Top 7 Upgrades to Transform Your Hardtail into a Trail Weapon

We've taken this budget hardtail mountain bike and fitted it with 7 simple upgrades that will improve ANY mountain bike! Keep watching to see how!

-------------------WHAT HAVE WE DONE?-------------------
A few weeks ago, Matt got himself a brand new Cube Analog 2022 Hardtail Mountain Bike. His first hardtail in over 10 years!! After taking it out on the trails for the day, he realised that hardtail mountain bikes are actually a lot of fun - but the bike could do with a few upgrades. So that's what we have done. In the past couple of weeks, we have tweaked and upgraded this already awesome budget hardtail.

-------------------WHAT HAVE WE UPGRADED?-------------------
We have made 7 simple upgrades that will transform any ride. They are;

- Brand-X Ascend II Dropper Seatpost - Black - 2x Lever - 27.2mm x 390mm x105mm

- Nukeproof Neutron AM Stem - 45mm x 31,8mm 1.1/8"

- Brand-X Carbon Riser Bar - 800mm 31.8mm 25mm

- Nukeproof Sam Hill Enduro Race Grip Super Soft

- DMR V8 Pedals - Lemon Lime

- Schwalbe Nobby Nic Performance Addix Tyre - 29" 2.25"

- Joe's No Flats Joe's Self Sealing Inner Tube - 29" 1. - 2.35" Pres

-------------------ABOUT US-------------------
1. Our huge range and convenient delivery options give you access to whatever you need, so you can worry less and get out there and ride.
2. Our unrivaled expertise allows us to bring you the best bikes, clothing, and equipment for you to enjoy your bike-time better.
3. We stock top-quality products at the best possible price (because you always need spare cash for the post-ride coffee and cake).

-------------------SOCIAL-------------------

--------------------CHAPTERS-------------------
00:00 - Intro
00:07 - 7 Upgrades We Made
01:13 - Will It Make a Difference?
01:31 - First Ride w/ New Upgrades
01:45 - Stem & Handlebar
02:20 - Pushing It To The Edge!
02:28 - Climbs Like A Beast
02:55 - Hello Old Friend - Drops
03:21 - Pedal & Grips - The Difference
04:28 - The Bike is Working WITH Me This Time
04:57 - The BIGGEST Change You Can Make
05:58 - Down We Go!
06:07 - Tyre Talk
06:59 - Why Do People LOVE Hardtails?
07:41 - Comfort, Control & Confidence!

[chainreactioncycles]

What upgrades have you made to your bike? Comment and let us know!

[Alex_Kort]

As a 59 year old man i bought this bike and have a lot of fun with it. Never owned a mtb before. Can't compare it with anything else. Very pleased to see your test of this bike on the descents and this tutorial to upgrade this bike. I wonder if its worth upgrading the wheelset? Thinking of DT Swiss with 350 hubs and XM421 rims. Hope you still read the comments and can give me some good advice 🙂

[stujm]

I absolutely love my hardtail, I’ll never get rid of it. Upgrading it is part of the fun of owning it. You can try out different setups to see what works and it doesn’t cost a fortune… because it’s a hardtail!!!!

[peterdonnelly]

Comfort-control-confidence & custard
Great 👍

[wycko]

i got the same bike cube aim sl 2022 and im looking to change stem to a shorter one, change grips to some blue-gray grips and change pedals to some blue shimano platform metal pedals and maybe add a droper seatpost to it

[IHaveAnAwfulUserName]

I bought a 2021 Rockrider XC 100 (back when that model still came with a SRAM NX drivetrain) for £1, 000 and so far, I've done:
Seat Post: Brand-X Ascend dropper post
Front tyre: From Hutchinson Kraken Race Lab to Continental Cross king with Tannus Armour insert and inner tube
Rear tyre: From Hutchinson Kraken Race Lab to Continental Race King with Tannus Armour insert and inner tube
Pedals: Raceface Chesters in yellow to match the yellow accents on the frame
Fork: Still using the Manitou Markhor, but I've changed the remote lockout from a grip shift like one to a normal lever style for better compatibility with better grips
Grips: Changed to Ergon GE1 grips (less tacky feeling than Raceface Half Nelsons, but the shape and comfort makes up for it)
Drive train: Upgraded the rear mech and shifter from NX Eagle to GX Eagle AXS as well as upgrading to a GX chain
Other: Front and rear mud guards from Zefal and mounts for lights and cameras (the bike came with a built in Garmin mount on the stem cap), speed sensor and cadence sensor.

I'm pretty happy with my bike right now, and more recent versions of the same bike are being sold with Shimano 1x11 Deore drivetrains and Tektro brakes (mine came with SRAM Level) for the same price with the same frame, fork and wheels \ tyres (they don't offer 1x12 unless you go for the next model up for more money, though that does also get a Rockshox fork).

[sixwestpoint]

I’ve already upgraded pedals grips and added a dropper. Then I went into CRC in Belfast and spotted the only next upgrade I want which was a Nike proof Giga!😂😂😂

[Mythas]

u used an external dropper post? Cube analog has internal routing for dropper post right? Thanks

[stevebennett]

👌nice upgrades🤔do you reckon i would notice a difference in a 5mm shorter stem, and a 5mm spacer under the stem🤔?

[AxelandDaniel]

Well done. I'm a bit late to the party, I realize. Just wondering about the cost of the upgrades versus just buying a bike with most of the upgrades coming standard? Will it almost always be better to upgrade?

[iversono]

Im looking to buy a new MTB but have no idea which one to go for. Ive seen 2 i like in the CUBE aim pro and the CANNONDALE road 6.. also the SCOTT ASPECT 760.. which one is best out of them?

[athishmarutharaj]

Manitou marchor is a fork i am using on my budget hardtail and I just converted it to 120mm from 100mm

[drupthed]

Dude the frame is dropper ready, what's up it that cable on the top frame there?

[weiry]

I've got the Cube Analog myself, I have upgraded the pedals so far but not sure on dropper post as I haven't used one before, are they all compatible with each bike as long as you have the correct diameter?

[brauliovara]

How you they make a 90 degree turn at average speed

[athishmarutharaj]

i am gonna be mad if u use a Qr converted nuke proof v2 horizion wheelset lol ( pls do it)

[weserve]

weserve042203
1 second ago
Just got back into trail riding after an almost 20-year hiatus (road and gravel riding in the meantime). I picked up a 2013 Trek Stache 8 for a killer deal. Just did a 780mm bar, short stem, grips, and pedals all from PNW. I also converted the 2x front to a 1x 32t NW. I went for my first real ride on it today and I'm very very happy. I have a dropper on order so that, and maybe a fork update, and the bike will be singing!

The rear cassette is the stock 11-36 10 speed. I felt it climbed well and also gave me the speed I needed. Do you have any recommendations when it comes to rear cassette setup for 1x? Should I stick with the 11-36 or get a 42t?

[mickeygoldmill]

Hi how tall are you and what size did you go for?

[HansensUniverseT-A]

I can get a good used mbt for under a hundred...