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[Closed] Merlin Malt

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[#199800]

Can anyone offer any views on the Marin Malt frames - Are they best suited to fast XC riding or more aggressive trail riding?


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 3:50 pm
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Fairly generic Tiawan made MTB frames. That's not to the slate them, they always seem to get good reviews and I don't think I've ever met anyone who's had one who was disappointed with it.

Buy with confidence for cheapo laughs I'd have said.


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 3:52 pm
 DezB
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Are you looking to buy one?


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 3:54 pm
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I've got an early one, love it to bits (though the mech hanger was naff, im sure its different now!). Very rigid feel, XC oriented I think, unless they tweaked the geometry a lot since mine.


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 3:57 pm
 DezB
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I've still got my frame (which I would love to sell cheap as it is cluttering my garage!) Its a nice bog standard aluminium frame. You could run 130mm forks on it if you wanted.
I only used it a few times before getting a deal on something else, so its in good nick.
(if interested email me for details, as this ain't the classifieds)


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 4:03 pm
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DezB - I'm on the lookout for a winter/training bike for mostly XC riding I spotted a good review of the Malt 1 Deore in WMTB and had a butchers but was quickly drawn to the prettier Malt 4 frames!


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 4:03 pm
 DezB
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Mine's a Malt 1 ltd.
but if you're gonna be a tart ... ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 4:06 pm
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Thanks for the offer DezB but if I do buy I'll be buying complete. cheers


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 4:24 pm
 DezB
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No worries. The frames are fine anyway. The Malt 1 (M) weighs 4lbs. The finish is good too.


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 4:29 pm
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The Malt 4 is a really nice looking frame if you're into the hydroforming stuff. Kinesis Kinesium, with a quality gloss white finish. I had a good look at one when I was buying, but went for the RL 853 instead. Merlin's geometry is probably more suited to XC but it's not a super racey geometry.


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 4:37 pm
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They do get good reviews - lots of nice pics of the Malt 4 on flickr.

I think the biggest thing is that across the malt range you can get a hell of a lot of kit for the money.

I can't decide on what bike to get, so one option is to just get a Malt with all the good kit for a great price. If I don't get on with it I can always swap out the frame, and it would probably still be cheaper than building it up from scratch ๐Ÿ™‚


 
Posted : 08/01/2009 6:32 pm