The Fastest Long-Distance Gravel Bike? Marin Gestalt Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ส.ค. 2024
- This is our review of the Marin Gestalt which we have used on city commutes, compact gravel rides, 600+km road rides, muddy single track and light touring. The bikes shows no signs of slowing down, which is likely down to Marin's reputation of building solid bikes.
Any questions please let me know in the comments, thanks for watching and happy riding.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:33 Gestalt Overview
1:34 Specific Features
5:00 Conclusion
Full spec details can be found:
www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/2...
===============================================
👉 Mudguards: SKS Raceblade - amzn.to/3pWoJrU
👉Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Plus - amzn.to/3XOUHV9
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
===============================================
Website:
👉 www.mammothjourneys.com/produ...
===============================================
Remember to Like, Comment and Subscribe.
🎥 Marin Four Corners Review: • The Best All-Round Bik...
🎥 Marin Gestalt Review: • The Fastest Long-Dista...
🎥 Thule ProRide 598 Review: • The Perfect Bike Rack ...
🎥 Thule Luggage Review: • The Best Luggage from ...
🎥 Thule RoundTrip Transition Review: • A Bulletproof Bike Box...
===============================================
Mammoth Journeys on social media:
✔ / mammothjourneyscycling
✔ / mammoth_journeys
Follow me on Strava:
✔ / strava
Apologies for the camera zooming in/out of focus, not sure why this was happening! - กีฬา
What questions do you have that I didn't answer in this video? Let me know below and I will get back to you.
If you enjoyed everything about the Gestalt you'll love our review on the Nicasio+ as the Ultimate Explorer 👉th-cam.com/video/_rvNBoUMcZo/w-d-xo.html
just grabbed this from Jenson USA for a steal, looking forward to it as it's my first gravel bike, thx for your reviews, it helped inform me!
Mate this is awesome. Glad this was helpful for you in making a decision. Where abouts in the States are you from and where have you got in mind for some rides? There are so many places over in USA I want to get out and see! Happy riding mate 💪
I'm 98% on tarmac with the Gestalt 2, carbon fork, stiffer headtube version, I put deep carbon wheelset on mine 55mm, slammed the stem, carbon seat post, and this bike flies, it regularly outruns high end aero bikes, ((I won't name any names)) on flats and downhill, but it's definitely a bit heavy and sluggish on big climbs. Mammoth journey's bike set up is a bit pedestrian, but this bike's an apex predator in sheep's clothing. If Marin were to knock a little weight off of the Gestalt 2 make no mistake it would easily hold its own against top end road race bikes on all elevations, highly recommended.
That is an awesome set up you've described there. Glad to hear you are having a decent time with it, sounds rapid.
How have you found the quality/reliability of the componentry?
Love the description of 'pedestrian' as well, proper made me laugh. I'm very much a lazy cyclist enjoying the views 😂
@@mammothjourneys Solid, no problems with the groupset etc. Marin makes durable off roaders, and I'm mostly on tarmac, one or two minor crashes, and the bike still sings.
@@mmurmurjohnson2368 awesome glad to hear mate, happy riding 👍
I am new to cycling and recently purchased this bike. I have been on a few 30-40km rides and I am really enjoying it so far. My only complaint is a few paint imperfections. ie... run in the paint on the front fork and what appears to be a jagged hard-line around the steer tube where maybe tape was left on to long and then touched up.
Hi Lee, good to hear you have been enjoying the bike. Bit annoying about the paint job on the forks. Interested to see what you mean, can you send us a pic over on our Instagram or Facebook page?
Normally the forks are painted separate before they are inserted into the frame. Did you buy new or second hand?
Marin has so many bikes. Every time I decide on one, I discover another.
Ha ha its a great position to be in! I've recently got the DSX2 from them and will be sharing a video shortly. Different to the other bikes I have had but ace so far.
I have that bike with thousands of miles on it. I've replaced the rear wheel and the bottom bracket bearing after about 4k miles. I just replaced the front disk rotor after year-round all-weather commutes in the PNW. That bike just keeps kickin. I did replace the saddle with the one off a Four Corners, which is maybe? a little better, but I didn't mind the original saddle either. The bang for the buck has been ridiculous - I paid like $850 for the Gestalt new at the time - October 2020. I just picked up a Gestalt 2.5 for blasting around on - carbon fork, hydro brakes, and the 2x10 cassette adds a 34 above the 32 in the back for a little more climbing advantage. I'm a fan. The headset creaks a little, but I commute the heck out of this thing. I read somewhere down the comments that someone had rubbing on the front derailleur - me, too, but just when really stomping on it. One can choose a quicker tempo, and that solves it. The thing I noticed is that the 50 chainring on my isn't perfectly true, and that's where the rub comes from. On the 2.5 with Tiagras, the chainring is flat and doesn't rub. Though - worth noting, there are trim settings on the STIs that you can fiddle with if you're getting a rub after fiddling with the derailleur position.
