I've had a Marin Rift Zone for over a year and need some advice on the annoying rattle coming from the rear "Quad" suspension. I've replaced the shock bushes but made no difference. I'm on the verge of stripping it down and looking at the bearings....

Loads of threads about this.

Have you got the newer 'H' links in the QUAD. They should be one piece.

I have the redesigned links and mine doesn't rattle, many of the older ones do. IIRC this is a warranty issue and Marin will replace them with the new ones

Ta for the reply. They are two piece I think. Does a rattle constitute a warranty claim? Not that I'm bothered, I just want it to stop and I can ride in silence again!

Shame there's no search fuction. There was a big thread on this last year. I'll see if I can find it

My Rift Zone is a 2003 and having load back end too. Do the shops know about the new H-links and can I just expect them to sort it out? Its realy been bugging me.

I've just installed new links (one-piece) that I got under warranty through my local bike shop. First ride tomorrow.....

Well it was a great ride (3 Dales ride from MBR) but the damn bike spoilt it a bit. New one-piece H-bar links and still rattles worse than ever. I've replaced the bushes on the shock as well so there's not a lot more I can do. It's time to hand it over to Chevin Cycles and see what they can do. If they can't fix it then it's time to sell up and move on.....

wooooo....

rift zone IMO is a sound machine.

just be aware that the majority of monocoque frames ampilfy sound so the smallest rattle is LOUD, and most got through periods of rattling..

dont get rid mate....

i am blessed with a quiet whyte quad... my mate's wolf ridge not so... we have had this bike in pieces many times

may i suggest
1. strip the BB + /- replace it, it will b loose by now
2. take a long hard look at the saddle / seatpost... retighten the lot
3. ensure yr disc brakes are totally aligned - i know it doesnt sound like the noise is from there.... but with the frame it can actually come from any place on the bike and sound like it's the links...
4. even the headset can cause this noise - check it


hope u find the cause!!

Cheers for your comments. I agree it's a great bike to ride. Does everything you ask of it and then some. In reply to your comments:

1. I'm on my second (ISIS = lame IMO!)
2. No probs there
3. Again, ok.
4. Def a sus rattle. Sounds like there's ball bearings inside the monocoque!

Watch this space....

Bike has now been looked at by Chevin who could find nothing majorly wrong. They won't take it any further either since I didn't buy the bike there. So I have a few options:

1) Get rid and buy a Stumpjumper Pro frame
2) Take the bike down to Oxford (Beeline) and get them to look at it and possibly be without a bike for the start of the dusty season....

Don't fancy 2) much........ bloody Marins...

I have a PRST-4 and this rattles periodically. The upgraded link was fitted about a year ago and sorted out one particular annoying noise.

I don't know about other Whyte owners but I find a lot of the racket can be done away with by ensuring the 'grippers' are really tight.

I remove the wheels quite a lot when transporting by car so there is a tendency for the little screws to untighten slightly nessitating a stop after a mile or so.

Anyway, that's my thought for the day.

You may indeed have ball bearings in it! sounds daft, but my wifes marin is a tad older (2000), and the swing arm on them had the join of the top and bottom tubes around the rear axle filled apparently with bearings & weld. sounds daft, but it was obvious on the original. Anyway Chevin swapped it - but we got it from them!