[TransBR]

I picked up a 2010 Marathon Pro late last year and did my first XC race in 16 years a couple of weeks ago. Bike rides well, very fast, a little heavy I guess for racing. Comes in at 27.0lbs on my scale.

Is anyone else out there racing one of these? If so what it is your setup: suspension sag, tire pressure, etc. To get the proper sag I am running 175 in the shock/ 75 in fork and the damn thing rides like a hard tail with the pro pedal on 2. I think the leverage ratio on this thing is pretty high, tiny shock? Rider weight is around 175 with gear. Appreciate any input on this.

Thanks to the GT guy for supplying the weights for the new 29ers. That carbon bike looks very nice. Noticed that the majority of the more serious XC types were on 29ers where I am at (South Texas).

 

[gt jorgito]

I have an 09 Marathon Team. I ride my shock around 200psi. propedal on 3 and rebound set to 3 clicks from fast. I weigh at around 210. My fork is around 100 to 110 psi. with rebound set at 4 clicks from fast rebound. Running regular tires converted to tubeless and run around 35 psi on the tires. You may wanna ride your shock with a little less pressure. If I run mine at 210 it rides just like yours. I don't worry too much about sag. I go by feel most of the time but it is close to the recommended psi for my weight. Check your tire pressure too. If it's around 35 psi like mine then you may be running too much. Play with different tire pressures and shock pressures. Remember that the propedal is going to feel like a hardtail somewhat. At least until the propedal valve is actuated and the oil is free to flow. If you like a constantly actuating shock then try the propedal at 1. Good luck and let us know what you find to work best for you.

 

[TransBR]

Thanks for the help with this! Will try a little less shock pressure and PP #1 on my next ride and see if it softens things up. Am running 32lbs in tires now, anything above that magnifies the hard ride. Will post a follow up later in the week.

 

[TransBR]

Hey gt jorgito,

Dropped pressure down to 170 and left PP at 2, bike rode great! I have not owned a stable platform shock before and did realize how well they stop pedal bob and pretty much all of smaller bump compliance. Too much shock pressure with it active makes the bike very twitchy and uncontrollable over rougher trail sections.

Lesson learned. Many thanks.

 

[gt jorgito]

Hey Trans,

I'm glad it worked out for you. I did the same thing and realized it too. When you get the right pressure and right platform these bikes are actually a dream to ride Because of my heavier weight, I keep mine on PP3 but my pressure around 200 instead of my weight of 208 and it hooks to the ground real well. In rootier, rockier trails I sometimes switch off the stable platform just so it doesn't tire me out. Enjoy the new setup Trans!

 

[rcjonessnp175]

Sorry for a noob question, i also have a 2009 gt marathon pro and love it, well the ? what do you mean by "switch off the stable platform". Is this turning off propedal or am i missing something? Thanks in advance

Jonesy

 

[gt jorgito]

Yes, it turns off propedal. It allows the shock to move freely without the propedal. The bike will feel a little squishier when you hit the bumps, but it should still pedal pretty good cuz of the I-drive. Just move the lever to the other side opposite of the propedal. It is very noticeable unless you run really high pressures. Experiment with it. Look up the shock instructions on Fox Shox website to get more familiar with your shocks features. Believe it or not they make a pretty good difference when you set them up right.

 

[rcjonessnp175]

Well got my rig psi'd at around 192 ish rear and just under 100 front, eats up the roots and sticks to the intense short stand up and pray hill climbs, dam this bike climbs better than my hard tail by far. Couple weeks im going to drop the hammer and buy a gt force carbon expert, love the marathon but this dog bone is weak compared to the force's. My weight is around 195 to 200 with gear depends on if if have the go pro chesty that day or not and full camelback 100oz