Marin. What happened?

[stevedeer]

Hi All. I'm bikeless at the moment and looking around. I had a Marin Bear Valley in the 90s, and another Marin (silver and orange thing) later on. Made a huge mistake buying a Scott Sub 10 Hybrid after that. Don't seem to see Marins around anymore, was really happy with my two. I'm looking to buy used, good quality but low price. Would love a Birdy or Brompton too, just to keep in the car boot. If you can think of alternative brands for MTBs, please shout. Thanks in advance.

 

[vickster]

What was wrong with the Scott?

Now do you want a rigid mountain bike or a hardtail?

 

[stevedeer]

Hybrid was just not for me. I'm mostly road, but I'm either way with rigid or hardtail. Had some lovely 'Nokia city runner' tyres fitted to my last Marin.

 

[Cycleops]

They were made in some numbers there are usually plenty of Bear Valleys around so I check on gumtree and there were four., seven on eBay. There’s even just a frame on eBay so you could build as you want. What part of the country are you?

to the forum.

 

[Milkfloat]

Marin are still producing bikes and have quite a few dealers in the UK.

 

[stevedeer]

They were made in some numbers there are usually plenty of Bear Valleys around so I check on gumtree and there were four., seven on eBay. There’s even just a frame on eBay so you could build as you want. What part of the country are you?

to the forum.

Wirral, Merseyside

 

[vickster]

Hybrid was just not for me. I'm mostly road, but I'm either way with rigid or hardtail. Had some lovely 'Nokia city runner' tyres fitted to my last Marin.

Was it a rigid or suspension fork?
What didn’t you like about it (especially on road?)

 

[Cycleops]

In which case there should be some not too far from you.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Marin are still producing bikes and have quite a few dealers in the UK.

I read only a few days ago* that they had at some point been acquired by a major Taiwanese framebuilding company and became essentially the 'house' brand.

*On here, IIRC - or maybe t'other place.

 

[vickster]

Birkenhead cycles are a Marin dealer
https://www.birkenheadcycles.co.uk/brands/marin.php

 

[stevedeer]

Was it a rigid or suspension fork?
What didn’t you like about it (especially on road?)

It was rigid, and a bit too lightweight. I'm a big fella (16 stone, ex rugby). just didn't like it, shouldn't have sold my orange/silver hard tail Marin. Too emotionally attached to it, but didn't realise at the time!

 

[stevedeer]

Birkenhead cycles are a Marin dealer
https://www.birkenheadcycles.co.uk/brands/marin.php

Cheers Vickster, Was on the Marin web site today, but they didn't come up as dealers... with check them out, maybe tomorrow, don't want new tho

 

[vickster]

It was rigid, and a bit too lightweight. I'm a big fella (16 stone, ex rugby). just didn't like it, shouldn't have sold my orange/silver hard tail Marin. Too emotionally attached to it, but didn't realise at the time!

Try to get the same again 👍

 

[biggs682]

I will never part with my Original Bear valley

 

[John_S]

Hi Stevedeer,

Back in the 90s I really wanted a Marin MTB but I couldn’t afford one and got a Raleigh instead, which was a good bike, but I did always have a fondness for Marin bikes.

But your message caught my eye in relation to a recent article that I read on a modern day Marin bike on the link below.

https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/gravel-bikes/marin-gestalt-custom-build-long-term-review/

Hope that you manage to get another Marin following your search.

John