For the past two months, I’ve been testing out the brand new SolarisMAX from Cotic Bikes. The SolarisMAX is the Peak-district based brand’s steel 29in hardtail, and it’s designed to cover a wide range of riding from cross-country exploring through to full-throttle trail walloping. In terms of the wider Cotic lineup, the SolarisMAX slots in as a sort of big-wheeled version of the Soul, or alternatively, as a hardtail version of the FlareMAX.
The latest version of the SolarisMAX was launched back in May, and it’s the most recent model to be treated to Cotic’s ‘Longshot Geometry’, which basically means the whole thing has been stretched out, with reach measurements (and wheelbase lengths) increasing significantly across the board.
How does that all play out on the trail? Check out our video review to see the new SolarisMAX in action!
However, if you’re not the video-watching type, or perhaps you’re at your work desk and the boss ain’t so keen on you hitting YouTube all day, you can quietly read the full in-depth review of the new SolarisMAX, which is available to read right here. Otherwise roll on for the key specs on the new 29in hardtail from Cotic, as well as a couple of other videos we’ve shot with Cy Turner from Cotic, which will give you a bit of insight into why this bike is designed the way it is.
The New Cotic SolarisMAX Features
- Versatile do-it-all trail hardtail
- Reynolds 853 steel mainframe & 4130 chromoly stays
- Designed for use with 29in or 27.5+ wheels
- Max tyre clearance: 29×2.5in or 27.5×3.0in
- New Longshot geometry designed for use with 30-50mm stems
- Designed for 120-140mm travel forks
- Head angle: 66° (w/120mm travel fork)
- Seat angle: 74°
- Chainstay length: 444mm
- English threaded bottom bracket
- 31.6mm diameter seat tube w/Stealth dropper post routing
- Boost 148x12mm rear thru-axle
- Frame sizes & reach: Small (440mm), Medium (463mm), Large (486mm) and X-Large (513mm)
- Frame RRP: £599
The first video (above) is from when Cotic first launched the SolarisMAX back in May of this year, where we got an exclusive first ride on the new bike. And if you’re still wondering what’s up with the ‘Longshot Geometry’, then there’s a great video embedded below from the London Bike Show, where Cy goes into detail about the testing process behind his new bikes.
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Good video, Wil is a bit of a natural in front of the camera!
Shame they’re all sold out eh?