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Yesterday I had the pleasure of test riding a XL Cotic FlareMax G3 at the rather excellent Twisted Oaks over in Ipswich. As a wheels on the ground rider I rode the XC loop a couple of times.
Being a general luddite rigid SS rider I was expecting to feel completely over biked for the conditions but how very wrong I was.
I've no idea what the bike weighed but it certainly didn't feel heavy whilst turning the pedals. With the CC shock set in its std mode rather than climb the bike didn't feel that it was bobbing after I set my saddle height correctly for the shock sag, but was incredibly sprightly set to climb.
Lots of firsts .... tyres and fork specifically.
Despite setting sag twice I didn't get full travel on the fork but it felt as plush as my Fox and RS forks for the travel I did get.
The tyres WTB were far grippier than I would typically run but were quite the eye opener especially the rear given the muddy conditions, yes I could break traction but only when really honking on the bars or in really wet spots.
The long shot geometry was spot on for my ape like proportions with oodles of reach but a ST that easily would take a 170mm dropper.
All in it was a bit of an eye opener. I felt immediately at home on the bike despite it initially feeling like it had a rear puncture 😉 and going back to the climbing it actually felt more efficient than my current bikes. Emperors new clothes and all that ......
It would be nice to try one outside of the Chicksands esque Twisted Oaks on the tamer trails around here to test the "over biked" musings.
Perhaps I should just ride further afield ........
One thing I did notice that I don't normally is the number of pedal strikes I had. Rather than bad form (although I am sure there was some of that) my usually just keep peddling SS mindset saw me clipping the ground in a way I haven't before so that was interesting and a wee bit frustrating.
So is a Flaremax G3 in my future ..... I would be kidding myself if I said no.
A huge thanks to Cotic and especially Sam for putting on the demo day - supper easy to set up and very smooth on the day.
I didn't get a photo of the bike on the day as I handed it back filthy but it was this one that I rode:
Nice one. I'm raved about mine far too often, but a few things that might be helpful.
I'm the very definition of a middle aged bimbler. Most of my rides are just exploring in the mountains. Yes, it can get techy at times, but given a choice I usually plump for the easier route and yet I've never felt over biked (whatever that means). Personally I find it's fun to ride no matter how tame the trail.
Magazine reviewers love to say that they can feel the extra weight on the climbs, but one of the things that impresses me most is how well it climbs. Yes, it inspires huge confidence when the trail points down, but I expected that. It's the way I can winch it up stuff (particularly more techy stuff) that surprised me. It's not sprint to the top fast, but just nice, efficient and well balanced. Mine has the unfashionably slacker seat tube, but I can still ride it below walking pace up steep stuff quite comfortably.
There is a review online somewhere from a guy who used one for guiding in the alps and he makes similar comments about how well it climbs.
Looks cool in orange too, of course.
I’m trying one in Cannock in a couple of weeks, looking forwards to it even more now, thanks 🙂
@roverpig given the caveat that it was tested in the mountains of Suffolk ( 😉 ) there were a good few short sharp techy climbs rather than longer fire road winches and I was able to sit and spin and climb out of the saddle with seemingly no ill effect.
I must also add that I've never ridden anything with a dinner plate cassette before so probably only ended up using the middle portion of the cassette. When I tried the 50(?) briefly it only seemed to bob a bit as I wash thrashing around in the saddle 🙂
@Nick I'm almost tempted to try and get to that one too as the only time I have ever ridden at Cannock I loved it!
I love the idea of the Flaremax, just a couple of things putting me off right now:
New version doesn't use a 'metric' sized shock.
Plain bearings (bushes) and not roller element bearings in the linkage... would be interesting to hear user feedback.
I know the Bird AM9 is more like the rocket than the Flaremax due to travel... but I'm interested in what a Aether9 might be like.
There's a frame in that size & colour in my garage waiting to be built up right now. Just finished doing the invisiframe wrap & serviced my yari's. Will post pics once complete.
Can wait to try it out.
This could be the first MTB in 30 years that's actually fitted me properly.
New version doesn’t use a ‘metric’ sized shock.
Are you sure? On the Cotic site the shock is still quoted as "200 x 50 Metric"
Plain bearings (bushes) and not roller element bearings in the linkage… would be interesting to hear user feedback.
The only bushings (other than the shock mounts) are at the dropout end of the seat stays. This part doesn't move much so a bushing makes sense here. I've just replaced mine after a couple of years. Not sure it really needed it, but there was a tiny bit of play in the drive side and it was so easy to push out the old one a pop a new one in while I was checking the rest of the bearings.
Bearings are generally easy to replace. I've found the ones in the droplink wear a bit faster than the main pivot for some reason (more side loads maybe) but not bad as long as you don't over-tighten them.
New version doesn’t use a ‘metric’ sized shock.
New version does use a ‘metric’ sized shock… 200 x 50
https://www.cotic.co.uk/product/flareMAX#compatibility
Actually, so did the previous version… 190 x 45
(Edit: I’m less sure now… metric was launched by RockShox with 190 & 210… I’m not sure who says if 200 x 50 is metric or not…)
And 200x50 is a lot easier to find than 190x45 (says the guy who has been contemplating upgrading his shock but never managed to find one the right size) 🙂
If like me, you get pedal strikes with the FlareMax, consider a shorter crank like a 170.
