Learning how MTBs work: Cotic Soul

I went to Bali did some insane cross-country mountain biking and loved it. So after much hmming and hawing I decided to get this unpainted Cotic Soul frame.

Don't want to do anything too crazy with it, just bash through some trails, maybe South Downs way that sort of thing.

BUT -- I know nothing about MTBs and @Howard and @TM and @TomvanHalen convinced me this would be the best way to learn.

So here goes...first things first:

Paintjob? either the Orange (Pantone 1655C) or do something crazy?
Fork?

Most important: I need it to be CHEAP. Solid but not too much moniezz. So if anyone has any bits to offer, let me know!

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I love the orange. But so many possibilities...

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Pink?

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leave it raw!

I love raw MTB frames https://www.instagram.com/p/BFEITzpyqHy/

Yes raw would be awesome.

Eggshell blue!

or gorgeous baby blue as we like to call it on the forum

examples?

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/155625/

maybe howard was joking

don't read the comments ! it's an all time forum classic

Just added a bled set of M506 brakes and rotors to the classifieds for £50, virtually new

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/305613/#comment13662664

wood effect

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/151369/

sorry i'll stop

The Singular Swift is a nice blue.

RAL 5014 'Pigeon blue'

Clear metallic powder coat and Matte black decals

Dude that's Gorgeous Baby Blue

Fork?

Reba

this?

https://www.merlincycles.com/rockshox-reba-rl-forks-275-65864.html?utm_campaign=googlebase-GB&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shopping&utm_term=MTB+Suspension+Forks&ucpo=38098&gclid=CIrF1tiFmNQCFYYV0wodJPgKQA

Noice! Colours are hard. Do something crazy or leave it raw/clearcoat

15mm through-axles are better, as they hold the wheel more securely. So something more like this one:

https://www.merlincycles.com/rockshox-reba-rlt-fork-sale-275-100840.html

^ Get that one

thanks, is a 100mm travel fork sufficient?

is that a decent price for it?

thanks definitely interested, tho I hadn't gotten as far as brakes/group!

just need something basic and was looking at the 1x11 SLX which come with brakes....

Just set up SLX on a mates Cotic Soul. It's not the smoothest. SRAM GX runs much nicer.

It's a good price for that fork. As for the travel, Cotic say that 100mm is minimum, 120mm is optimal, and 140mm is the max. Ideally, you might want 120mm, but I'd rather have a shorter travel fork that worked well, than a longer travel one that didn't.

If you can find something decent in a 120mm length at a good price, then get that. From a ( very ) quick search, I didn't notice anything like that for less than around £350.

Personally shimano always > sram