Ok , looking for some real world experience of either the Solaris or SolarisMax .... Looking at both as they seem ideal for what I'm looking for in my next bike .... Riding wise it's just local trails and once or twice a year bike packing trips ...
Cheers in advance
Mark
Is this new or used. I don’t think they make the max any more.
I think the only major change when they dropped the ‘Max’ was that the max fork travel went from 140 to 120. Or possibly the intended range went from 120-140 down to 100-120. Along with a little weight shaving as well IIRC.
As above, you can’t buy the Max anymore. When the bfe went 29 they got a bit close together so the Solaris slipped a little back towards xc.
I have had a Max for 5 years during which time it's been built up in several different ways from rigid flat bar gravel to 140mm fork hard core. At the moment it's rather strangely got 27.5 wheels because that's what I had left over. I've enjoyed riding it although it has dropped down the pecking order recently more due to me being old than any falling out with the bike.
Aha that would make sense as they seem to be flogging some for reduced price at the moment .....
Whatever I get will be my only bike so will be used for a multitude or riding 👍
Looks like there are a better choice of colours on the website for the Solaris anyway so may well go down that route it seems .....
Cheers
How steep/tech are the local trails?
If its full hard core steep stuff then the SolarisMax is the better option. The new Solaris has toned down the hard core hard tail credentials to make it a bit more suitable for longer trips (and because the Bfe fufils the hardcore brief very well.)
I had a SolarisMax for a couple of years, it was a great bike, but I swapped to a Cascade because I wasn't doing technical stuff and doing more bike packing style rides. If the new Solaris had been around when I made that decision , I probably would have chosen one instead.
If budget is a concern, then a 2nd hand SolarisMax would still be a good option for most things.
