'DISAPPOINTING AT FIRST BUT IMPROVING WITH EXTRA LINER SHORT'
Strengths: Look good, don't flap around at speed. Appear to be well made. Adjustable side straps and front vents.
Weaknesses: The inner short does not give the level of support that lycra shorts do. To say I was aware of my bits throughtout the first ride is an understatement. Unfortunately the inner padded liner is not detachable. I was close to cutting it out and wearing my Pace Racewear shorts underneath but having spent £55 on the shorts I relented. I tried wearing the Pace shorts as well but that was padding overload. So a pair of Ronhill unpadded lycra running shorts have solved the support problem. Total cost £70 for shorts and liner. Ummmm. Would I buy them again if I knew ?? Probably not. It also means you aren't as cool in the summer heat.
Overall: Overall should be OK now I appear to have solved the support problem. Can't believe they got 9 out of 10 in MBR review however. E-mail to Fox about the lack of support wasn't helpful, they suggested Fox padded liner short ( another £30 ). Errr. Think not.... too much padding. A slight re-design of liner to incorporate lycra type support would give top marks, but 2004 model scores lower as a result.
Strengths: Having had a '97 Marin Nail Trail hardtail with basic elastomer RST forks, this bike is excellent. It climbs well, makes a nonsense of the rough stuff and stops so much quicker than the old bike with V brakes. The bike was upgraded from the start with the Hope Mini Mono instead of the Hope Mini. Apparantly the first few hundred bikes will have the older Mini and later this year the Mini Mono will be standard fitment. The shock was changed from a Pro Pedal Fox R to a Fox RL ( No Pro Pedal available as aftermarket at that point in time ). The lockout is very useful on tarmac sections. I didn't ride the bike with Pro Pedal before buying so I can't say if it's worth having on a Fox RL shock. The Fox fork is excellent with adjustable travel as real bonus to balance the travel with the rear of the bike.
Weaknesses: The wide tyres are OK, but do seem to squirm around when you hit mud at any speed. The saddle ripped the first time I fell off ( slow speed fall whilst stopping when SPD cleat decided to stay in the pedal ). The biggest concern however has just arisen in the last week when I noticed one of the front bolts in the Quad link suspension had completely sheared off. Luckily the bolt had remained in the link so didn't collapse. The bolt was replaced by the Marin dealer immediately, but guess what ? The next ride out ( tonight ) and the replacment bolt has sheared off as well !!!! A phone call to ATB Sales is in order tomorrow.
Overall: Really like the bike, the only downside being the recent suspension bolt failures. If it wasn't for this then the bike would get full marks
