COTIC ROCKETMAX GEN4 GOLD XT

£5,873 (with upgrades) Fourth-generation RocketMAX promises speed and performance

2022-07-08 - Alex Evans

Cotic’s latest 160mm-travel, 29in-wheeled enduro bike features a host of changes over the Gen3 model it replaces, including more frame sizes, compatibility with longer-travel forks and a host of travel and wheel-size options, but it’s still built from the same custom-specced Reynolds 853 steel tubing.

THE FRAME

The Gen4 RocketMAX has a near-identical shape to its popular predecessor, but gets a new ‘HD’ down tube, said to be stronger and stiffer, while retaining that famed steel compliance. There’s also now a brace between the down and seat tubes, replacing a gusset. Out back, the 6066-T6 aluminium swingarm has a Boost 12x148mm rear axle and can fit a 29x2.5in tyre.

While the Gen4 still uses Cotic’s droplink suspension system (a singlepivot set-up with linkage actuated shock), the kinematics have been revised and the leverage ratio reduced, making the frame compatible with both coil- and airsprung shocks. Travel is adjustable between 150mm and 160mm, by changing the shock’s stroke. The pivots are keyed into their axles, to help reduce twisting and flexing.

The brand’s Longshot geometry also remains, although they’ve replaced their old small to extra-large sizing with a new C-sizing system. We tested the C3 frame in its 160mm-travel, 29in-wheeled configuration. This has a slack 63.5-degree head angle, 76.2-degree seat tube angle, generous 482mm reach and long 448mm chainstays.

THE KIT

For £4,999, the RocketMAX Gold XT comes fitted with a Shimano XT M8100 drivetrain and BikeYoke DIVINE dropper, Hunt Trail Wide wheels wrapped in WTB rubber, and a Cotic-branded bar and stem. The stock build also sports a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork and Cane Creek DB Kitsuma air shock, along with Shimano M8120 four-piston brakes, but our test bike had been upgraded with a Fox 38 Factory fork and Float X2 rear shock, plus Hope Tech 4 V4 brakes. You can customise the spec of the RocketMAX on Cotic’s website, and even send them your favourite old parts to fit.

THE RIDE

The bike’s seated climbing position is relaxed and upright, so not too much weight is concentrated through your hands. This helps reduce fatigue and improve comfort on longer fireroad winches to the trailhead – arguably, the sort of climbing the endurofocused RocketMAX is going to be doing most of the time. The fluttery rear suspension action improves

comfort further and – helped considerably by the large negative air volume of the Fox Float X2 shock – provides plenty of traction too.

Despite having an aggressive riding style, our tester ended up running the damping on the Fox fork and shock fully open. It then felt good, but lighter, less aggro riders may struggle to get the performance they want with the stock tune.

Unsurprisingly, the Gen4 excels on gnarly, steep and fast descents – the terrain it’s designed for. The superlong wheelbase and chainstay figures make it feel incredibly stable, muting the exaggerated ‘yaw’ effect in rough terrain often felt on shorter bikes. Meanwhile, the high front end – Cotic have increased the stack height while also upping the fork travel – allows you to confidently weight the front wheel in steep turns and removes the temptation to lean back when things get gnarly, as you sometimes have to do on other bikes to compensate for their conservative geometry.

Cornering feels fast and controlled. The highly progressive rear suspension provides support and drives speed through the turns, while the long back end means there’s plenty of traction and the rear wheel doesn’t begin to break away into a slide too easily. That same progressiveness means that hammering through rough terrain doesn’t result in successive harsh bottom-outs. Instead, the RocketMAX exudes a calm and composed feel, with a ‘bottomless’ rear end.

Rivalling the Pole Stamina 160 Remastered we tested last year in terms of stability and pace, the RocketMAX is a massively capable bike that’s most at home on the gnarliest, steepest, roughest and fastest terrain.

www.cotic.co.uk