The SolarisMAX is our flagship big wheel hardtail: 29er or 27.5+

Singletrack 2018 Editor's Choice Award

see Issue #122

Our fastest hardtail just got faster: SolarisMAX is confidence inspiring, agile and fun, with a planted feel at high speeds on the rocks, and carve-it-up traction in the corners.

The new layout uses our radical new Longshot geometry for sweet, short stem handling, and the bike is now designed around longer forks for 2018. You can run up to 140mm fork for full trail slaying potential. It hasn't forgotten it's roots though: Run the minimum 120mm travel fork on the front, and the SolarisMAX is more than happy whizzing around 12hr long distance races, scrambling up technical climbs, or off on bike-packing adventures in the wilderness. Longshot geometry not only makes the bike confident on steep, rough trails, but adds plenty of space for bags and stable handling for long days in the saddle. SolarisMAX remains as versatile as ever.

As always with our flagship models, a full Reynolds 853 air-hardening steel front triangle is all present and correct. Our signature features such as Ovalform top tube and 35mm seat tube keep the weight, stiffness, ride feel and durability in the sweet spot. Grace, durability, clean lines, great attention to detail.

All of this adds up to give the SolarisMAX amazing adaptability; from sus forked, wide barred trail warrior, to Plus tyred, high traction monster truck, across to rigid forked, map crossing smoothie and everything in between. Where will your SolarisMAX take you?

MAX by name, Maximum versatility by nature, the SolarisMAX can run either 29 inch wheels with tyres up to 2.5" wide, or the latest 275 Plus sized wheels in 27.5 x 3.0" width.

29" wheel compatibility offers you a huge range of tyre options for carving corners and easy rolling speed, for every condition, and any purpose. You want fast? You've got fast. Any kind of fast you want.

275 Plus wheels with high volume tyres add comfort and traction advantages, with monster truck style rock smothering when you get into really rough terrain.

Why Big Wheels?

29inch or 275 Plus wheels roll easy and give a lot of stability, confidence and speed in rougher terrain, at the expense of being a little heavier and less playful than regular 27.5" wheels. 275 Plus wheels (the 27.5 x 2.8 or 3.0" option) offer more comfort and traction than 29" wheels at the expense of more weight and slower acceleration.

The way the SolarisMAX frame is packaged around the larger wheels (longer rear end, longer wheelbase, taller front end) can suit the proportions of a taller rider better, this will minimise any potential drawbacks, as a taller rider tends to have long enough arms and legs to move the bike around easily. However, if you're after more speed and stability from a bike, you may enjoy the SolarisMAX more than an easier to manoeuvre, but less stable, smaller wheeled bike.

Frames are £649, and bikes start at our Silver build, now with the fantastic SLX M7000 11spd drivetrain, for just (price unavailable).

Moving up to Gold level at (price unavailable) with Hope Tech XC 29 wheels and other parts in your choice of colour, Deore XT or Eagle GX drivetrain, Cane Creek HELM29 or Pike RCT3 fork. Or you can go Gold Plus and get the Hope Tech 35W wheels with WTB Trail Boss 27.5 x 3.0 and Ranger 27.5 x 2.8 tyres.

For the ultimate though, we have the Platinum build starting at £3749 with carbon cranks, XTR drivetrain, Burgtec bars, and Hope brakes and cassette, all in your choice of colour. You can Go Custom on all our builds and add different brakes or wheel options, for example.

There are stem length options and a bunch of different handlebars so you can tailor your bike just as you want it.

Head to the configurator to have a play.

We now have a Factory Collection option on the bikes. Come down to our base in the heart of the Peak District, and we will set up your bike, the suspension, fit pedals, get you all comfortable. You can even take your new Cotic out on its maiden voyage around our demo loop, straight from our workshop door.

Just tick the Factory Collection option on your order and we will look forward to seeing you. We'll contact you once we have received your order, and arrange a day that suits you for your visit (Monday - Friday).

Big wheels sound like they aren't for you, but still want a beautiful handling trail hardtail? You need the Soul.

Like what the SolarisMAX has to offer, but want all that in a full suspension bike? You need the super capable all rounder, the FlareMAX.

If you are in the UK and want to try a SolarisMAX for yourself? Contact Sam the Demo Man via our Demo Page and see about getting a ride on a bike on your local trails.

New Longshot geometry brings a new balance and capability to the SolarisMAX. Long frame, matched with a responsive stem in the 30mm-45mm length range is matched with a slacker head angle to balance out the handling for a beautifully controlled and exciting ride.

