Bikes up to 60% offWe monitor over 40,000 bikes daily to find the best prices
Today’s Deals2020 Cotic
FlareMAX Gold GX Eagle
A 29″ steel frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
Compare the full range
| Frame | Steel |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 125 / 130mm |
| Fork | Cane Creek HELM |
| Shock | Cane Creek DBair IL |
| Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
| Groupset | GX Eagle |
| 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.
Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes.
Summary
The Cotic FlareMAX is a trail bike that combines a communicative steel frame with progressive geometry, offering a unique blend of stability and agility. Its suspension is praised for being sensitive and well-tuned, providing a smooth ride across various terrains. While it's heavier than some rivals and can be expensive, its dynamic feel and customizable options make it a standout choice for riders seeking a lively and confident trail experience.
Communicative steel frame
Progressive geometry
Sensitive and well-tuned suspension
Unique charm and aesthetics
Customizable options
Heavier than rivals
Expensive
Inconsistent Shimano XT brakes
Occasional pedal strikes
Building a super-light down-country bike around a 4kg semi-steel frame is clearly a silly thing to do on paper when you can get carbon frames with similar travel for around half the weight.
Bike PerfectIt’s suspension and geometry, not frame material, that make the bike, and Cotic has nailed both.
BikeRadarThe FlareMAX is a monster on the climbs if you can forgive a bit of pedal bob, quick and easy-going through flowy mellow sections and massively confidence-inspiring when the speeds rack up.
off.road.ccFeedback?
View all reviews
Sep 2021
The Cotic FlareMAX G4 is a down-country bike that refuses to be pigeonholed. Thanks to a respectfully lengthy geometry, huge range of custom options and wide fork travel optimisation, it's a versatile bike for many different riders, and it's tough not to like. Best mountain bikes for under £3,000 - capable trail bikes that won't break the bank Merida Ninety-Six 8000 review 15 Great British bike brands made right here in the UK We've got the Cotic FlareMAX G4 in its Gold XT build for testing.
May 2021 · Guy Kesteven
Can you really make a ‘down-country’ speed machine with a steel frame?
Communicative steel frame
Super-light unsprung weight and components
Adjustable, linear shock
Progressive geometry
Unique charm and x-factor aesthetics
Heavier than rivals
Lacks the stiffness of a carbon-fiber monocoque
Expensive
May 2021 · Cotic-Bikes
Cy has given their little bike a few geometry tweaks, updated details, and lighter builds.
Feb 2020 · Jamie Darlow
With the short travel 29er Cotic FlareMax the British steel specialist forges agead again with upgraded geometry and flexible speccing.
Great geometry backed up by decent suspension.
Let down by intermittent Shimano XT brakes. It's pretty heavy for a short-travel bike.
Dec 2019 · Seb Stott
Don’t get hung up on the frame material, it’s the suspension and geometry that make the bike, and Cotic has done a great job with both
Confident, stable and agile geometry
Sensitive suspension for the travel, particularly when pedalling
Good base-tune on the highly-adjustable shock
Seat angle could be steeper
Inconsistent Shimano XT brakes
Dec 2019 · Hannah Dobson
The new Cotic FlareMAX is launched today, and Cy at Cotic gave us a quick first ride out on the latest iteration of this mid travel 29er.
| Frame | Steel BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded |
|---|---|
| Fork | Cane Creek HELM Travel: 130mm |
| Shock | Cane Creek DB Air IL, Climb Switch, 200mm x 50mm Travel: 125mm |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB, 73mm BSA threaded |
| Headset | Hope 2H, ZS44/EC44 |
| Stem | Cotic SHORTERSTEM, 35mm |
| Handlebar | Cotic Calver, 780mm width, 25mm rise, 5° upsweep, 9° backsweep |
| Saddle | Cotic |
| Seatpost | X-Fusion Manic Stealth dropper, 125mm drop Type: Dropper |
| Pedals | N/A |
| Grips | Cotic, lock-on |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | N/A |
| Crank | SRAM GX Eagle DUB |
| Shifters | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed |
| Cassette | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed, 10-50 tooth |
| Chain | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed |
| Chain Guide | OneUp Top Guide |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore XT M8100, Shimano 180mm 6-bolt rotors Type: Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Shimano Deore XT M8100 |
| Rims | Hope Fortus 26 wheelset |
|---|---|
| Spokes | Hope Fortus 26 wheelset |
| Front Hub | Hope Fortus 26 wheelset, 6-bolt rotor mounts, 110x15mm Boost front, 148x12mm Boost rear with XD driver |
| Rear Hub | Hope Fortus 26 wheelset, 6-bolt rotor mounts, 110x15mm Boost front, 148x12mm Boost rear with XD driver |
| Tires | Front: WTB Verdict, Slashguard, tubeless kit, 29" x 2.5", Rear: WTB Judge, Tough, tubeless kit, 29" x 2.4" |
First added May 14
Last updated May 14
Not listed for 2,206 days