Fun on specific kinds of trails
Steel frame has a unique feel
Looks cool. Has a retro kind of style
Great climber

Unibody rear derailler hanger
Rear tire rub
Break noise

I bought a 2011 model for 1400. I bought this bike to replace a full suspension 26 because I noticed I was riding more cross country type trails rather than down hill bombing. The price hit the spot. I liked the steel frame a lot. Just feels really comfortable to ride. I've been riding this bike for 3 years so I've gotten to know it well. It's all stock except for a new headset and seat.
The first real issue I had was withy the unibody rear derailler hanger. I simple caught a stick one ride and it bent the shibit out of the hanger. Destroyed the rear derailler but that was just and unfortunate incident. The problem with the hanger was a real issue but the steel frame saved me in the end (could have caused the issue as well ). Fortunately because of the steel, I was able to bend the hanger back into position. It's hard to tell if an aluminum hanger would have held up or snapped under similar pressure. I asked my shop if the damage would be covered under the frame warranty since it's technically part of the frame. It's not covered. Bummer. Luckily I've been riding it without issue for over two years. Worried about how weak that area might be now..fix would require weld work. Aside from that and the other minor cons listed above, this bike rules the xc. And it's just really fun. You really feel like you're riding a classic, traditional bike on steroids.

The personal issue I have with it is that I'm finding myself stumbling into terrain that isn't suited for this bike. I always end up in a mix of xc plus downhills rock gardens, rollers and banked turns and this bike isn't as fun in those realms, compared to full suspension. currently testing out a lot of low-level 29er fs. Like superlight, tallboy, cannondale trigger or similar. The pine mountain is great for what it does but the versatility of terrain is limited. I want to keep it for certain rides, or if a friend comes in from out of town.
Enjoy! Take care of that rear hanger if you buy one!

frame/geometry/fit: good. i'm five ten and a half with long legs and arms. the bike is set up with three 5mm spacers below the stem and one above which combined with the slight rise of the bar, places me in a nicely upright but not too upright riding position. large size fits me well. the steel frame makes me want to ride just a little bit further...

shifters and derailleurs: no problems after almost one thousand miles of riding since 01.14.12.

tires: the stock conti race king 2.2's roll REALLY fast and have acceptable traction but when the front tire slipped sideways on a gravelly surface and nearly sent me over the high side, i replaced it with a 2.35 panaracer with a tread pattern that's a bit more aggressive. i have since taken the panaracer off and put the stock conti back in as i prefer the lower rolling resistance.

suspension fork: it's a run of the mill rock shox with 100mm travel and steel stanchions. i love the lockout. i've not ridden rock shox forks since the late nineties judy so i really don't know what to say here. all i know is that i blast over stuff on the marin that i wouldn't think of hitting that hard aboard a 26'er.


brakes and wheels: wheels have stayed true since i rode it out of the shop, the avid elixir brakes are another story. the shop tells me it's normal for rotors to almost constantly rub the pads. the avids also howl and gobble a fair amount, something the shop also tells me is normal. i went through a set of stock pads in less than five hundred miles of fairly hard riding in mostly dry conditions. now that i have figured out how to align the calipers with the roters, i've not experienced much rubbing

bars/grips/seatpost: i deep sixed the stock grips and replaced them with oury grips before the bike left the shop. the same went for the stock WTB saddle which i replaced with a WTB speed vee. the riser bars and seatpost seem to be OK but i did replace the stock seatpost quick release with a nut and bolt.

overall the bike is awesome. i feel like i can climb faster, descend faster and roll over just about anything. granted, it's the first suspended, geared niner i've owned (i have a fully rigid KHS singlespeed) but i feel there's no way that i could return to riding my twenty six inch wheeled ibis alibi hardtail full time after owning this bike.

i would heartily recommend the marin pine mountain 29'er to somebody who is looking for a high performance 29 inch wheeled hardtail to the cross country rider who does a lot of all day rides with long, grinding climbs. at thirty pounds, it's a bit heavy for a race bike but i don't think that will stop me from racing at the boggs mountain bike race in august if i get the itch again.

please note that at the time of this review, i have put 961 miles on this bike.

