Submitted by
Stephan Duguay
a Weekend Warrior
from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2002
Strengths: Extremly Manoeuvrable. Sweet Looking.
Weaknesses: Headtube strength. used for about 3-4 months doing occasional 4-6' drops until the headtube snapped right off doing a surge (pedalhop to bashguard)
Purchased At: Bought used, though was in great condition at the time... (Frame only)
Similar Products Used: had a stock Specialized Rockhopper A1 Disc but switched frames to do trials.
Bike Setup: Marin-Deceased. now i'm back to my X-country Rockhopper setup. if anyone is interested in buyin' it give me a shout @ stunbug@hotmail.com with an offer- I have pics.
Strengths: Strong frame so far - but 13' versions have now been re-called due to cracking headtube weld. I have a 15' but looking at the bike you can clearly see that it is the weakest point on the bike!
Weaknesses: Chain slaps real hard against those massive chainstays. I wouldn't trust triple clamps on this bike as the head tube join is so small compared to the rest of the bike.
Bottom Line:
This bike is great for taking anyting you can throw at it. I'm not a great rider and the X-Verts are a bit of a pain to set up, I can't get mine set up good and after a reasonable size concrete drop my wrists take a real beating.
As I said the head tube weld is very small compared to the solid look of the rest of the frame, and 13' versions of this bike have been recalled.
I got this bike to use as a fun bike that I wouldn't have to care about - it was real cheap considering the component spec.
Get a jumbo lizard skin chainstay guard if you don't want big chunks of alu taken out of the frame on even the tamest terrain.
The AR50 brakes are amazing for v's best brakes I've ever ridden this side of discs.
Submitted by
Charlie
a Downhiller
from North Gower, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2002
Strengths: Stregth, weight, hubs, jumping...everything except below...VERY VERY STIFF!
Weaknesses: Most of the house brand stuff is pure crap...the seatpost is useless, I've broken so many friggin' bolts...Grrr...a little hard to control at high speed.
Bottom Line:
If you can get your hands on one of these, buy it. It's SO strong and stiff, even if there's a couple trash parts...if you need a bombproof bike for urban, this is it...but watch that headtube, it looks a little small.
Favorite Trail: Uhhh...steep, jumps, ladders, and skinnys...
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At: Mountain Masters
Similar Products Used: P.3, plenty of FS bikes...
Bike Setup: Front Hayes Hydraulic disc, Titec bar, Raceface stem, Raceface Turbine ISIS crankset, Thompson seatpost, rest is stock...FOR NOW!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
English Knave
a Cross Country Rider
from CT
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001
Strengths: Bomber frame, good factory spec, good looks, squirelly handling ,great on the rocks and roots where I ride, easy to do rolling stoppies on dirt and tarmac, i only wish i had as much ability as the bike.
Weaknesses: Beautiful looking RaceFace crank rubs on frame on drive side as per another review, not enough space to put on a lizrd skin for protection
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike !, the 2001 models do not look as good ,probably perform as well though.
Submitted by
Josh
a Weekend Warrior
from Henniker, NH
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001
Strengths: Cheap frame for me (got it on crash replacement.) Super strong, hasn't broken yet. Frames long enough that I can fit on a 15" even though I'm 6' tall. Huge head tube gusset. Not too heavy considering. Can handle a wide variety of riding, especially with the 70mm fork I have on it. XC, freeride, trials, DS. Not the best for anything but pretty damn good for a lot.
Weaknesses: The seat tube bottle mounts!! This is not a goddamn XC bike! One set of mounts on the down tube is perfectly sufficient. If you have a long post you can't put it all the way down or you need a short post to go all the way down but then it's too short because of the stupid mounts! So annoying that that alone loses it a chili.
Bottom Line:
All in all a very solid, versatile, and fun to ride bike.
Similar Products Used: Marin Indian Fire Trail, (not the right frame for me, it snapped.)
Bike Setup: 70mm Z.3 light. Rhyno light/maxxis 2.3 rear. Avid vees. race face alloy riser. uhh, STX cranks? Kind of a funny setup, but it works.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Lemen
a
from Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2001
Strengths: Insane abilities to accept anything you do to it and keep on going. I've wrecked other bikes doing stuff that this one just laugh at and kept on going. You could drop this thing off a cliff and it wouldn't even flinch. The xvert fork can take all sorts of punishment and with both the seat and chain stays squared off, the rear of the bike is in no immediate danger of folding up underneath me either. Right out of the factory, this bike was ready to take some serious abuse.
Weaknesses: Climbing, something was wrong with my headset, but I think I might have done that.
Bottom Line:
An amazing buy for those not worried about weight or wanting to do some free riding... North Shore style.
Similar Products Used: ??????? friends use full sus
Bike Setup: ud150 hs33, gremica sys8 magura 20mm front wheel xtr rear
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kev McCann
a Weekend Warrior
from Hertford,Hertfordshire,England (U.K)
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2001
Strengths: Forks!Frame! Absolutely top-notch component spec, brilliant value for money, handles great, the list goes on...
Weaknesses: Cant find any so far...
Bottom Line:
Anyone looking for a hard-knocks basher buy this. It handles well, climbs well, is light, and is so much fun to ride with. It takes anything in its path with ease, provided ypu've got the skill! Only joking, you could be a complete beginner and still conquer mammoth mountain on this, it really is that good. BUY IT! It is for anyone that likes hanging around their local trails, or the jumps, and with a tyre change (from tioga dh's) is a great xc maachine as well!
Submitted by
Bruce K.
a Weekend Warrior
from Monreal, Quebec Canada
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2001
Strengths: Bombproof frame, upgradability and hell of a fun hardtail to ride and get some air with. Cranks.
Weaknesses: Chain slaps bottom arm and shears away paint...then aluminum. Have to constantly replace tape repair. WTB rims are weak.
Bottom Line:
Great hardtail at a reasonable price. Takes a beating and keeps going with relativly minor repairs or adjustments. Only waiting to see how long it can take all the abuse. Judging by the frame should be awhile. (2001 model looks anemic!)
Bike Setup: Stock with Disc Brakes..thinking of upgrading to DeeMax rims and Marzocchi Super T Pro fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan B.
a Downhiller
from La Honda California
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000
Strengths: BURLY frame, it does not flex at all, I've had other Marins, and this one sits by itself. This Frame replaced another broken Marin frame..
Weaknesses: Headtube, hasnt broken yet, but its possible, broke all three other Marins headtubes..
Bottom Line:
A sick cheap bike, with good parts, though I made mine custom...Im waiting for the headtube to break, though it never may..Also if it does then I got a lifetime warranty..The bike is sick as it gets, though I recomend MARIN to put a gusset between the headtube and the downtube...Bike is great at high speed, jumps well, drops good, and overall flys..
this bike is great, stable on the jumps or on the trail. the rear derailer hits the cable cover and cracks it, make sure that when you get it , to cover the area where it hit with some tape. i love this bike and am about to put $400 into new parts. MARIN RULES!!!!!!!!!!
this bike is great. the wheel set is killer. the forks are great. race face turbine, lx/xt drive train. HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG? BUY THIS BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bike Setup: -hayes disk -5" tavel x-vert(see my review of the fork on how to add more travel) toga tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Rider
a Weekend Warrior
from Peoria,il
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2000
Strengths: Only had it 10 minutes!
Weaknesses: Race face crank arm hits the frame on the drive side...Not normal.In the first 10 feet the rear hub froze and the chain broke. Do you think I got a lemon?
