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Home > Product Reviews > Hardtail > Marin Palisades Trail Reviews

Marin Palisades Trail

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Marin Palisades Trail
More about Marin

Average Rating: 4 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 17
RRP: £695
Year: 2007

Description:

6061 aluminium frame, multi butted hydro-edge top and down tubes, 4 side double butted seat and chain stays, disc specific.

Rock Shox Tora 289X fork, 100mm of travel, with external rebound adjustment.

TH-888, 1 1/8" threadless headset.

Shimano, 32 hole disc hubs.

WTB 15 gauge black stainless spokes.

Mavic SX24, double wall rims, 32 hole disc.

WTB MotoRaptor 26" x 2.1" (49/52) tyres.

Shimano LX shift levers.

Shimano Deore derailleurs.

Shimano 9 Speed, 11-32 cassette.

Shimano HG-53 chain.

TruVativ Five D 3.1, 44/32/22 crankset with 1 alloy chainring and power spline.

TruVativ power spline cartridge bb.

Comp alloy micro adjust 30.9mm x 350mm seatpost.

WTB Speed v ATB saddle, with Love Channel and Comfort Zone.

Double butted 6061 alloy bar, OS-31.8mm, 25.4mm rise.

FSA OS115 threadless stem with alloy face plate, with 31.8mm bar clamp.

Marin dual density grips.

Hayes Sole hydraulic disc brakes with V6 rotors.

Hayes hydraulic disc brake levers.

Composite pedals with alloy cage.

REVIEWS

1 to 10 of 17 reviews, to post a review you need to be a member - Join now.Page: 1 2

Nigel Payne

Posted: 16/07/08

'EXCELLENT FOR BEGINNERS'

Strengths:
Relatively Cheap, especially if you managed to pick it up from cycle surgery when they had it on sale for £395!

Weaknesses:
Not the best spec but ok.

Overall:
Good Buy

Performance		80%
Reliability		60%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

73%

Steve Dean

Posted: 23/06/01
Updated: 04/06/07

Strengths:
The whole bike is fantastic! Since christmas, I've done just over 300 miles, and my rear brake has just come out of line with the rim. Apart from that, (and a few punchers) I've had no trouble. The Manitou Magnem forks are amazing

Weaknesses:
Could do with stronger tires that have a bit more grip. The tires are IRC Mythos XC's that do the job, but if your traveling miles over rough terrain, I suggest you get new ones.

Overall:
Overall, a fantastic bike well worth the money. If you fork out some cash for some better tires, you've got a stunning bike on your hands!

Performance		100%
Reliability		80%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

93%

sion thomas

Posted: 07/11/01
Updated: 04/06/07

'Good Buy for £500 area'

Strengths:
Really well built strong and relatively light frame, nice basic looks, decent components.

Weaknesses:
Some components are a bit cheap compared to some others in the price range but I think you pay for the frame with this bike and then work upwards. The brake levers are huge and are the first thing I am going to change.

Overall:
This is my first Mountain bike and I wanted something basic that would perform well enough off road and then I could play with and upgrade when I like. I have crashed it a couple of times and it was easy enough to fix. As yet I haven't been dissapointed and don't believe I will be. Performance is good and I believe it will be a good long term buy.

Performance		60%
Reliability		80%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

73%

Philip Sarchet

Posted: 01/06/02
Updated: 04/06/07

'DOES THE JOB'

Strengths:
Reliable. Not excessivley heavy. Fast hubs. Goes where it's pointed.

Weaknesses:
Ovation bits have all rusted. No disc mounts.

Overall:
I bought this to get started and to a old roadie who'd been away for 10 years it seems fine. After nine months it's still much better than me. Only 8 speed but I live on an island and the highest point is only 300' so 22x30 is quite enough.

The only thing letting the bike down is the finishing kit. If it's branded "Ovation", "Marin" or not branded at all the bolts have corroded. The Shimano bits are fine despite living in a draughty shed 2kms from the sea and the scratches.

The braking does scare me in the wet and the forks give the odd funny bounce and judder.

I suspect that there are many bikes just a good at this price point but if you trust the dealer enough or the deal is right worth considering.

Performance		80%
Reliability		100%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

87%

Mike Cooper

Posted: 05/10/02
Updated: 04/06/07

'A GREAT START POINT'

Strengths:
Frame is light and looks pretty cool and the forks do the job to.

Weaknesses:
some of the components coulg have been a wee tad better.

Overall:
I have had th ebike about a year and done a fair aount of miles and have had no probs. Starting to upgrade some of the components and now she really rocks.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

93%

Carl Reid

Posted: 07/02/03
Updated: 04/06/07

'GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY, A GOOD PLATFORM FOR UPGRADING'

Strengths:
Frame - Light and strong, but fairly responsive for an alu hardtail. Neatly finished welds etc.
Saddle (WTB) - Sooo comfy!
Wheelset (Alex TA19) - Have stayed true, and sidewalls have hardly worn.
Fork (Manitou Six Comp)- Smooth from day one, got better the more I rode.
Tyres (IRC Mythos 1.95) - Good all rounders, roll well on those inevitable tarmac bits.

Weaknesses:
Fork - Heavy, lack of adjustment.
Frame - Clear coating scratches easily.
Logos - I hate too many logos! Easily fixed though.
Brakes - The ProMaxx brakes fitted are horrible non cartridge jobs. Upgraded to Avid SD7s.
No rear disk mount, and only the front hub is disk compatible.

Overall:
After test riding many hardtails in this price range (Trek 4700, Dawes Taramak, Specialised etc), and doing a LOT of research on-line I plumped for the Marin. Okay, the groupset isn't full Deore (TruVativ 5D chainset), but at the price I couldn't find a better off the shelf spec. Having hammered it for 6 months now in the worst Yorkshire can throw at it I haven't thought about changing any other component.. always a good sign. As things wear out I will upgrade, but for the moment I just go out and enjoy my rides.
The ride is responsive for an alu frame, with (for me anyway) a good fit in the cockpit. I can happily trundle away on the trails all day and not feel too beaten up afterwards.

Performance		80%
Reliability		100%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

87%

martin Allsop

Posted: 08/06/03
Updated: 04/06/07

'SPOT ON BIKE, COVERS EVERTHING FROM C2C TO WARNCLIFF WOODS '

Strengths:
well made, light and a good looking bike

Weaknesses:
paint scratches easily

Overall:
If you want a bike that can cover all grounds is reliable with good backup from Marin i.e. 2 years check up's, transponder etc. well worth a good look at.

Performance		80%
Reliability		80%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

80%

James Gaunt

Posted: 05/06/04
Updated: 04/06/07

'NOT BAD FOR £400'

Strengths:
Good Frame and fork

Weaknesses:
No rear Disk Mount. Heavy poor quality of finish

Overall:
I used this bike everyday for 6 months for my daily commute and now just use for off road. I paid £400 from local shop end of season bargain ( i got my missus one too) poor finish lets it down really also lack of rear disk mount limits its upgrade potential. soon to be replaced by a Trek 8500.