Marin's hardtails go a bit funky [bigger pic]

Intriguing tube shapes remain

Pert back end

Think Marin and you tend to think of the company's nearly ubiquitous full suspension designs. And with good reason - they work, they're good value, lots of people ride them. But Marin has been making hardtails all along too. Thing is, while they've been perfectly competent they haven't really captured the imagination. For 2004, though, there's an all-new Trail Hardtail range that looks just the ticket...

You've probably got a fair feeling for how the hardtail market's going - do-it-all bikes with a decent amount of fork up front, a riding position that emphasises control over power output and enough heft for hard riding without being a tank. And that's exactly where the Trail Hardtail range is at.

There'll be three bikes in the range, kicking off with the B17. Readers with longish memories will remember the B17 as Marin's original hard-hitting full-susser, so it's vaguely appropriate that it should reappear on a hard-hitting hardtail. The B17 will have a 100mm Marzocchi MX Comp, Hayes mechanical discs and an 8spd Alvio/Deore transmission. Next up is the Wildcat Trail, with an all-new U-Turn Judy (70-115mm travel) and Hayes HFX-9 discs. Topping out the range is the Rocky Ridge (pictured) - Duke XC (68-105mm), Magura Julie discs, 9spd Deore/XT transmission.

All three bikes are built around disc-specific 7005 aluminium "E-XC" frames, featuring super-sloped top tube, a nice tight back end and some subtle tube flaring and gussetry up the front. You get more tubing manipulation and cunning butting stuff the further up the range you go, including Anti-Flex Tri-Burner stays on the Rocky Ridge. Sizes will be Small, Medium and Large, with colours being various types of subtle metallic bluey-greyey themes complete with tribalish graphics. The Rocky Ridge shown here certainly looks nicely understated and purposeful.

The bikes will be in the shops towards the end of September. Prices are to be confirmed but we'd expect the range-topping Rocky Ridge to be comfortably within three figures. Keep an eye on www.marin.co.uk for details and dealer information.