Trek Marlin has had an upgrade to make its higher-end models more trail-ready. In this blog, we’ll explain the Marlin range and what’s new in “Gen 3” of the world’s favourite Trek.
Trek Marlin has to be one of the most versatile bikes out there. The varied size range, which runs from XXS to XXL, means everyone from bigger eight and nine-year-olds to taller adults can ride it. It’s comfortable on all kinds of terrain, up to and including moderate trails, and the affordable entry level makes it really accessible.
Trek has now released its third generation of Marlin – known as Gen 3, of course – and has tweaked the specification on part of the range. Why? Let’s find out…
What Trek have done with Gen 3 is to take the top three bikes in the range – the Marlin 6, 7 and 8 – and make them better suited to riding the trails. The bikes are longer and the geometry is slacker, feeling more stable on rougher ground and inspiring confidence when you’re going downhill.
These models now have slightly wider tyres - 2.4 inch compared to the 2.2 inch on the previous generation - which gives you more traction for turning and takes the edge off impacts along the trail. They also have internal routing for a dropper post.
While not a drastic overhaul from the Gen 2 specification, it does mean that investing in a higher spec bike gives you something that doesn’t simply have better quality components; it’s also designed to be more capable on trail and cross country riding.
This bike is popular with people who want a versatile bike that will take them just about anywhere. If you enjoy riding cross country but like to mix it up with canalside paths and city riding, Marlin is a great choice. If you want to commute on it during the week and do light to moderate trails on the weekend, then this is the ideal bike. It’s also hugely popular with teenage boys and girls who want a rugged ride that will get them to school and to the local park.
Your choice of Marlin will mostly be influenced by the type of riding you want to do and your budget. As you progress through the range, the bikes become more capable and more trail-orientated, even more so now Gen 3 is out. The gearing set-up also becomes more like a trails bike than an all-rounder, with the 4 having a 3x7 drivetrain, the 5 a 2x8 and the 6 upwards a 1x.
Essentially, if you want a bike for varied uses, the Marlin 4 and 5 will suit you perfectly but if you want to spend more time on rougher terrain, we recommend looking further up the range. All of them are excellent gateway bikes too so you could start with Marlin for cross country before progressing to X-Caliber or Procaliber or you could try it on singletrack before moving up to Roscoe or Fuel EX.
All Marlins have a lightweight build with high stiffness and plenty of strength, and medium travel suspension on the front fork for increased comfort over lumpy surfaces. Every model has disc brakes for confident stopping power and the tyres are knobbly enough to provide grip off-road but not so much that they detract from your pedalling effort on the tarmac.
Starting with the Marlin 4 at £475 – currently £380 in our sale – these bikes are a genuinely affordable way to get a high quality bike that will stand the test of time. The Marlin range tops out at the Marlin 8 at £1,230, which is also on sale, at £1,057.50. Check out the tanwalls on the Marlin 8 (above) in Matte Dnister Black!
Big Bear Bikes also offers a range of flexible payment options, including 0% finance and Cycle To Work Schemes.
Our Ops Manager Alistair said: “What Trek have done with the Gen 3 Marlins is to beef them up a little bit. It’s had the kind of makeover that a lot of mountain bikes are getting these days. They are longer and slacker and have a slightly wider tyre. It’s still a really versatile bike but perhaps for the person wanting to be a bit more adventurous off road and do some light trails. This bike will handle them just fine. The Gen 3 bikes aren’t massively different to Gen 2 but it does make sense that the higher-end bikes have these trail-ready tweaks.”
For a test ride and to find out more, visit our shop where the Big Bear Bikes team will be happy to help you get set up and ready to ride. Check out our online shop if you’re looking for some great deals across the Marlin range.
