Forum menu
I should be out tomorrow. Assuming I’m not swept away in the thunderstorms I’ll see what I can do.
light in the evenings hasn’t been great (and I’ve other stuff that needs doing...)
ill try get some up Sunday...
Thanks Metalheart.
You might be able to sell the negatives to Cotic for them to use...
On the Goat Track to Carrbridge...
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
I have a brand new BFe almost built up in the shed (pesky reverb needs a bleed as I screwed up shortening the hose) but these do look lovely. Dammit
I like that @nearabighill. Green looks spot on. That on 29er hoops and what size frame?
The wheels are 650b DT Swiss XM551 (40mm inner); 3" Purgatory on front and 3" WTB Ranger on back. Just moved dropper post across this week - the frame is a Medium.
Mostly Bridleway bimbling and general XC stuff for now. Still getting it set up.... Really liking the ride
Pics look great metalheart but more importantly how does it ride? Predominantly from a comfortable standpoint, I’ve bad knees and my last hardtail was a Sherpa a few years back and then went to a Salsa Horsthief but that SolarisMax is absolutely lovely and rekindling my desire for a hardtail.
Looking great in the green 😎
Lovely photos guys. Those thin CS and SS look nice!
@kelvin any updates on that arrival and dispatch time please 😀 ?
I don't have a more detailed answer yet I'm afraid.
In less important news, I'm going to initially build mine up 29x2.5 front, 27.5x2.8 rear.
I see the frames have arrived 😀 !
Hoping for a Friday delivery then..
Kelvin, I like the idea of that. 29er front with sus forks and then a + tyre rear to add a bit of give. Will be interested to hear how you get on with that setup.
Frames will be going out this week… I imagine bikes will be next week, given how many need building.
I'm adding the stock to the website now…
Hold on… some options nearly sold through already! If you need a Large… get your order in now.
Kelvin, I like the idea of that. 29er front with sus forks and then a + tyre rear to add a bit of give. Will be interested to hear how you get on with that setup.
The tyre going on the front is huge! It'll have plenty of give as well. And the rim is an i29. It's more about the different grip you get from these two options. A suspect it'll be an ideal all year combo. If I'm wrong, the rear wheel can go on my Rocket anyway (I still have an old 26" rear on that) and I'll sort a 29er rear, so it's a risk free experiment.
Pics look great metalheart but more importantly how does it ride? Predominantly from a comfortable standpoint, I’ve bad knees and my last hardtail was a Sherpa a few years back and then went to a Salsa Horsthief but that SolarisMax is absolutely lovely and rekindling my desire for a hardtail.
The parts on my Solaris frame I transferred across from a Salsa Pony Rustler, prior to that I was riding a Mondraker Foxy (built up from a frame). The long front end on the Foxy felt very comfortable and confident going downhill, but the long travel (150-140) was a bit trail deadening for my majority of riding. Also want to have a go at backpacking - hence the PR. But the PR did not do it for me - felt a bit cramped and sluggish. A while back I had a Blue Pig and the frame characterstics were great. So I figured the Solaris Max would kind of combine all the benefits of my previous rides. Early days - but I would say spot on! One interesting aspect is the ST angle - I think Cy has pretty much got it spot-on. It positions you nicely over the BB and is very comfortable - I would think this should be a good angle to avoid knee issues @fudge.
Have got some 29er Hunt wheels on order - looking forward to experimenting; 29 front 27+ at the back was something I was also looking to try.
Whats the thinking with 27.5+ at the back and 29 up front? It sounds like less grip and harder to turn?
Can I just check weight again? 4.9lbs? Ok, I know I'm splitting hairs, just humour me!
Is that 4lbs 9oz or 4.9lbs (some sort of decimalization of an imperial weight? 😉
The only reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of changing frames, I have a Genesis Tarn which weighs and absolute tonne, well 2.8 (and a bit) kgs.
30 or 35mm stem… forget all about harder to turn… = ;87)
Just under 5lbs @polisherman
Just about mid way between Soul & BFe weight.
@nearabighill cheers for the info , funny I’m torn between the new Salsa Horsethief ( for my knees) , I had one a while back bought from clink and I loved it But leaning towards the SolarisMax , I’ve a boost crankset and a 29” wheelset ( hope orange pro 4 hubs on wtb st i25 rims) just sitting waiting on a frame just need to make my mind up
"It sounds like less grip and harder to turn?"
I used to run my Solaris mk1 with 29x2.4 front and 27.5x2.8 rear (as clearance on the forks was tight). Why would it be harder to turn out of interest? Grip on front aided by lower tyre pressure and suspension, grip on rear aided by wider tyre and lower pressure. No?
Have just received shipping notification.
<am very excited :-D>
Bah, lucky! Guess you get it tomorrow then? I’ve got nothing yet. What build are you going for?
Lots of orange bits have arrived now 🙂
I just tried to order an XL one in grey or black- run out already...ho hum...
