Bike manufacturers design most of their e-mountainbikes without permanently installed lights. Nevertheless, the desire for a light of some kind can quickly arise even with such an ebike. If you are looking for a solution that utilises the ebike’s power supply and can be plugged in and unplugged at any time, you can fall back on products such as MonkeyLink. However, if you ride an ebike from Cube, an even more elegant variant has been available since this year – namely X-Connect.
Small port, big gain
You have to study the Cube catalogue for the 2025 model year very carefully to discover a new equipment option on some of the new models. X-Connect is a way of attaching a suitable front light from Cube’s in-house accessory brand Acid to the handlebars and connecting it to the ebike system. A visual indication of this option is provided by a round rubber cap that is incorporated into the headset cover and points in the direction of travel. If you open the cap, a port is revealed behind it.
Compatible electrical accessories can be connected to this port. Theoretically, X-Connect is therefore not limited to lighting. In practice, however, this is currently the case. But more on that in a moment. In any case, a cable already laid in the frame leads from the port to the motor, where it is already connected and activated. It is therefore a plug-and-play solution. This saves you having to go to a Bosch workshop to have the port enabled there. At least as important: You don’t have to lay a cable yourself, which can take a lot of time and effort depending on how the battery is integrated into the frame.
Careful introduction to the range
X-Connect is celebrating its premiere this year. According to Cube, the company is treating the project a bit like a test balloon. The manufacturer wants to listen carefully to the feedback from cyclists, see how they accept the options and decide later on the basis of this whether and, if so, to what extent it will continue.
For the time being, the manufacturer is integrating X-Connect into selected models of its two e-mountainbikes Cube Reaction Hybrid and Cube Stereo Hybrid.
Cube Stereo Hybrid
- Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE22: down to Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE22 SLX 800
- Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE44: down to Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE44 EXC 800
- Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE77 HPC: down to Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE77 SLX 800
Cube Reaction Hybrid
- Cube Reaction Hybrid: down to Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 800
- Cube Reaction Hybrid Allroad: down to Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 800 Allroad
- Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance: no model
Lamps featuring X-Connect
To some extent, this system is also compatible with older ebikes from Cube. At least as long as they are equipped with a Smart System drive from Bosch. X-Connect-compatible components can then be connected to the ebike using a corresponding BES3-to-X-Connect cable. This should primarily be of interest for the use of front lights. However, the cable only means that the light and cable can simply be connected to each other via a plug. Apart from that, the light cable still has to be routed in the frame. And you can’t benefit from the practical port on the headset cover either. Nevertheless, you can still mount front lights on your ebike in this way that would otherwise not be compatible with your model.
Three front lights are currently suitable for X-Connect:
- Acid Pro-E 200 High Beam
- Acid Pro-E 150
- Acid Pro 60
In our opinion, the Acid Pro-E 200 High Beam is the best choice for retrofitting. Using its wireless remote control, you can switch from normal mode with a brightness of 150 lux and 440 lumens to a high beam. The output then increases to 200 lux and 700 lumens. The front light is certified in accordance with the applicable German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) and also features an automatic daylight mode.
X-Connect and FPILink – a practical duo
All three lights can be attached using the Faceplate Integrated Link (FPILink) system from Acid. You can recognise the FPILink by the two lugs that are positioned at the top and bottom centre of the faceplate of a stem. Corresponding FPI-compatible mounts click into place on these two lugs. With regard to the headlights, this has the advantage that they are always in a central position on the handlebars. In addition, the bracket does not take up any additional space on the handlebars, as the faceplate of the stem becomes the bracket. Or, in the case of an FPILink stem, it is from the outset. What’s more, installation requires hardly any tools. The bracket is simply clipped onto the stem. And, depending on the bracket, an Allen key is all that is needed to attach the light.
Together, X-Connect and FPILink provide a practical and easy-to-use solution for anyone who wants to retrofit a headlight to a current Cube e-mountainbike. The lights on offer are at least an equivalent replacement for battery-powered clip-on lights. You don’t have to repeatedly charge a rechargeable battery or change batteries. Thanks to the connection integrated in the cover of the headset, you can easily swap different headlights and use the lighting according to the situation. At the same time, the range of use of the e-mountainbike is extended, as it can also be used in road traffic at any time with lights.
Pictures: Pending System GmbH & Co. KG
Hello,
I recently bought an Cube Editor Hybrid slx400 2025 en the Acid Pro 60. But i cant find a way to connect the light somewhere..the port you talk about is not there.
I opened the stem and the motorcap, but no port..
What can i do?
Hello,
As we don’t stock that brand in our shop, I can’t give you a definite answer. However, the XConnect interface is explicitly mentioned on Cube’s product page, so it should be available. Perhaps the cables are routed internally, but a dealer would need to swap the fitted end cap on the headset for a suitable one with the charging port? Who knows. Probably, it’s best to contact Cube directly and ask them. Or perhaps someone here in the community has some advice.
Cheers, Matthias
Hi there, i recently, April, buy a Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 800 2025 and now order a Acid Pro-E 200 High Beam headlight, to take advantage of the X-Connect plug. The problem is that i can´t make the light work… I try everything, remove the battery, turn on and off the Kiox display, etc. Can you help me with some tip? Am i doing something wrong or there will be some malfuction with Headlight?
Thanks for your help
Regards
Rui Jesus
Hello,
It is almost impossible to troubleshoot this problem remotely. However, if everything is indeed new – ebike, headlight, cable – then it sounds as if the light port on the motor is not activated. However, only a specialist workshop with Bosch diagnostic software can determine whether this is actually the case.
If the fault has another cause, it could be a broken cable or a defective lamp.
If you manage to solve the problem, please let us know what caused it. We would be interested to hear about it.
Cheers, Matthias
I have the Cube Kathmandu Hybrid EXC 800 East Entry fitted with Acid Pro-E 150lux X-Connect front light . have ordered Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 800 Easy Entry. fork is Rockshox Recon Silver RL 27,5″ , wonder if same front light fits this fork, maybe with an 100cm x-connect extension cable . is there an light connection on the stem/vorbau ? my handlebar is full and no space for front light cause mounting bell, bar-ends, Ortlieb front bag, dropper seat-post ect. . only place to mount a high beam front light is on the RockShox fork
Hello,
this model features a x-connect interface integrated in the stem. Theoretically, the Acid Pro-E 150 Lux headlight would fit. However, even with the extension cable you’ve mentioned I don’t see any way to install the light at the fork and having the cable routed nicely. Perhaps you could run the cable from the interface to the brake line for the front brake and then down the line towards the fork crown. However, this would probably look strange. And you would need enough cable length from the interface to the brake line so as not to restrict steering movement.
Cheers, Matthias