I bought a 2022 Marlin 6 Factory Orange and love it. I did upgrade the fork to the Rock shock Judy Air. The bike is absolutely perfect now. The fork is a huge difference in being more stable when coming across rocks unexpectedly on the trail and drastically cuts the weight.
I own a Trek X Caliber 7 '21. Even before I took a ride with it cut off the plastic disc too.. Also took off the refelctors.. And schortened the handlebar 1" on each side.
Marlin is an entry level MTB and spec/price as such. there is no end to how much one can customize and at some point it's not worth the upgrades. Trek has intelligently priced their bikes and designed the series. if one has out grown the Marlins, time to step up to the next series and folk out $$. but for my needs between three bikes, Marlin 7 is all I need for occasional off/dirt road riding to change up the pace.
agreed. great bike for a little bit of everything, and to see if you are really going to get into more advanced trails. Might be looking at a new bike next year!
Got the marlin 7 3 months ago in the marigold and love the bike. Made a lot of upgrades though to make it even better. Went tubeless and got new rims and I think it made the biggest difference for sure.
I've had it in my head that i want to go tubeless, but then said I'd wait. I have a feeling I'm going to get new tires in the next month, but we'll see. I keep hearing that tires is one of the best upgrades. Thanks for the info!
You can run tubeless!! Tape up the rims, install valves and put your sealant in! I’m running tubeless on both NON-TR rims and tires. Stans does wonders and WILL seal up your setup! 👍🏽
What tires are you running. Based on everything ive read, they say the sidewalls are not strong enough on the xr2’s to go tubeless. But I also read about how the wheels shouldn’t have wider than a 2.35, but some people run 2.4 or even 2.5 tires. I guess you don’t know until you do it.
@@DadTechTV I’m running Kenda Nevegal X’s wire bead 27.5 x 2.35 on 19mm internal width rims....also not recommended, but everything is working great! These tires also have pretty thin sidewalls, but there’s no seeping of sealant through the tire. I watched plenty of vids of people running non-TR tires with lots of success. That’s why I figured I give it a try. It’s pretty cheap, cost of valves, sealant and some gorilla tape.
yea, but one thing i don’t like about it and probably the only thing is that the maxxis minion dhf doesn’t fit in the rear side of the frame. and also i have that exact same dropper post
@@DadTechTV I'm not a hard rider, plus if the same frame 19 and earlier had the hole i figured it would be fine, and the head tech at my trek store said it was ok too....
Good review. I just picked up 2023 Marlin 7 in Oct. Great bike for the price. Considered the Roscoe 7 w/the slightly better Shimano components (are they even better?), more travel on the rockshox fork, and dropper post but having been out of mtb for over 15 years + my age (53) + increased risk aversion, the higher price didn't seem worth it...I'd have then been creeping into carbon full-suspension mtb territory and just didn't want to spend that much despite temptation. My Marlin has handled my girth (230) & faded skills on the steep dh trails in SoCal extremely well. I'm also good with the 1x. Haven't been in a situation where I desperately needed more gear. If I make any upgrades, it will be a dropper post.
Same thought process on my end when buying the Marlin, but then after riding for a while, my imagination got away from me and I bought a YT jeffsy core 4 to go along with my Marlin. Lol. I’m in my 40’s, so I should be caring more about risk also but still pushing a little further than I should.
I just bought the 2022 version recently and went out on a pretty aggressive trail yesterday. It held up nicely. Only mod i made was new Chester pedals. Looking to add drop post soon
Pedals are well worth the few bucks, but the dropper was a game changer for me in my riding. If you pick up a dropper, let me know which one and what you think.
Your forks, at your weight, (mine too), from my years of suspension experience, I think it would be better for us to see if we can get a stiffer fork spring, (may be an option). That way you can use less fork preload, and the small stuff gets even smoother, (especially with the compression lever all the way soft), while the stiffer spring handles the bigger hits. I think we will like the forks a lot better. There is probably oil in one or both of the legs too. There is usually a range of how high/low of a oil level you can use, and that affects the air volume above the oil, (I doubt the oil is in it's own cartridge like more sophisticated systems.). So if you put the high limit of oil in the legs, there is less air to compress above the oil. That would help stiffen the front also, but for only about the last inch of travel. That would be something to check into after we get the stiffer spring. If you are still bottoming harder than you want on bigger hits, you can raise the oil level closer or up to its limit. I bet that spring set up that way will be better than a lot of air fork set ups. Doug in Michigan.
IMO, I would consider this bike more of an intermediate bike than a beginner mtb. A beginner mtb would be more of what I have right now, which is a Kent Trouvaille from Walmart, or something like a Specialized Rockhopper. I'm going to be getting the Marlin 7 later in a few weeks and took it for a test ride today. What a bike! The specs on it are insane for the price and are definitely miles ahead of what I have now, even though the Kent Trouvaille is by no means a weak bike, it's surprisingly very good for a Walmart bike. I can't wait to get my hands on it. I'll more than likely make a few immediate upgrades (the usual stuff like pedals, different stem, etc.), but this thing has a TON of potential. Thanks for the video! :)
Hey you can actually route the cable internally. You bring it up over the bottom bracket and bring it up into the seat tube. I did a bb replacement on my friends Marlin 6 I saw it had little holes and ports.
So I have heard that this is a possibility. Another guy on youtube has a video where he tries it, but there is not enough room with the bottom bracket that came on his marlin. I think his may have been a year or two older and it may have been a marlin 6. I haven't found anyone that has done it successfully. with a new bb, my understanding is that it is possible. Let me know if your buddy ends up doing it. or even better, if put up a video of it, let me know!
Just ordered the Marlin 7 in red/yellow. Excited to play with it as i've never done moutain biking before (I've done a fair bit of trail riding on my motorcycle though).
I have the 2019 model . If you are looking after rockshox reverb instalation you can run the wire in the frame. you can also upgrade to the Shimano botton bracket an then buy a 2x drive train and then mount a bashguard on the second gear
I'm not so sure about exactly when, but in 2023 the "Gen 3" version of the Marlin 7 does come with wheels that are compatible with tubeless tires, though those that come on it are not.
I think the 2022 was supposed to have tubeless rear wheels, but due to sourcing issues shipped some with the older model wheels. Not sure where they are at now.
The xr2 tires are rubbish for the wet muddy English trails I ride so I got specialized butchers because they had a crazy sale and they are tubeless and fantastic grip and wider. You can internally route the dropper but you have to take the BB out to do it, so quite a faff but once it’s done it’s worth it to keep the clean lines. That said on the dark coloured bike the external cable isn’t that noticeable. I have the red yellow marlin 7 and I love it, I got it like you to get into a mountain biking, great vid..
I said i wasn't going to do any upgrades, but I've been eyeing some Maxxis tires. I saw another video of a guy who thought he could internally route the dropper on his Marlin because he was told there was enough space around the bottom bracket internally, but there wasn't enough room. He ended up changing out his bottom bracket to accommodate the dropper post cable. He had a different model Marlin, so I am still not 100% if this is the case with the 2021 Marlin 7. But like you said, with the dark frame and black cable, it isn't that noticeable.
I have the 2019 version with the 3x9 setup and I'm 51 so I feel your pain - and then some lol. You won't regret getting Maxxis tires with the ESO sidewalls. I made the tire upgrade to Maxxis Ardent Race ESOs last year after pinch-flatting on some roots and deciding it was time. I haven't gone tubeless yet but need to get to it. I'm jealous of the 1x with the Deore but the 3x is sufficient because I ride mostly gravel and my wife just bought a gravel bike so I need to keep up now lol. I used to leave her in the dust on her Trek FX2. I'm glad I didn't wait though b/c it cost $100 less and a Marlin 6 would have been more cost effective. Now prices are only going to go up from increased demand and depleted supplies from COVID. My wife had to settle for a bike with an alloy frame so there's still a chance I can catch her lol!
What size Ardent's did you go with? Some say don't go larger than 2.3, but a lot do 2.4 which I am considering. My back tire is getting warn out already from me sliding it on the dirt and gravel to slow down. I feel just like you about getting my bike, the wait times and costs seem to just keep going up, so I'm glad to have gotten it when I had the chance. I also checked out your channel... looks like you are in PA but way out there. I go to the north east of PA to ride my ATV, and snowboard in the poconos all the time. Looking forward to getting my marlin out to some PA trails soon also.
@@DadTechTV @Dad Tech TV They're 2.25"x29". I got a pinch flat and my rear SR2 was going bald too so I bought the Maxxis tires in September. I have yet to go tubeless and add a dropper post but for the most part I ride gravel and rail trails. In all honesty my channel is neglected but thx for the visit.
Just got my new Marlin 7 yesterday... one thing to add to the "hate" list.... on my bike (size ML) the seat post is super long, and won't go down very low in the seat tube, this is due to the bottle bolts being in the way. It's ok for my height in normal riding. But if i need to lower the seat to do technical downhills, no good. I am going to have to cut down the seat post in order to get it to go really low. School boy error if you ask me. I agree with your other hates btw.
The high seat is great for climbing, but rough for downhill and technical stuff. This was why one of my first purchases was the dropper post! Good point!
@@DadTechTV I ended up cutting 6" off the seat post in the end, now I have sufficient height for climbing and can lower it all the way into the seat tube for technical down hills. Whilst I had the pipe cutter out, it took an inch off each end of the bars, for better fit and a little more room on narrow single tracks. A Dropper would be my preference, maybe I will look at that as my next upgrade, after new clipless pedals and shoes. Overall, very happy with my bike, feels quick and responsive.
move stem higher, change to handlebars with a 30mm rise, i suggest fatbars, makes the bike go from good, to absolutely unreal. im also going tubeless tomorow.
