US made Aluminum 3VH extruded front triangle with multiple position shock mount, extruded 3 position adjustable Travel swingarm with Disk Mounts. Frame Only • Marzocchi Jr. T 6.75" Travel Fork • Fox Vanilla DC Rear Shock • WTB Grease lite Comp AL Threadless 1 1/8" Headset
Submitted by
chris steiner
a Downhiller
from pittsburgh, pa, usa
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2006
Strengths: The geometry and ride are what I love most about this bike. I have it set up with triple chainrings up front and it really does climb well when you need it to.
Weaknesses: the down tube cable routing is not what I would have prefered but it hasn't been an issue.
Bottom Line:
This is the most underrated frame out there IMO. I see them on ebay going for next to nothing compared to the yeti's, santa cruz's and ellsworths, and if I'm not mistaken these frames were produced in the ellsworth factory! The single pivot is the way to go, it's so simple, durable and effective. Marin really got it right with this frame and I plan to keep it for a long time.
Bike Setup: I actually modified mine with a shorter rear shock and a 5 inch z.1 and for me its the utlimate do anything bike. Now I can put back to stock with my Jr T if I want to enter a DH or use it in its lowered form for epic xc rides.
Strengths: lightweight.geometry.travel.rigidity jumps like a wildcat and pedals like a cross country bike.
Weaknesses: none so far, awesome for an agressive rider
Bottom Line:
awesome frame takes the betting and gives you confidence to go beyond your limits. makes 15foot flat landed drops as if they where sidewalks curves BUY IT RIGHT AWAY!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: KHSdh50 and haro DHR santa cruz V10(way better)
Bike Setup: HFX-9,full XT except crankset(saint) Sherman sliderplus(not great for dh racing but great for everything else) amoeba chainguide and raceface stem and headset
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2004
Strengths: Solid Frame. 10.5" of travel. Light enough to pedal on trails. Very adjustable for travel and geometry. Good for both Freeride and Downhill. Powdercoat is awesome.
Weaknesses: None so far and with this name brand I don't expect any.
Bottom Line:
I've got this bike set up at 9" rear and the 7" front Jr.T Pro with heavy springs. I ride the bike on XC trails occasionally and it is a nice bike to pedal when you have to. Nice riding position in the saddle, lots of room in the cockpit. You don't feel cramped for room. I test rode a few different makes and these Marin's keep drawing me to them. Very comfortable for me.
Drop the seat down for DH and "drop in". It's easy to get from the saddle, out over that back tire and back to the saddle again for technical DH riding. I can't believe how plush the suspension is on this bike. Very smooth on drops, and when decending.
I've ridden Marin bikes now for 12 years. This is my first DH/Freeride type bike. I got into DH a couple years ago and I don't regret buying this bike for a second. I still ride my pimped out Marin East Peak XC FRS more than the Wildcat but I'm getting more and more into this North Shore riding scene every week. This bike makes it easy. A total pleasure to ride. I recommend this bike as any other Marin bike to anyone.
Favorite Trail: Panarama Mountain Villiage (haven't been to Whistler yet)
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At: The Realm Bikes & Boards (via Pinkbike.com)
Similar Products Used: Kona Stab, Stinky. Norco A-line, Drop.
Bike Setup: I bought as frame only. Built up on my own. Jr.T Pro, Fox Vanilla RC, Race Face North Shore Dh Cranks with 2 chainrings and bashguard, Diabolous stem, bars and seat post. Rhino Lite TCB wheels with Shimano XT disc hubs/Tioga Factory DH 2.5 rubber. XT shifters,levers and cassette, XTR front and rear deraileurs, Avid Mechanical Ball Bearing Disc Brakes with 8" rotors. Tioga multi control DH saddle and Tioga Flat Pedals.
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Submitted by
Ian Foreman
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2003
Strengths: Just try to break it... It is surprisingly good for climbing (as far as I can tell at any rate!)... Really good for us big guys (it has the longest distance between stem and seat of any bike that I tried).
Weaknesses: It is heavy (but then again, aren't all of the downhill bikes), and... not having a real triangle (twice when sliding off of a plank or log and hitting the rear hub on that same plank or log, the frame has flexed and the back wheel has litterally popped out!!! Not a problem so far but there is a chance of doing some real damage to the wheel if you're unlucky!)
