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I loved the demo of the previous version. Would love a go on this but fear I’d be writing a cheque* shortly after
*no not really a cheque but you get the idea
Lovely build Metalheart. Certainly worth the effort and faf. How long and slack does that look. It just looks right ! Long gone are the days of toe overlap on 29ers.
Hopefully a two week wait to go..
Did you spray anything in the frame to protect it? Or are Cotic pre-treated?
One last question to THE owner (Metalheart) - have the seat stays got a brace? Looking back through the piccies on the Cotic site the green one seems to have a brace, the others not - I'd rather not have it but could you clarify?
It looks mint that build. And has me hoping they never release a Ti version ...
(I would ask Cotic again but have already embarrassed myself by asking what the rear disk mount was, only to find a perfectly good picture 2 minutes later :-D)
@cokie I believe they're coated internally from the factory from some searching i was doing the other day.
Wishbone seatstays... Definitely no bridge. There is a brace at the dropout, which Cotic have used for a long time.
I know what you mean in the pics brassneck.
I'm wondering if that is on the size Small frame only?
I think the green one (small?) has a small brace between the stays cos the they appear to join straight onto the seat tube rather than the little stubby tube that forms the top of the wishbone.
Aah, hadn't noticed that. Size specific details like that are the sign of good design.
Size specific - that makes sense, good spot.
@brassneck: Definitely no brace on mine (large). I also thought it was small size only.
@cokie: no idea. I’ve had, er, a few cotics over the years and never had any bother with corrosion (mind you I don’t run mine through salt). Even the mk1 Solaris which I trashed the headtube paint with cairngorm grit on my first bikepacking trip hasn’t been that affected. Im planning on putting on some frame pro, but to protect from chips etc., and because I’ll probably run with a frame bag as now I’m used to one and it keeps shit off your back.
Does anybody know how to set up a roughcut McQueen HLR fork?
some hints/tips would help..😭
Just put everything in the middle settings and ride the bloody thing!
Just put everything in the middle settings and ride the bloody thing!
thats exactly what I tried. Then all on, then all off, then on/off then off on... didn’t seem to make any difference.... 😬
How tall are you @Metalheart?
I'm 6'2" and used to ride a large mk2 and I'm not sure whether to go for a large or an XL. The XL is *hewuge* compared to the old L - the reach is best part of 8cm longer.
I run an XL nomad atm, and the reach on the XL Solaris is ~5.5cm longer, but if the stem is 35mm then maybe knock a CM off that and just accept that bikes are about 4.5 cm longer nowadays. Doesn't sound like much, but I'm aiming to run the Solaris as my long-distance/bikepacking 29er, and put the Nomad away for the big rocky action.
So much indecision 🙁
@chevychase: I’m six foot (give or take a couple mm). I was in a quandary over whether to medium or large. I was advised to speak to Paul who said the new frames were designed to run 35mm stems and large was the one for me. I was a little wary of how it would feel. My mk1 medium was way short (in retrospect), my mk3 (60mm stem) is pretty much there for all day bikepacking (which is what it was built up for). The new bike doesn't feel any different reach wise (the mk3 large got longer before even longer still). So I’ll give you the answer I always give: give Cotic a call and chat it through. I’ve actually taken my own advice 🤣
eta: I could’ve fitted a 170mm dropper post, there’s plenty of clearance. A medium would’ve been too small....
K. Ta. I'll be giving them a bell. 🙂
Wonder why they don't offer 170mm droppers as standard (IIRC they offer 150's) - always good to have more rather than less IMO.
Need to figure out a system to bikepack with a dropper now too. Can't see my alpkit koala doing a dropper post much good.
With Cotic you can get (within reason) what you want. With my previous SolarisMAX I wanted a set up (2x boost) that wasn’t on the ‘customise’ menu. Cy sorted me out (then as my bike was the first B+ build out the door stuck a photo of it on the their news page highlighting it was non-standard saying ‘we can do this....’)
whilst I’m, to an extent, a known quantity to Cy it’s not sufficient to warrant ‘special treatment’. If you want a 170 and you are speaking to them about size, ask. Worst is they no... 🤣
Revelate have just taken out a dropper post rear harness thing. Drop Andy at backcountry.scot an email he’ll fill you in (warning, it ain’t going to be cheap though). Backcountry are the uk agent/importer and they just took delivery of a revelate batch last week (picked up a front harness and stuff on Saturday).
