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Today’s Deals2023 Cotic
FlareMAX Gold XT
A 29″ steel frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
Manufacturer Price
£4,349($5,851)| Frame | Steel |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 125 / 120mm |
| Fork | RockShox SID Ultimate |
| Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select+ |
| Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
| Groupset | XT |
| 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 100% UK-made construction, refined geometry, and versatile trail performance. Its balanced suspension and blended frame materials deliver a calm yet exhilarating ride, with improved frame stiffness and strength. The bike's handling and ride quality are frequently praised, offering a direct connection to the trail with more grip and comfort.
100% UK-made
Refined geometry and frame details
Balanced suspension for a calm yet exhilarating ride
Improved frame stiffness and strength
Versatile setup options with different fork lengths and wheel types
Like for like builds will be heavier than alloy or carbon options
No SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger)
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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
Feb 2020 · Seb Stott
Cotic has made the leverage rate slightly less progressive this year because some heavier riders were struggling to use full travel on the previous bike without setting too much sag.. .
Stable yet agile geometry is confidence-inspiring
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
| Fork | Rock Shox SID Ultimate 120mm Blue Travel: 120mm |
|---|---|
| Shock | Rock Shox Deluxe Select Plus 210x50 Travel: 125mm |
| Bottom Bracket | MT800 XT Bottom Bracket |
| Headset | Hope 2H for tapered steerer (black) |
| 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 | XT M8100 1x12 Drivetrain |
|---|---|
| Crank | XT M8100 Chainset with 32t chainring |
| Cassette | XT 12spd 10-51 Cassette |
| Brakes | Pair of Shimano rotors 203/180 6bolt Type: Shimano Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | Hunt Trail Wide 29 V2 Microspline |
|---|---|
| Tires | Wolfpack Trail/Cross 29x2.4 tyres |
First added March 11
Last updated March 11
Not listed for 1,175 days