Nice Looking Marin Tourer

[mrjemm]

New Marin Four Corners:





Who knows if it will come to the UK when released later this year, but I think this is a nice looking bike. I'd like to see a pic of it without the luggage, but suspect the forks'll look just like the Vaya's (without the stainless dropouts). According to Bikerumor http://www.bikerumor.com/2015/04/27/soc15-marin-celebrates-30-years-with-27-pine-mountain-1-four-corners-touring-rig-plus-vintage-collection/, there is capacity for 45mm tyres and 'fenders' (29"x2.0"), which is not bad at all compared to many in this market out there now. Price in US to be $1100, so I'd be keen to know the UK price, and if frame only would be an option.

For me it is a nice change to see Marin making a bike without all the shaped tubing that they have come to love in recent years. It may be all very effective at what it does, and being 'hydroformed' alloy is perhaps light and so forth, but my view is... Ugly. Also, it may be the style over content coming out in me, but I like the dropped seat-stays. Not sure if it's an optical illusion, or the seat-stays making it look so, but is the seat angle fairly relaxed too?

Only things I am not sure about are the non-replaceable hanger, and the gusset. Hanger does look sturdy though.

Anyway, I'll probably change my tune soon enough, and hate it, but right now am curious.

[reohn2]

Generally it looks nice if a little dull,which could also be described as 'understated'
I'd like to see the geometry figure though.
It's a Vaya clone like the others,at least Salsa know they're doing it right when the big lads are copying them
47's(which aren't 2inch) and m/guard will be tight IMO.
Downsides IMV:-
overgeared.
lowered seatstays
non replaceable deraileur hanger
Colour(drab) and forks a different colour,c'mon boys we can do better than this!
Luggage all up front where it shouldn't be,I know it's fashionable but...

Upsides:-
BB7's by the look of it
At least it's got a triple

[al_yrpal]

Interesting that its shown with all the weight on the front. The Americans are very keen on Bikepacking, perhaps this is in response to that developing market? The dropped stays ensure that the forces from the top tube and stays arent concentrated on just one section of the seat tube...? Perhaps a rough stuff feature from Marin's long MTB experience?
Al

[mrjemm]

For me, the bits fitted mean nowt. Gearing, etc., never going to be an issue as I'd buy frame (if wanting).

Same for colour, I think this is OK at best, but being steel I'd get frisky with the powder-coater's RAL book. As for forks being a different colour, well, that's just a bonus!

I don't think it's a Vaya clone. The market was there before Salsa entered it, albeit barely, they just fine-tuned (aka perfected ) it. I think the little tweaks make it a different bike far more than those shown on the Croix de Fer, AWOL, and many many more. i.e. Those seat-stays, the sturdiness and curviness of the chain-stays and the 3 bottle cages over the Salsa's 2 (or did my old'un have 3?). Oh, and that gusset...

I imagine the offset forces on the seat-tube from the staggered inputs (top vs seat-stays) may soften the ride a bit, but that could be generous on my part.

The thing about the weight on the front is perhaps a large part fashion. Specialised made a big deal out of it with the AWOL, though it had of course been seen earlier. Perhaps the supposed trendiness of 'bike-packing' is indeed reasoning there, but... if the handling is worked out, it could be beneficial in so far as the rear wheel on normal loading gets more of a hard time. I've not tried truly loaded off-road with a hefty front mass though... bar a few examples of getting off course (i.e. lost/misreading maps) or getting to a campsite.

One of these, powder-coated in some nice bright colour, or just lacquered, fitted with a more basic chainset and steel racks (though I have one of those Blackburn Outpost front racks hiding in the garage...), could be good.

[blackbike]

No mudguards, surely an odd omission on a tourer.

I'd have the rack and panniers at the back, and get rid of all that high, frame mounted clutter by using small front panniers.

But I do understand that many newer cyclists like to look different so nobody mistakes them for the old, dull variety.

[pwa]

Am I the only person who looks at a bike and thinks "where do the lights go"? That bike is shown with no rack to mount a rear light on, and the seat post is taken up by a bag. So that leaves only a floppy mounting on the bag. Ay the front there is a bar bag making a light on the bars a bit awkward, and a fork crown mounted light would be obstructed by anything put on top of that front rack.

[al_yrpal]

No mudguards? This bike is made for trail riding in Zion national park or Sedona where there is just red dust, its not aimed at touring wet European or Asian roads, its built for rock strewn desert. Its a fashion yes, but a fashion closely followed by lots of Americans currently. Mill Valley, Marin County is a very trendy place.