Similar Products Used:

KHS solo one 29'er

Great spec. It seems most companies assume if you want a SS bike you are cheap and don't want nicer parts. Carbon seatpost is a nice touch. So are the carbon headset spacers.

Mine came set up with the Reba at 100mm and it handled like a bus, I dropped it to 85mm and it handles single track very nimbly. I would have paid the extra $ for a carbon bar to match the seatpost. I have always put 180mm cranks on my SS but I am told the BB height on the 29er's makes them more prone to smacking rocks etc. so I'll stick with the 175mm.

This bike came setup as I would have built it other than the bar and brakes. The WTB wheelset is great as is the Reba Race fork. Marin has put together a solid bike for those who want a decent SS without breaking the bank. The frame comes with the derailleur hanger so it can be geared later. They didn't give into marketing hype and put a couple 853 tubes in the frame it is all 4130. Research most 853 29ers and you will find the bulk of the frame is still 4130(which is no disadvantage it offers the classic feel of steel).
I am 5'9" with a 32" inseam and the 17" fits me very well. Not as much standover as I am used to on my 26" bike but no problems with crotch toptube interfacing. Now that I have it dialed in I am really enjoying the 29er ride, I was leery at first because of the handling and the extra height felt funny at first.
I didn't quote a price as mine was a yearend clearance price, but most seem to be about $1,400.

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26" SS for years and years. Niner Air9 for a test ride. The Niner was beyond what I wanted to spend and I love steel bikes.

Great ride, nice component spec for the price. Actually came with 180 cranks in the 22.

I would have paid a little more for better breaks.

I really love this bike, no gripes. Brakes are okay, but not great.

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Other quality steel bikes, no other ss or 29ers.

Solid, quiet, sturdy, well-balanced. Big wheels roll happily over everything. Rides like a horse -- up-n-over!

The simplicity and quiet of this monstrous singlespeed will put a s***-eating grin on anybody's face.

Rockshox Reba 29er fork is GREAT.
Avid Juicy 3s work great.
No other crap on the bars to worry about :)

Big wheels => not so nimble as a 26" bike.
Big wheels + steel => fairly heavy

This is my favorite bike for rolling smooth-to-moderately-bumpy stuff -- you can take it up through the Marin fireroads if you like climbing on a singlespeed, but it's most at home on fast swoopy singletrack, where you're not likely to be spun out or stall out on endless uphill fireroads.

The inertia of the big wheels is surprisingly noticeable, especially on rolling singletrack.
Riding this bike has definitely made me smoother and more aggressive into rough uphill sections.

Climbing steep fire roads on this thing will take you to a new place of suffering -- but that's a *good* thing -- we've all gone soft climbing in comfy little granny rings ;)

I'll probably throw on some bar ends to make balancing on steep climbs a little bit comfier.

Highly recommended!

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...

Frame Geometry - Better fit, therfore better handling. Solid components for the price.

Can't really find any at the moment. Maybe the grips, but that is a nit pick. I'll keep you posted.

29" Steel Single Speed. I made it rigid to help with climbing and handling. Plus it was cheaper and simple. Overall I am very impressed with the handling of this bike. Where as previous 29ers seemed a bit on the slow side, this does not. I feel like I am riding my old 26" steel HT.

I purchased it because it was the 1st 29" bike that fit my reach requirements and gave me some standover clearance. I am 5'10" with long arms. I found the 19" size fit perfectly. It also came with a good component spec for the price.

The bike climbs very well, with the only limitation being the motor (me). Also, while it is not a downhill demon, due more to lack of suspension as opposed to geometry, I feel confident descending. It really handles well through tight single track.

I initially thought the WTB Prowlers (2.1) would be too small, however I am finding that they corner great and give good traction on the trails I ride.

The only think I plan on swapping out are the grips and add some bar ends.

Note, I'll post back again with a long term review. Just wanted to get something out there as this bike does not seem to be too popular and I have yet to figure out why.

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Haro Mary SS, Redline MonoCog, GF 29er, Kona Unit

Awesome fork and bomb-proof frame that is lightweight.

This is an awesome single speed. Marin makes some of the best mt. frames on the market - something that most people don't know. It rides smooth, keeps on rolling once moving, and amazingly still climbs very well without any problems. This bike is a real treat and will please anyone that rides it . . . guaranteed!

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Haro Mary SS and XC