Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Wales, UK.
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2007
Strengths: Superb steel frame, light, strong and responsive. Weighs about 25 lb. (11.3kg) Looked pretty at the time, still does. Easy to maintain compared to suspension bikes.
Weaknesses: Seatpost was a pain to clamp, always slipping down. Handlebar barends gouge the crossbar when turned to full extent.
Bottom Line:
I purchased the bike in,I believe,1992. At the time everyone wanted a Marin. They were way ahead of the competition at the time. It'll go just about anywhere, it's great for climbing, pretty good on roughish terrain, accelerates like a scalded cat and gives most road bikes a run for their money. I still love riding it. Worth buying used models even now,(pick one up cheap on ebay). I've recently bought a Spesh Enduro SL Comp. Wow! Superb bike. (I'm 47, I appreciate the comfort!) Like my old Marin, does everything so well. Mountain biking has changed so much in 15 years. Two bikes from different eras, so very different from each other, yet both the best all rounder of their time.
Strengths: Light. Extreme. Durable! Great geometry. And still rolling after 14 years Tyre grip on snow.
Weaknesses: No insurance compensation if it gets stolen, not anymore :( ,so hope it won't. Original light spikes Brakes need yearly attention or they start to "squeek" Original chain was way too long
Bottom Line:
NOT for sale. This one is still in great shape and it is mine! Great value considering the bikes age. Powerful
Favorite Trail: steep cliffs and very narrow paths
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At: finland, 1993...
Similar Products Used: tested many when buying
Bike Setup: almost original - including tyres, xt-dx-lx, only rear spikes had to be replaced 5 in 2001
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Pete Marshall
a Cross Country Rider
from Birmingham
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2006
Strengths: Frame is great, Rock star forks are the best rigid forks every made.
Weaknesses: For its age, nothing.
Bottom Line:
If you can find one second hand that has been well looked after you can pick up one of the best frame/fork combinations every made for a song. I got this for £41.00. I have replaced everything except the bottom braket and the cranks. This has produced a really great rigid bike thatno body will nick (unless I get in painted!) The frame and forks are as good as new, Marin really built good stuff in the early ninties, steel made to last. If you want to build your own bike then they are an ideal starting point. This is a 1993 model and isn't really sutiable for shocks9although you can get them to work) as adding them will spoil the geomitry, however the forks and frame are so good that most of the time you don't really miss them (just slow down a bit!) and going up is far better, something very important to an old man like me.
Bike Setup: After rebuild..wheels Shimano XT Hubs, DT 4.1 rims. LX 9 speed everting else except brakes Avid Arch rival front, 7 rear (I don't use the rear brake so why bother!) Avid levers, STX shifters.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Kerry Williams
a Weekend Warrior
from Colwyn Bay
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2006
Strengths: Light weight steel frame, extremely strong, great downhill bike and exelent on the hill climb
Weaknesses: Handle bars hit the top tube and the shifters are not to accurate
Bottom Line:
This bike handles like a dream amd responsive on both the road and hard trail. Looks great even after using it for 10 years. Acceleration is great, but it come to its own on the down hill when it responds to an extra push and take any punishment given to it. When you have ridden this on hard trail, you know you have had great ride.
Bike Setup: xtr deraliers, brakes as spec, x thumb shifters
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Andrew Spagman
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2002
Strengths: Fantastic Steel, Frame White Industry Cranks
Weaknesses: Brakes needed replacment, Standard Set up too long for most riders, bars can dent top tube
Bottom Line:
This has been a great bike over several years and it has taken me on fire trails, single track and tours across Australia and New Zealand. It climbs like a mountian goat. Light responsive frame and has great handling. The std bars can dent the top tube when the bars are turned full and I used a piece of Aluminium tube around the frame to prevent this. The bike also came with weird badly designed Marin brakes that were impossible to adjust.
Bike Setup: XTR V-Brakes, White Industry Cranks, Duke SL rock shox, LX/XT
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
sasha
a
from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2002
Strengths: light as a feather, strong as an ox, tasty as a bagel, salty as lox.
Weaknesses: Why have a mountain bike without a shock absorber? Maybe because it's so light and fast?
Bottom Line:
I am so very pleased that I chose to buy this 1995(?) bicycle. It seems that this bike was almost not used at all for 6-7 years from looking at the tires. I was torn about buying it, but after studying the website and checking the resale values, I realized that anything I bought new here in Mexico would be much more expensive and would depreciate super fast the moment I crossed over to the US where I mostly live. The eloquent waxing over the feel of the frame and the handling is all true! Cowabunga!
Weaknesses: Nit Picky, the internal wrenching bolts supplied with the frame tend to rust rather easily.
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome! Light as most aluminum frames without the harsh ride. The ride is silky smooth, handling is fantastic. When I bought the bike in 97, the group/price ratio was great. It also offered a decent group with a steel frame. It seems when you move up in group, you have to move up(down) to an aluminum frame. When I was looking for this bike I wanted steel for the ride characteristics and I haven't looked back. I still ride it mostly stock. I am 210lbs and the frame has handled anything I have thrown at it.
