No one seems to be riding these and on paper they look a killer.Why the lack of interest
Bike Forum
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Hemlock
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Posted 3 years ago #
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I know, I asked for pics a week or so ago and didn't get one posted. Seem spot on to me.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Im interested in them too people always seem to recommend them but nobody seems to ride them.
I think I would quite like to find out how a 160 fork would ride with the 120 rockers.
Posted 3 years ago # -
there's probably not that many around - Cotic were out of stock for ages! I've always liked the concept of the Hemlock, and the 2009 model looks spot on. If I had the cash, it would be my frame of choice
Posted 3 years ago # -
I've heard that they're looking into issues with swing-arm breakages, particularly on the medium frame.
Posted 3 years ago # -
on the new ones? i know there were some problems with the old ones...
Posted 3 years ago # -
Yes, on the new ones too. They break.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Heres one in the Swiss Alps.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I thought that was flexyness issues, not actually breakages?
Feel free to correct me, though...
EDIT - I was slightly slow posing this!
Posted 3 years ago # -
No, flexiness was the old issue. The new ones break if a crucial washer is ommitted or the pinch bolt behind the main pivot is loose. They then fail catastrophically at that point.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I don't really think it's my part to explain a Cotic safety issue, perhaps best to ask Cy.
Posted 3 years ago # -
There must be some out there tho.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I wanted one as my insurance replacement, but insurers would not play ball on a cash settlement
18bikes had priced me up a pukka bike with Thors/Hope Hoops/Louise's/SLX...
Posted 3 years ago # -
If you guys like the Hemlock , take a look at the Ventanas , I have never seem one break & they are designed the way the Cotic should have been.
The rockers are kept as short as possible & I do not think a gorilla could cause them to flex.Also all the pivots have double bearing & you can have multiple tavel rockes.Posted 3 years ago # -
Except Ventanas generally cost at least £400 more.
Posted 3 years ago # -
and are known for breaking as well.
Posted 3 years ago # -
trail monkey has one... ask him
Posted 3 years ago # -
No, flexiness was the old issue. The new ones break if a crucial washer is ommitted or the pinch bolt behind the main pivot is loose. They then fail catastrophically at that point.
So it's more of a maintainance issue, really? Although you'd have thought that it wouldn't matter too much really.....
Posted 3 years ago # -
Ummm, if you don't do the main pivot pinch bolt up then I would sorta expect a catastrophic failure, as the swing arm will fall off.
Its a bit like if you don't do up your brake caliper bolts, I would expect the caliper to fail as well.
Posted 3 years ago # -
mildred - Member
Except Ventanas generally cost at least £400 more.A lot of money for a Kona.
Posted 3 years ago # -
BWD - how many have you SEEN fail, or is this just internet gossip?
I was one who was critical of how flexible the old rockers were - I played on wee pete36's one. The new ones seem a beefy as anything and the bike is indeed rigid at the rear (fnnar).
I was hoping to get one
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well my missus has one and loves it.
160 fork/120 rockers should be a lotta fun. I tried one with 150 fork/100 rockers and it could get you into a whole lot of trouble very very quickly indeed, without feeling like a sofa.
New (mk2) version looks very solid indeed. Must admit to being tempted meself....
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thanks Jon thats the first feedback about that combo Ive heard. Im hoping to have a new FS frame in that long/short format but there arnt many options. Was it a shop demo that you tried? If so where?
Posted 3 years ago # -
A lot of money for a Kona. [:lol:]
Doooo beat me to that
Posted 3 years ago # -
I think Swinnertons in Stoke will have a demo soon...
Posted 3 years ago # -
I_Ache - 18bikes have a demo iirc.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I'm basing this on zero evidence, but since there are a few Hemlocks at the Bikeradar demo days, Cotic may be willing to ship one of those to your LBS for you to try.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I_Ache
Where are you based, and what size do you want to try?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Im in Birmingham a medium or a large should give me a good indication.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Was it a shop demo that you tried?
No - one of the preproduction ones.
I have ridden my other half's a bit though (she generally runs 140 F/100 R) which is a mighty fine singletrack hacker, but a bit small for me, and I've also used one of the AQR hire bikes (140F/150R) for some DH runs in the Pyrenees. That felt a little bit nervous and the forks (Pikes) couldn't really keep up with the back end.
I think one with the 6" rockers and some Lyrics or Float 36s would be about the perfect Megavalanche bike.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I've never ridden one, but given the way I ride if I ever feel the need to replace my Five a Hemlock would certainly be on my list. The 08 design looked too much like it was made in somebody's garage, but the new one looks pretty close to spot on I reckon.
Posted 3 years ago # -
BWD - how many have you SEEN fail, or is this just internet gossip?
Just the one, a magazine test bike. It failed because apparently a washer had been omitted during assembly, something which apparently is common to other medium-sized Hemlocks from the same batch, which presumably are out there being ridden still. It didn't fail because the bolt wasn't done up.
As I said earlier, I don't think it's really up to me to comment on a safety issue, but I can tell you that it's not something I've made up or 'heard' on the internet.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Got plenty in stock, but I think people are waiting for press. We got tests out much earlier last year. We've got a whole fleet built for the Future demos, and 18 Bikes, Cyclescene in York, Freedom Bikes in Brighton all have demos and we can ship a demo to a dealer if it doesn't clash with us needing it. I don't know if Swinno's have built there's yet, or whether they sold it. They had a frame off us a few weeks back.
Setup-wise, I ran 160/100 on last years bike and 160/120 on the 09, and it's lots and lots of fun in big stuff without being too wallowy or boring on smoother trails. Have to say I recently switched mine back to a much lighter 140/120 build using my Thors for demo duty, but left a sticky DH front tyre on and I'm totally loving it. 140mm forks are soooo much better than they were last year. I can chuck it around more because it's lighter, just loads and loads of fun.
Regarding the swingarm, we have had one fail which was a result of incorrect assembly of a pinch clamp and it lacking a washer. In this case the bolt loses preload and then the frame fatigues prematurely. One went which flagged up the issue. It's in the process of being sorted. I went and chucked mine off a 4ft drop 25 times the other week to make double sure I was totally, once-and-for-all happy with it. It's fine
Posted 3 years ago # -
Are all the Hemlocks which are out there correctly assembled then?
Posted 3 years ago # -
All 2008 frames and the 2009 small and large ones are. The 2009 medium ones are in the process of being made that way.
Posted 3 years ago #
Topic Closed
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