90s Marin Frame sizing help

[chrizpah]

Hi All,
Have been trawling the forums for some help. I'm looking for a Marin Pine Mountain or EG and had my head stuck on a 19" frame. Can't recall why I think that's my size but that's what I've been looking for.

Under current circumstances it's hard to meet and check out frames so see fit, so was hoping somebody could point me towards a guide for sizing of Marin frames from the mid-90s.

For reference, I'm 5'10 so hence gravitating towards 19" but would 17.5" work as well? Is there a known guide for these great old frames?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers
Chris

 

[marc two tone]

Re:

From around 1990 they supplied measurements from crank bolt to centre of top tube. Aka c to c.

For me at 6' 2" . 1990 - 1993 I need a gate size of 19 or 20.5 inches. This is where suspension wasnt expected and the geometry was flat or, racey.

1994 onwards I can even go 17.5 with no issues. But prefer 19" when available.

See below for frame measurement on a 1995.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Yeah, Marin went against the grain back then. I would say you want a Marin 17.5" (c to c) or a traditional 19" (c to t).

 

[hamster]

Marin always seemed to have the minimum seat tube above the top tube junction, so centre-top is around 1" more than the nominal frame size. Or put another way, Marins always size up big.

 

[Lighty]

Im 6ft and have a 17.5 (c to c) with a long seat post so sounds about right

 

[mk one]

Hi, as others have already said, Marin sizes are to centre of top tube whereas most others are to top of seat tube.

I am 5'10 and ride 18" frames. A Marin 17.5" is actually a 19" in normal terms and the top tube is too stretched for me. The 16" actually measures up as a 17.5" and is the same sizing as other makes 18" bikes so is the right size for me.

Be aware though that not all owners know how Marin measure their bikes, some sellers measure to top of seat tube same as other bikes so unless you can tell the size of the bike by looking at it, not too hard once you know what to look for, then you get different measurements for the same size frame. Ideally you should ask for the measurements from centre of bb to top of seat tube and also the top tube centre to centre and compare with another bike you know the dimensions of.