Marin Madrone Trail

bear baun

hi,
i am cosidering buying this bike as my first real mtb but i ahve done quite a bit already. i just wondered if anyone knew the wieght of it as i cant find it anywhere on the internet! also would you recomend it for being fairly comfortable as i spend 5 or 6 hours on it at a time sometimes 7 or 8.

cheers AJ

supersonic

Not a bike I could recommend unless you plan to upgrade it. Nice frame, but nasty undamped fork.

Most bikes at this price have a damped fork - some get 9 speed drivetrains, others hydro discs. This gets nothing like that, some bikes get all the lot! Don't mind seeing downgraded parts to get a good fork in, so have to ask where the money is with this.

Oh, be about 32lbs.

bear baun

what bike for around £550 to £600 would you recomend

supersonic

Have a read of the What Hardtail thread for popular XC and trail bike options.

I'd seriously be looking at the Boardman Comp - great spec, lightweight. or for something a little heavier and tougher the Carrera Fury or Saracen Zen.

ShortRef

The madrone trail costs £499 and is the same price as my 2007 northside trail, but my northside trail has a better spec (and I paid less for it).

It wont be that comfortable, or light (its probably around 14 kg), but it has a strong frame.

muddie100

I disagree with the advice here.The Marin Madrone is a great all round bike and a good choice for the range.In terms of its looks it is streets ahead. It is just the king of cool of bikes. The brakes are fantastic -better than some hydrolics the frame is solid and light weight and as for the criticism of the shocks then all you have to do is tighten them up if they dont suit you. At this price price range you make some comprimises but Marin have come up with a good all round bike. I would say this bike is a great choice over its competitors. I give it a big thumbs up.

supersonic

There is no damping, the forks are junk! Carrera Fury is a similar bike and much better.

muddie100

You must have tried a bad example because the ones we tried were fine for the price.

The Northern Monkey

define tried?

supersonic

Tora 318 on the Fury is a superb fork, £250 in its own right! Fully adjustable rebound, compression damping, a lockout with blowoff floodgate, and adjustable travel. The Edge has... preload. How they fit that onto a bike at that price as well as a 27 speed SRAM drivetrain, Mavic rims and hydraulic discs is beyond me.

If you like the bike, that is what matters, my point is that for the same money you can get a much higher spec.