Steel Hardtail Dilemma

I'd go with the Solaris, I've got a Soul Mk5 and it's been faultless in the 5 years I've had it. I'd suggest getting a demo on one - if you're near chesterfield then Cotic can sort you a demo out. A modern geo bike will feel a world away from your current one.

Have a look at a Ragley Big Wig too. Decent spec for the money and does exactly what you say.

Theres a nice Titainium Middlechild XL frame in the classifieds 🙂

cheers - down in Devon -  so I may struggle to get up north  for a demo -  heart definitely says Cotic  -  head (and wife) says there's cheaper options

Second the Big Wig, great deals on them on CRC. Go for an XL at your height.

Or the Blue Pig - similar spec, but 27.5 - will take up to 2.8 in the rear.

Both are complete bikes for £1200.

I use my Blue Pig for general riding in Devon (and further afield) Great bike 😎

Hardtail party on the tube is a glorious rabbit hole of reviews. He likes the ragleys but I don't think you'll go wrong with any of the options mooted so far. Don't dismiss aluminium as a material. You'll find find far bigger change in the change to big wheels IMO. Enjoy your new bike!

So the problem is that the Orange is a bit of a bargain. I suspect that the Orange has a very heavy frame. This may or may not matter. Looks like the Orange, in my size, is shorter and taller at the front. You should probably have an opinion on which geometry will work better for you

The Ragleys on CRC seems complete bargains.

I haven't ridden a longshot Solaris but I have a simalary slack Last Fast Forward and a mark 1 Solaris before it.

For the use you describe personally I would have taken the mark 1 Solaris over the slacker Fast Forward so maybe consider a simalary conservative Stanton Sherpa too?

I think you're going to enjoy the move to 29'er wheels though for an all rounder hardtail.

Ooh -  see what you mean about the ragleys -  do look some great value there which might lessen the chances of divorce -  is the frame a bit more "hardcore" and with the longer travel fork -  was quite liking the concept of the 120ml travel down country thing

You really can't go wrong with a Cotic, they make ace bikes. Fairlight Holt maybe the country end of downcountry, but worth a look too.

Pipedream Sirius another good option in the 120mm range.

Nordest Britango 2 is another , on sale right now (always seems to be on sale)

Ragleys are probably a little more hardcore, yes. They're very nicely made and finished bikes despite the bargain price, though.

The Big Wig runs a 140mm fork as does the Orange P7, though that’s a Lyrik Select instead of a Revelation which is on the Ragley. Not compared geometry between the two but wouldn’t describe the Ragley as “hardcore”, more like a modern hardtail (I’ve got one and it’s great). The only change I’ve made on mine is to swap out the MoCo damper to a better one (Novyparts), other than that everything else is stock. Deore 12 speed is great too.

<p>The new Solaris looks good. Stanton Sherpa would be the other one to look at, 4130 or 853 options. Looks like you keep your bikes for awhile, if you can afford it, go for the better frame</p>

Get the Cotic, you've already decided you want it, nothing else will do the trick and you'll end up with one at some point anyway. Sell something else to offset the cost? Most of the drivetrain could carry across?

I just picked up some Hope Pro4/WTB wheels on eBay for £200, there are bargains about. My Cascade build is going to come in significantly under Cotic's cheapest build, with much better wheels, and some decent finishing kit that I had in stock.

On that note, I think there are some XL Cascades left at discounted price, they will take a 100mm fork and at 6ft 2" an XL would be fine with flat bars I'm sure. The geo is very close to the last of the non-longshot Solaris models, but with all modern 'standards' such as boost, thru axles, stealth dropper port etc.

core

Get the Cotic, you’ve already decided you want it, nothing else will do the trick and you’ll end up with one at some point anyway.

This is probably right, I've always wanted a Solaris, ended up with different bikes over the years, including a BFeMax, but always drawn to them. Mind you, I'm also drawn to the Fairlight Holt. and I'd like a Coal Pony and a Pipedream Moxie too.

I had a Cotic Solaris MAX, very fast and stable. Now have a Stanton Sherpa fast and lively. Glad I had the Solaris first as so stable downhill. Both bikes are excellent.

Fairlight Holt. Love mine. There is a thread on the board here:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fairlight-holt-hardtail /"

thanks for all the advice -  I'm probably looking for a full build rather than frame ( which rules out some of the options suggested)  - partly because I'll be using cycle scheme so makes sense price wise  and partly because I am an inept mechanic- I do like the look of the Ragly Big Wig at the discounted price - looks a solid choice - but I do fancy the new Solarised in the matte ember as long as the long shot geometry works for me.   I'm kind of drifting away from another P7 - I've had 2 but time for a change and the options are a little ungenerous on the latest model.   I've got a few big rides planned and think the Solaris may be the better option for long bikepacking  due to more pliant frame and more  mountings perhaps.

