I had a marlin 5 as a beginner mtb and by the time i was ready to upgrade I was taking it off drops, dirt jumps, all kinds of stuff. I broke a few parts along the way upgrading them as they broke and felt i had a pretty solid hardtail... The bike shop couldn't believe the frame held up that we'll. Its a great bike for the value, especially if you really want to start moutain biking and can't afford to buy the most expensive bike in the shop. Thanks kevcentral for highlighting this bike!
@@microtechmachineshop around 2016 I bought a Scott Aspect 770 for $400. It had all of the same components as this bike except it had mechanical instead of hydraulic disc brakes, which I don't think justifies the $150 increase.
I bought this bike last April. The fork and Tourney crankset were like anvils. Tires also a bit heavy. But after upgrading to a 1.8kg air fork, Deore groupset, 2.0" Race Kings, & reducing the handlebar width from 720 to 700mm, i'd say it lost about 5 pounds. The frame isn't built for jumps over 2feet high anyway so this bike makes for an excellent commuter, light/moderate trail, and even a 50 up to 250km touring rides. Just make sure you mount either a saddle bag or a carrier rack. I paid the price for riding with a backpack om those very long tours.
Joe N overpriced, yes you get a better warranty and maybe better quality control, but going with an off brand like vitus or polygon will get you better value
Looks terrible value to me. If I had to guess the price it was sold for I'd say $350 not $550, 28" stanchions are base level and XCE forks are below XCT I believe. At least it has a cassette t hough.
I kinda did the same thing I was going to get the marlin 5 but left with the marlin 7. I'm loving the bike, I have already replaced my tires twice since June first of this year.
Can you give me your toughts? I found very hard to find anything other than top end bikes reviews... Are you liking it? I've been eyeing the blue marlin 6 for a while.
@@Sam-sg9bo It's a solid bike for sure. I have a little over 800 miles on it and it still rides great despite several hard falls on some trails I ride. I don't wash it like I should but the finish and all are great especially since I usually leave it outside on my bike rack. Overall I'm extremely happy with it.
Whatever with the crappy components it has, I love the frame and the geometry. Always choose geometry and fitting over components, you can always upgrade the component.
This. I have a 2019 Schwinn Boundary that I’ve upgraded pretty much everything on. It’s more fun than my 2009 Diamondback Recoil. I think at this point I’d just shoot for a 2021 Marlin 7
@@beansofcan1673 I've had a roscoe 8 for over a year now. I absolutely love it. The mid-fat tires give you great confidence around corners and provide some cushion over the rocky stuff.
I bought one of these in July. Very few issues. Loving the crap out of it. I was even planning on doing a bike check video with a friend about this bike. Now everyone will think I'm copying you. Thanks a lot. XD
I actually have a 2020 marlin 4 that i recently bought from my local trek store for $460. Its definitely more of a light XC bike but i find it can handle light rocks. (thats with bottom of the line every thing).
Luke Gehringer I’m getting into the sport and purchased a 2020 marlin 5 and I take that thing on any trail. Does well on intermediate trails and smallish drops. Surprisingly
@@bobbyhempel1513 Just because Giant may have manufactured the bike doesnt mean they "made" it. Trek designed everything about the bike. Giant simply put it together
This is the bike I want to get but I want the volt Green. It would be a step up from my xr pro that was a bit to small for me. Be I do like my xr pro but I want something a little better.
Funny enough, when I was riding my Marlin 5 around town, I only then realized it had hydraulic brakes. I didn't expect those to be a real option on a brand new bike in that price range. So it was a surprise. I wasn't aiming for a specific model when I went to the bike shop. I've only done research on what components to look for on a decent mountain bike. According to the guys over at the bike shop when I went back for free tuneup, they said a bleed kit would only cost me around $50 if I wanna learn how to do it myself. But they would do it for me as well for only... I think they said either 30-35 dollars. *And* I probably wouldn't need to worry about that for at least a few years. So hydraulics were a nice surprise. They are very capable brakes imo. I also was allowed to take it for a test ride before I bought it which was a surprise. Handed them my ID and off I went. I was so shocked by that freedom, that I didn't even know what to do with it. I just took it down a long city street and back. Being careful not to slam on the brakes of a new bike. It felt *magical* to cruise down the street on that thing for sure.
As long as they are compatible with your bottom bracket you can use the ifx cranks, a lit of people use These. You will also need a narrow wide chainring but they are below 10 bucks of eBay/ AliExpress. But before you do all this you should consider if you can live with the reduced amount of gears because most wallmart bikes have a cassette/ freewheel with a very limited range compared to normal 1x setups
This video starts with Kev saying "this channel is centered around affordable cycling". Looking at the comments it's clear a lot of people think the answer to everything is money money money, and they also fall for the marketing of a bunch of features that aren't going to matter for the average bike rolling down the road. Intended use/purpose makes all the difference and people need to stop acting like a $500 bike is aiming to do what a $2000 bike is for. People seem to want a force a square peg into a round hole; wouldn't we all love a $500 bike with a 1x11 drive, a serviceable bottom bracket, and an air fork. It's a shame to see people walking away from interactions in the comments saying "ok I'll look for a bike over $700 instead" when they will probably be riding the local trail through the woods. People who even have the concept of "budget" in mind or are considering big box bikes don't need to be made to feel that you need an expensive bike or nothing at all. This entire channel was based around understanding what's reasonable for people who are cycling for the first time or getting back into it. There are constantly new designs in parts to make sure there is always something new for people to think they need to buy. Got 31.8mm handlebars and stem? You should get 35mm now. You should justify every dollar you have to spend instead of gleefully looking for reasons to give it away. It's reasonable to want to help people avoid needing a different/better bike 6 months down the road or upgrading their bike until it totals $1200 anyway, but people have to start somewhere. Having a 3x7 or a non-tapered head tube is not going to matter.
