Crossworx Lite 290 Review

Crossworx is rooted in Germany, not just through its headquarters but also its manufacturing, complete with welding, paint shop, and essential staff. We’re taking the Crossworx Lite 290 for a spin to see if Germany still has got what it takes to build competitive mountain bikes.

For decades, Asia, and China in particular, has served as an extended workbench for German industry, and the bike sector is no different. Over 90% of mountain bike frames are made in Asia – a staggering percentage. Lower labor costs coupled with established assembly lines in large-scale factories pave the way for top-notch quality at a competitive price. Premium aluminum frames from brands such as Giant, Merida or Cube mostly don’t give much reason for any critism in terms of quality. However, with even Germany’s national news highlighting the economy’s dependence on foreign manufacturing, we were curious to see how the Crossworx Lite 290 performs, with its frame being welded right here in Germany.

Crossworx certainly isn’t the only company within the bike industry manufacturing frames in Germany. Leading the pack is the renowned Nicolai brand, which has been a standard-bearer for decades. Boutique manufacturers like Last, Stoll, or craft houses such as Bow also produce bikes in limited quantities in Germany. When it comes to components, Magura manufactures a significant volume of its brake systems in the Swabian Alb. The Magura Interview post reveals his motivation for doing so.

Finally, an increasing number of riders are considering the production location and conditions of their bikes as a key factor in their purchasing decisions.

Welding the precision CNC-machined parts, including the shock mount, and the remaining aluminum tubes into the frame typically takes around 4 hours. The assembly of the rear triangle and the painting process require additional time. A small team of four employees in Rudolstadt, Thuringia, handles every step of the process in-house. Since development, procurement, manufacturing, assembly, marketing, and distribution are all done locally, the team is incredibly flexible. The paint finish and bike specs can be customised to the rider’s preference. Even the geometry of the main frame can be altered upon request for an additional fee. This is an advantage compared to carbon bikes, which are set by a fixed mold – and a real benefit of local manufacturing.

In environments where multiple processes take place can leave the door open for quality discrepancies. However, the aluminum tubes are visibly immaculate. The weld beads are evenly distributed over the junction points. The head tube logo is even CNC-machined. Our test bike had already racked up several miles before it arrived, yet the paint was still in excellent condition. We only noticed marginal air entrapment in the paint at the secondary bottle cage mount location. It’s not a major issue and, given the custom production, likely an isolated incident. All things considered, the bike leaves a very high-quality impression in terms of craftsmanship. The German custom build quality is definitely apparent here.

Crossworx utilises a single-pivot suspension design in all of its bikes. By employing a linkage that actuates the shock, Crossworx is able to fine-tune the leverage ratio, thus achieving much more precise control over the rear suspension characteristics than with a direct-actuation system, as seen in Orange’s single-pivot models. The fact that bikes such as the Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon also leverage a single-pivot layout, demonstrates that there’s more potential in the design than its straightforward name might suggest. This is confirmed by real-world testing.

The bike’s rear suspension, compared to the often touted higher-quality four-bar linkage, shows no noticeable drawbacks. We didn’t even need to use the shock lockout lever because the rear end doesn’t really bob when pedaling. We also weren’t bothered by the rear travel being 10 millimeters shorter than the fork’s. The rear meshes with the 34 fork quite seamlessly. The steep 78-degree seat tube angle is an asset when tackling steep climbs. This geometry keeps you from having to move to the saddle’s nose to generate sufficient rear-wheel traction, even on the gnarliest ascents. On flatter terrain or mild inclines, we would’ve preferred a slightly slacker seat tube angle for a more efficient pedaling posture. When you’re aboard a 140-millimeter-travel bike, you’re not only looking to shred but also to cover some distance comfortably.

Our test rig tips the scales at 14.5 kilograms without pedals. Granted, we’ve shredded some lighter trail bikes with 140mm of travel. However, a scan of the competitive landscape shows that for an aluminum steed, the weight is within an acceptable range. For context, the Canyon Neuron AL 7 retails at 2799 Euros and weighed in at 13.9 kilograms without pedals. The Raaw Jibb packs an extra 10mm of travel up front and costs over 8000 €, and even this bike registers at 14.7 kilograms. The elaborate frame architecture simply accounts for those extra grams on the scale.

The thrill kicks in on the descent. The stable geometry and the plush suspension instill confidence at high speeds. The low bottom bracket and low center of gravity allow the bike to carve through corners with authority, despite its long reach and wheelbase. When tackling loose or wet terrain, the Maxxis Forekaster tires tend to lose traction sooner than more aggressively treaded rubber. However, the tires are well-suited to the bike’s intended use. The Raaw Jibb Review post was clearly more downhill-oriented. The Magura brakes provide reliable stopping power, as we’ve come to expect from them.

As always, we go beyond just scratching the surface when looking into the details of a bike. Unlike other media, our cutting-edge and completely unbiased testing system allows us to provide you with comprehensive insights into the entire market landscape. For those of you swooning over a specific bike like the Crossworx Lite 290, it’s clear you have a thing for top-tier aluminum rigs. To quench your thirst, we’ve put together an exciting collection for you. Dive into our extensive market overview where we’ve curated all bikes with 130 to 150 millimeters of travel and aluminum frames just for you.