Submitted by
max
a Weekend Warrior
from west chester, pa Date Reviewed: September 19, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
marin
Strengths:
rides awesome, climbs better thn my hartail, makes me want to jump off stuff (ACUTALLY, IT MAKES ME HAVE TO JUMP OFF OF STUFF) just to feel ohw smooth it is when it sucks up a nice drop!!!
Weaknesses:
more expensive to ride than my hartail. it makes me go so fast i just end up breaking more parts. well worth it though.
Similar Products Used:
old marin hardtail i broke and then i warrantied to get this frame
Bike Setup:
psylo xc, old ass components from my hartail. 8-speed and trying to keep it that way.
Bottom Line:
this thing rocks, others have said it, i verify it. it will make you want to ride more, ride faster, and you'll ride better. you'll be dropping into things you never done before.
what else do you want.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MIKE
a Cross Country Rider
from SO. WEST CO Date Reviewed: April 22, 2001
Favorite Trail:
to many to mention
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
GREAT CLIMBER FOR A 31 LB. BIKE ( WEIGHT IS MY CHOICE) NO FLEX.....BOB???...THATS A GUY I KNOW....RIDES FAST SINGLE TRACK LIKE IT'S ON RAILS....QUICK AND NIMBLE...TAKES BIG HITS AND EASY TO GET AIR....FLYS OVER THE ROUGH.....BLAH...BLAH.....BLAH......
Weaknesses:
DID NOT COME WITH A 50,000 CHECK
Similar Products Used:
PIECE OF **** SCHWIN MOAB..( BROKE THAT ONE...)...GT...BROKE THAT ONE....FORGET ABOUT IT...
Bike Setup:
BOUGHT THE FRAME....SO ALL I COULD AFFORD WAS LX STUFF.......BUT PUT A PSYLO XC.....GREAT FORK...AVID BRAKES...
Bottom Line:
HEY....I'M SO HAPPY WITH THIS BIKE....AND TELL YOU WHAT.....I'M SO SICK OF THE F*****G HYPE IN THE MARKET PLACE TODAY....MAKES ME SICK.....NICE TO SEE A COMPANY THAT DELIVERS A SOLID PRODUCT......WITHOUT ALL THE bull s***... climbs better than my home grown....oh...i broke that frame to...lol...lol...even with my lx stuff on here...thing rips....oh....thats more hype also.....lx dose the job just fine....dont listen to the bull s*** from the industry....i ride in the south west.....moab....and around this area...THIS BIKE CAN HANDLE THE ABUSE.....AND THIS BIKE CAN CLIMB LIKE A HARD TAIL.....OUT OF THE SADLE IS NO P....I WEIGH 200 LBS....AND AM 42 YEARS OLD.....AND I BLOW AWAY SOME LOCAL YOUNG GUYS WITH THERE 3,000 WONDER BIKES....I REMEMBER RIDEING WITH FAT TIRES IN 1980....SO I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY.....THIS BIKE IS BEST FOR THE BUCK...HANDS DOWN....WHATEVER YOU GET...OR HAVE NOW....JUST GET ON THE f****** THING AND RIDE FOR GOD SAKES....LATER....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stephen matthews
a Weekend Warrior
from australia Date Reviewed: November 14, 2000
Favorite Trail:
oaks fire trail, blue mountains
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, Manitou Mars C, Chris King Headset, Fox Float R, Easton stem, bars and post.
Bottom Line:
God I love this bike. I bought the 1999 model, and had it stolen, so replaced it with the Y2K model. The Mars is a better (stiffer) fork, and the Easton components shave half a pound off the total weight.
Very comfortable and fast machine, and the componnts have so far been faultless.
