|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$440.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Light bike, decent components for the price.
Frame
Brakes
Rear Derailer
Shifters | | Weaknesses: | I wish fork had a lock out. | | Similar Products Used: | K2 Zed 2.0 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is my second Marin. (First bike was a Rocky Ridge) I love the way they are designed, made and priced. Unlike other bike makers, which only appeal for name recognition, I believe in the Marin Name and products. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tyler
a Racer
from Hatfield, MA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hawley state forest or Nipmunk | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes Unlimited | | Strengths: | the bike is a beast, it could endure a lot of abuse, being young, when i ride i like to jump and hit a couple of jumps, i caught close to 15 feet of air (legnth) and it held up great. | | Weaknesses: | the fork. the fork needs to go, the spinner Grino os just doesn't cut it unless you are just riding it around town, but for riding in the woods on rocky trials it just ain't good enough. the components also aren't the best. | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | every thing stock except crank bros smartys | | Bottom Line: | this bike was awesome as an entry level bike, right now i just upgraded to a ironhorse MKIII comp. it will take a lot of abuse and hard riding/ racing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ciaran Mauro
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Helena, California, USA
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | None | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$381.00 | | Purchased At: | Sports Chalet | | Strengths: | Frame
Brakes
Derailers
Shifters | | Weaknesses: | Suspention | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback Sorrento
Marin Northside trail...see my product review
Trek Fuel-70...briefly ridden | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | An okay bike but the stock Spinner Grind OS fork was firm and unforgiving. Brake discs could be larger. But for a real begginer, a good bike.
P.S.
Don't think you can do jumping with this bike.
Though, it does killer wheelies. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from Western MA
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Lasted a long time with stock components. Withstood more abuse than it should have had to for its price/build. | | Weaknesses: | It now will cost me almost as much to upgrade/fix as it did to purchase. | | Similar Products Used: | none then, now testing C'dale f4, Giant Rainier, Rockhopper Comp and others | | Bike Setup: | Strictly stock except Shimano SPD's. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for any of you contemplating casting your entry level biking lot with Marin. Do it.
I bought this bike 6 years ago at a "friend of a friend's" bike shop. He gave me a good deal based on the sticker. I was just getting into mtn biking and he put me on this bike. It felt good and was the right price so I bought it. We ride rocky, rooty, technical, grueling (to me) trails and I have walked this bike home only twice. Once I broke the chain and once I used a couple of elevated roots as a jump, at speed, and came down on a rock... taco'd the front rim.
I am replacing the bike because I brought it to my LBS for a tune up due to "chain suck". Tech came out, got down close to the bike and announced that I didn't need a tune up, I need a drive train. Lower end components, front to back was going to be around $250 and he questioned whether or not the frame vs my now better riding was worth it. I'll keep the bike as a backup and "road" bike. (read - exercise machine)
As far as ride, it always felt a little light in the front end in fast, rocky downhills but I never lost it. It climbed well and was always ready to go. I am taking it out in about an hour for a fairly serious (to me) backwoods, uphill ride. It will most likely be the bike's last big ride as I will probably buy a new bike within about 3 days.
If I were starting over, knowing what I know now, I would buy this bike. You should too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Holmes
a Cross Country Rider
from Jersey (Channel Islands)
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | North Coast | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$ | | Purchased At: | Gifted to me | | Strengths: | Geometry, the frame generally | | Weaknesses: | low spec components, it'd be nice if it came with a full XT groupset!! | | Similar Products Used: | Specialised, Merlin, GT, Mongoose, Raleigh, Kona, Orange | | Bike Setup: | Synch Suspension ?? and a groupset not worth listing | | Bottom Line: | Dont get me wrong, I have been a little flipant about what this bike was equiped with. Mine is a pre disc brake model, so quite old. But I wouldn't change the frame for anything. Well, there might be a few exceptions to that. But really, if you like to work on your bike play around with it and uprgrade components to a set up YOU want, this bike is well worth the £££'s. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Slant6Nova
a Cross Country Rider
from Québec
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | | | Strengths: | A real good bike for the bucks. Nice mecanical disc brakes, tough components even if low end. | | Weaknesses: | low end components, fork tends to leek oil, rear derailer just gave up on me, anyways, it's junk, wheel's spokes had a tendency to come loose, brakes need ajustment often. | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | 7000 serie frame, Spinner grind fork, Hayes MX-2 brakes, T300 front and acera rear derailers, Alex td-20 rims | | Bottom Line: | Ok the bike gave me a good year of hard abuse whitout complaining too much. It seems to be more of a light xc, commuter, trail bike. But anyway, i gave it a good beating during an entire year and it took it. So i say, for the bucks, it's a great deal but if you think about being a little more serious whit your bike, go check somewhere else.
