New Solaris

Lower, not longer, not slacker, and no Max – Solaris

Creating some distance from the Bfe

Yes! A good move.

The slackness of the current model was too much for what I wanted and I went elsewhere when looking to upgrade my 2013 Solaris this year.

This would definitely be on my radar if I was looking for a new hardtail in the future

Nice one, could be the perfect “dad bike” – and pretty much the frame this forum had decided they should be making in previous threads about the SolarisMax.

😀

Hmm, looks nice that. Could be on the list, alternative to a Sherpa?

I’m a bit gutted actually. I was toing and froing between a more capable gravel bike or a rigid steel 29er and ended up buying a Cascade.

I like the cascade but reckon I’ll ultimatley end up running it with alt bars with a load of back sweep, and this could have swung me away from that (changing bars and other bits). Actually maybe I’m not gutted as I still might not have made a decision….

Why does this get an orange one though and the Cascade colours are so shit!

Shame it’s 1x only.

Looks like a perfect evolution to me, same angles, lighter, lower bb (a bit).  A non-Matt colour option would be nice, the strong gloss colours of the current gen would be my personal choice.  The prototype picture looks fantastic, my size too 🙂

Not convinced by 120mm forks tbh, but then I’m not the really the target market.

The original Solaris I bought in 2011 was my first 29er. It’s difficult after this time to separate whether it was the frame or the jump up to 29er wheels (I think its likely it was mostly the wheels), but I was impressed.

Changed it for a 2souls Quarterhorse that could run bigger tyres and *cough* a longer fork.

When the purple version arrives, I am buying.

I loved my 120mm forked Solaris mk2, perfect for trail riding with the odd XC race thrown in.

This bike seems to pick up where that and the mk3 left off.

Applaud Cotic deciding to take it back towards its roots a bit, especially as Cy points out now that there’s decent 100-120mm 29er forks again now…

Quite shocked that the reach figures are still so relatively long, and the BB drop is enormous! Cotics have always had high BB’s, I’d have thought anything sub 60mm drop would be quite low for them, but they’ve gone 72/75mm respectively (120 or 100mm fork fitted) which is HUGE! That’s mandatory 2.6″ tyres and 165mm crank territory I’d say!

‘Soularis’ 👌

“Quite shocked that the reach figures are still so relatively long, and the BB drop is enormous!”

They’re quite sensible numbers for a hardtail quoted at sag – if they were static numbers they would indeed be rather long and low.

It’s making me regret buying a SoarisMax.
I was hoping for a 29er Soul which it isn’t.
Maybe the new one is a ‘dad’ bike but that’s exactly what I want and I suspect so will a lot of other people.

dawson

The slackness of the current model was too much for what I wanted

It’s the same HA as the current one, 66 with a sagged 120 fork

Geometry is the same for the equivalent fork, just lower BB

Scienceofficer

Not convinced by 120mm forks tbh,

Well, those of us that understand hardtail geometry…… 😁😁😁

Anyone going the other way and fancy grabbing the current model before they disappear? Must say I’m tempted.

Anyone going the other way and fancy grabbing the current model before they disappear?

As i posted on the other Solaris thread, I’m really glad I got one of the spangly Froggatt Green mk3 SolarisMAX’s the start of the year. I find a 140mm fork upfront and 65 deg HA works for best me. The mk2 was a revelation for me and it felt like “This Is what I’ve been looking for!” as soon as i tried it. I took the new one (mk3) down the Fungle and round Baudy Meg the other week and had the best ride I’d had in ages, just loved it. So I personally am sad to see it go (I’ve never really wanted a BFe, as it seems to really be what people are accusing the Max to be).

Knowing Cotic it will be a great riding bike for those looking for that type of bike.

I replaced a FlareMAX with a Jeht so I guess that’s a fair indication of where my preferences lie.

Shame it’s 1x only.

Also no V-brake mounts. I’m out.

is the SolarisMAX being discontinued?

My first SolarisMax (V1) was my favourite. Probably too small (on cusp o M and L, always go M on HT) but it was a riot on 27×2.8 tyres. I never quite liked my Mk2 as much but still rode it best part of 2000km before handing it on to my daughter. It has a 120mm fork on it now and is built pretty light.

The new one is interesting. Like a poster up there, my first 29 was the original Solaris (Cy’s demo in fact, I went to ride a 26inch rocket at a demo day and tried the 29er while I was there). Pretty much converted me to bigger wheels even if I did go down the chubby rabbithole (!) for a few years.

I’d love a lightweight 29er with a shorter but decent fork for riding local woods/FoD etc. But no way I could justify having two HTs and – if pushed – I’d probably choose my burly Scout build over a new Solaris.

