Submitted by
Si
a Weekend Warrior
from exeter, devon Date Reviewed: July 21, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
excellent very upgradable frame!
Weaknesses:
bloody heavy when built up
Similar Products Used:
GT LTS 5000, royal racing hardtail
Bike Setup:
2002 jr T's, Mavic D521's, full deore drivetrain, shimano deore disk front
Bottom Line:
i bought the frame second hand so i cant comment on the rest of it but so fasr the frames stood up to above head high drops and fast thrashing down hills apart from the rear shock which dropped all its oil! Looking at the retail price i'd say it must be one of the best budget full sussers out there, great for upgrades and looks fine too!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jamie watkins
a Downhiller
from bridgend,wales,united kingdom Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
afan argoed
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
h.r cycles
Strengths:
granted the only thing left of this bikes original kit is the seat clamp however I've found it to be a good climber and bloody excellent for the downhills.I've even taken this to france where it got a kicking but still held together
Weaknesses:
to begin with the drivetrain is crap i hate sram but have since upgraded to a full xt group.the steel swingarm was way to heavy and robbed the bike of a decent lightweight frame.I'm now using an xc style swingarm off an 2000 east peak.Also the original shock wasn't very good I killed it in a month (put a fox vanilla r on there it works brilliantly)
Similar Products Used:
rocky mountain rm9, marin b17, kona nunu, specialized p3, marin wolf ridge.
Bike Setup:
2001 jnr Ts, full xt group, hope enduro 4s, continental vertical pros 2.3", fox vanilla r, halo freedom rims, race face xy seatpost and other finishing kit.
Bottom Line:
although the bike I own now is just about as far from the original as you can get I still found the bike to be a quality item with a frame that begs for upgrading.My best piece of advice would be to get a decent fork,a new swingarm and a new rear shock and drivetrain.If you get the bike to this point it will serve you well over any terrain for as long as you use it.This thing was a bargin and has served me well,i'm about to get a santa cruz bullit to replace it which is only because i've started racing but my bike should be proof of the frames upgrade potencial.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tom
a Weekend Warrior
from england Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
the edge
Strengths:
Frame
Weaknesses:
sram gears i broke 2 rear mechs.
Similar Products Used:
marin east peak
Bike Setup:
mavic 521's, deore shifters + mechs, newer insnyc fork cos old one broke. deore hydrolic disk
Bottom Line:
its damn good but upgrade the sram. Shimano is 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000x better.
it climbs well and decends well and the tyres stick o.k.
the frame can be upgraded all the way and the swingarm is heavy.
love the bike with new components. It is aaaawwwwwweeeeesome.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Hodgson
a Weekend Warrior
from Knaresborough Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Yorkshire
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Aire Valley Cycles, Keighley
Strengths:
Value for money. Light. Quality frame.
Weaknesses:
None for the money.
Bike Setup:
As purchased, standard spec.
Bottom Line:
Great value for money and I've just found the best bit about a good marque. The swingarm broke on my bike at the weekend after three years of reasonably heavy use and the shop where I purchased it are replacing it for free as it's covered by a lifetime guarantee.
This bike is safe buy for an entry-level full-susser. VFM.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from marstons mills mass Date Reviewed: April 16, 2001
Favorite Trail:
mashpeee conservation lands
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
bike zone
Strengths:
great price looks good rides good and it's fairly light
Weaknesses:
the fork is bad and no other ridres heave heard of Marin
Bike Setup:
stock except for a rock shox jett fork
Bottom Line:
a great bike for the price if you want a good cross-country bike but don't have a lot of money this bike is good for you. but you might want to replace the fork and rear shock. give it time i hated it the first season but now i love it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Plantec
a Racer
from Greenville, SC USA Date Reviewed: January 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Long Branch - Pisgah
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$620.00
Purchased At:
Bikeworx Spartanburg, SC
Strengths:
Great rear sus action on the downhill; good price
Weaknesses:
Heavy Cro Mo swingarm just broke components are poor, but its what you get at 600 bucks Poor service and warranty claim from Marin
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky
Bike Setup:
LX, Stylo Team, Sun Sub 4
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money, but to keep it running one has to sink about 600 bucks into it over the course of 15 months. Marin customer service remains to be seen. I just broke the swingarm in the center of a tube. I recommend spending the extra 300 bucks up front to get a better group, and Id spend it with someone other than Marin who has a better service record.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Racer
from Madison, CT Date Reviewed: May 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Meadow Muffin Madness race
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
For the money it is a GREAT full suspension. For someone not really hardcore, looking for a spare, or with not too much money this bike is for you.
Weaknesses:
Rst shocks are poor I am looking to upgrade to something else, COIL on the rear shock most of the other marins are Fox air and this is shock works coil (not too great), most of the stuff is stock and low end components. I have had a lot of stuff go wrong latley while beating it around racing.
Similar Products Used:
k2, Specialized, canondale, i am looking at a specialized fsr enduro expert I loved it but I am going to last this year with this one.
Bike Setup:
it is a 99 bike, 2000 shimano Lx v-brakes, rock works sealed clipless pedals, wtb velocoraptor tires, salsa flip off ti skewers, all the rest stock
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money but I would never buy it as my main bike again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Milhouse
a Cross Country Rider
from Binghamton, NY Broome Date Reviewed: April 23, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Chenango Valley State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Price, $680 in August of 99, lack of maintenance, seems to allow rider to sprint without too much loss of pedal power due to suspension. Gets a lot of looks from people who don't know bikes.
