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Submitted by
tom parsons
a Downhiller
from bristol
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | emersons green | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay.co.uk | | Strengths: | RST HI 5 forks, mavic wheels, specialized crank and the fox vanilla r | | Weaknesses: | the standard shock supplied, the shock had no damping so it was crap for landing jumps and for downhill | | Similar Products Used: | marin alpine trail and apollo outrage | | Bike Setup: | rst hi5 forks, hope minis front and rear, fox vanilla r, mavic dh wheels, shimano lx gear shifters, specialized crank, dmr v8 pedals, tioga factory dh tyres, planet x dh saddle and azonic riser dh bars. | | Bottom Line: | good bike to start off with unless you do not jump or do down hill riding. if purchased change standard shock to a fox vanilla r, upgrade to hydro disks eg hope and change forks to marzocchi jr t's and you will have the ultimate downhill and jump bike.
its the best bike i have ever had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
buy one dont waste your money on the other stuff | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ian
a Downhiller
from gloucester
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | forest of dean drop trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | this is good if upgraded forks recommended are Jr Ts or equalivent then freeride or down hill is good fun its practibly bomb proof i have ran in to trees eaten dirt and its still alive and well. well balanced definatly need to beef up a little shock isnt too bad but mine is gonna go soon for a nice three way or fifth element(note too self stop drooling).
Not too big either so street is not out of the options good having a full sus for stair drops and general abuse but lugging round a 222 would be mental or fitness freak.
Handles jumps not too bad but i will say bomb holes are great fun on this bike. | | Weaknesses: | need to beef up change wheels and forks first then upgrade as is dated gear.
triple clamps needed for good stance and wheels for strength x222's are crap for dh. | | Similar Products Used: | kona stab,idrive and stinky five(all friends bikes but upgraded to equal of mine). | | Bike Setup: | JR T's hope headset hope c2 frontbrake xt rear v lx through out drive train, d521 rims every thing else is standard. | | Bottom Line: | nice all rounder good fun on trails and dh.Just needs beefing up! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simon Ashby
a Downhiller
from Devon England
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Scadson woods | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Second hand / new | | Strengths: | Rides like somthing much more expesive until it breaks. Me and my mate have been through 4 frames and 4 shocks in total, but it was worth every moment. Marin warranty is great. My freind still has the last one we got off Marin- a B17 / Alpine trail hybrid with a Fox Vanilla R shock.
(I've got a RM Switch ltd now).
In the last few days we have been doing a 15 foot dropoff in our local woods, and its STILL in one piece. | | Weaknesses: | As said by others- the rear end is weak. Also the top tube aint much good either, we have broken two of each.
Also the original single seal shock supplied with the original '98 version was DIRE, it lasted less than three days. New twin seal shock was better, but the Fox is the best. | | Similar Products Used: | Box 2, ATX D990 Switch LTd, Saracen Frensy, Torus Titanium | | Bike Setup: | B17- Original Manitous, Truvative cranks, original hope C2's, combats, nokian tyres
Switch- Marz Z1FR's, D521's, Goldtec/Hope hubs, clarks 6 pots, middleburn cranks, race face bar; stem; post; BB; Ring, XT | | Bottom Line: | Sweet bike for the price, especially if bought second hand. (My mate is currently selling his for $400 COMPLETE!)
A little weak, but I rode mine for 4 years before the frame broke the first time (because I started going bigger).
Will last if you are 10 stone or less........
