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That's a shame - rather fond of my Soul.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/5tz5NVPw/DF4-B1-EA9-6-C06-4-D20-90-E9-E61-DAD097-AF6.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/5tz5NVPw/DF4-B1-EA9-6-C06-4-D20-90-E9-E61-DAD097-AF6.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
One of the last XS Souls built and ready to ride, just some cables to tidy up.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49968020776_5bcf29451d_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49968020776_5bcf29451d_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2j8vaHA ]20200603_195050[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/164739786@N06/ ]David Jones[/url], on Flickr
Had a quick spin on my Soul last night. Didn't go well because after only having been ridden once (in 2016) since 2011 the brakes were binding. On the initial climb up into the Pentlands I'd just assumed it was me being even more feeble than usual! Wierd build as well - must have chucked whatever was lying around when I last built it (as I think I'd borrowed lots of bits for an Enduro build) - Pikes and an odd mix of Deore, LX, XT and Hope brakes.
It deserves better so think I'll rebuild it back to what it used to be - XT and Fox Floats etc.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/44vQFN4W/27324622076-a9f2bbe8e4-o-1.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/44vQFN4W/27324622076-a9f2bbe8e4-o-1.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
As a serial frame swapper my old Soul did the longest stint I have had with any bike, we got on very well. I've been banging the dollar in since Covid and a new Soul was going to be my treat so I'm certainly a bit gutted as I have nmissed out. Oddly opted for the orange clockwork evo as I'm not that gnar, and just like my old lime green clockwork I'm loving the new one also. All things for a reason I guess 🙂
Still riding mine nearly every week... Mk1 or 2, big cowled dropouts. Old school square taper cranks and 1 1/8 steerer, dropper and 1x10 drivetrain... it's on its third wheelset, no idea how many different set-ups it's had!
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49977253878_86760255a8_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49977253878_86760255a8_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2j9jup1 ]DSC_0642[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/188848305@N08/ ]Richard Burt[/url], on Flickr
I took my new Soul for its maiden ride in the sunny Pentland hills today.
Loving it so far 😎
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49977870696_5491f473b8_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49977870696_5491f473b8_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2j9nDKN ]Soul pentlands[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/164739786@N06/ ]David Jones[/url], on Flickr
I miss my gen2 soul. Had it for ages but it wasn't getting used much so in a flourish of tidying the shed i sold it to make some room, gah!
I've been idly musing this thought though, when the new Solaris Max hits is there going to be a Solaris as well? Solaris with 27.5" wheels, Max with 29". would tie in nicely with the other Max/non Max variants of each model they have currently.
just a thought....
I had wished they'd been more warning on the discontinuing of the Soul, maybe a "next batch is the last" rather than discontinuing with a mostly sold batch... certainly would have helped to focus my mind. Oh well, it is what it is.
Its only now i realise how unique the Soul had become in many ways as all the nice steel 27.5 ht frames currently seem to be pitched as hardcore and not xc/trail
After languishing almost unused for nearly a decade I put my Soul back into a more useful XC spec (really just faster tyres and replacing the Pike forks with the Fox Talas that it had on before) and it much nicer to ride like that, so should be back to seeing some decent use.
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