Marin Bikes

Marin MTB

Marin logo

A Marin bike atop Bald Mountain (California).

Marin is a bicycle manufacturer founded in Marin County, California and established in 1986. It specializes in mountain bikes but also offers several other variants. Many of its bike models are named after locations in and around Marin County.

History

Marin County, California is considered by many to be the birthplace of mountain biking culture, and is home to many of the people and places that shaped the sport since those first informal races down Mt. Tamalpais.^[1] Named for the county in which it was founded, the Marin bike company was created in 1986, a time when the nascent sport of mountain biking was just beginning to gain momentum.

Bob Buckley took up mountain biking on the advice of his doctor, and soon found himself immersed in the sport and dreaming of a better bicycle. Teaming up with local enthusiasts, Buckley founded Marin Bikes to create bikes inspired by the burgeoning scene and ever-expanding trail network in the surrounding hills. Sunshine Cycles in Fairfax, CA served as the hub of local bike culture, and it was there that Buckley met Marin's first product manager, future National Champion and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee Joe Murray. Dave Turner, later of Turner Bikes, was also instrumental in Marin's early product development.

Marin’s first bike model was the Madrone Trail. In 1988, the Marin Team Titanium bike became the industry's first mass-produced titanium mountain bike. It was at this time that Marin began naming models after landmarks in Marin County, including Muirwoods, Bolinas Ridge, Pine Mountain, Indian Fire Trail, Eldridge Grade, and Hidden Canyon.

Taking early notice of a resurgence in pavement bikes, Marin introduced its first hybrid and road models in 1991, expanding the brand into new segments of urban riders.

Since the late 1990s, Marin has manufactured full suspension mountain bikes. Working with Jon Whyte,^[2] a British engineer who worked with Benetton Formula One racing cars in gearbox design, Marin developed a single-pivot rear suspension. Subsequent innovations including the TARA (Travel And Ride Adjustable) and quad link suspensions have lost the purity of the original concept but have maintained their popularity.

Marin was an early adopter and innovator of full-suspension systems and titanium frame construction for mountain bikes. The 1993 Marin Titanium FRS incorporated early Manitou suspension components and weighed 25 lbs. Jürgen Beneke piloted the Titanium FRS to a World Championship that year.^[3]

In February 2012, Marin Bikes was purchased by a European Investment firm.^[4]

In recent years, the Marin brand has maintained a focus on providing a range of models for both trail and pavement, including bikes with carbon fiber construction. In 2016, Marin celebrated its 30th year in the industry and also introduced a series of drop bar bikes, 27.5+ trail bikes, and touring bikes.

Bicycle range

Marin offers full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, road bikes, street/urban commuter bikes, comfort bikes, and specific designs for women and children. Price points range widely from several hundred dollars (e.g. the San Rafael and San Anselmo series) to several thousand (e.g. the Wolf Ridge and Attack Trail series).^[5]

One of the most commonly seen Marin bike frames in the UK is the 1992 Palisade Trail. Matte black and luminous green/yellow/orange in colour, it was a popular frame at time of release and is therefore widely available.

References

External links

• Company homepage