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Marin Palisades Trail

MSRP $ 599.99
# of Reviews 9
Average Rating 4.56/5
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Submitted by Cameron Leitrants a Cross Country Rider from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $1100.00
Purchased At:Petrie's cycle+sport
Strengths:Light, durable, all-around nice bike.
Weaknesses:Wierd grips.
Similar Products Used:Gary Fisher Piranha and Rocky Mountain Soul.
Bike Setup:Manitou axel elite fork, Tru Ativ crank, Hayes Sole disk brakes, 6061 alloy stem and handle bars, and Shimano hubs.
Bottom Line:Wicked bike! Marin makes the best XC bikes and this is no exception!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Wayne Mews a Weekend Warrior from Regina, Sk, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:Lake minnewanka ( Banff Canada)
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $650.00
Purchased At:various
Strengths:smooth ride and my first Aluminium bike I really enjoy riding this bicycle. It is very responsive and agile
Weaknesses:I would use double butted spokes next time and need bar ends
nothing else is below my expectations.
Similar Products Used:Giant Iguana
Bike Setup:built from parts 2003 palisades frame, race face prodidy cranks, orbit xl head set,Cronos Al (130gm) bars, lx hubs - dt 14G spoke-mavic x221 rims self built wheels, marin seat post, aerion seat ( ti rails), shimano lx shifters(8sp), xt deraillers (both), Shimano deore rim brakes, promax brake levers, manitou six deluxe fork, wellgo c-10 pedals
Bottom Line:I had great fun chasing down all the components and building the bike from scratch. The final product is very satisfying to ride.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Chico Llanes a Weekend Warrior from Houston
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:Smithville
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $700.00
Purchased At:Sun & Ski Sports
Strengths:Very light Frame
Hydrolic Disc Breaks
Weaknesses:Shabby Fork
For the price it doesn't come with clipless pedals
Similar Products Used:GF tassajara
Specialized Rockhopper Comp
Bike Setup:Deore all around (shifter, hubs, derailuers)
Manitou AXEL shock
TruVativ 5D crank
Hayes So1e hydrolic disc brakes
Bottom Line:Overall this is a very nice ride. I have had a Motobecane 600HT for three years now and sum jerk stole it right outside my front door. Anyways, I bought my Marin Palisades Trail '05 and have been riding it every day. The components insure smooth shifting and I happen to have an LX Rear Derailuer that will easily swap out with the deore stock. I was a little dissapointed that for the price, the bike didn't come with clipless pedals. Marin makes up for that by installing a really nice Hayes Hydrolic braking system. Something I had to have in case I move back to Seattle. (luv their weather!)
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Patrick McGrath a Cross Country Rider from Orange, CA USA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:-
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $499.00
Purchased At:Adrenaline Bikes
Strengths:The product I am reviewing is a 2004, not 2003.
Good components, fairly light, nice frame disc brakes.
Weaknesses:Handlbars and fork.
Similar Products Used:03 Giant Yukon. Demoed kona cindercone, specialized rockhopper.
Bike Setup:All stock for now.
Bottom Line:This bike is a great purchase. At the price I paid ($500) it is equipped with way better components that you would find on the competition. I was debating between this and the '04 Kona cinder cone, but the palisades was nearly $200 cheaper. Compared to the old Giant I was using this one performs way better. Much smoother shifting and climbs way better. I took it to a trail I frequent quite a bit, and this bike would just climb much better than what the Yukon did. The disc brakes are a nice addition. Kinda crappy for the first few rides but then break in. The only thing I wish could be changed with the stock setup is the handle grips. For some reason my hands sweat way more than with the Giant. Definetely buy this bike if you are looking to get into mountainbiking. It will make you want to bike more and is a pleasure to ride. I was looking at the Kona, GF Tassajara, and this one. Aside from all the technical stuff, the bike looks awesome. Jet black with some grey accents and the tubing is not your standard cylindrical tubing. It resembles more of a triangle. Buy the bike.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Tom a Cross Country Rider from Indianapolis
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:Nebo
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $450.00
Purchased At:Galyans
Strengths:Great Frame, have had absolutely no problems with it or the components. Very fast bike, very easy to climb with.
Weaknesses:None
Similar Products Used:Raleigh, Trek
Bike Setup:Stock (shimano deore, truvativ crank, manitou fork), but added Crank Brother pedals
Bottom Line:After trying Marin, I won't buy another bike from any other company. This bike is perfect for me. THe only adjustment I might make is the tires for better handling.

Great for both beginners and experts. My next upgrade will be hydraulic brakes.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Matt a Cross Country Rider from Arlington,TX,USA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $325.00
Purchased At:Galyan's
Strengths:decent weight, durable
Weaknesses:stock tires and long stem, but haven't broken anything yet
Bike Setup:Super Skareb forks, and removed all the p.c. gear
Bottom Line:Very competitive for the price, spent the first month trying to break it, and it held. Good XC bike that can handle almost anything you throw at it. Outstanding deal, tough frame.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Matt a Downhiller from NY
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:Every trail
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $530.00
Purchased At:Bike Works
Strengths:Frame is really light. Different style than other frames.
Weaknesses:Wheels, pedals and shocks. Will need to upgrade over the years, but withstandable.
Similar Products Used:Raliegh, Ross, Mongoose,not the best!
Bottom Line:If your looking for a nice quality and affordable bike, this is the one. I'm sick of those weekend warriors who bring out there high priced and high polished bikes, when they obviously don't need to spend thousands on something they never use. Was looking at the gary fisher tassajara, but to ugly and decided against going for the most well known bikes. This is my first and last real Mountain Bike.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by chris a Downhiller from tusan
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:all of them
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $350.00
Purchased At:ebay
Strengths:frame, fork, paint job
Weaknesses:brakes, (do not last long on the trail)
Similar Products Used:schwinn mesa gsx
Bike Setup:manitou magnum, Lx fr and rear.
Bottom Line:a great bike for the price, the frame is really strong and lasts a long time, it is also great for jumping and for cross country, going fast and jumping is what it is made for.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Simon Millington a Racer from UK
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:Good quality light weight frame and forks, with good ride and handling.
Weaknesses:Poor wheels as supplied, and both wheels and frame are spoilt by braze ons and adaptations for upgrading to disc brakes
Bottom Line:I find all current mtbs have a rather upright geometry, especially with the longer reach forks now standard. I upgraded the wheels to Mavic 517 and Specialized Pro tyres, and the bike handles great with stable but lively performance every bit as good as my previous bike; Parkpre Team 925 (Tange Ultimate ultralight steel tubing).
Good bike for fast fitness and sport riding over general cross country terrain, and good enough for racing without spending a vast sum of money.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3






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