Lee Cougan has unveiled its new Crossfire Trail cross-country bike, with 120mm of rear travel provided by a flex-stay suspension linkage.
The new bike has 20mm more travel than the Crossfire 428 and is designed to tackle technical cross-country racing as well as serving downcountry and trail purposes.
The Illinois brand has announced three builds at launch, with the entry-level Crossfire Trail RE Eagle priced at $6,399 / €5,249 featuring a Microtech wheelset, while the Crossfire Trail Team Eagle sits at the other end of the spectrum at $9,999 / €8,499.
All builds will be available in three colours: Boreal, Raw Black and Arctic White.
Flex-stay frameset
The Crossfire Trail features a full carbon fibre frame, which Lee Cougan says is made from advanced Torayca T1000 and T800 fibres to optimise comfort and efficiency.
The brand says this enables it to reduce the weight of the bike, with the frame weighing in at a claimed 1,850g in size M, including the shock.
Lee Cougan says the bike has Structural Crossbar System suspension, which uses flexible chainstays in the rear triangle to enable the linkage to articulate.
Many cross-country bikes use flex stays in their suspension design, because it minimises the number of bearings needed, reducing the weight and increasing efficiency.
The vertical orientation of the rear shock is said to lower the centre of gravity and increase torsional rigidity.
This comes at the sacrifice of a second water bottle on the size-S frame.
Lee Cougan says it uses moulded bearing housing that guarantees precision and stringent tolerance control standards, offering an effortless riding experience with less friction in the linkage.
The brand says hollowing the bottom bracket area allows for better rear-shock placement in the frame, without sacrificing strength around the BB.
Hollow axles and oversized bearings are used in the main pivot, allowing for increased stiffness and reducing weight further.
All bikes feature an integrated multi-tool hidden within the steerer tube, with a mini ratchet wrench and nine essential tools for trailside repairs.
Downcountry geometry
The Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail is available in four sizes, ranging from S to XL.
The Crossfire Trail gets a 67.5-degree head angle, which is about average for cross-country bikes, alongside a slack seat tube angle that ranges from 75.1 degrees to 75.5 degrees through the sizes.
Steeper seat tube angles usually make technical climbing easier, because you can centre your body further over the bottom bracket.
Chainstay lengths remain the same through the sizes at 430mm, and the reach measurement for a medium-sized bike is 438mm.
Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail spec and price
All the bikes are available with a DT Swiss XRC 1501 wheel upgrade.
Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail RE Eagle
- Fork: RockShox SID RL, 120mm
- Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission
- Brakes: Magura MT4
- Wheels: Microtech RK25
- Tyres: Continental Cross-King 2.3in
- Price: $6,399 / €5,249
Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail Race Eagle
- Fork: Fox 34 Factory StepCast, 120mm
- Shock: Fox Float DPS Factory
- Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission
- Brakes: Magura MT8 SL
- Wheels: Microtech RK25
- Tyres: Continental Cross-King 2.3in
- Price: $8,299 / €6,899
Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail Team Eagle
- Fork: Fox 34 Factory StepCast, 120mm
- Shock: Fox Float DPS Factory
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission
- Brakes: Magura MT8 SL
- Wheels: Microtech RK25
- Tyres: Continental Cross-King 2.3in
- Price: $9,399 / €7,869
