A deliberate material choice
The Cowboy Cookie combines a steel front triangle with an aluminum rear end – not as a compromise, but as a system.
Steel at the front brings durability, ride feel and long‑term reliability, especially over sustained rough terrain and extended use. The aluminum rear triangle adds stiffness and precision where suspension performance and power transfer are most critical. Together, they create a bike that feels efficient under load, stable when pushing hard and calm when fatigue sets in.
External cable routing further reinforces this approach: simple, robust and easy to maintain, especially on long trips and in remote conditions.
A steel short‑travel full‑suspension bike, built with intent – efficient, forgiving and ready to go big.
A suspension concept with intent
The Cowboy Cookie uses a Horst‑link four‑bar suspension layout. This design allows pedaling forces and suspension behavior to be tuned independently, resulting in a platform that stays efficient under power while remaining active over chattery terrain.
Anti‑squat and anti‑rise characteristics are balanced carefully to create traction when climbing, stability when braking and a smooth, predictable feel when the trail gets rough. Combined with the damping qualities of steel and the precise control of the aluminum rear end, the suspension encourages forward momentum rather than isolating the rider from the trail.
Geometry for long days, not short demos
The geometry of the Cowboy Cookie is progressive without pushing into extremes. Stable enough for steep terrain, agile enough to remain engaging on moderate trails and efficient enough to stay comfortable over many hours of pedaling. It’s a bike that doesn’t need constant correction or exaggerated inputs. Instead, it supports steady pacing, confident line choice and controlled speed – qualities that matter far more on real rides than on quick test laps.
Developed through riding
The Cowboy Cookie grew out of our Sour Racing Development program and extensive real‑world testing.
Working closely with riders tackling ultra‑distance events and long self‑supported routes gave us direct feedback on what actually matters over time: consistency, durability and predictability. Multiple prototypes were ridden side by side, refined through shared experience rather than isolated metrics.
This process shaped the Cowboy Cookie into a platform that can handle race effort one day and big exploratory rides the next – without changing its character.
Built by hand, built to last
Every Cowboy Cookie frame is built by hand in Saxony.
Design and fabrication happen under one roof, allowing us to consider how every decision behaves not just theoretically, but in construction and use. From alignment and welding to finishing, the frame is built to withstand aggressive riding, repeated long days and years of use.
This is not a disposable race tool. It’s a bike meant to be ridden often and kept.
Go big, ride home
The Cowboy Cookie doesn’t push you toward a specific type of riding. It simply gives you a fast, efficient and dependable platform that supports ambition – whether that means chasing personal bests, covering ground in the mountains or linking long routes far above tree line.
It’s a short‑travel bike built for long days.
| Geometry | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST Length (mm) | 370 | 410 | 460 | 500 |
| TT Length (mm) | 585 | 605 | 632 | 665 |
| Reach (mm) | 450 | 469 | 494 | 524 |
| Stack (mm) | 613 | 622 | 632 | 646 |
| HT Angle (°) | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 |
| HT Length (mm) | 100 | 110 | 120 | 135 |
| ST Angle (°) | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 |
| CS Length (mm) | 438 | 439 | 439 | 439 |
| BB Drop (mm) | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1190 | 1211 | 1242 | 1279 |
| Fork Length (mm) | 540 | 540 | 540 | 540 |
| Fork Offset (mm) | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
| Wheel Size | 29ʺ | 29ʺ | 29ʺ | 29ʺ |
How we see Steel
At Sour, steel is not a stylistic choice.
It’s a design decision.
We use steel because it allows us to define frame behavior precisely — under load, over time, and across a wide range of riding conditions. Material choice, tube selection and heat treatment directly influence how a frame transfers forces, responds to repeated stress and ages through use.
This is Sour Bicycles – Made in Germany
Our manufacturing represents the culmination of plans, chats with friends while out riding, and many late nights writing ideas down. Our on-shoring process, the project we started to make all our frames right here in Germany, one-by-one, by hand, in our own facilities is our biggest adventure yet.
It is by far the biggest step we’ve ever made as a company: moving 100% of our production to Saxony. We are so proud to be Made in Germany and will continue to grow the project in the coming years.
Sour Bicycles 4130 CrMo frame welded by hand in Saxony, featuring heat treated, multi-butted tubing.
Rear end machined in Dresden by Actofive from 7075-T6 aluminum.
The seat clamp is designed in-house and is integrated into the frame. Should it ever fail, the frame can be professionally modified to use a traditional clamp.
The bottom bracket is a custom part designed by Sour and fits a standard 73mm BSA threaded bottom bracket. The headtube is also a Sour-specific design.
The rear triangle is 7075 T6 aluminum and is made by Actofive in Dresden. SRAM UDH derailleur hanger and Transmission-ready
By The Numbers
Headtube: EC44/ZS56 tapered headtube
Bottom bracket: 73mm BSA bottom bracket
Axle: 12mm x 148mm thru axle (Syntace X-12)
Seat post: 31.6mm
Brake standard: PM180 Direct. More info here.
Wheel size: S/M/L/XL 29″*
Tire clearance: up to 2,5″
*Size small available end of 2024
Bonus facts and features:
SRAM UDH derailleur hanger and Transmission-ready
Recommended tire size 2,2″ – 2,4″
External downtube cable routing
One water bottle braze-on, one tool holder braze-on (top tube)
Optional second bottle braze-on and top tube bag braze-on
Low standover height
CNC’d bottom bracket for better power transfer (go fast)
CNC’d and welded rocker for control (don’t crash)
It’s all in the details
We’ve tried to make all the details of the Cowboy Cookie as straight forward as possible so know you what you’re getting into. Still not sure? Just drop us an email!
| Suspension Design | Horst Link |
| Headset/Headtube | EC44/ZS56 |
| Seat Post | 31.6mm |
| Seat Clamp | Integrated |
| Eye to Eye length | 190mm |
| Stroke | 45mm |
| Fork Compatibility | 120-130mm |
| Fork Offset | 44mm |
| Brake Mount | PM 180mm |
| BB Shell | 73mm Threaded |
| Max Tire Size | 2.5″ |
| Max Chainring Size | 34t |
| Water Bottle Mounts | 1 + 1 Tool Box |
| Shock Mounting Bushing Top | 22,2×8 |
| Shock Mounting Bushing Bottom | 21,84×8 |
Below is the sample weight of a size medium Cowboy Cookie. This weight does not include powdercoating, but please keep in mind that your chose powdercoat may be heavier than the average coating we use. Fades, gradients, and metallic colours can weigh more than single solid color. If you are interested the final weight, please get in touch. We apply an inside wax coating before shipping the frame to your door that will add additional weight.
Frames
A Sour Cowboy Cookie frameset weighs 3.18 kg with all its small parts and suspension pivots, bearings, and bolts installed. This weight is excluding powdercoat which will add between 50g and 200g depending on your color choice.
Included with your frame
Included with your Cowboy Cookie frame or frameset are all small parts, cable guides and bolts to build your bike. You get a rear thru-axle of course, and if you’re ordering a frameset, you get a front axle with your fork as well. Headsets are only included if you add one to your order.
We are currently working on more options for the Cowboy Cookie, but currently we offer some amazing options from Fox and Manitou that work perfectly with our suspension design. If you have any questions about tuning or clearance, feel free to drop us an email.
You can add a rear shock and other parts at check out.
Check out the next drop-down for all the suspension characteristics, you kinematics-sniffer!
Flip Chip Settings
Geometry is based on the high position flip chip
Geometry modification by flip chip:
Head Angle -0.3° / Seat Angle -0.47° for LOW
-5mm BB height
