[Closed] Cotic Solaris vs. Stanton Sherpa vs. Titus Fireline

I've got a mk1 Solaris and so can only comment on that. I really like it. Does everything I ask of it.

Mainly I ride xc and longer mile munching stuff. Mine is a pretty light build. Although I did increase the travel from 100 to 120mm fairly recently.

It's my only MTB (although I do have a fat bike too).

Cotic are great to deal with too.

I have owned both a Solaris and a Solaris. Bought the Solaris for local xc rides, had it built up at 25lbs. Really liked the way it handled, the geometry was a bit slacker than a traditional xc bike. The only downside that I'd bought a size too small, so was at maximum seatpost extension and ideally needed a bit more.
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Sold the Solaris and bought a Sherpa. Built it up with the same parts, first time I rode it the front end was too high (10mm rise bars, zero rise stem, no spacers), the headtube is 120mm and runs an external bottom cup. This meant I could't weight the front end easily (had to sit on the nose of the saddle and hunch myself over the front. Tried a dropped stem, zero rise bars and taking the sealing cap off the headset to drop the front end further.

The Sherpa frame is heavier and feels stiffer than the Solaris, I found the ride to be harsher and the handling to be slower (head angle is slacker on the Sherpa).

For the riding I was doing, the Solaris was perfect, if I wanted a more do it all bike biased to the downhills, then the Sherpa would of worked.

I sold the Sherpa and rebuilt my Trance with spares I had around. Now have
Reign for trail/dh riding at the weekends and the Trance is used for XC and flatter trail centres. Contemplating another 29er, likely to be a Trek Procaliber 9.7, very similar geometry to the Solaris, with a more compliant ride.

I'd get a test ride on both, as whilst on paper they are very similar, the Sherpa and Solaris ride very differently.

I wanted to like the Fireline but the sizing is ****ed tbh, 410mm reach on the 20 inch frame, that's just daft. It gets only about 15mm longer every time it gets 2 inches taller. I thought I was riding a small.

Can't comment on the others but any excuse to post a pic of my Mk2 Solaris. Like Northwind says though, fireline's geometry seems a bit odd/outdated in comparison to the Sherpa and the Solaris.

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Owned a Mk1 Solaris which felt slightly springy but a little more planted than the Fireline I changed to.
The matte finish also seemed to chip quite easily.

The shorter chain stays, slightly slacker head angle than the Mk1, springiness and weight saving certainly make it a more playful and comfier bike for all day. I find launching off lips and rocks easier on the Fireline, probably due to the shorter top tube and weight saving.

As people have said the sizing is quite odd on the Fireline but an 18" suits me fine at 5' 11" and a long torso/arms and shortish inseam. I'd definitely try before you buy if possible but with any of these 3 frames I'd go for at least 34mm stanchion forks if you're over 13 stone kitted up as 32mm forks can feel quite twangy on rocky/rooty terrain.

Slight OT I guess (sorry OP) but I am just interested in what Sir HC said.

How tall are you / what size Solaris did you have?

Also what length forks were you running?

No worries Normal Man; I was sort of thinking the same thing. I'm close to borderline Medium/Large so it was playing on my mind.

I'm 6ft with a 32" inside leg. I had a medium Solaris with a 400mm post on max extension (100mm inside frame). Should of bought a large, but they were out of stock and got a good deal on a medium. Should of also just bought a large solaris rather than a sherpa!

SID RCT3's at 100mm, built up the Solaris light as it was going to only be used for XC.

Thanks. That all adds up.

My is a medium too. Although I can never run my saddle as high as I'd like due to a hip injury. (5'11" and a bit but long limbs).

I was tempted with the large but mine was replacing a large Spesh Carve Expert (my son has that now). I wanted to keep much of the xc'ness of it but with a little more playful feel, including more standover as I'm old school like that.

The shorter stem but significantly wider bars meant the reach ended up virtually the same on the 2 bikes in the end.

Since I upped the travel to 120mm the solaris has suited me more. Although the raised BB height would be my only negative comment if comparing before / after.

I second the comment about the Fireline's geometry. Massive small reach out of kilter with the size of the bike. Spent ages trying to dial it in and gave up and sold it. At the time it was compared to modern long and low bikes, and the reach wasn't even listed I don't think. Anyway, total waste of time, felt conned to be honest. Had a Solaris as well, nothing wrong there, solid bike if that's what you are after.

Thanks for all your input - it would seem the Cotic is the way to go!

Very happy with my Stanton Sherpa, great allrounder nothing seems to faze it. I've ridden a Solaris only once, felt more of an xc machine than the Sherpa, nice bike though.