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Submitted by
john
a Downhiller
from uk
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Nidd Gorge | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | A pleasure to ride downhill and cross country | | Weaknesses: | None though the Panaracer Fire Xc tyres dont like gloop !!! | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Muni Mula
Animal Proflex | | Bike Setup: | 6" front and rear suspension | | Bottom Line: | Superb Marin full suspension bike. My second Marin. Never to be disappointed
I have ridden this bikte for a year now and still grin on the downhills from ear to ear | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nick B-S
a Weekend Warrior
from Scottland
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good allrounder lots of clearance | | Weaknesses: | Head set is a bit cheep
Skewers no use as the paint on the frame is too thick and crack off (beware lost a lot of skin)!
hope minis squeel like mad when wet (monocote fram amplifies noise!!) | | Similar Products Used: | Specalised stumpy good but heavier. | | Bike Setup: | replaced the bottom bracket with hollowtech and XT cranks as well as hope hubs, the set up is great. | | Bottom Line: | Good all rounder, light enough for all day with enough travel for the down hill. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex
a
from jersey
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | secret singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | campmor | | Strengths: | great all around bike... beefy and stiff frame... fox talas fork is awesome | | Weaknesses: | brake jacking... wtb pedals are garbage | | Bike Setup: | get rid of the pedals. the stock skewers both failed on me.. replace them immediately. recommend a bar with more rise | | Bottom Line: | i use this bike for everything... trail riding, racing, even light freeriding. i ride it in the 5" mode all the time and it climbs and descends well. the 6" mode is surprisingly plush. the part spec is solid, really impressed with the fox fork and hayes brakes. for those who need one bike to do it all, or a solid trail bike, definately recommend it | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ched
a
from Ynys Mon
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Beics Betws | | Strengths: | Extremely versatile
Does everything the TARA system promised. | | Weaknesses: | Squeeeeeky bottom bracket / cranks.
| | Similar Products Used: | My old GT RTS had the edge on climbing but doesn't touch the Wolf on the way down. | | Bike Setup: | Standard - no need to change anything (longer stem in future maybe?) | | Bottom Line: | Just go and buy one NOW.
It feels a bit wobbly when you ride to carefully. The harder you ride the better it gets (not a quote from Loaded magazine). Your balls will run out before the Wolf lets you down !
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Queens, NY
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Bay Ridge Bicycle | | Strengths: | This bike's got a sweet suspension, climbs like a hardtail, very well-balanced, and a pretty descent component set. Pretty light for full suspension, and looks cool. | | Weaknesses: | The adjustablity of the rear suspension was difficult at first...called Marin technical support, who said it would loosen up after riding, which it did! (the paint around the QR on the inside is scratched) The price is kinda steep, but I plan on keeping this bike for a very long time. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 7000, Trek Fuel 90 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for Monkeylite XC handlebars. | | Bottom Line: | This bike's awesome! More than I expected from a full suspension, with adjustablility to boot. I got this bike because I'm getting older, and my hardtail's harsh on the trails. My friend who has a Trek Fuel 90 was amazed that my bike has such a plush suspension, yet it's still able to climb. If you want a versatile bike that looks sharp and has an uncomplicated, yet highly functional rear suspension that's adjustable, and a descent component set, this bike's for you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a
from Swansea
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Wall, Afan Argoed | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Berkshire Cycles | | Strengths: | The TARA frame is superb, a simple concept that works perfectly, you really do get 3 bikes in 1. The Talas forks are excelent and compliment the frame superbly. Hope brakes! A really well specced bike for the money. | | Weaknesses: | They seem to be like gold dust. Everywhere I tried said it would be a 2 month wait at least. In the end I tracked one down (cheers Berkshire Cycles). Marin need to sort their stock out. | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Mount Vision, Specialized FSR XC, Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | Stock UK spec except Hope M4 on front and Time freeride pedals. | | Bottom Line: | It was either the Marin or Specailized Enduro, what swung it was the simplicity of the design and the fact it achieves the variable travel with a standard float shock, but you could stick any shock on and it would work.
The UK spec bike seem way better than the US version, lighter and with Hope discs.
Bottom line is that it does exactly what it says on the tin. I've had the bike a month now and have riden all types of trails, super fast downhills in the 6" setting, long fire road climbs in 4" and most of the time 5" with just over 100mm on the Talas and it feels great in each setting.
You don't need to spend the extra to get lockout, I can still stomp up road hills in big ring no problem.
If you want a bombproof, do it all trail bike, especially for UK conditions you won't buy better!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory
a
from Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Romero or Tunnel | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Changes from a downhill bike to a cross country bike with the flip of a lever. Pretty light coming in at just under 30lbs and in DH mode it gets 6"in the back and 120mm in the front | | Weaknesses: | Not many weaknesses, the Marin "grips" were lacking grip which was easily remedied, and the brake lever casings are made of plastic which breaks easily. | | Bike Setup: | Better grips, one new metal brake lever casing replacing the one that broke, and panaracer fire XC tires | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. It keeps up with the XC guys on romero and tequepas in the 4"/100mm mode, and it has no trouble with bombing tunnel and coldsprings in the 6"/120mm mode. The frame is burly as *@#$ but not too heavy. Well worth the 2 grand because it's like buying 2 bikes in one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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