@ chevychase this article any interest to you:
http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/bikepacking-with-a-dropper-post/
Back to the topic of the Solaris everyone 😀
@metalheart more pics please including close ups of the colour in natural light please, I fancy that colour as a future build.
Cheers
Ordered, M in COsmic Black - going for a JPS build :-D.
Missed the boat on a Tripster last time I bought and spent 9 months waiting for the frame to chug across, not doing that again.
Any idea what frame weight these are coming in at for a Large?
Do I need a BOOST chainset? Reading conflicting opinions, and they seem harder to come by as groups of much cheapness. Still can't decide GX Eagle or XT either.
in my discussions with Cy he told me to convert my non-boost slx double to a single as ‘it would be in the right line anyway’. Now, as previously admitted, I didn’t exactly radge it up on Sunday but I didn’t drop the chain (and the clutch was off 😞).
but I think you probably would, why not drop Cotic an email, I’m sure they’ll be happy to advise. Or even give them a call, I’ve always found them helpful.
Website says none boost for clearance up to 32t, but any bigger needs to be boost to clear.
‘ Chainline: 50mm (regular cranks) for up to 32t chainring, 53mm Boost chainline for up to 36t chainring’
On another note, ‘mid-June delivery’. Is that to get to customers doors by mid-June or is that the containing arriving at Cotic?
Im not 100% but I think ocean freight is 4 weeks behind air.
i guess clearing customs adds a certain unknown...
Re cranks here’s the answer I got from cotic
“Thanks for your interest in the SolarisMAX. You can fit a 30t non boost chainring and 32t might fit due to small variations in the chainstay bend but all other sizes need to be boost.”
Ta, shall look for boost then to be safe.
Do you get to have one of each bike, kelvin? For “research”?
Far from it! How many bikes can you ride at once? Anyway, the demo fleet means I can have a good ride on any size of any current/new model… and so can you! As it happens, I'm replacing an old old 26" Soul prototype with one of these new Solari(s). Only need one hardtail, and I've been waiting for this updated big wheeler for aaaaages… just like lots of other people. It has everything I want in a modern steel hardtail. Everything.
Aye kelvin, but what colour, eh?
🤪
Going to test ride the Soul vs SolarisMAX next week - can't wait
two excellent bikes StuF, I started on a Soul and currently ride a mk1 Solaris....both brilliant. I'm sure modern versions will be superb..... I might even test ride the new Solaris when time allows to see if worth the change
@metalheart, I still haven't picked which colour to go for, all three options have come out so well… I'll probably end up going Cosmic Black, because it's two looks in one… super subtle in most light, and then "bang" when the sun comes out.
I've previously tried the new Soul at Easter - I went there with the idea to prove that it wasn't that much better than my Cove HandJ from 10 years ago and I didn't need a new bike.
Oops, it was loads better, rolled over stuff and held a line better - then the new SolarisMAX was released which got me thinking that it might do those even better than the Soul.
So we'll see next week. 🙂
@Kelvin any idea when the frames will be posted out?
Also, good choice. I was pulling my hair out deciding on what colour to pick!
There are 2 small and 1 XL in stock… the main delivery is "soon" … (no, I don't know when the boat lands beyond the fact it is due this month… I'll ask Paul and Cy on Monday if they know).
The Green one blends in nicely...
@kelvin whilst you're asking Cy & Paul about new bikes, can you ask them when the LS Flare might be announced. I'm sure I know the answer but I'm really, really impatient 😁
Another one breaks cover... nice 😁
I had a quandary over colour, having one green one already though....
Metalheart - any chance of some more photos old chap?
Of the bike not you 🙂
Yeah, mo' photos please! I haven't totally made my mind up yet about which colour to punt for.