Marin Alpine Trail 7 Review
- Price: $2,999
- Frame: Aluminum
- Front Fork: RockShox Yari RC
- Wheels: 29” Aluminum
- Drivetrain: 1 × 12
What we like about it: The design of the dropper seat post makes it easy to adjust the saddle height.
What we don’t like about it: While it’s great for mountain riding, full suspension can be slightly heavier.
Rating: (4.9/5)
The Marin Alpine Trail 7 is a lion in the pursuit of speed, a “violent and fierce” beast that can be seen in exciting mountain cross-country experiences and lively full-suspension enduro races.
With its excellent shape and perfect components, it has become a new favorite among mountain bikes.
Below, we will analyze the riding experience, key features, components, and specifications as well as other versions of this bike.
Additionally, at the end of the review, we will also compare several best bike models. If you want to know more about bike reviews, don’t hesitate to follow us.
Riding Experience
The Marin Alpine Trail 7 is a full-suspension enduro mountain bike with a green body and a 29” wheelset.
Thanks to the Shimano Deore drivetrain and wide, grainy tires, it can showcase its talents perfectly on any terrain.
After seeing how well it performed, I couldn’t wait to bring it along for the ride.
I booked a flight to Whistler, Canada on Skyscanner and planned to explore Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
It’s a very complex and varied area with steep rock walls, rough gravel and long uphill and downhill roads.
I was able to put the Marin Alpine Trail 7 to the test, and I couldn’t wait to share my experience with you!
Climbing
The first thing I faced was an uphill climb for takeoff, where it would have been easy to roll the bike if the shock was not strong enough.
Fortunately, thanks to the Marin Alpine Trail 7 29×2.6″ wheelset size and the uneven grain of the outer tire surface, I felt the pleasure of successfully flying over it without losing control due to the lack of friction and grip.
During the ride, the Shimano 1×12’s drivetrain picked the perfect speed for the different inclines, while the lighter mass allowed me to fly over every uphill obstacle without difficulty or pause.
The aggressive geometry is a favorite of mine as a violent rider, and the Marin Alpine Trail 7’s adjustable dropper seatpost always provided me with the most satisfying riding position every time I powered up and sprinted.
Even after such a violent ride, I didn’t notice any damage to the bodywork or tires when I reached the finish line.
Because its aluminum frame was strong enough and the tubeless-compatible wheelset had an inner tube self-replacing fluid to automatically repair small holes.
Decline
The terrain at Whistler Mountain Bike Park is one uphill followed by one downhill, so it was a unique place to test the braking system of the Marin Alpine Trail 7.
I didn’t expect to be so surprised by its excellent braking performance.
Thanks to the hydraulic disc brakes of the TRP Slate EVO, the braking on the Marin Alpine Trail 7 was silky smooth and timely when facing long descents.
I neither leaned forward because I couldn’t brake out of the car nor let the car go sideways for the brakes were not effective enough.
The Marin Alpine Trail 7 full suspension design gave me 160mm of front and 150mm of rear travel when both tires hit the ground to prevent the bike from tailspin.
On top of that, the straight handlebar design offered me good handling and kept the bike from flipping out of control when descending due to the heavy handlebars.
It was a very exciting and unforgettable full-suspension enduro bike riding experience, and thanks to the Marin Alpine Trail 7, my riding trip was full of endless fun.
Specification
The Marin Alpine Trail 7 is available in four aluminum frame sizes, SM to XL, and all feature a 29-inch wheelset, which is a great help for passing stability.
From the outside, the Marin Alpine Trail 7’s green paint and black logo make it look as if it is in a tropical rainforest.
On the one hand, the design of the internal cable routing does not disturb the visual effect of the bike, making it look cluttered.
On the other hand, the cables, hidden inside the body, effectively prevents them from being damaged.
In terms of performance, the 150mm rear, 160mm front travel provides effective cushioning and shock absorption on complex roads.
The 29×2.6” Aluminum tubeless compatible wheelset provides superb friction and grip. Even on complex roads it can handle with ease.
In addition, the 1×12 Shimano drivetrain guarantees the most suitable speed for every terrain with its light weight; the radical geometry and adjustable dropper seatpost provide the perfect precondition for violent riding in rough terrain.