On-One Big Dog? I have one and it's ace.

I don't think CRC / Wiggle accept cycle to work at the mo.

Solaris definitely the better option if you want to go bikepacking on it. You just need to be honest with yourself as to kind of riding you’ll be doing and how much bikepacking you’ll do too; no point buying a bike best suited for that if you’ll only load it up once or twice a year (as an example). But the C2W point might force your hand towards the Cotic which is no bad thing as they’re great to deal with (currently got 3 in my collection).

Talk to Cotic - they will be able to sell you frame, forks, wheels on cycle scheme then you can transfer across the other bits.

I like the look of the Pace RC529 - but I’m not sure the full builds are very good value. Makes more sense as frame only and build yourself.

Bird Forge with a 140mm fork might be a good option too. 853 and some nice colours.

But you also can’t go wrong with a Cotic.

yes - was thinking about going for a Solaris rolling chassis and transferring bits ( mech, cassette, seat, bars, brakes -  although I'd need a new chainset (52 54) because of the boost -  so would then worry about uneven wear on 3 year old cassette etc  - think my Hope mono m4s also need a full rebuild service ( 60 a side if through hope -  or could do it myself potentially) - so it all might begin to stack up to the point where full build makes more sense ( especially with CTWS discount)   -  Might even recoup some for the Old p7 if someone's feeling retro

I'd agree with Core, it sounds like you're trying to justify/talk yourself out of the Cotic you actually want because of the price. But if it's what you want, the chances are you'll either end up buying one anyway having spent money on something else first or wishing you'd bought it every time you see one! And it sounds like you keep your bikes a long time so getting the right one is more important, and the extra cost will be pretty small over a 5/10 year ownership.

Pretty set on steel

I was really surprised when I moved from Sanderson Breath (old geometry, steel, 26", 2.2 tyres, 27.2 seatpost) to Marin Nail Trail (new geometry, aluminium, 27.5 and 2.4 tyres, dropper post) that there was not much difference in comfort.

It seems that tyres, wheel diameter, new strength of frame regulations, seatpost diameter and type etc all have more impact on ride quality than frame material.

Any my new bike is much ligher.

That said, steel looks gert lush.

cotic it is

Cotic or Fairlight Holt...

Just get the Cotic! My brother did this Dance about 2 years ago. Wanted one bike to do it all and after looking at all options the Cotic came out as the winner. Lovely frame and the Cotic guys are great to deal with. Its nice and versatile, can run 29x2.6 or 650b plus, lots of mounts for a bit of bike packing but hugely capable on trail. It's a bit small for me but I have a flaremax gen4 which is basically the same thing with some rear bounce. It's a fantastic bike, really sorted geometry and just good at everything. In a perfect world it would have some slidy dropouts for dingle speed potential but other than that its a pretty complete package. Plus the more Cotics in Devon the better!

John

On-One Big Dog? I have one and it’s ace.

Same, I've enjoyed mine but it is going up for sale soon, I don't need a hardtail and FS.

OK -  Decision made -  Solaris ordered in the rather cool matte ember

thanks again all for the wise words

Woohoo! Make sure to post pictures.

Can’t comment on the other bike options but I went from a 2008 P7 which I had ridden to death to a 2019 P7. Absolutely love it, don’t think the frame is heavy, bike rides light and really loved the 29 tyres after 26ers. It’s fine on long days out like SDW and never out of its depth on technical trails unlike me.

Smart choice, you'll love it.

John

Hardtail party on the tube is a glorious rabbit hole of reviews.

Yes excellent channel. He also handily demystifies the "steel is real" bollocks.

I've got the 2022 solarismax in L, I'm 185cm tall.

Absolutely superb bikepacking bike but it's also my go to bike.

Here it is in bikepacking mode

https://imgur.com/a/xRkPHJs

Stanton, had some great offers on last time I looked

Stanton Sherpa? Modern without being so crazy LLS that it feels like you've forgotten how to ride a bike and still rides brilliantly on everything that isn't an Enduro course, but is capable enough for the tech too?

heart definitely says Cotic – head (and wife) says there’s cheaper options

I'ma huge Cotic fan, had various Souls for  the past 10 years.

But, I realised not so long back, I've never given them any money - always bought 2nd hand which is a hangover from wanting to try out lots of different frames in the 00s. If you're not in a rush, I swear whatever you're looking for will come up in the classifieds here soon enough or at least something similar which you can buy, try and sell again if it doesn't work out or better comes along.