[Closed] Are cotic canning the soda?

Either way, 10/10 for the pun.

That's the rumour I'd heard too. I was surprised. It would be a real shame.

surprising looking at the other low volume importers

warranty issues driving up costs?

I saw one in trail junkies today. Sell my wife for one 🙂

That would explain why when I phoned to enquire when more size small frames would be available they couldn't tell me. Shame as I really wanted to spend the only bonus I've had in 6 years on my dream ti frame 🙁

They'd better not, seeing as I've been saving for one ever since I took the original prototype for a lap of Sherwood Pines car park about 7 years ago...... 👿

Simwit: They have tracked some small frames down in Germany, according to Facebook, so you can have one if you're quick.

rob2, was at trail junkies today too, that was indeed a lovely Soda.

It is a shame if they do stop making it as if I was to have just one bike then it'd probably be the Soda.

The chap at the shop suggested it was something to do with cost of manufacture meaning Cotic couldn't sell them at the price point they wanted. Anyone got anymore insight?

I'm sure there will be some 29 ti action if the steel one goes well.

I am sure that Cy will be along soon to confirm or deny.
Just glad I have mine and after riding it again this morning, really glad 😆
Be a shame if it were true mind.

bol, where do I need to look on Farcebook for those? Oh & cheers very muchly by the way 😀

How much lighter than the Soul is the Soda?

Believe it's over a pound lighter, something like 4.4 for the soul and 3.3 for the soda (for the 16").

Dimwit: guv Cy or Paul a call at Cotic - it was their page. I think they've got mediums and their german distributor has got small and large. I'm on my second and can really recommend it. MrB, they're about a pound lighter, and probably no better in reality, but very very nice to own and ride.

If they replace the soda with a Ti 29er then no complaints here. 29ers are the future after all.

Can anyone compare the ride of the Soda vs the Soul?

From someone who has owened 2 Ti frames (and nearly a Soda), I am now somewhat choked that my new Reynolds 520 Cro-moly tubed genesis rides somewhat better than them both. I seriously! cannot believe how comfy it is.
Weight issue / looks aside, I would never consider Ti again.

I hope that was a typo bol 😕 I couldn't find it on their Facebook page hence the Q. Have now found it on the website news page so all good

Simwit: sorry, bloody iPhone. And alcoholic haze.

Mmm alcohol, fully understood 😆

iPhone spell correction, that's how are start.

As for Soda vs Soul, the price difference is the cost of a cross bike, settles it for me.

"That's how [b]WARS[/b] start"

I've owned both mk1 soul & mk1 soda. The Soda was awful. It flexed more than a wet noodle and felt like it would snap on the 1st opportunity. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending a soul over the Ti soda.

Can anyone compare the ride of the Soda vs the Soul?

I much prefer the ride of the Soul, a more stable and planted feeling for me, far more confidence-inspiring. My Mk 1 Soul's been going strong since whenever Cotic brough them out, my Soda cracked across the seat tube/top tube junction within a year.

The Soda was awful. It flexed more than a wet noodle and felt like it would snap on the 1st opportunity

I didn'tthink it was anything like that bad, and it wasn't on [i]quite[/i] the first opportunity.

Just look at it though, it's a thing of beauty!

Sometimes it is about dreams and goals rather than facts on paper. Personally, I have always wanted (rather than needed)a Ti frame, I just get a real buzz everytime I look at it or ride it.
I have always wanted a Fireblade, way to fast for the public roads of course but I have always wanted one.
At least when I get older I can regret owning them (probably not!) rather than regret not owning them at all !!!

mildred - Member

I've owned both mk1 soul & mk1 soda. The Soda was awful. It flexed more than a wet noodle and felt like it would snap on the 1st opportunity. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending a soul over the Ti soda.

Later models aren't like that at all though. First one I understand was intentionally designed that way to give that classic ti feel, but it turns out most people don't actually want that from a titanium bike any more 😉

I had one of the last Taiwanese ones, with a 31.6 seatpost, which certainly didn't feel noodley under my not unsubstantial weight. I now have a Lynskey one which is stiffer still, but still lovely and compliant.

I actually prefer the sound of the original one.
Ti should be flexy. Stiff rigid Ti just sounds wrong. Just use Alu.

Very nearly bought one 2nd hand but new forks needed first so they got bought. Hopefully I'll get it 3rd hand instead as it went to a friend.

Without wishing to get into the deep and and disputed water surrounding the relative characteristics of metals, suffice to say the soda has never and felt remotely like aluminium. Everything is relative. Not sure it feels much different to 853 steel mind you.

tomlevell - Member

Ti should be flexy. Stiff rigid Ti just sounds wrong. Just use Alu.

