Marin Presidio 3 Review
- Price: $1,149
- Frame: Aluminum
- Front fork: Aluminum
- Wheels: 700C
What we like about it: Versatile and perfect for commuting, fitness, and recreation.
What we don’t like about it: The flexibility of Twist shifters leaves much to be desired.
Rating: (4.7/5)
Marin is a bike manufacturing and research company from California with a long history, rich experience in bike production and development, and a good reputation in the industry.
It’s worth noting that Marin mountain bikes are quite famous, but we shouldn’t overlook Marin’s general urban bikes.
To be honest, the Marin Presidio 3 is a bike not to be underestimated. It’s a beginner-friendly model that has opted for a more flexible and lightweight aluminum frame and fork, greatly reducing its maintenance costs.
In addition, the Marin Presidio 3 is a 700c tire-sized aluminum frame universal city bike. It’s equipped with high-end components and hydraulic disc brakes, making it a high-end bike. Therefore, it’s widely welcomed by commuters.
Below, we’ll analyze the riding experience, specifications, pros, and cons of the Marin Presidio 3. If you want to learn more about bike reviews, you can follow us.
Riding Experience
Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA
The climate in Southern California is warm in winter, and cool in summer, with a small seasonal temperature range and relatively high relative humidity. Summer is a dry season with little rainfall, making it an excellent time for bike riding. Santa Barbara and Los Angeles are located on the west coast of Southern California, with mostly flat terrain except for some hills.
On this route, we can enjoy beautiful seaside scenery, plenty of sunshine, and bustling city life. I chose this route to ride for the following reasons.
First of all, the westside vibe with mellow breeze and enjoyable sunshine really attracts me a lot. The route is mostly flat, with occasional hills and mountains. This is friendly for a universal city bike. Also, the route is long enough for me to better play the durability of the Marin Presidio 3.
It took me about a day to reach the destination. During this process, I found that its braking function is excellent, which made me feel very comfortable during the journey. I have ridden bikes of the same price and bought bikes three times the price of the Presidio 3.
Nevertheless, the performance of the Presidio 3 still surprised me. Its aluminum alloy construction makes it more lightweight and easy to ride, and the high-end components make it very smooth to use. The bottom bracket with sealed cartridge bearings, combined with Marin 3D forged alloy, perfectly matches the Marin Ergonomic Locking.
I was deeply moved by the details of the Marin Presidio 3. If given another chance, I would still choose the Marin Presidio 3 for a ride from Santa Barbara to LA.
Commute to Work
As an urban bike for commuting between work and home, I usually ride my Marin Presidio 3 to work. The office is about 6 kilometers away from my home.
During my daily commute, I encounter two turns and five traffic lights. I find that the brake system of the Marin Presidio 3 is very good, allowing me to stop and slow down smoothly.
In addition, the bike’s aluminum frame is lightweight, making it easy to ride on the road. You see, I spend a total of 50 minutes commuting every day.
As a working professional, I don’t want to waste my time on a poorly performing bike. I think the Marin Presidio 3 has a good riding experience and is worth buying.
Specification
As a flat-bar road bike, the Marin Presidio 3 has good commuting performance and is more suitable for short trips such as commuting and weekend outings.
The 700c tire size can save energy to a greater extent during cruising and commuting. Compared to the 650b tire size, the 700c tire size can increase the riding speed. A more upright riding posture can effectively reduce the pressure on the waist, making riding more comfortable and smooth.
In addition, The new slider dropouts are designed specifically to bring the best technology for commuting bikes into a clean and tidy package.
The dropout slides onto the tension band and chain and integrates flat-mount disc brakes and direct-mount rear racks to support the weight of the gear-centric bike. Compared to other models, it is innovative in terms of technology.
Finally, the Marin Presidio 3 has the following highlights in terms of specifications. First, it is equipped with a Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal hub and a MicroSHIFT shifter.
Second, it uses Shimano U300 Flat Mount Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that it also comes with Vee Baldy 700×32 Tires with Puncture Protection. Compared to other models of Marin bikes in the past, it has more advanced technology.
What do we like about it?
- Low maintenance drivetrain: Designed lightweight and made to strict standards, resulting in lower maintenance costs.
- Versatility: Suitable for commuting, touring, and some short mountain biking.
- Beginner-friendly: Easy and quick operation, lightweight and flexible body, beginner-friendly.
- Agile body: Easy-to-operate braking system.
- Good appearance: Simple and elegant appearance with sleek lines.
- High-end components: Quality components used for a good riding experience.
What don’t we like about it?
- Twist shifters need improvement in flexibility.
FAQ
- What is the tire size and type used for the Marin Presidio 3?
This bike uses 700cx32mm tires with Puncture Protection, Reflective Sidewall, Wire Bead.
- What are the suitable scenarios for the Marin Presidio 3?
Commuting, touring, and some medium to long-distance road cycling.
- How to choose the right size?
