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Submitted by
Tom Freeman
a Weekend Warrior
from England, SuffolkDate Reviewed: November 5, 2004
Strengths: Very good all around cycle, easy to control and is very strong frame and forks.Weaknesses: The disk brakes are sh*t from the start and should be changed ASAP to hydraulics. Also the seat is the most un-commutable one I have aver sat on.Bottom Line: A very good strong bike for all around purposes, but when it comes to trials nothing beats it. (Nice one Marin)
Favorite Trail: black root (Thetford)
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$647.00
Purchased At: Madgetts cycles
Similar Products Used: Marin Bobcat trail.
Bike Setup: DMR V8 peddles, Hope mono Minis fount and rear also a leopard skin seat.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
steve page
a Weekend Warrior
from new zealandDate Reviewed: March 2, 2004
Strengths: Built like an out house. Simple rear shock with direct pressures onto frame. Still looks sexy after all these years As a big guy at 6 foot 2 and 18 stone the bike has held together well. Most of the riding flat with small hills. No problem with shock or frame but bent a few seat posts. Real strong bike.Weaknesses: Don,t even start me on the Diatech Brakes,useless from new, and no fit anything else hubs.Alot of the gear fitted to the bike from new was borderline quality.Bottom Line: Had to have a big nasty frame that was strong. Replacing the other stuff over the years was fun. The frame and shock have been great. As for those Diatech brakes, I can,t beleive that the idiot that designed them didn,t even find out if they worked or not. Thank you, I feel better.Great bike for the weekend warrior.
Favorite Trail: Burwood plantation, Chch
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At: Penny Farthing Chch
Similar Products Used: Cannondale fatboy, Khs
Bike Setup: Hope hubs, Mavic downhill rims, Xt, Raceface Gears and Avid cable rear, with Hayes hydlulic front. Bomber Front forks.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from Sussex, EnglandDate Reviewed: August 9, 2003
Weaknesses: Shockworks rear shock repeatedly blew seals and have cracked several swingarms.Bottom Line: I actually have the 1998 DH-FRS which was basically the b17 framset. The bike has performed well over the last 5 years even though i had many problems at first with rear shock and swingarm but dealt with under warranty everytime ( even when i crushed my rear swingarm in a car accident and dont know how i got away with that one). Bike has been used for DH,XC and FR and has performed well with them all. I will keep this bike until it finally dies. Definitely recommended.
Favorite Trail: singletrack, downhill etc i love it all
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Similar Products Used: Marin
Bike Setup: DH-FRS, stratos Mx6 with 20mm bolt thru.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
brendan
a Downhiller
from dublin, irelandDate Reviewed: January 20, 2003
Strengths: i got this bike in summer of 99 and its still going strong. i dont know if i am lucky to get a great shockworks shock, but i have never had any trouble with it. i even prefer the feel of it to my friends fox vanilla r.
Weaknesses: the only bad thing is that marins after sales service absolutely sucksBottom Line: when i got this bike i was moving from a hardtail XC into the new world of full bounce, and this bike has been with me all they way. initially it was a light free ride, and then as my skills progressed it turned into a full on DH bike. this is the best bike i have ever had and will surely shed a tear the day it dies.
but i hope that wont happed for another 3 years
Favorite Trail: fairy castle
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Similar Products Used: santa cruz bullit, marin wild cat trail, kona stinky, kona stab deelux
Bike Setup: 7" monster T, 24" lmf rear with 2.3 tioga, 26" lmf front with 2.8 michelan, hope, hussfelt chain guide, azonic, planet x, shimano cleats
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jesse Wigman
a Downhiller
from ScotlandDate Reviewed: December 7, 2002
Strengths: The Frame and Shock are both really strong.Weaknesses: Nowt - Everything is very good!Bottom Line: This is the best DH/FR bike there is!It is very strong and can handle very large drops,P13 in the March 2000 issue of MBUK is there to prove that.
