The TAM is Marin’s take on the ultimate all-rounder – a “mountain bike for mountain bikers”, as the brand puts it.
With 29in wheels, low-treaded tyres and parts that are specced to balance weight and durability, it's a bike designed for ticking off the miles, although the trail-bike geometry ensures it’ll handle more than you might expect a 120mm-travel rig to be capable of.
Creating a bike that can be efficient at covering big distances but still playful and versatile is a big ask, but I think Marin has delivered.
While the TAM feels decently urgent on the climbs, if you point it down a technical piece of singletrack or an undulating trail-centre descent, it becomes a total ripper to chuck around.
It’s not without its faults, though. The stock stem is too long, and a switch to a shorter one really helped unlock its potential. But my biggest gripe is the cable rattle, which could be heard even on uneven tarmac. Thankfully, Marin says it has a fix for this.
Marin TAM XR – what you need to know
- Marin only offers the TAM in aluminium
- The US brand's flexstay-based IsoTrac suspension system delivers 120mm of rear-wheel travel
- This XR model is the priciest in the three-bike line-up, which starts at £1,899 / $2,399.
- A 64.7-degree head angle (measured) makes it stable at speed, while the 77.7-degree seat tube angle helps keep climbing comfortable
- There are four sizes available, with reach figures ranging from 425mm up to 510mm
- At 13.26kg, it's light for a trail bike but around 1kg heavier than a beefed-up cross-country rig
Calm under pressure
While it might not be quite as svelte or sprightly as an out-and-out cross-country bike, the TAM XR offers up enough urgency when you start pressing the pedals.
Thanks to the Maxxis Rekon Race tyres, which roll at a decent lick, progress feels swift and efficient from the get-go.
It helps that the rear suspension is calm while you’re sat down turning the pedals. Marin says the anti-squat at sag is 124%, which likely explains this.
There’s a little movement during bigger efforts or when faced with steeper pitches, but on the whole the rear end remains stable. This enabled me to either cruise up the hill, taking in the view, or bury myself completely, safe in the knowledge that the effort I was putting through the pedals was being turned into forward momentum, with next to nothing wasted.
Scrabbling up awkward rises out of the saddle can result in a little more suspension bob, but no matter how grim the climb, I always felt comfortable on the TAM.
It helps that the seat tube is fairly steep, sitting you up over the bottom bracket. While Marin told me that the effective seat tube angle is 76 degrees, with my saddle set to my preferred height I measured it at 77.4 degrees.
After swapping to a shorter 45mm stem (replacing the stock 65mm number that came on the bike), I felt even more comfortable when seated, with more weight through my sit bones and less pressure on my hands.
More than miles
That wasn't the reason for the stem swap, though. I opted to ditch the longer stem because I was struggling to weight the front tyre consistently, especially in flatter turns.
Because the Rekon Race tyres don’t have the chunkiest tread, navigating loose corners on the TAM can sometimes feel a little tentative, especially if you don’t feel you can weight the front of the bike sufficiently.
Switching to a shorter stem put me in a better position between the wheels and offered more control, not only making flatter turns feel easier to deal with, but also upping the TAM’s fun factor by making the handling a little livelier.
Yes, the shorter stem sits you a little more upright, but in my experience, this doesn’t hamper the climbing position all that much (I never struggled with the front wheel lifting, despite not being as hunkered-down over the bar). The benefits on meandering singletrack or when descending far outweigh any negatives on the ups.
Once you’ve crested those climbs, the fun really begins. Sprint into an undulating section and you can really work the bike through every nook and cranny of the trail, pumping, jumping or manualling your way along and eking out every ounce of speed without things feeling too laboured.
Once up to speed, the TAM XR holds its pace well, skimming and skipping its way across the hillside.
Even with the back end of the bike set up with 30% sag, the 120mm of rear-wheel travel feels as though it's delivered in a very measured way via the IsoTrac flexstay platform.
Once the shock settles into its stroke, the bike can absorb chatter well without ever diving too deep into the travel.
As speed picks up, you can really drive your weight through the pedals, and pumping the bike is rewarded with forward momentum.
Problem and solution
It’s not all positive, though. Despite attempts to quieten things down, the cable rattle from the TAM is consistently irritating, and kicks in as soon as the tyres touch anything remotely bumpy.
The culprit is likely the dropper post cable, which runs inside the down tube without any kind of padding or guide, and no rubber porting where it enters the frame.
It’s a real shame that something so minor can be so hard to ignore and detracts from such a brilliant ride.
Thankfully, my moaning to Marin has paid off and the brand says it has a fix for this, which will be rolled out on production bikes as standard.