Updated frame design with experience from our droplink bikes brings increased fork capability. The new SolarisMAX is designed around 120mm forks, with up to 140mm fork capability for full trail slaying.

The size range has also been increased for 2018 with the re-introduction of a small size.

As the SolarisMAX also tends to get used for big rides and bikepacking as well, we have added a second set of bottle bosses within the front triangle. The length of the new bikes has allowed us to add this on the down tube, so there are now two sets of bottle bosses - one right near the bottom bracket, and one in the more traditional middle of the tube location. Either you can run two bottles, or with a side loading cage on the lower position you would be able to carry a bottle and install a large frame bag.

• Large diameter, thinwall, air hardening Reynolds 853 steel front triangle with signature Ovalform top tube
• 44mm standard head tube designed with external bottom cup for taper steerer compatiblity and zero stack top cup for minimal stack height
• Exclusive Cotic Designed Reynolds 853 34.9mm seat tube gives great precision to the ride
• 31.6mm seatpost size is dropper seatpost compatible, external remote or internal "Stealth" routing. The frame has hose clips for the external remote under the top tube, or p-clip bosses for a down tube run for the 'stealth' internal option.
• Signature Cotic 4130 cromo wishbone stay rear end. Bridge-less MAX S-bend chainstays with Cotic Hexten gussets for improved fatigue life
• Two sets of bottle bosses on the down tube for added water capacity. Either run two bottle in line on a big ride, or use the lower set with a side-loading cage to get some extra water on board if you have a frame bag for a bigger trip
• Boost148 Thru Axle Rear End - Added wheel stiffness and clearance for 29x2.5 or 27.5x3.0
• Minimum 120mm travel forks or 500mm rigid. New for 2018 - Maximum 140mm travel fork
• Geometry with commitment! Cotic Longshot Geometry brings balance, composure, fun and speed
• Sizes - Small (new for 2018), medium, large and XL. The frames are designed to be compact and chuckable. Check out the Sizing Chart below for the full detail
• Weight - 4.9lbs for the large
• Colours - Dark Metal, Cosmic Black, Gloss Green/Orange Details

All our bikes are hand assembled to order here in Sheffield by Paul, Cy, Richard or Will. If there's anything on the spec you're not sure about, or don't need, give us a ring to discuss. We'd much rather leave something off you don't need and charge you a bit less than waste a perfectly good part you'll not use when we can put it on someone elses bike. Better for you, better for us, less waste, so better for everyone.

When ordering, you can choose key components to help you get the fit you want on your bike (contact us if you need help), but you can also go custom if you want to personalise your build still further. Many of our builds can be customised extensively, with headset, brake, wheel and fork travel options available.

NOTE: Specifications subject to change without notice. Because of this, bikes shown in videos and photos are likely to feature a different spec to that currently offered.

The chart is a guide to frame size. The SolarisMAX features Longshot geometry.

This new approach has brought larger reach steps between sizes to allow everyone to get their stem nice and short. We recommend aiming to size your bike with a 35mm stem if possible. Wide bars and short stems make for very responsive steering, so we have slackened the head angle to balance this out, and steepened the seat angle to keep you in the in middle of the bike. The result is a beautifully balanced ride, with stable, confidence inspiring feel at speed, with think-and-you're-there steering and amazing front end grip for slicing through the singletrack. If you prefer your handling slightly more conventional, simply size down, add a 50mm stem and a longer dropper post to get your pedaling height and away you go.

If you would like us to help you out with sizing, or are on the cusp of two sizes then drop us a line at size@cotic.co.uk or give us a call on 07970 853531 and we'll be happy to discuss set up based on what you're riding at the moment.

• mm
• inches
• 120
• 130
• 140

Seatpost diameter: 31.6mm (wise to get a decent length one)

Dropper Post: External or Stealth Internal - Dedicated remote routing under top tube for External or P-Clip on the down tube for internal

Front Mech: 34.9mm band on, high clamp, Shimano Side Swing only [click here for info]

Bottom Bracket width: 73mm

Bottom Bracket thread: Conventional English/BSA

Headset: 44mm cup. SHIS designation ZS44/28.6 upper, EC44/40 lower (for example a Hope 2H) [click here for info]

Rear Hub: Boost148 12mm thru axle

Chainline: 50mm (regular cranks) for up to 32t chainring, 53mm Boost chainline for up to 36t chainring

Fork: Minimum 120mm travel. Maximum 140mm travel (551mm axle to crown length without sag)

Tyres: 29 x 2.5" or 27.5 x 3.0"