At this year's Eurobike trade show, Marin introduced a new downhill frame and carbon fibre CXR hardtail, plus updates to the Attack Trail and Rift Zone.
CXR Team
The bike that caught our eye straight away was the full-carbon CXR Team, which is available in both 26in- and 29in-wheeled versions, and is built using a new CXR-T3 carbon construction technique.
The tubes on the Team hardtail are formed, mitred then bonded together – similar to a traditional welded frame – resulting in a higher strength-to-weight ratio, so less material can be used, saving weight.
Marin’s top-end CXR Team bike with Fox F-32 fork, Shimano XTR groupset and Forumula R1 brakes will set you back £2,750 while the Team SLX model costs £2,299.
Rift Zone
If you’re after a speedy full-susser then the reworked 100mm-travel Rift Zone might be for you. It uses Marin’s new Hydro Light II frameset, with an internal headset for increased strength and lower weight, and the Quad Link 2.0 suspension system with new low-profile Y-linkage. The Rift Zone will be available at three price/spec levels from £1,599-£2,499.
Attack Trail
The 2011 ‘do-it-all’ Attack Trail (6.8 – £2,499; 6.9 – £3,399) sticks with the proven Quad Link suspension system at the rear, offering 150mm of travel, and keeping up with the trend has a tapered head tube and a forged one-piece ISCG-05 bottom bracket, so you can run Truvativ’s HammerSchmidt transmission or a chainguide.
Team DH
First unveiled at this year’s CrankWorx festival in Whistler, Canada, this is Marin’s Team DH gravity machine, developed in conjunction with pro rider Shaums March. Using the company’s familiar Quad Link suspension system, the Team DH has 250mm of rear travel, a tapered 1.125-1.5in head tube to increase front end stiffness and replaceable, modular dropouts at the rear. Price TBC.