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Submitted by
Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from NE New Mexico, USA
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Prefer two-track | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | I agonized over a FS MTB for several months. Being that I live in a very rural location, trying out a bunch of bikes simply wasn't an option, so I read carefully here and finally popped for the Marin Rock Springs. Overall, I'm happy with the Rock Springs, although I probably would not buy the TARA again as I'm much more of a "set it and forget it" kind of rider, rather than one who stops and changes bike geometry for every downhill or uphill. I ride mostly for fitness and do so 2-5 times a week; I've put a few miles on the bike and it's been reliable and steady so far.
I was impressed with the FS and the way it smoothes out small road ripples- makes riding SO much more comfortable on my butt and back. I also ride motocross dirt bikes and am no stranger to good suspension. The bob doesn't bother me at all and in fact, I've learned to use the rhythm of the bob to help me pedal. I have no problems with the noises that others have reported, but then again, I wear two hearing aids and remove them when I ride! The bike handles good, but it took a bit to get used to the significantly higher center of gravity compared to my hard-tail. I'm sitting a good 2-3" higher off the ground. The weight is almost exactly the same as my old hardtail and I have no complaints there. I'm riding for exercise anyway.
The stock seat was excellent, the bars good enough, the crank doesn't flex under my pedaling, and it shifts crisp and clean. Someday I might replace the stock shifters with a twist-grip type to clean up the bars, but it's not a pressing issue. The stock tires are adequate and tires are $25/pair on sale so I don't see that as a big deal. | | Weaknesses: | 1) the Black forks leaked immediately and are too soft. I can live with them, but I'll keep my eye open for a close-out replacement.
2) the rear disc brake took some break-in before the pads fully cleared the disc. Otherwise, I set them once and haven't touched 'em since. Am glad I went with mechanical disc rather than hydraulic for reduced maint.
3) the TARA is _very_ stiff to adjust. I had to file mind down a little before I could get it to move. I played around with it some, but now just leave it in the middle. That's why I say I wouldn't get a TARA again- It's not a bad thing, just unneccesary, for what I want.
4) I might someday replace the stock shifters with a twist-grip type to clean up the under-bar clutter. | | Similar Products Used: | None- this is my first FS. Prior to this I have (still have) a Gary Fisher Supercaliber w/ one of the first Rock Shox. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Replaced pedals with toe-clip pedals due to gimpy right knee which does not like clip-ins. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent for the money. I'm know there's lighter, faster, tricker bikes out there, but for $750, for my purposes (fitness), the Rock Springs is fine. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Cy Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun & Ski Sports | | Strengths: | Solid-built frame; Good fork. | | Weaknesses: | Some of the spec parts are a bit questionable. I'm not crazy about the X-139 rims that came with the bike and I was a bit surprised to find a square-taper crankset on a mid-priced bike. The bolt that secures the shock to the frame broke when I over-tightened it (my bad, I know... but be careful not to overtighten those little 5mm screws). | | Similar Products Used: | Haro hardtail. This is my first full-suspension bike. | | Bike Setup: | Truvative Stylo crankset; Fox shock rebuilt and modified by Push; Sun DS-1 rear rim purchased off ebay - used but cheap... and better than stock, but I'll probably need to upgrade soon). | | Bottom Line: | I am a 200lb rider who had problems with warped rims and a flexy frame on my hardtail, so I was looking for a very solid ride from my next bike. The Rock Springs has not disappointed. It feels really solid and tracks well. The fork travel is adjustable from 100 to 120mm, so I set the fork travel to match the rear travel (you know, 100mm when the rear is set to 4 inches and 120mm when it is set for 5 inches) and ride all day. The shock would not hold air when I brought the bike home so I sent it off to Push for a rebuild and stable-platform valve. Thus modified, the shock has been flawless. The bike pedals pretty well and soaks up bumps, large and small, without a problem.
