[Closed] New BFe26 from Cotic

Very little now. The seat angle is a touch steeper on the 26" and the rear end is 8mm shorter, but the head angle, reach and BB height are all pretty close to the 275 version now. That was the point of the redesign.

To the naysayers and 'wishful thinkers' it's just simple economics really. We're small enough that do a batch a year is plenty to keep it going, and people are still buying them. The reason the Soul stopped in 26" is because people stopped buying it. Simple really. We like all wheel sizes. They're all bikes, and they're all fun.

Thanks Cy - I actually totally love Cotic now! I've admired the company from afar before, but now I think I am smitten.

You guys rule.

I would even consider breaking my no-steel-since-1994 rule for this.

Cy, I guess the reason you don't do XS frames anymore is because you didn't sell enough of them? Would love to get one for the wee one's first 26" build.

#cotickidz has a nice ring to it 🙂

PS: That new red looks awesome!

Nice work fellas, now... How's about that new 26" Soul... Come on, you KNOW you want to! Stick me down for a Medium to get the order book rolling, that'll help, right?!

So is the 650b-Fe still going to be made?

This on the other hand.....

Oi, there's nowt wrong with my BFe! Glad I decided to keep her in the end.

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Now, I'll spend the next 6 weeks enjoying it in Croatia. 😀

I think I will almost certainly be ordering one. Have a pair of pretty much mint 36rc2 at home just waiting to be dropped to 140 mm and serviced, and probably enough 26 gear that would hardly need to buy. It was gonna be a slackline but it looks like that's gone 650 now and not in the gorgeous blue.

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It actually got worse......

For that monstrosity I can't apologise enough. I was young, and mostly drunk judging by the state of that bike.

Forks and wheels are still going strong on a Wolfridge a mate has build up from my spares box.

Oi, there's nowt wrong with my BFe! Glad I decided to keep her in the end.

Now, I'll spend the next 6 weeks enjoying it in Croatia.

😀 G'lad; enjoy!

For that monstrosity I can't apologise enough. I was young, and mostly drunk judging by the state of that bike.

At least you're admitting guilt. That one's a shocker. Sounds like you've learnt from your mistakes though! 😀

My first one wasn't much better though. One of the early 853 models. Too small for xc, too big for dirt jumps. Was ok downhill, but not as good as my Dialled

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Got a large in the end. Perfect. If I was still into that sort of riding, the new one would be top of my list I reckon.

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Woah, that saddle height has [b]got[/b] to be a troll David!

What is it, a 500 or something?

Woah, that saddle height has got to be a troll David!

Have to admit I am thinking about a new one instead of a used Soul and making my 2012 BFe a bit more xc. Would 2 BFes be greedy ?

@jamby: I agree 100%, build em however the hell suits you. However, aesthetically, [b]that[/b] amount of seat pin offends me

I've nothing against amazing Dave, I appreciate his contributions (my posting history can support this). However I wouldn't put it past him to deliberated yark the saddle up just to try and wind somebody like me up. The guy is an [i]artist[/i]!

Why would 2 BFes be greedy? I'm seriously contemplating a 2nd Solaris frame to house my semi-fat wheels.... 😳

Or even a new BFe26aintdead.. 😳 😳

And retiring the Soul! 😯

Cy, I guess the reason you don't do XS frames anymore is because you didn't sell enough of them? Would love to get one for the wee one's first 26" build.

#cotickidz has a nice ring to it

PS: That new red looks awesome!

I picked up a BFe xs frame from eBay, for £120 a few years back, and I love it.
At 5'8" it's a real chuckable bike that I can do anything on.
I've ridden small and medium BFe and they don't do it for me, they feel like a different bike.

If there was one final batch of xs made, with the new geometry and a slightly longer top tube, I'd put my money down tomorrow.
Anyone else?

After recently moving my credit card is praying it doesn't come with a 31.6mm seat tube so I can replace my small Mmmbop frame that I convinced myself would be fine.

V666ern

The matching blue seatpost, STW membership revoked right there

Since were posting pictures...gritstone (ignore the bottle cage & FF helmet combo)

That red looks lovely though

I think you bought that frame from me, glad your still enjoying it.

If there was one final batch of xs made, with the new geometry and a slightly longer top tube, I'd put my money down tomorrow.
Anyone else?

Aye, go on then. I'd be in for an XS as well.

As much as I'd like to, we simply don't do the numbers to make an XS viable these days. As for Soul26, that's the same, we stopped making those because it took about 9 months to sell the last 30 frames once the 275 version came out. Sales just dropped off a cliff. Unless we can sell at least 100 per year and more than 20 per size then we can't make it happen.

Can't remember who asked, but BFe275 very much still in production. Got a new batch incoming. Price drop at the moment on those is just because we're a little over stocked on older colour options with the new ones coming in.

bluearsedfly - unfortunately for your finances, all our MTB frames are 31.6mm seatpost 😉

Thanks for the nice words people. Lovely to read on a Monday morning.

What's the consensus on sizing here then?

I'm bang on 6ft, currently riding a large 26" MK3 soul with straight seatpost and 70mm stem, 120mm forks, seems to work for general xc/trail riding, though it's mostly trail centre/shorter rides/fun bike, places like Bringewood, Hopton, FoD, Nant Yr Arian, Coed Y Brenin etc.

I have a scandal for proper xc riding/racing, and a fortitude on the way for 'other stuff' (n+1 strikes again). I've toyed with getting a full sus for more gravity orientated stuff, even ordered one, then cancelled, but think I just prefer the simplicity of hardtails, and I'm not that gnarduro.

So do I stick with a large (10mm extra reach on the BFe over the soul) with a short stem, or go for a medium? Would likely use a travel adjust fork, 140mm max.

I'll say one thing for Cotic - the quality of the finishing on the frames is excellent.

I had a soul in 2006 and that was OK but last year I got a BFe 27.5 and it was really well finished. Decals are all under lacquer, no paint blobs, no iffy welds, really tidy cable guides etc. Just very good.

This was put in perspective for me as I've just bought a new P7 and the finishing quality by comparison is poor. Several paint blemishes, ugly cable guides etc. The Cotic was £100 cheaper, better finished and lighter !

We'll see how it rides but I won't be selling the BFe frame until the P7 has proven itself.

What's the consensus on sizing here then?

Seriously, there isn't one. You'll get folks of 5'10" saying their large is perfect and 6'ers saying no, their medium is...

My own take on it is:

New BFe26 is shorter than the equivalent 27.5 Soul/BFe. Both will 27.5 bikes will be longer than your Mk III. The BFe26 L ETT is the same as a M BFe/Soul275 (614mm).

On a BFe26 I'd be going large (I'm 6', currently riding a medium Mk I Soul/Mk I Solaris).

I'm happy with both bikes apart from a decided wandery front end on really steep climbs (which I always seem to find here in NE-S). The new optimised for inline lengthens the ETT and may solve this problem (for me). The only OII I've ridden is my mates large Soul27.5. It also felt fine (and was decidedly planted on the front on the steep up). I preferred my med Solaris overall when we were swapping about. So on 27.5 I'd probably go medium (again).

However the right answer is to phone up Cy/Paul and speak to them. They really should know best (and they really are extremely helpful on the phone). Or e-mail if you'd prefer.

https://www.cotic.co.uk/contact/

I really want one to move all the parts from my 456 onto it (apart from seat post).

Thanks metalheart,

I know it's a very personal, subjective thing, I have emailed Cotic but thought I'd get thoughts on here too.

Ultimately if I'm gonna get one I want it to be fun and lively first and foremost, but I'm not going to be going dirt jumping all the time (I'm s**t at jumps anyway), it'll need to be able to be pedalled uphill and be comfortable on 10-15 mile rides with plenty of downhill chucked in.

@core ask Cotic. I have what they recommended back in 2012 - I'm 5-10 with short legs and a medium with 50mm stem is perfect and I ride anywhere from 10-60km on it and if I could manage further then it would have gone further

@ jambalaya I believe your in France any where near the centre the Cher ?

any tips on how to find places to ride i am near orleans lots of forest but mostly private with to much chasse.

Interesting post I have recently hankered after the quick handling bikes of my past .