I ended up going with PNW stem and bars. Love it. Here's a quick vid i made after having them for a year. th-cam.com/video/lOHzRj-Mh2E/w-d-xo.html. Just recently got a YT jeffsy also.
Good vid, I have the Marlin 7 and got my daughter a 5. But my opinion is don't waste the $$ on tubeless tires buy the slime branded tubes they are like $8 each and do not get flats. And you can internally run your cable for dropper post, just drill a hole a little bigger than your cable and touch up the hole with some paint close to your color and your good to go.
@@DadTechTV yes basically it's a tube with some slime already in them, I don't think you will save any weight or gain any performance like that and they are available at your local Walmart but they work very well I put them on my daughter's bike and mine and no flats 👍
Hi, thanks for the great review. I have placed my order for Marlin 7 2021 and will receive it tomorrow. I talked with a mechanic at a Trek store in my local (in Japan) and he said it's possible to install internal-routing dropper seat post, which requires disassembly of BB though. Not sure whether they modified the design of Marlin 7 for Japan, which I think is not possibly. Hope this helps!👍
Thanks for the review. I placed an order on Marlin 6 2022 model, from what I read online it has the same drive train as Marlin 7 2021 model. Hopefully would be fun to ride around..
It’s crazy that the Marlin 5 is up to $720! In our case we intentionally went cheap. Bought the Marlin 5 (2022)when it was still $650, and used the Suntour upgrade program and bought the Epixon air fork, (awesome fork) which comes in at roughly 3.5 pounds, major weight savings of the 6.5 pound stock Suntour coil fork. When the 2x8 wears out, we’ll upgrade that. But it’s a brilliant package for a beginner, with the fork upgrade really changing the capabilities of the bike We’ll have to look into the PNW dropper. It is a bummer about the internal routing, but at least there is a quality option available. Nice video
The price of bikes has gotten insane. If I were to buy a new bike today having not rode in a long time, I'm not sure what i would be buying when considering cost and what you get.
Great review man. I just picked up the 2022 Marlin 6 had to go to the Trek store in Doylestown P.A. to get it! Lucked out it needs a good fork on it going to get a Judy fork and eventually get a 1x10 drivetrain. I noticed the Marty's sticker!! Thumbs up being from the Morristown Area!
Little bit a drive but worth it considering how hard it seems to be to find the bike you want. I’ve been super happy with Judy fork and def an upgrade from my wife’s 2021 Marlin 6 suntour fork. Marty’s has been a great shop to deal with and the one on 10 has some nice trails right by it. Looking forward to hitting more trails in the area. Any recommendations?
@@DadTechTV six mile in somerset is incredible for just paths lawanaka I am not spelling it right. It is right off south street by the horse stables in Morristown and Lewis morris
New Subscriber & nice review! I have the 2021 Roscoe 6 with major upgrades. In the 2021 bike year, the Roscoe 6 received the most upgrades in the series. I tried to get the Roscoe 7, but couldn’t even receive it until May June and that was last October!!! So I ordered the Roscoe 6 and got it last November (after Thanksgiving). I LOVE my Roscoe 6 and couldn’t be happier!! Keep the bike reviews and ride reviews coming...
Thanks for a great review. The issues you have do not really effect my skill level, and at 75, I doubt that I can exceed the capabilities of this bike in original configuration. So you have reassured me that this should be a great fit for me. But it's $1029 at my shop now. That was disappointing.
Just threw some Maxxis’ 2.3’s on my Marlin 7 and the difference is dramatic. Aggressor in the rear, Minion DHF up front. Feels like a different bike. And I’m running tubes.
@@DadTechTV Good video - I already have a Marlin 7 and watched it anyway. I'm running the same setup as the poster above on mine (aggressor rear DHF front) and rode tubes on it until last week then converted to tubeless(agree it's a great upgrade). First ride on tubeless I sprung a leak and had to drop in a tube (had started around 23 psi for the first ride) I swapped out the tube yesterday and decided to see if it would just hold so I put it back together tubeless and it held for 21 hard milesat about 28 psi. So it can be done on the stock wheels. Looking to drop psi on it for my next ride and see if it still holds. You can always offer up those tires to a Marlin 6 rider you might know and do it sooner than when those wear out ;)
I love the bike the most only thing I don’t like about it is that it came with Shimano Tektro brakes instead of the MT200, but other than that it is a great bike I run tubeless on it and it has been a great bike!!!
Really enjoying mine. I run 20 psi on trails and the bike feels great. The shifting and breaks are far superior to my now gone Framed Minnesota Fat bike. The shifting is so smooth and precise. Great bike and even more so considering the price...
That is a tough call. I always suggest buying what your local bike shop readily has available and prefers to work on. Either way you get a great bike, but make sure you can get good service also.
I have this bike in the Marigold color and medium size. I was lucky and found it in June of last year. I really wanted the trek Dual Sport, but was unable to find one within a few hundred miles. This is the nicest bike I have ever owned, but after researching more, I learned that I couldn't run an internal dropper post and was kind of upset by that. The pedals and grips need upgraded immediately, so plan on budgeting around another $100 there.
not being able to run an internal dropper is a bummer for me also especially since previous model marlin 7's could. I also swapped out my pedals immediately but still have the grips that came on the bike and I haven't had an issue with them yet.
@@DadTechTV Some thick softer foam rubber grips will keep your hands from going numb if you have that issue. Mine would start going numb after about 20 minutes of gravel riding with the stock grips. I got some gloves with real leather palms and they stick to the new grips like glue.
I've heard 2 things regarding the hole for the dropper post.. One was that it pushed more to the XCaliber and the other was that it compromised the integrity of the Alpha Silver.... I'm going to go with the first...
@@DadTechTV I'd love to drill mine, but I still want to know my frame is covered under warranty.. Even though the chance of sending it out is slim to none. The second I do anything that would void the warranty though, it's getting drilled.
@@M855Patriot I’m all about a clean install, but super happy with my PNW cascade dropper. The cable on the outside with zip ties isn’t the prettiest but it gets the job done. Since function is amazing and it’s just aesthetics I don’t think it’s worth drilling the frame and losing warranty.
I was going to get this bike I ended getting the Specialized Rockhooper Comp 1X 29". How is the Marlin 7 going down hill. I wish I had waited and picked up the Specialized Fuse.
The rockhopper is a great bike. You get a little bigger tire than the Marlin 7. How are you liking it so far? For my riding right now, the Marlin 7 is great for the trails I've been riding. I've had it on the road down a hill, and my garmin fenix 6x logged about 32mph. I still had room to pedal more to get some more speed. As far as downhil on the trails, no issues at all, but I wouldn't take it to the local downhill park!
Hi I have the 2019 marlin in black and green I upgraded alot on this mtb to see what it would be like . The tyre's changed out to maxxis ardent 29x2.40 skinwall lighter , better tire width for cornering , faster rolling then the bontrager xr2 which tyre's are heavy tyre's , longer forks rockshox recon 29er 130mm boost forks better width, Mavic xa 29er wheelset, shimano xt cassette, rear mech, shifter , slx crankset & bottom bracket, gold chain , denity petals, 50mm denity stem
You have done a ton of stuff, and your build sounds amazing. What do you think the best bang for the buck was between all your upgrades? I've decided I'm going tires next and leaning towards the Maxxis Aggressors, but may run a minion up front with an aggressor in the rear.
My first mt bike was an Ibex Bianchi 26 yrs ago came with a chromolly frame no shock replaced crank barring to a sealed one and as well as head set and derailers/index shifters...it was set up for street...loved it. My second was a Jamis not sure which model that was back in 2004 I didn't much like that one. But currently I've got a Trek Marlin 7 on order and am looking forward to owning it in about another week. Of course its by far a total upgrade than the previous bikes I mentioned.
@@DadTechTV I finally go my Marlin 7 and yes its a 2022 however unfortunately it didn't come with the tubeless ready rims you mentioned, is that a standard feature with the 2022 marlin 7s?...I brought it up to the salesperson and he said he'd check into it and seemed for me but being cynical in my older years I question his integrity...I may be off base here but I was really looking forward to getting that feature not as an option but a standard. Please let me know
@@StropSharp I just looked back at the Trek website, and I know they have changed things on me before, and its a bit different now. It lists two different sets of rims for all sizes, but doesn't specify how or why you would get one or the other. I also went back to Talalipop's video (th-cam.com/video/eFvJrcHNIDQ/w-d-xo.html) to check what he has to say and you can see in his comments that the 2022 marlin 7 is identical to the 2021 except that it comes with kovee TLR rims. But interesting he also says that some of the bikes have been coming with maxxis ikon tires due to shortages (guessing supply chain issues all industries are feeling). I'm wondering if the "option" for the connection rims instead of the kovee's is due to shortage issues also. But good to have the shop check into it. please let me know what they say.
@@DadTechTV great video! Just bought a barely used one for $600. Same color as yours. First good bike I’ve ever owned. At 58 yo I absolutely love it !! I’m only on pavement, dirt, and grass here around the Lake Okeechobee 110 mile trail so I hope it lasts for years. ✌️
Just bought mine. The headset is loose and knocking but it's tight. Not sure what to do, bring it to the shop i guess as I just got it a week ago and shouldn't have to fix it myself yet!
I would bring it back to the shop. If they are a trek dealer they will fix it right up. I think a lot of the bike dealers are still slammed with low inventory, but they should make that right for you. Hope the shop is close.
Hey man I heard about your problem with the bash guard. But some bash guards have something that goes on the bottom bracket like a spacer and then the bash guard attaches to that
Just got a new Roscoe 7 they have the same outside diameter on the 27.5 tires as the 29s so they are just as tall the 27.5 has taller sidewalls on the tires they are using
I'm sorry I gave you the wrong info that was the info I got from a salesman it's not right got my marlin out and put it side by side with Roscoe Marlin 1.5 inches taller
great review, wonder if should go with the talon 1 since it comes with the air fork and it's about the same cost as this one. they seem pretty similar, except I can pick this one up at my local bike shop and the talon one it's sold out everywhere lol.