Finally, I must mention its Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and TRP Slate EVO brake levers.
It is due to their strong braking power and less brake loss that the rider’s safety and maneuverability are greatly increased while riding.
Video
What do we like about it?
- Outstanding disc brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes are nimble on any terrain.
- Adjustable saddle: The dropper seat post allows easy adjustment of the saddle height without getting out of the car.
- Aggressive geometry: In enduro racing, aggressive geometry facilitates maintaining a forward leaning riding position, giving an advantage for acceleration and sprinting.
- Perfect travel: 150 mm rear travel and 160 mm front travel can be perfectly adapted to almost all terrains.
- Excellent drivetrain: 1×12 Shimano drivetrain can bring perfect speed experience in different road conditions.
What don’t we like about it?
- The full suspension may be a little heavier, although it is advantageous for mountain riding.
FAQs
- Who is Marin Alpine Trail 7 for?
People who like violent riding; professional riders who participate in competitions; speed-first riders; people who often ride on complicated roads.
- What sizes does the Marin Alpine Trail 7 come in?
The Marin Alpine Trail 7 is available in four sizes for people of all heights.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| SM | 160cm-169cm |
| MD | 166cm-179cm |
| LG | 176cm-189cm |
| XL | 187cm-193cm |
- What other versions of the Marin Alpine Trail series are available?
Here we provide you with a comparison of other versions. You do not necessarily have to follow this standard. The best way to find the most suitable model is to test ride.
| BIKE | PRICE | FRAME | FRONT TRAVEL | REAR TRAVEL | BRAKES | DRIVETRAIN |
| Marin Alpine Trail 7 | $2,999 | Aluminum | 160mm | 150mm | Hydraulic Disc | 1 x 12 |
| Marin Alpine Trail XR | $3,599 | Aluminum | 160mm | 150mm | Hydraulic Disc | 1 x 12 |
| Marin Alpine Trail Carbon 1 | $3,599 | Carbon | 160mm | 150mm | Hydraulic Disc | 1 x 12 |
| Marin Alpine Trail Carbon 2 | $4,499 | Carbon | 160mm | 150mm | Hydraulic Disc | 1 x 12 |
Specs
Build
| Frame | Series 4 6061 Aluminum, 29″ Wheels, 150mm Travel MultiTrac Suspension Platform, Internal Dropper Post and Rear Derailleur Routing. Chainstay Mounted Post Mount Disc Brake, 148x12mm Boost Thru- Axle, 73mm Threaded BB w/ ISCG05 Tabs BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Color: Green / Black/orange |
| Fork | RockShox Yari RC, 29″, 160mm of Travel, Air Sprung, Debonair, Compression and Rebound Adjustment, Fast Black Stanchions, 110x15mm Maxle Stealth, 42mm Offset |
| Bottom Bracket | MegaExo 73mm BSA |
| Headset | FSA No 57E, Semi-Sealed Cartridge Bearings, 1 1/8″ x 1 1/2″ |
| Stem | Marin 3D Forged Alloy, 35mm |
| Handlebar | Marin Mini-Riser, 6061 Double Butted Aluminum, 780mm Width, 28mm Rise, 5º Up, 9º Back |
| Saddle | Marin Speed Concept |
| Seatpost | TranzX, YSP23JL, 1x Remote, Size S 125mm Travel, Size M and L 150mm Travel, Size XL 175mm Travel, 30.9mm |
| Pedals | – |
| Grips | Marin Single Clamp Locking |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore, 12-Speed, SGS |
| Front Derailleur | – |
| Crank | FSA Comet Heavy Duty, Modular 1x, 32T Direct Mount Chainring, MegaTooth Technology, Boost Spacing |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore, 12-Speed, SL-6100 |
| Cassette | SunRace, 12-Speed, 11-51T |
| Chain | KMC X-12 Silver and Black |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | TRP Slate EVO |
Wheels
| Rims | Marin, Double Wall Alloy, 29mm Inner, Pinned Joint, Disc Specific, 32H, Tubeless Compatible |
| Front Hub | Forged Aluminum, 110x15mm, Disc |
| Rear Hub | Forged Aluminum, 148x12mm, Disc, HG Freehub Body |
| Tires | Vee Tire Co. Flow Snap, 29×2.6″, Top 40 Compound, Enduro Core, 72 TPI, Tubeless Compatible |
Comparison Table
| Bicycles | Click view | Tires | Itinerary | Frame material | Components |
| Trek Slash 7 | Click View | 29” Aluminum | 160mm rear, 170mm front | Aluminum | XT, SLX, Shimano |
| Scott Contessa Genius 910 | Click View | 29” Aluminum | 150mm rear, 150mm front | Carbon | NX, SX Eagle, SRAM |
| YT IndustriesCapra CORE 1 29 | Click View | 29” Aluminum | 170mm rear, 170mm front | Aluminum | NX Eagle, Truvativ Descendant, SRAM |
| Liv Intrigue LT 2 | Click View | 27.5”/29” Aluminum | 150mm rear, 160mm front | Aluminum | SX Eagle, SRAM |
Marin Alpine Trail 7 vs Trek Slash 7
The Trek Slash 7 is a well-performed full-suspension enduro bike that uses high quality XT, SLX components to ensure a safe ride.