S8 S7 I personally think when you start looking at mountain biking videos on TH-cam, you’re probably not in that 99% of people for whom sub-$500 and big box bikes are intended. I own 5 bikes, from something like this trek to a bike that would have been in the 5 figure mark if I had paid full retail for it. My observation was that paying a little extra each time got me not just a marginally better bike, but another level entirely if you can afford x but not y then buy x but it’s often the case that one nice component or a change in geometry or materials or whatever makes a big difference, and it’s a lot cheaper to spend a little now to avoid spending twice that much or more later if you have to replace a part, or worse, the bike.
The fact it has a cassette opens a whole world of possible updates that make it pretty much worth it even with the straight steerer. It is also not that heavier considering the heavy components it has, an air fork and a better drivetrain can easily remove some weight and make it even more capable as an MTB bike.
That is not an entry-level hardtail. It is a facsimile. These bikes are designed to part customers of their money without being practical for real mountain bike riding.
Raleigh, in Canada has been bought out exclusively, once again by a big box store. We were a raleigh dealer, not anymore. Diamond Back also has gone the easy route.
@@denismacfarlane255 What means for a brand like Raleigh or DB to be bought out by a big box brand? That they will focus on entry or basic level bikes with low end components and forget about their top tier models like the DB Release 5C or Mission 2C?
This bike is best for kids and teens who are starting to ride trails. Adults should only get this for greenway and light path. The starting point for Adult hardtails to be used trail riding is the Marlin 7. I’d recommend getting a Roscoe 7 if possible since you get tubeless tires/rims, 1x drivetrain and a dropper post with the bike.
My first bike was the marlin 7 and its a solid bike for trails and commuting. Once you get more into difficulty you will naturally upgrade , great start up!
I think it’s a bit overpriced because take a bike like the redline with is $350 cheaper and has a better drivetrain, the fork is around the same, Tektro mechanical disc brakes(not as good as the marlin 5 brakes but this bike is cheaper and it’s still a big box bike). It even has framed sizes , alloy frame and a lot the other specs are the same and all the other cheaper you could just and and replace it with better stuff because of the friendly price.( but nothing against trek.)
It's a good looking bike, but is putting Altus on it vs Tourney really that much more expensive? Anything with a high end name brand on it shouldn't have fewer than 9 speeds in the back these days
I have not ridden the 5, but I have ridden the 7 and it is a nice bike for the price, however I ride a direct competitor to the Marlin, the Giant Talon. I have the 2, but the 3 is the competitor to the Marlin 5. I prefer the local Giant shop to the Trek one because they have free Lifetime tune-ups for the bikes they sell.
I have a 7 and its awsome. I keep up with all my buddies on their 2k+ full suspensions all day and while its definitely not as capable, it's more than enough for a first trail capable bike
you better buy a Marlin 7 instead of 5. the 7 comes in the most value for your money with a better drive-line and a brake set. one thing i really don't like about the Marlin 5 is the brake. it's tektro, which is a bunch of sucks
I have a trek marlin 5 everything works perfect apart from the the chain. It always falls off sometime it gets stuck in between the frame causing damage to the main frame in not sure if I banged it or something
I went with the ixf 1x on my Hydroform 9 months ago. Absolutely, no issues from it thus far. I'm very pleased with it and saved the extra $$ to go towards other upgrades made. I think you will be happy with ixf.
It wont happen on this channel. There are many deals that make this price absurd, but this channel has only three places to purchase from. Amazon, Walmart and some bike store. This channel and others are personal experience channels and have absolutely nothing to do with the actual bike marketplace.
Im actually thinking of buying this bike to upgrade. Because in the Philippines, they're kind of cheap. Id pick this Marlin 5 rather than Marlin 6 if you are thinking of upgrading. Because overall, they have the same frame, but just higher parts. If you want to customize, choose the cheaper Marlin to upgrade.
Kev thank you for posting this. I ordered the Marlin 5 this week so looking forward to getting it! It sounds like a great affordable first mountain bike.
It’s a good bike. You can use it for commuting and training on hills on the roads. A bunch of them on Oahu in Hawaii. I have the Marlin 7. I think I overpaid for a bike, I was going to get the Marlin 5, they didn’t have it in my size, a Medium at the bike shop, I got the Marlin 7 instead. I think I did make the right choice with the Marlin 7 since I do have better parts on it than on the Marlin 5. I could ride on trails if I have time. I’m mainly on the road though. The roads though aren’t great, so the front RockShox Judy suspension is a great thing to have on the bike.
You are also forgetting that big box bikes are also poorly assembled in comparison to bike shops. I'm not sure on specifics but I don't believe that big box stores true the wheels and usually don't adjust the shifting and breaking systems all that well.
I went into my LBS (Trek) today and immediately recognized this bike on a stand (getting prepped for a new client). According to the tech, they're selling quite well to the NICA crowd. It's actually a good-looking bike in person. I really appreciate the graphics under the top tube: it creates a unique look.
I am a bit biased - I have owned both Trek hard tails in the past and a Specialized Hard tail currently - I would stick with the Specialized if I was going to choose between the two - slightly better drive train components and I like the frame a bit more - just looks more aggressive and stable - but again - I did say I am biased
@@jnb756 Agreed, Trek is a good company, but I would choose Specialized, my bother in law owns one and I rode it the other day and man, I was impressed with the quality of the bike, super smooth, quite, stable and upgradable. Beside, where I'm from everyone has a Trek which makes me not want to own one lol. Both are great but I would definitely choose the Specialized
@@MichaelRei99 I honestly don't get people that just tey to prove people wrong the 2019 trek marlin 7 is a 3 by 9 27 speed I have the roaran orange look it up
i mean not really it has nishiki branded things like he grips handlebars and cranks but the ones on the marlin are brand name and hydraulics are only like $40 for decent ones so it could’ve been included
allabasterkt I don’t mind it. It’s all I know though. I’ve been trying to play with the adjustment knob. I’m too noob and too tired to think of the actual name. Haha.
