Marin 1996 Ultimate Titanium - Help Needed

[joglo]

Interesting bike and discussion.

Question, are you sure this is still from Litespeed? The regular "Titanium" model 1996 was than already from Sandvik.


Sure, it says USA at the dropouts.

 

[Matttymm]

Yep. You are right. Got confused. Lightspeed made the early Team Titanium’s to 93 then to Sandvik. Great catch. Thanks.

 

[joglo]

Yep. You are right. Got confused. Lightspeed made the early Team Titanium’s to 93 then to Sandvik. Great catch. Thanks.

i was just wondering, but help me, there are also rumors that production of later Marin Titanium had been moved to Taiwan.
I was for now always thinking that this transition of the production was done when they changed from Litespeed to use Sanvik.
Was Sandvik doing the full frame or only providing Tubing to an Asian manufacturer?

If the Ultimate Frame from 1996 still is stamped USA, maybe this one is indeed still done by Litespeed in US?

 

[Matttymm]

Great question…this is what I can decipher;

91 to 93 Team Titanium were made by lightspeed. They were polished and in 93 had brushed lugs to improve cracking issues.

94 Ultimate was Sandvik made in USA whereby the 94 Team Titanium was moved to Taiwan.

I assume 95 was the same as 94; although the Ultimate was a frame only option.

96 looks like the frame was made in Sandvik as was probably the Ultimate. Not sure other than the missing rear brake cable mount on the rear triangle what the difference was (other than stickers).

1997 seems to be the last year the Team Titanium appears in the catalogues. It’s not specified where it’s made - assume Sandvik.

 

[joglo]

Great question…this is what I can decipher;

91 to 93 Team Titanium were made by lightspeed. They were polished and in 93 had brushed lugs to improve cracking issues.

94 Ultimate was Sandvik made in USA whereby the 94 Team Titanium was moved to Taiwan.

I assume 95 was the same as 94; although the Ultimate was a frame only option.

96 looks like the frame was made in Sandvik as was probably the Ultimate. Not sure other than the missing rear brake cable mount on the rear triangle what the difference was (other than stickers).

1997 seems to be the last year the Team Titanium appears in the catalogues. It’s not specified where it’s made - assume Sandvik.

Great summary and overview

Just one thing I can add, there was apparently a Team Titanium from Marin 1999
Never seen one in reality, but there was a brochure, most likely for US showing this:

According to spec US Made by Sandvik.

Not sure if this a good piece of the puzzle or adds further confusion.

 

[Matttymm]

Yes. There is a difference between the UK catalogues and the US catalogues.

Seems the Team Titanium appears in the US. Definitely 1999; not sure about 97 and 98. They seemed to be promoting more the FRS design that was UK based in those years.

 

[fearfactoryüberalles]

Very nice! Now off to wash my peasant edition Team Ti with my greedy tears...

 

[Maxipedia]

Hello guys! Sorry for barging in. This is Max, long time Marin fan from Romania. I was having a silly discussion on one of the Marin FB groups, I mentioned the 1997 Team Titanium and somebody arrogantly suggested it didn't exist, so I snapped these quick pics. Funny thing is that the guy is German and this is the German catalog. The discussion was about when production at Sandvik began and I thought they already mentioned it in my catalog, but it's not there. As I can see from above, this has been already figured out.

I don't know if it doesn't appear in the one in English language, if somebody skipped a page when scanning or if it wasn't sold in the US at all, but maybe if somebody physically has that catalog he can tell us.

Obviously, the bike in picture comes with a Manitou FS fork and Deore LX cranks, not with SX Ti and Deore XT, like the description says, but this could be due to the fact that the bike was rushed for photos and they used whatever parts they had around.

A few questions from me:

Were Sandvik bikes made in Taiwan?
How many 1997 Team Titanium bikes would you estimate were made? A few hundreds?
Was there a 1998 Team Titanium? If yes, how was it different from the 1997? Decals maybe?
Does anyone have a picture of a 1997 Team Titanium in the flesh? I'd love to see one.

Cheers and thanks!
Mx

 

[Matttymm]

Hey Max. Welcome to the conversation. Not barging in.

Yes the Team Titanium appeared in the 97 catalogue. Although weirdly both the Team Issue and the Team Titanium don’t appear in the price list.

I can’t be certain from 97 onwards but someone will know. This is what I do know.

91, 92 and 93 Team Titanium were made by lightspeed. The 93 version had sand blasted effect lugs and not polished.

94 There was a Titanium FRS and an Ultimate Titanium I believe made my Ti Sports. There was no Team Titanium.

95 and 96 Team Titanium were made in Taiwan. The 95 Ultimate Titanium and 96 Ultimate Titanium were made by Ti Sports as frame only options.

97 Team Titanium believe but can’t be sure that production moved to Sandvik. There was no Ultimate Titanium beyond 96.

As for numbers yes I would agree maybe a few hundred.

98 - not sure. Team Titanium doesn’t appear in the UK catalogue. Nor does it in 99

Hope this helps.

 

[Maxipedia]

Thank you for the info! One more question: ”made by Sandvik” means made in the USA at SST?

This thread is bad. I just realised I want a titanium Marin. I hope there isn't one in my (big) size anywhere on the interwebs. )))

Have a great day and keep doing great projects!
Mx