Overall, the bike is a bit on the heavy side, but it is really good all-around for heavy riders, or riders that are hard on their equipment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike Nyquist
a Racer
from Chicago IL USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | EAST COAST ROCKER | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | work for bike shop | | Strengths: | This bike has an awsome frame. The Tara frame setup really really handles well in all conditions. The Hayes HFX-9 have some of the best stopping power I have ever tried!!! | | Weaknesses: | BIKE IS KINDA HEAVEY BUT JUST MAKES ONE BIKE HARDER! The bottom bracket need some improvement mine has gone out of work order in a 1 month time span!
| | Similar Products Used: | trex liquid marin attack trail | | Bike Setup: | Stock other than a changed out the back shock to a fox floar rl.
| | Bottom Line: | HOLD UP if you reading this and your saying why not just go the level up the Attact Trail.... Well ill tell you why! because you could save the 500 bucks and and up grade the rear shock and and maybe put a carbon seat post on it and make the bikes same. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Tx.
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun And Ski | | Strengths: | Great adjustability, climbs well, soaks up the bumps well. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap wheels, front derailure never seems to work right. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 98, Specialized FSR, Trek Liquid, Klein Palamino | | Bike Setup: | Bone stock for now. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for my all-around style. I've done harsh urban rides, harsh trail rides, and everything in between. The picture isn't in fact the bike I have but I'm sure it's an 03. Anyways mine is the single pivot version with the house wheels that aren't all that great. It climbs really wheel when I'm out of the saddle, but sucks when I'm in the seat. Great suspension and never seems to bottom out, but I am a light weight. I keep it in 5" mode most of the time and it does everything pretty well. I do have problems keeping up with a friend on his Fuel 98 but I didn't drop $2400 on my bike. The original tires grab well but are rough when your doing urban. Overall no complaints and it does great as my primary bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cameron Degziade
a Cross Country Rider
from Pelican, Slint, Labradford
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | The Dillinger Escape Plan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | mosquito-bikes.co.uk | | Strengths: | lightness (14.5kilo's in 17.5" size), sturdyness, reliability, makes you ride longer and faster | | Weaknesses: | chain clang when going downhill, wide bar. | | Similar Products Used: | whyte jw-4, kona cindercone | | Bike Setup: | standard. | | Bottom Line: | Unlike most people buying this bike or wanting to buy it, I am not (or don't pretend to be), a bike racer. I use my bike to commute, and to ride inner city (usually while intoxicated with high grade skunk). I'm a decent rider as is anyone who rides every day.
Before my Marin Rock Springs I had been riding a Jeep Comanche Full Suspension from a catalogue. It was as heavy as hell and specced out with the worst possible mass produced components, however I rode it for 6 months non-stop and I have to say its a trusty bike.
Now the Marin. It looks as good as any bike i've seen (apart from the Orange 222 w/Rock Shox Boxxer's). Its made from T6 Alloy making the bike very sturdy while light, its about 14.5 kilo's in size 17.5 which makes it easy to carry up stairs (or mountains in your case). The picture on this site shows a bike with a different frame, its the same color with the same pattern but the Magura Julie disc brakes look a bit weedy on the picture and the frame looks more chunky. Mine also came with Orange colored Mantinou Black's with the gold forks.
After riding for a while, all I have to say is 'smooth'. The Shimano Deore gear change is rapid and quick, the hydraulic discs provide wonderful stopping power, the front fork is adjustable from 100mm to 120mm in the turn of a switch and belive me this is a responisve and bouncy fork when it needs to be. The rear Air Shock is by Fox who have specced the Rock Springs out with its Float R shock which provides a killer smooth ride and is 3 stage adjustable thanks to Marins TARA system. The rather wide riser bar is connected with a lightweight FSA (Full Speed Ahead)FR200 stem. The bike has a Shimano Deore LX rear mech with Truvative Five D Chainset/Cranks and Pro Disc 32 hole Hubs on the black Mavic x139 rims. The beefy 2.24 inch tyres are courtesy of WTB (Wilderness Trail Bikes) as is very comfy saddle. The SPD Pedals are also made by WTB and I find riding in my DC'S comfortable on the SPD pedal. I did get some DMR Magnesium V12's for my freeriding but I don;t mind which pedal to ride with as both are lightweight and sturdy.
You have to remember that if you want to park this bike out around town, you shouldn't. Quick Release is a big feature of this and most proffessional mountain bikes, from the rear suspension to the saddle to both wheels. I bought some top locks from Kyrptonite and Abus and still don't feel comfortable leaving it out. Also the beautiful frame can be easily scratched and when you are going down kerbs or stairs or just downhill, there is an annoying clanging from the chain.
