There are numerous arguments in favour of rear suspension and (almost) as many against: Riding pleasure, traction and comfort speak in favour of a fully; weight, costs and maintenance requirements against. That's why the industry is always trying to find a compromise: Fullys with little rear suspension travel or hardtails with rear suspension - so-called softtails. The former usually offer little added value, as the weight cannot be significantly reduced and instead only suspension travel is lost. The situation is different with the latter: Softtails often manage with little additional weight and can sometimes noticeably increase comfort.
Lee Cougan tries with the Rampage Innova Lee Cougan wanted to do just that: improve the comfort and traction of their existing Rampage MTB hardtail without any noticeable increase in weight or loss of stiffness. To achieve this, Lee Cougan has opted for a classic hardtail main frame with heavily modified seat stays. These do not merge directly into the top tube, as is usual with current race hardtails, but are connected to a suspension unit: The seat stays converge in front of the seat tube and run vertically downwards towards the bottom bracket. This bar is bolted approximately halfway between the bottom bracket and the top tube and thus acts like a leaf spring.
Damping is provided by two hydraulic pistons between the seat tube and seat stays. This is intended to Vertical suspension of 30 millimetres with high lateral stiffness. Flat chainstays with a large radius in the dropout area eliminate the need for a pivot point, which fullys require in the bottom bracket area.
The combination of suspension and damping is new for softtails: about six years ago BMC opted for a pure elastomer suspension for its Teamlite between the seat stays and seat tube. This resulted in unsteady riding behaviour on asphalt due to drive influences. The Swiss company no longer offers this system. Trek has been using a different solution for years: the Procaliber, the seat stays run directly into the top tube. The seat tube is connected to the top tube via a joint and an elastomer. This results in the riding characteristics of a normal hardtail with increased seating comfort. When standing, the system has no function.
Suspension adjustment on the Rampage Innova not spontaneously possible
The three available frame sizes (S to L) have different carbon layups. In combination with three different hydraulic piston setups, Lee Cougan wants to adapt the suspension to the rider's weight. There is also the option for the dealer to customise the pistons. Gallo Moto to Rome. The suspension tuner can then adjust the pistons as required for 180 euros or send new, customised pistons for 280 euros.
The frame offers space for two bottle cages. The cables run completely inside the frame in keeping with the times. The installation of a Vario seatpost is possible and recommended if you want to lower the saddle for descents: The triple seatpost clamp is intended to increase stiffness and thus improve the function of the rear triangle, but it does reduce usability. According to the manufacturer, the frame weighs 1300 grams.
From the Eurobike 2022 Five different versions in two colours will be available at dealers in July, and online ordering is also possible: prices start at 4299 euros, with the Factory model costing 6799 euros. The latter comes in the colours of the Soudal Lee Cougan team and has the same exclusive equipment as the professional bikes: drive components from Leonardi, Ursus wheels, a Fox suspension fork tuned by Gallo Moto and the in-house, one-piece cockpit.
Lee Cougan was founded in the USA in 1977 and acquired by Stardue in 1993. Stardue also owns Basso, a classic racing bike brand from Italy. This is why sales in Germany are handled by the Basso dealer network. Lee Cougan has a wide range of models from race bikes to enduro bikes and e-mountain bikes.
