[Closed] Blimey, Marin!

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😀

They've always had a bit of a thing for shit full sussers. Remember these?

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that silver one is just a prototype Orange 5

That top one looks like the middle bit was built in World of Goo.

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Worse bit is, they have, on occasion, made some that look alright.
[img] http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/download/file.php?id=145935 [/img]

We also must compare the competition...

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bikes-only-a-mother-bike-could-love-show-me-your-ugly

Actually I quite like that monocoque jobbie up there 😳 - reminds me of my old Tazers.

made some that look alright

Are you suggesting that that picture represents one of them?

😯

I used to want one of the original Rock Springs or Rift Zones. They were teh shizzle for a year or two...

I used to really like the original Quake when they were first released! The later ones were minging as were any bike with the quad linkage.

There's that one good looking quad link bike, in that one acceptable colour...

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Ahh, the wool fridge 8)

I'm confused, are the ones in the first two posts good or bad? I think they look good.

I'm confused, are the ones in the first two posts good or bad? I think they look good.

dirtbiker100 - Member
I'm confused, are the ones in the first two posts good or bad? I think they look good.
POSTED 10 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
geoffj - Member
I'm confused, are the ones in the first two posts good or bad? I think they look good.

+1

www.specsavers.com

Exhibit #5

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Without doubt the worst bike I've ever ridden. Pretty fugly FS arrangement too.

Maybe the hardtail is a bit of an acquired taste, but the full suss in the OP looks OK to me.

*rubs thighs*

[img] http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/download/file.php?id=181453 [/img]

They've never made a good bike, nor an attractive bike as far as I'm concerned.

I used to want one of the original Rock Springs or Rift Zones. They were teh shizzle for a year or two...

ditto

As for the FS in the OP - what are they thinking with that seat tube - it must pitch your weight so far forward

I think I'd end up banging my knees on the bars!

If you lined that '99 Mount Vision the Mat_oab posted up against the competition in its time I think you'd find that it looked pretty good. It also worked, which not all of the competition did, and didn't weigh too much either.
Their early 90's bikes looked good too, especially by the standards of the time, and the Team Titanium was a true superbike.

I used to work in a shop that sold them - terrible things. Awful, awful build quality, terrible geometry, really flexy and cracked more than any other brand we sold. Their warranty back up is all that saved them.

I love my ones and shall keep them forever. In fact I wish to be known as MuddyMarin from now on.[img] [/img]

i still have fond memories of my 92 marin eldridge grade ht. was riding a dawes ascent ht up to that point,and the difference felt like night turned into day.

always wanted a team titanium bike.

i did ride an original mount vision xt bike back in 1998 and it was great imho.

I like this updated Mount Vision

[img] [/img]

Marins used to be all over the trails and now I only see the occasional retro one and never any of the recent models. Doubt that'll change much given how hideous their latest selection is (Pine mountain excepted, wouldn't mind one of those!)

I had a late 90s Mt Vision, the boxy swing-arm V1 frame. It was a great XC bike.

That matt black one there ^ looks pretty smart .. suprisingly so. Same design with 29" wheels and decent XC-trail geo and I'd be tempted. It's probably just the lack of daft tube shaping I like.

Sorry thought you were talking to me.

Still have two, '04 Mount Vision QUAD link, & '09 Wolf Ridge (in orange of course).
Both still great designs that ride well.

Without doubt the worst bike I've ever ridden. Pretty fugly FS arrangement too.

Based on the Manitou design that was held up as class leading at the time?

I don't think you can call the early 90's bikes bad. They were extremely capable and very solid. Not the first word in dynamism but a very solid and well built range of bikes. No opinion after that until the mid to late 00's FS that my mate had. Thought the quad link one was a great bike but quite heavy.

I really want to like the new Pine Mountain (the rigid bike in the second post), but can't look past the seatstay hitting the seat tube that far below the top tube.

I've had a few Marin's - a 2003 Mount Vision and a more recent Quake, oh and a Rocky Ridge. All excellent bikes. Amongst the best I've ridden, and I've ridden a LOT. Admittedly, the two bikes in the OP's post do look quite unusual.

Based on the Manitou design that was held up as class leading at the time?

That it may have been, but it was still rubbish (IMO) at the time (demo day circa 1993, IRC). The thing rode like a pogo stick.

I can't see why every person who lives near mud doesn't have a single pivot Marin as their winter bike.

Marin - Member

Sorry thought you were talking to me.

Ooops 😳 sorry 😆

I keep going back to look at that first one - strangely drawn to it (probably the lovely colour scheme) despite my initial WTF moment.

That it may have been, but it was still rubbish (IMO) at the time (demo day circa 1993, IRC). The thing rode like a pogo stick.

Doesn't matter anyway as the 1993 GT RTS-1 (that I'm currently restoring :wink:) made the Marin/Manitou design, and most others obsolete. 😀

can't see why every person who lives near mud doesn't have a single pivot Marin as their winter bike.

Cos when the trails are muddy, a full sus bike makes the most sense? 🙄

I'll stick with a HT for the winter months...

*rubs thighs*

Is that a Team Ti? I had a 95 Eldridge Grade which looked very similar, albeit Champage painted Tange Steel frame and Sugino copies of the White Industries cranks.

"Cos when the trails are muddy, a full sus bike makes the most sense? "
Most other off road vehicles have suspension front and rear, mud or not. Bumps is still bumps.

Yes, 'tis a Team *rubs more* Ti.

[img] http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/download/file.php?id=181453 [/img]
/p>

Looks like a '95 to me.

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woodster - Member
I like this updated Mount Vision

Marins used to be all over the trails and now I only see the occasional retro one and never any of the recent models. Doubt that'll change much given how hideous their latest selection is (Pine mountain excepted, wouldn't mind one of those!)

Ah it was so promising, the lovely modern looking matt/gloss black finish, updated carbon shock and fork, middleburns, carbon post and lightweight syntace stem. Then you ruined it fitting FireXC's...

marin riders, forever stuck in the 90's doing trailquests in their SPD sandals 😆

I have a soft spot for Marin's. My first proper MTB was a Marin Nail Trail with Manitou Magnum R forks and Ovation bits.

Must admit those new ones are fugly. 😯

Whats that thing hanging off the back of those first two? Is it a kick stand from a kids bike? Because seriously, who the hell actually has a mech that long?

Oh and warranty might have been the only thing that kept the, going but it was still a lot more than most brands had. My mate got a replacement for his B17 around 2002, well after production had stopped (granted it was an XC frame with no shock IIRC so whilst the shockworks unit didn't fit it was enough to chop in for a Trailstar)

marin riders, forever stuck in the 90's doing trailquests in their SPD sandals

I think that's one of the big issues in the UK....they're really not 'cool' and attract a certain kind of rider. I only ever see old giffers on them with map attachments etc.

I remember them being quite well spec'd in the early 2000's but even back then the head angle was too steeo and the BB too high.