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Submitted by
shekky
a Cross Country RiderDate Reviewed: April 23, 2012
Strengths: 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 rubbingWeaknesses:
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.Bottom Line: 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.
Duration Product Used: boogs mountain demo forest
Price Paid:
$1550.00
Purchased At: marin store SF
Similar Products Used: KHS solo one 29'er
Bike Setup: straight stock except for the saddle and grips
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
thinman
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CADate Reviewed: May 23, 2010
Strengths: 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.Weaknesses: 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.Bottom Line: 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.
Favorite Trail: McKenzie River
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: BreakAway Bikes of R
Similar Products Used: 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.
Bike Setup: Replaced headset with a Ritchey cartridge bearing, added Ergon grips/barends and will soon be going to the Ritchey 10 degree carbon flatbar. The rest is stock.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from PhillyDate Reviewed: October 26, 2009
Strengths: Great ride, nice component spec for the price. Actually came with 180 cranks in the 22.Weaknesses: I would have paid a little more for better breaks.Bottom Line: I really love this bike, no gripes. Brakes are okay, but not great.
Favorite Trail: Valley Green
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At: Wiss Cycles
Similar Products Used: Other quality steel bikes, no other ss or 29ers.
Bike Setup: factory
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
claussen
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CADate Reviewed: April 13, 2009
Strengths: 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 :)Weaknesses: Big wheels => not so nimble as a 26" bike.
Big wheels + steel => fairly heavyBottom Line: 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!
Favorite Trail: Boggs
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At: Big Swingin' Cycles
Similar Products Used: ...
Bike Setup: Stock except for carbon handlebar (saves 1/2lb!!!)
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia/AmblerDate Reviewed: May 7, 2008
Strengths: Frame Geometry - Better fit, therfore better handling. Solid components for the price.Weaknesses: Can't really find any at the moment. Maybe the grips, but that is a nit pick. I'll keep you posted.Bottom Line: 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.
Favorite Trail: Wissahickon, PA
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At: Wissahickon Cyclery
Similar Products Used: Haro Mary SS, Redline MonoCog, GF 29er, Kona Unit
Bike Setup: Stock with the exception that I took the Reba out and am using a rigid fork (from the Jamis Exile in fact).
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jay Jackson
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TXDate Reviewed: April 1, 2008
Strengths: Awesome fork and bomb-proof frame that is lightweight.Bottom Line: 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!
Duration Product Used: Tested or demo'ed only
Similar Products Used: Haro Mary SS and XC
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