Cotic

I’ve a confession to make. Testing hardtails is more often than not a part of this bike reviewer’s job that doesn’t exactly fill me with joy. Most hardtails beat the crap out of you on the kind of trails I love to ride, and seeing as you can’t ever go quite as fast downhill on the best bits as on a full suss bike, I find it all a bit… what’s the point? Sure, you can rip on the best aggressively-angled hardtails if you really send it, but, holy hell, it can also feel a bit wild and scary letting go of those brakes with only a rubber rear tyre between you and bad things happening. – Short of time? Click here to skip to the verdict – Cotic Solaris need to know Steel hardtail made from Reynolds 853 tubing front triangle, 4130 chromoly stays RockShox Revelation RC fork with 130mm, frame takes 100-130mm fork Threaded BSA BB, external cable routing, UDH, SRAM Transmission-ready Five sizes based on length, from C1 (smallest) to C5, size tested is C3 with 490mm reach Bronze entry-level build gets Shimano Deore brakes and gears Call me grumpy (I deserve it), but this means it’s often a case of trying to get a handle on any hardtail fast and then moving on to the next shiny new full suspension or e-bike on the list. Often, that is, but not always. Very rarely, a bike like Cotic’s Solaris comes along that doesn’t automatically get packed into the cardboard box and sent out the door the second my review copy has. Designed in the Peak District and up to its umpteenth generation, the Solaris goes about its business in a distinctly different way to the kind of aggressive hardcore hardtail I’m talking about above. It’s not a radically low and slack machine, honed in to eke maximum speed and stability out of zero rear travel like Stif’s Squatch Pro or, to a lesser extent, Cotic’s own Bfe. Instead, Cotic’s Solaris full 29in hardtail is more of a classic allrounder that’s up for a bit of everything. And incidentally, the Squatch is one of the only other hardtails I’ve revisited for fun in recent years. What the Solaris shares with Stif’s frame is a brilliant ride feel and handling, and being made out of springier steel, not aluminium. The biggest difference for me though is, despite the Solaris targeting the kind of riding that’s not my usual bag, I find myself back out on it time and time again. Maybe I’m just getting old, but without going all Michael Jackson on you, there’s something wholesome about the way the Solaris makes me feel. It’s back to basics while still managing a smidgen of sophistication, rather than a typical raw, headbanging hardtail ride. This has me having a mooch about the place just for the sake of it. Cruising around in all weathers on the Solaris reminded me of a time before every trail had to have a berm …Continue reading »

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The Cotic RocketMax MX is a capable enduro bike with a penchant for speed with a solid yet comfortable steel frame construction.

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Cotic’s new e-bike stays true to its signature steel frame style of 21 years, and uses a wholly UK-built frame to minimise ecological impact and maximise build quality. Mounting the battery externally looks outdated, but brings a host of low-weight, high-practicality benefits too. It’s retro aesthetics and premium pricing mean it’s had a roasting in the online comments. So are the trolls right, or does it Deliveroo where it really matters – on the trail – enough to stand among the best e-bikes on the market? I, for one, wanted to find out. Cotic Rocket e-bike need to know Steel-framed trail/enduro e-bike Designed and hand-built in the UK 150mm rear suspension travel MX wheels Shimano EP801 motor with choice of external batteries (stock bike comes with 418Wh) Frameset, complete bike or custom build options starting at £6,350 Frame and geometry At first glance the plastic-encased Shimano battery pack bolted onto the slim steel down tube undoubtedly gives the Rocket a ‘retro/JustEat/DIY’ look depending on how rude you want to be. However, designer/founder Cy Turner has spent several years sweating the details of this Marmite design, through several prototypes (including a full-alloy Cotic frame with internal battery) and those efforts became clear when I got up close. The down tube is a custom Reynolds pipe with a DH-strength rating to handle the weight of the battery even on the sendiest of bike park days. The steel mount for the Shimano motor is also totally custom, saving over a kilo compared to off-the-shelf designs. The chassis is a collaboration with other UK companies to minimise environmental impact and maximise build quality. The mainframe is meticulously (the welds are truly sensational) built by Five Land up in Scotland. Coal Bikes produces the alloy chainstays in Nottinghamshire, using machined parts from Rideworks in Coventry, who also makes the linkage. Bear Frame Supplies makes the pivot bosses and axles, just down the road from Cotic in the Peak District. A bespoke offside motor cover and cable management system is 3D-printed by 76 Projects in Cambridgeshire, and used to keep the Shimano motor neat and well-protected. While the vertical shock and ‘Rocklink’ suspension look similar to the original Cotic Hemlock FS bike, the kinematics are very close to Cotic’s current Droplink range. 15mm pivot thru-axles and Enduro and SKF bearings are mostly proven pieces from previous bikes too. However, a unique floating roller bearing mount for the trunnion style shock has been added to stop side loads getting to the causing premature wear – it’s a clever bit of innovation from Cotic. Paint is applied in the UK with an à la carte custom option alongside the copper, crimson and topaz stock choices. In other words, in many ways this bike couldn’t be further away from the e-bike conversion kit jalopy some have compared it to. And you’d hope so, given the frameset, motor and battery module option cost a not-insignificant £6,350. This is artisan rather than Ali Express, even if some of the areas around …Continue reading »

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