Cotic shows off glow-in-the-dark BFe hardtail

One of the most venerable hardcore UK hardtails has become even more versatile for riders who want that immersive rigid rear triangle riding experience.
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The BFe has always been Cotic's most committed hardtail, built for enduro-grade descents and advanced jump lines. Cotic's engineers and product people have now evolved the BFe into a 29er with 650b rear wheel compatibility.
Fabricators still create the BFe from stout steel tubing, including a Reynold 853 downtube, with proven longshot geometry that works across forks in the 130- to 160mm range.
A structural feature worth noting is the BFe's 35mm seat tube. This oversized seat tube creates tremendous pedalling stiffness for those riders who want to use the BFe on pump tracks or jump lines, where pedal stroke responsiveness is invaluable to develop and sustain the ideal momentum for run-ins to jumps.
Slack and compact geo
From its origins as a big-hitting 26-inch wheeled bike, the BFe has always prioritised compact geometry, shaped for agility and responsiveness. That design philosophy continues with the latest 29er version.
Riders who want to build the 2025 model year BFe as a playful and responsive flow trail bike, can opt for a 130mm fork, which sets the frame at a 65.4-degree head angle. Want to drop into the most challenging and raw singletrack descents? Slot a 160mm fork up front, which slackens the head angle to 64.4-degrees.
The new BFe is available in five frame sizes, with Cotic using a coding system (C1-5) instead of the traditional frame sizing categorisation. For reference, a C3 frame size has 469mm of reach, with the C4 stretching that to 488mm.
MX friendly – with big tyre clearance
Although the BFe has upgraded to a full 29er, riders who want to run a 650b rear wheel for greater cornering agility can use Cotic's Double Decker Dropout, allowing for an easy wheel size swap.
True to its hardcore hardtail legacy, the BFe has generous tyre clearance for riding with high-volume tyres. Even in muddy mid-winter conditions, the latest BFe can roll 29 x 2.6in or 27.5 x 2.8in rear tyres, for optimised traction, impact absorption and control.
Pushing the limit with a hardcore hardtail in rocky terrain can risk chain derailment. The BFe features an ISCG05 mount, for riders who want the enhanced chain security and chainring protection of a bash guard and chain guide combination.
As you'd expect from a boutique frame brand like Cotic, owned and operated by real riders and engineers, there is a stealth finishing feature with the BFe. Cotic’s white BFe glows green in the dark, promising to add a novelty factor to those group night rides.
Cotic offers a range of build options, with 29er BFe frames priced at £699.