Submitted by
Triwger
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2010
Strengths: Lightweight compared to my old bike. Tackels down hill at speed with loads of control. The bike is easy to jump whilst in motion due to lightweight so easy to go over rocks.
Weaknesses: Frame creeks after a while. Difficult to clean and the bike picks up so much mud on the back.
Bottom Line:
A good buy and highly recomended but its need to be looked after well.
Submitted by
speedfreak
a Weekend Warrior
from lanc's, england
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008
Strengths: Light and agile, takes massive hits with ease and climbs like a billy goat!
Weaknesses: read bike setup!
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 2008 attack trail size M and for all you ex bmx'ers like me this has got to be the best bike to make you feel 17 again! It climbs way better than my hard tail(effortless) and desends faster than if i fell off the mountain. I've even started to do some big jumps again and can't wait to improve further. The formula brakes are the absolute best you can buy today bar none! forget Hope/Avid watever, read the reports on this site and ule know why i chose these brakes. I didn't want to buy a marin but i challenge anybody to test ride this bike and not come back smiling, i checked out Cove/Scott/Specialized/Iron Horse and Norco but 2 mins into riding this i knew my cheque book was coming out! best of all i got 2 years interest free!!!
If ure in the market u gotta test this bike i don't care wot uve got or had this bike rides awesome! i just gotta try an get it back off all my mates!
Bike Setup: upgrades from standard are: 2008 fox talas 36 rc2, formula puro oro brakes (awesome!!!) a longer stem by Hope and Yeti lock on grips.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Steven
a Weekend Warrior
from Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008
Strengths: agility, smouthness, bullet proof frame, fair price on-line, real easy on downhill, climbs like a fat monkey but still, a monkey lol
Weaknesses: frame flexes a little in the rear on corners; creates some rear brake noise or sometimes makes some crapy noises like rocks in the frame jumping around, is a pain to wash the suspension linkage, front derailer a fr#*king pain to ajust, bike is a little on the eavy side
Bottom Line:
I bought this frame 2 years ago and build it up during the winter. I was so trilled when i took it out the first time, it totaly amazed me how good the suspension works but i decided to wait to right a review. Now I've rode it for two seasons and i'm still amazed when i take it for a spin. This bike is a fr#*kin cadilac. It rides so smouth, it handle like a dream and it feels light even if the bike is a little too eavy for my taste. You can literatly let the bike handle anything you throw at it and stay seated almost all the way lol. And on big climbs, the rear suspension works like if it was pushing the rear tire in the ground and this gives you tons of grip. I realy find this bike hard to spin on a climb compared to my other bike. the only bad things i have to say is that the front derailer was a pain to ajust, and the rear suspension tends to flex on hard cornering and this creates anoing noises but hey, that ain't a hardtail lol. Realy the best bike I have ever riden. A cadilac man!!!!
so i have had this bike a little while now. it still retains its original score!! I love it. Now there has been a frame replacement. My down tube pivot was welded on slightly wonky and over time it has caused iregegular wear. Marin replaced the frame with no questions and this included new linkages and bearings and drop outs. You will want to ensure you have some spare drop outs as they are weak as. I am on number three. I have stuck with the marin ones as the only after market ones i can find are on ebay from Israel and are CNC. They look good but are they 'too' strong? Now the shock is beded to me, I stuck it on the six inch setting and thats where its staying! As they say in the mac-i-d ads, "im lovin it!".
Weaknesses: Linkage behind the seat tube collects large amounts of muck and grime. Poor paint durability. WTB Laser light rear hub (it never worked very well). These are very insignificant gripes. The positives out-way the negatives!!
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up to my review 2 years ago. I am still completely thrilled about this bike! It can handle knarly single track and rough rock gardens all day long. The linkage is still spot on and I have not replaced the bearings yet nor will I have to for some time. It climbs very well for its weight (29.5lbs) and I have no issue keeping up with the racer boys on their short travel rigs. When it comes to the descents and the real rough stuff this bike shines and allows me to accelerate away from the group with total confidence. This will be the first bike I will keep for more than 2 seasons. There is no need to upgrade from here.
Bike Setup: Mavic Crossmax SX wheel, King HS, Hayes HFX Mag, Hutchison Spider Air, XT gruppo, Intense Lock-on grips, Otherwise stock.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
James Barnhard
a Weekend Warrior
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2007
Strengths: Sturdy frame for the type of aluminum, the rear suspension handles nice on large rocks and technical down hills. Adjustable rear suspension of 4 – 6in. of travel preference is nice found sweet spot at 5.5in. Fox Float rp3 works very well when dialed in. Im happy with the price and build up I did with the frame plus the design and look is kinda cool looking.
Weaknesses: Bottom bracket is high (Alpine Link maybe needed), rear flex’s in fast cornering, heavy frame, customer serves contact is hard (Email)
Bottom Line:
This frame Rocks!! I am very happy with the cost, design and warranty.