Hi Chris, thanks for your comments here. It's awesome to hear someone get such decent use out of their bike. Sounds like you proper give it hell with your rides, good on you!
I don't have the Gestalt still so can't check the derailleur thing you mentioned but you are clearly a man who knows his way round a bike. Love it! Bet you've got an wicked home workshop set up.
Where is the PNW?
I'm curious to where all these Marin riders are from and the type of riding they get up to.
@@mammothjourneys I've got a leaky dark garage, but a bike stand goes a long way :D PNW is the Pacific Northwest of the US. We've got a bike shop in town that sells Marin, so there are quite a few Marins around here - though I see mostly mountain bikes. Marin makes some really good get-around on bikes that I see a lot on the street, too. My son has one called a Marin Kentfield that's pretty great and I see some of them in town.
@@casquilho ah nice. This is an area that's on the list, it looks absolutely beautiful. So lucky to have this as your backyard. I guess the interest of Marin near you guys is influenced by the fact you aren't too far from their home of California? I've also got their Bobcat hardtail, I just finished filming it's review which you'll be able to see soon. My wife has the Kentfield as well and is amazing, she loves it. Still a fair few Marins I want to try though. Perhaps if I get myself out to your way I can try something new!
Hi, why did you replace the rear wheel and the bottom bracket?
@@DogFishAttack I wore them out, basically. I do a lot of year-round commuting in gritty wet conditions, which takes a toll. I have panniers and I'm not a small person, so there was some weight on that rear wheel. I also ride very fast for a loaded commuter. BUT! I will offer the following: be mindful of your tire pressure. I ran mine pretty high for all the reasons people do, and I was breaking spokes, etc. After replacing the rear wheel b/c the rim was shot (probably after 4k miles or so) I dropped my tire pressure from 95 psi to 80, and my life and bike have been much improved. Secondly: there was some flooding here and I rode through it, submerging the bottom bracket and both hubs completely. That was around 3500 miles on the bike, and a while later, the bottom bracket gave out. Could be a coincidence, but you can make your own judgment. One more update: after somewhere over 8k miles on the frame, it's being warrantied back to Marin b/c the head tube has become ovalized. My bike shop is going to take care of it all for me and stick all my bits back on the new frame, so I'm unconcerned. I'm about to order up a Nicasio 2 for gravel - which is nearly the same bike, just made out of steel. I've been riding my Gestalt 2.5 while the other one is in the shop, and have a great time.
This was my first gravel bike and has become my work horse. I use it for commuting, fitness, and light off-road trails. I find it comfortable, stable, and quick enough (averages only 1-2 kph less than my road bike). Downsides are that mine sometimes skips a gear when changing and the brakes are not all that confidence-inspiring (is this normal for mechanical disc brakes?). Nevertheless, I enjoy it and it has inspired me to consider buying a carbon gravel bike with higher spec components (although I'll keep the Gestalt for commutes).
Thanks for the comment here Chris. It's like you were in my mind with this feedback! I completely agree with you here. The groupset on here isn't the best and with mechanical disc brakes they aren't as solid as hydraulic. However, saying that having recently changed pads and a service they feel way better, so I wonder if the stock pads that come with them aren't as good as they could be? Or perhaps I'm not very good at servicing them at home! With the jumping gears have you replaced chain and cassette at all? May be due for a refresh and then indexed? What carbon gravel bike did you end up going with?
@@mammothjourneys Thanks for the helpful tips. My bike is totally stock standard. I'll take it in to the shop for a tune up and maybe upgrade the brake pads. Hopefully that'll fix my remaining gripes about an otherwise solid and good value for money bike (I picked mine up for 40% off at a sale!). As for my new bike, it'll either be a Trek Checkpoint SL5 or a Cannondale Topstone Carbon 6. Tested the Trek last week and will hopefully test the Cannondale this weekend.
@@christse4481 Two great options of bike where you can't go wrong. Best of luck with the brake tweaks let me know how you get on. Happy Riding Chris 👍
Man 2019 was a great year. Now were well into 2022 - and you cant find this bike in the shop - (new). And I live 13 miles from Marin County.
That's crazy! How come? Another guy commented how his replacement was taking ages to get back, like over 6 months.
Is it just this model or are they short on others as well?
Should I go with this bike or nicasio? and why? or can you recomend me another bike in this price range? thank you!
Nicasio. I should ask your riding preference ideally but after riding the Nicasio for the past year we love it. The steel frame, single drive train and wide tyres are a great combination. You can't go wrong! Happy riding
I love the video thanks for the review, please solve the sound in your autofocus camera,it is annoying
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for the like.
