There are lots of short travel contender for best trail mountain bike honors and a fair few steel framed longer travel options, but the UK’s Cotic are still the only mavericks combining Reynolds 853 steel and short travel in their FlareMax 29er. The 2023 Gen 5 version gets finer sizing grades and significant frame changes to create a stiffer, tougher, better fitting bike but still delivers a uniquely dynamic, organic and charismatic flow state ride.
