1997 Marin

[gben]

I bought this Marin new early in 1997. Nothing special but it is an old friend. We are having a record snow-season here on the Great Lakes so it is on a Cyclops trainer down in the man-cave getting some use......

 

[MarkKBike]

Looks pretty cool, I never had any experience with a Marin.

 

[rollfaster]

Love the simplicity and solid feel of a fully rigid mountain bike. Very nice!!

 

[Mr.RED]

My dad owns the same bike but his has a front suspension fork but the frame looks identical to his. Marin makes solid bikes and I believe they are out of California.

 

[MarkKBike]

By chance, is that a Gary Fisher front hub, from the photo I think I may have one identical to it.

I'm not sure where I got it or why I have it.

Its wider than all the other hubs I have, and that's why I asked.Its been with me as a orfant for a long time, I don't remember ever buying it, a past roommate may have left it behind many years ago.

 

[gben]

By chance, is that a Gary Fisher front hub, from the photo I think I may have one identical to it.
View attachment 770560.

Mark, The hub on this Marin says Marin "RockStar". I bought this bike new in the spring of 1997, but I believe it has a 1996 date under the bottom-bracket. Despite the California and "USA" decals on the bike, I would guess it was probably made in Taiwan just like a lot of Gary Fisher bikes were, so it might even be from the same factory as a Gary Fischer with just different paint and decals.

The original front fork for the bike was a Manitou suspension fork, but it was a crappy low-end fork with elastomer springs and it flexed so badly the knobs on the tires would rub sometimes when my weight was on the bars and I was turning! I ditched that fork and had a Marzzochi on it for a while which was really sweet, but it got stolen, so I got a used rigid fork out of a junk-pile in a local bicycle shop and fit it up. Other than the fork, tires and v-brakes and cranks the bike is as I bought it. The original White Industries cranks also fell apart early on under my 200-pounds so I have had different replacements on it over the years. I had a set of used CODA magic cranks on it once that I traded off someone for some motorcycle parts, but they broke under my weight when I landed a small jump with them horizontal....

 

[WVBicycles]

I bought this Marin new early in 1997. Nothing special but it is an old friend. We are having a record snow-season here on the Great Lakes so it is on a Cyclops trainer down in the man-cave getting some use......

View attachment 767365

Looks like a Bear Valley. I bought one new around 1999. Mine originally had an inexpensive shock in front. It also had an aggressive downward lean that aggravated me more as I aged. Short story, My son screwed up the front fork and it was replaced with spacers which raised the handlebars and made for a more comfortable ride. Its not worth a million but I keep it a vacation home for guest riders. My guests have no excuse , and I get them out on some easier trails