Submitted by
Dirt Rider
a Weekend Warrior
from Around the World
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2004
Strengths: See below
Weaknesses: See below
Bottom Line:
First, you have to realize that there are two different versions of this bike. Newer ones are built with cheap parts and a light-duty swing-arm, and older ones that are built with better parts and a heavy-duty swing-arm. I don't know the cut-off year when they started making them crappy, maybe 2001 or 2002. I have BOTH versions, and the old one is sooo much better. It has more travel (the shock is 7" eye-to-eye with 2" stroke, as opposed to the old one with 6.5" eye-to-eye and 1.5" stroke. I haven't figured out extacly what that translated into total travel, but I'm guessing 4.75" vs about 3.75".
The newer one I've built up with good lightweight parts (carbo fiber), and now it is an acceptable light-duty bike, but I still use the older one as my main trailbike.
Anyways, I'm going to give this 5 stars, but it only applies to the older version.
Strengths: The frame. The monopivot suspension. Fast Uphills. The brand name.
Weaknesses: I would have liked a better set of components, but it was cheap, so good for the money.
Bottom Line:
I would have to agree with the review below. This is a great bike. Those that complain about it don't have any idea what they are talking about. I love the single pivot design, even though so many companies don't use it anymore. But you can still find monos by Santa Cruz and other highend manufacturers of both cx and fr/dh bikes. It's a simpler design, with less parts that can break down, and it works well to keep the suspension from sucking your peddling action. This bike gets two thumbs up (or five flaming chilis). I would get another one for my wife, if I could find one on ebay. If anybody is selling one...
Strengths: Excellent strong and lightweight frame (same as on former high-end Marins), gets many compliments on looks (though, at first, I didn't care for the yellow), great price (if you can find one-they don't sell this model in USA anymore, so the only ones you'll find will be on closeout or used)
Weaknesses: Heavy-ish cro-moly swingarm, inexpensive component group, not easily upgradeable to disc brakes (has mounting tabs, but needs new wheelset), narrow handlebar, cheap pedals, position of water bottle mount is bad, cheap logo stickers (they had to go!)
Bottom Line:
I love this bike; it makes me want to ride more than ever! My first full-suspension bike, I didn't intend to buy it, but it was a fantastic price ($450) last year's model closeout. Didn't really care for the yellow, but I get a lot of compliments on it, and has grown on me over time. Looks much better once the stickers are peeled off (use a hairdryer to heat them up, and they peel right off). Figured I'd buy and upgrade components, but am very suprised at how well the stock items work. Didn't think I'd like the twist shifter, but quickly grew to like it a lot - planned on upgrading to Shimano shifter, but now may upgrade to new SRAM XO twist grip (their top-of-the-line). Stock handlebar is too narrow - your hands rest on the gripshift, so I upgraded to a wider Ritchey.
If you find one, buy it! Please disregard the other Seattle review here - it is a joke!
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Tessajara, Specialized Hard Rock, Specialized Hard Rock Comp, Specialized Hard Rock Pro, Trek 4900, Har o? (all hard-tails, no full suspensions in this price range)
Bike Setup: Upgraded to wider Ritchey handlebar, ATI grips, Blackspire RingGod bashguard, InSync 565 100 mm Fork, SRAM ESP-4.0 Shifters, Shimano Alivio Front Deraileur • SRAM, ESP-5.0 rear, IRC Mythos 26" x 1.95" Tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Randolph, Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2003
Strengths: Great product for the money. Same frame as the higher end Marin bikes.
Weaknesses: Some of the components are low end, but that's what you get with $600. Buy this bike, upgrade it as parts break, the frame is killer and the fork really isn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Bottom Line:
Thanks to good Marin design, there's not a lot of pedal bob. Great bike for beginners and it is worth upgrading.
a great bike for bigginers.. I'v ridden it for about 3 months and iv put it through alot of sh*T and the only thing gone wrong is the sram 5.0 rear derailer and it skips a gear but other than that its an awesome bike
Now beware. Idiots who buy bottom of the range bikes, stick XTR groupsets worth more than the complete bike itself on and expect it to behave like a $$$$ bike deserve everything they get.
This is a budget bike, doofus. The others you name are all more expensive, some vastly more. This is for people who wnat the novelty, and don't give a toss whether it's world class or not 'cos they're not jumping the barrier reef, ok?
I've tried it, and yes it's not great, but to someone who is buying their first bouncer, it will feel like heaven.
Submitted by
John Griffen
a Racer
from Seattle, Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2001
Strengths: It looks good. The frame hasn't broken.
Weaknesses: Just about everything else.
Bottom Line:
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS BIKE MADE FOR?? Marin put some crap yellow shox on what they call an "Extreme Mountain Bike" along with some other sh*t components. I race everything from DS to XC to DH and have never been on a worse bike. Not only that but this bike isn't made for anything. It's not XC or even rec. I think it's a touring bike. On my first ride I bent my handle bars and the right crankarm. Then when I was putting the face plate back on with new bars the plate snapped!! The guy at the dealership said that I had to buy a new stem just for the faceplate. What the f*ck is going on?? DO THESE SHOX MOVE?? I would gladly take a Hardrock instead of one these POS Marins anyday. Do your self a favor and get one of the bikes above.
