Cotic Rocket Build…what say the STW collective?

Demo’d a rocket yesterday. Really wanted to like it. Liked it lots 🙂 Buying one next week. It’s going to replace my ST4 as I can’t justify keeping both, but I’ll be building it with all new parts. Because I’m worth it 😉

Plan is
Rocket with FOX CTD
2013 Rev 150s (non tapered steerer as Merlin have them on offer)
Hope Headset with reducer
XT 2×10 transmission, shadow mech
XT brakes (tried the latest SLX on the demo. Wow!)
Reverb / SDG saddle
Stan’s ARCH EX on Hope EVO
DHF Front/Minion Rear
Sunline 710 bars, Thomson 70mm stem

It’ll be for round here (Malverns/steeper bits of the FoD), Lakes, Peaks, Passport DS next year etc. Still keeping the ugly stick c456 for when I fancy the HT.

I reckon that build will come in about 30lbs. I did look at the new Lapierre’s which are quite a bit lighter but after the demo I knew I had to have the rocket.

I’m thinking black with black forks and white wheels. I like white wheels. I don’t appear to be in the majority 😉

Here’s mine, in Orange though. I love it but not loving the RS Maxle right now.

I like white wheels. But that doesn’t count – it’s your bike, you do what the hell you like with it.

I think your on to a winner with that build.

size is that john? the frame looks long

Looks good to me. You just said shadow mech, worth getting a shadow+.

Not sure but are you using a rear minion on the rear? That’s madness 🙂

Nope sorry going mad DHF on the front, something else on the rear… That was on the demo and it was a good combo.

I’m tending towards the black…

It’s a small bruneep.
Alex, Your list looks like the one I had before I ran out of money and had to buy stuff on offer 🙂 I would have liked it in green or blue.

Yeah saw the Solaris in those colours. Looks fab. I don’t like to think about they money 😉 What don’t you like about the maxle?

I’ve yet to see a rocket build I don’t like…

Personally I’d swap the 710 bars for some Easton Havoc 750’s (I like wide bars) and a 50mm stem, other than that your spec looks spot-on 🙂
I’d say black with white forks and white wheels!

Shadow+ rear mech I hope. It’s the dogs danglies!

Wow, must be good. End of a relatively stable era in your turbulent shed.

1×10
50 or 60mm stem
A saddle that doesnt look like a settee
Rims that will take a battering (I dont know if Arch’s are upto this?)

1×10 is a bit lively for round here. It’s fairly bonkers steep in bits. Arch EX are pretty sturdy. I’ve had flows before but heard good things about the EXs.

Alec – well yeah. Loved the ST4. Really did. Would have been fine for PDS. But after seven months of working my whatsits off with hardly a break, I reckon I can justify it. Probably 😉

I’d 2nd the shorter stem wider bars. Got havoc (750) bars and (55) haven stem on mine. Think the demo was similar.

I’d be going for flows myself too.

Black will show up the dirt less (you know in the difficult to clean areas around the linkages) but the scratches more…

I went for orange but that’s because I fancied it after shifting the orange Solaris…

The beauty of black is that looks good with white or black forks…

I pondered the 2x but in the end the groupset came off another bike so it was a triple with the outter ring swapped out for a bash. I prefer climbing in the middle ring as far as I can so if this was larger I’m not sure it would work for me. Be interested in how you get on though.

Thanks. 750mm bars in the FoD would be potentially a bit interesting. I thought 711 was pretty much out there 😉 The reason I like the rocket geom is I’m 5ft11 but basically a dwarf from the hips down with a 31.5 inch leg. So long and low works for me and the M was spot on. It had a short stem on it now I come to think of it. Shall ask Cy what bar/stem combo was.

Right I’m off to fenagle a spreadheet. Going to try and buy from LBS if I can (apart from forks as Merlin have a killer deal on the Revs). German sites are so much cheaper but I’m always going on about supporting my local shop which is ace, so best put money where mouth is !

Ta for all your help. Useful stuff.

Personally I’d swap the 710 bars for some Easton Havoc 750’s (I like wide bars) and a 50mm stem, other than that your spec looks spot-on

Agreed!

Only other thing I’d spec different would be Flow Ex’s over Arch EX. I have the Arch’s on my Soul but for a rocket I’d go for the full on width of the Flow EX. The weight difference is not that great (90g?) and I think the extra width would help support some 2.4’s well. I like wide tyres though.

Tested a Rocket at Calver in Sat. LOVED IT. Im ordering one tommorow……
My Spec list is:-
Fox Float 34’s
Bos Vipr shock
Hope headset, ceramic BB, and seat clamp
Hope EVO hubs with either DT swiss or stans
Hope M4’s with Tech levers and 203mm rotors
Shimano XT 2×10 drivetrain
Reverb drop post
Hope 50mm stem and some carbon 710mm bars.
Think that might work. Anyt houghts?
Tried to keep it in the UK……

I’ll take your ST4 off your hands.

