In the capable hands of Martha Gill, the Marin Alpine Trail enduro bike took the privateer to her first ever top 10 position at EWS Zermatt this summer (applause). For 2021, Marin have electrified and mulleted the race-proven 150mm platform with a 250W Shimano STEPS motor paired with a 630Wh internal battery. We have the details on the 2021 Marin Alpine Trail E-MTB here.
2021 Marin Alpine Trail E
The new e-MTB from Marin is a 150mm travel mullet enduro bike based on the Alpine Trail. It pairs that rear wheel travel with a 160mm fork and is powered by the Shimano STEPS EP8 motor.
Marin’s MultiTrac suspension is said to be optimised specifically for the Shimano STEPS system, hence the use of coil rear shocks on all models. That said, air shocks are compatible, for those who prefer the tune-ability of an air spring. Marin reckon there is no need for shock lockout levers on a platform like this.
The short, straight seat tubes across the S-XL frame size range will allow riders to upgrade their dropper seat posts to longer travel versions, if the need arises.
The Marin Alpine Trail E features an all-new Series 4 alloy frame with integrated battery, power switch, charging port, and built-in rear speed sensor. The integrated battery is protected behind a removable protective plate. Additional frame protection comes in the form of Marin’s own driveside chainstay protector.
How does its geometry compare to the Alpine Trail?
The Alpine Trail E-MTB is loosely based on the Alpine Trail 29er but given that it’s a mullet there’s no surprise we see some key geometry differences. Despite the smaller wheel out back, Marin have opted to lengthen the chainstays by 5mm to 435mm, consistent across the S-XL frame sizes.
And, the Marin Alpine Trail E is a longer bike overall. Reach starts at 445mm in small, pretty generous by most standards. That stretches to a maximum of 505mm in XL. Thus, in comparison to its analog counterpart, Alpine Trail e-bike is considerably longer for the smaller frame sizes (S & M), but significantly shorter (10mm) for the XL frame.
There’s no surprise that the BB on the e-MTB is lower, at a height of 340.5mm, compared to the 342mm of the Alpine Trail. Equally, it’s natural that the head angle would end up a little slack on a mullet frame at 63°. Encouragingly, the seat tube angle remains steep at 78°.
Pricing & Availability
Marin are releasing two build options for the Alpine Trail e-MTB; the more expensive E2 will be available in the second quater of 2021 while the cheaper E1 will be available in the first quarter.
The Marin Alpine Trail E2 gets Fox suspension; the Fox 38 Performance Elite 38 fork and a DHX2 Performance Elite coil shock. The motor is the Shimano STEPS EP8 system with a 630 Wh battery.
It rolls on Marin’s proprietary aluminium rims laced to a Shimano hubset, mounted with a Maxxis Assegai/Minion DHR tire pairing. Shimano SLX 4-piston brakes provide stopping power with 203mm rotors front and rear. A combination of XT and SLX components make up the 12 speed drivetrain with a 10-51 cassette. Get it for $5999.
The Marin Alpine Trail E1 is the RockShox build. It gets a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork, a Super Deluxe Coil R shock, and a Shimano STEPS E7000 motor with 504 Wh battery, so doesn’t quite have the range of the pricier E2 model. This one also gets Marin’s own wheelset fitted with Maxxis Assegai and Minion DHR EXO+ tires.
Shimano’s MT420 4-Piston hydraulic brakes clamp to 203mm rotors. The drivetrain is the Shimano Deore-level 10 speed group featuring an 11-46T cassette. Get it for $4599.