Kev, you should check out the Gt Avalanche found at Dick’s. Its an entry level XC 29er and from time to time you can find it on sale for $500 and has better components than the Marlin.
Got my marlin 5 for under $500 when trek was having a sale. At that price point I dont think there's another hardtail out there with internal routing. Became a project build bike because I had so much better parts laying around. Swapped out the drivetrain for a shimano 1 x 11. Slapped on some bontrager xxx wheels and an xfusion fork. Carbon bar and saddle. Weighs 22 lbs!!!
You absolutely wasted your money and if you put more money into the bike... you made a very poor decision. For the money you put into it plus the cost you could have bought a decent hardtail to begin with rather than trying to put lipstick on a pig
@@archetypex65 You didnt read what I wrote. I had components lying around. I didnt spend any more money on the bike. I parted the Marlin out and installed it on another hardtail frame that was just lying around too. So for under $500 I put together 2 complete bikes.
Why is the bike such bad value for money. The trek has shimano tourney groupset for a bike that is almost 500$. Atleast give acera. The decathlon rockrider 540 gives up on internal cable routing but gives a 2x9 gear set from shimano acera. It also has hydraulic disc brakes, 100mm of travel on the fork and is lighter, it is also slightly cheaper than the trek marlin 5.
considering the drivetrain is mainly steel and the fork is quite heavy (I had one similar in the past and it weighted around 3 kilos) this would be considerably lighter with few upgrades
@@zacjohnson452 having a cassette means you can actually put a Deore or even higher without having to change your wheel or hub, even a NX Eagle if you want, of course is an upgrade
@@zacjohnson452 do you mean by chance the AT-550? As far as I know and in case we're talking about the same, those are 26" wheels with a Formula hub, QR type compatible with 6 bolt mount. I don't have one to confirm the exact model, but you may still find it on the formula website, since they still have some QR type series 6 bolt listed in their website and if you have one right now, you can follow through by the model pictures probably. Sorry I can't help any further 😅
I juat recently got a Marlin 5 a few weeks ago. Switched it for the Schwinn Ranger i got at target. The schwinn was poorly put together and the rear tire was warped. I decided I'd rather support my local bike shop here in Philly. Bustleton Bikes and got my Marlin 5 and love it
I have a Marlin 5 of the last year of mechanical disc brakes, and am somewhat disappointed by the drivetrain and wheels, but I use mine as a party bike, with speakers and a phone mount for maximum partying efficiency
Been riding a 7 since spring & son is riding a 5 since mid summer. We both enjoy the ride & improved performance/confidence over our old big box store bikes. I do agree that the tourney components on the 5 is lacking. I believe the price point is fair though for both bikes.
I have and recently bought a trek marlin 5 and I would definitely recommend it. It is good for learning the techniques of bike riding and also good for entry level people to start getting into intermediate stuff. I would not go anything higher with this but a excellent bike for the price.
Just about to buy my first "real mountain bike". It was between the marlin 5 or 6 or one of the cheaper Diamondbacks. The marlin 6 seems like a better bike and looking forward to buying and riding with my town and surrounding towns in my area of Kentucky becoming more of a tourist attraction for MTB.
I think Diamondback / Raleigh really have the best value options in the budget category. These Marlin's are barely much better than a walmart bike. If I were you I'd spend a little bit more and get a real bike for around $800-1000 such as the Mason 1 or Tokul 3
Thanks for the review. For 37 years I had never owned my own bicycle. Last year I finally purchased one and went with the Marlin 5. I'm very happy with it, have not had any problems, and is more than capable than I am.
I've bought two of them in the last seven months, one for each of my kids. They have been great so far and have been through some heavy use, to include trail riding and some small jumps and drops. The hydraulic brakes work very well. So far so good. I would give them a thumbs up and recommend them.
I just purchase the 2020 Marlin 7 in emerald iris. I am new to MTB. I come from a road bike background & own a Trek Emonda as well. I would honestly pay a couple extra $$ & upgrade to the Marlin 7. Better shocks & components. So far its a blast to ride.
It’s a great looking bike. Love the paint job. Later years don’t look so good, I quite fancy the 7 with Rockshox up front and better drivetrain for not too much more.
I bought this bike last year, my first real mountain bike. I did not get raceface chester pedals but instead all plastic pedals, the tire's nubs have nearly all worn out on the back due to me working everyday for 7 hours at a bike camp riding on concrete over the summer. It rides great on trails at my local freeride park and singletrack. The shifting isn't great but honestly it doesn't drop chains that much if you put the front chainring to 3. I would reccomend this bike. It's fun
Yeah I wore down my back tire too when I ended up riding mostly paved. Definitely worth it and more fun to get some city tires if that's what you have to ride on for right now, quieter and faster.
@@bonka_mann ya, honestly I didn't want to use them for pavement but my old hybrid bike broke and it's kind of expensive to fix. Overall tho the tires could be thicker and more sturdy, even tubeless compatible, but an overall completely complete build that works for everything except hardcore downhill
I have a specialized camber ms 29er and I love it but you should review a Scott aspect because that is what I came from and was definitely paying for name rather that parts but go check it out
I am thinking about getting the marlin 5 instead of the marlin 4. The only real difference I know of is the fact that the marlin 5 has hydraulic disc brakes while the marlin 4 has mechanical disk brakes. I wanted to know if there were any other major differences.
Use the Compare function on the Trek website, you'll be able to view the entire list of components right next to each other. If I'm not mistaken the 4 doesn't have the nice internal cables that go inside the frame, but that's not a huge deal. Also the frame on the 4 looks like the design from previous years, whereas the 5 6 and 7 have this newer looking frame where the top tube looks a bit different. Basically the Marlin 4 looks like what the 5 used to be, because I have a 2017 Marlin 5. Mechanical brakes etc. So they shifted the value a little bit, now the 5 comes with a few things that only the 6 and 7 used to have. If you're the average bike rider some of these differences probably aren't life or death, it's all about what you want to spend. I've been fine with mechanical brakes and I'm a heavy rider.
hanqi li I bought a Tokul 2 for $479 on a Black Friday deal and I’ve done some pretty extreme trails with it. But I did upgrade the fork to air and put tubeless downhill tires on it.
