Strengths: Very nice, plush, strong, compatible frame. Manuals very nicely for a full suser. Very versitile frame (would be perfect for 4X with a 185mm shock instead of the standard 200mm) will take a 5-7" fork.
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
Very nice started DH of 4X bike, very adaptable and rides sweet, buy this and some nicer parts over a more expencie bike. I payed £600 english, for my whole bike
Bike Setup: Marin b-17 frame, d321 on hope wheels, 200mm deore discs, FSA cranks, LX mech, Jr Ts, Tioga finishing parts.
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Submitted by
Wayne Appleby
a Downhiller
from Prestatyn,N Wales,Britain
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002
Strengths: Best downhill bike ive ridden at a brilliant price.The 6 inch sus on the back is superb for the money.Swindarm is very secure and strong.Brilliant starter downhill bike
Weaknesses: Ive a 13.5 inch frame and dont dare put a fork like a rock shox boxxer because ive been told it will take off the front end of frame.
Bottom Line:
If starting downhill riding but on tight budget get one of these beasts.These are indestructable.Back sus will handle anything.
Similar Products Used: identiti exorcist.GT dh i-drive.
Bike Setup: Z1 drop off(jnr t soon),Hope 4 pot front and rear,Mavic d321 on Deore disc,Deore cranks and rear mech,Planet x bar, funn stem,FSA headset,Tioga 2.3 DH tyres,Planet x seat,V8 Pedals,DMR chain device,LX cassete.
Strengths: Well good bike 4 the money! 6.5 inch's of travel on the rear is proper plush. The frame has turned out 2be strong and quite lightweight(not that it matters) cheap means u can use the spare cash to replace the crappy ovation components.
Weaknesses: Crap forks, but hey its cheap! all that matters is that the frame is strong and it is
Bottom Line:
I aint got any regret's about buying it as the frame is still in 1 piece nearly 2 years on! It doesn't feel much differnt to the patriot which is twice as much accept for the play in the swingarm! It is also very capable for racing as so many people use them and keep bringing them back to race again!A top bike for a bargain!buy 1
Similar Products Used: Bullit, patriot, specialised bighit, team dh,
Bike Setup: junior t,mrp,raceface northshore, hope o2's,24" 247 dh wheels w/3"gaz front and halo 2.6 back, well nice!
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Submitted by
Biker-Animal
a Downhiller
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2001
Strengths: Cheap , Worth up grading componants onto the great frame nice shock , been strong so far, Its ahndled drops thats have cracked and stressed a coyote Dh2
Weaknesses: A little flexy in the rear . once all the travel is gone the swing arm seems to move sideways (i dont think this is good and i think this is where it will snap) Also that front mech surely a cheepo chain device would have been a better invest ment than a front mech and the other 2 rings on the chainset
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike if u are starting out or want a good dh bike but dont have the cash to buy a really expensive one traight out buy this and upgrade u will be happy (i was goin to sell mine then i asked my self why its a good bike ) only 4 chillis cos of componants speced on a dh bike Triple ring HA!!!
Similar Products Used: kona stinky dee-lux Lack of travel not as plush feeling
Bike Setup: marin b17 frame with hope 4 pot on the front 2 pot on the back manitou xvert dc forks hope big un hubs on velocity deep v rims big ol setlaz seet and middleburn rs7 cranks
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Submitted by
Mauricio Gutierrez
a Racer
from Tuxtla Gtz, Chiapas. Mexico
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001
Strengths: Soft rolling all around Stable at speed feels light, great rear travel(fox vanilla RX upgraded)
Weaknesses: hard on tight tunrns a little too long top tube (S 19")could be shorter for better cornering
Bottom Line:
Manitou X-vert carbon or Boxxer, clip in pedals. get ready for mayors jumps and drops all time.
Bike Setup: RS judy 100, Fox Vanilla RX, Formula Hdr disc brakes, Azonic, Deore rr dr, Nokian Gazzalody Jr. 2.6" front. 2.2 rear
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Submitted by
Hayden Hills
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001
Strengths: Its a good all round bike, the travel in the rear is great but weak. Light frame, great for downhill and a bit of cross country on the side. The tyres have kick ass grip(Toaga)The price paid was great for a intro downhill bike.
Weaknesses: OK where do you start, Wheres the Shimano gearing gone? With this type of bike you have to expect XT or better with! The grip shift gearing are ok but quick fire XTR would be like heaven... The front derailur is Alivo why? The front forks are alright but I say take off the Sync shox and put on some Rock Shox, or Manitou's. The bottom bracket is weak, they should have Shimano LX Deor or better. The brackets only last a few months in Marin bikes
Bottom Line:
Its a great bike to start off with in downhill mountain biking. Yes you may say i have complained a bit to much, the reason why is Ive learnt alot about bikes over the past year wprking in a bike store. However its a great bike and yes I would buy it again if I was getting into biking for the first time, or looking at getting into downhill racing! Its great for tree roots, jumps and of course the mud!
Similar Products Used: First full suspension, all good! Had a hard tail Baur Hot Chili.
Bike Setup: All standard, Changed the pedals to downhill Keywins, XT front derailur, and rear to XTR. I plan to place Hayes comp disc brakes onto it in the future, The Shifter are the same and they will be replaced with XT or better I hope.
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Submitted by
D.Mendicino
a Downhiller
from Christchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2001
Strengths: The Original frame is great!, The Fox Vanillas Are sweet and soft! Nice Tioga seat and tires. Has Disc brake hubs if you want to attach some disks. I like the colors. Light frame. Nice and smooth! And the handling is surperb! If you get fast air on this thing, the landing is gentle! Plush, allright forks and solid platform pedals!
