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I'm considering getting a new bike, but I am woefully out of touch with what is on offer. My previous bikes have been a 2013 Norco Sight, which has finally died a death. My other, and current bike, is a 2011 Pinnacle Iroko. Of the two, before the Norco died, I have been enjoying the Iroko more, because it's a hardtail. So, I've decided I want a new hardtail to replace both, that's led me down the road of a steel hardtail.
I have so far been considering a Cotic SolarisMax / BFeMax, Ragley Blue Pig / Piglet, Stanton Slackline, Orange P7 and Ribble HT 725. My usual riding is between Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale and Carnforth, so plenty of easy bridleway but some ridiculously steep and technical bits too. There's semi-often forays in to the Lakes too, so I need something that doesn't terrify me when things get a bit uppity.
I don't want another FS (yet), I like having to think about position and line. I'm also a 5'7" midget, I have spoken to Sam at Cotic, who has been great, so think I am leaning towards a Cotic. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. I'm in no massive rush, but the dwindling stock of bits for a 26" bike are making me think.
I’m the only person I know that hasn’t owned a cotic at some point. They are popular for a reason and I would definitely consider a Solaris if in the market for a steel frame.
Also worth looking at a bird forge or stif squatch. You won’t go wrong with any of the bikes you’ve listed though…
What sort of riding are you doing and what kind of riding do you want to do with it? XC, Trail, HCHT? There’s a lot of different HTs out there.
Suspect you’ll get a lot of people recommend a Cotic or Stanton, and for good reason. Great customer service, super bikes. Nothing but praise for Cotic personally, there’s three of them in the cellar.
I’d be looking at a BFEMax in your situation, not ridden one personally but would tick all the boxes.
There's a bit of easy bridleway, but there's always a bit of technical stuff to tackle. For instance, Bullpot to Barbondale is often on the route, Farleton, Garburn Pass, etc. I think, on balance, I'm tending towards the SolarisMax in 130mm flavour, but wondering about others. The BFeMax was mentioned by Sam at Cotic, but I think it may be too much bike for some of the more mundane stuff.
My current Iroko, which has been a massive surprise since I bought it, has 120mm but will go anywhere (somewhat slowly I will admit). I don't tend to take big drops and jumps, but like a bit of fun on occasion.
Well you can't go wrong with a Cotic or a Stanton as long as they fit you. I have had both and as much as they were lovely bikes and the customer service is good, they ultimately didn't work for me. I think I got the sizing wrong for the Cotic but the Stanton was just too tall in the SO height for my little legs. I tried many other HT over the years but the one I have landed on now is going to stay with me for a long time. So in the time hounered STW fashion of recommneding what you own, please meet the No.9. I absolutely love it.
Have a look at Pipedream too. I’ve got a Moxie that’s flipping brilliant. Either a Moxie or maybe a Sirius would meet your requirements
I've got a Solaris Max and it is very capable. I've put 4000 miles on mine, mainly over the South Downs and Surrey Hills. My 2 pennies worth...
It does everything very well. Steep is fine. Flat out fast downhill -it is ultra-stable and confidence inspiring.
It has very long chainstays - which are extremely useful when climbing (has a relatively slack seat angle but you don't notice it because of the stays. It is not a wheelie machine - because of the chainstays.
It has a low stack - I had to up my fork travel from 120 to 140 to stop me getting neck ache (could just be me!) - even with a relatively high-rise bar.
It's fine for riding all day. Unless you're riding bridleways with mates on their carbon race HT's - in which case be prepared to work a bit harder to keep up. I think the Mk2 Solaris was a better xc bike.
Lots of space in the triangle for two bottles and frame bags.
A very good generall purpose bike that you can pull out of the shed for most situations. But not XC racing.
I had a gen 2 solaris, the one before the MAX and even that was great to ride on pretty steep techy stuff. So I've no doubt the newer Solaris MAX's would be even better. I've just bought a Cascade from them and they're great people to deal with as you've already found out.
Some great colours in the Solaris MAX as well. I was very tempted by the pink one!
Thanks for this guys, really appreciated. I think I have settled on a SolarisMax, it seems to fit the bill of a do it all bike. I'm wanting it to do long days, with semi-regular steep nonsense. Re the low stack, I was considering a 130mm fork, but might go for the 140mm.
How lively is the SolarisMAx? I guess if you have done 4,000miles on it, it must be fun to ride.
Coticcoticcoticcoticcoticcotic.....