The great thing is they're super-versatile. We use Sodas as our race bikes on the AQR team but when I had a Soul it was much more of a trail bike build.
Mine's not far over 21lb with Durins / Olympic / XTR / KCNC stuff...
(Excuse the GPS on stem!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdymond/4356172627/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdymond/4356170887/in/set-72157623222172902/
The Soul's my only MTB, got the original in '05, present one in '06.
It's built to stand my 100kg+ bouncing about on it;
Float XTTs at 130mm, Hope/321s, Swampthing Single Ply tubeless, Hope Mono Mini, Thomson stem, Easton bars, I-Beam post/Bel Air saddle, XT gears.
Love it.
100mm Sid races on mine, full XT, XC717 rims, thudbuster LT seatpost - weighty but comfy for fast cross country/singletrack.
Had a soul, but replaced it with a soda.
Xtr kit with crosmax st's.
I love it!
Better kit than i need, but you are only here once!!!
mine
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o
mine
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09 Soul
Coil Pikes (at 120mm)
Pro 2's with 5.1's (10mm back end)
Mono mini's
Carbon seatpost (bit of a revelation that one!)
XTR cranks, Xt everything else
Swifter than a greasy goose
Used to have a full suss as well but didn't need it for where and how I ride :-), gets used for everything except riding to work.
Carbon seatpost (bit of a revelation that one!)
why is that Stiigy, is it MUCH better than sya a Thomson.
Only asking because i'm thinking of splashing out on one to save alittle bit of weight and get a bit more 'cushy' ride.
I did think about a carbon post when I was building mine, but went with the Thomson. I'm interested to know if it makes a difference.
This is how mine is currently built up. Most of the original kit was moved onto my Enduro so it's just built up with what I had lying around: Float 100RLC's, BB7's, XT shifter/brake units, XT double and bash (22/32), XT front mech, Deore rear mech and cassette, Deore/X221 wheels, Larsen TT's (since replaced with Speed King 2.1's), Thompson/Easton/FSA/Hope & WTB bits.
It's the only bike I have currently fitted with mudguards so tends to get used in nasty conditions. Within the next few months it'll get completely rebuilt around some longer forks.
Sorry I've just got in from work, I find the carbon post a lot more comfortable than the thomson I had before, the thomson was great on the full suss but the carbon just seems to take the edge off the err 'judders' a bit. Sorry I've been to the pub so probably don't make a lot of sense 
That makes a lot more sense than most posts on here Stiggy, p!$$ed or not
cheers, carbon one it may be then.
and don't aplogise for being at the pub, I wish I was.
Cheers everyone
Im not sure its helped me decide what I want but Im enjoying the thread
After years riding FS I need a hard tail
It looks like it might be a Soul and will prob be at the longer end of the fork spectrum but not too hardcore
Now if I take a look under the sofa cushions how much more do I need for a Soda and would it be worth it...........
Look hard under those cushions as it will be well worth it!
@iamsporticus - you'll be spot on with what you're talking about. The great thing about the Soul (in my biased opinion) is that because it's not pretending to be a race bike or a jump bike, but just a bike for riding around on, it wears good solid kit really well. Get some 120mm forks (maybe with adjustable travel if you fancy), get some SLX or XT, get some nice wide tyres, fast rear/grippy front and you'll be loving it.
The new Soda is very Soul like in it's responses. I stiffened it up along the length of the bike so it's about the same stiffness in torsion as the Soul these days. (Torsional stiffness along the length of the frame is what most people perceive as the 'ride feel' by the way). People were beginning to complain about wayward behaviour on the original design as bar width, tyre grip and fork stiffness progressed. The new one feels quite similar to a Soul when pushing on, but a bit softer edged and a lot lighter. I've always said the most noticeable and giggly difference between the two frames is the weight. A Soda just lights up in a way a Soul never would. It's also very, very pretty in the brushed/blast graphics finish 
Big tyres all the way!
Built last summer - still the same (Had Larson TTs on in the summer, Bonty ACXs at the mo) - Magura Menja 130AM, XT, XT on Mavic 717 wheels. Old LX discs, 70mm stem - think it's about right - maybe trying 80mm.
Only mtb so does everything from trail centres, peaks/lakes/dales and also endurance events (Wiggle, SITS etc)
Damn fine bike. Was out on Sunday and some red sock rambler even mumbled as I rode past "that's the best bike - the Cotic"! Peed my mates off a bit!
Some nice looking bikes here.I considered a Soul as my next frame until I realised they didn't do it in adult sizes ,19inch? way to small even with a 400mm pin
Thats a point Cy, why nothing bigger than 19"? Limited demand?
Im 6'5" and i just dont think a 19" would be big enough.
Apparently not enough of us big sods bought the xl they used to do quickly enough so they dropped it from the range.Shame as they look really nice
'09 small Soul in Builder's Tea, or as I tend to think of it, Flesh... Old photo - I've sorted out the stem height and length since.
Magura Durin 120 fork, full XT gruppo, except for XTR shifters.
All bearings are Chris King, as he makes them just up the road a bit.