The talon is a really nice bike. For me the choice was easy because my local bike shop is a trek dealer. If you have both options at local bike shops then they should let you take them for a spin to see what you think. Get the most comfortable for you.
I just talked to the store salesman today and yes he recognized the Bontrager Kovee rims are a huge upgade and he felt I should of gotten them as a standard addition to the 2022 Marlin 7 He said contacted them and yes they do come with them, however there's been a shortage of parts from the production side of things so the rims I got were basically a thow on.. again thats the kind of crap I wouldn't expect for a Trek bike particularly the Marlin 7 He did however say he's going to file a warranty claim and try to get them that way... as it is a huge upgrade when compared to the stock rims I received. I hope it works. I wished I seen your video sooner as I probably would of went with the Roscoe 7 and that might still be an option we'll see...
The Marlin 7 had gone up in cost over the past year for many reasons, but I would agree that the bike shop should do what they can to try to get you those kovees. Surprised but not surprised at the supply issues. Hope they get it worked out for you.
This bike is now $1000 and that Roscoe 7 is $1800 now. The Roscoe 6 had the crappy XCM fork. I think this is still a great bike and probably going to be my next bike. Was looking at the Giant Fathom 2 but heard a bunch of bad reviews about the fork.
Its crazy to see the change in price over two years. Not sure if I would have shelled out 1000+ for my first moutain bike, but it's still a great bike.
@@DadTechTV I agree. Inflation is wild. However, Walmart is now coming out with like the Schwinn Axum and Kent has one too. Basically is a similar bike. Maybe not as aggressive of geometry but you can get one for like $225 bucks. They're originally like four or five hundred and you can build it up to meet the specs of this bike. Probably about 200 bucks cheaper if not more. And I rode the Marlin 7 the other day as well as the Roscoe 6. And then I went and tried the Giant fathom. 2 and the talon one and they both felt better than the Trek to me.
@@fromthe4gotten I've always thought the Talon was a really nice bike, but my local shop is a Trek dealer so it made it much easier for me to go with the Marlin.
@@DadTechTV both great bikes, just preferred the ride on the talon. Did you know Giant actually makes some of Treks frames? They just use the geometry Trek designed.
At the time of purchase the marlin 8 wasn't an option. right now the prices on the bikes keeps going up, and cost is a big factor. I like the marlin 8, but not sure if the marlin 7 or 8 fall into the correct price range anymore.
I rode a full suspension scott at mountain creek downhill park. Greta bike. I don’t think i have a Scott dealer that close to me, but will surely check this model out!
It’s interesting that you say that because when I started filming this and checked on the price, I thought that the price was a little higher now than when I ordered it early summer last year. I’m going to have to go back to check to see what I paid.
Bike looks great and im planning to buy one soon... but im not quite sure about mt200 brakes...are they good brakes will they handle in every situation?
so far so good with the brakes. I think they work really well. I don't think they would be sufficient for downhill, but then again, the entire bike would have issues with downhill. But for what the bike can do, the brakes work well.
Are you located in NJ? I noticed that Mary's bike sticker on your frame. We just picked our marlin 6 2022 and wondering where do you go mountain biker around central/north NJ?
Yes, I'm in North Jersey. I have some of the places I ride in my other videos. Right behind Marty's you can get to Dickerson Mine/Marty Epstein Memorial trail. I also regularly ride Tourne, Lewis Morris, and High Bridge. With my son, we hit up the greenway and columbia trail. Been some other places, but those I ride more often. Where are you and where do you ride?
@@DadTechTV Thanks a lot. We just started. We have only ride in minnewaska state park (this was part of our camping trip to see the fall foliage) and the six mile run so far. Minnewaska is more like XC trail. We had a lot of fun in six mile run and we will go there more times for sure (close to where I live and rooms for us to improve)
My old Marlin 7 was stollen and decided to buy the 2021 model. Great bike! Anyway, what's a great and affordable drop post compatible to this bike? Can you please specify diameters for compatibility. Thanks a lot!
Hi. I went with the PNW Cascade. It's not the lowest priced, but it's worth every penny. PNW now has a lifetime warranty on their products also. I got the 31.6mm / 125mm. I did a video on it here... th-cam.com/video/9VVaRc-4aes/w-d-xo.html
Finally got my Marlin 7 it rides like a dream but aside from my issue with not getting the bontrager kovee tubeless ready rims it supposedly is supposed to have... I also wasn't able to set it up with the Loam lever and dropper post at another bike shop who had them however the post didn't fit becase my bike is the XL and the post would be too high in its lowest position...he did offer me a good deal on a used one for half price and no it wasn't a PNW which again raised my BP it spent all day in the shop then the guy called and said it was incompatible....Now I'm pissed. Please tell me I still have this as an option because I really thought this was a cool upgrade.
There are a decent amount of external droppers including some youtube videos of people who have installed them on the Marlin 7. Take a look around, and then look at the sizing to see what works best for you.
As I ride more, I can see how some may want more speed. I would say it can do around 30mph based on my experience. Others have swapped out the 28T crank pulley to get more speed out of it, so that may be an option. The X-Caliber 7 has a 1x10 but with a 30T crank pulley. That may be a better option.
I recently purchased the Marlin 6 and honestly I don't really like it. I feels very clunky and slow. Getting up hills is a task and bike is pretty heavy. I'm now thinking of returning it to get the Marlin 7, Duel sport 3 or the Xcaliber 7. Do you think it would be a noticeable upgrade or should I just stick with the Marlin 6 ?
My wife as the Marlin 6. I think it's a great bike, but for me there is a noticeable difference between the two especially with the rockshox judy vs. the suntour. I think the 1x10 is much nicer. I don't think the weight is much different, and it has the same tires so you may not see much of a difference in speeds or ease of getting up hills based on what you say about the 6.
I think ur referencing my dropper post. It makes it so you can drop the seat or raise the seat with the press of a button. That I added on, it did not come on the Marlin.
I ride mostly on road, but the roads are bad here so roadbikes are out of the question. I was looking at dual sport 4 but it is out of my budget. How will the marlin 7 fare on roads? Will I spin out on downhills? Will I spin out even on flat terrain if i keep going faster and faster?
I was very disappointed with the 28t. So I upgraded to a 36t almost immediately.. goes like a rocket ship now.. contemplating some maxxis hookworm tyres now.. so I can buzz round the city even quicker.
I had booked my Marlin 5 in September 2020, and they told me delivery would be in March end 2021 and not they are saying maybe in September 2021. The worst part is the amount is not refundable in India.
We are seeing the same delays for new bikes in the States also. The pandemic has created a bike shortage everywhere. Hope they come through earlier than September for you.
I'm in Brantford Ontario. I ordered the Trek Roscoe 7 in June 2020, they promised delivery March 2021, now it's October. Yeah, a 1 1/2 years for a bike!!! I know exactly what you are going through!!!!
@@cosmickid1794 the worst part is they are not alloying waiting list number. So what’s happening is I have been patiently waiting and people who pay more gets the bike. Atleast this is what happening in India.
Hey man! Just got 2022 model. No internal routing for the dropper post on my bike as well. I was really disappointed by that tbh. Esp because they had internal routing in 2019 and then removed it, which feels a bit scammy not gonna lie.
For me, its a good weight, and I do not think its too heavy for commuting. However, there is a lot of personal preference and something that isn't too heavy or me maybe be very heavy to someone else. I would suggest checking one out at your local bike shop.
Hi Dad tech, I also have a Marlin 7 and got it in February this year and already have over 500 kilometres on it, I’m now having some problems with the drive train in the toughest gear I’m just wondering wether you might be having the same problem?
I do not have any problems with the toughest gear. I would say getting to jump to the easiest gear has been fine, but not the smoothest. However, taking it back to the shop and letting them tune it up fixed that. When I got my bike the shop recommended I bring it back in after 30 days to get tuned up because new parts move around a lot. Have you brought it back to the shop and let them know what issues you are seeing?
Simple answer is that I was trying to stay within a budget and I was just looking to get my family into some new bikes. I knew I wanted to get on the trails to really see what I liked, but I didn't realize how much I was going to love mountain biking.
Great review, I end up drill a hole so I can route my dropper seat cable internally it look so much cleaner but yeah my warranty is gone. My first MTB bike and loving it.
I have the same bike and I do agree with you on most, if not all, of what you said. I’m curious of your thoughts on the 28T chainring/crankset. While I switched up the stock tires to XR1 Team Issue TLR tires to get a tubeless setup (I use mine more of as a paved multi-use trail bike with the occasional off-road flowy trail thrown in), I’ve seen/heard of a lot of people who upgrade at least the chainring to one with more teeth (like a 30-36T) to achieve a higher top speed. Thoughts? Thanks and keep up the content! I’m thinking about doing the same thing with my bike journey...
I've read some of the opinions on the 28T vs 30T and it seems to really just be preference based on your own riding. For me, the 28T has been great as I'm on trails mostly and it seems to work well for climbing. I have had it on the road. I had my Garmin Fenix 6x tracking my ride. Down a hill, it says I hit about 32 mph (not sure of accuracy, but the fenix has been pretty accurate on all other accounts), and I could still pedal if needed to get some more speed. Of course that's just for my riding, so a 30T may be better suited for other's riding style especially on road. Let me know if you swap yours out for the 30T and what you think. Also, how do you like the XR1's and the switch to tubeless? I'm really trying to give it time and let my current tires wear out before buying new ones, but it may happen sooner than later just because the project seems like fun!
