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Today’s Deals2022 Cotic
FlareMAX Silver SLX 12spd
A 29″ steel frame full suspension trail bike with upper mid-range components.
Manufacturer Price
£3,499($4,708)| Frame | Steel |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 125 / 130mm |
| Fork | RockShox Revelation RC |
| Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select+ |
| Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
| Groupset | SLX |
| Brakes | Shimano Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
5'2" – 5'8"
5'6" – 5'11"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'1" – 6'5"
None yet.
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Summary
The Cotic FlareMAX is celebrated for its unique steel frame, offering a lively and engaging ride with a blend of stability and playful handling. Its Longshot geometry and versatile build options cater to a wide range of riders, from down-country enthusiasts to trail adventurers. While it may be heavier than some rivals and carry a premium price, its dynamic feel and customizability stand out.
Unique steel frame with lively ride quality
Versatile build options for various riding styles
Longshot geometry enhances stability and handling
Excellent suspension performance with Cane Creek DBAir IL shock
Customizable to suit rider preferences
Heavier than carbon-fiber competitors
Premium pricing
Some components may not match the bike's full capability
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 PerfectThe 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.ccThe Cane Creek DBAir IL is very possibly the best air shock currently available for regular trail riders.
Singletrack WorldFeedback?
View all reviews
Jul 2023 · Guy Kesteven
Cotic’s charismatic steel framed FlareMAX is back for round five, and it’s embracing the down-country theme it stumbled across back in 2018.
Balanced suspension and blended frame materials offer a calm yet exhilarating ride. Cane Creek suspension will please the dial deities
Like for like builds will be heavier than alloy or carbon options. No SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger)
May 2023 · Cory Benson
Cotic's updated 5th generation Reynolds 853 steel FlareMAX short travel trail bike is now built entirely in Great Britain...
May 2023 · Cotic-Bikes
If you haven't seen our FlareMAX before, it's a 125mm travel full suspension bike, which can be built light and lively with the latest generation of 120mm forks and fast tyres, or with 130 or 140mm forks and burlier wheels for a tougher trail style setup..
Apr 2022 · Ben Haworth
From The Big Short grouptest in issue 142 of Singletrack World, Benji awards a Singletrack Recommended to the Cotic FlareMAX Gen4.
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
Apr 2019 · Tom Marvin
A long, steel bike that's upgradable depending on your needs and budget
Geometry that’ll likely give up before you do
Ability to adjust spec to match your pocket
Sluggish up hill and between tight corners
Tyres didn’t overly impress
| Fork | Rockshox Revelation RC - 130mm (Motion Control) Travel: 130mm Spring Type: Air |
|---|---|
| Shock | Rock Shox Deluxe Select Plus 210x50 Travel: 125mm |
| Bottom Bracket | MT800 XT Bottom Bracket |
| Headset | Cane Creek Headset 40 Series ZS44/EC44 |
| Stem | Cotic SHORTERSTEM - 35mm |
| Handlebar | Cotic Calver Bars - 780 x 25 rise, 5deg up, 9deg back (black) |
| Seatpost | BikeYoke Devine Seatpost 125mm drop Type: Dropper |
| Rear Derailleur | SLX M7100 1x12 Drivetrain |
|---|---|
| Crank | SLX M7100 Chainset with 32t chainring |
| Cassette | SLX 12spd 10-51 Cassette |
| Brakes | Pair of Shimano rotors 203/180 centerlock Type: Shimano Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | Shimano MT620 Wheels Boost 29 12spd |
|---|---|
| Tires | Wolfpack Trail/Cross 29x2.4 tyres |
First added October 28
Last updated February 27
Not listed for 1,196 days