6061 Aluminum Twin Monocoque Front, lightweight Monocoque Alumnium Swingarm with Disk Mounts. • Answer Mars Super, 80mm of Travel, with Lock out Fork • Fox Float RL, with Rebound Adjuster and Lockout Rear Shock • WTB Grease Guard Comp AL Threadless, 1 1/8" Headset
Submitted by
JAMISON ZICH
a Cross Country Rider
from COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Strengths: Extremely stiff for a FS XC. The design works very well with some of the most technical terrain I could find. This bike does nothing to limit the rider
Weaknesses: Water bottle mounts are insane, use a hydration system. Cable routing could be improved upon, cables rub paint off head tube.
Bottom Line:
This bike climbs like a mountain goat. The usual bob on the uphills is barely noticible. Descending makes you feel like your a super action hero. Handling for my particular setup makes the bike very responsive and is a definate confidence builder. The monocoque design is very rigid and there is no noticible loss off power to the ground. It absorbs the technical stuff without a second thought. At first The rear disk would rub when a lot of torque was applied to the transmission, but I attribute that more to the wheel flex than the rear triangle, and a few adjustments to the pads aliviated the problem. Great bike for the weekender or the serious racer. My rig weighs in at just over 25 LBS. Highly recommend,Good looks,Very underated bicycle. Five Flammin' Turds, Enjoy!
Bike Setup: XT throughout,Avid Mechanicals,Egg Beaters,Thompson Seat/Stem,Italia SLR Saddle,Rock Shox Duke SL,Fox Float rear
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Geva
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2003
Bottom Line:
When you first meets the bikes in the shop they weight about 10.5 kg. After you setup the bikes for the real world they endup about 12kg (6 pounds more). This is because you need to add/replace the handle bar, bar ends, tiers, tubes, slime and pedals.
Submitted by
Michael Morgan
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester NY USA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003
Strengths: Jon Whyte Suspension is absolutely stellar. The bike handles like it’s on rails!
Weaknesses: Water Bottle cage mounts are located in a pretty awful position, unless you like dirt in your mouth when you need a drink, but to be fair there isn't room anyplace else on the chassis.
Bottom Line:
Jon Whyte Suspension is absolutely stellar. The bike handles like it’s on rails! I have never had the pleasure of riding a bike that tracks the trail as well as this does and climbs as well. For a full suspension bike it feels like a rigid where it counts most, ascending. I have never experienced a single moment where I was of the opinion that the suspension was sucking up my pedaling energy or ride effort; the suspension design is that brilliant. The paint scheme is not in any way gaudy looking more like a stealth fighter than a circus bike like so many other designs out there. It looks like it means business and it delivers at every turn bump or trail anomaly. Descending the bike feels strong and secure; the rider position is flawless. I purchased the frameset brand new and built it up from there and I have not been disappointed in any way. I feel it was a bargain. I have the tendency to buy a bike, ride it for a year then sell it while it still has demand and value. This one is hard to let go of, so my original intention to buy it, ride it and sell it in a year has changed. I’m keeping it until it falls apart and by the looks of things that’s going to be a very long time. If you see one of these for sale, I suggest you snag it up; you will not be disappointed!
Similar Products Used: GT RST-1, Marin 2001 Mt Vision, GT I drive, Ellesworth Joker.
Bike Setup: 2002 XTR Drive train and XT shifting, King ISO hubset and headset Mavic D-321 rims. Marzocchi Z-3 Flylight Air. Fox RC with lockout rear. Zed Kevlar tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bizario
a Cross Country Rider
from Rexford, MT
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2002
Strengths: Frame geometry ROCKS! Outclimbs my GT Zaskar.
Weaknesses: Component selection is not the best.
Bottom Line:
As a frameset (Kudos for John Whyte) this is the cat's meow. It's light, fast, climbs incredibly well, & desends beautifully. I know that some don't care for the shortness of the design but I can say that it makes for awesome switchback control & the bike doesn't feel twitchy on forest service roads. The Fox shock comes with a lockout but I have only used it on the road as the frame design climbs so well when active. As for the rest of the bike, The fork (see my review for the 02 Mars Super)& the WTB headset won't be around long.
Strengths: Fox shock, single pivot, almost every single componant
Weaknesses: ridiculous bottle cage placement, Manitu fork doesn't hold air
Bottom Line:
I race Elite on this bike and it really performs! The frame geometry makes for a quick handling, quick accelerating XC race bike. The componant mix is perfect for midwest riding. I've 'tweaked' the bike here and there and I've gotten it down to 23lbs.
The active suspension of of the Fox RL and Manitou shocks compliment each other well, although the Manitou can't seem to hold air for more than a day at a time. The front and back lockouts are great, but I really don't use them much.
My only concern with the monocoque design is that there is no room in the front triangle for a water bottle. Placement on the top tube and under the downtube is an afterthought. The top tube cage only leaves enough room for one 16oz bottle. Designing a race bike that can't hold a real water bottle is very weird.
The bike decends well, and is a nice climber too. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a FS XC bike for racing!
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Superlight, Sugar
Bike Setup: 17.5" frame, all XTR drivetrain & shifters, Avid Ti Brakes & levers, Easton carbon bar, Titec XWing Post, Flite Saddle, Hugi hubs w/mavic 517s, Michelin Comp S lite tires, Manitu Mars Super fork, eggbeater pedals, Easton mag stem
Strengths: Stiff for a XC FS bike no bobbing, love the lock out on both the front and back shocks. Incredibly light bike, handles very tight shifting is so smooth, incredibly happy
Weaknesses: This is a west coast bike, not a weakness but the tires and tubes don't work for Florida sand and jungle thorns... And believe me Florida is more jungle than beach!!
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike, worth every penny for the weight,high quality and performance of Marin. The Vision Pro is a borderline DH bike and it definetly can take a beating free riding!! This bike is overkill for starters but excellent for intermediate to advanced riders.
Similar Products Used: I own a 99 East Peak which also performed incredibly and has taken a major beating. I am a Marin ADDICT!
Bike Setup: XC FS Marin, Monique frame, XTR throught, FOX RC with lockout and external dampening, Manitou Mars Elite with dampening and external lockout, Easton C2 carbon post and handle bars..... Shimano clipless
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Petaluma, ca, u.s.
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2002
Strengths: A very strong, light frame. Climbs nice and smooth, and desends like a true suspension bike should.
Weaknesses: The xtr set up. I liked it to start out with, then it just became too much hassel. Since I really don't care about a couple of grams, I didn't really even care.
Bottom Line:
A good bike if your looking for something responsive, and fairly light. It rides great, and I found can be set up to do just about anything.
Bike Setup: XT drive train, XT 4 piston disc brakes, fox float rear shock, 2002 psylo SL
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Byron
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ont, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2002
Strengths: It is a fantastic bike. Very light, tight, responsive frame. It is a great climber with an absolute minimum of bob under hard load.
Weaknesses: Complete XTR package sounds nice in theory, but in practical reality it sucks...unless maybe you are a spindly 140lb who likes to tune your bike every ride...or even better twice per ride! It is great stuff when it is freshly tuned and clean, but under hard riding and dirt it simply does not stand up.
Bottom Line:
A great high performance FS XC bike at a reasonable price. Marin makes a great, under-respected frame. It works well and it is well built. Get rid of the XTR cassette and crank immediately...or go out, ride them once, bend them, and then replace them.