Good looking mediocre bike, the look reminds of my own black and white scott aspect, which just so happens to have a pair of light green lizard skins on the bars.
A couple of changes since I bought my Marlin 5. They started doing internal cables and I believe used one of the rotors in size. Not plagued with problems like that stupid Genesis was
I bought a Trek Marlin 5 Mountain Bike a while ago and the two cranks both tore near where the pedals screw into the crank. this happened when I jump a very small ramp on a trail. if I switch them out for a better one will it still brake on little jumps or will it be more durable
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I had a marlin 5 as a beginner mtb and by the time i was ready to upgrade I was taking it off drops, dirt jumps, all kinds of stuff. I broke a few parts along the way upgrading them as they broke and felt i had a pretty solid hardtail... The bike shop couldn't believe the frame held up that we'll. Its a great bike for the value, especially if you really want to start moutain biking and can't afford to buy the most expensive bike in the shop. Thanks kevcentral for highlighting this bike!
same here with my brother he replaced everything but the frame on his marlin 5
Its good, but you can get better for that price
@@zenotuuc whats better for the same price im looking to buy
@@microtechmachineshop around 2016 I bought a Scott Aspect 770 for $400. It had all of the same components as this bike except it had mechanical instead of hydraulic disc brakes, which I don't think justifies the $150 increase.
I was really surprised by the weight, doesn’t look that heavy
I bought this bike last April. The fork and Tourney crankset were like anvils. Tires also a bit heavy. But after upgrading to a 1.8kg air fork, Deore groupset, 2.0" Race Kings, & reducing the handlebar width from 720 to 700mm, i'd say it lost about 5 pounds. The frame isn't built for jumps over 2feet high anyway so this bike makes for an excellent commuter, light/moderate trail, and even a 50 up to 250km touring rides. Just make sure you mount either a saddle bag or a carrier rack. I paid the price for riding with a backpack om those very long tours.
@@aacc282 ...pay a few bucks more and go the Marlin 7. Better forks, crank and drivetrain...
Joe N overpriced, yes you get a better warranty and maybe better quality control, but going with an off brand like vitus or polygon will get you better value
All in the forks!
@@aacc282 when you buy a bike for 600 USD, you espect something more, than a thing that odd to be upgraded.
I ride a trek Marlin 6 and I'm satisfied for what I do with it🤷♂️
No shame in that! I also have the 6 and take it on the trails all the time. I love it for my first mountain bike!
Is it good for cross country tour??
A Shimano tourney rear derailleur that's crazy for that price
I got a giant talon 3 with Deore 9 speed and 3x up front
My 2017 Raliegh Tokul 1 was bang on. Raliegh needs to get it back together
That's Trek for you. Always overpriced.
My Daytona 2730 has Deore groupset on it... its cheaper than this bike
Even my $350 Diamondback mtb came with a full Acera groupset
Looks terrible value to me. If I had to guess the price it was sold for I'd say $350 not $550, 28" stanchions are base level and XCE forks are below XCT I believe. At least it has a cassette t hough.
I was thinking about getting a Marlin 5 but ended up buying the Marlin 6. It's well worth the extra price
I kinda did the same thing I was going to get the marlin 5 but left with the marlin 7. I'm loving the bike, I have already replaced my tires twice since June first of this year.
Can you give me your toughts? I found very hard to find anything other than top end bikes reviews... Are you liking it? I've been eyeing the blue marlin 6 for a while.
I have a marlin 6 I got used but has many upgrades. Love the bike. It’s been well used and holding up very well.
@@Sam-sg9bo It's a solid bike for sure. I have a little over 800 miles on it and it still rides great despite several hard falls on some trails I ride. I don't wash it like I should but the finish and all are great especially since I usually leave it outside on my bike rack. Overall I'm extremely happy with it.
I picked up a Marlin 7 two months ago and I love it. It’s a good bike for a decent price and I have no complaints about the quality.
1:21
“Don’t expect a taper on anything that’s considered affordable”
This aged well
Who knew Schwinn would make that a mute argument in 2020?
KevCentral you mean the bike from a Walmart?
@@Cobrass2 yeah he does
I own two trek bikes. They been good to me. I haven't been keeping up on my TH-cam watching so it's exciting to see you review a trek bike!!
Glad to see my 2004-6 trek is more than competitive!
Whatever with the crappy components it has, I love the frame and the geometry.
Always choose geometry and fitting over components, you can always upgrade the component.
I mean that's pretty much expected. You don't buy a DSLR to use it with the kit lens all the time.
But then why not just buy a frame and build it up? Why blow money on parts that won’t last? You’re just going to replace them anyway, right?
This. I have a 2019 Schwinn Boundary that I’ve upgraded pretty much everything on. It’s more fun than my 2009 Diamondback Recoil. I think at this point I’d just shoot for a 2021 Marlin 7
I had one and loved my Marlin 5! It got stolen out of my garage and I’ve since bumped up to a Roscoe 8. Different animal....
Blake E how do you like the roscoe 8? I’ve been thinking about it as a bike upgrade
@@beansofcan1673 I've had a roscoe 8 for over a year now. I absolutely love it. The mid-fat tires give you great confidence around corners and provide some cushion over the rocky stuff.
I bought one of these in July. Very few issues. Loving the crap out of it. I was even planning on doing a bike check video with a friend about this bike. Now everyone will think I'm copying you. Thanks a lot. XD
I actually have a 2020 marlin 4 that i recently bought from my local trek store for $460. Its definitely more of a light XC bike but i find it can handle light rocks. (thats with bottom of the line every thing).
