No advantage without a disadvantage. Almost as old as this wisdom is the question of which is better: hardtail or fully? Lee Cougan - founded in the USA in 1977 - wants to answer this question with the Rampage Innova combine the advantages of both types. In other words, light, direct and drive-neutral like a hardtail and comfortable and high-traction like a fully. The bike falls into the softtail category: a hardtail with minimalist suspension at the rear. The suspension force is provided by a vertical carbon strut that connects the seat stays to the seat tube. A novelty for softtails is the damping by means of two parallel, hydraulic pistons. These control the compression and rebound speed and are adjusted to the frame size (S to L). On request, they can be customised to your own preferences by the suspension specialist Gallo Moto in Rome. Other softtails, such as the BMC Teamlite (no longer available) or the Trek ProcaliberThe new models do without separate damping and rely solely on the spring force of an elastomer.
Lee Cougan Rampage: almost 30 millimetres of travel with a frame weight of 1630 grams
The measurement data from the laboratory provides initial clarity: the test bike can only fulfil the advantage of the lower weight of hardtails to a limited extent. At 1630 grams, the frame (including the spring/damper unit) is around twice as heavy as the lightest hardtail frames currently available, but on a par with full-suspension frames. With a fully, the weight of the shock (a good 300 grams) would have to be added. The total weight of a full ten kilos will not knock the socks off gram-fearers in view of the high price, but it does offer a good 100 millimetres of travel at the rear. The stiffness is also low. The frame flexes noticeably under the powerful pedalling of heavy riders. One test rider complained about the lack of calf clearance in relation to the wide seat stays.
Our test rig squeezes 27 millimetres of travel out of the rear end of the Lee Cougan Rampage, which is really good for a softtail. For comparison: comfortable carbon hardtails without a dropper post achieve around ten millimetres of "travel" on the saddle - only when seated, of course. Thanks to the 80 mm stem with a -15 degree angle, the Rampage offers a sporty riding position for the intended use.
Drive influences are not noticeable, but the acceleration is not quite as direct as on a hardtail. When riding over roots and rocks, however, you can clearly feel the increased comfort, and it is not necessary to completely take the weight off the saddle. The Innova system significantly improves traction, especially on technical climbs. Downhill, the difference to conventional hardtails is less pronounced. The typical imbalance between front and rear limits the bike on rough descents.
It takes some getting used to: the clacking of the mini-shock absorbers during fast sequences of hits. At the front, the 760 mm handlebars and the sensitive Fox fork convey a lot of confidence, while the rear wheel tends to hop over the roots. Here, the concept cannot keep up with real fullys. The geometry is conservative, but not old-fashioned - just like a classic racer. However, the handlebars of the in-house one-piece cockpit could do with more upsweep. Lee Cougan tunes the Rampage ex works with the wide-range Leonardi cassette. When riding, the lightweight milling artwork strained the nerves with loud creaking. Very chic: The high-quality metallic paint of the elegant frame gives the Lee Cougan Rampage an almost custom look.
Conclusion from Tobias Brehler, BIKE tester:
The Lee Cougan Rampage Innova is a sporty long-distance softtail with excellent seating comfort. Full-suspension riders may be less enthusiastic about the concept. But for hardtail bikers, the Rampage is a comfortable alternative for demanding marathons.
Technical data of the Lee Cougan Rampage Innova Factory Replica:
General information
- Price: 7699 Euro
- to the website of Lee Cougan->
- Material / Size: Carbon / S / M / L (tested size 47.5 cm)
Measured values
- Weight without pedals: 10.0 kg
- Front / rear suspension travel: 101 / 27 mm
Equipment
- Wheels: Ursus Kodiak system wheels
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race Exo Pr. TR 29 x 2.35
- Fork: Fox 32 Float Factory SC Fit4 Remote
- Damper: Lee Cougan Rampage Innova
- Brakes: Magura MT8 SL Carb. 160 / 160 mm
- Gear system: Sram XX1 Eagle AXS 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 9-50 / 555 %
- Post / Ø: TranzX / 27.2 mm
You can download the full report on the Lee Cougan Rampage Innova test here:
>> Test Lee Cougan Rampage Innova Factory Replica from BIKE 8/2022
