Forum menu
The Mr Hyde was starting to feel a bit too steep, too harsh and lacking in fork travel - as good an excuse as any for a new frame and forks.
Wanted something similar in character to the Mr Hyde (rufty-tufty AM hardtail) in steel and closer to my old beloved Trailstar but with slacker angles and a bigger fork (and preferably designed in the UK for our riding and conditions even if built in Taiwan). After much deliberation and looking at the options (Ragley, Dialled, Stanton, On One, etc.) I plumped for a Cotic BFe - great reputation, competitive pricing and Cy seems like a decent guy and enthusiastic rider. Just swapped over most of the gear from the Mr Hyde to (a) keep costs down and (b) keep things like contact points etc. familliar.
[img] 
[/img]
Cotic BFe (XS, Gritstone)
Marzocchi 44LR (150/130mm, 9mm QR)
Azonic Outlaw wheelset
Michelin Wildgrip'r 2.35 front
Michelin Wildrace'r 2.1 rear
Raceface Ride AM cranks
Hope stainless BB
Blackspire 34T chainring & Raceface bash
Superstar Plasma chain device
Superstar Nano Tech pedals
SRAM PG950 11-34 cassette
SRAM X9 rear mech (short cage)
SRAM X9 twist shifter
Avid BB7 discs (185mm back and front) with Shimano XT cables
Avid speed dial 7 levers
FSA Orbit sealed headset
Pro FSR 70mm stem (flipped)
Ragley Wiser 710mm bars
ODI Ruffian lock on grips
Gusset clench seat clamp
Forca Vario dropper seatpost
Nukeproof Plasma Core saddle
The new kid got its first ride round Scartree yesterday - a bit muddy so tough to judge the new frame and forks accurately. Certainly feels lively and even with a slacker head angle corners more sure-footedly than the old bike (better riding position for weight distribution?). Only question mark is the fork - travel is good and its pretty smooth out of the box, but think I may have made a mistake in going for a QR rather then the 20mm axle I'm used to (EDIT - just noticed WMB have reviewed these this month and seem to agree - http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/components/forks-suspension/product/review-marzocchi-44-lr-12-46028 ) - will persevere for a few rides but might have too cut my losses and flog the Bombers on eBay and look at something like 150mm Sektors or the cheap 140mm Pikes that Rose bikes have on their site.
slainte ➡ rob
Nice, how do you find the dropper?
nice. not yawn! BFe ftw!
Roblilly - Member
Nice, how do you find the dropper?
For the (not very much) money it's ace I reckon.
Was disappointed 'out of the box' as it was sticky and notchy, but once I stripped, cleaned, greased and rebuilt it and switched to a better quality gear cable it's smooth as. Has a little fore/aft and rotational play but honestly don't feel that once riding. Only 3 inches or so of drop but finding that's more than enough.
Will ride it till it falls apart and then maybe replace with something more expensive and solid.
slainte 😀 rob
PeaslakeDave - Member
nice. not yawn! BFe ftw!
Agree totally.
Do seem to have been a crop of them recently though. Surely nothing to do with the price drop?
slainte 💡 rob
i've just bought myself one too
(not that it would make me biased) and there is a crop but it goes to show that they are a great option