@@DadTechTV Sounds good to me! I’ll let you know how I like the tubeless XR1 TIs!! Like I said, I ride more on paved surfaces with my Marlin, so I feel like the bike will roll easier and faster on the road. But, apparently, Trek has come out with a Marlin 8 that looks very appealing...
I was used to a 2x (36t/46t) setup on previous bikes, so I had to upgrade to an FSA Gamma Pro Megatooth 34t (82 BCD) to get a reasonable speed on the flat. This is as big as you can officially go for 1x. I also swapped the BB for a Shimano (BB-UN300, 73, LL123), swapped the plastic pedals for Nukeproof Horizons and changed the front tire for a Maxxis DHF 2.3. Bars/Grips I also changed (just personal preference).
I purchased two of them and they've been nothing but trouble. Early in failures of bottom brackets , one rear wheel failed and had to be replaced, the bike was shipped with no grease in head bearings, internal cable Routed wrong, the Q/R axels kept coming lose on the front wheels, both bikes. NOT IMPRESSED TREK, btw we do light riding
@DadTechTV NO, they have been very bad they are blaming everything on us. My not so local trek store is trying to sort things out, but the bike shop we purchased from is awful. The manager said, " At that price point, you should expect problems." He left that part out when taking my money, though. ( team cycles Gateshead UK)
Hello I wanted to know if the bike was fast enough uphill and if it had a lot of grip I would like to start mountain biking with a bike that is pretty good
It rolls well and I think the 1x10 is great for climbing. Check out some of my other videos and you can see some of the terrain it’s gone through without issue.
the proper answer from trek is that the wheels are not tubeless ready. but you will find a ton of people that have done it and they hold air. Looking to do it soon, and I'll make sure to make some videos and see how it works out.
I'm not that familiar with the polygon to give a judgement. I also say the best option is what is at your local bike shop, but I'll have to look at this polygon some more and see. It has 120mm travel fork which is nice, but I do like rock shox over suntour. IIt also has 11 gears versus the 10 on the marlin, but haven't had a chance to look at what the sizes are. Seems like a solid bike at quick glance.
Well... Considering the competition in that price range, Marlin 7 is not that great buy... You can get AIR Judy fork on other bikes, for example Kona Mahuna, etc... Next thing: SRAM 1x12 system. It's also available on other bikes below 1k price. But this is by no means best equipment. The whole group SRAM SX 1x12 retails for around 250 USD, and NX for about 350... That's cheap. Not very good regarding quality...
Hi Teo. Good points. I know others have also suggested some bikes with components that are alike or better at a lower price point. I actually wanted to buy a Vitus Nucleus 29VRS before buying the Marlin. The thing I keep forgetting to mention in my videos is that after not being able to get the Vitus, I bought the Trek because my local bike shop is a Trek dealer and they are within a few miles of my house. For me, having them close to answer questions and look over the bike has been great. If they weren’t a trek dealer I may have a different bike. And I think you touch on a good point. There are always going to be better parts, so if I did buy a Roscoe, I may be posting a video now about how I should have considered a more expensive bike again. Overall I’m happy with the Marlin 7 as my entry point to Mtb, but keep asking myself if I should put more money into it or buy another bike! What are you riding?
@@DadTechTV Hi, I have a road bike now and I am considering to purchase a hardtail MTB. Not decided yet. I like Marlin 7, especially the red-yellow version. The trend now is that every new bike under 1000 dollar/euro price has a SRAM 1x12 SX groupset... Which is not that great quality. This is what customers want, and factories are delivering, although personally I think that good old 2x10 combination has an advantage. More so when talking about Cross Country MTBs which need to be fast also on flat terrain...
@@TeoSluga it's really nice to hear your perspective when looking at buying an MTB especially about the 2x10 when talking about a Cross Country MTB. The way I've been looking at it is that the Cross Country MTB is an entry level to then work up to a trail/enduro bike, while many people may just want the best Cross Country specific bike. I can see how the range of gearing on the 2x10 would support faster speeds. Thanks for the insight, and I'll be sure to try to incorporate more thoughts on the bike outside just my specific ideas. I ordered this bike back in May or June of 2020, so a lot of the new 2021 models weren't available at that point. I also just saw a video on a possible Marlin 8 being released with, exactly as you are saying, a SRAM SX 1x12. However, the price point is expected to be around $1150 usd.
@@DadTechTV you have a great bike, I really like Marlin 7. And according to various comparison tests the Deore is better shifting than Eagle NX and SX. So, no complaints there. 👍
@@TomerBenDavid you’ll get better gearing options with that for long distance and higher speed. But if you have a local shop, go ride both and see how they feel.
You can always second guess your purchase but you need to draw the line somewhere. It’s a great bike. Good choice.
So true. This bike is exactly what I needed to explore different areas of mountain biking. Really happy with it.
One of best comments I have seen in years. Don't worry, be happy ;-)
I bought a 2022 Marlin 6 Factory Orange and love it. I did upgrade the fork to the Rock shock Judy Air. The bike is absolutely perfect now. The fork is a huge difference in being more stable when coming across rocks unexpectedly on the trail and drastically cuts the weight.
I own a Trek X Caliber 7 '21. Even before I took a ride with it cut off the plastic disc too.. Also took off the refelctors.. And schortened the handlebar 1" on each side.
I just bought mine, I have to pick it up Thursday, but I’m already thinking of removing the big TREK logo with duck tape
Marlin is an entry level MTB and spec/price as such. there is no end to how much one can customize and at some point it's not worth the upgrades. Trek has intelligently priced their bikes and designed the series. if one has out grown the Marlins, time to step up to the next series and folk out $$. but for my needs between three bikes, Marlin 7 is all I need for occasional off/dirt road riding to change up the pace.
agreed. great bike for a little bit of everything, and to see if you are really going to get into more advanced trails. Might be looking at a new bike next year!
Got the marlin 7 3 months ago in the marigold and love the bike. Made a lot of upgrades though to make it even better. Went tubeless and got new rims and I think it made the biggest difference for sure.
I've had it in my head that i want to go tubeless, but then said I'd wait. I have a feeling I'm going to get new tires in the next month, but we'll see. I keep hearing that tires is one of the best upgrades. Thanks for the info!
You can run tubeless!! Tape up the rims, install valves and put your sealant in! I’m running tubeless on both NON-TR rims and tires. Stans does wonders and WILL seal up your setup! 👍🏽
What tires are you running. Based on everything ive read, they say the sidewalls are not strong enough on the xr2’s to go tubeless. But I also read about how the wheels shouldn’t have wider than a 2.35, but some people run 2.4 or even 2.5 tires. I guess you don’t know until you do it.
@@DadTechTV I’m running Kenda Nevegal X’s wire bead 27.5 x 2.35 on 19mm internal width rims....also not recommended, but everything is working great! These tires also have pretty thin sidewalls, but there’s no seeping of sealant through the tire. I watched plenty of vids of people running non-TR tires with lots of success. That’s why I figured I give it a try. It’s pretty cheap, cost of valves, sealant and some gorilla tape.
@@DadTechTV all my team members mostly have XR2s and they are tubeless.
I really love this bike, it is my first mountian bike and I can do black tech. really enjoy the bike overall
i can do it already*
the bike really is a great mountain bike. Gotta keep pushing it to see how much it can really do!
yea, but one thing i don’t like about it and probably the only thing is that the maxxis minion dhf doesn’t fit in the rear side of the frame. and also i have that exact same dropper post
Just got mine yesterday, love it. Did 20 miles today, no complaints.
Congrats and enjoy the bike!!!
I drilled the frame for a loam dropper, internal and it works great
a lot of people say they do it, i just wasn't ready to go all in drilling the frame. glad to hear it works great!!!!
@@DadTechTV I'm not a hard rider, plus if the same frame 19 and earlier had the hole i figured it would be fine, and the head tech at my trek store said it was ok too....
Good review. I just picked up 2023 Marlin 7 in Oct. Great bike for the price. Considered the Roscoe 7 w/the slightly better Shimano components (are they even better?), more travel on the rockshox fork, and dropper post but having been out of mtb for over 15 years + my age (53) + increased risk aversion, the higher price didn't seem worth it...I'd have then been creeping into carbon full-suspension mtb territory and just didn't want to spend that much despite temptation.
My Marlin has handled my girth (230) & faded skills on the steep dh trails in SoCal extremely well. I'm also good with the 1x. Haven't been in a situation where I desperately needed more gear. If I make any upgrades, it will be a dropper post.
Same thought process on my end when buying the Marlin, but then after riding for a while, my imagination got away from me and I bought a YT jeffsy core 4 to go along with my Marlin. Lol. I’m in my 40’s, so I should be caring more about risk also but still pushing a little further than I should.
I just bought the 2022 version recently and went out on a pretty aggressive trail yesterday. It held up nicely. Only mod i made was new Chester pedals. Looking to add drop post soon
Pedals are well worth the few bucks, but the dropper was a game changer for me in my riding. If you pick up a dropper, let me know which one and what you think.
@@DadTechTV ended up getting a stumpy as well,, wow full sus is a game changer
@@lpasatie I’ve been looking to take the leap into full suspension, but other priorities have taken priority. Maybe soon!! Awesome bike you got!!!
Your forks, at your weight, (mine too), from my years of suspension experience, I think it would be better for us to see if we can get a stiffer fork spring, (may be an option). That way you can use less fork preload, and the small stuff gets even smoother, (especially with the compression lever all the way soft), while the stiffer spring handles the bigger hits. I think we will like the forks a lot better. There is probably oil in one or both of the legs too. There is usually a range of how high/low of a oil level you can use, and that affects the air volume above the oil, (I doubt the oil is in it's own cartridge like more sophisticated systems.). So if you put the high limit of oil in the legs, there is less air to compress above the oil. That would help stiffen the front also, but for only about the last inch of travel. That would be something to check into after we get the stiffer spring. If you are still bottoming harder than you want on bigger hits, you can raise the oil level closer or up to its limit. I bet that spring set up that way will be better than a lot of air fork set ups. Doug in Michigan.