Yeah I know, super annoying. I've changed my camera now for the latest videos of Thule gear. Won't be using this one again. It was super annoying.
What bike have you got?
Would I be able to put a 40mm tires if Im going to change the rim as well?
Hi Cyril, it's less the rims and more clearance from the frame that's the limitation of going bigger.
Check out either the Four Corners or Nicasio+ if a larger tyre is needed.
Hope that helps - happy riding!
You've probably already changed your tires by now - but, depending on the exact tires you choose, you COULD go up to 38c. That's what I've got on mine. There isn't very much clearance at all - but if you don't do a lot of slogging through serious mud, you'll most likely have no issues.
@@steveb0503 Which tires are these?
@@MrSatchelpack Specialized Pathfinder
I bought it a month ago and driving around is very nice and I love it. I was trying Nicasio, Lombard and 4 corners with it and it came out the most comfortable. However after 30km frameset started making noises and bike will be going to distributor for a week just because Marin can't believe shop which was diagnosing my bike (factory error). So from 5 weeks I have it 2 I couldn't even ride it and the rest was uncomfortable.
And front discs / support aren't stiff enough and chain touches derailleur and makes ugly sounds when I'm trying to go fast. I start to regret my decision
Mavierk I'm so sorry to hear that sucks. I hope that the factory can fix the problem and get the bike back to you quickly.
Very unlucky that your bike was the one that had something wrong.
You'll be enjoying the Gestalt soon I am sure. Where are you from and where will you be riding when you get it back?
@@mammothjourneys I'm from Poland and they are taking the bike to find out if they really need to produce another frame so if I give them a bike next Monday I'll probably get back the same bike (without repairs) after 6-9days. And IF they will agree with bikeshop diagnosis I'll wait 3-6 months to produce and ship new frame to Poland and I'll have it nice and fresh for next season.
From what I heard gestalts has some problems straight out from the factory so it could happen.
And I love this bike - it is everything I could ask for. On the other hand I could probably buy one of dozen others in this price range and be as happy and without worries. And I wanted Nicasio+ at the beginning but couldn't get one..
@@Mavczers That's a crazy wait time!? I know after a massive interest in cycling over the pandemic they struggled to produce enough bikes to keep up with demand, so perhaps that's a reason. That really does suck mate, I'd be gutted. Did they offer an alternative bike if it would take so long?
What was the known problem with the frame?
There will be some amazing riding in Poland. Where abouts in Poland? I've been before but not with my bike, it's on the list!
@@mammothjourneys since the issue is that frame makes noises and it is not dangerous I can ride it just fine, but with headphones on. I'm not much of a cyclist myself but was yesterday near Świeradów Zdrój to rent and try ebikes in the mountains and it was so much fun! And it's close to Czech Republic and Germany so you can try out three countries at the same time :)
@@mammothjourneys I feel obligated to correct myself on this posts becouse emotions got over me. It turned out distributor needs my bike becouse they have spare parts already and if I send my bike now, it will be fixed in a 4-5 days so it turns out to be more optimistic than I thought.
Nice review :) what saddle is mounted on the bike?
That is a Brooks B17 saddle. Super comfy!
Wifi tires suport? 700x42 compatible?
WiFi tires? 700 yes but not 42 width. I think it's 36 for max.
@@mammothjourneys sorry! Wich is*
Thanks!
I'm thinking of buying this bike or Trek Al 2 disc. Which will be better.?
Is this bike good for road racing competition??
Hi Lucky,
For road racing the Trek would be the better option as it's designed specifically for it.
Treks are awesome and a reliable brand.
Just curious, what country are you from as there could be other makes where you get more bang for your buck. For example here in UK Boardman bikes offer the same spec as a Trek but about 30% less!
@@mammothjourneys I'm from India and Currently Trek isn't available here.So the best option I have is Polygon Strattos S4 or Marin Gestalt.
Can you tell that if we can change the tires of gravel bikes,will it behave as good as Road bikes.
@@Lucky-jb3ey ah ok interesting. What is the cost difference between the Polygon and Marin?
The gestalt can easily be converted to a road tyres. The ones that come with it may be a good option though. What is the road surface quality like where you are?
@@mammothjourneys Marin is a bit on the costlier side. But its reviews which I'm seeing are good.
And coming to the roads ,at some places its a good asphalt,but at some places its gravel also.
So I think the Gestalt would be the perfect choice.
What about tha Claris shifters with 11/32 casette and 50/34.Is it ok??
@@Lucky-jb3ey how much more is the gestalt? The tyres on the gestalt will be perfect for what you need. If you need to change the tyres on the other make you need to take that into account. I've not heard of the other make so cannot comment on their build quality, but the Marin will hold up well with what you throw at it, even those potholes!
