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@househusband, yours would have been a mark 2, as you got it after riding my mark 2, up in the Pentlands on a ride with me and TJ. At least I presume it was a mark 2, it was certainly different from the initial models, most notably it didn’t have V brake bosses and was not available in orange.
@ChrisL You are of course correct as mine didn't have the brake bosses!
I too felt a bit sad when I read the email, I've had three Souls, and currently ride a Flare. Also had a Solaris!
My first was a black Gen2, bought it second hand and swapped all of the bits off my Genesis Core onto it, I was just getting into riding some proper trails then. The soul was a revelation, a massive improvement, so capable and compliant compared to the Genesis. Rode the Borrowdale Bash on that bike, about 5 or 6 years ago maybe, 27.2 seatpost, 3x9 gearing, though by then I had s****y 120mm dual air reba forks on the front.
Soon after I wanted a dropper, so the Gen2 made way for a used Gen3, everything went over from the Gen2, facilitated by a hope crown race adapter, and an external 100mm dropper was added.
Soon after an On One Scandal MK2 was built, that then made way for a Gen2 Solaris frame, neither of which I really gelled with for more technical riding, just to steep and high for my liking. I sold the Solaris, or parts thereof. I invested in 650b, built a Gen4 Soul, that was ace, dropper, 120mm rebas, 2x10, decent tyres, 26lb.
By now the 26" Soul had become a Lapierre Zesty and the frame sold. Once I'd decided I liked full sus the Zesty went down the road with all my nice 26" bits... Then the Gen4 Soul made way for a Bird Aeris 120, built that, rode it twice and Cy emailed saying they'd knocked £600 off the last Gen1 Flare frames, so I got one. I'd had a demo over 18 months previous and fallen in love. I still have it two years on and will NEVER sell it, it really is just like a Soul but with a bit of cushion and added capability, I love the geometry, it's modern enough for me, it's a brilliant all rounder, I just can't fault it.
So there we are, my mtb autobiography, from my second bike on I've almost always had, or wanted a Cotic Soul. I think a Gen3/4 frame might find its way into my shed if one comes up.
Was that my comment? I owned one and I did similar length rides on it.
Yes it’s an XC bike in the broad sense, but not really in the narrower sense like the older version I owned.
I’m not sure what broad Sense xc and narrow sense xc is tbh! I had a mk2 and now the long shot. I think the new one is a bit more versatile but I did everything on the old one from 70 mile marathon races to techy singletrack.
The mk2 felt like a chubby tyred Soul!
Aaagh noo. Iv been telling myself I'd get a soul for years. Have a longshot BFe which I love. Quite tempted to see if I can find a previous gen soul now to build up as a general xc bike.
Also had a Solaris!
I think I bought your Solaris frame, and sold the full bike I built from it to another STWer.
🙂
I’m not sure what broad Sense xc and narrow sense xc is tbh!
Broad = Bike you can pedal all day.
Narrow = Lightish bike with not-too-slack angles that you could race if you fancied.
I did race the mk2, and did OK on it.
I raced the mk2 as well. Was surprisingly nippy and had Spider-Man traction!
Why did I sell it!!?
I had a mk1. I think the first non second hand frame I'd bought for a long time, and a bit of a punt considering it was £400, and I'd not test ride it!
Built up with 100mm forks, the slightly steeper seat angle allowed me to run a layback carbon post and saddle back a bit to get my preferred seating position.
For xc riding, it was quick and comfortable. My only complaint was that it was slightly heavier than some more xc oriented steel frames of the time.
Owned it for over 18 months, fancied a change to something lighter, but never found that magic that the original soul gave me.
Still haven't years on.
Gah, there was a mercury one with magenta decals that came up on the classified here a few weeks ago, wish I'd bought it now!
Still got mine although it's a couple of years since it's been ridden. I'll give it a once over at the weekend and see if I can get it in use again. Mine is an early - not sure which version though.