Otherwise this is an amazing bike. Long journeys and big uphills that used to tire me are just eaten up on this bike. If you are approaching this bike from a crappy catalogue bike then you (like me) will be really suprised by its smoothness, responsiveness, lightness and its ability to make you do longer journeys.
Anyway, I thought I'd write a review seeing as info on good bikes is suprinsingly hard to get on the web. This bike retails for £1295 in the UK but as I went for the 03 model rather than the 04 model I got it for a very respectable £950. If you want the 04 model you get Marzocchi MX Pro forks, a nice dark grey/red/white color scheme with wavy Magura julie discs and Mavic XM-117 black rims.
I also was interested in the Whyte jw-4, Specialized Big Hit, Trek Fuel 90, Cannondale Jekyll 600 and Kona's Stinky and Coiler. All very good bikes for similar prices.
I'm off to listen to Converge, smoke ganj and ride my bike thru the city. Fcuk all the unbelivers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Parker
a Weekend Warrior
from York
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2175.00 | | Purchased At: | York Cycleworks | | Strengths: | Bought the 2004 model.
First impressions are excellent. This bike is very quick down the hills, climbs quiet well, those reviews that say 'as good as a hard tail' aren't completely true. But it won't disapoint. The MX pro forks are truly superb and the ETA lock down thing is useful when riding back up the hills. Only tried the bike in 4" setting once, seems a bit of a waste of time unless your using it on a road, but who'd spend £1300 on a full suss for that kind of ride? It also came with SPD's but when its aimed at the freeride market these would be probably left in the shed. I've swapped mine for some flats. Tyres are wider than last years and are good in the mud. the bikes weight seems as good as any for the money and the spec is good too, good bars, seat and a neat looking stem. | | Weaknesses: | Julie brakes squal a bit and need a good bit of adjustment after 2 rides, but it just wearing in so i'm sure they'll settle down. | | Similar Products Used: | Orange Sub 5 | | Bike Setup: | As UK spec from new | | Bottom Line: | Better than i thought it would be and would recommend one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Penhydd / The Wall - Afan Forest Park, Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike, Bristol | | Strengths: | Purchasing this bike has added a whole new dimension to my life - I've had great fun being able to do cross country trails, singletrack, climbs, descents I would never have dreamed of! Being able to change the front and rear suspension settings is great (though have only used the 6 inch rear setting once). The specification is outstanding for the price - why pay hundreds of pounds (or dollars) more for a similar bike that's slightly lighter and got a few more bits of XT or XTR on (most people probably can't tell the difference anyway). With Magura discs and better tyres Marin have obviously taken note of comments about the 2002 model. No wonder this bike won What Mountain Bike's Bike of the Year in 2003 in the UK. | | Weaknesses: | The WTB pedals fitted as standard aren't up to the job - had the spring fall off one pedal in the middle of an enduro event, and the other broke in half when it hit a
rock.
The bolt assembly which changes the rear shock setting also broke at the top of a Welsh mountain when slightly over-torqued by over-tightening the quick release when changing from 4 to 5 inch. Changing the setting mid-ride (sweaty hands, muddy and wet bolt mechanism) can be a bit fiddly!
Also had a difficulty changing down into the granny ring, but that's probably just something that needs adjusting from time-to-time (though frustrating in the middle of a race).
