{"id":37167,"date":"2022-05-20T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T06:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=677840"},"modified":"2022-05-20T08:21:24","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T06:21:24","slug":"cotics-enduro-ready-steel-framed-rocketmax-gen4-expands-sizing-and-increases-travel","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/cotics-enduro-ready-steel-framed-rocketmax-gen4-expands-sizing-and-increases-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Cotic\u2019s enduro-ready steel-framed RocketMAX Gen4 expands sizing and increases travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Alex Evans\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 20 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Cotic\u2019s RocketMAX Gen4 29in-wheeled enduro bike<\/a> is now offered in five sizes under Cotic\u2019s C-Sizing structure, where the change in reach between each size is just 19mm. The C5 \u2013 equivalent to the old XL size \u2013 has a 5mm increase in reach.<\/p>\n

Staying true to Cotic\u2019s long-standing relationship with steel, the new RocketMAX\u2019s front triangle is made from Renyolds 853 tubing that\u2019s exclusive to the brand, in a bid to increase strength.<\/p>\n

Maximum compatible front-wheel travel has been increased from 160mm to 170mm, with some geometry changes to accommodate the tweak.<\/p>\n

Out back, Cotic still uses its Droplink suspension with a progressive kinematic offering of between 150mm and 160mm of travel<\/a> depending on the stroke of the shock fitted.<\/p>\n

Prices start at \u00a33,999 for a RocketMAX Silver SLX build and increase to \u00a36,499 for the Platinum SRAM GX AXS build.<\/p>\n

Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 frame<\/h2>\n
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The RocketMAX is Cotic\u2019s longest-travel, hardest-riding bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Cotic Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The headline update to the RocketMAX Gen4\u2019s frame is its new Reynolds 853 Ovalform down tube, chosen to increase strength and stiffness. However, thanks to its steel construction, Cotic claims its frame is \u201ccompliant and naturally ground moulding\u201d, something we want in spades, please.<\/p>\n

To boot, the front triangle is manufactured in the UK \u2013 a factor only a few brands of Cotic\u2019s size can boast of.<\/p>\n

The Taiwan-made 6066-T6 aluminium swingarm has a Boost 12x148mm rear axle and clearance for 29\u00d72.5in tyres.<\/p>\n

Other visible changes include the addition of a small brace tube between the down and seat tubes.<\/p>\n

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A new brace between down and seat tubes has been added to the Gen4 bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Cotic Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On the underside of the top tube are water bottle mounts, where there\u2019s space for a 625ml bottle. There are secondary mounts on the underside of the down tube, and Cotic sells frame bags to fit the RocketMAX for onboard storage.<\/p>\n

Cables are externally routed from front to back, except the gear cable, which passes through the seatstay to reduce noise and give the frame clean lines.<\/p>\n

The rear brake mount and chainstay and seatstay pivot use the same bolt, which is an interesting touch.<\/p>\n

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Cotic\u2019s custom-specced Reynolds 853 tubing is used on the bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Cotic Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

It uses a standard 44mm head tube with an external lower cup and integrated upper. This design means the bike can be run with 29in or 27.5in rear wheels, because the angleset evens out the geometry change created by the 27.5in or mullet rear-wheel setup.<\/p>\n

The Gen4 is now compatible with 170mm-travel front forks, up from 160mm on the previous bike, where the maximum permitted axle-to-crown length is 586mm. A 170mm-travel 29in Fox 38 measures 583.7mm and a 170mm 29in ZEB 586mm.<\/p>\n

Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 suspension<\/h2>\n
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The Droplink suspension design is claimed to be massively progressive.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Cotic Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Cotic\u2019s Droplink suspension is a single-pivot design with a linkage-driven rear shock that\u2019s used to tune the bike\u2019s kinematics.<\/p>\n

The linkage on the Gen4 RocketMAX uses an all-new keyed design, where the linkage and axle can only be assembled one way. The keyed \u2013 or flat \u2013 sections, Cotic claims, help reduce twisting and flexing through the linkage.<\/p>\n

Travel sits at 160mm with a standard 65mm stroke shock, but this can be reduced to 155mm or 150mm with a shorter stroke.<\/p>\n

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Rather than welding the shock mount to the down tube, it\u2019s bolted.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Cotic Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The revised link also has a reduced leverage ratio compared to the Gen3 bike, but retains its super-progressive feel to provide support and bottom-out resistance, while being supple at the start of its travel.<\/p>\n

This also means it\u2019s compatible with both coil and air shocks, although Cotic only recommends using Cane Creek\u2019s Kitsuma coil with the RocketMAX.<\/p>\n

Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 geometry<\/h2>\n

Cotic\u2019s departure from the often-used size names (small to extra-large, for example) to its new C-Sizing structure not only results in an additional frame size, upping the number of RocketMAX variations to five from four, but also helps remove the stigma or entrenched conviction that a rider is any given size.<\/p>\n

This is accompanied by 15mm reach increases between sizes and, Cotic hopes, Goldilocks reach figures in each of its C designations.<\/p>\n

The C1 bike is recommended for riders between 162 and 172cm, while the C5 ups that to 184cm to 192cm, hopefully catering for a wide range of body types and riding styles. Each size designation has an overlap for its recommended rider, too.<\/p>\n

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The sizes are now denoted from C1 to C5.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ian Linton \/ Cotic Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Cotic says for its C3, C4 and C5 sizes, the seat tube angle has been steepened to compensate for the increase in seat height usually associated with bigger riders on those bikes.<\/p>\n

The geometry of the bike is typical of Cotic, with a long reach, wheelbase and chainstays paired with a slack head angle.<\/p>\n

<\/colgroup>
Cotic RocketMAX geometrty chart 170mm fork, 29in wheels<\/caption>
\ufeffSize<\/th>C1<\/th>C2<\/th>C3<\/th>C4<\/th>C5<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>390<\/td>417<\/td>444<\/td>471<\/td>496<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube <\/b>(mm)<\/td>599<\/td>621<\/td>639<\/td>660<\/td>679<\/td> <\/tr>
Head angle <\/b>(degrees)<\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle (815mm seat height) <\/b>(degrees)<\/td>75.5<\/td>75.5<\/td>76.2<\/td>76.2<\/td>76.2<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>448<\/td>448<\/td>448<\/td>448<\/td>448<\/td> <\/tr>
BB drop <\/b>(mm)<\/td>23<\/td>23<\/td>23<\/td>23<\/td>23<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>100<\/td>110<\/td>120<\/td>130<\/td>130<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach <\/b>(mm)<\/td>444<\/td>462<\/td>482<\/td>501<\/td>520<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack <\/b>(mm)<\/td>630<\/td>639<\/td>648<\/td>657<\/td>657<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase <\/b>(mm)<\/td>1,244<\/td>1,268<\/td>1,290<\/td>1,314<\/td>1,333<\/td> <\/tr>
Recommended rider height <\/b>(cm)<\/td>162-172<\/td>170-178<\/td>176-184<\/td>182-190<\/td>184-192<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>