Market: The US manufacturer Marin is one of the pioneers of modern mountain bikes. Founded in 1986 in sunny California, the company has dedicated itself to off-road cycling and has remained true to this passion to this day. Even if they now, more than 30 years later, also offer other types of bicycles, the heart of the traditional manufacturer still beats for mountain bikes. The range is now richer by a few models than it was in 1986 and that is why we offer a short, crisp overview of the Marin mountain bikes 2017.
Marin Mountain Bikes 2017: Enduro
Marine Attack Trail
At a glance:
Area of use: Enduro / All Mountain
Wheel size: 27,5″
Suspension travel (v/h): 160 / 150mm
Frame material: carbon / aluminum
Price from: €3.399
With the Marin Attack Trail, the name says it all: The Enduro is a frontal attack on the trail, even if it gets really 'gnarly' at times. Three-time North American enduro champion Kyle Warner hunts for prizes and trophies on the Attack Trail year after year. 150mm spring travel at the rear, 160 at the front, a compact geometry designed for maneuverability and the proven QUAD-3 rear end are the basic ingredients of the Marin Enduro, which will be available in two versions in the 2017 model year. The top model Attack Trail Pro comes at a price of €5.999 with a carbon frame, Rock Shox Pike, SRAM X01 Eagle drive and a high-quality wheelset from Stan's. If you don't want to spend that much, you should take a look at the Attack Trail 8: The frame is made of aluminum, but the equipment is almost as high quality as the top model. With a Shimano 11-speed SLX drive, Pike fork and wide Stan's rims, the €3.399 model is immediately trail-ready.
Marin Mountain Bikes 2017: Trail Bikes
Marine Rift Zone
At a Glance – Marin Rift Zone:
Area of use: trail / marathon / touring
Wheel size: 29″
Suspension travel (v/h): 120 / 110mm
Frame material: carbon / aluminum
Price from: €2.299
The Marin Rift Zone is the cross-country trail hermaphrodite from the Californian cult manufacturer. With rather steep angles and little spring travel, the 29er fully is designed for a lot of propulsion and good uphill performance on the one hand, on the other hand the potent chassis, wide rims and powerful brakes also offer a lot of room for improvement when things get a bit heavier on the trail. Marin is starting the Rift Zone 2017 with four model variants. The top model Rift Zone Pro comes with a carbon main frame and rear triangle, while the rear frame triangle of the slightly cheaper Rift Zone 8 and Rift Zone 7 variants is made of aluminum. The entry-level model Rift Zone 6 is completely carbon-fiber-free, but at €2.299 it offers an affordable entry into the trail bike world; It is worth mentioning that Marin has installed a dropper post even on the cheapest model - great!
Marin MountVision
At a glance:
Area of use: Trail / All Mountain
Wheel size: 27,5″
Suspension travel (v/h): 140 / 140mm
Frame material: carbon / aluminum
Price from: €2.099
The Marin Mount Vision embodies a type of bike that has unfortunately been threatened with extinction in recent years: A classic all-mountain, just one thing for all. Tidy up, fast down, also suitable for longer tours - these skills have unfortunately lost importance in times of increasing fragmentation and specialization of different types of bikes, although it is exactly what many bikers are looking for. With 140mm spring travel at the front and rear, moderate geometry and 27,5″ wheels, the Mount Vision is a perfect all-rounder from flow trail adventures to alpine crossings to leisurely weekend tours.
Three of the total of six models of the Marin Mount Vision come with a main frame made of carbon, but the rear triangle is only made of carbon fiber on the top model, otherwise aluminum is used. The equipment of all models is tailored to the sporty area of application: the Americans rely on 1-speed drives with widely graduated cassettes and all models are also equipped with dropper posts.
Marin Hawk Hill
At a glance:
Area of use: trail
Wheel size: 27,5
Suspension travel (v/h): 120 / 120mm
Frame material: aluminum
Price from: €1.599
The Marin Hawk Hill is completely new for 2017 and above all - but not only - convinces with its price: In the only model variant for the time being, the 120mm fully costs only €1.599. Of course, you don't get a noble carbon frame for that and you have to do without bling-bling in terms of equipment, but for well under €2.000 you can hardly find such a solid touring full suspension bike with a modern and universal geometry anywhere else. Thanks to the 2×10 drive, you get a wide range and the 27mm wide rims can also easily cope with potent tires. The chassis made of Rock Shox Recon Silver TK and X-Fusion O2 damper does not win any style awards in front of the ice cream parlor, but offers reliable performance on the trail. It's a pity that you have to do without a dropper post - but given the low price, that's bearable.
Marin Mountain Bikes 2017: Hardtails
Marin Nail Trail
At a glance:
Area of use: Trail / All Mountain
Wheel size: 27,5″ / 29″
Travel: 120mm
Frame material: aluminum
Price from: €1.099
The Marin Nail Trail is a representative of a modern generation of hardtails. While in the past 10 years most hardtails were designed for as much propulsion as possible and could hardly deny their descent from cross country racers, more and more manufacturers are looking outside the box. As one of the MTB and hardtail pioneers of the past, Marin was one of the trendsetters again: Bikes like the Nail Trail come with a slightly slacker steering angle, powerful tires, a little more suspension travel and optionally also dropper posts; so you have a lot of fun with the hardtail on the trail and you can also enjoy the advantages of this somewhat simpler type of bike: the low price and less/easier maintenance are just two of them.
The Nail Trail comes in a total of four model variants, two 29ers and two 27,5ers. The two top variants, Nail Trail 9.7 and 7.7, are already quite powerful trail hardtails with a dropper post and Rock Shox Yari fork with 120mm and are really affordable at €1.599. The entry-level bikes are even cheaper at €1.099 – but here you have to do without the comfort of a dropper seat post and make do with somewhat simpler equipment.
Marin Bobcat Trail
At a glance:
Area of use: trail / tour / marathon
Wheel size: 29″
Travel: 100mm
Frame material: aluminum
Price from: €699
The Marin Bobcat Trail is the affordable hardtail all-rounder in the Californian's 2017 portfolio. Like the Nail Trail, the Bobcat comes with a modern geometry that is not too race-oriented, but the equipment is a little more in the direction of touring: At 100mm, the suspension travel is less, the tires roll more easily and you have to use a dropper post waive. Exactly the right thing for those who are looking for a comfortable, inexpensive MTB that can also take a trip on the trail, but don't want to spend a fortune on it. The entry-level model is available for €699 and even the top model, the Bobcat Trail LTD XT, is comparatively cheap at €1.199 – especially given the high-quality equipment.
Marin Pine Mountain
At a glance:
Area of use: Trail / Tour
Suspension travel (f/h): 120mm
Frame material: steel
Price from: €949
Marin Pine Mountain... wasn't there what? The older ones among us may remember: This model was already part of the cult manufacturer's portfolio in the 1990s - and is now being revived more than 20 years later. The iconic all-round mountain bike keeps its spirit; the 2017 version also comes with a high-quality steel frame and is prepared for just about anything that you can encounter off the beaten track. Eyelets for luggage racks at the front and rear also equip the new Pine Mountain for the next bikepacking adventure, and thanks to the Plus tires it's not just root carpets that lose their terror. Of particular interest is the entry-level model for €949, which does not require a suspension fork and should be a lot of fun for purists in particular. You should keep an eye on Velomotion for detailed driving impressions in the coming weeks: We are currently testing a Pine Mountain 2.
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Marcel says
cool!!! I didn't know Marin still existed! 🙂
Axel says
Thank you for the professional article! I bought an Indian Fire Trail in 1991, which still serves me well today for home use - stop Marin!!!