IMO, I would consider this bike more of an intermediate bike than a beginner mtb. A beginner mtb would be more of what I have right now, which is a Kent Trouvaille from Walmart, or something like a Specialized Rockhopper. I'm going to be getting the Marlin 7 later in a few weeks and took it for a test ride today. What a bike! The specs on it are insane for the price and are definitely miles ahead of what I have now, even though the Kent Trouvaille is by no means a weak bike, it's surprisingly very good for a Walmart bike. I can't wait to get my hands on it. I'll more than likely make a few immediate upgrades (the usual stuff like pedals, different stem, etc.), but this thing has a TON of potential. Thanks for the video! :)
Hey you can actually route the cable internally. You bring it up over the bottom bracket and bring it up into the seat tube. I did a bb replacement on my friends Marlin 6 I saw it had little holes and ports.
So I have heard that this is a possibility. Another guy on youtube has a video where he tries it, but there is not enough room with the bottom bracket that came on his marlin. I think his may have been a year or two older and it may have been a marlin 6. I haven't found anyone that has done it successfully. with a new bb, my understanding is that it is possible. Let me know if your buddy ends up doing it. or even better, if put up a video of it, let me know!
I had to put zip ties to stop the break cables rattling in the frame. Drove me mad when riding bumpy ground.
I used cat 5 velcro
Horrendous noise👊😅Supposed to be a top spec bike. 2nd bike with i.c.routing. shite.
Just ordered the Marlin 7 in red/yellow. Excited to play with it as i've never done moutain biking before (I've done a fair bit of trail riding on my motorcycle though).
Great bike, you'll love it!
Good luck and enjoy. Having nothing but problems with mine. £800!
@@hotrockin197 yep. Lots of problem on this bullshit trek bikes. Whats up with yours?
@@hotrockin197 like what? But £800 is not a lot in the world of bikes
@@magnumllama400 such as?
I have the 2019 model . If you are looking after rockshox reverb instalation you can run the wire in the frame. you can also upgrade to the Shimano botton bracket an then buy a 2x drive train and then mount a bashguard on the second gear
Lmao the 2022 comes stock with rockshox
I'm not so sure about exactly when, but in 2023 the "Gen 3" version of the Marlin 7 does come with wheels that are compatible with tubeless tires, though those that come on it are not.
I think the 2022 was supposed to have tubeless rear wheels, but due to sourcing issues shipped some with the older model wheels. Not sure where they are at now.
Such a beautiful bike that I had to pre order the grey 2022 version.
Awesome. Love that the 2022 has the tubeless ready rim now (Bontrager Kovee).
@@DadTechTV that’s really good. Will get a road bike feeling on the road.
This is a pretty cool video, thank you for informing!
The xr2 tires are rubbish for the wet muddy English trails I ride so I got specialized butchers because they had a crazy sale and they are tubeless and fantastic grip and wider. You can internally route the dropper but you have to take the BB out to do it, so quite a faff but once it’s done it’s worth it to keep the clean lines. That said on the dark coloured bike the external cable isn’t that noticeable. I have the red yellow marlin 7 and I love it, I got it like you to get into a mountain biking, great vid..
I said i wasn't going to do any upgrades, but I've been eyeing some Maxxis tires. I saw another video of a guy who thought he could internally route the dropper on his Marlin because he was told there was enough space around the bottom bracket internally, but there wasn't enough room. He ended up changing out his bottom bracket to accommodate the dropper post cable. He had a different model Marlin, so I am still not 100% if this is the case with the 2021 Marlin 7. But like you said, with the dark frame and black cable, it isn't that noticeable.
my 2019 trek Marlin 7 has lasted so long and it's still going. I can imagine how much longer this one will last
Have you faced any repairs or parts replacement other than tyres?
@@wojak2466 I had to replace the cosset and the break pads. That's about it
I have the 2019 version with the 3x9 setup and I'm 51 so I feel your pain - and then some lol. You won't regret getting Maxxis tires with the ESO sidewalls. I made the tire upgrade to Maxxis Ardent Race ESOs last year after pinch-flatting on some roots and deciding it was time. I haven't gone tubeless yet but need to get to it. I'm jealous of the 1x with the Deore but the 3x is sufficient because I ride mostly gravel and my wife just bought a gravel bike so I need to keep up now lol. I used to leave her in the dust on her Trek FX2. I'm glad I didn't wait though b/c it cost $100 less and a Marlin 6 would have been more cost effective. Now prices are only going to go up from increased demand and depleted supplies from COVID. My wife had to settle for a bike with an alloy frame so there's still a chance I can catch her lol!
What size Ardent's did you go with? Some say don't go larger than 2.3, but a lot do 2.4 which I am considering. My back tire is getting warn out already from me sliding it on the dirt and gravel to slow down. I feel just like you about getting my bike, the wait times and costs seem to just keep going up, so I'm glad to have gotten it when I had the chance. I also checked out your channel... looks like you are in PA but way out there. I go to the north east of PA to ride my ATV, and snowboard in the poconos all the time. Looking forward to getting my marlin out to some PA trails soon also.
@@DadTechTV @Dad Tech TV They're 2.25"x29". I got a pinch flat and my rear SR2 was going bald too so I bought the Maxxis tires in September. I have yet to go tubeless and add a dropper post but for the most part I ride gravel and rail trails. In all honesty my channel is neglected but thx for the visit.
Just got my new Marlin 7 yesterday... one thing to add to the "hate" list.... on my bike (size ML) the seat post is super long, and won't go down very low in the seat tube, this is due to the bottle bolts being in the way. It's ok for my height in normal riding. But if i need to lower the seat to do technical downhills, no good. I am going to have to cut down the seat post in order to get it to go really low. School boy error if you ask me. I agree with your other hates btw.
The high seat is great for climbing, but rough for downhill and technical stuff. This was why one of my first purchases was the dropper post! Good point!
@@DadTechTV I ended up cutting 6" off the seat post in the end, now I have sufficient height for climbing and can lower it all the way into the seat tube for technical down hills. Whilst I had the pipe cutter out, it took an inch off each end of the bars, for better fit and a little more room on narrow single tracks. A Dropper would be my preference, maybe I will look at that as my next upgrade, after new clipless pedals and shoes. Overall, very happy with my bike, feels quick and responsive.
I just got my Marlin 7 a few days back and in the store they cut the seat post and now it feels more comfortable
move stem higher, change to handlebars with a 30mm rise, i suggest fatbars, makes the bike go from good, to absolutely unreal.
im also going tubeless tomorow.
I ended up going with PNW stem and bars. Love it. Here's a quick vid i made after having them for a year. th-cam.com/video/lOHzRj-Mh2E/w-d-xo.html. Just recently got a YT jeffsy also.
Good vid, I have the Marlin 7 and got my daughter a 5. But my opinion is don't waste the $$ on tubeless tires buy the slime branded tubes they are like $8 each and do not get flats. And you can internally run your cable for dropper post, just drill a hole a little bigger than your cable and touch up the hole with some paint close to your color and your good to go.
I'll look into those slime tubes. While I'm familiar with slime, I didn't know they made their own tubes.
@@DadTechTV yes basically it's a tube with some slime already in them, I don't think you will save any weight or gain any performance like that and they are available at your local Walmart but they work very well I put them on my daughter's bike and mine and no flats 👍
Hi, thanks for the great review. I have placed my order for Marlin 7 2021 and will receive it tomorrow. I talked with a mechanic at a Trek store in my local (in Japan) and he said it's possible to install internal-routing dropper seat post, which requires disassembly of BB though. Not sure whether they modified the design of Marlin 7 for Japan, which I think is not possibly. Hope this helps!👍
If you get more info on that internal routing and can post it here, I’m sure it will help a lot of people out.
Thanks for the review. I placed an order on Marlin 6 2022 model, from what I read online it has the same drive train as Marlin 7 2021 model. Hopefully would be fun to ride around..
Hope you enjoy it!
@@DadTechTV why don't you go ahead and tell him that it will break down I 2 years no matter the best maintenance. Unless you don't ride.
It’s crazy that the Marlin 5 is up to $720!
In our case we intentionally went cheap.
Bought the Marlin 5 (2022)when it was still $650, and used the Suntour upgrade program and bought the Epixon air fork, (awesome fork) which comes in at roughly 3.5 pounds, major weight savings of the 6.5 pound stock Suntour coil fork.
When the 2x8 wears out, we’ll upgrade that.
But it’s a brilliant package for a beginner, with the fork upgrade really changing the capabilities of the bike
We’ll have to look into the PNW dropper. It is a bummer about the internal routing, but at least there is a quality option available.
Nice video
The price of bikes has gotten insane. If I were to buy a new bike today having not rode in a long time, I'm not sure what i would be buying when considering cost and what you get.
Great review man. I just picked up the 2022 Marlin 6 had to go to the Trek store in Doylestown P.A. to get it! Lucked out it needs a good fork on it going to get a Judy fork and eventually get a 1x10 drivetrain. I noticed the Marty's sticker!! Thumbs up being from the Morristown Area!
Little bit a drive but worth it considering how hard it seems to be to find the bike you want. I’ve been super happy with Judy fork and def an upgrade from my wife’s 2021 Marlin 6 suntour fork. Marty’s has been a great shop to deal with and the one on 10 has some nice trails right by it. Looking forward to hitting more trails in the area. Any recommendations?
@@DadTechTV six mile in somerset is incredible for just paths lawanaka I am not spelling it right. It is right off south street by the horse stables in Morristown and Lewis morris
Hey, I have a 2022 marlin 6 that has a 1x10 drivetrain. I'm thinking of upgrading to a larger crankset. what is the largest 1x that can fit?