ST4 is advertised here: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/orange-st4-2011-full-bike-pics a killer deal even if I do say so myself.

Advice noted on the Arch. Shall go with Flow EX.

Sorry OrangeCrush forgot your name. You were clearly enjoying it as much as I was.

Well that was predictable, wasn’t it, Al! 😆

My take would (will!) be:-
Fox 34s (I found the 32s a bit sproingy in comparison to the solidity of the backend)
Either 2×9 (it’s lighter than 2×10 – the chainrings are smaller and there’s less rings on the cassette). Or X11 (yeah right!)
Brakes – not sure about. The shimano’s are powerful, but have all the finesse of a brick wall. Hopes have the modulation but are down on outright power and (I think) are heavier.
Reverb.
Haven carbon bars, Haven stem. The medium demo bikes have a 60mm stem on them. That worked for me…
Wheels – DT 240 hubs, Arch EX front, Flow rear, supercomp spokes and ally nips. Might look at the Pacenti rims too.

Oh, and it’s gotta be orange… 😀

Op, sounds great to me! I will put my 2 penny’s in and vouch for Arch EX. They’re tough as and to boot I’ve got the white ones on Hope hubs. I reckon that if you are under 170 pounds in weight the Arch EX are all you need. Flows for the bigger boys IMO.

Have fun, it sounds amazing!

Edit: Arch Ex do support 2.4 tires, I use them. Just a thought…

Very nice. I’ll vote for Flow EX as I have Flows on my Soul and like the width – EX will let you run huge tyres for uplift days but are still pretty light. And a 50mm stem but stick with the 710 bars if you ride tight woodland.

moc: only comments would be Fox 34’s will raise the front end/slacken HA to ~66 deg. If you don’t have too much climbing then prob not an issue.

203mm rotors? Demo had 160 which I agree is not big enough, got 183’s on mine and not had any problems. Def over kill on the back… no?

Personally I’m a bit wary of the vipr. I have heard of some reliability problems with this damper. Great shock, when it works though… Lack of uk distributor for Bos ATM would put me off.

Oh another thing. Make sure you get the right front mech. It’s a high clamp (bottom pull?/conventional?) you need as a ‘top pull’ (low clamp) mech won’t fit…

Just so’s you don’t make a mistake like someone I could mention… 😳

If you want to see some awesome stans flow white blingage…well you know where i am 🙂

Ta again. Right I’ll have another think about rims. And bars. And Stems. And Front Mechs 😉

Jon – Fox34s are silly money. I might look at some hope’s problem is I have XTs on my other bike and I wonder about switching between them! I did try very hard not to buy a Rocket. But sadly the demo knocked me over the edge.

Not too much climbing where I live? /goes off in the corner and sobs

H – I shall come and see your blingage 🙂

What’s so good about these rockets then?

Slack, low, solid, and surprisingly good (like, really surprisingly good) on the way back up.

Just fun to ride basically!

Good advice chaps. Im hearing you all on the Stans…..
Alex! What a bike eh!

Re the Hopes – I run M4s right now and they cack all over the shimano and Avid junk I have run before in terms of relaibility service ease and sheer stopping power. Weight? Bah – just try harder……

P

I’d do 180/160 discs unless you’re much heavier than me (12.5 stone). Race Evo M4 brakes have amazing feel but if you like XTs then why change? I’d be tempted by fatter stanchions but for the small weight savings of 34s vs 36s I’d probably go hunting for a bargain on a heavier duty fork, as the 34s aren’t cheap.

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This is mine revelations from merlin and slx off my mates old genesis core i love it and yes i know you dont like the blue bits 🙂

Pic fail 🙁

Run 2.4’s on my arch and arch ex no problems.

Right the spreadsheet is done. Now just need to work out the number at the bottom. Also need to find some tyres I like that I can run tubeless. Always had the 2.35 ignitors but they lack butchness of tread. But DHF can’t be run tubeless unless you get what appears to be a tractor version.

Shall think on that tomorrow. Ta all.

Alex – Member

But DHF can’t be run tubeless unless you get what appears to be a tractor version.

I ran singleply DHFs tubeless no bother (on Flows). Can’t rely on it obviously but it can be done for sure.

But if you want something minioney and tubeless ready, then Mr Specialized has for you the Clutch Control.

Can’t comment about Rocket builds but I was looking at one today in Keswick Mountain Bikes and I was impressed with it. A fantastic looking bike 😀

Been running Minions tubeless for years. Sadly you only seem to be able to get the DHF supertacky in wire bead which is a bit heftier + not as reliable run tubeless. Barons (Black chili tubeless version coming out soon IIRC), Hans Damps might be wallet hoovering options??

I shall go sniff out some rubber then 😉 Wallet hoovering already done. Nothing left in there except guilt 😉

I have folding Minions on my white Flow rims.

Went up easily with a track pump.