Weaknesses: Brake pads wear down fast on its first rush downhill! The rest of the time its fine. Has REFLECTORS all over it! TAKE THEM OFF. Triple clamps are to small for my likings. Grip shift does get a bit dodgy. Risers dont rise enough, although it does have a good beasty stem!
Bottom Line:
Marin havnt gone through all the trouble to make geometry that no-body needs, like the DH Giant or the Foes racing Slammer for an example.Nice Basic good travel geometry is all you need! Great for the Downhill biginer, like myself, im onley 13, im 14 in a few days.
It also has got great handleing and traction to the track, so dont be afraid to get a little faster and faster, It has front and REAR rebound adjustment. Comes in great frame sizes as well. Its a great bike for the money!!!
Some tips; *Take the reflectors off if you dont ride in the dark on the streets *If you got this bike new, Take it into the store to get it adjusted after a month or so! *Look after it!! *If you are a beginer DH rider, this is probaly what your looking for! *Marin also have lifetime warrentys! *Marin have strong bikes! *Marin have great bikes for the price paid!
Enjoy this bike! and use it the way it should be used! OFF ROAD!
Purchased At: Penny Sport Cycles (voted NZ's Best bike shop)
Similar Products Used: Marin 1998 East peak
Bike Setup: Bran new! Everything you can see in the picture is what mine is like. But with dust all over it! I dont know if its good or bad, but there is no shimano componetry, everything is OVATION
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Submitted by
BYRON PITTS
a Downhiller
from LEANDER TX USA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2001
Strengths: Best freeride bike for $1000.
Weaknesses: The" Shock Works" shock , luckily I have a Fox Vanilla RX from my 98 B-17.Ugly paint scheme doesent match my DH-3(ruined my pimp action).
Bottom Line:
This suspension pedals great, very efficient. The frame is light and strong. Plenty of rear travel will save your life when you bite off more than you can chew. Upgrade the fork and you have a great bike.
Similar Products Used: 98 B-17 , took extreme abuse daily for two years.Jumping bmx courses and freeriding.I would bottom those RST's constantly. It took almost two years to crack this frame at the headtube (at the weld of course).This frame is the toughest thing youll find at this price(with this long of rear travel).Marin promptly replaced my frame with a 2000 B-17 and I feel really bad because I got more than my money's worth out of the first frame.
Bike Setup: 00' WHITE BRO'S DH-3, 8" purple Hayes DH,Sunn Doublewides,Azonic loveseat,Fox vannila RX,triple trap pedals.
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Submitted by
OLLIE HODGES
a Downhiller
from KIPPAX, LEEDS, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2001
Strengths: SUPER PLUSH REAR END, CHEAPISH DOWNHILL BIKE, STRONG, LIGHT
Weaknesses: CRAP FORKS! ORANGE RIMS(STRONG BUT CRAP COLOUR)
Bottom Line:
A WELL COOL BIKE FOR THE MONEY. BUT MARIN START USING FORKS WHICH USE OIL INSTEAD OF GRAVEL.
Weaknesses: RST forks, Rear swingarm is VERY flexy and weak
Bottom Line:
If u dont ride that hard and just want a smooth ride downhill then the B-17 is sweet. BUT it cannot handle big drops because of the weak rear end. Stick some boxxers on it as well cos otherwise the front isnt slack enough
Submitted by
Ryan B.
a Downhiller
from La Honda California
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000
Strengths: Sick frame, strong, not too much flex, semi-burly,pretty plush, all together not bad,
Weaknesses: The swingarm, the swingarm for any Marin is weak and they flex a lot(at high speeds), thats one bad thing
Bottom Line:
I have a 1998 B-17, the best of the bunch...
All together the Marin wasn't a bad buy, it was cheap with long travel, ok componets, but I changed them...The 98 is the best because the FOX vanilla RX, and the RST fork, for a cheap stock bike not bad...There is only one bad thing, a weak flexy swingarm, I have broken one, also Marin just has bad welds...The outcome of all this a good bike, with long travel.And for what it came with it was a kicka$$ bike..
And if your a rider who wants to upgrade to a longer travel bike, with little to spend, buy a B-17, the frames are cheap, and they have a LIFETIME warranty...But get a 99 or 98..
Similar Products Used: Its its own bike, you cant compare it
Bike Setup: Race Face North Shore, MRP,Hayes,Azonic Shorty DLX, Azonic Ultracross bars, and a Boxxer
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Submitted by
Big-Air Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from U.K
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000
Strengths: Smooooooooooooooth rear end. Durable. Lifetime warranty. Nice short stem. Good at jumping & downhill.
Weaknesses: Dodgy forks. Thats it!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
Perfect for drops, jumps, roots, technical sections, rock gardens. Good at everything you can throw at it. Light enough to ride on trails aswell. Brilliant drop of bike. Gave me confidence to ride my first 5 ft drop off after only 3 days of having it. Very plush. Seems to glide over rough terrain. Good value. Wicked freeride/downhill bike. Deserves 5 flaming dog turds.
Similar Products Used: Spec FRS Ground Control Extreme (with Goldtec travel upgrade)
Bike Setup: as standard but with 2001 hopes and pistons for very cool valve caps.
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Submitted by
Dan
a Downhiller
from Vancouver Island
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2000
Strengths: It's free while I wait for my new fork. Awesome ride.
Weaknesses: Alivio front derailleur, disgusting seat, brakes and fork
Bottom Line:
It's a shop demo bike that I ride while I wait for my new fork for my DHS. Shop put on a Junior T. That old fork licked balls. All in all good for a free bike. Needs more rear travel though, and a shock with adjustable compression would be nice. 5 value chili's cause it's free