The bike is relatively light for an entry level bike. The frame is great and stiff, seat post clamp had a tendency to come loose. The fork is real tough but it's too stiff and makes the bike a boneshaker in rock gardens. It also had a tendency to leak oil but it was not too bad, small leak. Brakes have good stoping power but needs lots of ajustment to get rid of drag and noise. Rear derailer is just junk and gave up on me once too many time so i changed it for a cheap deore and things got way better. Shifters aren't realy smooth but still, low end.. The rims had a real bad temdency to get spokes loose and had to true them twice in one summer.
So there it is, this bike gave me a lot of good, sometimes painfull, trail miles without giving up on me exept once. So for those who rather take it easy and like to do some trails every once in a while, it's a perfect bike for you. But if you start to be more serious about trail riding, go look somewhere else. As it is now, i gave this bike to my girlfriend and she totaly loves it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cristian
a Weekend Warrior
from Fayetteville, Arkansas
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Love the frame, the breaks work well, nice components for the cost. | | Weaknesses: | Unfortunatelly the back derailer dropout (the aluminum frame part that the rear axle and derailer attach to)broke when I was riding my 3rd trail in Devils Den (very easy one). As a result the derailer bend inward toward the spokes at high speed. It broke the derailer, several spokes and ruined the rear wheel. I am returning the bike as it compromised the frame. This happened at month 2, with less than 20 miles on a very easy trail. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4300, GT Avalanche | | Bike Setup: | 17 inches, factory components | | Bottom Line: | Until the accident I loved the bike, good quality for the cost. However the way the aluminum frame piece broke may reflect a design or manufacture problem. I may buy another Marin bike if I get a response from Marin on the causes of the failure. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Ritter
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Monon Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$440.00 | | Purchased At: | | | Strengths: | | | Weaknesses: | | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | | | Bottom Line: | Strong Mountain bike that works well with road wheels too. Great value and dependable bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Munro
a Weekend Warrior
from Camillus,NY,USA
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | split rock | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$479.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Loft | | Strengths: | Light, durable, relatively inexpensive. Below reviews are informative. | | Weaknesses: | none I can tell | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | added a few extras but basically stock. | | Bottom Line: | Prior review was made partly because Marin never responded to a quick email I sent about seatpost slipping. LBS where I got the bike straightened out my problems and it now works great. 2006 model is selling for $100 more with same frame and components so it was a great deal too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
michael
a Cross Country Rider
from waterloo ny
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | fingerlakes trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$ | | Purchased At: | | | Strengths: | light..good uphill strength | | Weaknesses: | low end componets | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | | | Bottom Line: | great beginner bike..or if you just dont have the money for a better bike. This was my first season biking and I absolutly destroyed it. (it bieng trails ) She(the bike) took everybit of abuse I could throw at her and then some. I rode damn near every trail upstate New York had to offer and it performed great.