Luke Gehringer I’m getting into the sport and purchased a 2020 marlin 5 and I take that thing on any trail. Does well on intermediate trails and smallish drops. Surprisingly
Well, I found a marlin 6 2020 for the same price
You should review the Giant talon 3 same price but I think a better drive train
Not to mention Giant made this Trek.
@@bobbyhempel1513 Just because Giant may have manufactured the bike doesnt mean they "made" it. Trek designed everything about the bike. Giant simply put it together
I have the 2018 Giant talon 2
@@darrenwoloshyn I have the 2019 talon 2.
@@CLBikes with the same aluminum and same process. Trek is overrated over priced and under speced.
That's what I ride. A 2015/16 model. I got raceface pedals a rockshox 30. And will soon put an altus rear derailleur
The Alivios are pretty good, the newer models have the shadow tech and you can pick them up for $50 or so
This is the bike I want to get but I want the volt Green. It would be a step up from my xr pro that was a bit to small for me. Be I do like my xr pro but I want something a little better.
Kev...when are you going to look into Vitus Nucleus? Affordable, Air Fork, Tapered HeadTube etc
Funny enough, when I was riding my Marlin 5 around town, I only then realized it had hydraulic brakes. I didn't expect those to be a real option on a brand new bike in that price range. So it was a surprise. I wasn't aiming for a specific model when I went to the bike shop. I've only done research on what components to look for on a decent mountain bike.
According to the guys over at the bike shop when I went back for free tuneup, they said a bleed kit would only cost me around $50 if I wanna learn how to do it myself. But they would do it for me as well for only... I think they said either 30-35 dollars. *And* I probably wouldn't need to worry about that for at least a few years. So hydraulics were a nice surprise. They are very capable brakes imo.
I also was allowed to take it for a test ride before I bought it which was a surprise. Handed them my ID and off I went. I was so shocked by that freedom, that I didn't even know what to do with it. I just took it down a long city street and back. Being careful not to slam on the brakes of a new bike. It felt *magical* to cruise down the street on that thing for sure.
d'you get it from evans?
@@Dg-_-71044, nah. The place was called Ernie's Bike Shop in Canton.
Kev review the zoom hydraulic disc brakes from Ebay
Just more cheap eBay stuff in general would be awesome
If is useful for you, i've got em, they work decent at their worst so i'm very pleased with the brakes, but don't expect for any modulation
@@nugginusslover476 I have a set on one of my bikes. They're awesome on moderate xc trails but anything downhill and they turn to butter
Zoom HB 875s are fantastic brake sets.
@@a.alegria4533 Bleed them properly.
Hey kev could you make a video on how to change out the stupid 3x on most walmart/ big box store bikes to a 1x
Yes please
Or even how to change the Walmart forks :)
Discoboy well that’s simple as long as your Walmart bike is treadles with is hard to come by with a Walmart bike
Yes
As long as they are compatible with your bottom bracket you can use the ifx cranks, a lit of people use These. You will also need a narrow wide chainring but they are below 10 bucks of eBay/ AliExpress. But before you do all this you should consider if you can live with the reduced amount of gears because most wallmart bikes have a cassette/ freewheel with a very limited range compared to normal 1x setups
I just got this for a late Christmas present yesterday and it is so much fun and is a good ride
I’ve had the marlin 7 it’s a great xc bike. I recently upgraded to the trek remedy.
Bikes with 3 chain rings are really outdated. Productions need to switch to 2 or even 1 for entry level too. 7x2, 8x2 and 9x2 are ok for entry level.
Ikr
This video starts with Kev saying "this channel is centered around affordable cycling". Looking at the comments it's clear a lot of people think the answer to everything is money money money, and they also fall for the marketing of a bunch of features that aren't going to matter for the average bike rolling down the road. Intended use/purpose makes all the difference and people need to stop acting like a $500 bike is aiming to do what a $2000 bike is for. People seem to want a force a square peg into a round hole; wouldn't we all love a $500 bike with a 1x11 drive, a serviceable bottom bracket, and an air fork. It's a shame to see people walking away from interactions in the comments saying "ok I'll look for a bike over $700 instead" when they will probably be riding the local trail through the woods. People who even have the concept of "budget" in mind or are considering big box bikes don't need to be made to feel that you need an expensive bike or nothing at all. This entire channel was based around understanding what's reasonable for people who are cycling for the first time or getting back into it. There are constantly new designs in parts to make sure there is always something new for people to think they need to buy. Got 31.8mm handlebars and stem? You should get 35mm now. You should justify every dollar you have to spend instead of gleefully looking for reasons to give it away. It's reasonable to want to help people avoid needing a different/better bike 6 months down the road or upgrading their bike until it totals $1200 anyway, but people have to start somewhere. Having a 3x7 or a non-tapered head tube is not going to matter.
S8 S7 I personally think when you start looking at mountain biking videos on TH-cam, you’re probably not in that 99% of people for whom sub-$500 and big box bikes are intended. I own 5 bikes, from something like this trek to a bike that would have been in the 5 figure mark if I had paid full retail for it. My observation was that paying a little extra each time got me not just a marginally better bike, but another level entirely if you can afford x but not y then buy x but it’s often the case that one nice component or a change in geometry or materials or whatever makes a big difference, and it’s a lot cheaper to spend a little now to avoid spending twice that much or more later if you have to replace a part, or worse, the bike.
2020 Specialized Rockhopper is a better value at the 550$ price point and gets a 1X setup at the Comp level at around 700.
$150 more isn’t really a compatible bike as there are higher level Marlin bikes that would compete with.
My first trail bike was a Marlin 5, I quickly felt the limitations of the hardware.
The limitations are in your head you gab 10m with it if you send it
Is this a good wheelie bike ?
It’s a xc bike
The fact it has a cassette opens a whole world of possible updates that make it pretty much worth it even with the straight steerer. It is also not that heavier considering the heavy components it has, an air fork and a better drivetrain can easily remove some weight and make it even more capable as an MTB bike.
