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Today’s DealsFlareMAX Gold Plus
A 27.5″ steel frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
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| Frame | Steel |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 125 / 130mm |
| Fork | Cane Creek HELM |
| Shock | Cane Creek DBair IL |
| Wheels | 27.5″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 11 |
| Groupset | XT |
| Brakes | Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
5'2" – 5'8"
5'6" – 5'11"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'1" – 6'7"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
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Summary
The Cotic FlareMax is a trail bike that combines a steel and alloy frame with forward-shifted geometry and a flatter shock rate, offering a mix of assured muscle and aggressive handling. It's praised for its customisable options and solid specification, though some find it a bit sluggish on flatter trails and heavier than its peers. The bike excels on technical descents, with a geometry that leans towards slacker and longer, making it a point-and-shoot machine on challenging terrain.
Steel and alloy frame delivers a fantastic mix of assured muscle
Forward shifted geometry and flatter shock rate feel awesome
Plenty of customisable options
Solid specification with reliable components
Heavier than most carbon/alloy bikes in the shorter-travel category
A touch sluggish on flatter, twistier trails
Rear wheel travel can feel limited on rougher tracks
What was previously a very confident and assured but slightly genteel machine has got significantly sharper and more aggressive in a Daniel Craig, not Roger Moore ‘Bond’ style.
The FlareMax feels like it wants to be ridden flat-out everywhere — it’s not a bike that requires finesse to get the most out of its ride — it’s more of a point and shoot bike, on most terrain.
This bike here is the second iteration of Cotic’s 120mm travel, do-it-all, up-for-most-things, full suspension trail bike.
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Dec 2019 · Guy Kesteven
Cotic’s semi-steel short-travel trail mountain bike gets an even more radical geometry and shorter, smoother suspension update
Steel and alloy frame delivers a fantastic mix of assured muscle
Forward shifted geometry and flatter shock rate feel awesome
‘Alternative’ suspension options match frame feel really well
Sorted spec with an excellent range of ‘custom’ or even self-supplied options
Heavier than most carbon/alloy bikes in the shorter-travel category
Approximate rather than super accurate handling at the ragged edge
Super long and slack geometry won’t suit every rider or trail
Sep 2018 · James Love
Cotic has really gone for it with reach increasing by some margin. Reach figures for the new Cotic FlareMAX are up significantly

Aug 2018 · David Arthur
Can British steel compete with carbon and aluminum in the emerging short-travel AM/trail category? This elegant 29er may be the proof...
Fast and fun
Longshot geometry
Suspension is sensitive, supple and supportive
Limited space for a frame mounted water bottle
On the heavy side
Seat tube angle could be steeper

Oct 2016 · Jon Woodhouse
Fast, fun and adaptable, the FlareMAX could well be the only bike you need. Buy if you're looking for a fun, sturdy and do-it-all bike for the trails
Shimano groupset and RaceFace cranks, sturdy linkages and pivots on the Droplink suspension system, X Fusion fork
The deep section WTB rims
| Frame | Chromoly BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded |
|---|---|
| Fork | Cane Creek Helm 29, Boost 110x15mm thru-axle, tapered steerer Travel: 130mm |
| Shock | Cane Creek DB Air IL, 190mm x 45mm Travel: 125mm |
| Bottom Bracket | Threaded BSA, 73mm |
| Headset | Hope |
| Stem | Cotic Shortstem (35mm or 45mm) |
| Handlebar | Cotic Calver, 780mm width, 25mm rise |
| Saddle | Cotic Cromo Rail |
| Seatpost | Race Face Turbine dropper, 125mm (SM, MD), 150mm (LG, XL) Type: Dropper |
| Pedals | N/A |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT M8000, 11-speed |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | N/A |
| Crank | Race Face Turbine Cinch, 175mm length, direct mount |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore XT M8000, 11-speed |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore XT M8000, 11-46 tooth, 11-speed |
| Chain | Shimano Deore XT M8000, 11-speed |
| Chain Guide | N/A |
| Brakes | Deore XT M8000, 180mm rotors Type: Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Deore XT M8000 |
| Rims | Hope Tech 35W |
|---|---|
| Front Hub | Hope Tech |
| Rear Hub | Hope Tech |
| Tires | WTB Ranger, Light High Grip front, Tough Fast Rolling rear, tubeless, 27.5" x 2.8" |
First added September 3
Last updated September 3
Not listed for 2,825 days