Marin Gravel and Bikepacking Bike Range Guide
Marin Gravel and Bikepacking Bike Range Guide
Marin are best know for their mountain bikes. In recent years they have been using their off-road know-how to make a growing range of well received gravel and adventure bikes. Many reviews of the Marin gravel bikes touch on their MTB inspired design. This makes the Marin bikes especially useful in the UK where gravel rides tend to includes stretches of bridleway and as much as wide gravel roads.
Marin Pine Mountain – From £1399
Best for – Bikepacking adventures where you need the capability of a mountain bike
The Marin Pine Mountain is a mountain bike that has been specially designed for bikepacking adventures. It is built around a double-butted CrMo steel frame that has multiple mounting points for bikepacking bags, bottle cages and anything else you want to carry. It also comes with a custom ‘Bedroll’ handlebar which is specially designed to have handlebar bags attached to it.
With a 120mm travel suspension fork, 29er wheels and proper mountain bike gearing the Pine Mountain is ideal for big back country adventures where a standard gravel bike would struggle.
Marin Four Corners – From £999
Best for – Commuting, touring and weekend adventures, on-road and off
The Four Corners is another steel framed bike from Marin. The Four Corners is a mixed surface bike. It works well on the road but can also handle gravel roads and cycle paths. The frame has a very long headtube which makes the front of the bike much higher than most gravel bikes. The result is a more upright riding position for all-day comfort and great visibility when riding in traffic. The frame and forks come with loads of mounting points for bikepacking bags, mudguards and racks.
Marin Nicasio – From £849
Best for – Long commutes, all weather road riding and light off-road
The Nicasio uses a steel frame but one with slightly sportier geometry than the Four Corners. While the Nicasio can handle some off-road use it is most comfortable being used on the road. It still comes with all the bike packing, mudguard and rack mounts you would expect from Marin. This makes it a good choice for touring rides where you will spend most of your time on tarmac.
There are several versions of the Nicasio. As well as the standard frame bike there is a step-through version and a version that runs plus sized 650b wheels instead of the standard 700c.
Marin Gestalt – From £949
Best for – Long commutes, all weather road riding and light off-road
The Gestalt is a similar bike to the Nicasio. Like the Nicasio the Gestalt is a tarmac focussed endurance bike that can also handle touring, commuting and some light off-road. The major difference is that the Gestalt comes with a lightweight aluminium frame instead of the steel frame on the Nicasio. There are also more versions of the Gestalt available with the top end models coming with hydraulic brakes and gravel orientated gearing.
Marin Headlands– from £2499
Best for – Gravel riding and racing
The Headlands is Marin’s top-end carbon fibre frame gravel bike. This is the most purely ‘gravel’ bike in the Marin range. It is designed to be fast, confidence inspiring and stable on all surfaces. It comes with gravel specific gearing and can take 650b wheels as well as the standard 700c ones that come fitted. The frame is also compatible with dropper seatposts if you want to fit one. As you would expect the Headlands comes with all the mounting points you need for bikepacking bags and has a removable seatstay bridge so you can fit mudguards.
Marin DSX– From £849
Best for – Gravel riding, fast commutes and singletrack blasts
The DSX is a flat bar gravel bike. It is designed to ride like a mountain bike while carrying the speed of a drop bar gravel bike. If most of your gravel rides end up on singletrack trails then the DSX will give you greater control and better handling. The flat bar setup will also make it easier to navigate through traffic if you want to use the bike for commuting. All of the bikes come with aluminium frames, 700c wheels, 1x drivetrains and hydraulic brakes. They are all also dropper post compatible and come with 700x45mm tyres, with room for 29x2.1” mountain bike tyres if you need more grip.