I think you should review the Raleigh Talus 2. I got mine for 380 and it has really good parts. It's a solid entry level bike.
The Raleigh has very similar components but with a slightly better geometry and looking...🚲😀
That is not an entry-level hardtail. It is a facsimile. These bikes are designed to part customers of their money without being practical for real mountain bike riding.
Raleigh, in Canada has been bought out exclusively, once again by a big box store. We were a raleigh dealer, not anymore. Diamond Back also has gone the easy route.
@@denismacfarlane255 What means for a brand like Raleigh or DB to be bought out by a big box brand? That they will focus on entry or basic level bikes with low end components and forget about their top tier models like the DB Release 5C or Mission 2C?
@@archetypex65 the components are NOT good value for money
This bike is best for kids and teens who are starting to ride trails. Adults should only get this for greenway and light path. The starting point for Adult hardtails to be used trail riding is the Marlin 7. I’d recommend getting a Roscoe 7 if possible since you get tubeless tires/rims, 1x drivetrain and a dropper post with the bike.
My first bike was the marlin 7 and its a solid bike for trails and commuting. Once you get more into difficulty you will naturally upgrade , great start up!
I think it’s a bit overpriced because take a bike like the redline with is $350 cheaper and has a better drivetrain, the fork is around the same, Tektro mechanical disc brakes(not as good as the marlin 5 brakes but this bike is cheaper and it’s still a big box bike). It even has framed sizes , alloy frame and a lot the other specs are the same and all the other cheaper you could just and and replace it with better stuff because of the friendly price.( but nothing against trek.)
Forgot to mention the benefit of the Trek warranty over that of big box warranties.
You mean like the Schwinn lifetime warranty?
It's a good looking bike, but is putting Altus on it vs Tourney really that much more expensive? Anything with a high end name brand on it shouldn't have fewer than 9 speeds in the back these days
I've had my Marlin 5 for 4 years and have never had to fix anything on it. Great Bike!!!
Do you ride mtb trails?
@@bsauced yep. Multiple times per week in the summer
I have not ridden the 5, but I have ridden the 7 and it is a nice bike for the price, however I ride a direct competitor to the Marlin, the Giant Talon. I have the 2, but the 3 is the competitor to the Marlin 5. I prefer the local Giant shop to the Trek one because they have free Lifetime tune-ups for the bikes they sell.
Funny you are reviewing a marlin because yesterday I saw a marlin and now I’m thing about buying a Marlin 7
I have a 7 and its awsome. I keep up with all my buddies on their 2k+ full suspensions all day and while its definitely not as capable, it's more than enough for a first trail capable bike
Check out the Giant Talon first.
you better buy a Marlin 7 instead of 5. the 7 comes in the most value for your money with a better drive-line and a brake set. one thing i really don't like about the Marlin 5 is the brake. it's tektro, which is a bunch of sucks
I have a trek marlin 5 everything works perfect apart from the the chain. It always falls off sometime it gets stuck in between the frame causing damage to the main frame in not sure if I banged it or something
This happened with me too!
I have teh Marlin 6 2019 I really like it 10/10 would reccomend
Trek is a pretty low value across the board but it's better to overpay for Trek than get a big box bike
On my gt aggres pro should I buy suntour xct cranks arms and a 1x chaining OR just buy a ixf crankset
+ chainring
I went with the ixf 1x on my Hydroform 9 months ago. Absolutely, no issues from it thus far. I'm very pleased with it and saved the extra $$ to go towards other upgrades made. I think you will be happy with ixf.
Hey kev you should look at the vitus nucleus 275vr they are $500 have a 2by 9 tektro hydraulics tapered headset and a 120 mm suntour air fork
It wont happen on this channel. There are many deals that make this price absurd, but this channel has only three places to purchase from. Amazon, Walmart and some bike store. This channel and others are personal experience channels and have absolutely nothing to do with the actual bike marketplace.
Im actually thinking of buying this bike to upgrade. Because in the Philippines, they're kind of cheap. Id pick this Marlin 5 rather than Marlin 6 if you are thinking of upgrading. Because overall, they have the same frame, but just higher parts. If you want to customize, choose the cheaper Marlin to upgrade.
I can't decide if eating nachos makes Kevcentral videos better or if Kevcentral videos make my nachos better.. Either way good nachos, I mean video :D
And even after one year, you yourself knows those were some damn good nachos.
Nope, the marlin 6 a lot more upgradeable and have lockout fork
Lol i see that marlin 5 with cassette hub, thats a good upgrade
Kev thank you for posting this. I ordered the Marlin 5 this week so looking forward to getting it! It sounds like a great affordable first mountain bike.
Congrats on the new bike
It’s a good bike. You can use it for commuting and training on hills on the roads. A bunch of them on Oahu in Hawaii. I have the Marlin 7. I think I overpaid for a bike, I was going to get the Marlin 5, they didn’t have it in my size, a Medium at the bike shop, I got the Marlin 7 instead. I think I did make the right choice with the Marlin 7 since I do have better parts on it than on the Marlin 5. I could ride on trails if I have time. I’m mainly on the road though. The roads though aren’t great, so the front RockShox Judy suspension is a great thing to have on the bike.
You are also forgetting that big box bikes are also poorly assembled in comparison to bike shops. I'm not sure on specifics but I don't believe that big box stores true the wheels and usually don't adjust the shifting and breaking systems all that well.
Frame is beautiful, I would just take the frame and upgrade the rest
Do you think your Raleigh Tokul was a better buy than this? ( Similar components for $330)
Anton Chigurh makes sense
I went into my LBS (Trek) today and immediately recognized this bike on a stand (getting prepped for a new client). According to the tech, they're selling quite well to the NICA crowd. It's actually a good-looking bike in person. I really appreciate the graphics under the top tube: it creates a unique look.