Seatpost, stem and bars are Ritchey XCS in wet white, which would look a lot cooler with a tan seat, but what can you do? Stem is 90 mm. I'm 5'7''
Stan's Arch 360 wheels, King hubs, 2.5 tubeless Nobby Nic tires (no 'y', as this is America and all...).
My only bike and I love it. Mostly medium and long-distance XC (15 to 80 miles), good Pacific Northwest singletrack. good fast bike, climbs like a dream, even more fun going down, and a blast on technical stuff - rocks and roots, drop-offs and such. I rarely pine for a full suspension. If I were to replace it I'd go with a Soda, and if the Soda came in SS i'd already have an order in.
Hmmm - apparently I have a little more to learn about posting pics on this forum. Guess you've all seen hot looking Souls before anyway... 
Slugfarm - interesting to hear you say if the soda came as a singlespeed you would have your order in already. I have a Simple and is the best bike I have owned in 20 years of mountain biking .... but a titanium Cotic singlespeed!! I would be right behind you.
I am a bit worried to hear Cy is no longer making Simples and is reassessing them. I know Cy is not a singlespeed fan but please dont forget about us!
The XL thing has been explained before, but basically not enough demand. I sold 4 frames in 2 years and then had to sell off the other 5. If 10 of you got together and gave me deposits I'd put an order in with the next build, but that's the only way it'd work.
I'm not forgetting singlespeeders at all, but just need to think about what people want out of the Simple now that's it's reached a natural break in production. It's another one that's on the borderline of sensible production due to numbers sold. It seems to fall between two stools - i.e. not cheap enough and too nice to be a suck it and see SS (the Inbred has that covered), but not nice/boutique enough for people who swallow the pill and go off and buy Spots and IF's and such like. I also want to make the frame end/disc mount area work better because post mount brakes disagree with it in some ways, and the adjusters are good but fiddly. I'm designing a lot of other stuff right now so it's bottom of the list for the moment. Sorry.
Designing other stuff Cy? Ooh do tell?
How about a nice balance bike for my little one?!
Good to hear the Simple will not be forgotten. A higher end Cotic ss would be interesting (although my Simple is great and I cant imagine it much better!).
I would agree though that the adjusters are fiddly - I put on a surly chaintug which just ended up being easier to deal with. The disc mount is fine for my XT brakes (cant imagine why you would need any others - they have worked flawlessly for me for 2 years).
Maybe a titanium option with a split chainstay to allow a belt drive all with the new Soda tubeset and perfect Cotic geometry would be ideal.
Would you consider a 29er singlespeed? - it seems to be a common direction for them or would this be a big no no in the Cotic world?
Lots of things to think about I would imagine. Best of luck with future projects. I look forward to seeing what will appear.
Thanks everyone!
It looks like most are running 100-120mm forks
With a few Pikes screwed down to 120mm too
In fact only Cy seems to be running at 140mm, although he didnt actually say if his Thors are reigned in or not
Any reasons for this?
Doesnt it like the geometry at 140 or do you lot just happen to have smaller travel forks knocking around the shed when you built your Souls up?
Coming from a full suss again I am looking for a more undiluted ride but I dont want to end up regretting it when its rocky and so am curious about running at 140mm myself
Cheers
Having read it but not yet contributed to the thread, here goes!
I've a small 08 Soul in black, XT gears, Hope mono mini's, and Hope stem.
I've put Rev's on them, coil U turns with q.r. and really like them. Living on the side of a steep valley, I wind down to 100mm for the outward journey of ups and 130mm to return home. Being a Class I pootler rather than speedster, it also means i stop and take in the scenery whilst U turning! I find at 100mm it climbs well without lifting or being light up front and at 130mm gives a bit more stability on the return home.
I originally went for Rev's as at the time following discussions on here and comments from Cy about Pike's being beyond the bike's recommended travel ( the 08 is a Mk I frame, 130mm max. not the current 2010 version ) and it would invalidate the frame's warranty. They were also a cheaper option and my first foray into modern forks!
I'm now seriously considering going to the new frame, and when finances allow, can update to Pikes', mainly because of a maxle option, but have to think a bit and open mothballed purse.....
From the Cotic website, Cy has apparently released frames to the mag's for reviews. Might hang on for a read.
As my first new bike since '96, it's been a total revelation. I really enjoy using it and am very impressed.
my tuppence!
Q
My Soul frame arrived last month and it's currently fitted with the commuter / winter spec that you see here:
I ride a short distance (4 miles in total) to work every day, then off-road at weekends and some touring in the summer months.
Realistically, you only "need" one bike for my sort of use. After years of multi-bike ownership, I returned to where I started all those years ago: with just one mountain bike. I haven't been "credit crunched" or anything, but there's definitely a happiness and purpose that stem from having just one well-loved bike!
The Soul is slightly longer than my old Pace RC305 and all the better for it while riding to work. I've not had a chance to fit it with my DT Swiss XMC130 forks, but with the rigid forks currently fitted it's been a very competent steer off road too.
Here's to the summer and some good weather. My pannier rack and slick tyres await!
This topic has been closed to new replies.
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