Clearly you've not ridden one then. Stiffer =/ stiff and rigid

Anyone from the weekday shift know if the soda is no more?

We currently don't have plans to re-stock Sodas. We've got about 4 left in medium, then that's it for the moment.

Basically they've not sold that quickly since we switched to Lynskey and the higher price point, and when we went to order earlier in the year, Lynskey hit us with a pretty hefty price rise for the existing layout, and a huge price quote with a 44mm head tube, which is the way I wanted to go. We'd have been looking at £1,650 minimum in existing spec and nearly £2k with a 44mm head tube. I just didn't see where the sales would come from given that we've sold about 30 all year. With the new projects we're financing like the 29er, just made sense to let it run through and stop. So no, there aren't any plans for ti 29er.

It's lovely so many of you would lament their passing, but in reality they're massively expensive to buy and stock, and are only getting more expensive, and I can't support that when we have volume sellers (for us) costing the same as a handful of ti frames that don't move that quickly.

Sorry to see it go, I love mine. But fair to say I would not consider paying £1650

I had a mk1 soda and really liked it, it was very nimble and alive. Sadly one of the welds cracked and I got a Soul under warranty. Despite the same geometry, the Soul absolutely flew downhill in comparison. I still miss aspects of the Soda, but my riding has progressed so much with the soul. So much so that I'm now looking for FS.

Any plans for successor to the Hemlock? One of the guys at Chevin cycles used to really rate them.

Shame. The Soda has always been on my wishlist

Sad to hear it confirmed. The build quality of my Lynskey Soda is much nicer than its taiwanese predecessor, but I'd have thought a Van Nicolas built version would go down very well for instance if it could work at say £1200 with a 44mm head tube/BB30?

Makes me even happier that I have my Soda, having saved up for it a few years back and spent a while kitting it out to my liking. It's still my ideal hardtail, with geometry and ride just how I like. A shame to see it cease production.

Sounds like I'd better start looking after my Soda a bit better then. Its taken me to some fabulous places, and I hope it will continue to do so for many more years to come.

We've not given up on a halo model, just ti is not making sense right now. Might talk to Jan though, as Van Nic do some nice stuff and he's a lovely fella.

Now Reynolds have released 931, we've got some 953/931 samples on their way to see how they go. My 953 proto from 07 was the prettiest Cotic I've ever seen, but quite low stiffness due to the thin wall tubing and insanely expensive. 931 back end addresses the expensive thing, but need to see how a 953 from end stacks up against modern wide bars and bolt thru forks. Nowt concrete in terms of production, but something we're looking at.

Damn, but that's a shame...

I've had my mk1 Soda for quite a long time now - what 5 or 6 years? Still my favourite bike. I've done some very silly things on it, and it's always just gone "yeah, and...?" and its SOOO damn fast on singletrack.

I still find the flex thing interesting. Admittedly I'm pretty skinny, but I'm reasonably strong for my weight and have never had any issues hauling the bike around or making it go where I want to. It's actually faster(smoother) downhill in proper rocky stuff than my BFe (despite 30mm less fork travel) as the back end does seem to take a lot of the sting out of the trail, and it's so easy to hop over the big stuff. Jumps better too, weirdly, which might be down to the extra flex acting like a spring when I preload into the face of a jump.

Either way, cracking bit of kit that suits me brilliantly, and I'd now hate to be in a situation where I needed to replace it...

We currently don't have plans to re-stock Sodas. We've got about 4 left in medium, then that's it for the moment.

So refreshing to have a bike company proprietor say it like it is.

Yep, Cy is one of the good guys.

Nice that you think that. I'm actually just trying to start a bidding war on the last frames MYUHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

whats the halo project? is it the hemlock replacement?

As mentioned above, 931/953 stainless steel frames are being looked at.

As mentioned above, 931/953 stainless steel frames are being looked at.

Have to say, your old prototype 953 frame was the nicest hardtail I've ever ridden.

I know that's not saying much cos I've not ridden hundreds of bikes like a bike journo would but it just felt really nice: light and skippy and fun. 🙂

Shame to hear about the end of the line for the Soda. As I said in another post, I love just looking at my bike, love riding it and now knowing that there will be even fewer in existence just makes it all the better.
Can't beat not seeing another bike like yours and everybody asking questions about it.
From another angle, what happens with crash replacement / warranty?

My two girls -

[img] [/img]

My Soda cracked in the end, shame as it was one of the best bikes I've had (and I've had a few), replaced it with an Evil Sov as there were no Soda'S due for several months. Sold that after a year and have now got a BFe and am right at home on it!!!!