I went to my local Trek store yesterday and test rode the Marlin 5 XXL frame, and it was a blast! They said the Marlin 5 is their best selling bike.
Check out the Specialized Rockhopper 2020, it is also $550 in my local bike shop and I think its a little bit a better deal
I am a bit biased - I have owned both Trek hard tails in the past and a Specialized Hard tail currently - I would stick with the Specialized if I was going to choose between the two - slightly better drive train components and I like the frame a bit more - just looks more aggressive and stable - but again - I did say I am biased
@@jnb756 Agreed, Trek is a good company, but I would choose Specialized, my bother in law owns one and I rode it the other day and man, I was impressed with the quality of the bike, super smooth, quite, stable and upgradable. Beside, where I'm from everyone has a Trek which makes me not want to own one lol. Both are great but I would definitely choose the Specialized
I have the marlin 7 it was around $750 but comes with 3 by 9 and a altus derailleur and RockShox xc forks it's a really nice bike for the price
Every day guy the new 7 is a 2 by 9 even though it is a Rock shox fork it’s still a spring fork.
@@MichaelRei99 nope it has a 3 by 9 I have the bike and ya spring RockShox is better then a suntour
@@MichaelRei99 I honestly don't get people that just tey to prove people wrong the 2019 trek marlin 7 is a 3 by 9 27 speed I have the roaran orange look it up
Every day guy I am talking about the new 2020 version.
Every day guy and I agree it is a nice bike.
so that has hydraulic tektros for 550 and my $800 bike has mechanical
Probably has better forks and other components tho...right?
i mean not really it has nishiki branded things like he grips handlebars and cranks but the ones on the marlin are brand name and hydraulics are only like $40 for decent ones so it could’ve been included
I ride a marlin 5 and I completely agree with this review, I wish the derailer was better
Skys_Galaxy me to mine flops around bangs on my frame scratches it all up I wish it was a little bit better I’m getting a new one soon
Is this bike good for doing wheelies cuz im getting a new bike And wanted to know if you can wheelie with this bike
Very salty Boi you can definitely wheelie on it
Salty I can wellie it good I put the seat down so it’s easy to peddle
Review please the marlin 4 so we can see more affordable bikes
Great stuff, can you please do a full review on the 7?
allabasterkt I have a 7. I could upgrade components, but I have no regrets. I would love a full review, though!
@@joehanika great to hear, how do you find the suspension fork?
allabasterkt I don’t mind it. It’s all I know though. I’ve been trying to play with the adjustment knob. I’m too noob and too tired to think of the actual name. Haha.
Hi does anyone now if this is also good for riding on road please reply if u can
Gang.
Kev, you should check out the Gt Avalanche found at Dick’s. Its an entry level XC 29er and from time to time you can find it on sale for $500 and has better components than the Marlin.
GT is LEAGUES BETTER than Trek. I hope he listens to you.
Got my marlin 5 for under $500 when trek was having a sale. At that price point I dont think there's another hardtail out there with internal routing. Became a project build bike because I had so much better parts laying around. Swapped out the drivetrain for a shimano 1 x 11. Slapped on some bontrager xxx wheels and an xfusion fork. Carbon bar and saddle. Weighs 22 lbs!!!
You absolutely wasted your money and if you put more money into the bike... you made a very poor decision. For the money you put into it plus the cost you could have bought a decent hardtail to begin with rather than trying to put lipstick on a pig
@@archetypex65 You didnt read what I wrote. I had components lying around. I didnt spend any more money on the bike. I parted the Marlin out and installed it on another hardtail frame that was just lying around too. So for under $500 I put together 2 complete bikes.
Why is the bike such bad value for money. The trek has shimano tourney groupset for a bike that is almost 500$. Atleast give acera. The decathlon rockrider 540 gives up on internal cable routing but gives a 2x9 gear set from shimano acera. It also has hydraulic disc brakes, 100mm of travel on the fork and is lighter, it is also slightly cheaper than the trek marlin 5.
There's also a Bike called Calibre Line 20 which looks interesting. With the 10% discount code it will make up for the shipping cost. Great vid btw!
2:58 Alpha Silver = Chinesium
32 pounds and 7 speed cassette for $550.00 is heavy but not expensive. Nice bike.
considering the drivetrain is mainly steel and the fork is quite heavy (I had one similar in the past and it weighted around 3 kilos) this would be considerably lighter with few upgrades
They originally had an 8 speed freewheel, but I’d still consider it an upgrade over the freewheel
@@zacjohnson452 having a cassette means you can actually put a Deore or even higher without having to change your wheel or hub, even a NX Eagle if you want, of course is an upgrade
Juan Carlos Alpízar do you by any chance know what brand free hub bontrager 550 rims use?
@@zacjohnson452 do you mean by chance the AT-550? As far as I know and in case we're talking about the same, those are 26" wheels with a Formula hub, QR type compatible with 6 bolt mount. I don't have one to confirm the exact model, but you may still find it on the formula website, since they still have some QR type series 6 bolt listed in their website and if you have one right now, you can follow through by the model pictures probably. Sorry I can't help any further 😅
I juat recently got a Marlin 5 a few weeks ago. Switched it for the Schwinn Ranger i got at target. The schwinn was poorly put together and the rear tire was warped. I decided I'd rather support my local bike shop here in Philly. Bustleton Bikes and got my Marlin 5 and love it
I have a Marlin 5 of the last year of mechanical disc brakes, and am somewhat disappointed by the drivetrain and wheels, but I use mine as a party bike, with speakers and a phone mount for maximum partying efficiency
This bike can be up grade easy. Just had one convert to a 27.5 with a 1x11 drive. Also can up grade the parts to a taper fork with the right parts.
EC44/40 headset is what you need for a taper fork set up for this to make it work.
Is it better to go for the marlin 6 over the marlin 5?
