When it comes to affordable bikes with great spec, Marin has been knocking it out of the park lately. Bikes that we’ve spotted recently like the new San Quentin hard tail or Alpine Trail enduro are perfect examples. Moving into 2019, it looks like that same product design ethos is trickling down through the entire range.
Bikes like the new Gestalt X10 and X11 get a new full carbon fork with thru axles front and rear, rack and fender mounts, and even a modified SRAM drop bar lever dropper post remote that includes a full factory warranty on the X11. Both bikes are capable of running up to a 40mm tire, but come stock with a 700c x 37mm WTB Riddler. Offered either in a 1×10 or 1×11 drivetrain, pricing is set at $1,249 for the X10 and $2,099 for the X11.
The standard Gestalt models don’t get the new frames and forks, but keep the pricing down to $1,299 for the Gestalt 2 above.
If road plus is more your thing, the new Nicasio Ridge includes 650b wheels and tires. Like the X11, the Nicasio Ridge includes a SRAM drop bar shifter that has been modified to operate the dropper post – something you’ll see on a few different Marin models. The Ridge and the Nicasio 2 also include a lighter weight Series 2 CrMo frame and a carbon forks. The Ridge gets a 1x drivetrain for $2,599, while the 2 drops the dropper, goes 700c, and adds a 2x drivetrain and gets the price down to $1,499 with a few other spec changes.
The standard Nicasio adds a new frame color and keeps the price at $759 for an impressive value.
To create more differentiation in their line up, the Fairfax and Terra Linda models are now dedicated as fitness hybrids for men and women.
While bikes like the Presidio 4 and 3 place emphasis on commuting and city riding with belt drives and internal gear hubs. The 4 even includes a rack, fender, and integrated lights with a dynamo hub for $2,349.
On the dirt side, Marin proves they’re still capable of building an incredibly expensive – and perfectly speced bike. The new Wolf Ridge Pro was one of the few bikes at the show with a full XTR M9100 drivetrain (though the brake rotors were elaborately made plastic replicas) and a jaw dropping build that will set you back $8,899.
Bringing it back to reality for most of us, the Hawk Hill benefits from a 1° slacker head tube angle and steeper seat tube angle with 120/130mm travel front and rear and prices from $1,500-$2,500.
In addition to the eye searing throwback paint, the Pine Mountain 2 gets a tubeless 27.5 x 2.8″ build with smart details like an e*thirteen 11-46t cassette for $2,999.
Finally, Marin is now selling their Alcatraz dirt jump model as a complete bike. Done as a collaboration with Matt Jones, the build includes an X-Fusion fork, and a 1×1 drivetrain with a half link chain – though it is derailleur compatible if you want to add gears and sells for $1,300.