Wanted to sit on an XL and a Large before ordering. Can't believe they're out already 🙁
XL in the good colours all gone! Did they only order 3 in each colour or something? Or are we witnessing the birth of the most popular mountain bike everer?
There are XL left in the Green only.
If you're after a Large in either Dark Metal or Cosmic Black… act quick. Or Medium in Green… only a few of each of those options left.
International sales have been very strong.
Any idea when the next batches will be coming in Kelvin?
Oh so glad I’m a medium, just ordered a medium in dark metal , short 35mm stem sold out though until late next week so it’s on pre order. Hope orange hubs waiting to be built up. 😁
I imagine the next SolarisMAX batch will be early next year… there are (counts in head) 8 other models that need restocking before this one. If you want one, don't wait.
Mine's a Medium Cosmic Black. Going for a JPS build 😀 - the TNT tracking isn't working so I'm in suspense .. hoping it doesn't magically start and say 'south china sea'.
Goldie Lookin' Chain natch. 'None more' Black cassette. Cranks too I guess though I'm torn as I heel rub badly.
Have been browsing old black and gold Mono Minis but I hate the old style levers, and building a mix'n'match will get pricey so it might be black shimano.
I have a set of those brakes in a box somewhere! Great idea. Although, we all know bargain modern Deore brakes are better.
Chain a good idea as well… what’s best, in gold, for 1×10 ?
Sounds lovely Brassneck 😀 !
Still tentatively waiting on my dispatch email..
@metalheart for suspension settings i found an article that explained it well and it boiled down to:
High speed compression - all the way off, add enough to not blow through the travel if you find it does (nothing on my Vengeance)
Low speed compression - enough to stop wallowing in the travel/reduce brake dive (I think I'm about a third on)
Rebound damping - as little as you can get away with... less damping means the tyre can track the rough surfaces better, too little will pogo you off quite forcefully but I don't have much of this dialled in either.
n.b. I need to change to a softer spring in mine so that might affect how I set up the dampers when it's done
I was hoping to buy one of these, but it looks like they will be sold out of frames by the time i'm ready.
Polisherman, if you choose to sell your Tarn frame, I would be interested in buying it...
Hmm, TNT is filling me with confidence..
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
I know what I'm doing this evening 😀
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Did you manage to find any orange bits for your build?
Finished a shake down ride earlier. Few bits need adjusting, mainly cables and bar height.
First impressions are great though- stable and fun. Not sure how Cy's managed that. My concerns around the long, slack and low geometry affecting fun where wrong. It's easy to manual (easier than my shorter CS Whyte for some reason)and no problems kicking the back out, yet stable when needed to carry speed for both climbing as well as descending.
I've got a 4hr ride planned tomorrow, so shall feedback.
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">[url= https://preview.ibb.co/nJWnCy/2.jpg [/img][/url]</span>[url= https://ibb.co/gtUw5J ][img] https://preview.ibb.co/ktgnCy/1.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://ibb.co/bGcAXy ][img] https://preview.ibb.co/ji92ed/9.jp g" target="_blank">https://preview.ibb.co/nJWnCy/2.jpg [/img][/url]</span>[url= https://ibb.co/gtUw5J ][img] https://preview.ibb.co/ktgnCy/1.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://ibb.co/bGcAXy ][img] https://preview.ibb.co/ji92ed/9.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://preview.ibb.co/dk7YkJ/6.jp g" target="_blank">https://preview.ibb.co/dk7YkJ/6.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://preview.ibb.co/jx2Ned/4.jp g" target="_blank">https://preview.ibb.co/jx2Ned/4.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://preview.ibb.co/ige2ed/3.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://ibb.co/hLp2ed ][img] https://preview.ibb.co/nMkazd/8.jp g" target="_blank">https://preview.ibb.co/ige2ed/3.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://ibb.co/hLp2ed ][img] https://preview.ibb.co/nMkazd/8.jp g"/> [/img][/url]<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">[url= https://preview.ibb.co/gDgFzd/7.jp g" target="_blank">
https://preview.ibb.co/gDgFzd/7.jp g"/> [/img][/url]</span>
Woof! That looks great.
Awesome looking just the combination I’m doing as well is that a medium?
Yup, medium.
Quite happy with the Slik wheel and fork decals. Pretty good match.
Yes I must remember to get those , my new Fox Rhythm fork came with green graphics. Are those 2.4 tyres I’ve Continental black chili 2.4 front and back to go on.
I’m running 2.3, but with that much clearance I’ll be upgrading to some wider tyres. Would be rude not to! Just need to borrow a few to see what I can get away with..
I have a strong aversion to grey bikes for some reason, but that is rather lovely.
No dark metal XL? Is that until next year?
Those XL Dark Metal sold very fast.
All the options are down to single digit figures stock wise by the way… if you want another option, be quick.
Re-stock "might" be before Xmas, but Cotic haven't given a date, that's just my guess given what else needs restocking before then. Early next year seems more likely to me. Don't wait, order… ride!