However these are minor issues compared with the overall performance and value. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried Wolf Ridge on test ride - but couldn't see point of spending a few hundred pounds more, when Rock Springs has essentially the same set-up. Also leaves you with more money to upgrade the bits you want to, spend on other accessories or fritter away on beer!! Prior to Rock Springs was using a rigid which was great fun, but very limiting and very painful on rocky downhills. | | Bike Setup: | Standard specification - though will change pedals soon. | | Bottom Line: | The best purchase I've made for a long time - its fun, its functional and it offers as much as bikes twice its price. For someone who wants to enjoy mountain-biking rather than be obsessive about every nut and bolt this must be high up on your wish list for bikes! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Downhiller
from Michigan usa
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | asylum | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | bro's shop- | | Strengths: | rear suspension is an awsome setup, easy to tune air shock ( obviously not made for cross country- u idiot 4-6 in. doesnt sound like flat riding to me- ) | | Weaknesses: | stcok rochshox allready blown out after 4 weeks of riding | | Similar Products Used: | joker of ellsworth | | Bike Setup: | azonci stem, handlebars,tioga tires, avid disc brakes, trailpimp wheels | | Bottom Line: | this is a great bike made for begginers downhill/free ride and hardcore XC maybe.. stock fork should be imediatly changed to somthing with more travel to better the geometry for the stock fork only came with 3.5 in of travel ( my setup was always 6.15 in. in back. also good for urban asault | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Seddon
a Weekend Warrior
from Erith, kent, UK
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | MBR at Coed Y Brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bromley Bikes | | Strengths: | TARA system rocks! Great forks, tracks well and I have`nt broken it yet. | | Weaknesses: | Freehub needed replacing aftyer 2 rides, creaking bottom bracket, otherwise fine. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Rocket 88, Marin Shoreline, | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR throughout, stock wheels, about to upgrade to Hope M4 brakes. easton EA70 bars | | Bottom Line: | Had a few problems as mentioned above but Bromley Bikes fixed with no hassle. Sceptical about the Fox shock as I weigh 250lbs (no Kidding)but even a recent week at Coed Y Brenin on the Karrimore and MBR trails at considerable speeds did not phase it, it went over everything!
I love this bike, it does everything I ask of it and so far has not let me down. Cannot get used to to 6" setting but 5" for heavy stuff and 4" for cross country is great
5 chillies all round! well done Marin & thanks Bromley Bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Strengths: | Frame, suspension travel front and rear. Looks cool. TARA system is great, it really works. Fairly light (under 30) for a FS. | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing could be better (non issue). | | Similar Products Used: | Norco Fluid 1.0, Rocky Ridge, Specialized FS, Kona Dawg | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded brakes to Hayes HFX Comp. Fox Vanilla R, Answer Black ellite 100/120. | | Bottom Line: | This bike has blown away all my expectations of a FS. Climbs excellent (like a hardtail) and rips on the downhill stuff. Suspension is fully adjustable to specific terrain. Have not had any problems with the bike. I upgraded to the Hayes HFX Comp disc (i wasn't sure about the mechanical discs) and I am very pleased with them. Stongly recommend buying this bike if you want something adjustable for different terrain. I have tried other full suspension bikes and this is by far the best yet (for me). It works great in the mountains. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
evan
a Weekend Warrior
from san antonio, tx
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | flat rock ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1569.00 | | Purchased At: | sun and ski | | Strengths: | excellent combinations in travel and geometry, tough, comfortable, active without to much bob. | | Weaknesses: | stem kind of long for free-riding, WTB pedals suck much butt. | | Similar Products Used: | enduro, NRS, haro werks, liquid, palamino, fuel 98, stinky 7. | | Bike Setup: | stock except for my good old shimano pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike is truly an all-mountain bike. Little heavy for XC, just right for free riding. This thing tracks really well and the suspension soaks up everything on the trail, it does bob a little but you still end up hauling it through the trail, the Black fork is tough and smooth, but it rebounds really quick and will bounce you if you are not careful, the setup is pretty much deore, with LX rear derailure but I have had no problems, I even ground my derailure on a curb sending it into the spokes and I just bent it back and went on my way. The stem is long for large drops but fits it well on the trail, the tires are great. Man overall this bike just felt better to me than all the others listed above, and was a good bike for the money, I am very glad I didn't go with an XC full suspension. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Evans
a Cross Country Rider
from Sheffield, England
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | mbr coed-y-brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | j.e.james cycles | | Strengths: | Very good forks, good 'tracking'. | | Weaknesses: | Serious problems with rear hub, not as light as I had hoped for X-country riding | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bottom Line: | I have had a great deal of problems with this bike, leading to about a month at least out of three months riding with the bike in the shop. Some of this is down to very poor servicing from J.E. James cycles, but much is due to the seriously sub standard rear hubs, the first of which has had to be replaced and the second of which is now broken. I wish I could be more positive about a bike that I'm sure would be great with the right set up, but which I haven't really had the chance to ride as yet! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
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