New Subscriber & nice review! I have the 2021 Roscoe 6 with major upgrades. In the 2021 bike year, the Roscoe 6 received the most upgrades in the series. I tried to get the Roscoe 7, but couldn’t even receive it until May June and that was last October!!! So I ordered the Roscoe 6 and got it last November (after Thanksgiving). I LOVE my Roscoe 6 and couldn’t be happier!! Keep the bike reviews and ride reviews coming...
I love the Roscoe series. One of these days I'll end up upgrading.
Thanks for a great review. The issues you have do not really effect my skill level, and at 75, I doubt that I can exceed the capabilities of this bike in original configuration. So you have reassured me that this should be a great fit for me. But it's $1029 at my shop now. That was disappointing.
Prices have jumped significantly. There is also a Marlin 8 now, but sounds like the 7 has what you need.
Just threw some Maxxis’ 2.3’s on my Marlin 7 and the difference is dramatic. Aggressor in the rear, Minion DHF up front. Feels like a different bike. And I’m running tubes.
I’ve been looking at maxxis tires. You are going to make me spend money! Ha
@@DadTechTV Good video - I already have a Marlin 7 and watched it anyway. I'm running the same setup as the poster above on mine (aggressor rear DHF front) and rode tubes on it until last week then converted to tubeless(agree it's a great upgrade). First ride on tubeless I sprung a leak and had to drop in a tube (had started around 23 psi for the first ride) I swapped out the tube yesterday and decided to see if it would just hold so I put it back together tubeless and it held for 21 hard milesat about 28 psi. So it can be done on the stock wheels. Looking to drop psi on it for my next ride and see if it still holds. You can always offer up those tires to a Marlin 6 rider you might know and do it sooner than when those wear out ;)
Interesting, I've noticed the marlin 8 comes with maxxis
I have bought the exact bike and is ready to collect from Trek but can't get there until the weekend😭😭, So happy I chose this colour looks amazing 👍
I chose the same it’s a 5 hour drive on Saturday to go get it 😂👍
@@justicehughes363 my journey is about 20 mins so not to bad 😂😂
Love the color on this model. Worth the drive at 20 min or 5 hours. Ha
I love the bike the most only thing I don’t like about it is that it came with Shimano Tektro brakes instead of the MT200, but other than that it is a great bike I run tubeless on it and it has been a great bike!!!
Really enjoying mine. I run 20 psi on trails and the bike feels great. The shifting and breaks are far superior to my now gone Framed Minnesota Fat bike. The shifting is so smooth and precise. Great bike and even more so considering the price...
I haven't played around with different PSI on different terrain. I'll have to try out some different configs.
Why not make your own hole for the internal routing at the base by the crank? Justa 1/4” drilled hole.
Some do that. I didn’t want to put a hole in the frame and lose warranty on the bike.
Thanks bro I’m debating tommorow to either buy marline6 or 7 I think I’m going for m7
I'm trying to decide between the Giant Talon 1 or the Trek Marlin 7, it's a tough call.
That is a tough call. I always suggest buying what your local bike shop readily has available and prefers to work on. Either way you get a great bike, but make sure you can get good service also.
I really love this bike but I would love for them to get on to the updated forks and let us have tapered fork
I think that they are never going to have tapered forks.. Even the marlin 8 gen 3 doesnt have a tapered fork but it is the air spring.
Great video just picked up the Marlin 7 and loving it. What is the tube near water bottle spot?
Hi Michael. It's a bike pump made by pro bike tool. I did a quick video on it that you can find here, th-cam.com/video/C3WIuAyhfcc/w-d-xo.html
Oh wow amazing. Thanks!
The only thing that I'm worried about trek Marlins is it's not
tapered headtube, why trek Marlin s doesn't have tapered headtube tho?
I have the same bike I drilled a small hole in the seat tube no issues.
It seems a lot of people go that route. What dropper did you end up installing?
@@DadTechTV I did both RockShox and one up
@@iamcyberpunk68 which one did you like better?
Just ordered a marlin 8. Just watching videos to pass the time 😆
Should be pretty similar
They didn’t have the 8 in 2021, but would have surely considered it if it was an option
@@DadTechTV ahhh i see! I really liked the yellow/red fade on the 7 but I wanted the air fork as I'm quite heavy
I have this bike in the Marigold color and medium size. I was lucky and found it in June of last year. I really wanted the trek Dual Sport, but was unable to find one within a few hundred miles.
This is the nicest bike I have ever owned, but after researching more, I learned that I couldn't run an internal dropper post and was kind of upset by that.
The pedals and grips need upgraded immediately, so plan on budgeting around another $100 there.
not being able to run an internal dropper is a bummer for me also especially since previous model marlin 7's could. I also swapped out my pedals immediately but still have the grips that came on the bike and I haven't had an issue with them yet.
@@DadTechTV Some thick softer foam rubber grips will keep your hands from going numb if you have that issue. Mine would start going numb after about 20 minutes of gravel riding with the stock grips.
I got some gloves with real leather palms and they stick to the new grips like glue.
I've heard 2 things regarding the hole for the dropper post.. One was that it pushed more to the XCaliber and the other was that it compromised the integrity of the Alpha Silver.... I'm going to go with the first...
Makes sense as a way to push towards other models.
@@DadTechTV I'd love to drill mine, but I still want to know my frame is covered under warranty.. Even though the chance of sending it out is slim to none. The second I do anything that would void the warranty though, it's getting drilled.
@@M855Patriot I’m all about a clean install, but super happy with my PNW cascade dropper. The cable on the outside with zip ties isn’t the prettiest but it gets the job done. Since function is amazing and it’s just aesthetics I don’t think it’s worth drilling the frame and losing warranty.
I was going to get this bike I ended getting the Specialized Rockhooper Comp 1X 29". How is the Marlin 7 going down hill. I wish I had waited and picked up the Specialized Fuse.
The rockhopper is a great bike. You get a little bigger tire than the Marlin 7. How are you liking it so far? For my riding right now, the Marlin 7 is great for the trails I've been riding. I've had it on the road down a hill, and my garmin fenix 6x logged about 32mph. I still had room to pedal more to get some more speed. As far as downhil on the trails, no issues at all, but I wouldn't take it to the local downhill park!
Hi I have the 2019 marlin in black and green I upgraded alot on this mtb to see what it would be like . The tyre's changed out to maxxis ardent 29x2.40 skinwall lighter , better tire width for cornering ,
faster rolling then the bontrager xr2 which tyre's are heavy tyre's , longer forks rockshox recon 29er 130mm boost forks better width,
Mavic xa 29er wheelset, shimano xt cassette, rear mech, shifter , slx crankset & bottom bracket, gold chain , denity petals, 50mm denity stem
You have done a ton of stuff, and your build sounds amazing. What do you think the best bang for the buck was between all your upgrades? I've decided I'm going tires next and leaning towards the Maxxis Aggressors, but may run a minion up front with an aggressor in the rear.
My first mt bike was an Ibex Bianchi 26 yrs ago came with a chromolly frame no shock replaced crank barring to a sealed one and as well as head set and derailers/index shifters...it was set up for street...loved it. My second was a Jamis not sure which model that was back in 2004 I didn't much like that one. But currently I've got a Trek Marlin 7 on order and am looking forward to owning it in about another week. Of course its by far a total upgrade than the previous bikes I mentioned.
Assuming you have the 2022 model on order, they changed the wheels to the bontrager kovee tubeless ready rims which is awesome. enjoy!!!!
@@DadTechTV I finally go my Marlin 7 and yes its a 2022 however unfortunately it didn't come with the tubeless ready rims you mentioned, is that a standard feature with the 2022 marlin 7s?...I brought it up to the salesperson and he said he'd check into it and seemed for me but being cynical in my older years I question his integrity...I may be off base here but I was really looking forward to getting that feature not as an option but a standard. Please let me know
@@StropSharp I just looked back at the Trek website, and I know they have changed things on me before, and its a bit different now. It lists two different sets of rims for all sizes, but doesn't specify how or why you would get one or the other. I also went back to Talalipop's video (th-cam.com/video/eFvJrcHNIDQ/w-d-xo.html) to check what he has to say and you can see in his comments that the 2022 marlin 7 is identical to the 2021 except that it comes with kovee TLR rims. But interesting he also says that some of the bikes have been coming with maxxis ikon tires due to shortages (guessing supply chain issues all industries are feeling). I'm wondering if the "option" for the connection rims instead of the kovee's is due to shortage issues also. But good to have the shop check into it. please let me know what they say.
@@DadTechTV great video! Just bought a barely used one for $600. Same color as yours. First good bike I’ve ever owned. At 58 yo I absolutely love it !! I’m only on pavement, dirt, and grass here around the Lake Okeechobee 110 mile trail so I hope it lasts for years. ✌️
I ride mine on a designated path without many road hazards
Just bought mine. The headset is loose and knocking but it's tight. Not sure what to do, bring it to the shop i guess as I just got it a week ago and shouldn't have to fix it myself yet!
I would bring it back to the shop. If they are a trek dealer they will fix it right up. I think a lot of the bike dealers are still slammed with low inventory, but they should make that right for you. Hope the shop is close.
mine came lose too, it is an easy fix, and new bikes without miles on them tend to need attention
@@slosingletrak6245 What fixed it? Tightening the top bolt isn't working for mine 😕
@@utahnick that is what i did, and that is my compression that tightens my headset, so i don’t know
Hey man I heard about your problem with the bash guard. But some bash guards have something that goes on the bottom bracket like a spacer and then the bash guard attaches to that
I've looked into those, but haven't bought one to try out. Maybe in the near future!
