No love for Marin?

[Neil]

I'm just far from convinced that such superficial brand judgements, that you feel individually, is either representative or causative of general perception of the brand.

I dunno, from my experience a lot of people who are into bikes find Marins totally uninspiring. They made plenty of serviceable, if unremarkable, hardtails in the '90s (often with paint that fell off if you looked at it) and then went on to produce some pretty rubbish full-sus bikes, a lot of which I've seen broken (BB shells sheared off, headtubes sheared off...etc.) So it's not even as if they produce understated but incredible bikes: they produce understated mediocre or bad bikes.

Where's the flare and excitement in the design? Where's the innovation? It's not so much that there's one big reason to hate them - it's more that I can't think of a single reason to like them!

So just like many other mass produced bikes of their time, then...

Here's the danger, though, when you presume that your opinion is the reasoning behind the perceived, widespread mindset.

You're not the centre of the universe, you're not a special and unique snowflake - I've never owned a Marin, I've known people that have, though, and back in the day (late 80's / early 90s) they seemed much the same as any other mass produced brand.

I'm not seeing any more indifference or dislike for Marin than any other mass-produced bike, personally. Kona seems to have more fanaticism, perhaps closely followed by GT. Trek seems to foster some degree of dislike (perhaps worse) but I suspect that's more about the brand than the bikes.

 

[thecannibal]

I'm just far from convinced that such superficial brand judgements, that you feel individually, is either representative or causative of general perception of the brand.

I dunno, from my experience a lot of people who are into bikes find Marins totally uninspiring. They made plenty of serviceable, if unremarkable, hardtails in the '90s (often with paint that fell off if you looked at it) and then went on to produce some pretty rubbish full-sus bikes, a lot of which I've seen broken (BB shells sheared off, headtubes sheared off...etc.) So it's not even as if they produce understated but incredible bikes: they produce understated mediocre or bad bikes.

Where's the flare and excitement in the design? Where's the innovation? It's not so much that there's one big reason to hate them - it's more that I can't think of a single reason to like them!

So just like many other mass produced bikes of their time, then...

Here's the danger, though, when you presume that your opinion is the reasoning behind the perceived, widespread mindset.

You're not the centre of the universe, you're not a special and unique snowflake - I've never owned a Marin, I've known people that have, though, and back in the day (late 80's / early 90s) they seemed much the same as any other mass produced brand.

I'm not seeing any more indifference or dislike for Marin than any other mass-produced bike, personally. Kona seems to have more fanaticism, perhaps closely followed by GT. Trek seems to foster some degree of dislike (perhaps worse) but I suspect that's more about the brand than the bikes.

Um, I don't think I'm the centre of the universe. I've heard literally hundreds of people slag off Marin for being boring and/or not particularly good bikes. I'm not alone!

 

[elPedro666]

Never been even vaguely excited about Marin since they dropped the Zolatone (apart from when they took on John Whyte's designs but that's a bit irrelevant here). But then I've never ridden one, so what do I know?

That said, skinnyboy's up there ^^^ could well be the one to change my mind, proper class act!

 

[Neil]

I'm just far from convinced that such superficial brand judgements, that you feel individually, is either representative or causative of general perception of the brand.

I dunno, from my experience a lot of people who are into bikes find Marins totally uninspiring. They made plenty of serviceable, if unremarkable, hardtails in the '90s (often with paint that fell off if you looked at it) and then went on to produce some pretty rubbish full-sus bikes, a lot of which I've seen broken (BB shells sheared off, headtubes sheared off...etc.) So it's not even as if they produce understated but incredible bikes: they produce understated mediocre or bad bikes.

Where's the flare and excitement in the design? Where's the innovation? It's not so much that there's one big reason to hate them - it's more that I can't think of a single reason to like them!

So just like many other mass produced bikes of their time, then...

Here's the danger, though, when you presume that your opinion is the reasoning behind the perceived, widespread mindset.

You're not the centre of the universe, you're not a special and unique snowflake - I've never owned a Marin, I've known people that have, though, and back in the day (late 80's / early 90s) they seemed much the same as any other mass produced brand.

I'm not seeing any more indifference or dislike for Marin than any other mass-produced bike, personally. Kona seems to have more fanaticism, perhaps closely followed by GT. Trek seems to foster some degree of dislike (perhaps worse) but I suspect that's more about the brand than the bikes.

Um, I don't think I'm the centre of the universe. I've heard literally hundreds of people slag off Marin for being boring and/or not particularly good bikes. I'm not alone!

Still not getting it.

Think you're looking through brown-coloured sunglasses.

Maybe you should put it to a poll, if you're so convinced.

I've seen countless threads on here about loved Marins - can't say as it seems to me they're bottom of the pile, so to speak...

 

[Neil]

Never been even vaguely excited about Marin since they dropped the Zolatone (apart from when they took on John Whyte's designs but that's a bit irrelevant here). But then I've never ridden one, so what do I know?

That's a different thing, though, isn't it?