I replaced the back derailer from the stock piece of junk to a shimano diore xt early . I knew if I didnt I get stuck out on some trail after the thing fell apart. Disc brakes ARE FABULOUS. Get a little noisy when wet but oh well. If your doing some serious riding with it I recommend a few small upgrades i.e. back derailer..gears...other than that most components are low end but arnt worth upgrading... great frame.. bike gets a little shaky when scrrrrrreamin downhill but just hold on tight and you will be fine.. All around great bike.. I dont care what anybody says. I wanted to pursue the sport while I am a broke college kid and this bike was great. Im sure I will upgrade to an all mountain some day (when I have worthy job) but for now this bike is my baby. Highly Recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a
from Camillus, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$ | | Purchased At: | | | Strengths: | Marin name, disk brakes, geometry impresses people. Looks the part. Great for jumping curbs, riding on sidewalks. | | Weaknesses: | Seatpost slips, handlebars come loose, break a spoke on every single ride after the first month. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek hybrid, older model GT hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | After about a month heavy riding the components are showing to be lousy. See above weaknesses. I don't even ride it anymore, as I have to tighten the handlebars everytime after I pull up to go over something, the seatpost slips an inch if I don't stand up over bumps, and the back wheel is out of true as I break a spoke whenever I ride.
"You get what you pay for" is not true in this case. My Trek hybrid cost $100 less and stands up much better. Impressing dopes with the Marin name and disk brakes isn't worth the extra money. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dragon Samurai
a Cross Country Rider
from Lincoln, NE
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike pedalers | | Strengths: | The frame of course, the components are all made by good manufactures. Easy to upgrade a piece at a time since the rest all the components are serviceable until upgraded. Great stock rolling frame, perfect to upgrade as you go. | | Weaknesses: | Components could be a little bit better, I'm planing on upgrading everything. No toe clips on the pedals? Maybe that was my dealers fault but still. But for the price I won't complain at all, expect about the pedals they were trash. I'm not really a big fan of the stem and raised handle bars either, but they work for now. | | Similar Products Used: | Palisades trail Marin, Yahoo Gray Fisher, one of the Trek 4000 series (can't remember which one). | | Bike Setup: | Time Atac alium pedals, xtr drive trail, Profile design bar ends. Stock otherwise. | | Bottom Line: | This is my Second Marin and I love it. I'm sure my next frame will be a Marin too. I ride about 20 miles about 4 times a week. I ride to and from work almost every day, about a 15 mile round trip plus I ride trails and single tracks about 3 times a week. I've put over 600 miles on this bike since I got it. And it's has stood the test of time! I replaced the drive train, with an older xtr one that I already had, right away. After using toe clips for a couple months I recently added Time Atac clipless pedals and a set of bar ends. I'm a tall/big rider and the geometry of this frame is perfect, I don't feel like I'm right on top of my handle bars. I can strecth out my long arms and have no problems, plus I have plenty of room for my knees and long legs. Once I get all the components on the bike that I want I couldn't imagin a better bike. The bike climbs like crazy and while it's not a downhill bike it can handle just about everything. While the stock components are great they will all work, 600 miles with out breaking is a good thing! The forks are now spinners which aren't a whole lot better then insync ones but I haven't had any problems with them. I would recomend this bike to anyone, but espcially to those who don't want to break the bank buying a bike but would like to get something good and upgrade piece-by-piece. AWSOME BIKE! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Inon Shaham
a Weekend Warrior
from Israel
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mt. Eitan | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedalim | | Strengths: | great frame, firm mechanical disc breaks | | Weaknesses: | crap fork, compromise between the breaks to the drivetrain (as menchened below) | | Similar Products Used: | trak 4500, ironhorse mavrick disk | | Bike Setup: | upgrade the rear whileset to WTB and fox forx vanilla R130, the rest of the bike as purchased | | Bottom Line: | Good bike but need fork upgrade. The drivetrain is not tek sharp but do the job. The frame is rigid and reliable. I changed the whileset to WTB dualduty freeride because I am a very heavy rider (285 Lbs) and the OEM whileset did not support aggressive DH single tracks. I recommend getting this bike for trails and not technical singles. If you would like to confront more aggressive terrain you should consider component upgrade or spending more money on more suit bikes... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XC DAVE
a Cross Country Rider
from WILTSHIRE UK
