Archive: Soul Gen5
Discontinued. The Soul legacy continues in the Solaris (effectively the Soul in 29" format) and the BFe (for when you need a bit more than the Soul). This page is kept as an archive record for owners and for anyone researching an older Cotic Soul.
Years of production: 2017-2020
The Cotic Soul was our iconic light and lively trail blazer. Slim, subtle, tough and beautiful: the ultimate expression of a steel hardtail.
The Soul is the founding model of the Cotic range, conceived in 2003 as a modern steel hardtail. We wanted the best frame we could make, something no one else was making back then. It was super progressive and quickly became an icon, winning multiple tests and awards over the following years. It spawned many imitators, but the Soul was the original, the template.
The 5th and final generation Soul captured that progressive spirit. Tough, light, fun, interactive, comfortable, but at heart a singletrack scalpel. It was optimised around 120mm forks with the strength for up to 140mm, and the Reynolds 853 tubeset had our famously subtle, traction-rich feel. We bombed down Pyrenean mountains, battered across British hills, whizzed between the trees and strapped bags on for nights out in the hills.
Finishes: Blue with Magenta, Orange with Blue, and Mercury with Orange.
Sizes: XS, Small, Medium and Large.
Longshot geometry
Gen5 brought the Soul onto our Longshot geometry: stable through the rough stuff, planted in the corners and pinpoint accurate in the steep tech. A super short 30-35mm stem and the optimised head angle push you on, looking for every stump to boost off and berm to rail, while keeping that legendary Cotic ride feel. Longshot frames are low and long with plenty of standover, and we recommended sizing to the chart for your height.
27.5" wheels
The Soul was designed around 27.5 x 2.6" trail tyres, with clearance to spare (or 26 x 3.0"). 27.5" wheels are lighter, livelier and quicker to accelerate than 29" or 27.5 Plus wheels, with a more interactive feel, at the expense of slightly less stability and rollover on rougher terrain. They package more easily into a small frame (shorter chainstays, lower stack), which suits shorter riders and made the XS size possible.
Frame details
- Reynolds 853 DZB down tube, Ovalform top tube and Cotic exclusive Reynolds 853 34.9mm seat tube combine for a supple yet precise ride feel
- Cotic designed 34/44 taper head tube for taper steerer forks
- Dropper friendly 31.6mm seatpost size, with internal and external dropper routing
- Shimano Side Swing front mech compatibility, for better clearance, better shifting and cleaner routing via the down tube
- 4130 cromo wishbone stay rear end. Bridgeless Super Clearance S-bend chainstays with Cotic Hexten gussets for improved fatigue life and massive mud clearance: 27.5 x 2.6" or 26 x 3.0"
- Syntace X-12 Boost 148 x 12mm thru axle
- Optimised around 120mm forks, maximum 140mm
- Longshot geometry for pin sharp, super short stem handling and improved stability at speed
- Sizes: XS, Small, Medium and Large
- Weight: 4.5lbs for the Medium
Geometry
120mm travel forks
| Frame size | XS | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube (centre-top) | 365mm | 390mm | 425mm | 460mm |
| Top tube (effective) | 588mm | 611mm | 636mm | 665mm |
| Head angle | 67° | 67° | 67° | 67° |
| Seat angle | 73° | 73° | 73° | 73° |
| Chainstay length | 428mm | 428mm | 428mm | 428mm |
| BB drop | 43mm | 43mm | 43mm | 43mm |
| Head tube length | 100mm | 100mm | 110mm | 120mm |
| Reach | 412mm | 435mm | 458mm | 480mm |
| Stack | 574.5mm | 574.5mm | 583.7mm | 593.0mm |
| Usual height range | 157-164cm | 165-173cm | 174-182cm | 183-191cm |
| Stem length | 30-50mm | 30-50mm | 30-50mm | 30-50mm |
| Maximum tyre size | 27.5 x 2.6" / 26 x 3.0" | 27.5 x 2.6" / 26 x 3.0" | 27.5 x 2.6" / 26 x 3.0" | 27.5 x 2.6" / 26 x 3.0" |
| Maximum seatpost insertion (incl. actuator) | 216mm | 251mm | 251mm | 286mm |
Based on a 120mm travel fork with 20% sag (rider on board). Maximum seatpost insertion leaves 25mm clear below the actuator for hose or cable routing; an externally routed dropper won’t need this margin.
140mm travel forks
| Frame size | XS | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube (effective) | 590mm | 613mm | 638mm | 667mm |
| Head angle | 66° | 66° | 66° | 66° |
| Seat angle | 72° | 72° | 72° | 72° |
| BB drop | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
| Reach | 406mm | 429mm | 452mm | 474mm |
| Stack | 579.5mm | 579.5mm | 588.0mm | 599.0mm |
Based on a 140mm travel fork with 25% sag (rider on board).
Seat tube, chainstay (428mm), head tube length, usual height range, stem length, tyre size and maximum seatpost insertion are the same for both fork options.
Not sure about sizing for a used frame? Email size@cotic.co.uk.
Component sizes
- Seatpost diameter: 31.6mm (at least 375mm long)
- Dropper compatibility: external routing in hose clips under the top tube, or internal stealth routing via the down tube
- Chainline: 1x drivetrains, regular (50mm) up to 32t or Boost (53mm) up to 36t. 2x drivetrains, Boost only
- Front mech: Shimano Side Swing, top clamp 34.9mm, front entry, Boost chainline, routed in P-clips along the down tube
- Bottom bracket: 73mm width, conventional English/BSA thread
- Fork: optimised around 120mm, maximum 140mm travel, 531mm axle to crown (without sag)
- Headset: 44mm external cup lower, 34mm traditional standard upper (EC34/EC44)
- Rear hub: Boost 148 x 12mm thru axle. Hope hub users (Pro2, Pro2 EVO or Pro4) with 142mm axles could convert with a Boostinator kit
Reviews
BikeRadar / MBUK, 4.5/5: praised the taut yet floaty, light yet tough steel frame and its stretched, speed-boosting singletrack geometry, and felt for many trails it was all the bike most people need. Read the BikeRadar review.
off.road.cc, 4.5/5: a sweet handling, extremely versatile trail hardtail with great ride feel, capable and stable when pushed without feeling dead. Read the off.road.cc review.
Photo gallery