Bottom Line:
This bike re-kindled my love of mountain biking. Each and every ride is so much fun even if it is an easy ride... I never think whether or not any stunt is bad for my bike and the limits of my riding are only how I feel that day. If I'm feeling good, I don't hesitate to land this bike on an ugly landing area... Where was this bike 5 years ago when I needed it??? - but then again if I had this bike when I wasn't over the hill I may have done something stupid with it!!!
Similar Products Used: I tried the Specialized Big Hit and Rocky Mountain RM-7. ... but, when you've got the best, why use the rest??
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Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from middlebury
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2002
Strengths: strong frame......lots of travel. very inexpensive. nice looking
Weaknesses: still doesn't fit in car?
Bottom Line:
this is a follow up review to the one i posted before. no issues at all. taken 8 footers to pretty flat landings and not a problem. rocky technical descents? ha! it laughs and so did i. high speed? loves it. buy this bike and you won't be dissapointed.
Strengths: Every thing this bike is so amzing the ride is unmatchable. I have ridin a few nice bikes that cost a whole lot more and this feels just as good or better at a fration of the price.
Weaknesses: Nothing that i can feel if you want to get technical about it you have to much time on your hands.
Bottom Line:
Get this bike it is so cool and has the smoothest ride with 11" inches of travel ya can't get better and for the Jr.t it is the bomb. BUT WHAT ARE YA DOIN' SITTIN AT THE COMPUTER GO RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: None with this amount of plush travel and is your talkin about some smoooooooooth ridin ya there are some nice bikes.
Bike Setup: Jr.t,XT comp,8" FR 6" RR Hayes,Truvativ Husslafet,24" wheels,etc,etc.
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Submitted by
James Varley
a Weekend Warrior
from edmonton,alberta,canada
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002
Strengths: everything the price, travel, and fork
Weaknesses: shifters, front deraileur, cranks, rims. had to replace them all. deore shifters and frot deraileur whats up with that.
Bottom Line:
good bike under speced for sure. the team dh frame is like 2100 in can dollars and the wild cat which is complete and the same frame except for the rear axle is only 3700 can. so i guess you get what you pa for. i bought this bike and there has been noing wrong with it. and if given a chance i would buy it again.
Strengths: burly frame and not flexy. MADE IN USA. plush. not a bad climber for the occassional uphill. quick and responsive. easy adjust rear suspension
Weaknesses: hhhmmmm. doesn't fit in back of car? does that count?
Bottom Line:
great bike till the long uphill, but you will grin ear to ear on the way down. single track? loves it. lay into it as much as you want and it's there. not as heavy as some other dh oriented bikes. can be set up as an all round bike also. single pivot means good pedal effeciency and not a whole lot of bobbing, considering the travel. get one and try for yourself. very plush. don't buy it if you don't want a bike that you have to hold back on the descents.
Similar Products Used: own a giant ac 1. rocky mountain, kona stinky, ellsworth joker
Bike Setup: built frame up. not bought complete. marzocchi super t qr 20, king headset, race face stem azonic bars, hayes hydros, speed v seat, hussefelt cranks, sun ringle octane pedals, rhyno rear with hayes hub, sun singletrack front with abbah hub.
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Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterbury, Connecticut
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2002
Strengths: Price, value, components, Marin's crash replacement policy (you break it, no matter how, and you get a new swingarm or front triangle for $190). I am really impressed with the adjustability and components spec'ed on this bike. The 8 inch rotor is a nice touch, all the parts aside from stem bar and seatpost are namebrand. Travel, travel, travel. Ten year pivot bearing warrenty.
Weaknesses: Single pivots are effected by pedaling...you sacrafice this for the durability. The WTB tires are not good in soft soil, but they roll great. That is about it.
Bottom Line:
I really like this bike, it is really fun to ride, and inspires confidence. It is really smooth and tracks great. I would tell anyone to at least give it a test ride, especially if you do not have alot of money.
Submitted by
Jay Syvanen
a Downhiller
from San Diego, California, USA
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2002
Strengths: Travel-Travel adjustability, jr.t's, relatively light, Hayes brake like no other, ummm...everything
Weaknesses: let me know if you find one.
Bottom Line:
this bike is one of the best for extreme freeriding, if you huck and depended on luck(that rhymes) to land this is the rig for you! it is very agile compared to other big travel bikes, i love my bike!