Favorite Trail: Off Beat DH
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: Dales Cycles
Similar Products Used: 1999 Marin Wildcat Trail,2003 Specialized Bighit DH
Bike Setup: 6" Boxxer,Full XT group,24-7,DMR,Planet-x BMF,
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Phil Griffiths
a Downhiller
from Grizedale ForestDate Reviewed: February 10, 2002
Strengths: Dead simple design with few pivots to wear and service. Fairly plush ride. Very stable on the big stuff. one of the last B17 to be made so has a real swingarm not made from cheese. Pedals very well!Weaknesses: Not what your'd call nimble. I'm 6ft and a medium is far to big for properly chucking around. Pearl white paint jobs doesn't stick to well but thats minor.Bottom Line: Not a bad DH machine, Pedals very well, just a bit big and long to be as nimble as others but it was an evolution of a XC bike! Got mine as frame/fork in a swap. Ex race bike. "Animal" paint job. If it was any longer though it would be such a gate you could put between wall ends to hold cattle in!
Favorite Trail: Nannerch
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At: ex race
Similar Products Used: Coyote DH1,Sintesi Bazooka,Orange 222,Intense M1.
Bike Setup: Jnr T's,Hope hubs,205 4pot front,165 2pot rear, on 321's. DMR 3 piece cranks, Azonic bits, Dirtworks stem,titec post.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Spide
a Weekend Warrior
from Chandler, AZ, USADate Reviewed: May 23, 2001
Strengths: plush rideWeaknesses: swingarm welds cracked -- thought this was a downhill bikeBottom Line: This bike has been great. I'm 6'2" and weigh in at 225lbs. The swingarms welds cracked on the way down Schnebly Hill Rd in Sedona. If it weren't for the cracked welds I'd say this bike is perfect -- it has such a plush ride and (even though it is a relatively heavy bike) I've been able to climb some stuff I wasn't able to climb before (Widow's Peak on National in Phoenix).
Too bad it cracked -- I won't buy another Marin unless they significantly change the swingarm design.
Favorite Trail: National
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At: Rage Cycles, Tempe, AZ
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: XT/XTR
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from SwindonDate Reviewed: May 6, 2001
Strengths: Great value, plenty of travel (for the weight), plush rear end, good fun.Weaknesses: Hi 5'sBottom Line: It's my first full susser and it's great fun, but the RST's
let it down. Everything else is great. Good as a 'freeride' bike but a little too heavy for XC racing. Brilliant for light downhill use.
Favorite Trail: Ridgeway
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At: LBS
Bike Setup: '98 spec
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
John Gallagher
a Downhiller
from Mayo IrelandDate Reviewed: March 31, 2001
Strengths: good frame soft shocks nice wheels and ok paintjobWeaknesses: crap rst-hi5,dirty lookin saddleBottom Line: nice jumping bike execpt that i broke the derrailer the 1st day i got it.Overall it was worth the money. but the rsts keep bottoming out and i mangaged to brake 4 spokes with the deriller and bent the drop out
Favorite Trail: union wood
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At: 2nd hand dealer
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: rst hi-5 shock works rear lx derailer single downhill crank 8 speed
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Downhiller
from EnglandDate Reviewed: March 24, 2001
Strengths: (bought as frame and fork) rear shok is ok and for my small weight soaks up anything you throw at it even a 7ft drop-offWeaknesses: not much rear tyre clearanceBottom Line: the bike is a PEACH wether run with a single or triple crown, travl adequate for small- medium frame. works well with hope discs and mavics. if you want a top frame or bike GET THIS. no i am not just blaggin it coz i av got it it's a top bike!!!!!!!!!!