A few creeks from the pivot -- looks like I'll spend my weekend with a grease gun in my hand.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Transue
a Cross Country Rider
from Bath Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Bear Creek Mtn, Macungie,PA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Rides well for heavier riders(200+) Fox Rear shock is excellent good color scheme Race Ready XC/DH bike Named my future daughter after it frame only is great price(995.00)
Weaknesses:
The Company-doesn't treat you like you are a customer. Always carry an extra drop out. Seat post-why 30mm they are the only ones that make that post? No one else makes that size.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR
Bike Setup:
All custom: SID 100(A MUST), Mavic 517 citron wheels, all xtr components, svr/blk Race Face Cranks, Shimanon 858 pedals, Gore Ride On Cables, Sella Italia Seat, Red Race Face Stem, Race Face handlebar 1in riser, LP Jr's bar ends, Cane Creek C-2 headset XTR hubs THE Fender(red)
Bottom Line:
If you ride 2-3 times per week and like to race this is the bike. It is pricy, but more than worth it. Like I said i am naming my future daughter after it(Feb 5th "Marin")
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
karen woodruff
a Downhiller
from Bend, Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: July 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Phil's trail
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Very comfortable fit. suspention adjusts to body weight. Very forgiving. Made me feel the need for speed.
Weaknesses:
Made me feel the need for speed which may not always be a good thing.
Bike Setup:
15.5 in. mvp
Bottom Line:
I fell in love with the bike. After about 5-10 minutes on the bike I felt like I'd been riding it routinly. I preferred the gear ratio to my previous bike. (Although I couldn't tell you what eith one is). I loved it so much I bought the bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chip Wernig
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction, CO USA Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Tabequache
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The Mount Vision Pro defines XC riding.
Weaknesses:
Cables cross on top of the rear schock, requiring the use of a boot to avoid wear. Thats it.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale, DBR
Bike Setup:
Pro Model spec, out of the box
Bottom Line:
This bike is necessary, and puts a whole new dimension on your favorite trails. It seems to find lines where none exsisited before. Riding the geography and geology of western Colorado with any sort of skill, requires top end gear. Climbs better than my hardtail. Why spend 5-6 grand on a Moots?????
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carsten Fisker
a Cross Country Rider
from Aarhus, Denmark Date Reviewed: July 6, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
ATT: All you Marin MT Vision fans out there. I´m a great fan myself and have been riding a totally rebuilt Marin MT Vision Pro for about a year. As most of you state: once you have ridden this fantastic bike, nothing will ever be the same. It´s like being born again and you will see full suspension XC mountain biking in a hole new perspective. It simply takes fear out of the game and puts you in total control. Actually, the feeling is impossible to describe, but you know what I´m talking about once you tried this bike yourself.
Weaknesses:
None, but until now it has been almost impossible - in my opinion - to find a fork that performed as well as the rear suspension on this fantastic bike. Wouldn´t it be great if this bike has an integrated fork of the same high quality as the rear suspension. I´ve had wet dreams about such a frame and IT IS NOW A DREAM NO MORE....
ATT.: There is a new bike out there. John Whyte - the designer of the Marin MT Vision bikes - has just made a new bike called: PRST-1, (code name: PRESTON). I have never seen anything like it - integrated rear AND FRONT suspension. Some british MTB mags has already clamed it to be the best bike (compared to both hardtails and FS-bikes) ever built. They have a website where you can see this new monster at:
www.whytebikes.com
I havn´t had the chance to ride this new bike yet, but since this is the only bike ever to outcompete the Marin MT Vision (according to tests), I´m planning to buy one as soon as possible. I will be placing a review as soon as I can get my hands on this frame. But go to their website and see for yourself and it someone out there has ridden this bike, please post a review :-)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: June 18, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Responsive, great rear suspension (no biopacing), light
Weaknesses:
Red paint chips, cable housing wears on paint and metal (Superficial, but these are the only weaknesses I can think of).