What ratio does the other bike have?
I wouldn't worry the difference between a Claris and Tiagra.
Unless you intend to go on any massive climbs with weight, chances are both of their groupsets will work well.
Is the other bike mechanical disc brake as well?
Can you tell me which kind of mudguards do you have and if you are happy with them? :)
SKS raceblade pro. They were ok but if I were to get some more I would try a different pair. I have since swapped them to another bike and they do the trick, so I guess the flexibility they offer is pretty helpful. The front wasn't great as kept slipping. If you get these that attach to the frame, small zip ties underneath the front ones help stop them slipping down and rubbing. Little hack for you!
@@mammothjourneys thanks mate!
Hi! I really wants to own my first road bike..and really considering Marin to be my first bike. If I may get your suggestion, which one is better? Marin Gestalt or Lombard 1?
Hi Riady, Good to hear you are interested in getting a road bike. The Gestalt and Lombard are very similar with only a few differences. The gearing on the Lombard allows for an easier/lower option, and they come with wider tyres as stock which may make the ride a little more comfortable. The fork on the Lombard isn't carbon however, which could make the Gestalt a little more comfortable on that front - so perhaps this balances out with the tyres. The Lombard's geometry is more similar to a traditional road bike compared to the Gestalt, with that having a geometry more like a tourer - however both are very comfortable and upright. I love the fact the Lombard allows for nice wide tyre clearance, and it has all the attachments you could want to add on any accessories. The Lombard also has reflective detailing which is a great safety bonus for any road riding. It's a tough one to call and make a decision on - what type of road riding do you hope to do? Commuting, long rides, short rides - any gravel/fire breaker rides?
@@mammothjourneys WOW! Thank you so much for a very comprehensive answer...really help me in my consideration. Really appreciate it.
Basically i'm looking for a bike that can be used for long distance ride, comfortable to ride, but not something that not bend me so much like road bike. And since I live in Indonesia, the road is not really all smooth, so gravel capability will be very important to me. WDYT?
@@riadyhenra No problem Riady, happy to help. So both will be comfortable and both suitable for long rides. The Gestalt would be more upright, already comes with gravel tyres, and is designed for longer rider. So perhaps the Gestalt would be more suitable for you. I know Marin have a big presence in Indonesia so perhaps a dealer would be able to let you ride both bikes for you to check. Let me know what you decide to go with, and send me a photo of your first ride!
@@mammothjourneys Thank you so much for your information! I will definitely take a deeper consideration for this one. If I can ask for your last suggestion about the Groupset. Should Shimano Sora on the Lombard 1 become a consideration? I know that Gestalt use Shimano Claris
@@riadyhenra in the UK it looks like they are both Sora. But ultimately no it would have zero impact in my decision making as I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The gear ratio would be important, but not the level of groupset. Some people can tell the difference but I can't, and the difference between two levels next to each other is so small, compared to say Sora versus Ultegra. Does that make sense?
What size frame you using?
This is a 56cm frame mate. How tall are you?
@@mammothjourneys 5'10"
@@gazr4967 the 56 would be the size for you then. I'm a little over 5' 9.
So you pay a lot of money for a US bike and they give an 8speed (!) Cassette in 2019/2020 in the 21. century! Upgrading to 9speed costs 100 pounds more, although it's just a few bucks more from Shimano. Way to go milking the customer.
Hi Dilbert, there are other upgrades on the bike as well yhat was just the one I mentioned as I was discussing the cassette.
I'm guessing the cost of the bike is due to the workmanship on the frame perhaps. Cheers for watching the video 👍
@@mammothjourneys Naa, it is symptomatic that US products are way overpriced for the quality that they offer. I see this with many outdoor equipment and clothing. They are often 50-100% more expensive than European brands, and 100-200% more expensive than Asian brands. As all of the products are manufactured in Asia anyway, manufacturing costs are very low. US brands simply overprice their cheap Chinese/Vietnamese/Taiwanese products with US prices. That's milking the customer. The cost of a Marin frame is somewhere at 50 USD. The difference between a Claris and a Tiagra goup set is 50 USD. Nothing more, the rest is pure profit.
@@DilbertMuc I do know that other US bike brands in the road category are way too overpriced comparatively. I tend to stick European brands for outdoor side of things other than Osprey rucksacks, I won't go anywhere else for sort of kit.
Whaahahaha. So glad that Marin bikes are produced in my country, don't need to pay a lot of cha-ching! 😁
In the US they are one of the least expensive gravel bikes on the market. I got a 2.0 for $1100 in 2021. I want a 2.5 but those are extremely rare.