back in the saddle

Mike Gill
Mike Gill Posts: 24
edited June 2008 in MTB beginners
new to the site and back in the saddle after a very long lay off. My wife has been bitten by the bug and has her sights on a Marin :shock: I suppose it's payback for the Specialized I recently bought (fair one). Could anyone give some advice on courses; the instructional type; are they worth it?

Mike.

Comments

  • Johnclimber
    Johnclimber Posts: 92
    if you buy a Marin ALWAYS carry a rear mech hanger as they are crap. Also regularly check the frame for cracks as I've known 4 to go wiuth the lads I ride with.

    I'd wouldn't buy one.

    Same goes for any spech with FSR full suss because the bearings need replacing too often.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    wow, that seems like a sweeping comment.
    For what it's worth, my marin's 10 years old, has been heavily abused, and is fine.
    I did snap a swingarm in a rather large crash, but to be honest, it's amazing that it's the only part of the bike that broke then.
  • wallisdene
    wallisdene Posts: 60
    I know one guy who has been through 4 - yes 4 2008 Marin Lucas Valley frames in less than a year because they kept breaking. All of them broke in the same place, where the down tube meets the BB.

    I know the Lucas Valley is a hybrid but I still wouldn't touch a Marin with a 10ft barge pole.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Hmm. It's certainly the first time I've ever heard of this.
    If that was the case, then surely they wouldn't offer a lifetime guarantee on their frames?
  • wallisdene
    wallisdene Posts: 60
    True they do offer a lifetime guarentee - I have no further knowlege of the problem other than he went through 4 frames in under a year. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Marin bikes, I just don't like them and have seen a few too many problems with them.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Fair enough, we all have our reasons, whether they be logical, or personal for choosing or avoiding certain brands.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    wallisdene wrote:
    I know one guy who has been through 4 - yes 4 2008 Marin Lucas Valley frames in less than a year because they kept breaking. All of them broke in the same place, where the down tube meets the BB.

    I know the Lucas Valley is a hybrid but I still wouldn't touch a Marin with a 10ft barge pole.

    Was he thrashing it? Could be a bad batch.
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  • Mike Gill
    Mike Gill Posts: 24
    Thanks for the replies guys; how am I going to break the news to the wife; that her tangerine bike might be a no go??? lol
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    tangerine bike... would that be the juniper trail then?
    Looks alright, although the fork isn't the best around. That range of hydroformed frames by marin are very nice indeed, but make sure she takes it out for a test ride, as the women's fit geometry doesn't actually suit every woman. Some actually prefer a smaller sized men's frame, but if you go down that route, make sure to change the saddle to something suitable.
  • Mike Gill
    Mike Gill Posts: 24
    it's the wild cat; i believe. I did try and get her to choose the specialized range; but she likes the Marin.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Oh, the wildcat trail? that is an amazing riding bike. frick the specialised.
  • fcumok
    fcumok Posts: 283
    I had a Marin that was 10 years old. Never any problems with it, just fancied something new. Only reason I didn't get a new one was that they seemed a bit pricey.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    still riding my 10 year old one :D

    I broke the seatpost on it today though, which makes the actual main frame the only original part!
  • fcumok
    fcumok Posts: 283
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    still riding my 10 year old one :D

    I broke the seatpost on it today though, which makes the actual main frame the only original part!

    What you got? I had a rift zone. loved that bike but i have to admit my new shiny specialized is much nicer. I guess thats what ten years of developments do.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    it is (was) a wolf ridge. It's since been given a foxDHX5, hope bulb/proII hubs, with mavic D321 rims, a zocchi JrT, saint cranks etc etc. It's basically a fairly heavy duty 5" travel all-mountain bike now. Getting some new 20mm forks for it soon as well :)
    surprisingly though, it still climbs really well!
  • Mike Gill
    Mike Gill Posts: 24
    Well; thats cleared that one up then; she can have her tangerine bike!!!
  • fcumok
    fcumok Posts: 283
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    it is (was) a wolf ridge. It's since been given a foxDHX5, hope bulb/proII hubs, with mavic D321 rims, a zocchi JrT, saint cranks etc etc. It's basically a fairly heavy duty 5" travel all-mountain bike now. Getting some new 20mm forks for it soon as well :)
    surprisingly though, it still climbs really well!

    I love the way we buy these bikes and then slowly turn them into a different animal :lol:
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I guess I've taken Marin's intended use for the frame, and taken it to the Nth degree!

    The only downside is that the BB is very high compared to more modern frame designs, but it can come in handy in some places.

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