Similar Products Used: Trek 7000, Giant Iguana, Diamondback Ascent.
Bike Setup: Manitou Pro C fork Ritchey Scuzzy Logic Headset Thomson Elite Stem Marin Lite Bar (kalloy I think) STX RC hubs, silent clutch rear Mavic rims Velociraptor tires LX levers and shifters XT v-brakes Drive train:LX front end XT rear end
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Edinburgh, Scotland
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2001
Strengths: Light, strong, good for climbs.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Bought this bike second hand from my cousin and it's been a trooper. So light, and indestructible!! Mates who all have recent aluminium frames are all envious!! Steel kicks.
Strengths: Strong yet fairly light frame Great fit Climbs well
Weaknesses: Top tube on a 17.5 in frame could be more sloping to give more crotch clearance
Bottom Line:
This is a great frame and well-suited for the type of riding I do which is mostly singletrack with some rocks and roots and lots of hills. The top tube is just the right length and lets me get a low crouched position to really hammer on the climbs. I wish there were more slope to the top tube so I could have more clearance for my crotch. But the most important factor in bike fit is top tube length not standover clearance. This bike has taken some crashes which I'm sure would've dented aluminum frames but left this one with nary a scratch. I like the ride of steel and will keep riding this one until I decide to get a new bike during which I'll spring for high-end steel.
Bike Setup: '96 Eldridge Grade frame 98 Z2 BAM fork XT front and rear deraileurs XT shifter/brake levers LX V-brakes LX cassette and chain White Industries Crankset w/ LX and Real rings Mavic 238 rims on LX hubs WTB SST Ti seat FSA Orbit DL headset Panaracer Mach SS tires Marin Lite Stem, handlebar, seatpost
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
David Castaneda
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2000
Strengths: Excelent Frame and components. I bought this bike new in '95 and have been riding hard ever since. The balance of this bike is amazing especially during quick switchbacks. Climbing is easy without much flex. I ride the front range of the Rockies in the Pikes Peak region, lots of tough technical climbs and seriously fun singletrack downhills.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike and frame that can take a real beating (I'm 210lbs). I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants to ride serious single track and rough downhills. 5 Flaming Chilis!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by
Pau; Davies
a Cross Country Rider
from Wrexham UK
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2000
Strengths: Resilient steel ride.Durable,stable,neutral handling.Good acceleration and decent components.Very good frame.Easy to get along with,go anywhere bike.Avid V-brakes effective.Good range of sizes.I am 6ft 7 ins and the 20.5 in frame fits me perfectly.Manitou Spyder 98 forks easy to maintain and OK on Medium hits
Weaknesses: Paint chips off too easily.STX-RC chainset functional but ugly lump of metal.Manitou forks not supple enough on small trail hits.Frame a tad heavy
Bottom Line:
A good bike which I got discounted at £560 instead of £665.A reliable steed which i would ride anywhere.
Bike Setup: WTB saddle,Titec 235 seatpost,XT front mech,Xt bottom brackrt and SPD 535 pedals
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Submitted by
Barry Silcock
a Cross Country Rider
from Middlesbrough, England
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2000
Strengths: The EG is a great bike - goes fast and pulls up when you need it to. Great Avid brakes with a srong but light frame.
Weaknesses: The IRC Mythos tyres are showing cracks in the walls indicating perishing. Can this be normal IRC ? the Mythos though give super grip in mud and cornering.
Bottom Line:
The EG was my first mtb when bought in 1998. After 1 month I had a real hummdinger up & over - the EG survived brilliantly but my radius bone head was sheared off ! So guess it's a strong frame.
The EG copes super with all types of terain you care to throw at it from mud, rocks, pebbles and boulders. The front Manitou shocks have a fair re-coil, but maybe mine are not set right. Overall the Eldridge is excellent and I would recommended to anyone.
Similar Products Used: K2 zed m diamond back z-tek bear valley
Bike Setup: Cromoly Frame-Lx,Stx-rc manitou spyder r
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mats
a Cross-Country Rider
from Sweden, Trollhattan
Date Reviewed: May 23, 1999
Strengths: The strength with EG is the strong frame. It's turns very fast. I have had the bike for 6 years and it's still working.
Weaknesses: The spoke nipples are very weak, i had to tighten the spokes after every ride in the beginning. Now i have canged the spokes to Ritchey comp and the rims to mavic 221. The rims were too soft, had to change to some with harder rubber.
Bottom Line:
I think it's a very good bike that you can begin with and use even when you are no longer a novice on MTB. Have had mine since -93. The weakness is the very bad spokes and the rubberlike marin tires without any grip at all.
Bike Setup: Marin Eldrig Grade ,Stiff fork. DX and LX components, and some marin light components.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guido Scherer
a weekend warrior
from Uetikon, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: February 26, 1999
Bottom Line:
I ride my Eldridge Grade for more than 5 years with great fun and no problem at all. Advice for using in the high swiss alps: change front gear to 22/36/46 and maintain your bike regularly.