[img] [/img]

Cant you afford a new saddle ?

I have 3 new ones, but there's life in that one yet.... 😀

Hornet - Warranty will be credit against other Cotic products or refund should you so wish. Lynskey will also repair frames should anyone have any issues with those. We have got you covered.

Here's a breeding pair, so hopefully we'll be able to get a programme going to prevent extinction.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Seems like a lot going on at Cotic with the soda, solaris but any news on when/if the soul will be getting a new headtube to fit tapered forks?

And forgive my ignorance, but what are the benefits of stainless steel on a frame, in terms of ride, weight etc?

I know this may be a terrible thing to say on here- but it's just a nice simple olde bike frame. Get over it. What's so special about it! not a lot really! blah blah British, blah blah geometry, blah blah titaniumnumnum, so what!

If you're looking for a new project, someone just offered to sell me a used 6 inch Hemlock mk2 rocker for £220. It's a mug's game this complete bike lark, apparently the big money is in replacement parts for discontinued full sussers!

Lol at northwind. There was a rocker on eBay the other day?

dukeduvet - Member
Seems like a lot going on at Cotic with the soda, solaris but any news on when/if the soul will be getting a new headtube to fit tapered forks?

The Soul is FAR too pretty to have a tapered headtube inflicted on it.

Well, I've had two sodas, still have one, well my wife does, she still loves it. I've also had a Merlin Jones and tbh the finish welding on the tai soda is just as good, and as good as any of the Lynsky frames I've seen. Never had any problems with any of them touch wood, but neither my wife nor I are heavy.

I sold my first frame after being seduced by tales if flexyness being bad and I bought a Ti 456 cos it was 'the best hardball ever' didn't like it at all, just dead, turns out I liked my old soda a lot more than I realised when I had it. What a single track bike with 120's on it, just put a smile on my face, which is why I ride.

Also had Souls, 2 of, like them too. As for comparing Ti and Steel feel, factually the Ti is more flexible, but in reality tyres- size, volume, sidewalk stiffness, and forks travel, damping, seatpost, material, saddle, rail material and bars/stem material, wheels, type of spokes, hub all have such a large part to play unless it's a side by side test with like for like components in the same conditions, I think broad statements like the steel rides'better than the Ti are pointless...
Just enjoy your bike.

As for the Soda's passing. Keep your eyes peeled, they crop up s/h every now and then, it still is a great bike, well if you have one 🙂

honourable george my feelings are mixed about tapered head tubes on steel hardails in terms of looks, but having seen the solaris with one it does look the best so far.

[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coticltd/5579405949/ ]solaris[/url]

Can't say I care for the look of the Solaris. Mainly the fat seat tube, I think.

alternatively, this:
[img] [/img]

is the most beautiful mountainbike i've ever seen. I mean, just look at it...

(26ers my size look awfull, like a pig on stilts)

My favourite bike of all time was my Soda, I was very distressed when she went. I have a Soul now which is lovely, but not quite the same somehow. Not much "technical" riding round my way, so the Soda was perfect for delicate fast shifts.

Shame they're being dis-continued, but understandable from a business perspective. I just don't get this clown wheel stuff.

I am actually glad that Cy didn't say "Just 4 large Soda frames left" as I'd have a serious hole in my wallet by now.

...I just don't get this clown wheel stuff...

26ers my size look awfull, like a pig on stilts

c'mon, that solaris is very pretty. i could show you a picture of my 26" wheeled bike, with the saddle at a comfy height, but there isn't enough eye-bleach in the world...

(my attraction to them is purely aesthetic, i hate to sound shallow, but i am, so that's how i sound)

At the risk of committing heresy this ain't the end of the world.

The soda is purty but the Soul is damned good and despite having one of each I don't think the soda is 3x better.

If it hadn't been for the always lusted after a Ti frame it's now-or-never oh **** I'm just gonna buy it then I'd have as well just getting the soul xtred. That said I'll be pissed off if it breaks and can't get it replaced (lifetime warranty and that).

As for 44mm head tube, if Cy was heading that way on the soda then it must be a given it'll be heading that way on the soul before too long.

And stop posting that bloody solaris... I want one.

rob2 - Member

There was a rocker on eBay the other day?

For a mk1 🙁 Not that I need the big rocker, I just want to try it out.

Interesting that quite a few Soda's have had cracking problems. I was under the impression that ti should be stronger. Is/was the weight saving over 853 worth it?

Personally, Im not too worried at it's passing because
a) I couldn't afford or justify one and
b) I find it difficult to believe that anything could be better than my Mark 1 Soul as it is by far the best hardtail I've ever owned and that includes a Dekerf!