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn, Fisher
Bike Setup:
Out of the box with Hutchinson Python Gold and Conti Explorer Pro tires
Bottom Line:
After a year of riding this beauty, I wouldn't trade it for any other bike. Offer me a brand new bike of any make and I'm still not interested (I'll take the cash in lieu!). I love this bike...it climbs like a billy goat, carves like a snow board, and eats up any terrain that I subject it to. This bike is nimble and tough. The single pivot design offers great trail absorption and does not require a lock-out. You crank, and it responds. When I climb hard in the saddle and out, the back end is astonishingly stable. The Mt. Vision Pro's frame design offers hard tail-like stability, vertical and lateral, and all the benefits of full suspension. This bike gets five chilis without question. Too bad Marin doesn't seem to have the marketing power that the big boys have, but then again, it's nice having a unique set-up that I'm thrilled with, rather than being one of the masses that eat up the marketing campaigns of the more popular makes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob brown
a Cross Country Rider
from beaumont, CA , usa Date Reviewed: April 27, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Santa Ana River trail Angeles Oaks
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
I purchase this bike for my wife. She would not ride the Litespeed Unicoi I bought for her as it was too uncomfortable in her words. She started riding almost everyday the instant she got. A friend of mine and I took it out with our Unicois and tested it. We both bought one the next day. I was so impressed with It i contacted Marin and am now working for them. If a bike can make my wife ride everyday of the week and ask to go to the mountains on the weekends it is truly something special. The bike is light, turns and accelerates with any hardtail and will flat outclimb any thing I have ever ridden.
Weaknesses:
the swing arm needs to have a better powder coating as it does seem to scratch quite easy.
Similar Products Used:
specialized m 4 litespeed unicoi. Canondale lefty
Bike Setup:
I have completely upgraded my bike as I bought and East Peak to start with. I have RST XMO fork, Chris Kings head Set, East bars and seat post with easton stem. Bontrager rims with chris king hubs and revolution spokes, SRam 90 Sl shifters and rear deraillure, XT front deraillure ( I like micro drive ), Kooka cranks and brake levers, world class ti bottom bracket, flite ti seat, and speedplay pedals. I have float R with lock out. The bike weight 22.5 pounds
Bottom Line:
Coming from the sport of motocross I have seen many different products come on the scene. I have had my own company (Wolf Creek Cycles). And had many high level amatuer riders race for me. I feel I know the sport and equipment pretty well. I have never seen a piece of equipment make such a difference in every person that gets on it. The bike will instantly make you a better rider in all technical instances. You will feel safe and under control on terrain you would not normally ride. It will outclime anything I have ever ridden. We have a Pro rider from georgia who has never raced anything but a hard tail., He is racing one this year and has raced the 2000 mode 6 times in AMBC, Arizona state championships and California state championships, in the six races he has competed in his worst finish was a close second. Needless to say the rest were all first place finishes. He states he would never race a hard tail bicycle again. And basically would never ride one again.
This is the best bicycle available in every aspect for XC mountain bike racing or riding. Get one you will be the happiest person on earth other than my wife who just went out the door with hers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RON
a Cross Country Rider
from COPIAGUE , NEW YORK Date Reviewed: April 1, 2000
Favorite Trail:
ROCKY POINT
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
XTR MEGA 9 GROUPO , one main ,no maintenance pivot , very reliable Fox Vanilla FLoat R rear shock , excellent climber , still handles singletrack like it is on rails .
Weaknesses:
Manitou SX carbon fork is way too flexy on technical terrain , rocky , rooty , I upgraded to a Marzocchi Z3 Flylight 100 air fork . Ritchy Fuzzy Logic Headset felt rough.Needed a shim for the Thomson seat post to fit the 30.0 set up .
Bike Setup:
XTR Mega 9 groupo Marzocchi Z3 Flight 100 air sprung fork (Ferrari red to match the rear swing arm). Kore elite 25 degree stem . RACEFACE headset Thomson Elite seat post (shim required). IRC Notos 2.1 tires ( Kevlar bead) . Mavic 517 rims with DT spokes . Speedplay Frog pedals .