I've got a BFe as well and that has been used recently. I like both bikes but prefer the Soul overall.
A bit sad here too!
My 26er Soul was my first "proper" MTB (we don't count the Anthem since I fell off it and smashed my wrist six months into my MTB career...). A 2008-era frame from the classifieds here in custard yellow, built up with a 100mm Reba.
I retired it last year in favour of a LLS NS Eccentric with a more fashionable wheel size. But honestly I missed the Soul. The lockdown has inspired me to bring it back in singlespeed guise and it's joyous!
Great bikes.
Genuinely sad to see them go, add me to the list. Forfeited food to buy my mk3 at uni, some of my best times were riding hemlock stone with NUbike every Wednesday and getting the train up to the peaks every weekend I could. It's hit everything since then bike parks to canal paths. Its duties lessened when I got a job and a full Susser but was still the bike I chose to take with me when I was sent to Gothenburg for 6 months - I progressed so much chasing the locals on their enduro rigs! Still the bike of choice for anything without a full face. I'm running the original 26inch forks from 2013 and I always assumed when the day came that they died and couldn't be replaced it would go on the living room wall in place of a new soul, but I guess now I have to keep it running somehow!
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An ‘07 one.
Loved it, I can still remember my first ride on it and what a joy it felt... but once I got the mk 1 Solaris it got left in the shed more often than not.
Yes, it’s a bit sad, but I personally moved on a fair while ago so I can see why it’s fallen by the wayside...
That is sad news. Got a large Soda and XS Soul (for my 9 year old) in the garage. Ridden every morning for our 5 mile lockdown loop with the dogs. Still puts a smile on my face 🙂
It’ll be back, just as the Orange Clockwork has a few times. Maybe not as the current fans want but it will be back.
Think the Bfe is more popular purely because of the price
Sums it up. There's only so much people are prepared to pay for less capable hardtails.
I never owned one but it has(d) one of the best names ever for a mountain bike.
Sums up a lot of off road biking somehow.
Yeah, even coming up with that name was genius in itself.
a bike i always liked the look of but never got to ride one. always fancied a mk1 'pre-CEN' 26er (still do really) but there never seemed to be one for sale when i was looking for one.
I'm sad to see it go as well. Lusted after one since it first came out and finally managed to get a Mk5 a couple of years ago.
Absolutely blown away by how capable it is, it just wants to go faster as soon as you point it downhill.
Can't envisage me selling it unless getting spares becomes troublesome.
Never owned one but they looked great.
Best bike I've ever had. Surprised they're canning it because it is truly an all rounder.
Maybe something in between the bfe and soul?
Such sweet bikes to ride, I’m surprised it has given way to the BFE, but guess it’s down to price.
I really don’t think it’s a price thing - 29ers have become so dominant for XC/trail hardtails but 27.5 are managing to hang on for big forked silliness.
I keep pondering if there’s a niche that Cotic could fill with a new bike with the Soul name but it’s a difficult one. The Solaris is such a versatile bike, everything from bike packing through XC rides to big fork action, and does plus as well as 29”. And the BFe covers all the thrashier stuff.
Sad news, but if they're not selling it's understandable.
Don't ride all that often any more, but I still love my Gen2. It no longer has the white grips or the Bonty's and has a few more scratches.
Not sure what I'd get now if I ever needed to replace it 🙁
It’ll be back, just as the Orange Clockwork has a few times. Maybe not as the current fans want but it will be back
Was thinking this, too. And yeah, not sure what I'd get to replace it. Orange P7? BFe? Solaris? They're just not a Soul, though.
I’m probably in the minority but I prefer the Soul to the Solaris. Just feels more fun to me. Nothing tangible, just funnerer 😊
I still love my Gen2.
Nice specimen there, I used to love those Blackbox Reba forks.
That's the model Soul I was looking at buying, but I got a bargain Handjob instead (ho ho ho).
Didn't end up getting a Cotic until the mk2 Solaris in the end.
