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Submitted by
Nodnarb Vogel
a Cross Country Rider
from Now in Berkeley CA
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Joaquin Miller | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Bio Wheels | | Strengths: | The welds | | Weaknesses: | the pivots, the rear shock, | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Redline, Specialized Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Mavic Crossrides, Psylo XC, shimano kit | | Bottom Line: | This was a fun bike, but did not stand the test of time, the creaks and the wiggly rear end are a drag, and the shock did little except act as a human catapult once I got some confidence on the technical downhills. Too heavy to climb aggressively, but not enough suspension to ascend aggressively. A good bike to soak up cash, but not so good at soaking up bumps. I've moved on to more technical riding, and find that no suspension at all is better than lots that doesn't work well. Confidence seems better earned than bought. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from St.Albans
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | "Marin Trail", North Wales | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Strengths: | Fantastic suspension - the TARA thing really seems to work. It's like a hardtail on 'minimum', and saggy as "heck" (apparently the other word is a 'profanity') on 'maximum' travel. | | Weaknesses: | Bit of a shatty ("yawn") groupset, with Alvio shifters - but you can upgrade them at your leisure. The frame is fab. | | Similar Products Used: | I tried an 'East Peak' and was going to get one, but I was talked into the 'Alpine trail' instead. I'm not disappointed. | | Bike Setup: | Standard. I've only had it a few days. | | Bottom Line: | Basically, I couldn't believe I'd got a bike that handled so well for the money. My best mate has a £2000 bike - this really doesn't feel far off ! A darn ("profanity warning again") good buy, I would say - I had a fantastic day today hacking down hills, giggling like a girl the whole way :D | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Takinereasy
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC, Canada eh
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Delta Watershed (all of it) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Cove | | Strengths: | It has aftermarket Manitou Xvert's... Which are very nice. Strong aluminum frame, rear shockworks serve their purpose. | | Weaknesses: | hmmm..... the brakes seem a little weak, might upgrade them later. Got the buggers wet, and the rear made a weird grinding yelpy noise which scared me. (maybe I just ran over a mutt) | | Similar Products Used: | specialized stumpjumper(Demo'd, and it licked arse) | | Bike Setup: | '98 Marin. Manitou xvert's, Mavic D521 rims, fishbone flat pedals, crap-arse dia-comp vc737 brakes.Stx rc shifters. | | Bottom Line: | Well, considering I just got it, and had one hell of a blast this morning (the bike is tight and responsive, I couldn't bash it hard though, as I couldn't find my helmet)... I'll give it 5 flamin' poos. But if something goes wrong, rest-assured I'll be back on here blowing smoke away from it's ass. If you can find one of these for the same kind of deal I got (the manitou xvert shocks are like 350 us new themselves...) Then jump on it, as it's a good entry level full suspension, man my review is long winded bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brandon essex
a Weekend Warrior
from cincinnati oh
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | powerline trace near my house, Ceasar Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | bio wheels | | Strengths: | rear sus makes the world go round on ungroomed terrain. Geometry is long enough for steep descents and obstacle crossings, and it's light enough to climb. I still smoke my brother's hardtail on the road, so what's the catch? I can't find one. Thing works great, and I'm looking forward to intsalling a rc psylo instead of the old girvin that's in it now. Even with junk wheels and fork this thing rocks. | | Weaknesses: | haven't found any yet. It won't go 100mph by itself though. | | Similar Products Used: | just upgraded from a trek 800, I've ridden pro flex fs, gt, giant, and various others. | | Bike Setup: | Girvin Vector 2? Shimano stuff to move the chain, avid stuff to stop, whatever old junk my Trek used to roll around on. Waiting for the psylo..... | | Bottom Line: | It'll do more than I can. I ride ungroomed insanity, and I'm always pushing harder than last time. This frame will be the last one I buy until they can give me 12" of travel on both ends @ under 25lbs and less than a grand. (Like never) If it breaks I'll change my story. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Owen Swabey
a Cross Country Rider
from Bath,Somerset, England
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mendip hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Weight, Manitou Forks, rear suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Bottle cage mount position. | | Bottom Line: | Great value for an excellent frameset and brilliant forks! I've only had mine a couple of months and I'm an very impressed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ollie Keighley
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bedford
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Lightweight
price (£600)
strength- so far
great for xc and downhill. Jumping aswell- smooth. | | Weaknesses: |
manitou spyders were a slight disappointment- upgrade before they become second hand. Grips and saddle are a bit sharp. | | Similar Products Used: |
hardtails, bmxs | | Bike Setup: |
Stock - shockworks rear shock is fine. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a full sus bike but don't wanna spend excessive amounts of money then buy this bike! It is very light and components are good for the money. This bike flys! Bike is well worth 5 flaming turds! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Whyman
a Cross-Country Rider
from Halifax, Yorkshire
Date Reviewed: October 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pennine moorland | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Price, frame, brakes | | Weaknesses: |
Aheadset, hubs, bottom bracket. | | Similar Products Used: |
Too many to list | | Bike Setup: |
As standard, but now with many replacement bits | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for the cash, rides well, takes bumps, climbs better than any full suspension I've tried (apart from the Mount Vision?) but the aheadset smashed after four months, followed by the bottom bracket at 9 months, rear hub at 11 months and inner chainring at 13 months. The dealer support was great and they have replaced the bits under warranty, perhaps at this price there have to be compromises? The Promax brakes are better than my mates XT's (less rattle) and the forks are good too, remember the green lube and all will run sweetly. It has wet my appetite for a lightweight XC model, well done marin, but can you put stonger bearings in, particularly the aheadset which a few of us have had problems with? | | Overall Rating: |
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