Why no love for Marin?

[orange71]

Possibly been discussed before, it's always something that has puzzled me. Now I don't know anything about Marin (possibly because they're rarely discussed here?), so maybe they're crap, but it seems they hardly get a look in here.

Why is this? Bar the odd neon bargain basement from '89 and Team Titanium at the other end, nothing from the middle seems to appear. Compare that to Kona, for example...

What gives? What are the Marin equivalents of the Explosifs, Kilaueas, Hots etc etc - or aren't there?

 

[Max P]

Not sure - as you say the only ones people have a fondness for are the late 80's.

Whenever I think back to then ('89) I always think of the Spec' Stumpjumper in pink/green, the Kona Expolsif in green/yellow splatter and the Marin Pine Mountain in light grey with orange highlights. Back then I think Kona and Marin only had about three bikes in the range and all was simple. Tange Prestige and full XT on the top model, Tange DB Cro-mo and DX on the main model and a mix on the bottom of the range.

 

[john]

Who knows? Maybe the flipside of this question is why are people so obsessed with Kona

Also surprised there isn't more of Marin's bikes on display from the early 90s. Recall them doing some real nice stuff.

 

[al]

Hi,

Marins are anything but pants!

I have owned a few over the years.They are a very steady no fuss manufacturer that never realy made inroads on the likes of Kona etc...
I am not sure why this is, maybe because of its very traditional ethos and build.
Saying that the mount vision was a great leap forward for single pivot full sus mass market bike back in the day, and they rode very well. Avoid the early swing arms and you can't go wrong. they broke!

If you were going to go for a Marin then you could do far worse than an Eldridge grade,Pine mountain,team marin, team titanium. In my opinion their best years are 1990-1998 the best thing for me about the hardtail range was that the lack of gimmicks. They were well made fairly light and great handling bikes. Underated steel frames means you can pickup a nice Pine for less than an Stumpjumper. I know what i would go for!


Cheers,Al

 

[johnkiteman]

I had a 90 (I thnk) Pine Mountain and it was lovely - deeply regret selling

 

[Drewson]

I built up a lovely Team Marin (1990) back in the day (with Syncros cattleprod/bullseye hubs/mavic ma40's/maguras...). Wish i still had that bike, definitely. Powder coated with pink forks as i remember.

Earliest Marin range (around late 80's to early 90's) went (from cheapest to most expensive):

Muirwoods (Yellow)
Palisades Trail (?)
Bear Valley (Black?)
Pine Mountain (Orange)
Team Marin (Pink)
Team Titanium

Eldridge Grade was introduced to fit between the Bear Valley and the Pine Mountain (i think) somewhere in the early 90's.

I still rate them. Not sure why many others appear not to.

Drew

 

[REKIBorter]

Marins are like Trek in my eyes, workman like bikes that do not attract attention to themselves, they look a bit plain but under the skin is a quality frame and good design. It's my opinion and you are allowed to agree with it

 

[spudgun]

I've had a fair few of the early sus models,can't fault 'em.

 

[Anthony]

Possibly been discussed before, it's always something that has puzzled me. Now I don't know anything about Marin (possibly because they're rarely discussed here?), so maybe they're crap, but it seems they hardly get a look in here.
Why is this? Bar the odd neon bargain basement from '89 and Team Titanium at the other end, nothing from the middle seems to appear. Compare that to Kona, for example...
What gives? What are the Marin equivalents of the Explosifs, Kilaueas, Hots etc etc - or aren't there?

I agree that this is quite puzzling. If you make two frames out of the best available Tange Prestige tubing, both with 71/74 geometry, both with similar-length top tubes, and both with triple-butted forks, then they’re going to build into two pretty similar-performing bikes. And you can call one of them a Marin Team Marin and the other a Kona Explosif and they’ll still be pretty similar-performing bikes.

I’m fairly sure they sold far more Marins than Konas BITD, and yet it’s clear that Konas are far more frequently found now, both here and on eBay. So the obvious question is where are the Marins now?

Possible explanations:

1. Marins could be more prone to rust – I find that hard to believe, although I must say my impression is that Konas are pretty good in this respect;

2. the kind of people who bought Marins BITD are less likely to be still riding them 10-15 years down the line, so their bikes are forgotten in their sheds – perhaps this could be a Sociology A-level question

3. the kind of people who bought Marins BITD are still riding them but are less likely to be cool enough to me members of this site – I take it we all agree that cool is the right word there?

4. Marins still exist but are under-appreciated by their current owners, because – e.g., Team Marin doesn’t sound as good as Explosif, Indian Fire Trail doesn’t sound as good as Kula, etc

5. people stay more faithful to their Konas, Kleins and Oranges because they’re just prettier - and a thing of beauty is a joy forever

Any more explanations?

 

[orange71]

I just seem to remember seeing Marins everywhere in the nineties even more so than Konas - perhaps it was selective perception???