2019-05-01_Mountain_Bike_Rider

46 mbr M ay 2 019

new bikes

sprinting. More surprisingly, when the
climbing got rougher or more technical,
the Marin didn’t exhibit any of the
negative traits high anti-squat designs
normally possess — namely unwanted
pedal kickback.
So we’ve established that the new
Mount Vision pedals like a demon and
climbs efficiently, which is exactly what
you want from a 150mm-travel trail bike,
but how does it handle the descents?
Well, it’s very easy to ride. And by
that we mean the geometry and sizing
are both sorted. The low BB (30mm
drop) makes the bike feel super-stable
at speed, but you need to be careful not
to run too much sag on the rear shock,
otherwise you’ll be clipping pedals left,
right and centre. And it’s not just pedals
that you’ll clip.
With the frame extending a long
way in front of the bottom bracket —
the unique suspension design that
gives the Marin a distinct e-bike look —
we managed to ground out the frame
on one awkward rocky section of trail.
Fortunately, the full carbon frame
comes with a replaceable hardshell
protector and it easily brushed off
the impact.
But let’s get back to the ride quality,
as this bike has some unique traits.
First of all it rides really flat, so the rear
suspension doesn’t sink in turns and this
really helps keep the front tyre loaded,
which is especially useful on the L and
XL sizes.
In fact, when we first heard Marin
boasting about the short 420mm
chainstay length, a light vague steering
response was our main concern. But
it needn’t have been, as the chainstay
length extends a lot at sag, offering
more balanced weight distribution than
the static geometry suggests.
On smooth, flowing trails the Marin
Mount Vision has incredible speed,

speed that can be boosted further by a

couple of efficient revs of the pedals or

by simply pumping the bike. Push with

your feet and the bike zips forward, but

this trait makes it harder to preload the

suspension and pop the bike, which

is where the high-volume 2.6in tyres

really help. They also help smooth out

square edges on rougher trails. And it’s

on rougher trails that the Mount Vision

comes slightly unstuck.

Yes, it’s a fast, fun bike, but the soles

of our feet were burning at the bottom

of longer, rougher trails, the same trails

we’d ridden on similar travel bikes with

no such issues. And it’s a trade off that’s

to be expected given how well the Marin

performs when putting power through

the pedals.

For a 150mm-travel trail bike, Marin

seems to have got the balance just right

though. The longer-offset fork feels

great with the frame proportions and

fatter 2.6in tyres, while the bike pedals

and pumps like nothing else we’ve

ridden. Yes, there are plusher and more

playful trail bikes on the market, but few

cover ground as efficiently as the Marin

Mount Vision.

Alan Muldoon

highs

Great pedalling efficiency and

stablehandling.

lows

BB height is super-low, and the

suspension doesn’t offer a pitter-patter

ride on rough trails.

1st iMpression

✗

✓

Marin’s got the balance right;

the bike pedals and pumps

like nothing else we’ve ridden

The Mount Vision 8 is

a bike so fast it’ll leave

you feeling pumped

If you’ve got the bottles,

Marin’s got the bosses