ORIGINAL TEST DATE: December 2004
PRICE: $4800 (The price listed in the magazine test is the $4499 figure Marin originally gave us.)
PURPOSE: Dual-suspension XC racer
HOME PHONE: (800) 222-7557
By: Ed Arnet
REPORT CARD
B...Value (Great bike, but $4800 is a lot of money)
B...Weight (24.4 pounds)
A...Frame design
B...Fork performance (Fox F100RLT, 3.9" travel)
B...Rear Suspension (Fox Float RP3 ProPedal, parallel link, 4" travel)
A...Component selection (Full XTR, Easton Monkey Lite SL, Easton EC70 post, WTB Rocket V Ti saddle, Eggbeaters)
A...Climbing efficiency
B...Cornering ability (Great high speed steering, but somewhat slow and vague feeling during slow speed technical riding)
B...Descending prowess
COMPLAINTS: 1. The Mavic X717 disc rims look cheap, always need truing, and split at the seam. 2. Marin filled the 2.1 WTB Moto Raptor tires with 1.5/1.75 thin tubes. This is a flat waiting to happen. 3. The post's 1.5" setback is too much. 4. For $4800 we expect a Fox F100X TerraLogic fork and a shock with pneumatic platform adjustment (Read Manitou Swinger). The detent pockets on the Fox Float RP3 ProPedal shock's platform adjustment lever barely work. Plus the lever always feels like it's ready to fall off. Pedal feedback--the sensation of the suspension lightly tugging on the chain when it moves--can be felt tempo'ing on smooth surfaces.
SETUP RECOMMENDATIONS: Slam the seat forward in the post clamp for aggressive cross-country riding. The RP3's ProPedal adjustment had less affect on the firmness of the pedalling platform than the main spring pressure setting. It took a pressure setting that equalled body weight plus 15 psi before the Quad Link gave the firm pedalling we expected. Max out the fork compression threshold adjustment at the bottom of the right fork leg. Then you can use the compression adjust/lockout lever at the top to custom tune a pedalling platform.
TEACHER'S NOTES: We graded the Marin as a cross-country racer/trailbike. What hurt the Marin most were some less-than-perfect component choices and a rim failure. The Mount Vision Pro still deserves serious consideration. We flogged this bike and found it to be a fantastic trailbike and light-duty jumper. At 24.4 lbs. it can also be turned into an effective NORBA racer.
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