Well I want one anyway.

I’m just waiting to hear back from Cotic on sizing then I’m going to be ordering one. The Solaris Max is a great bike and looks great in Hubble Purple but I think this new Solaris will suit me a bit better.
Shame about the colour choices though.

jameso

Well I want one anyway

Me too, but I seem to want every new steel hatdtail that comes out

stevie750

is the SolarisMAX being discontinued

It’s essentially the same bike, minus the “Max” naming. And not recommended for 140 forks.

This is the Solaris that has piqued my interest the most. I’m on a Mk1 one, the original one, and it’s still ridden a lot. The previous Solaris versions have been a bit burly/hardcore for me. I’d want to be able to put a rigid fork on it or be able to just pootle around, this looks great

but I seem to want every new steel hatdtail that comes out

Thing is, I don’t – I just think this one gets so much right if it has the geometry and tube weight right in the way it seems to. It might seem a clash for some but for me it’d be bob-on. External cables and the seat bolt finish it off. It’s a bit like the Scalpel HT – light and quick on a great geometry with a short fork – but isn’t carbon.

It’s essentially the same bike, minus the “Max” naming. And not recommended for 140 forks.

Yeah, but i get enough pedal strikes as it is (I ride in there Cairngorms and the Grampian, there’s a lot of rocks and ruts to batter off of) and want to run 140’s….

I’m also in no doubt there is a market for this new bike.

I also had a mk1 SolarisMAX (first one of the first batch, its on their website somewhere as the spec was off-piste) built with 650B 2.8/3.0” tyres. I built purely for bikepacking, 165 crank double, 60mm stem, 120mm forks, no dropper. I also had a Sherpa NextGen also with 650B/3.0” rubber but 100mm forks. The Cotic was a brilliant bikepacker mule but the Stanton was much the better bike for the woods.

The mk2 completely changed my riding, and it make me ride the Sherpa harder too.

Maybe if I was riding woods more again I might change my mind.

Or if I didn’t already have a SodaMAX for b/p duties…

Also no V-brake mounts. I’m out.

😀😀😀

My aversion to 1x is mainly the cost of cassettes to give me a wide enough gear range (although I also hate big gaps between gears) & narrow / wide chainrings. I quite like the look of the frame otherwise.

In answer to the SolarisMAX question:

However, once these are sold through they’re gone, so you’ll need to get on the list for a new Solaris. If you want a 130-140 fork, you’ll need to get on the BFeMAX.

It looks lovely. If I hadn’t replaced my mk1 solaris with a light build max a couple of years ago, I’d be replacing it with this. Love the look of things like the Holt but I think having got used to the Max as an xc bike I might not want to go back to steeper geometry

Details are interesting-
Quite surprised the iscg has stayed on, that would presumably save a bit more weight? That said, I just don’t like it on mine because it’s a mud trap. Also quite surprised about the PM brake, I was always under the impression Cotic preferred the IS for steel.

The under down tube bolts have gone too. Feedback that they weren’t being used? I’d probably have used them about once a year if I had them but would have been quite glad they were there.

I think the PM rear is because it shares some tubing and dropouts with the Cascade which is flat mount, they talk in the blurb about it

I’d prefer mounts under and on top of the TT than the downtube.

It’s the same HA as the current one, 66 with a sagged 120 fork

Geometry is the same for the equivalent fork, just lower BB

this,

it’s a tiny bit shorter for the largest size, and there’s an in between size,  C4 that woud sit between large and XL solarismax. so really the only changes are that it’s got different dropouts and a much lower BB.

This looks really lovely, and its quite nice seeing some modern but classic woodsy singletrack kinda bikes again (The Fairlight Holt also springs to mind).This is the kind of thing I could see moving all the gear from my Scandal onto.

But please can it come in that lovely red the BFeMax has please please please.

Still too long for my taste, bring back XC bikes!

Still too long for my taste, bring back XC bikes!

If you ask around a few flat roof pubs locally, you could probably buy my Mk1 that was nicked 😪

The Fairlight Holt also springs to mind

They’re a lovely looking frame, just a shame they went with a 27.2mm seatpost.

However, once these are sold through they’re gone, so you’ll need to get on the list for a new Solaris. If you want a 130-140 fork, you’ll need to get on the BFeMAX.

thats sad. Isnt the BFe Max made out of slightly worse (if thats the correct term) steel so a bit more flexy?

BFe is 631, not as fancy a steel I terms of how it’s heat treated and the like, so not as light. Certainly not flexy, it’s a really comfortable and well sorted frame.