Hows about this? http://www.marinbikes.com/ca/bikes/desc ... ax-sc6-dlx Its got the lot...

Al

[hamster]

It seems to have always been the way that American tourers don't have mudguards...there again they also don't have wet summers.

The grey colour is very reminiscent of the classic Zolatone Marin MTBs of the early 90's.

[531colin]

Oh, the aching trendiness of a front-loaded bike!.....of course they are all copying Jan Heine, who copied the short trail French bikes of decades ago.
Short trail is generally lively steering, so you put the weight on the front wheel to calm it down a bit. They weren't quite brave enough to make the AWOL short trail, so it ended up mid-trail, which I would prefer, but maybe not with a front load. Wonder what this one is?
Short trail generally means steep head angle, so to clear a big 700c tyre the frame has to be pretty long, compared with a more traditional shallow head/ long offset tourer. Of course that would be less of a problem with 650B.....perhaps this is 650B, I don't recognise the tyres.....anybody?
Frame has a big downtube, and a slender top tube, enormous chainstays and really skinny seatstays.......why?
Cranked dropouts to clear the disc?
I don't like the seat cluster....both the seatstays and the rider's weight on a long seatpost are putting a bending couple on the seat tube top, and clamp.
....and actually, I don't want to try front load, there are too many occasions when i need to un-weight the front wheel on the tracks.

[reohn2]

Interesting that its shown with all the weight on the front. The Americans are very keen on Bikepacking, perhaps this is in response to that developing market? The dropped stays ensure that the forces from the top tube and stays arent concentrated on just one section of the seat tube...? Perhaps a rough stuff feature from Marin's long MTB experience?
Al

Or perhaps style over substance?
Bicycles are made up in triangles for a reason,triangles that meet other triangles are stronger than those that don't,that seems obvious to me.
The more acute the angle at the rear drop outs the less strength at that end of the triangle which is where it'll take the most vertical load.
A compact frame is already slightly compromised,why make it worse by making that angle more extreme than needs be,for no reason other than fashion?

[reohn2]

Oh, the aching trendiness of a front-loaded bike!.....of course they are all copying Jan Heine, who copied the short trail French bikes of decades ago.

Jan must be pleased he's the new black

Short trail is generally lively steering, so you put the weight on the front wheel to calm it down a bit. They weren't quite brave enough to make the AWOL short trail, so it ended up mid-trail, which I would prefer, but maybe not with a front load. Wonder what this one is?
Short trail generally means steep head angle, so to clear a big 700c tyre the frame has to be pretty long, compared with a more traditional shallow head/ long offset tourer.

I'd bet Marin like Spesh,chickened out too

Of course that would be less of a problem with 650B.....perhaps this is 650B, I don't recognise the tyres.....anybody?

The tyres are Schwalbe Silento's only available in 559 or 622.
I'm thinking they're 622,so no B's buzzing in that bonnet

Frame has a big downtube, and a slender top tube, enormous chainstays and really skinny seatstays.......why?

No idea though fashion could be a contender.

I don't like the seat cluster....both the seatstays and the rider's weight on a long seatpost are putting a bending couple on the seat tube top, and clamp

That'll be right,again who's to know why ,I'd take a guess and bet it begins with F

....and actually, I don't want to try front load, there are too many occasions when i need to un-weight the front wheel on the tracks.

The only time I can think of a front loaded bike being of any help would be climbing very steep hills ie;17%+, but as I tend not to keep such a straight line on those kind of climbs a front load would probably make matters worse and encourage steering flop.

[mrjemm]

Oh gaw-blimey, I am a fashion victim again.

[reohn2]

Oh gaw-blimey, I am a fashion victim again.

But it's not even green or orange

[mrjemm]

Not as stamdard, but gotta love them powder coating folk.

[mrjemm]

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/mar ... 9688-p.asp

Charlie the BM is selling these now for £700. That is £25 more than a Vaya frame. Complete. And I still like the look of it. Shame I am feeling poor. Not a shame that I already have the beast of the class.

As for colour schemes...



http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/mountain- ... 016-p14157
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/mar ... 9675-p.asp

Now that is a proper colour scheme... And the bike that led back to this thread by chance. Me thinking this looks fun. No fan of built in seat clamps, but otherwise, mmm. As for 27.5", I just don't have a clue, so another thing that puts me off. But that colour scheme...