Ideal first FR/DH bike. Learn on this bike, make it last as long as possible (especially if bought new so warranty avail) and then get somthing stronger (like a Switch) the only reason the B17 isn't as strong as others is because it so light!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Downhiller
from Exeter
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cove | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Boot sale | | Strengths: | Fairly light, good travel, single pivot | | Weaknesses: | Poor shock, reliability issues, strength | | Similar Products Used: | Giant ATX2/XTC/Box1/2 | | Bike Setup: | Z1 Dropoffs, wheels, cranks etc etc | | Bottom Line: | Good for their time, outclassed and not capable of todays demands | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gary
a Weekend Warrior
from Bangor, N.I
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | moneyscalp | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | my mates garage | | Strengths: | strong as hell, if you set it up rite it'll float over your favorite trail | | Weaknesses: | rear shock. swinging arm could be better | | Similar Products Used: | lets not go into that | | Bike Setup: | upgraded rear shock, 2003 junior T's, chieftan cranks, LX brakes, XT mech & shifter, tioga 2.5's | | Bottom Line: | this is a fantastic machine, can really take a beating, it has coped well with my poor riding in the northern ireland series, spend time setting it up and u wont regret it, especially if you can find a bargain like mine, frame for £30 i wasnt going to say no! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Green
a Downhiller
from Nottingham
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Hemlock | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1260.00 | | Strengths: | Frame,value, funky pearlesant paint, value, lots of proper bike for your money! | | Weaknesses: | rear shock (blew first one up on first ride 2nd one lasted bit longer), original wheels (front wheel only lasted a week), tyres | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz super 8, santa cruz bullit, rocky mountain rm7, orange 222 | | Bike Setup: | Stratos helix pro dh rear shock, azonic bars, planet x stem, dmr jump seat, dmr chieftain cranks with 25/7 ring, tioga 2.3" dh tyres, dmr speed guide, mavic d521 on lx hubs (36 spoke), | | Bottom Line: | Feels smoother down our local trials than my mates bullit with its 5th eliment shock (he was well pissed off), really chuckable and cheap as chips! (untill you start adding things to it!!!) As long as holds together i aint swapping it!
If you can find one in good condition buy it! but most of them get ridden till they die! (they con you into thinking your on a top DH rig) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mekon
a Cross Country Rider
from Sussex
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Dyke run | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Rayments | | Strengths: | do anything ability | | Weaknesses: | rubbish rear shock as stock | | Similar Products Used: | various | | Bike Setup: | Primo Vmonster grips, x-lite DH bar, DH stem, beartraps, upgraded rear shock, manitou x-vert front shock, tioga semi slicks | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike because I wanted a freeride bike with plenty of travel. After blowing three rear shocks (the combination of sessioning doubles - heat and lots of bottoming out seems to do it), Marin gave me a better shock (still a shockworx, but with adjustable compression and rebound, plus a stiffer spring). Since then, I've had no problems, despite riding it like it's a dirt bike most of the time. I ended up getting totally sick of not being able to do x-ups with dual crown forks, and fancied dropping some weight. Manitou X-verts proved ideal. The bike is now a zero maintanance joy. It has enough travel to give it plenty of plushness, and is fully diallable. Mine feels like I am riding on mattresses. It'll handle 50mph runs down Devils Dyke, harsh climbs (as long as you can spin smoothly), and sessions on the doubles without breaking sweat. I can't see myself replacing it, it is perfect for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Extreme Sports, Doncaster | | Strengths: | Hmm..Not much. Brake levers. | | Weaknesses: | How long have you got?, I've busted 6 shocks, snapped 3 frames (Swingarm twice, BB shell came off), Wheels lasted me a week, And I'm not a heavy person (11 Stone) I don't ride that hard (6 ft drops) and it just falls apart everytime. It's been in bit's more than it's been together. | | Similar Products Used: | Pace RC500, Super 8, San Andreas, Marin Team DH | | Bike Setup: | Pace RC150 Monstors, DMR Cheiftains, Hope Big'un's on D321's, MRP Chaindevice, 24/7 ring and seat, Hope M4's, Tioga stem, Azonic Bars. | | Bottom Line: | Avoid at all costs. Even my sister could break this bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martyn
a Downhiller
from Lancashire England
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to say! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | The bike shop manchester | | Strengths: | It's Mega strong! takes big hits with ease, and climbs well too. Handling is very good similar to the bullit | | Weaknesses: | It's really hard to fit a chain device due to the swing arm but with a bit of fiddling a 42-46 dh rig goes in ok. The rear disk was a bit awkward to set up | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz heckler | | Bike Setup: | super t pro's hope M4's race face,club roost and xt | | Bottom Line: | It's a great bike! I've had a few minor problems, mainly due to the hammering it gets! The suspension buhes are easy to change and over all its easy to look after. The lifetime guarantee is a real bonus and Marin are very helpful.
