COTIC ROCKETMAX MULLET/SILVER SLX £4,949 (with upgrades)
The fourth-generation RocketMAX still has 160mm of rear-wheel travel, but moves to Cotic’s ‘C-Sizing’ and is designed around a longer-travel fork. It’s built to take 29in wheels or, as here, mixed sizes. The front triangle is crafted from Reynolds 853 steel and the back end from alloy. To deliver the 160mm of rear-wheel travel (155/150mm also an option, using a shorter-stroke shock), Cotic pair a single-pivot swingarm with their ‘droplink’ linkage, which drives the rear shock. Home mechanics will like the externally-routed cables.
There are five frame sizes (C1-C5), so most should find the right fit. Our C2 mullet bike had a reach of just over 451mm, lengthy 448mm chainstays, an 805mm front-centre and slack 63.4-degree head angle. With the saddle at our preferred height, the seat tube angle was just under 76 degrees.
Cotic let you pick a ‘foundation’ build, then alter the spec as you see fit. Our RocketMAX started as a Silver bike but received upgrades including a Cane Creek DB Kitsuma coil shock, OneUp dropper and Magura MT5 brakes.
It’s a comfortable bike to pedal uphill and, especially on steeper inclines, feels capable when things get technical. Overall, suspension balance is good, although our 68kg tester ran nearly all the shock adjusters fully open for the liveliest feel possible. The Kitsuma Coil offers impressive sensitivity at the start of its stroke, which helps keep the rear tyre in contact with the trail. There’s plenty of support through the mid-stroke, though, so you can drive your weight down through the bike and load it hard through corners to maximise exit speed. On bigger stuff, there’s more than enough progression to ensure you don’t get through that 160mm of travel too easily.
Through the corners, the Cotic lets you carry a hellish pace, thanks to its calm demeanour and well-centred riding position. Sling it into the fastest, ugliest turn and you’ll soon be feeling sorry for the shoulder treads on your tyres. While the long back end means lofting the front wheel in the air takes more muscle than on other bikes here, the RocketMAX still feels agile enough to snake its way through tight, technical trails without issue.
Slithering down steep stuff where it’s hard to stay off the brakes, it doesn’t feel as smooth as the best on test, and when you’re rattled