Bike Setup: Marin ATTACK TRAIL 101-152mm Fox rp3 shock 130-150mm Marzocchi All Mountain 1 203mm Hope disk brake SRAM X7 shifters & rear Derailleur XTR front Derailleur Specialized Strongarm II crankset… Time ATAC carbon pedals XT hubs Velocity Cliffhanger rims Panaracer Cinder 2.25 tires Azonic Riser bar Azonic Equalizer stem WTB Rocket V Race saddle Cheap seat post…
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Luke Ratto
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT USA
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2007
Strengths: Grip in turns
Weaknesses: uphill, downhill, CUSTOMER SERVICE: I broke the frame (weld on bottom tube to bottom bracket) sent in a 20" frame and recieved a 19"...ok I can deal, it's lighter...didn't recieve the linkage hardware, and still haven't. They make a great effort and send me lots of hardware for the linkage, but none fits. 6 times I have recieved the incorrect assembly hardware.
Bottom Line:
Figure it out MARIN you have the bike tech info. right there, send me the correct parts please.... so I can get rid of it.
Bike Setup: Bomber front, Race Face throughout, Mavic Crossmax, Shimano XT
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
JJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Canyon Lake, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2006
Strengths: Plush rear suspension. Climbs well in 4 inch mode. Handles the worst in jagged rocks. Great downhiller. Excellent handling. Looks brutal.
Weaknesses: Front derailleur limit adjustment nearly impossible. Heavy unless you set it up with light componentry, but doesn't ride like a heavyweight. Oddball 30mm Seat post size.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the right bike for a jagged rock rider who doesn't want to slow down when it looks bad ahead. Well designed frame for downhillers and XC'ers. If you spec it right, it's light enough for some hill-climbing. There's some good deals out there on these framesets if you're willing to shop. I'd give it a 5 for overall if it wasn't for the silly front derailleur adjustment issue and the oddball seat tube size.
Bike Setup: SRAM X9/XO. Cane Creek WAM Wheels. Panaracer FX.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
mat h
a Cross Country Rider
from devon england
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2006
Strengths: climbing, componants, weight,
Weaknesses: price!! tyres, climbing in 6"
Bottom Line:
the bottom line is a have farted around trying to choice a bike for ages. i wanted a wolf ridge in the end but got this as an ex demo bike. i have just riden my local trail and it blew me away. i thought it might be too long but for me it was spot on. im am used to short jump bikes(i just grew up a bit and could not afford to break bones) i weigh about 180 pounds and 6'1. got a 17.5". it climbed well and descended really well. i could ride this all day. although i could hardly call myself an athority on this bike, intial rant is this. if you have it on the six inch setting it blows through the mid stroke too much. somewhere around 5.5 was spot on. as for all the pro pedal and talas rlc stuff, i want to ride not piss arse around evry time i see anything steeper than a root so i just left it all as it came. the wtb moto tyres are a bit sketch but when you spend this much, who gives a monkeys about the tyres. in their defence, i think they would be spot on in peaty soft conditions such as dartmoor. my trails are sandy and pebbly. thirty quid will sort you out a new pair! i weighed the bike in the shop and it was exactly 30 lbs minus the dmr v8 pedals i put on. so....first impressions. awsome stable bike to ride that encourages you to go faster and faster. very predictable and balanced but not too 'safe' that you cant flick it around (contry to a recent mbr review!!). would i recommend it.....absoulutly. my chilli rating is correct. if i have any negative rants, you can be sure to see it here. ps. the guys at big peaks were spot on.
Similar Products Used: tried cove hustler, trek remedy's etc, but a hard tail rider really. was riding a giant hard tail till now.
Bike Setup: uk spec with hope mono m4's, hope hubs on 717's, talas rlc, xt dt. no upgrades required basically!!
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from South Yorkshire
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2006
Strengths: Build quality, mud clearance, traction when climbing, ability to completey drop the seat post into the frame for free ride antics, light (relatively for 6 inch travel, just tipping the scale at under 29lbs)
Weaknesses: Just 1 or 2 degrees off the seat angle may have given this machine full on freeride potential (with upgraded forks and shock etc) but this is just being picky and it hasn't stopped being a lunatic on it yet!
Bottom Line:
Fantastic all round machine, feels like it will happily eat up whatever you throw at it. The overall gathering of components are extremely well thought through - everything works exceptionaly well together.
I am sure it will come however as yet I have not found a decent that I haven't looked down and gone 'what the hell' - this all comes from the confidence this bike inspires, truly great bike weather going flat, up or down.
Similar Products Used: Trek 7000 - over 13 years ago!!!
Numerous All Mountain and XC rigs tried out before purchase, the closest contender being an 05 Stumpy FSR pro (price reduced) with an upgraded Talas RLC.
Bike Setup: Stock - no need to change anything. I may swap the headset and stem for Chris King / Thomson numbers but that is simply down to personal pref. I will wait though before dropping the extra cash becuase at the moment it all works fine.
Strengths: this bike is killer right out of the box. i set the rear travel at the six inch setting and followed the fox recomendations for the suspension setup and that was it. this thing climbs like a mountain goat and soaks up everything i've thrown at it so far..
Weaknesses: you're not going to find one on this bike
Bottom Line:
This bike is one of the best I've ever owned. I'm pretty much an aggressive trail rider, not a whole lot of hucking or dropping yet but I'm getting better at it. I would recomend this bike to anyone looking for a long travel all-mountain rig who's looking to ride something different than everyone else ( Santa Cruz, Kona, etc. bandwagoneers). It climbs better and eats up everything you point it down...I'm about 200lbs and this bike is incredibly stiff for its weight( just under 29 lbs), and is very light and flickable. Go get one and then go get some!!