I've done allsorts on this bike from xc(don't laugh!) to some dh racing, dirt jumping and freeriding. Its a really good all rounder that doesn't cost the earth. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graeme Wadhams
a Downhiller
from Surrey
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Europe Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | UK - £1200 | | Strengths: | Despite breaking this frame recently - this frame has taken a HAMMERING! It is actually suprisingly strong for what it looks like, and has stood up to DH punishmant and many crashes. Handling is nice and sharp, it makes you feel really comfortable in both technical sections and faster decents. It's light enough to pedal half way up to the top again, it's not tooo heavy pushing. | | Weaknesses: | The rear swingarm is of a bad design, the chain rubs on the swingarm, the swingarm cracks around the pivots (i'm not the 1st for this either, a mate of mine's did the same) the swingarm's design makes it hard to fit a chain device | | Similar Products Used: | Slalom bikes, other DH | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Jr T, Chain Device, DH finishing kit | | Bottom Line: | Very good solid stable bike, the brakes could be better, and the rear swingarm could be stronger. if you are doing anything but really silly UK DH you'll be fine on this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nielle
a Downhiller
from Allentown, PA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything at Plattekill | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Nestor's Full Cycle | | Strengths: | great rear shock, good frame | | Weaknesses: | the rear disc mount is useless unless you find a machinist to fashion an adapter | | Similar Products Used: | oh, so many bikes, so little time | | Bike Setup: | Since getting the '98 B17, I have put on an XMO XL-70 fork (www.XMOUSA.com), Hayes disc up front, Oddessey platform pedals, a Pazzaz 0 rise 0 reach stem, ODI Ruffian grips, a Titec Berserker DH seat, Sun Rhyno Lite rims, IRC Kujo 2.35 tires | | Bottom Line: | After all that I have invested, I am so very pleased with my ride. Everyone who has ever ridden my bike swears it is as smooth as a Cadillac. With the huge fork up front, I have complete balance and a killer DH head angle. My bike is still lighter than those expensive monster DH bikes and retains agility in the tighter trails.
I got a steal when I bought this bike on close-out for $900. The frame and rear shock have served me well.
Now if I could just get a disc mount for the rear it would earn 5 chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff
a Downhiller
from Birmingham England
Date Reviewed: July 14, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Meaty bike with decent bits for just £1300 | | Weaknesses: |
long stem, crap tyres | | Similar Products Used: |
Scott Octane
FSR
Saracens etc. | | Bike Setup: |
Speed spring upgraded Hi5s, Tioga dh tyres, 35mm stem | | Bottom Line: | For the money its an amazing bike.
Handles downhill like a £3000 bike ( with fork spring upgrade ) yet is well enough designed to do XC to reach the DHs.
Watch out for weak alu marin seat post if you fit a good saddle ( mines a Planet X DH ) as i wasted mine, and 30.0 is a pain in the ass size to get a good replacement for. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Downhiller
from Bear Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Cape Horn to Immigrant | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Price, Performance, Durability, Looks. | | Weaknesses: |
Could have a better parts pick (but for the price who's complaining) | | Similar Products Used: |
Specialized FSR
Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: |
Bullet Zzyxx Fork
Hayes 8 inch Hydraulic disk on the front
IRC Kuju tires and Mavic 517 wheels | | Bottom Line: | Great bike right out of the box. Definately a down hill oriented freeride bike but I ride it everywhere. With the new parts I've upgraded to I've become more and more happy with it. I won the very first downhill race I ever entered on this bike bone stock. The second race I got 4th. If you are looking for a great bike at an incredible price you just can't bet this won. The 1999 model has an even better fork and disk brakes for just a little bit more money, still a great buy. | | Overall Rating: |
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