Surely you could - in the style of a marketing questionnaire - make many brands seem unexciting, depending on how you phrased it.

I don't doubt they're, in the main, unexciting - just like many mass-produced bikes, I just seriously doubt they're more unloved and disliked than many others.

If I was to pick a mass-produced bike brand from BITD that seems largely unloved, I'd say Trek - and that seems more about brand perception, than the actual bikes themselves.

 

[elPedro666]

Never been even vaguely excited about Marin since they dropped the Zolatone (apart from when they took on John Whyte's designs but that's a bit irrelevant here). But then I've never ridden one, so what do I know?

That's a different thing, though, isn't it?

Surely you could - in the style of a marketing questionnaire - make many brands seem unexciting, depending on how you phrased it.

I don't doubt they're, in the main, unexciting - just like many mass-produced bikes, I just seriously doubt they're more unloved and disliked than many others.

If I was to pick a mass-produced bike brand from BITD that seems largely unloved, I'd say Trek - and that seems more about brand perception, than the actual bikes themselves.

I'd agree with that, and that Trek do seem to get a raw deal, maybe because of their size? More difficult to get attached to a bike from a massive corporation perhaps, compared to, say, a Dave Yates where you can appreciate the skill of the individual.

Might change my tune entirely with a ride though, it's purely my perception (post '92ish) I'm talking about (just to be clear). Whether that's widely shared I'm not sure...

 

[thecannibal]

Still not getting it.

Think you're looking through brown-coloured sunglasses.

Maybe you should put it to a poll, if you're so convinced.

I've seen countless threads on here about loved Marins - can't say as it seems to me they're bottom of the pile, so to speak...

Of course there are threads about loved Marins. There are threads about loved Kirk Revolutions! As I've said, completely apart from my personal opinions, I've heard hundreds of people slag off Marin - usually featuring some mention of how incredibly boring they perceive the company and its products to be. This is my experience and I'm just sharing it. If you want to do a poll go ahead, but I don't have any great urge to prove myself right or whatever.

 

[hamster]

I've owned a couple over the years (a 1990 and 1994). They are stable, fairly forgiving things to ride, but seem to excel at longer distance, all-day rides.

I still have one, converted to drop bars, which I use as a tourer - at which it is brilliant. It's more versatile and handles better when loaded than a Super Galaxy.

Having recently sold my 1994 Pine Mountain and transplanted all the bits onto a same age Lava Dome frame, I am quite happy that (with the same forks, wheels and drivetrain) the Lava Dome is more fun to ride and much more spirited on twisty singletrack.

I do agree that later Marins just seem a bit bland compared to the Zolatone days.

 

[Neil]

Still not getting it.

Think you're looking through brown-coloured sunglasses.

Maybe you should put it to a poll, if you're so convinced.

I've seen countless threads on here about loved Marins - can't say as it seems to me they're bottom of the pile, so to speak...

Of course there are threads about loved Marins. There are threads about loved Kirk Revolutions! As I've said, completely apart from my personal opinions, I've heard hundreds of people slag off Marin - usually featuring some mention of how incredibly boring they perceive the company and its products to be. This is my experience and I'm just sharing it. If you want to do a poll go ahead, but I don't have any great urge to prove myself right or whatever.

My only disagreement with your take on this, is that your insinuation that your personal, subjective take on the brand, is somehow endemic - from my perspective it's not - you can try still stamping your feet, and sticking your fingers in your ears and say "Yes, but I've heard hundreds slag them off..." if you like, but I haven't, and I dispute your position represents the general perception of Marin.

That's my opinion - well that and that there is no huge dislike for them - and just like you, I'm free to keep repeating it ad infinitum, too.

 

[thecannibal]

Still not getting it.

Think you're looking through brown-coloured sunglasses.

Maybe you should put it to a poll, if you're so convinced.

I've seen countless threads on here about loved Marins - can't say as it seems to me they're bottom of the pile, so to speak...

Of course there are threads about loved Marins. There are threads about loved Kirk Revolutions! As I've said, completely apart from my personal opinions, I've heard hundreds of people slag off Marin - usually featuring some mention of how incredibly boring they perceive the company and its products to be. This is my experience and I'm just sharing it. If you want to do a poll go ahead, but I don't have any great urge to prove myself right or whatever.

My only disagreement with your take on this, is that your insinuation that your personal, subjective take on the brand, is somehow endemic - from my perspective it's not - you can try still stamping your feet, and sticking your fingers in your ears and say "Yes, but I've heard hundreds slag them off..." if you like, but I haven't, and I dispute your position represents the general perception of Marin.

That's my opinion - well that and that there is no huge dislike for them - and just like you, I'm free to keep repeating it ad infinitum, too.

Err, OK. Yeah, it really doesn't bother me if you don't agree I'm not particularly desperate to convince anyone of anything this trivial! Maybe the trends are also regional? Maybe it's something to do with what a colossal tosser the old manager of Bike Bristol was? I reckon the only brand I've heard get more stick in the trade is Crackandfale, though they do have an excellent warranties department by all accounts...