Just got a new Roscoe 7 they have the same outside diameter on the 27.5 tires as the 29s so they are just as tall the 27.5 has taller sidewalls on the tires they are using
They are the same height as the 2,4s on my marlin 6
I love the Roscoe 7. One of these days I'll end up upgrading my Marlin.
I'm sorry I gave you the wrong info that was the info I got from a salesman it's not right got my marlin out and put it side by side with Roscoe Marlin 1.5 inches taller
But I do like the Roscoe alot more off road Marlin is a commuter with wider gear range Roscoe pretty slow on pavement
great review, wonder if should go with the talon 1 since it comes with the air fork and it's about the same cost as this one. they seem pretty similar, except I can pick this one up at my local bike shop and the talon one it's sold out everywhere lol.
The talon is a really nice bike. For me the choice was easy because my local bike shop is a trek dealer. If you have both options at local bike shops then they should let you take them for a spin to see what you think. Get the most comfortable for you.
Talon 1 can't go tubeless though, that's why I ended up going with the Marlin 7
I just talked to the store salesman today and yes he recognized the Bontrager Kovee rims are a huge upgade and he felt I should of gotten them as a standard addition to the 2022 Marlin 7 He said contacted them and yes they do come with them, however there's been a shortage of parts from the production side of things so the rims I got were basically a thow on.. again thats the kind of crap I wouldn't expect for a Trek bike particularly the Marlin 7 He did however say he's going to file a warranty claim and try to get them that way... as it is a huge upgrade when compared to the stock rims I received. I hope it works. I wished I seen your video sooner as I probably would of went with the Roscoe 7 and that might still be an option we'll see...
The Marlin 7 had gone up in cost over the past year for many reasons, but I would agree that the bike shop should do what they can to try to get you those kovees. Surprised but not surprised at the supply issues. Hope they get it worked out for you.
Nice video man! I came across your video and I bought one. Going to upgrade some components. You got a new sub.
Great bike! What components are you looking at upgrading already?
@@DadTechTV Looking into the same dropper seat and getting new tubeless tires. I got the same pedals you got. Thanks for you videos, keep them coming!
I got the same one from Marty's reliable! I see the sticker
great shop. nice trails behind the randolph location!
This bike is now $1000 and that Roscoe 7 is $1800 now. The Roscoe 6 had the crappy XCM fork. I think this is still a great bike and probably going to be my next bike. Was looking at the Giant Fathom 2 but heard a bunch of bad reviews about the fork.
Its crazy to see the change in price over two years. Not sure if I would have shelled out 1000+ for my first moutain bike, but it's still a great bike.
@@DadTechTV I agree. Inflation is wild. However, Walmart is now coming out with like the Schwinn Axum and Kent has one too. Basically is a similar bike. Maybe not as aggressive of geometry but you can get one for like $225 bucks. They're originally like four or five hundred and you can build it up to meet the specs of this bike. Probably about 200 bucks cheaper if not more. And I rode the Marlin 7 the other day as well as the Roscoe 6. And then I went and tried the Giant fathom. 2 and the talon one and they both felt better than the Trek to me.
@@fromthe4gotten I've always thought the Talon was a really nice bike, but my local shop is a Trek dealer so it made it much easier for me to go with the Marlin.
@@DadTechTV both great bikes, just preferred the ride on the talon. Did you know Giant actually makes some of Treks frames? They just use the geometry Trek designed.
You mention you would've chosen the Roscoe 7 over the Marlin 7, but how about the Marlin 8??
At the time of purchase the marlin 8 wasn't an option. right now the prices on the bikes keeps going up, and cost is a big factor. I like the marlin 8, but not sure if the marlin 7 or 8 fall into the correct price range anymore.
Gonna drive out and get one tomorrow. 120mi round trip but that’s nothing given this crazy bike market.
That's awesome! Not a bad ride, how did it go?
@@DadTechTV they were building it today so I’ll need to go tomorrow. Can’t wait!! Harder to buy than ammo these days…thanks Rona.
I just scored a Marlin 7 yesterday. It's like brand new for $400 Viper Red.
great price. great bike! best of luck with it!
Have a look at Scott Aspect 930 !
Great geometry and specs
I rode a full suspension scott at mountain creek downhill park. Greta bike. I don’t think i have a Scott dealer that close to me, but will surely check this model out!
Enjoyed the video & nice knowing exactly how you feel about the bike. The price in Canada went up its now $1099.00 when I last checked online.
It’s interesting that you say that because when I started filming this and checked on the price, I thought that the price was a little higher now than when I ordered it early summer last year. I’m going to have to go back to check to see what I paid.
@@DadTechTV since I got my bike. I was still checking for the price & I did notice in Canada the price went up once & recently they raised it again.
@@DadTechTV Mine was $849.99 in the U.S.
@@DadTechTV The new Marlin 8 is $1200 USD. Thoughts?
Bike looks great and im planning to buy one soon... but im not quite sure about mt200 brakes...are they good brakes will they handle in every situation?
so far so good with the brakes. I think they work really well. I don't think they would be sufficient for downhill, but then again, the entire bike would have issues with downhill. But for what the bike can do, the brakes work well.
What's the top speed on the road in the highest gear before catching up ?
I’ve done +-30mph on it according to gps tracking. A better rider could prob get a little more out of it.
Are you located in NJ? I noticed that Mary's bike sticker on your frame. We just picked our marlin 6 2022 and wondering where do you go mountain biker around central/north NJ?
Yes, I'm in North Jersey. I have some of the places I ride in my other videos. Right behind Marty's you can get to Dickerson Mine/Marty Epstein Memorial trail. I also regularly ride Tourne, Lewis Morris, and High Bridge. With my son, we hit up the greenway and columbia trail. Been some other places, but those I ride more often. Where are you and where do you ride?
@@DadTechTV Thanks a lot. We just started. We have only ride in minnewaska state park (this was part of our camping trip to see the fall foliage) and the six mile run so far. Minnewaska is more like XC trail. We had a lot of fun in six mile run and we will go there more times for sure (close to where I live and rooms for us to improve)
What do you think abt the marlin 6???
I live in a hilly area so will have to climb alot more compared to roads on the plain areas. Should I go for it?
The Marlin 6 is a great bike. We have a 2021 model and have had no issues.
My old Marlin 7 was stollen and decided to buy the 2021 model. Great bike! Anyway, what's a great and affordable drop post compatible to this bike? Can you please specify diameters for compatibility. Thanks a lot!
Hi. I went with the PNW Cascade. It's not the lowest priced, but it's worth every penny. PNW now has a lifetime warranty on their products also. I got the 31.6mm / 125mm. I did a video on it here... th-cam.com/video/9VVaRc-4aes/w-d-xo.html
What’s the size of your bike frame and your wheel size?
Mine is a large frame size with 29'ers.
What is the frame size please? And how tall are you??...Thanks
I'm 6'0".... but as i get older maybe I'm 5'11.5" lol. But yes right around 6 foot and this is a large frame.
Finally got my Marlin 7 it rides like a dream but aside from my issue with not getting the bontrager kovee tubeless ready rims it supposedly is supposed to have... I also wasn't able to set it up with the Loam lever and dropper post at another bike shop who had them however the post didn't fit becase my bike is the XL and the post would be too high in its lowest position...he did offer me a good deal on a used one for half price and no it wasn't a PNW which again raised my BP it spent all day in the shop then the guy called and said it was incompatible....Now I'm pissed. Please tell me I still have this as an option because I really thought this was a cool upgrade.
There are a decent amount of external droppers including some youtube videos of people who have installed them on the Marlin 7. Take a look around, and then look at the sizing to see what works best for you.
How is the top speed? I will be riding on paved roads as well and I hear the top speed/gear is slow.
As I ride more, I can see how some may want more speed. I would say it can do around 30mph based on my experience. Others have swapped out the 28T crank pulley to get more speed out of it, so that may be an option. The X-Caliber 7 has a 1x10 but with a 30T crank pulley. That may be a better option.
I recently purchased the Marlin 6 and honestly I don't really like it. I feels very clunky and slow. Getting up hills is a task and bike is pretty heavy. I'm now thinking of returning it to get the Marlin 7, Duel sport 3 or the Xcaliber 7. Do you think it would be a noticeable upgrade or should I just stick with the Marlin 6 ?
My wife as the Marlin 6. I think it's a great bike, but for me there is a noticeable difference between the two especially with the rockshox judy vs. the suntour. I think the 1x10 is much nicer. I don't think the weight is much different, and it has the same tires so you may not see much of a difference in speeds or ease of getting up hills based on what you say about the 6.
Does a 1x cause faster chain wear as compared to 2x drivetrain?
So I could give s simple answer, but this is way more informative. wheretheroadforks.com/1x-vs-2x-drivetrain-pros-and-cons/
I dont understand what the thing is that goes under the seat, that needs a wire?
I think ur referencing my dropper post. It makes it so you can drop the seat or raise the seat with the press of a button. That I added on, it did not come on the Marlin.
Very sandy in Piney southern NJ
I’ve ridden down there and yes very Sandy in some areas.
I ride mostly on road, but the roads are bad here so roadbikes are out of the question. I was looking at dual sport 4 but it is out of my budget. How will the marlin 7 fare on roads? Will I spin out on downhills? Will I spin out even on flat terrain if i keep going faster and faster?
Consider a Gravel Bike
It does fairly well on roads. My garmin watch had me at about 32 mph down a hill and I could still pedal. Not sure how fast ur looking to go.
I was very disappointed with the 28t. So I upgraded to a 36t almost immediately.. goes like a rocket ship now.. contemplating some maxxis hookworm tyres now.. so I can buzz round the city even quicker.
I had booked my Marlin 5 in September 2020, and they told me delivery would be in March end 2021 and not they are saying maybe in September 2021. The worst part is the amount is not refundable in India.
We are seeing the same delays for new bikes in the States also. The pandemic has created a bike shortage everywhere. Hope they come through earlier than September for you.