Once that solution has been applied to my test bike, I’ll write a full review, so be sure to watch this space for more soon.
Short-travel stallion
Cable-rattle aside, when you tip the TAM XR into something a little spicier, it’s impressive how capable this short-travel rig can be.
While it may not be quite as light or efficient as a full-blown XC machine, in these situations the slightly burlier build and sturdier frame are a blessing. Where some 120mm-travel bikes can start to feel fragile or flexy, the TAM doesn’t seem to flinch.
I’m not saying it handles descents like a full-blown trail bike, but don’t be fooled by the travel figure – this thing rips.
It helps that the Fox 34 SL Performance Elite fork has 130mm of travel and can easily be adjusted to suit your style or the terrain, and that the SRAM Motive brakes offer the right amount of punch for the riding the bike is intended for, but there’s more to it than that.
Marin says it has gone for "modern XC geometry”, but according to my measurements, the figures are more typical of a decent trail bike.
With a 64.7-degree head angle, 455mm reach (medium) and 333mm bottom bracket height, it’s no wonder things feel stable at speed.
But thanks to the 435mm chainstays (which are the same length across all sizes) and that pop delivered via the back end of the bike, the TAM XR still feels lively, fun and exciting to chuck around.
While it may not be the sprightliest of the bunch, I’d argue it’s more capable and fun to ride than many others that fall into the same category. Marin just needs to sort that cable rattle out.
How we tested
I’ve been putting the miles in on the TAM XR on a variety of trails to see how it stacks up.
In an attempt to get a feel for the bike, I’ve ridden trail-centre laps in South Wales and short, punchy local loops with steep climbs and fast descents, along with lengthy singletrack rides to see what it's like when clocking up the miles.
Conditions have varied quite a bit too, seeing me ride in everything from mud to dust, rain to sun and everything in between.
Efficient flex
Marin makes the TAM out of its Series 4 aluminium. Look closely and you can see how it has manipulated the tube shapes neatly here and there to bolster reinforcement in key areas, but ensure there’s nothing unnecessary. This is done to keep the frame weight as low as possible without scrimping on stiffness and strength.
Taking care of the 120mm of rear-wheel travel is the IsoTrac flexstay suspension platform. This system forgoes a pivot on the seatstays, which instead flex enough to do the same job without the associated weight and maintenance requirements.
Other details include a UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) dropout, which is good news should you ever want to switch to a direct-mount SRAM Transmission derailleur, plus space for two water bottles inside the front triangle.
Balancing the books
Marin has been smart with how it has spent its cash on the TAM XR. While nothing here is jaw-droppingly flashy, it’s mostly lovely kit that does the job well.
While the tyres might struggle in muddier conditions, the Rekon Race tread is deceptively grippy, despite its low blocks. It still seems to roll really well, too. Marin has specced the cheaper dual-compound version, though.
Fox’s 34 SL fork comes with the highly adjustable GRIPX damper and matches the Float SL shock at the rear, which also offers some useful external adjustments.
SRAM’s Motive brakes offer plenty of bite for a bike such as this, thanks to their chunky four-piston calipers.
Shimano’s Deore Di2 electronic gearing may not inspire the same lust as its pricier XT and XTR siblings, but it works really well, even if it’s a touch heavier.
Marin TAM XR initial verdict
Overall, Marin has done a great job with the TAM XR. The cable rattle needs to be ironed out, but it seems the brand has a fix for this now.
In terms of performance on the hill, I had a blast riding the TAM XR. It might not offer XC levels of efficiency on the climbs, but it’s certainly no slouch, and if you want to really dig in, it won’t hold you back.
On the downs, it’s impressive to see just how hard you can push a 120mm-travel bike. The geometry and parts add up to a well-rounded machine that’s as fun riding on an all-day epic as it is ripping around a trail centre on your lunch break.
Marin TAM XR specifications
- Weight: 13.26kg (medium, without pedals)
- Frame: Aluminium alloy, 120mm travel
- Sizes: S, M*, L, XL
- Fork: Fox 34 Performance Elite, 130mm travel
- Shock: Fox Float SL Performance Elite
- Wheels: WTB KOM Light i30 rims on WTB X7 hubs
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race EXO 29x2.35in (fr / r)
- Derailleur: Shimano Deore Di2
- Shifters: Shimano Deore Di2
- Crankset: Race Face Turbine
- Cassette/chain: Shimano Deore / KMC X-12
- Brakes: SRAM Motive Silver (180mm rotors)
- Bar/stem/grips: Marin Mini Riser, 780mm / Marin 3D Forged, 55mm / Marin Grizzly lock-on
- Seatpost/saddle: PNW Loam Dropper, 170mm (medium) / Marin Speed Concept