Weaknesses:
Components are not great, although sram 5's are better than I thought they would be. RST shock seems to work ok. Grips are poor.
Bike weighs 33 pounds.
The Marin corp. has a little to learn about customer relations.
Similar Products Used:
None. Looking to buy K2 Razorback if I can find one.
Bike Setup:
Stock. May upgrade to LX components.
Bottom Line:
If you are poor, buy the bike. If not, spend about $200 - $2,000 more and get a bike that weighs less and has components you can live with.
The bike makes a great backup bike when your good one is down.
The bike's rear coil over suspension is the best part of the bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami, Florida Date Reviewed: November 29, 1999
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Great frame. Good suspension for the price.
Weaknesses:
The front shocks should be a bit stiffer. The shifters are good, but kind of hard to switch on the fly, I think I'll get used to them.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondales
Bike Setup:
All Stock.
Bottom Line:
I think it's a cool bike for the money. The 2000 model looks nice. It's a fast bike.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from CT Date Reviewed: July 27, 1999
Favorite Trail:
any one
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
It has a very strong frame for a cheap price. The gears are the great, I have not yet had anything happen to them or the chain they are very reliable.
Weaknesses:
Practically everytime something touches the bike it takes a little nick out of the paint and I have to keep repainting it. The front shocks do not adjust that much and do not get that tight for road riding and etc. I am having trouble with the gripshift and it tends create a gap between the shifter and the grip on the handle bars.
Similar Products Used:
K2 1000 Specalized
Bike Setup:
Rst shocks, shimano gears, toeclips
Bottom Line:
Very excellent bike for a cheaper price. If you want a great full suspension bike and you don't have the money for an expensive one this is the one for you.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
twonk
a Weekend Warrior
from lapland Date Reviewed: May 26, 1999
Favorite Trail:
all of them!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Everything! the frame rules
Weaknesses:
Front forks only have 3 inch of travel, brakes
Similar Products Used:
univega(is not good) specialized (good)
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
this bike rocks for £595 you can't go wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Robertson (Again)
a Downhiller
from Seaford, East Sussex, England Date Reviewed: May 18, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Friston Forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Cheap, Same frame as expensive ones (ex swing arm)and 5 inch travle.
Weaknesses:
Cheap components, it has grip shift, and i keep snaping things.
Similar Products Used:
99 B17 Saracen Raw Marin Bear Vally LTS 3000 or was it 300
Bike Setup:
New Stuff: STX RC shifters, XT Rear Mech, DMR V8's, RST HI 5, mavic D521's, Avid 2.0's and a clud roost due seat.
Bottom Line:
I said most of it before. I just want to let you know what i have broken on it. The following things have broken but its my falt for getting big air and riding DH: Seat, Rear wheel (times 2), Seat Post, Rear Mech, front brake, Front Mech, Bent Gearhanger and Snapped chain (times 2). I just need a DH bike but cant aford one.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
adi
a Downhiller
from oxfordshire england Date Reviewed: May 5, 1999
Favorite Trail:
sullham woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
very, very good value
Weaknesses:
cheapish groupset and rst 381 rm's
Similar Products Used:
alpine trail proflex k2 1000
Bike Setup:
rst 381 rm r 185 rear shock (the stock stuff.)
Bottom Line:
If you buy this bike you will not be disappointed. Some people (mainly hardtailers) say that they would never spend only £595 on a full sus-little do they know.It shares the same t6061 alloy frame as the far higher spec models like the wolf ridge(£1,200) excluding the swing arm, which is damn strong and rigid anyway.The brakes and cranks etc. may be anonymous, but they work fine so i don't really care. The only bad thing i will say about it is that the forks are okay when you are starting and are fine on hardtails, but when you have 5 inches on the back they feel very crap. I want to get some x-verts soon and i reckon that will make this bike wicked. p.s mavic d521 cd rims look very cool on this bike.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy W
a Weekend Warrior
from The best country on earth: Britain. Date Reviewed: March 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
National points downhil, QE pak
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Downhill Jumps
Weaknesses:
Drop-offs; they look so nasty!
Similar Products Used:
Mount vision pro Wolf ridge B17 Wild cat trail
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. For the money its simply awesome. The only part of the bike that isn't upto the Marin frames hi standard is the RST forks. But I have Manitou X verts now, so my bike rocks. If you get new forks and a component uplift, it perfroms alround* better than the Mount vision Pro! *(Downhill, Trials, XC)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Robertson
a weekend warrior
from Sussex England Date Reviewed: December 27, 1998
Bottom Line:
GREAT BIKE! This has to be the best value full susser in the world. At only £595 you expect short cuts on everything, OK you get cheap unbranded stuff BUT you get a frame that kicks butt. 5 of travel is plenty on the down hills but does not cause problems on the ups. You can still race your hard tail riding budys up and whip them on the way down. The RST 381 RM's are not the best in the world but you find them on many hard tails at this price and on this bike they do everything you need. The parts are cheap but not so cheap they let the side down, You get unbranded V type brakes that work better than my mates LX jobs and they dont fade in the wet. The rest of the parts aren't worth mentioning except the ESP 5.0 Grip shift shifters. These are the bigges lump of i have seen in my life. WHY? WHY? WHY? trash a great bike by putting these things on it! Marin what were you thinking of. Its not just me that feals this way, I dont know one person who likes them. Changing them is easy so its not a problem. Anyway you get the point. If you get this bike you will be a very happy bunny!
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»
$ 839.00
Overall Rating:
