Nice, I came this >< close to buying a 27.5 Soul and I’d have liked that metallic finish. Trivial thing but I like the old head badge more than the modern one too.
Lush. Was the metallic finish/ pink decals a standard finish from Cotic? And does that later Soul have fully drilled cable guides for gear cables?
I've a Soda from 2008, obviously a bit more upright in geometry, but otherwise not too dissimilar, and still ridden regularly
I'm still riding one of these too. (it replaced my 2007 Soda). Yes that's a stock finish and its all cable tie/C-clip guides for full outers/hoses throughout. Mines orange.
Love mine to bits and done mega miles on it. Hugely versatile - I've done some big bikepacking days on it, a lot of steep'n'loamy enduro trails and many many laps of Peak District rocks.
Climbs well, handles beautifully, can stick with (or be faster than!) many full sussers on the way down.
I'm tempted to try a current Solaris, just to see what the differences are, but the Soul does everything I both want and need and its just there and works, causes me no hinderance, so why rock the boat...
Ha, I even took pictures of mine and swithered over submitting them for reader's rides. But you've taken the words out of my mouth, so thank you, and we're not a million miles away on spec.
With you all the way on that, too @JonEdwards
I have one of those in Large in all its chrome and magenta(?) glory with slightly mismatched purple anodised bits. From the above it sounds like I need to get rid of the skinny Hope tech xc rims. Great bike but I miss the zingyness of my mk1 (this one is a lot more capable though).
Thanks for all the nice comments. This one has done one bike packing trip with me, the great north trail which I thoroughly recommend. I did 4 days and still have post ride blues 3 years on! The Clennell Colossus was my favourite though, anyone who hasn't ridden in the Cheviots, I urge you to go but be prepared, it is very remote.
Bubs, wider rims makes such a difference. You do feel you can stick it into corners relative to what you were doing before, I'm by no means a KOM king shredder. The tyres don't feel like they're going to roll off the rim and you can lower your pressures without worry. Wish I'd done it sooner.