Submitted by
tom swervo
a Cross Country Rider
from adk region ny
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2004
Strengths: Good geometry well balanced frame for steep climbs or decents! Rear fox coil shock that comes standard takes a beating from my 200 lb ass! Components are decent considering the price! Not to heavy for a middle of the road xc bike, marin is a great company my first was a marin hard tail. Then i tried full sus I was hooked, handsome frame design.
Weaknesses: Stock front fork manitou sx lt ha ha is garbage, works for about one season then colapses. Needs riser bars right off if you plan to do any steep decents. All other components are ok i have seen MUCH worse! Seat made my impotent! lol
Bottom Line:
Great bike if you like xc riding and can get it for under $700 add a good fork and you are ready to do some aggressive xc riding including small drops up to 3ft and climbs steady! Log pyramids and don't forget to do trail upkeep too! We all gotta pitch in! Buy one! ~t ps next time i am going to go used with all the upgrades done for me probably in the dead of winter that's the time to buy! Good luck ps NOT A DOWN HILL BIKE, but close.
Similar Products Used: I had a specialized fsr xc comp and i hated the geometry, always up and down seat, i guess they think xc is flat... Not so, i chopped the seat tube in half and then couldn't get it high enough for climbs, i actually prefer my rock springs to the specialized... I am probably dumb but for the price i paid 650 i would be hard pressed to find a specialized for that price new! ps ebay dudes.
Bike Setup: All stock except hell bent riser and marzocchi bomber z1 wedge fork is SICK!!! Who needs disc breaks my avids work great? Only straight down hill kids need em. I swear it's a fat waste of money. Anyway ride on!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jackyl
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex Jct. VT
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2002
Strengths: light, good climber, minimal bob. Fow Vanilla Coil rear shock takes hard hits. takes thrashin' and comes back for more
Weaknesses: as far as the frame goes none. i've replaced almost everything else dew to age. front derailer is major pain in the a*# to adjust holds good when you get it right tho
Bottom Line:
I thrash this bike!! I ride all sorts of trails with this xc bike. Goes uphill as well as the Giant XC/NRS i ride with every weekend. haven't dared to do much more than 3ft drops due to experience and the bikes not made for that(but i think she'ld take 4.5r5ft) It's a little rough on downhill sections but it takes it like a champ. I Crash alot but that's all part of the game. I get back up pick the bike up and keep going tho everytime. That's a good feeling to kno i can ride pretty much care free. I've only been riding 3 yrs and two of its been on this bike so she's seen her fare share of beginner action. Any parts that aren't original were changed because they were simply old and needed replacement. Bike was being used on Sterling Mt. Ski resort for rental before i bought it. So i'm sure it was not treated real kindly. I have seen frames brake and shocks blow from others i ride with. I have had no major on trial delimas at all. I ride in and ride out everytime. i carried it out once when i first got it, now i carry tire patches. If yer looking for an xc bike that takes it all and still rides good when you pick it and yourself up off the trail this is a good pick. Hats off to Marin for a well made ride.
Bike Setup: manitou x-vert air, race face prodigy xc cranks, race face isis BB, deore and xt drivetrain, formula disc front, avid 7-digit vbrake in back, deore rear hub n fat mammoth rim
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ZOG
a Weekend Warrior
from Cincinnati, Ohio
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2002
Strengths: comfortable feel, very stable, climbs well even with a long travel fork, quality craftmanship, gives a sense of confidence when bombing downhill, takes a licking
Weaknesses: no rear travel adjustment, sticker logos peel off, but who cares about the stickers!
Bottom Line:
I got this frame for 320 dollars and I have enjoyed every moment I have had on it. The bike feels very stable and gives me alot of confidence to push the limits when I ride. Marin has a good reputation for their bikes, and I recommend this bike to anyone who does not have 2000 grand to buy an Intense like I wish I had.
Bike Setup: manitou x-vert r fork, xt disc/ ryhno-lite wheels, shimano xt cranks, hell bent bars, power tools stem, set up for trails and jumping
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Warren Long
a Weekend Warrior
from Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2000
Strengths: I like full suspension. I rode my previous bike for 4 years, upgrading the parts as necessary. The cold up here kills most suspension components and I ride to work all year round, including the -40 degree days. I bought this bike as a replacement for my stolen one, and am hoping that I bought a level of components that will survive our weather (i.e. coil shocks, no air shocks, oil bath forks instead of air + oil damping.
So far, I have really enjoyed the extra suspension travel. 5 inches is a big step up from my previous bike.
Weaknesses: I would have prefered a more robust 8 speed system to the 9 speed. The chain doesn't stay as tightly coupled to the sprockets as I would like going through bumps.
Bottom Line:
I like it, and am impressed with the way technology has improved full suspension bikes over the last 4 years. I hope that I have chosen a durable full suspension bike...
Strengths: Very stable at speed, Hope Disk Brake upgrade is well worth it. Good price
Weaknesses: tyres, long stem could be a problem if your not too tall.
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike just over 2 months now and I am extremely impressed. This being my 1st full bouncer, my other bike being a hardtail, it takes a little getting used to and can be quite difficult at first trying to get up hills. Downhill though is another matter - its absolutely excellent, at 40mph - its so stable, the optional Hope disk brakes are a must, very progressive and strong braking. I've had many a happy day riding this bike and would recommend it to anyone looking for a full suspension bike in this price range. Happy Riding.