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At: so farmer guy
Similar Products Used: team dh, gt lts 3000 ds, trek y22
Bike Setup: z1 drop-off, hope disk, planet-x(glitter, porn* stylee), 321, tioga factory 2.3, sram 7.0 everything, blackspire chain ring. Respray on rear triangle to match Z1's.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Hart
a Weekend Warrior
from the Sierras of Sunny California Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001
Strengths: Very nimble in technical areas, which is how most riding in the 14,000 ft.+ mountains of California are! Solid design and good looks make this my favorite freeride machine thus far!Weaknesses: OE forks are awful!!as are the BrakesBottom Line: I have put put hyd. disc brakes, better bars, ODI lockjaws, Raceface Turbine LP cranks and chain ring with a kOOka big chainring replacement ring w/o teeth and IRC Kujo DH's and I'm going to put on a Marzocchi JR. T fork...the bottom line is this...for freeriding this is a sweetass chariot!
Favorite Trail: 007 & Crystal Cave
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At: Al's Fatty
Bike Setup: total freeride
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jay S
a Downhiller
from New YorkDate Reviewed: November 18, 2000
Bottom Line: I cracked the head-tube & the swingarm welds cracked..just don't go extreme with this frame.lot's of other racers do this to thisframe too..I'm getting the team DH frame next !!
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Seymour
a Weekend Warrior
from Knoxville, TNDate Reviewed: June 1, 2000
Strengths: GOOD frame= strong and worry free:9 lbs with shockWeaknesses: Replace diatech disks in rear to vee brakes A.s.a.pBottom Line: Had it setup for DH racing"held up well"--Now have it setup for all around"DS" bike..Replaced stock spring W/700# speedspring on shock.I weigh 180lbs..I will ride this bike until it falls apart if it ever does??6" travel is real nice & plush.Climbs excellent.Decends better..Looks killer..The 2000 model is sweet all around bike that can take the big hits....good reasonable $$ too
Favorite Trail: Tsali
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Similar Products Used: Univega 950-Marin team DH-
Bike Setup: Now is single crown 4" Manitiou.Vee brakes.."Sun"Ditch Witch wheels"--DH stem--
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Eddie McGlone
a Weekend Warrior
from ScotlandDate Reviewed: May 19, 2000
Strengths: Rear Suspension, Frame, appearanceWeaknesses: Diatek Disc brakes, Forks, water bottle placement, difficult to carry (compared to a diamond frame)Bottom Line: Delighted! A fantastic bike for the money. Rides great, feels instantly brilliant, climbs amazingly and stops on a dime with the Hopes!
If you're heavy you'll need to change the shock spring. At just under 16st (220lbs) bottomed out the 500-650 progressive that the bike came with. Now running a 750 with hardly any preload.
Forks not so good - they seem to handle the big stuff but not plush on the little stuff even at my weight. I'll probably change them after a couple of years.
Put Hope brakes on this bike the Diateks were abysmal but the Hopes are the most amazing precision engineered piece of kit you could buy and work faultlessly under all conditions.
I get the feeling that this bike will last as long as my old Rockhopper Comp - 12 years old and still going strong! Here's hoping.
Favorite Trail: any dry one
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Similar Products Used: Specialised Stumjumper FSR, Trek Vrx
Bike Setup: Hope Discs
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Evil Banana
a Downhiller
from Wirral, UKDate Reviewed: February 26, 2000
Strengths: Amount of travel
Cool 'Mother of Pearl' paint job on main frame.
Stability/confidence inspiringWeaknesses: Wheelset and tyres are a little too XC for a big travel bike like this.
Bars are bit narrow for my liking.Bottom Line: For just over £1000 this bike is unbeleivable value. 6 inches of travel, AND an upgrade to hydraulic discs is unheard of at this price!
Although I've only used the bike a few times so far, I've felt at home on it immidiately. It just makes you want to start launching off huge drop offs, cos the suspension just soaks up all the impact.
The bike is very forgiving, and despite the discs not bedding in yet its still fantastic. Buy this bike if you want bags of confidence inspiring travel for relatively little money!
I'll post another review after a longer test period.
Favorite Trail: Nantmawr
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Similar Products Used: GT LTS
Mountain Cycle San Andreas
Bike Setup: Stock except for..
DMR V8 pedals
Gripshipt plasma shifters
and best of all and upgrade to Hope Hydraulic discs.
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