First look: All-new 2014 Marin bikes
Originally posted on August 19, 2013 at 3:13 amBy Eric McKeegan, photos by Adam Newman
Last year Marin was sold to a private European investment group. From the outside, this move didn’t change very much, but it allowed Marin to invest in more design manpower, and these bikes are the first of what Marin promises to be many new designs. All models below share 27.5 wheels, and Marin will not make any 26-inch full suspension models for 2014.
First up is the Attack Trail, utilizing the latest iteration of Marin’s Quad Link Suspension design. The 150mm rear travel is matched to a 160mm fork, with all three models using the impressive new RockShox Pike fork. An aggressive 66.5 head angle , 13.3-inch bottom bracket and 17.1-inch chainstays show Marin is paying attention to the current long travel market. As of now, only three, carbon-framed models will be available. Canadian prices are $4,190-$7,870, and we’ll get U.S. pricing ASAP.
Also new this year is the Mount Vision line. In person, the Mount Vision and Attack Trail seem very similar, in both looks and design intent. Dig in deeper, and the suspension design is revealed to be a single pivot system, with a linkage driving the shock, and a flex point built into the seat stay, eliminating the need for a pivot in that location. Front and rear travel is matched at 140mm, with Fox 34 forks.
Three carbon Mount Visions will range between $5,030 and $7,550. Alloy models, with a carbon rear end (needed to create the flex point) will run $2,950 or $3,990.
The Attack Trail is marketed as a trail bike, and the Mount Vision an "enduro" bike. This seems to be the opposite of what many companies and consumers are selling and using for enduro races. The lighter and conceivably more efficient Mount Vision seems much more trail-able to me, with the longer travel and slacker angles of the Attack Trail would fit in well at the enduro events I’ve attended.
If all the complexity of travel lengths and suspension have you down, take a look at the Rocky Ridge. The lack front end (67.5 degrees), short rear end (16.5 inches) and a low bottom bracket (12.7 inches) should make this bike a very capable trail bike. Two models, both with 130mm forks, will be available for $1,890 and $2,520 (Canadian).
Nice touches include internal dropper post routing, a bent seat tube for short chainstay clearance, a 1×10 drivetrain with chainguide, a front derailleur mount, and a 142mm rear hub. If you haven’t ridden a newer aggressive trail hardtail, you owe it to yourself to do so, and the Rocky Ridge looks to be a good place to start.