Over the past few years, Marin seems to have really found their stride creating bikes that are unique but also take part in popular trends. Whether urban, all road, or off road riding, their bikes always seem to strike a great balance between fun and utilitarian, which continues with the newest additions to the line up – and some that aren’t there yet but are coming soon.
Nicasio +
On the gravel side of things, the Nicasio + gets a very utilitarian look with a tan paint job over the double butted CrMo steel frame & fork that plays off the WTB Horizon 650b x 47mm tires’ skinwalls.
Fitted with a 1×9 drivetrain using an 11-46t cassette, the Nicasio + obviously uses 650b wheels and tires where the original Nicasio runs 700c x 40mm. Thanks to the modest spec, the base model Nicasio + starts at just $849 which makes this a great place to start if you’re gravel curious.
Lombard 2
If your riding will be confined to the mean streets rather than far flung gravel, the new Lombard 2 might be the answer.
Calling it an ‘urban oriented dropbar bike’, the Lombard uses a 6061 aluminum frame with full fender and rack mounts, plus all the recent standards like a 142 x 12mm axle, flat mount disc brakes, tapered head tube, internal cable routing, and a full carbon fork with 100 x 12mm thru axle. There’s even routing available for a dropper post.
Using 700c wheels, the bike opts for Vee Tire G-Sport 700c x 40mm slicks which should roll well but still offer plenty of traction. The drivetrain consists of a Shimano Tiagra 2×10 group with RS405 hydraulic disc brakes.
Since this bike is designed for the streets, the graphics are reflective for a nice touch. Priced at $1450, this bike will be available later this summer along with a Lombard 1.
Alcatraz
While the Alcatraz dirt jumper developed with Matt Jones doesn’t change in terms of spec, it does get this awesome Miami Vice fade paint job going forward.
The dialed spec continues at $1,299 complete, and it’s offered as a frame only as well.
Prototypes
In addition to the new bikes, Marin had a number of prototypes hanging around the boot including a carbon gravel bike, this steel travel bike, and the e-MTB below. One of four steel bikes that Marin had built with S&S couplers, this is one of those ‘we’ll make it if there’s enough demand’ kind of things.
For those unfamiliar with S&S couplers, they allow you to break the bike down into two pieces by unthreading the round sleeve at the two joints on the top tube and down tube. The couplers add about 8oz to the weight of the frame and don’t affect the ride quality.
In the mean time, the Marin team are using the bikes as their own personal test rigs to travel to events – and ride!
Brand Director Chris Holmes had this thing loaded up and ready to bug out with a full camping/fishing kit and enough bourbon and pickles for at least one over nighter.
Essentially a coupled Four Corners, the bike was rolling on 700c x 40mm tires and used a 1x drivetrain.
The new Headlands carbon gravel bike will use Marin’s own frame and carbon mold and will feature items like integrated frame bag mounts and a removable rear bridge for mounting fenders.
Available later this summer, it will be dropper post compatible and will offer 700c x 2″ tire clearance.
Yes, Marin is still building e-bikes as well – hence the new Electric Pine.
Featuring a full chromoly frame, 27.5+ wheels and tires, modern geometry, and a center drive motor, details on this one are still TBD.