Bottom Line:
I reviewed this bike a year ago last may and I only tuned up the XTR stuff only once . the shifting is as reliable and crisp as it was then .I have the same Fox AIR VANILLA FLOAT R shock I had last year , and it remains as plush-no air leaks ( Fox website has a maintenance schedule that can be downloaded ) I upgraded the front shock to a Marzocchi Z3 flylight 100 = 4 inches of plush travel ( wth front disc mounts) and unsurpassed lateral stiffness that instills more confidence, especially on rocky or rooty single track like out here in the eastern part of the U.S.-combined with the Fox rear , this thing now rides like a cloud .the Kore 25 degree Elite stem was added to take pressure off my arms and wrist and improved my comfort significantly .the Raceface aheadset was added to improve steering. overall , i thought the MVP was a great bike when I first bought it . but with the new upgrades , it is now an awesome machine , one awesome machine .I only added about 10 ounces or 260 grams ? to the overall weight but it handles and climbs and corners sooooo much better.the stand over height is still good , even after adding 1.5 inches to the front with the new fork . it only took me about an hour to get use to mounting and dismounting and I have had no problems doing that off road . I upgraded the tires to the IRC Notos 2.1 Kevlar tires because there are some sandy conditions around here .it is still so cool to get this bike to drift in the turns and the wheel stay incontact with the ground . take on for a test ride , a real test ride , like at a MTB event . I garrauntee you will buy one . I will be the best bike you ever owned !! THE MARIN MOUNT VISION PRO ROCKS!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Falk
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: March 14, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Dorthmore
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light weight, low maintenance single pivot frame with best in business Fox air shock, stand-over height, good mud clearance, good single track handler, comfort and speed, climbing traction, XTR everywhere, nice grips
Weaknesses:
rear braking mutes suspension, rear suspension movement can be sensed in the pedals when using small chainring over rough terrain, so-so headset, swing arm hides front derailler adjustment screws, Manitou SX Carbon was faulty (OK after warranty), too many house brand parts for price, seat post was faulty (off-center machining, warranty), seat post diameter is rare 30.0mm diameter, house brand stem and bar combo made creaking noise, incorrect length housing for rear derailleur loop, too flashy for urban commute
Similar Products Used:
owned all hardtails, rode brother's GT LTS some, borrowed a low end Mantra, and mid priced Diamond Back
Bike Setup:
substituted CrossMax wheels, 1998 SID fork, Ritchey stem, Chris King headset
Bottom Line:
I really love riding this bike! After years on inspired steel and Ti hard tails, this "soft rocket" is my only MTB.
In an unscientific comparison to my lighter ti hardtail, a 9 minute climb ON THE ROAD, takes me about 30 seconds longer on the Marin Mount Vision Pro. I call it about even.
More telling, a local short single track loop (when dry!)takes 10 minutes on the ti hardtail. The first time I timed myself on the Marin, I was faster. I timed myself AT NIGHT, I was still faster than on my hardtail.
Light weight, to accelerate! Great suspension, to maintain momentum! Buy it for fast single track comfort, big grins!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfax, CA USA Date Reviewed: February 16, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Tamarancho/ Pine Mt., Flume, Wilder Ranch, Moab
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great right out of the box! Full XTR, Manitou Mars C front, Fox Float R back, Easton carbon handle bar and seat post. Mavic rims. Nice and light.
Weaknesses:
Mine came with a funky Mutant road stem. spec'd with an Easton stem. don't know what happened. Swapped it with my Hardtail stem, not a problem.
Similar Products Used:
1992 Team Marin, Specilized M2, 1999 Mt. Vision
Bike Setup:
As spec'd, except for the stem.
Bottom Line:
This is a great ride!! I was hesitant about falling for a full suspension, but it didn't take long. Handles like a dream! No need to climatise to it from my hardtail that I have been riding for the last 8+ years. This could be my one and only for awhile.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Hooper
a Cross Country Rider
from Taunton,S omerset, England Date Reviewed: February 12, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Quantocks
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Durable, for a bad bike handler like me its keeps me out of trouble. Climbs well, reasonably light. I participate in many national mountain bike orienteering events and it copes well.
Weaknesses:
Ok so maybe marin country is dry. But back hear in old blightey we have lots of mud. 9 speed shimano is too fickle and time pedals would be an improvement. Finally the frame should have cable runs/guide because with the suspension movement in the rear I quickly wore away the metal. Several Zip ties sorted it out but it doesn't do its looks any good.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Ravens, Muddy Fox, Marin Team Titanium.
Bike Setup:
As out of box, but with crud gaurds front and back.