Here we have provided you with a size chart. Of course, it doesn’t have to be according to this standard, and the best way to find the most suitable size is to test ride.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| XS | 4’11” – 5’2″ |
| SM | 5’0″ – 5’6″ |
| MD | 5’4″ – 5’10” |
| LG | 5’8″ – 6’2″ |
| XL | 6’0″ – 6’3″ |
Marin Presidio 3 Specs
Build
| Frame | Wheels, Sliding Dropouts, Internal Cable Routing, Belt Drive Compatible, Flat-Mount Disc, Fender, Rack, and Integrated Kickstand Mounts Color: Satin Black / Charcoal/gloss Hi-Vis Yellow |
| Fork | 6061 Aluminum, Straight-Blade, Post-Mount Disc |
| Bottom Bracket | Sealed Cartridge Bearings, Square Taper |
| Headset | FSA Orbit CE, Sealed Cartridge Bearings |
| Stem | Marin 3D Forged Alloy |
| Handlebar | Marin Alloy Flat Top Riser |
| Saddle | Marin Fitness |
| Seatpost | Marin Alloy, 27.2mm |
| Pedals | Commute Platform |
| Grips | Marin Ergonomic Locking |
Groupset
| Crank | Gates Carbon Drive S150, 50T |
| Shifters | microSHIFT SL 8-Speed IG Shifter |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Shimano Hydraulic |
Wheels
| Rims | Marin Aluminum Double Wall, 25mm Tall, Disc Specific |
| Front Hub | Forged Aluminum Alloy, Disc, 32H |
| Rear Hub | Shimano Nexus 8D 8-Speed Internally Geared Hub, Disc, 32H |
| Tires | Vee Tire Co. Baldy, 700Cx32mm, Puncture Protection, Reflective Sidewall, Wire Bead |
Video
Comparison Table
| Bicycles | Click view | Tires | Drivetrain | Frame material | Groupset |
| Marin Presidio 2 | Click View | 700c Aluminum | Internally Geared Hub | Aluminum | Shimano Nexus |
| Norco Indie 1 | Click View | 650b Aluminum | 1 × 10 | Aluminum | Shimano Deore |
| Bianchi Torino Acera | Click View | 700c Aluminum | 3 × 8 | Aluminum | Shimano Acera, Tourney |
Marin Presidio 3 vs Marin Presidio 2
Marin has always had a unique understanding of bike design. This Marin Presidio 3 eschews the use of a bulky chrome steel frame in favor of a more flexible and lightweight aluminum frame and fork, in which case it is considerably less expensive to maintain.
Both the frame and fork, even the wheels, are made of aluminum, which can be felt as extremely lightweight and nimble when riding. This complete sense of control will make you feel like a master of cycling. Even after long rides, you won’t feel tired.
The Marin Presidio 2 is a bike that combines balanced performance and value. It features a lightweight 2-series aluminum frame and straight fork, using mid-range quality components that have been engineered for maximum economy.
And it adds plenty of simplicity and reliability to the components, including internal gearing, Shimano Nexus 7-speed drivetrain, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, Vee Tire, and plenty of reliable Marin components.
It is worth mentioning that the Marin Presidio 3 does not have much advantage in price, but there is a reason for this. The Marin Presidio 3 uses a belt drive in the transmission system and is equipped with more high-end components. The price is completely reasonable.
Marin Presidio 3 vs Norco Indie 1
If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper bike, we also have other options available. The Norco Indie 1, for example, uses an aluminum frame, 650b tires, and a 1×10 drivetrain. As for the groupset, the Norco Indie 1 uses Deore, which offers a more fun and flexible ride.
To be honest, although these two bikes are very similar in terms of material and appearance, you can still feel the difference if you ride them both carefully.
Especially in terms of ease of use, the Marin Presidio 3 outperforms the Norco Indie 1. The Marin Presidio 3 is a good commuter bike, more suitable for short-distance rides such as commuting and weekend trips.
The 700c tire size can save energy during cruising and commuting. Compared to the 650b tire size, the 700c tire size can increase riding speed. If you’re looking for a better riding experience, the Marin Presidio 3 bike would be a good choice.
Learn more : Is Norco Indie 2 Worth Buying? – [Norco Indie 2 Review]
Marin Presidio 3 vs Bianchi Torino Acera
The Bianchi Torino Acera is a great consideration, whether you’re looking for price or looks. The Bianchi Torino Acera features an aluminum fork and frame with 700c aluminum tires and a 3 × 8 drivetrain, allowing it to deliver the right performance in any conditions.
However, unfortunately, the Bianchi Torino Acera is a little bit inferior in terms of the material of the components.
The Marin Presidio 3 uses high-end components, while the Bianchi Torino Acera is equipped with mid-range components.
So, when we are on a budget, we can consider the Bianchi Torino Acera. Otherwise, the Marin Presidio 3 is a better choice.
Learn More: Is Bianchi Impulso Pro – Ekar A Great Bike? [Bianchi Impulso Pro – Ekar 1x13ps Review]
Summary
These are our tests of the Marin Presidio 3. High-end components and a flexible and easy-to-use experience make the Marin Presidio 3 increasingly popular.
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