Cotic BFeMAX

·

Cotic BFeMAX

A boutique bike manufacturer out of the UK, Cotic has been churning out unique and thoughtful steel bikes since 2003. In the summer of 2021, with uncertainty in the air, I moved on from my Santa Cruz Chameleon and gave up my years long loyalty for the relatively unknown brand here in America.

The steel tubes, boundary pushing geometry, and thorough reviews like Steve’s at Hardtail Party, all played a role in pulling the trigger to move on. I haven’t looked back.

The BFeMAX is the best bike I’ve ever ridden. It makes technical climbing moves smooth, predictable, and precise. The steel frame, tube shapes, geometry, and thoughtful reinforcements by way of gussets, all play a role here. Descents are stable, controlled, and sure-footed. The frame begs to be loaded up and rewards those who commit to pushing it. Hard.

Cotic recently released an updated version of this bike with UDH and MX option dropouts. More sizes are available and the geometry is slightly tweaked. I’m curious how it rides compared to the generation reviewed here. Maybe I’ll have to get my hands on one. . .

While not an exhaustive list, below are the three biggest takeaways.

Timing

The BFeMAX’s wheelbase is 1242 mm and includes a dedicated chainstay length of 444 mm. These are long. The time it takes to clear an obstacle between the bottom bracket and rear axle is noticeably longer than with the Chameleon. It’s an adjustment that takes getting used to. Weight shift and body position are slower than expected affairs. Of course, we’re only talking fractions of a second, but the real world and practical effects of these measurements require new patience during technical ascents and descents. Consider the Chameleon’s shortest and longest chainstay settings: between 415 – 435 mm, they are still much shorter than the BFeMAX. Perhaps not a totally accurate distinction, the Chameleon’s ride is reactive. The BFeMAX’s is proactive. Power moves take longer. The set-up for technical moves takes longer. One wheel drops take longer. This last effect has taken the most time to understand and adjust to.

Balance

The balance point over the rear axle is difficult to find initially. It takes greater levels of commitment to manual the bike than the Chameleon. Two examples.

Slow rolling, one-wheel drops require extra body English to move weight rearward and time the landing so both wheels touch simultaneously. Even now, 3+ years into this bike, I don’t have the timing perfect and often experience the “thud thud” front/back wheel landing. Because of the long chainstay length, drops create a sense of mid-air suspense. A pause. Especially at slow speeds. On drops that lead into immediate direction changes, transitioning the bike while momentarily balanced one wheel is a full body effort. Crossfit workout for the win! That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not really.

Cotic BFeMAX

As for manuals, I’ve always been inconsistent, but the long stays add greater difficulty. I’ve done my fair share of them, on purpose even, but finding the balance point over the axle requires more fore/aft weight shift through the hips than on bikes with shorter stays. This isn’t a shortcoming, it’s just the reality. While these and one-wheel drops are more challenging to initiate and execute, it’s also true that other characteristics of the ride are enhanced.

Stability

I’m not a great rider, but I am a good one. I regularly hang on uncomfortably close to friends and trail strangers on full suspension enduro rigs. The BFeMAX is shockingly fast and stable at speed. The ride isn’t harsh. Nor is it opinionated or squirmy at speed; it goes where the rider points. Clearly, the frame material, long wheelbase, chainstay length, and reach work in concert to achieve this, but there’s some other magic going on to aid its sure-footedness. Hardtails don’t this. The BFeMAX does. When the bike is pushed and loaded, it rewards the effort with shotgun speed out of turns, over trail humps, and through chunky stuff. It truly is a smile inducing machine and offers a trail experience few hardtails can match.

Refined and Composed

If the Chameleon and other bikes like it have the always-on party mode mannerisms of an adolescent teen, then the BFeMAX is a mature adult that knows when to party and when to hold back. Most importantly, it knows how to party because it’s learned how not to. Perhaps at this stage in life, a 46 year old husband and father to 3 amazing girls, it’s a fitting partnership. The bike is in keeping with where I’m at.

Cotic BFeMAX

For what it’s worth, the Cotic BFeMAX has has my full endorsement and recommend it for anyone considering a new bike.

Cotic Bikes

© 2025 The Pedal Bike · Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions

What is The Pedal Bike?

The Pedal Bike is an excuse to capture the thrill and offense of life on a bike.

Stay a while. You might find something worth coming back for. And I hope you do.

Enjoy!

Billy