I’m looking at hardtail steel frame options of the Cotic Soul or Cove Handjob as my budget is around the £450-£550 mark. Any suggestions on which frame i should opt for. Most of my riding is XC and i’m setting up on 100 mm Fox RLT forks. Thanks

British all the way.

HJ is best with 120mm travel, or even 130mm.

Shortish top tube makes it good for tight, technical riding but it can be hard work on long XC rides.

Thought about changing mine sometimes but it is a really good bike, just making you aware of the downsides.

If you’re after a large Soul I’ve got one for sale in the classifieds.

I have owned both and thought the Soul was a better ride.

I have owned a Handjob and liked it..i currently own a Soul and love it.
Does everything i expected and more, climbs like a mountain goat and accelerates like a fast thing…

I’ve seen/heard of too many Handjobs to recommend them, unless you’re a very lightweight rider.

(The HJ is not a ‘hardcore’ hardtail as many owners like to think; I’ve had this very conversation with Brian Kelly, the R&D Manager at Cove Bikes.)

Missed the word ‘breaking’ after the word ‘Handjob’, btw.

Missed the word ‘breaking’ after the word ‘Handjob’, btw.

Ooof, I don’t want to even associate those two words with a mental image of you HH.

And on-topic, I love my Handjob, but I know it’s too small for me. Tempted to try a Soul sometime, if I can get one on the cheaps.

There are a few nice looking Sanderson Breath frames on ebay going cheap.

The HJ is not a ‘hardcore’ hardtail as many owners like to think

Absolutely right, it’s just an XC frame with slacker angles. Mine even says “XC” on the top tube.

i’ve got a 2010 handjob frame for sale for £220 if you want it.
Oh they are good with a 100mm fork as I run mine with a fox f100

Pete

Sanderson Life, British Reymolds 853, perfect for 100mm xc riding.
As a side angle as such, I found the On-One Scandal running 100mm Rebas really comfy and every bit as good as the Sanderson.