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$ | | Purchased At: | | | Strengths: | Light frame (I agree it does feel lighter on the move), Disc brakes (esp the rear are great) | | Weaknesses: | It is a trade-off between the disc brakes and drivetrain. The Acera mechs are not quick or precise enough - and noisy, but not too bad - I do intend to chage both mechs and
shifters and levers out for deore as it's not too an expensive an upgrade and should sort out all of the weaknesses. Fork hasn't let me down - so far ! | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | Standard - Intend to upgrade - see weaknesses | | Bottom Line: | Superb bike for the price. Botton line components arn't great, but arn't too bad either. Can live with them until the deore upgrade. I reckon this will sort out all of the short comings on my bike and still bring it in at an overall sensible price. Bearing in mind how good the frame is, it's worthwhile doing it. Overall great bike for the price. My first XC bike since getting back in the saddle after a few years out. The rapid front end may catch out some less experienced riders, especially on downhill sections, but isn't too much of a problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Lefe
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Burgh | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay.CA | | Strengths: | Feels light and precise,disc work great and even mid grade components work good. | | Weaknesses: | Im must admit the fork shock however it is not really bad just not great easy upgrade.. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain,CCM,Cannondale,K2.. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except stem. | | Bottom Line: | This bikes feels good brakes nice and works well in all terrains.I may ride on weekends but I do pound my bike.I like the freestyle of it more han downhill now and this bikes has served me well.Great price great frame as used on the upeer line Marins and can easily upgrade components 4 out of 5 from here.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Birmingham, AL, USA
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | ATV trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Galyans | | Strengths: | It looks great all silver and black with the nicely shaped Marin tubing. It is light for the price you pay(feels lighter while riding it). Comfortable riding position and saddle. | | Weaknesses: | None really. There are no top of the line parts bolted to it, but the price isn't top of the line. | | Similar Products Used: | cheap Mongoose. Also looked at the Trek 4300 and similar offerings from Haro and Specialized. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I was looking to upgrade from my cheap Mongoose and I ran across this bike. I was leaning towards it already and found it on sale so I grabbed it up. The fork is not held in high regards, but it is low maintenance and does a decent job. In this price range your basically trading a deore level drive train for the disc brakes with acera, which IMO is a good trade off. The discs seem to have more control than rim brakes, plus they function in the wet(they do look cool as well). Overall this is a great bike for beginners or intermediate riders. No problem with my rims or any other component after 200 miles - 50/50 on road and off. It will take some abuse, but it's not built for jumping or huge drops, so if you plan on jumping I'd go for something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Tampa, FL, US
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | flatland | | Strengths: | Fairly lightweight, shifts precisely, drivetrain is high quality and smoooooth. Disc brakes work very well once broken in and have great feel and modulation. Adjustable front fork is smooth through its travel and is adjustable. I can't believe another reviewer on here wore one out. Quick disconnect wheels are a plus, too. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found one yet | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Great value for the money spent; great components and a comfortable ride; the disc brakes are nice. They're not hydraulic, but they work well even when wet and dirty. I can't say that about my old rim brakes. Lots of great features at an entry-level price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | Ben haywards | | Strengths: | Excellent frame and ride | | Weaknesses: | Almost every component except for frame and disc brakes,Rims folded within two xc rides and front fork said goodbye after the same! | | Similar Products Used: | Gt Avalanche | | Bike Setup: | | | Bottom Line: | Could have been great !but the amount of cash I have spent getting it right could have bought a better bike!Damn shame | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Strom
a
from Canada
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$470.00 | | Purchased At: | | | Strengths: | I was looking for a mtb bike with some good features and not too costly. I went to a local bike shop and tried the Marin Bobcat Trail and it just felt good! Shifts good, brakes great(disc),good rims and tires, nice and light, a great all round bike. I ride to work with it (15km/day) and also take it out on trails near by....its a great bike overall--highy recommended! | | Weaknesses: | only one color to choose from--nice color though! | | Similar Products Used: | | | Bike Setup: | | | Bottom Line: | great bike so far | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 439.99
