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Bike Forum
Cotic choice
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Posted 6 hours ago #
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Ok maybe it isn't ironic...
It is just a twist to the narative.
Posted 6 hours ago # -
When it was first released, the soul was the long travel, hardcore hardtail for people who wanted/needed more than just a XC frame. It still is, and the riding it's capable of is probably beyond what most people will get it into.
The BFe, as people have said, is for really full-on riding. Trouble is, having it in the line-up means that people assume the Soul is the lightweight xc-only machine, and it really isn't.
Posted 5 hours ago # -
I think your right nedrapier
The two bikes are almost too close
If the BFe was optimised around a 160mm fork or was much much heavier I wouldn't look at it but it's just in touching distance and makes the soul look more XC than it probably is
Posted 2 hours ago # -
It's Cy's fault, for sweating for years and years making them both lighter than most other steel bikes of similar capability (or making them both more capable than most other steel bikes of the similar weight, take your pick).
Posted 2 hours ago # -
I owned a BFe once upon a time, and have ridden many a Soul. The Souls always felt nice, super comfy yet fast and nimble. On the other hand, my BFe always felt a bit harsh to ride.
Yes, the BFe is going to be stronger/stiffer, but unless you're riding park I doubt it'll make much difference to you. If you are riding park, you'd have more fun on a different bike altogether. I know there will probably always be people that like 'hardcore hardtails' but full sus bikes are so good these days that I can't imagine a circumstance where I'd rather a BFe over something with rear sus. YMMV of course.
Get a Soul.
Posted 2 hours ago # -
The soul for who I am
The Bfe for who I aspire to be
This.
I've spent quite a lot of time on both (relative to how new they are). I loved the BFe and if they hadn't sold out of medium blues I would have had one there and then after the demo. However, once I'd tried the Soul, it was blatantly obvious that its a much more forgiving ride than the BFe, which as a 10 stone, 42 year old who doesn't huck bikes off the shed roof anymore (although I used to - see below), I don't need the brick outhouseness of the BFe, and the geo is similar enough that there's absolutely no issue chucking a Soul down steep loamy tech.Which is why I now have a halfbuilt new Soul in my office.
Gratuitous Mk1 BFe pic from back in the day:-
Posted 16 minutes ago # -
Kelvin your right in many ways - they are two excellent bikes both of which I think I would be very happy with.
Because of the engineering rigour with which they are made they are very broad and overlap in their capability and hence why they are competing in my mind.
I think I probably know that the Soul is the right bike for me but that the BFe has a look and feel that is proper cool.
Posted 10 minutes ago # -
JonEdwards
Is that both 5th Gen comparisons.
Like you I'd have bought the BFe straight away but out of stock and now have the headache.
Your clearly a more skilled rider than I and I think you are probably 100% right and I should get me a soul.
Posted 7 minutes ago #
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