Wicki - YGM

So who else has ordered one then...? 😳

Well, as there was only one medium red frame left the other day when the Cotic mailshot went out somebody definitely has!

I was mulling over one but needed to secure a decent donor bike first (I 've a mate selling a Hummer). Once I found out all the large red ones were pre-sold the wind came out of my sails somewhat...

Ordered an Orange one in size Large yesterday.

Hovered over buy after I priced up frame/bb/headset but as I already have a BFe and what I really fancy is a Soul to go with it I think I will wait - also matter of £500+ new vs less than £200 for a used Soul with same bits

Missed out on a small red so waiting on an orange one instead!

Now, I'll spend the next 6 weeks enjoying it in Croatia.

Ooo - where you at mkidley?

Great part of the world.

Ooo - where you at mkidley?

Great part of the world.

Split, found some lovely trails within Marjan Forest Park, still think there;s more to be found!

I've got a few GPX files for the Garmin so next few weekends I'll jump in the car and go further afield.

Well, as there was only one medium red frame left the other day when the Cotic mailshot went out somebody definitely has!

Sadly not me... I dilly dallied for too long.

Paul has put me down for an orange one, but said I'm first in line if anyone cancels their order for a red one.

So... What to build it with? I've got this lot kicking around spare right now...

-Sektor Air RL @ 140mm
-Mavic EN521 rims
-Numerous 26" tyres
-Raceface Atlas Cranks with 30 & 32 N/W rings
-SRAM 10spd shifter/mech and 11-36 cassette
-Easton Haven 55mm stem
-Thomson 31.6 post
-Formula T1 & SRAM Guide R brakes
-Hope Pro 2 front hub
-Various saddles

In fact, the only things I'd need to buy to get it going that I know of are rear hub, some spokes and a handlebar. Not sure on chopping some of it in though, as I've also got an 11spd SRAM mech sat here (but no shifter) spare and now I'm used to the range it might be hard going back to 1x10.

Also not ridden without a Dropper post in a long time... So... Decisions decisions! Also now I'm used to wider rims, are the EN521's too narrow these days?

Shame all the red frames are sold out already. I was planning on buying one in large. Not sure about the orange.

I asked when i called to order my frame about the red ones selling out so fast and and was told that since it was a new colour they didnt order as many and using it for the promotion pictures always boosts them a bit so the combination of the two lead to them selling out fast!

Whilst, I do know I'm probably not the frames target user, at 5'9 would I be able to make a medium bfe a reasonable enough bike for a trail bike with a 120mm fork in the Peak with the odd trail centre jaunt. I'm not looking to win race's or be gnar. I'm currently doing this on a '08 Soul which seems to share roughly the same geometry.....and I don't mind a couple of pounds in weight extra?

Colours. I thought Orange was a strange choice as I associate that with the Soul (and yes the Rocket is Orange too !). Red was the colour I was interested in as it was a nice deep red.

I wonder if demand for 26 soul dropped off due to the older geometry?

Anyhow jhope the bfe 26 is a success for them.

My build is a right mish mash of nastiness.

Coil Pike SL U turn (I got them in 2005 IIRC)
Haven bars, seat post and stem (70mm)
SDG Bel Air saddle (again 2005)
SLX 9 speed cranks
SLX 10 speed front mech
Hope Hoops (Stans Arch ex with Pro IIs)
Kenda Nevagal tubeless (blue groove on one end)
Sram x9 shifters
Sram x9 rear mech
Hayes 9 brakes!!
Superstar Nano pedals

I'm hoping that the new area I live in and the new frame will inspire me to ride a bit more and I'll upgrade the bike bit by bit. Sorely tempted by new brakes and a fork that is slightly lighter than one tonne.

Split, found some lovely trails within Marjan Forest Park, still think there;s more to be found!

Only visited once, but I did like Split very much. More of a 'real' town when compared to Dubrovnik.

I worked as a guide down the coast on Kor?ula for seven months in 2004. Unfortunately most of the riding there I knew had gone in 2012, but there was still a good amount of marked [s]footpaths[/s] trails.

I believe there's some marked stuff on Bra? and Hvar, but I never got over there. The forests on Mljet have got some some halfway decent stuff too.

Enjoy!