Nice way to end a trail ride... As put my stuff back on my truck, kev central tells me about the marlin 5
Been riding a 7 since spring & son is riding a 5 since mid summer. We both enjoy the ride & improved performance/confidence over our old big box store bikes. I do agree that the tourney components on the 5 is lacking. I believe the price point is fair though for both bikes.
I have and recently bought a trek marlin 5 and I would definitely recommend it. It is good for learning the techniques of bike riding and also good for entry level people to start getting into intermediate stuff. I would not go anything higher with this but a excellent bike for the price.
Please do a review on the Marlin 7. I purchase an 2020 a couple of weeks ago, and have not seen a review this thorough.
This channel tends to be about more affordable bikes. Him even doing the Marlin 5 was a bit of a stretch.
is that how you pronouce bondager? I've been saying bondage - er. >:/
greed fox bon trae ger
i have the seat in the video and it hurts after a long ride
The Trek marlin 5 Is an awesome bike
How fast can this biycle go
Just about to buy my first "real mountain bike". It was between the marlin 5 or 6 or one of the cheaper Diamondbacks. The marlin 6 seems like a better bike and looking forward to buying and riding with my town and surrounding towns in my area of Kentucky becoming more of a tourist attraction for MTB.
I think Diamondback / Raleigh really have the best value options in the budget category. These Marlin's are barely much better than a walmart bike. If I were you I'd spend a little bit more and get a real bike for around $800-1000 such as the Mason 1 or Tokul 3
So i bought a pos? Awesome.
It is a great bike when upgraded just a little bit
I have a Trek DS 2 with some upgrades. love the bike
And your reviews on bikes. Thanks
I actually like the Marlin 5 and will be purchasing one soon.
Thanks for the review. For 37 years I had never owned my own bicycle. Last year I finally purchased one and went with the Marlin 5. I'm very happy with it, have not had any problems, and is more than capable than I am.
Dude you’ve bought so many entry level bikes you could be riding an S-works enduro lol.
Hes got a sweet carbon cannondale
I've bought two of them in the last seven months, one for each of my kids. They have been great so far and have been through some heavy use, to include trail riding and some small jumps and drops. The hydraulic brakes work very well. So far so good. I would give them a thumbs up and recommend them.
Mark Brown definitely a real mountain bike which you cannot say for any Walmart bike!!
I just purchase the 2020 Marlin 7 in emerald iris. I am new to MTB. I come from a road bike background & own a Trek Emonda as well. I would honestly pay a couple extra $$ & upgrade to the Marlin 7. Better shocks & components. So far its a blast to ride.
It’s a great looking bike. Love the paint job. Later years don’t look so good, I quite fancy the 7 with Rockshox up front and better drivetrain for not too much more.
And the 7 has a gorgeous paintjob as well 😍
That is a marlin 5 2020? the marlin 5 2019 is supposed to have mechanical disk brakes
I bought this bike last year, my first real mountain bike. I did not get raceface chester pedals but instead all plastic pedals, the tire's nubs have nearly all worn out on the back due to me working everyday for 7 hours at a bike camp riding on concrete over the summer. It rides great on trails at my local freeride park and singletrack. The shifting isn't great but honestly it doesn't drop chains that much if you put the front chainring to 3. I would reccomend this bike. It's fun
Yeah I wore down my back tire too when I ended up riding mostly paved. Definitely worth it and more fun to get some city tires if that's what you have to ride on for right now, quieter and faster.
@@bonka_mann ya, honestly I didn't want to use them for pavement but my old hybrid bike broke and it's kind of expensive to fix. Overall tho the tires could be thicker and more sturdy, even tubeless compatible, but an overall completely complete build that works for everything except hardcore downhill
The gary fisher line lives on!...
I have a specialized camber ms 29er and I love it but you should review a Scott aspect because that is what I came from and was definitely paying for name rather that parts but go check it out
I am thinking about getting the marlin 5 instead of the marlin 4. The only real difference I know of is the fact that the marlin 5 has hydraulic disc brakes while the marlin 4 has mechanical disk brakes. I wanted to know if there were any other major differences.
Use the Compare function on the Trek website, you'll be able to view the entire list of components right next to each other. If I'm not mistaken the 4 doesn't have the nice internal cables that go inside the frame, but that's not a huge deal. Also the frame on the 4 looks like the design from previous years, whereas the 5 6 and 7 have this newer looking frame where the top tube looks a bit different. Basically the Marlin 4 looks like what the 5 used to be, because I have a 2017 Marlin 5. Mechanical brakes etc. So they shifted the value a little bit, now the 5 comes with a few things that only the 6 and 7 used to have. If you're the average bike rider some of these differences probably aren't life or death, it's all about what you want to spend. I've been fine with mechanical brakes and I'm a heavy rider.
Marlin 5 has hydraulic brakes, better suspension fork, grips, saddle, and now a cassette vs freewheel.
Here in Ph your $550/₱29,000 can buy a trek marlin 7 29er.
Kev you should do more Walmart reviews
I have plenty of those, and more to come
I feel like the 2017 Raleigh tokul one is better then this
hanqi li I bought a Tokul 2 for $479 on a Black Friday deal and I’ve done some pretty extreme trails with it. But I did upgrade the fork to air and put tubeless downhill tires on it.
Good looking mediocre bike, the look reminds of my own black and white scott aspect, which just so happens to have a pair of light green lizard skins on the bars.
A couple of changes since I bought my Marlin 5. They started doing internal cables and I believe used one of the rotors in size. Not plagued with problems like that stupid Genesis was
Let me guess the geniuses v2100 ground force? I'm going from that to the marlin 5 can NOOOT wait
I got the trek roscoe 7 2018 brand new for $550 on sale.
so beautiful and i want one
I bought a Trek Marlin 5 Mountain Bike a while ago and the two cranks both tore near where the pedals screw into the crank. this happened when I jump a very small ramp on a trail. if I switch them out for a better one will it still brake on little jumps or will it be more durable