I've been riding a Trek Marlin 6, purchased it to follow my daughter around when she joined the school mountain bike team. I figured it was plenty since she was 7 when she started and I didn't need much to keep up with her. We've both improved a ton in the last couple years and we've upgraded her bike each year as it's something she takes seriously and is competitive. I'm definitely suffering from bike envy seeing all the full suspension bikes out on the trail and would like to try one, but gravel is my focus and I spent way more than I ever would have thought previously on my dream gravel bike this year. Because of that, my budget is under $2000, and preferably less than $1700
I kind of just upgraded things when I came across good deals or got gift cards. Current upgrades -
Deore crankset (stock 1x10 drivetrain)
SR Suntour Epixon fork
PNW dropper
I've only come across a few bikes that fit my budget and I'm wondering how much of an upgrade I'd really be getting considering my low budget
Option 1 - Polygon D7
Pros - The components seem to be a slight upgrade or lateral move compared to the current setup on the Marlin. I really like my Epixon fork despite most people writing off most of Suntour's stuff, but it seems comparable to the Recon.
Cons - The front wheel is not boost, but I don't think that bothers me much as I doubt I would be upgrading the fork. I hate the color scheme, but I've ridden uglier bikes in the past. I'd take a better bike over a prettier bike.
Option 2 - Polygon D7 SE
Pros - Boost fork. Really like the paint job on the SE
Cons - The tradeoff for the boost fork appears to be a step down in suspension quality. It comes with a Raidon fork which is a step down from what I already have on the Marlin. Also, it's not currently available in my size.
Option 3 - Canyon Neuron 5
Pros - Canyon seems to have a better reputation than Polygon. Same suspension as the D7. Best looking bike of the bunch and I have ridden an older model in the past that I liked, supposedly the new ones address what complaints did exist about the previous models
Cons - $400 more than the other two for essentially the same component group of the D7. I'd rather have 10 or 11 speed Deore than 12 speed SX based off previous experience. I absolutely hated the performance of the SX shifter and derailleur on another bike. This is cheaper and easier to swap out than a fork though so not a deal-breaker, just sucks that I need to add even more money on top of the more expensive bike.
Option 4 - Just keep riding the Marlin for a year or more. I don't see my budget increasing as like I mentioned, my main focus is on gravel and I don't want to spend $2000+ on a mountain bike. I'm never going to race XC, where I might race gravel. I'm not going to be hitting any jump lines, just Michigan singletrack.
I kind of just upgraded things when I came across good deals or got gift cards. Current upgrades -
Deore crankset (stock 1x10 drivetrain)
SR Suntour Epixon fork
PNW dropper
I've only come across a few bikes that fit my budget and I'm wondering how much of an upgrade I'd really be getting considering my low budget
Option 1 - Polygon D7
Pros - The components seem to be a slight upgrade or lateral move compared to the current setup on the Marlin. I really like my Epixon fork despite most people writing off most of Suntour's stuff, but it seems comparable to the Recon.
Cons - The front wheel is not boost, but I don't think that bothers me much as I doubt I would be upgrading the fork. I hate the color scheme, but I've ridden uglier bikes in the past. I'd take a better bike over a prettier bike.
Option 2 - Polygon D7 SE
Pros - Boost fork. Really like the paint job on the SE
Cons - The tradeoff for the boost fork appears to be a step down in suspension quality. It comes with a Raidon fork which is a step down from what I already have on the Marlin. Also, it's not currently available in my size.
Option 3 - Canyon Neuron 5
Pros - Canyon seems to have a better reputation than Polygon. Same suspension as the D7. Best looking bike of the bunch and I have ridden an older model in the past that I liked, supposedly the new ones address what complaints did exist about the previous models
Cons - $400 more than the other two for essentially the same component group of the D7. I'd rather have 10 or 11 speed Deore than 12 speed SX based off previous experience. I absolutely hated the performance of the SX shifter and derailleur on another bike. This is cheaper and easier to swap out than a fork though so not a deal-breaker, just sucks that I need to add even more money on top of the more expensive bike.
Option 4 - Just keep riding the Marlin for a year or more. I don't see my budget increasing as like I mentioned, my main focus is on gravel and I don't want to spend $2000+ on a mountain bike. I'm never going to race XC, where I might race gravel. I'm not going to be hitting any jump lines, just Michigan singletrack.