Bottom Line:
Very good bike, durable, almost bomb proof, needs a rear lock out as in orienteering in Uk I spend some time on roads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Racer
from Calgary, Alberta Date Reviewed: December 9, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Bottom Line:
Well, I have raced on the Mount Vision Pro all season in the races here is Alberta and also in a 24 hour race and it still is as enjoyable to ride as the day I purchased it. This bike is truly a solid machine and is extremely versatile. The only problem I experienced was following the Canmore World Cup race, which was EXTREMELY wet and muddy, the rear shock would creak occasionally. But a quick e-mail to Marin and they sent be a few suggestions on a how to disassemble and lube the bolts that hold the shock in place and I was riding quiet again. This bike is good up and down the hills, people are always amazed as I pass them on some of the steepest and most demanding offroad climbs, but the suspension always seems to keep the wheels in contact with the ground. I even raced the Marin in a Cyclocross race and did quite well, although it is hard to shoulder. I have over 3000 km's of hard milage on this bike and have had no mechanical failures yet. Awesome and a joy to ride, I would buy another for sure!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Merlin
a Racer
from Los Gatos Date Reviewed: August 27, 1999
Currently, this is the best handling bike out there for 1999. Super fast and great handling bike in race-ready setup from the factory. simply amazing.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross-Country Rider
from S.wales Date Reviewed: June 28, 1999
Favorite Trail:
M.Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
V.light Bouncy looks class nice colours
Weaknesses:
no rear disc mount on frame
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
mount vision pro
Bottom Line:
class class and class
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from Calgary, AB Date Reviewed: June 10, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Calgary/Kan/Canmore
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
design, high standard of quality control,ease of doing business with, amazing togs
Weaknesses:
some creaking with the Judy SL (my preference and change from OEM)seems to creak
Similar Products Used:
Kona, Schwinn, Brodie and Litespeed all tried but have owned 3 Marin's
Bike Setup:
East Peak frame color but full XTR, Fox R, Judy SL, Raceface c/fibre bar, Syncros stem/seatpost, O2 seat, Time, etc.
Bottom Line:
As a Level 2 mtn bike instructor/coach in my disposible time, I have the opportunity to see and try a variety of bikes. This model, although significantly modified, climbs as well as or better than any hardtail I have been on. At just under 25 lbs, it is a dream on climbs and the suspension balance makes it incredibly stable on all downhills and technical trails. Having been on 3 bikes in the Marin line, I would recommend this bike and others within the Marin line to any rider considering a new bike.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lyle
a Weekend Warrior
from San Carlos Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Everything is awesome!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Litespeed, Klein, Cannondale, Specialized
Bike Setup:
XTR
Bottom Line:
The world best full suspension bike. Much better than the M4. 4 of rear travel and more reliable pivot design than most fsb. Very lightning fast, plush and handles like a dream.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RON
a Cross-Country Rider
from COPIAGUE ,N.Y. Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999
Favorite Trail:
ROCKY POINT
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
WELL BALANCED ,excellent climber , super plush , handles singletrack like it's on rails ,XTR mega 9 groupo , great accelleration , race ready out of the box VERY LIGHT 1 low maintenance pivot.
stock XTR MEGA 9 groupo FOX AIR VANILLA R FLOAT MANITOU SX CARBON FORK
Bottom Line:
THIS bike rocks !it invites the rider to ride aggressively the XTR components are very forgiving and this bike flies throgh twisty , tight single track like it was glued on a rail . i am not as fatigued after a long mega ride.really cool when you go around a turn really fast and you can get this bike to drift on te corners .love the single low maintenance ( if ever needed ) pivot swing arm digs in on climbs like a cheetah going up a tree .best bike i have owned .i would give this more than 5 stars . this bike is a real blast !!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross-Country Rider
from CA Date Reviewed: May 20, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Great suspension, fast and great climber. Very light.
