Details of the new Cotic RocketMAX Gen4

by 6

The headline news about the Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 is a move to new way of frame sizing. Or at least a new way of naming frame sizes.

Stealth Gritstone matte (Darren Ellis / Cotic)
Saracen Ariel 50E Elite First look
Latest Singletrack Videos

Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 nutshelled

  • 4th generation of Cotic’s flagship big travel bruiser
  • Steel frame (apart from alloy chainstays)
  • Front triangles made-in-UK
  • 160mm rear travel via DropLink linkage-driven single-pivot system
  • Options to run as 150 or 155mm travel via different stroke shock
  • Up to 170mm fork
  • Coil or air shock friendly
  • Five sizes available (C1 to C5)
  • Larger sizes get steeper seat angles
  • Dynamic BB height lowered
  • 63.5° head angle
  • Up to 527mm reach (160mm 29er)
  • Mullet or full 29in build-ups
  • Frames from £2,099
  • Complete bikes from £3,999
Light Metal gloss (Darren Ellis / Cotic)

What’s new?

No more easy but rather basic Small, Medium, Large etc sizings. Cotic’s new system is called C-Sizing.

It’s like a few other brands’ sizing nomenclatures (Specialized’s S-sizing springs to mind). We like systems like this. It really helps break ill-suited sizing habits and makes people reassess what they really should be riding.

It also helps give choice. Say, if you’re six foot tall. Cotic don’t dictate one frame size. They actually put six footers on three different frame sizes (C3, C4 or C5). Do you want a 482mm, 501mm or 520mm reach? Do you want a 444mm, 471mm or a 496mm seat tube length?

The move to C-Sizing also goes hand-in-hand with Cotic increasing the numbers of frame sizes available, from the previous four (Small, Medium, Large, X-Large) to now five (C1 – C5).

The new sizing has reduced the reach steps between sizes to around 19mm or so.

In particular, the new sizing does a nice job of dealing with the traditional problem of those riders who tend to fall between Medium and Large sizings. There are shorter seat tubes and more standover for the C2, C3 and C4 sizes (compared to the previous Medium and Large similar size span).

Geometry changes

As regards geometry changes on the new Cotic RocketMAX Gen4, you won’t find at that much. Cotic’s Longshot geometry has been arguably rather ahead of the curve on most things for quite some time, so they aren’t really having to the play the softly-softly model-year changes game.

There are some small changes but nothing that radically changes the RocketMAX handling. It’s still a rangey reach bike that sports a 63.5° head angle.

The dynamic BB (how it sits post-sag once being actively ridden) is a little lower. This is partially due to a lessening of the leverage ratio. Cotic: “revised droplink kinematic making it compatible with both air and coil shocks this time around”.

Progression is around 30%. Anti-squat is around 100% in first gear.

C3, C4 and C5 sizes get steepened seat angles to maintain an angle at the saddle of around 76°.

29er 170mm fork
29er 160mm fork
Mullet 170mm fork
Mullet 160mm fork

And yeah, steel

There’s a new exclusive-to-Cotic down tube from Reynolds 853 for increased strength and stiffness.

853 baby!

Cotic: “We use steel because we believe the flex characteristics we can dial in along the length of the bike enhance grip and improve performance. It’s fantastically durable, repairable and recyclable, and also happens to be the lowest environmental impact material you can build a bike frame out of. Except maybe bamboo, but let’s not get into that.”

Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 spec’s

Colours are Stealth Gritstone matte or Light Metal gloss.

RocketMAX Silver – SLX 1×12, Deore Brakes, Rockshox Lyrik Ultimate 160mm, Rockshox Deluxe Select Plus (155mm travel), Shimano Wheels – £3999.

RocketMAX Gold – XT 1×12, SRAM Guide RSC, Rockshox Zeb Ultimate 170mm, Cane Creek Kitsuma Air (160mm travel), HUNT Trail Wide V2 wheels, WTB Tyres – £4999.

RocketMAX Platinum – GX AXS 1×12, SRAM Guide RSC, Fox 38 Factory Grip 2 170mm, Fox Float X2 Factory 2-pos Adjust (160mm), HUNT Trail Wide V2 wheels, WTB tyres and Hope Stem and Carbon Bar – £6499.

Frames start at £2099 (UK) with Rockshox Select Plus shock.

More moreness at cotic.co.uk

We have one!

Straight outta bubblewrap

Benji (me) has got one of the new Cotic RocketMAX Gen 4 frames to build up into a hard-hitting trail bike. A testbed for the sort of product that’s OTT on a shorter travel bike.

In C4 size, in case you’re wondering.

Keep an eye on the site next week for the first build-up. The current plan is a 160mm air fork-ed, coil shock-ed, mullet-ed machine. Shimano 12-speed. 4-pot brakes. DHR IIs front and rear. Dinky stem. Mid-rise bars. 180mm dropper.

But we all know what happens to plans. The important thing is that it’s the Light Metal Gloss colour. Yes.

How would you build up yours?

Join our mailing list to receive Singletrack editorial wisdom directly in your inbox.

Each newsletter is headed up by an exclusive editorial from our team and includes stories and news you don’t want to miss.

Sign up to receive awesome editorial content from Hannah every week.

Check your inbox for our confirmation email and click the link to activate your newsletter.
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

While you’re here…

We have the best Instagram channel in the world…

Well, we like it anyway. So will you. Give us a follow!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Singletrack World Magazine (@singletrackmagazine)

Better than half price deals

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

More posts from Ben

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Details of the new Cotic RocketMAX Gen4
  • lightfighter762
    Free Member

    Looks trick. I would fit 170mm Zebs in 27.5 forks, run 27.5″ and go full park with it. Would be fun.

    chrismac
    Full Member

    The silver build looks like a good package for the price. All the money in the frame and suspension with shimano drive train

    the00
    Free Member

    I can’t find a comparable bike with a BB any higher. How does it get to be called ‘low’?

    mashr
    Full Member

    Because it says “lower”, as in “was higher”?

    Paul-B
    Full Member

    Give the latest Downtime podcast a listen, Cy is on there talking about it. Real good listen 🙂

    Northwind
    Full Member

    the00
    Free Member

    I can’t find a comparable bike with a BB any higher. How does it get to be called ‘low’?

    FWIW I always have mine sagged more than I would other bikes so the BB in motion is pretty low.

    Still part-made in Scotland by Five Lands? Still tickles me that mine was made about 2 miles from my house, Balerno is not the sort of place you’d expect anything to be made other than large scale fraud.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.