I'm in Brantford Ontario. I ordered the Trek Roscoe 7 in June 2020, they promised delivery March 2021, now it's October. Yeah, a 1 1/2 years for a bike!!! I know exactly what you are going through!!!!
@@cosmickid1794 the worst part is they are not alloying waiting list number. So what’s happening is I have been patiently waiting and people who pay more gets the bike. Atleast this is what happening in India.
Hey man! Just got 2022 model. No internal routing for the dropper post on my bike as well. I was really disappointed by that tbh. Esp because they had internal routing in 2019 and then removed it, which feels a bit scammy not gonna lie.
Great video! I’d like to have this bike for comuting but i am afraid it is too heavy, you think it is fine?
For me, its a good weight, and I do not think its too heavy for commuting. However, there is a lot of personal preference and something that isn't too heavy or me maybe be very heavy to someone else. I would suggest checking one out at your local bike shop.
I borrowed my mates marlin 5 for delveroo when my hybrid boke, was great, I've just ordered a marlin 7 this week for work, 2022 model mint green 👌
Hola, si aguanta para trails duros?
I picked up a 2022 M8 brand new for £795 great bike at this price
i didn't' have the 8 as an option, but would have surely been a possible purchase if it was
Hi Dad tech, I also have a Marlin 7 and got it in February this year and already have over 500 kilometres on it, I’m now having some problems with the drive train in the toughest gear I’m just wondering wether you might be having the same problem?
I do not have any problems with the toughest gear. I would say getting to jump to the easiest gear has been fine, but not the smoothest. However, taking it back to the shop and letting them tune it up fixed that. When I got my bike the shop recommended I bring it back in after 30 days to get tuned up because new parts move around a lot. Have you brought it back to the shop and let them know what issues you are seeing?
@@DadTechTV taking mine back 2m after 2 week. cant stand noisy bikes.
Why not get the xcaliber from the beginning?
Simple answer is that I was trying to stay within a budget and I was just looking to get my family into some new bikes. I knew I wanted to get on the trails to really see what I liked, but I didn't realize how much I was going to love mountain biking.
Would a marlin 7 be good for long bike rides?
If ur looking to ride long rides on the road, then there are better options. If ur looking to ride xc trails, yes, this bike works really well!
@@DadTechTV what are some better options in this price range?
wouldnt a 2x11-36 be easier to climb uphills than 1x46?
a 2x will give you a larger range for high and low than a 1x usually, but, for me, the 1x is much simpler and faster for shifting.
I just got the 2022 marlin 7
awesome, enjoy!
Great review, I end up drill a hole so I can route my dropper seat cable internally it look so much cleaner but yeah my warranty is gone. My first MTB bike and loving it.
I've seen people drill holes, i just wanted ready to do that yet.
I'm totally new to bikes so don't shoot me for this because it's just a suggestion. If you take your pedals off could you not route the cable?
I have the same bike and I do agree with you on most, if not all, of what you said. I’m curious of your thoughts on the 28T chainring/crankset. While I switched up the stock tires to XR1 Team Issue TLR tires to get a tubeless setup (I use mine more of as a paved multi-use trail bike with the occasional off-road flowy trail thrown in), I’ve seen/heard of a lot of people who upgrade at least the chainring to one with more teeth (like a 30-36T) to achieve a higher top speed. Thoughts? Thanks and keep up the content! I’m thinking about doing the same thing with my bike journey...
I've read some of the opinions on the 28T vs 30T and it seems to really just be preference based on your own riding. For me, the 28T has been great as I'm on trails mostly and it seems to work well for climbing. I have had it on the road. I had my Garmin Fenix 6x tracking my ride. Down a hill, it says I hit about 32 mph (not sure of accuracy, but the fenix has been pretty accurate on all other accounts), and I could still pedal if needed to get some more speed. Of course that's just for my riding, so a 30T may be better suited for other's riding style especially on road. Let me know if you swap yours out for the 30T and what you think. Also, how do you like the XR1's and the switch to tubeless? I'm really trying to give it time and let my current tires wear out before buying new ones, but it may happen sooner than later just because the project seems like fun!
@@DadTechTV Sounds good to me! I’ll let you know how I like the tubeless XR1 TIs!! Like I said, I ride more on paved surfaces with my Marlin, so I feel like the bike will roll easier and faster on the road. But, apparently, Trek has come out with a Marlin 8 that looks very appealing...
I was used to a 2x (36t/46t) setup on previous bikes, so I had to upgrade to an FSA Gamma Pro Megatooth 34t (82 BCD) to get a reasonable speed on the flat. This is as big as you can officially go for 1x.
I also swapped the BB for a Shimano (BB-UN300, 73, LL123), swapped the plastic pedals for Nukeproof Horizons and changed the front tire for a Maxxis DHF 2.3. Bars/Grips I also changed (just personal preference).
Where have you bought it?
bought it at my local bike shop
I'm looking at this bike to replace my stolen Scott aspect 940.
both are great bikes!
I purchased two of them and they've been nothing but trouble. Early in failures of bottom brackets , one rear wheel failed and had to be replaced, the bike was shipped with no grease in head bearings, internal cable Routed wrong, the Q/R axels kept coming lose on the front wheels, both bikes. NOT IMPRESSED TREK, btw we do light riding
Wow. Sorry to hear. Are they the new 2023 models? Did you purchase from a local shop? Have they been working out the issues for you?
@DadTechTV NO, they have been very bad they are blaming everything on us. My not so local trek store is trying to sort things out, but the bike shop we purchased from is awful. The manager said, " At that price point, you should expect problems." He left that part out when taking my money, though. ( team cycles Gateshead UK)
@@DadTechTV it's the same one as in your video, same colour too. We got them late 2022
Hello I wanted to know if the bike was fast enough uphill and if it had a lot of grip I would like to start mountain biking with a bike that is pretty good
It rolls well and I think the 1x10 is great for climbing. Check out some of my other videos and you can see some of the terrain it’s gone through without issue.
I am thinking of dual sport 4, how is it ,do you have any idea?
The dual sport I do not know much about. Sorry!
@@DadTechTV np thanks
So are the rims on the bike tubeless ready so you can buy new tires to convert it to tubeless🤔 or do you have to change everything
the proper answer from trek is that the wheels are not tubeless ready. but you will find a ton of people that have done it and they hold air. Looking to do it soon, and I'll make sure to make some videos and see how it works out.
Which one best bro trek marlin 7 or polygon xtrada 6 1 *11?
I'm not that familiar with the polygon to give a judgement. I also say the best option is what is at your local bike shop, but I'll have to look at this polygon some more and see. It has 120mm travel fork which is nice, but I do like rock shox over suntour. IIt also has 11 gears versus the 10 on the marlin, but haven't had a chance to look at what the sizes are. Seems like a solid bike at quick glance.
Well... Considering the competition in that price range, Marlin 7 is not that great buy... You can get AIR Judy fork on other bikes, for example Kona Mahuna, etc... Next thing: SRAM 1x12 system. It's also available on other bikes below 1k price. But this is by no means best equipment. The whole group SRAM SX 1x12 retails for around 250 USD, and NX for about 350... That's cheap. Not very good regarding quality...
Hi Teo. Good points. I know others have also suggested some bikes with components that are alike or better at a lower price point. I actually wanted to buy a Vitus Nucleus 29VRS before buying the Marlin. The thing I keep forgetting to mention in my videos is that after not being able to get the Vitus, I bought the Trek because my local bike shop is a Trek dealer and they are within a few miles of my house. For me, having them close to answer questions and look over the bike has been great. If they weren’t a trek dealer I may have a different bike. And I think you touch on a good point. There are always going to be better parts, so if I did buy a Roscoe, I may be posting a video now about how I should have considered a more expensive bike again. Overall I’m happy with the Marlin 7 as my entry point to Mtb, but keep asking myself if I should put more money into it or buy another bike! What are you riding?
@@DadTechTV Hi, I have a road bike now and I am considering to purchase a hardtail MTB. Not decided yet. I like Marlin 7, especially the red-yellow version. The trend now is that every new bike under 1000 dollar/euro price has a SRAM 1x12 SX groupset... Which is not that great quality. This is what customers want, and factories are delivering, although personally I think that good old 2x10 combination has an advantage. More so when talking about Cross Country MTBs which need to be fast also on flat terrain...
@@TeoSluga it's really nice to hear your perspective when looking at buying an MTB especially about the 2x10 when talking about a Cross Country MTB. The way I've been looking at it is that the Cross Country MTB is an entry level to then work up to a trail/enduro bike, while many people may just want the best Cross Country specific bike. I can see how the range of gearing on the 2x10 would support faster speeds. Thanks for the insight, and I'll be sure to try to incorporate more thoughts on the bike outside just my specific ideas. I ordered this bike back in May or June of 2020, so a lot of the new 2021 models weren't available at that point. I also just saw a video on a possible Marlin 8 being released with, exactly as you are saying, a SRAM SX 1x12. However, the price point is expected to be around $1150 usd.
@@DadTechTV you have a great bike, I really like Marlin 7. And according to various comparison tests the Deore is better shifting than Eagle NX and SX. So, no complaints there. 👍
is it good for hard trails or it would fell apart?
I ride pretty hard rocky trails and it’s been good for my level of riding. If ur riding some serious downhill there are of course better options.
I have that bike the tires are terrible so I changed the tires I also put a sram gx drivetrain on there and it’s much better
How are you liking the sram gx?
How is it for riding roads for long distances?
It’s decent on roads but if ur looking for long distance with higher speeds I would look elsewhere.
@@DadTechTV maybe dual sport then
@@TomerBenDavid you’ll get better gearing options with that for long distance and higher speed. But if you have a local shop, go ride both and see how they feel.