marin full suspension frame numbers
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Later FRS used the same front triangle throughout the range making individual model information tricky. The rear swing arm was cro-mo for the basic then sharing the same alu arm for the rest. Minor differences come with disc tabs and the very first alu arms prone to cracking being replace under warranty with later versions.
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Whats the travel? Shock length? any signs of paint? these small variances may help sort out which model
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look at the XC based range then as the DH had longer travel
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The F denotes Fairly, which is where the full suspension frames were mostly made.
The front triangles are broadly similar in their material, but differ in geometry and shock mounts. The shock mounts are positioned in different locations in order to accommodate the 3 different shock lengths available.
They were 165mm x 38mm stroke which is 100mm travel and should be matched with an 80mm fork. These were generally known as the Mount Vision or XC FRS platform, but some lower models carried the same dimensions with lower grade rear ends.
The rarer 190mm shock with a 51mm stroke gave 120mm travel, which is best complimented with a 100mm fork. This was the in-between model and called the Attack Trail. Worth noting that it came with the shorter but beefed up rear triangle, thus retaining the shorter wheelbase.
The other version was 200mm shock with a 57mm stroke which gives 150mm travel. This works best with a 120/130mm fork. The main model that you'll find with this is the much loved B-17, but it was also used on the better equipped Wildcat Trail. These 2 models used a beefed up rear triangle, but it was longer. This longer rear end made a better handling DH bike which could also climb better too.
The rear triangle changed quite a bit between years and models. In brief, the cheap models got steel, the XC got slinky alloy ones and the DH models got beefed up alloy box section. There were problems with the early (pre disc mount) swing arms cracking, which a thorough redesign resolved. '98 saw disc tabs introduced, but not all of the disc tabs were universal at that point. Much annoyance is felt by the B-17 owners with the simple threaded holes on top of the swing arm, as it fits nothing other than the Marin/Hope C2 adapter. There is a solution, but it requires custom engineering to make an adapter which will carry an IS mount. Effectively, you can use any rear end on the front main frame, but you'll always be restricted to the original shock size due to the frame dictating its position. The rear swing arms all position themselves at the same point at rest using the base of the shock as a guide point(this is generally about 1cm away from the seat tube).
Post up a picture and I'll do my best to tell you what year and model it is.
The F denotes Fairly, which is where the full suspension frames were mostly made.
The front triangles are broadly similar in their material, but differ in geometry and shock mounts. The shock mounts are positioned in different locations in order to accommodate the 3 different shock lengths available.
They were 165mm x 38mm stroke which is 100mm travel and should be matched with an 80mm fork. These were generally known as the Mount Vision or XC FRS platform, but some lower models carried the same dimensions with lower grade rear ends.
The rarer 190mm shock with a 51mm stroke gave 120mm travel, which is best complimented with a 100mm fork. This was the in-between model and called the Attack Trail. Worth noting that it came with the shorter but beefed up rear triangle, thus retaining the shorter wheelbase.
The other version was 200mm shock with a 57mm stroke which gives 150mm travel. This works best with a 120/130mm fork. The main model that you'll find with this is the much loved B-17, but it was also used on the better equipped Wildcat Trail. These 2 models used a beefed up rear triangle, but it was longer. This longer rear end made a better handling DH bike which could also climb better too.
The rear triangle changed quite a bit between years and models. In brief, the cheap models got steel, the XC got slinky alloy ones and the DH models got beefed up alloy box section. There were problems with the early (pre disc mount) swing arms cracking, which a thorough redesign resolved. '98 saw disc tabs introduced, but not all of the disc tabs were universal at that point. Much annoyance is felt by the B-17 owners with the simple threaded holes on top of the swing arm, as it fits nothing other than the Marin/Hope C2 adapter. There is a solution, but it requires custom engineering to make an adapter which will carry an IS mount. Effectively, you can use any rear end on the front main frame, but you'll always be restricted to the original shock size due to the frame dictating its position. The rear swing arms all position themselves at the same point at rest using the base of the shock as a guide point(this is generally about 1cm away from the seat tube).
Post up a picture and I'll do my best to tell you what year and model it is.
Ive 2 sets of numbers on my frs quake.
Non drive side- 97,81EE
Its a 1997 frame so i guess the first 2 are the year, then the 81 of which ive no idea,though could the frames produced followed by the EE, which could be the date letters or the welder/operators id
Drive side- FS7KACO77
FS- Full suspension :? the rest could refer to anything.
Frame is a medium but nothing there seems to indicate size
Non drive side- 97,81EE
Its a 1997 frame so i guess the first 2 are the year, then the 81 of which ive no idea,though could the frames produced followed by the EE, which could be the date letters or the welder/operators id
Drive side- FS7KACO77
FS- Full suspension :? the rest could refer to anything.
Frame is a medium but nothing there seems to indicate size