Weaknesses:
color and expensive
Similar Products Used:
Trek, Cannondale, Santa cruz, Specialized M4
Bottom Line:
Another great bike from Marin. I tracks and climb very well. Racer out of the box. Really beats all the full suspension out there.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Racer
from Calgary Date Reviewed: May 17, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Cox Hill/Jumping Pound Creek
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Awesome Stability Great Travel Super weight
Weaknesses:
Water bottle location, it breaks easily if you smack it.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR XC Cannondale Super V1000 Proflex/K2 4000RS
Bike Setup:
Swapped in Race Face Turbine LP's and chainrings
Bottom Line:
This bike is truly great, it is so well balanced and the suspension is amazingly active. My wife has the Spec. FSR XC and the travel is no comparision. The frame is nice and long in the top tube and this bike climbs like a dream. I used to think there was no way to climb better than a hard tail, well tink again, this thing goes up everything. You have to learn to adjust to riding a Full suspension though, you need to be really smooth. My bike weighs 23.8 lbs (I have weighed it 3 times to be sure). The fox air rear shock is great, there is no way you need a lock out on this bike, and who has time to mess with it. I had to modify the Avid rollamajig thing because it let the chain skip if you got big air, now it works great. I would strongly recommend this bike over all the other full suspension XC bikes out there, it is plush and handles really well. The Mount Vision Pro is also a great deal and way stronger than a Specialized. (I broke the Dog bone linkage on the Specialized - not good, and I only weigh 170 lbs.) Love this bike. Got to give it 5 out of 5.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Jancsek
a cross-country rider
from Minneapolis Date Reviewed: March 4, 1999
Bottom Line:
A whole lot of lovin' is how to best describe this bike. In stock form in the 17.5, it weighed in at 24.5 pounds with FULL XTR, 747 pedals, reflectors(for humor), and Marin's own house brand seat post, bars, barends, and stem. After swapping out to Syncros revolution cranks and headset, Race Face 9 spd rings, SCRAM Plasma shifters, TIME ATAC Alium red pedals, and Club Roost XC Elite riser(245 g), I only gained .75 pounds!!! This bike performed flawlessly the first 50 miles of Minnesota winter riding. I plan on swapping out the Manitou carbo fork for a Zokes Z2 atom bomb for more plushness and travel, even though I'll gain .75 pounds. I havn't been able to climb much with it due to the snow and ice still on the trails, but when sprinting on the road, there is very little to no bio-pacing with the Fox air shock. So far the SCRAM 9 spd shifter has had zero problems working with the XTR rapid-rise in the rear which I swapped out from normal pull.What can I say, just go test ride one. Marin has a great demo program for most of their bikes where you can demo a rig for 24hrs for $20-$40 depending on the dealer. Not all Marin dealers are authorized for this, only the one's which have been pre-approved by Marin.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a racer
from North Carolina Date Reviewed: December 31, 1998
Bottom Line:
Follow-up to below: after a lot of really rocky, muddy rides I still love it. HOWEVER I wanna stress again that it's not as light as a few other XC racing bounce rigs I've tried. Only by one pound, though -- just buy ligher shoes if you're that into weight.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a racer
from North Carolina Date Reviewed: November 25, 1998
Bottom Line:
Marin's Mt. Vision Pro is an interesting combination of a beefy, long-ish travel frame and high-end, lightweight parts. Two scales showed the complete bike weiging 25.25 lbs. without bar ends--not the lightest cross-country bike out there, but light enough. And definitely tough enough. The frame design and construction are excellent--this is a bike you can keep for years. Lots of standover height, short stays, long top tube. Be sure to test ride before you buy, because Marin's sizing is a little funny. As for componenets, you can't beat XTR, and the MVP has the complete group, including 747 pedals. House-brand Ovation seat post, bar and stem, Mavix 517 hoops, and a Flite seat round it out. Bounce duties are handled by a Manitou SX Carbon (trick!) up front and a Fox Vanilla Float R giving 4 inches of travel in back. So how's it ride? Pretty sweet. Handling is definitely more woods-riding-quick than fire-road-stable. It's very balanced--easy to wheelie and hop. Suspension is pretty well-matched. Both ends have enough damping adjustment that after a few rides you should have it set up the way you like. The rear end was surprisingly plush, given the simple, one-pivot design, but tends to stiffen up a lot when pedaling hard. The rear end, by the way, is super-rigid laterally--as tight as any bounce bike I've ridden. Both ends are very good over small bumps while still absorbing big hits, though you learn to keep your weight back in order to get most of the jolts absorbed by the rear suspension, which has over an inch of travel more than the fork. The XTR stuff works like XTR always does--just great, including the quick-shifting 9-speed rear changer. Overall, it's a fine race bike with a frame that's simple, durable, and modern enough to keep for two or three seasons.
Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$ 3149.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
