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Submitted by
Ramsés
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CADate Reviewed: September 24, 2005
Strengths: Light, rigid, super strong and stiff steel grade.Weaknesses: As with all steel frames, slight flex when you crank it hard. No rear disc brake mounts.Bottom Line: It's like I'm riding the latest James Bond car. This frame is extremely luxurious and classy. Handles like a dream, and it makes me neglect my Marin Mt. Vision dualie a lot. The steel grade is as good as it gets, and it is sad that Marin discontinued this high-grade steel frame.
Might be light, but the frame is very strong. At 200 lbs., I've managed to gotten it 3 feet up and landed and kept on riding. This I wouldn't attempt an a xc race hardtail made of aluminum. But the steel is real.
The steel absorbs a lot of the vibration, so your legs and feet will wear out much less than on aluminum and (dare I say?) stiff titanium. The only setback is that on my standard size (46-34-24) cranks, the bottom of the frame will flex and tug slightly when cranking really hard. I'm probably just too used to aluminum frames over years. Some like it like that. But on most offroad terrain, this flex is insignificant.
The overall design and craftmanship by Marin is top stuff. The welds are super smooth. The square-like tubing and triangular seat/chain stays provide excellent rigidness (same design still used in their current hardtail lineup), nearing aluminum rigidness and stiffness.
If you find one, and you're looking for the most comfortable ride and strength value, go for it! Ride your dualie for places no hardtail can go. Ride the Team Marin UltraFoco frame/bike everywhere else.
Favorite Trail: Moab & Colo. Springs
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At: eBay find
Similar Products Used: Reynolds 853 steel road bike, numerous aluminum hardtails and dualies.
Bike Setup: RaceFace Next LP standard size cranks, Eggbeater Candy's, Maxxis Hard Drive XC 2.1" tires, Ritchey WCS OCR wheelset, Avid Arch Supreme v-brakes, Manitou Black Super SPV 80mm, Titec cockpit (carbon post, Pluto stem, 1" riser carbon bar, Ithys Gove saddle), SRAM 9.0/X.0 drivetrain, shifters, and levers.
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Submitted by
doug james
a Racer
from wichita, ksDate Reviewed: March 18, 2002
Strengths: steel frame, old school xc handling, fun to be different when everyone else rides alum.Weaknesses: very long top tube for me (23" on a 17.5" frame) means it is uncomfortable at times, and the bent over, xc racing position makes me wish for something else if i am on a casual rideBottom Line: this bike is awesome for its intended purpose and market --- somebody who rides hard and enjoys a unique bike -- but unless its "hammer day" at the trails, i usually ride something more casual. (Cannondale f700)-- but thats the whole point, its a thoroughbred that needs to riden hard
Favorite Trail: draper & stillwater riding areas, in Oklahoma
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Similar Products Used: just about every type of hardtail
Bike Setup: xtr group, rigid fork
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