QUICK HITS
• 120mm S.C.S. Suspension
• 29” Wheels
• HTA 67.4 (Large)
• STA 76.7 (effective)
• REACH 470 (Large)
WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE LEE COUGAN CROSSFIRE TRAIL
FRAME AND FEATURES | The Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail is an XC bike with downcountry leanings—more chiseled than plush, but not without a rebellious streak. The Crossfire Trail frame is meticulously molded from high-end Torayca T1000 and T800 carbon fiber to ensure it is efficient and light weight. The size Medium frame is claimed to weigh 1850g (4.07lbs) including the shock.
It rolls on a pair of 29-inch wheels, with enough clearance to accommodate a slightly aggressive 2.4” tire setup, hinting at its capacity for varied terrain. Lee Cougan’s capable cross country mountain bike is built to ensure riders have all the niceties they could want, with provisions to fit two large water bottles or a bottle and frame bag. In the steerer tube, a tool made by Granite Designs is neatly integrated.
The frame features full internal cable routing as you’d expect, with the cables hidden from sight through the headset. The frame pivots use oversized bearings and hollow axles to maximize the stiffness for minimal weight.
SUSPENSION | Lee Cougan’s unique Structural Crossbar System (S.C.S) suspension delivers 120mm of rear wheel travel, which is paired to a 120mm fork.
While they don’t share their kinematic details, they justify the use of this system with its structural efficiency. The vertically mounted trunnion shock is considered a structural member of this frame, claiming to add stiffness without adding weight. The shock sits low in the frame, with the trunnion mount sitting in a cut-out in the downtube. The system uses flex in the rear triangle instead of a chainstay or seatstay suspension pivot, and there’s a supporting brace in front of the lower pivot to add further stiffness.
GEOMETRY | The geometry on our size Large walks a fine line, offering a steeper head angle (67.4*) and lower stack height (611mm) than many modern XC machines to keep things twitchy in the corners, yet paired with a slightly stretched reach (470mm) and low-slung chassis for stability when speeds pick up.
● HTA 67.4 (Large)
● STA 76.7 (effective)
● STACK: 611 (Large)
● REACH 470 (Large)
BUILD SPECS | Fox Factory 34 Step Cast Fit4 120mm fork, Fox Float Factory DPS shock XX1 SL Eagle AXS drivetrain, Magura MT8 SL Brakes, DT Swiss XRC 1501 Wheels, Fox Factory 34 Stepcast Fit4, Fox Transfer SL Dropper…
On paper, the spec sheet reads like an XC racer’s dream: DT Swiss XRC 1501 carbon wheels, lightweight Magura MT8 SL brakes, and a SRAM XX1 SL Eagle AXS drivetrain that begs to be hammered. The only head scratcher on the spec sheet was an aluminum bar? With the bike dripping in high-end parts, this left us scratching our heads.
A 120mm Fox Factory 34 Step Cast Fit4 fork with 3-position remote sits up front—more trail than pure XC—while the 120mm of S.C.S rear travel is metered through a Fox Factory Float DPS remote shock, which prioritizes weight savings and efficiency over brute force compliance.
THE DIRT
On the climbs, Lee Cougan’s Crossfire Trail is all business. It surges forward with minimal input, rewarding smooth cadence and balanced body positioning. The rear end tracks well over rough surfaces, and the suspension remains composed without needing constant lockouts or fiddling.
Descending, the bike is more composed than expected, particularly when lines stay clean. It’s not plush, but it’s precise—point it well, and it will oblige. Ask it to soak up repeated hits or save a botched landing, and it might remind you it’s still an XC bike at heart. In the end we found that we preferred the bike as a purebred race machine and treated it as such.
We swapped the standard tires to a set of World Cup level XC race tires in the Schwalbe Rick XC Pro and went segment hunting. How much faster could Lee Cougan’s downcountry bike be on subdued mixed terrain than other bikes marketed to the same category? In the end, the times did not lie. The Crossfire Trail is wicked fast for a Downcountry bike on XC terrain.
A chink in the armor reveals itself when pushing hard. The bottom bracket area, though impressively light and sleek, lacks the torsional stiffness one would hope for in a modern XC or trailbike frame. Hit a small lip or land slightly off-center, and the frame exhibits a noticeable lateral flex. It’s not disconcerting to the point of danger, but the feedback is there: a sideways buck that breaks the otherwise taut and controlled ride feel. Whether this is the tradeoff for its featherweight ambitions or a consequence of the S.C.S. design remains up for debate—but it’s a character quirk worth noting, particularly for aggressive riders who regularly flirt with airtime.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Ultimately, the Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail is a razor-sharp XC machine with just enough trail DNA to tempt you into pushing boundaries. It’s ideal for riders who prioritize efficiency but aren’t afraid to deviate off the race tape now and then. Just keep your landings tidy—and your ambitions realistic. 
Price: €8.999 as tested
Website: Leecougan.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Sean’s habitat is Bend, OR – known for its vast network of trails varying from fast and flowy to rugged volcanic chunder. Born and raised in Bend, Sean has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 30+ years on riding everything from XC to Enduro and DH bikes on a variety of terrain. Currently, he enjoys taking out the new breed of short travel trail bikes on long rides and pushing them beyond their limit.
Size: 6’1” / 185cm | 165lbs / 75kg
Social: @lifeasaspectator
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