o/t New mountain bike

[stu.graham]

Looking at purchasing an All Mountain bike, ridden hard tails up to now but looking at a full sus set up.

The 2 that I am interested in intially are the Marin Attack Trail and the Orange 5 Pro, has anyone got one or ridden any?

Any other makes/models which would be worth a look at?

Cheers

Stu

[Arm]

Colour ?

[stu.graham]

Evening Mr Mason

Marin - Black (same as my air filter   )

Orange - silver  (same as my trumpets!   )

[Arm]

[Major Stare]

I have owned both Marin and Orange and prefer the Marin (and still have a Marin) but its a personnal choice.

I also prefer hard tails over full sus and would spend the money saved on a decent frame, shocks,brakes. In my opinion, full sus bikes are great at down hills but not so good at everything else. Just my 2p worth.

[Major Stare]

MARIN review    

[felters]

Two grand for a 'kin push bike!!!! That's all very well if you're a Cateringvan owner...  

[Bluerallye]

Had a Whyte PRST a while back after going full sus from a carbon Giant MCM hardtail.  Hated it to be honest.  My colleague has an Orange 5 and he says it is a world away from the Whyte (which was a Marin design rear end, or was the Marin a Jon Whyte design?).  He loves the Orange anyway....me, i have ridden plenty of FS and to be honest i just don't think it is for me.  Sadly though a change of job and location a few years ago meant the MTBs weren't getting used so i sold them all and bought a road bike frame  

[chappers]

Orange pro 5 get my vote. I think adam1330 on here rides one and it looks the business and stands up well to some abuse.

[nre]

Any other makes/models which would be worth a look at?

I had an original Marin Mt Vision which I liked, but swapped to a Giant Trance last year, which is great.  Might be worth you taking a look at the Reign which has a bit more travel.  Great value bikes, I picked mine up with getting on for 40% discount as a 'last years model' offer...  Trance and Reign get great reviews too.

[westfield_bumble]

I've got a full sus marin b17 one of the original ones which was for downhill. Find it bl**** hard work (not as fit as i used to be) when used for cross country but give me a rough and rocky downhill and it just breazes through    Looking into getting a new shock with something like propedal on it to try to improve it.

[Bazzer]

I ride an Orange Patriot 66 Excel and I love it. Would like it to be a few pounds lighter but I still do all day epics on it.

I know three others with 5's and they love them.

Oranges are great for UK riding, simple and a easy to change single pivot design and great mud clearance. The more complex suspension arangements may look more impressive. But when they are subjected to British mud and grime will they last ?

I don't know anyone who has bought a 5 and regreted it. I do know people who have bought Marins and changed them because they didn't get on with them.

As for the Full Suss/Hardtail argument it depends what you want really.  Full suss faster in pretty much all circumstances these days, except maybe a very smooth climb. Hardtail more involving and better for developing skills.

Cheers

Bazzer

[stu.graham]

Thanks for all the replies     Had Marin bikes for the past 18 years, so it may be a time for a change.

Booked myself on a couple of demo days to trail a few bikes, Marin, Orange, white, Specialized and a Spider. At the mo on feed back and reading reviews the Orange is looking good tip.

Most of the bikes Ive seen have the propedal facility which is good for climbing etc.

Cheers

Stu

[jedi]

had kona for about 15 years,   tried a marin rock springs which was ok, ended up buying a santa cruz superlight,  its the dogs, its also got a lockout on the rear shock for poeple who arnt fit enough to ride full suspension bikes uphill

[Buzz Billsberry]

I have a Marin Alpine full suspension .Had it 5 years and done just short of 3500 miles on it. Apart from replacing tyres & general service items on it its bin great it spent almost all of its time off road so as far as I'm concerned as long as you maintain it properly it should be fine altho' Anybody who saw it at Croft the blood al down the side of it was mine its just that I hadn't time to wash the thing . It was just lumped into the van on Sunday afternoon; as for Orange I've never ridden one

Buzz