I might be with you funkmasterp. I have just bought a Solaris Max to replace my Soul and I am not feeling the love. I had tried other lls bikes and liked them so thought an lls Solaris would be brilliant but it does feel like a bit of a barge. Admittedly it has only had tame short lockdown rides so far but the Soul felt much nimbler. Hopefully when I can go further and ride more challenging stuff I will warm to it.
Here's my singlespeeded mk3 26" on a 70-odd miler to my mam's and back (waiting for the Shields Ferry) 😎
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and I did a couple of DH races on it that year too 😁
Frames you shouldn't have sold, number 19 😐 Meh.
Love mine; Mk2 26" Medium.
With the shorm stem and dropper (in place of the layback seatpost it was originally designed for) it's a short feeling wee bike, but it's such an absolute joy to ride that it really doesn't matter.
That's mine at the top of the Burma Road summit near Aviemore.
Running 140mm Rev's on mine, never managed to find a nice set of 120mm forks for that fabled 'sweet spot'
For a serial frame changer my Soul was the longest serving bike I ever owned.
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I had one - never really got on with it - bombed it off after 6 months! 🙂
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Good to hear the Soul love on here.
I demoed one at Glentress last year and loved it.
Since then I have been thinking on and off about ordering a frame .
News of its imminent demise forced matters so I ordered one of the last XS in mercury.
Should arrive next week, all parts are already stripped off my current frame ready for build. Very excited!!
You won’t regret it. Really is a brilliant bike
littledave
SubscriberGood to hear the Soul love on here.
I demoed one at Glentress last year and loved it.
Since then I have been thinking on and off about ordering a frame .
That's exactly what got me. I did some testrides basically out of curiosity- I had a perfectly sensible Scandal at the time- and the Soul just basically changed everything I thought I knew about bikes. I really didn't have the money for the Soul but I got it anyway because the Scandal was just so disappointing after that...
Sad times. I’ve run a Soul prototype of some form since 2002… but hard to argue against the current SolarisMAX… so, so good… it made me pass my last Soul onto a friend new to mountain biking. I wonder how many people have done the same… got friends and family riding with their old Soul? They run and run… and all versions, right back to the very first, still make fantastic gateway to mountain biking bikes. I’ve not ridden the latest one by the way.
My 11 year old is now riding my Soul - it’s really weird seeing him out on it and thinking “I really like that bike”!
Glad it’s still being used though.
I still have a soft spot for my mk1 Soul but what I could kill with bombers are the bloomin’ closed brake hose guides...argggh! Swapping brakes over should be a 5 minute job not a rebuild job.
I have a Solaris and it’s great but it just doesn’t feel as special. Perhaps it’s just a nostalgia thing..anyway, once my son is a little taller it will be moving on to him (but it will be keeping the same brakes!).
Cotic must have listened! My MK3 didn’t have those closed brake guides - it really was a 5 minute job to steal the E4’s off my Soul to stick on the Solaris - and to refit the ancient but still excellent Mono Minis back on for my son, (he’s used to v-brakes and is finding the disc brakes a massive improvement).
Still waiting for my Soul frame to arrive 🙁. TNT say it should be with me tomorrow. 😀
All the parts to be fitted have been cleaned and lined up.....
I’ve not ridden the latest one by the way.
It’s ace! I actually prefer it to the Solaris too. I will look after it more now as it’s the last of its kind 😀
what is soul? I don't know
Loved my black mk1 so much, then a mk 2
https://imgur.com/a/KEjAjxE
Still ride it on the odd occasion but everyday ride is a Solaris.
the-muffin-man: I had one – never really got on with it – bombed it off after 6 months!
I'm pretty sure I bought it the frame off you and still have it now.
If anyone has a reasonably priced* Solaris, Solaris Max or Soul frame only in size Small. Let me know, as I am looking for a new frame for my son.
*By reasonably priced, I mean not at RRP or within a whisker of it - had a look at a few online and 3-5 year old frames at new retail prices didn’t appeal.