suspension fork (SR Suntour NEX-E25) is basic — no lockout, dives during quick braking, limited damping quality The suspension fork is very basic
Front end may sit too tall for very petite riders (<155 cm) even on XS — XXS option requested by community Cube could offer even smaller XXS sizes (EBR)
Pricing perceived high vs supermarket e-bikes (€2,749 vs €1,500-2,000) — Cube's dealer-network value isn't always obvious until first service appears somewhat overpriced (Pedelecs)
Non-hybrid Ella Ride 2024 still uses V-brake (rim brake) at €849 MSRP — entry-level by 2026 standards; budget hybrid disc brakes from competitors are common
3x8 Shimano Acera/Altus drivetrain on non-hybrid is basic — fine for flat city riding, less smooth on hills than 1x10/1x11

Did you know

01Cube renamed the line from 'Elly' to 'Ella' around 2021-2022. The rename coincided with a major frame redesign — IC 2.0 internal routing, integrated PowerTube battery, double-butted tubing.
02Easy Entry frame: the top tube is dropped low (the seat tube end of the would-be top tube is welded to the seat tube near the bottom bracket). Step-over height is among the lowest in the trekking class, easier than a 'trapeze' or wave frame for riders with limited mobility. Skirts, dresses, mobility issues — Easy Entry just lets you step on, no swing-leg needed.
03Hybrid 500 rolls on Schwalbe Big Ben 50-622 — that's a 50 mm-wide balloon tyre with K-Guard puncture protection. At low pressure they soak up cobbles, kerbs, and gravel paths almost like a hardtail with no rear shock.
04Bosch Active Plus Gen 3 motor (50 Nm) is one of Bosch's quietest and smoothest mid-drives. Marketed as the 'comfort' motor in Bosch's e-bike lineup — feels gentle and predictable, doesn't surge like the Performance Line CX.
05Cube Ella line is intentionally retro-styled: chrome-effect SKS Chrom Shiny mudguards, Trelock Bike-i Retro front lamp, brown/cream saddle and grips, classic CUBE Bell. A deliberate counter-trend to the angular techy look of most modern e-bikes.
06Cube is a German brand from Waldershof, Bavaria, founded 1993. All frames are designed in Germany; production is in Taiwan/Cambodia. Distribution in EE/LV/LT through dealers.

Who it’s for

casual_commuter_femalesenior_riderlimited_mobility_riderskirt_or_dress_riderpetite_rider_xsfirst_ebike_buyer_femalecity_only_ridershopping_errands_rider

Buyer’s notes

№ 01

Battery health is the #1 used-market concern. On hybrid variants, ask the seller to open the Bosch eBike Connect app and show the battery cycle count and 'state of health' percentage. Anything below 80% SoH or 500+ cycles means a €600-900 replacement is on the horizon.

№ 02

Easy Entry frame size is the wrong size only if you can't put both feet flat on the ground at a stop. With this frame, standover is essentially zero — you fit if seat-to-pedal extension works, not by traditional crossbar measurement.

№ 03

Ella Ride non-hybrid (€849) at 16.9 kg is heavier than competitors at the same price (Trek FX2 14 kg, Giant Escape 13 kg). You're paying for the retro aesthetic, dynamo, mudguards, rack — not for weight. If weight matters, look elsewhere; if turn-up-and-ride matters, this is the bike.

№ 04

Ella Ride Hybrid 500 (€2,749, 26.4 kg) — best Bosch motor + battery combo at this price. Sweet spot of the line. Hybrid 400 saves ~€350 but cuts ~20% range; not worth it unless commute is <15 km round-trip with home charging.

№ 05

Used 2017-2020 Elly with rear-rack battery: only buy if price is <€1,300 AND battery cycle count is <300 AND original charger is included. Replacement Bosch PowerPack 400 is ~€500.

№ 06

If you're on the boundary between sizes (e.g. 158 cm, between XS 151-164 and SM 159-170 hybrid), prefer XS — Cube Comfort Geometry runs slightly tall, smaller frame keeps the bar within easy reach.

№ 07

Stock CUBE Retro saddle is comfort-shaped but not anatomical-pressure-relief. If first 1-2 rides give discomfort, plan a saddle swap (€40-100). Common upgrades: Selle Royal Respiro Soft, Brooks B17, SQlab 612 Active.

№ 08

Big Ben 50c tyres need only 2.5-3.5 bar (35-50 psi) for the comfort sweet spot. Higher pressures defeat the balloon-tyre design and accelerate cobble fatigue. Lower under 2.0 bar risks pinch flats.

№ 09

MIK-compatible rear rack: factory ACID rack accepts any MIK pannier or basket without straps. Useful if you'll add a child seat (Yepp Maxi MIK fits directly) or commuter pannier (Ortlieb QL3 with MIK adapter).

№ 10

Cube serial number on Ella Ride: stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket shell. Format begins with 'WOW' and contains 4 digits encoding production month/year (e.g. 0524 = May 2024). Check before buying used — confirms generation and frame age.

№ 11

Ella Ride vs sister Ella Cruise: Ride is the slightly more upright comfort variant; Cruise is positioned a touch sportier with shorter reach to bar. If you're undecided, sit on both — the difference is small but real.