I've also added a larger rear tyre than the 2.4 Judge that was initially on there to gain a few more mm of height. The bike is stunningly good to ride in almost every situation, including the Alps where I've done guided trail weeks and hut to hut packing too.. Except on Highland, bouldery climbs where the pedal strikes are frustrating. Cairngorms, Torridon, Kintail are the sort of places I love to go, where this silly fashion for stupidly low BBs is a pain and is marketing over-riding common sense. Some folk say, learn how to time your pedal strokes to avoid it. That's a comment from folk who don't ride in really difficult situations where timing and ratcheting your cranks will only help so far and I've had years of experience and practice at this.
Did I mention that I love the bike..?
To be fair, it's not quite a stupidly low as some of its competitors. In fact, the main reason I got my G2 FlareMax over the Stage 4 I was also looking at was the slightly higher BB. But yes, I run 170mm cranks too.
I changed pedals to the OneUp plastic ones (from v12), and that solved all pedal strike problems for me… not sure how much is the shape, thickness, or material… but I rarely hit anything now, and when I do the pedals seem to just glide up off rather than hang up on the obstacle.
Being a general luddite rigid SS rider
This is it. Loads of brilliant FS bikes around now, they aren't slow and wallowy any more.
200 x 50 is not a size within the 'metric' size range. It is a metric statement of the old standard, derived from imperial.
200x50 size is not a size available from RS for their current shocks (according to their own page).
250 x 75, 72.5, 70, 67.5
230 x 65, 62.5, 60, 57.5
210 x 55, 52.5, 50, 47.5
190 x 45, 42.5, 40, 37.5
225(TR) x 75, 72.5, 70, 67.5
205(TR) x 65, 62.5, 60, 57.5
185(TR) x 55, 52.5, 50, 47.5
165(TR) x 45, 42.5, 40, 37.5
A huge thanks to Cotic and especially Sam for putting on the demo day – supper easy to set up and very smooth on the day.
Sam came down to Swansea for a 'club' demo day last year. He was very patient, and good company. He was travelling on to Newcastle that evening but didn't moan at all when some of our group tried to extend the already lengthy day of riding that we'd had. He's a very good brand ambassador! (And got two or three sales, plus a couple of 'I wants' for his trouble.)
So, it’s only ‘metric’ if RS make it? I think you’re probably right by the way, but it’s a bit stinky to let one brand try and set the ‘standard’ like that. Everyone else seems to be making 200 x 50 shocks.
Welcome to the bike industry! One brand has an idea and they call it a standard.
Although in this case it seems that CC, DVO, Manitou, Suntour and X-fusion were involved too. And Fox use the same nomenclature.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/The-Ultimate-Guide-to-Metric-Shock-Sizing-and-the-RockShox-Super-Deluxe,1349
I think a lot of the pedal strikes are down to the wheelbase. Imagine trying to ride a tandem over bumpy ground. Definitely worth the compromise imho.
Really glad you enjoyed the test, and you got on with the bike so well. I'm sure Sam will be stoked on all the positive feedback too.
As mentioned above, 170 cranks will sort those clearance issues, although I still use 175 and it's surprising how quickly you adjust your timing to miss things on climbs. We have options for 170s on everything we do now.
The whole metric thing is as usual turned into a moving target. When it first happened 200x50 was mentioned as metric, but now they're all pretty much saying it's 210 or 230. 200x50 is a fairly common size at least.
I've said it on here numerous times before but I love my G2. It goes up well and goes down really well, it's just so composed.
The bearings are easy to change, my first set lasted about 7 months and the bushes in the seat stays lasted about a year.
I got a Scandal as my first really good bike. Used it for a year, really got on with it well. Then I did a testride on a Soul, and I literally never had a good ride on the Scandal again, it suddenly made me realise how much better a bike could be.
@Cy - Thanks, just got to count the pennies now 😉 Sam suggested switching to 170mm cranks when we were having a chat after the demo but as you say it may just be a bit of re-education needed.
I’ll let him brake it to you what the suggested colour scheme could be ...... 🙊
Hi, i also went to a demo day in the surrey hills on Sat as im looking for the one bike to do it all. So i tryed out the solaris max (XL) and found it very capable bike and supprised how easy it was to throw about. I also had a demo on the XL Cotic FlareMax G3, and wow what a fun bike! Was blown away and how much fun it was and i went to the day with the intention of looking at the Solaris as my next only bike but that XL Cotic FlareMax G3 sure has got under my skin. I too suffered the odd pedal strike but Sam also suggested that maybe 170 cranks is a good option. Must mention thanks agian to Sam for taking us around in the horrible conditions but sure was great fun!
This is on my list of Next bike! Really want to demo one but unsure when/if Sam is coming down towards the South west. Might have to travel as I am unsure I can wait......
I tested a Flaremax as well on Sunday. While I did initially notice the weight as the ride progressed it was not much of a issue, especially once I stopped trying to ride up hills like I do on my hardtail. The geometry seemed to work well for me. I'm pretty much sold on it
@crashrash drop them a message, Sam is down this way a lot. I got a few of people together and booked a private demo with Sam over the fod. It was was great as it let us take 3 or 4 bikes we really liked out and swap for repeated runs. If you need to make up numbers for a private demo I would come!