In addition, the 170mm front travel and 160mm rear travel provide excellent shock absorption, especially for riders who ride on complex and even extreme roads.
The Marin Alpine Trail 7’s Deore components are also a good choice.
In addition, the 160mm shock fork and 150mm rear travel configuration is perfectly adequate for general enduro riding, and most full-suspension enduro mountain bikes on the market basically take this configuration.
After all, its price is nearly a thousand dollars cheaper than the Trek Slash 7, so I think it is a very cost-effective bike.
In other respects, the two bikes are extremely similar.
They both use a 29-inch wheelset and non-compatible inner tubes, which means they probably have the same climbing and restoring power.
The 1×12 Shimano drivetrains on both bikes are able to provide similar speed differences and handle a wide variety of terrain.
The straight handlebar design provides better handling and a more stable center of gravity; the adjustable dropper seatpost facilitates flexible adjustment of the seating position to suit the ride.
Personally, I like the Marin Alpine Trail 7, after all, its components are not bad quality, and the price is very high; of course, some extreme violence riders can choose the Trek Slash 7.
Learn More: Is Trek Slash 7 A Good Bike? [Trek Slash 7 Review]
Marin Alpine Trail 7 vs Scott Contessa Genius 910
From the first moment I saw the Scott Contessa Genius 910, I was attracted to it.
The solid color body without logo and the similar color tires are very simple and beautiful together.
The most important advantage of the Scott Contessa Genius 910 is its carbon frame, which greatly reduces weight and allows racers to accelerate at full speed.
The Marin Alpine Trail 7 is probably its antithesis, with its stark green painted body and exaggerated logo easily reminiscent of a tropical rainforest.
But since its aluminum frame isn’t as light as carbon in pro-riding competition, it doesn’t hold an advantage in weight.
The good thing is that its 160mm front travel is superior to the Scott Contessa Genius 910’s 150mm front travel in mountain riding, giving it a much better cushioning performance on bumpy roads.
For those who like a clean, beautiful look like me, the Scott Contessa Genius 910 is a good choice; for those who like a sharp color scheme, the Marin Alpine Trail 7 is the way to go.
Marin Alpine Trail 7 vs. YT Industries Capra CORE 1 29
The YT Industries Capra CORE 1 29 comes in five sizes (SM-XXL), which means it caters to people of all heights and is more selective.
170mm of front and rear travel is perfect for the high shock requirements of violent riding and professional enduro racing.
Apart from that, the excellent geometric design wraps around the hole for placing water bottles well without falling off.
The Marin Alpine Trail 7 uses a good quality RockShox Yari RC fork and its 1×12 Shimano Deore drivetrain brings a wide range of speeds for better climbing power.
In addition, the megatooth chainring provides a safe chain retention when the chain is tilted or the weather turns bad.
Therefore, I think both cars are good choices.
Marin Alpine Trail 7 vs Liv Intrigue LT 2
I think the big differences between the two are in the wheelset and comfort.
The Liv Intrigue LT 2’s 27.5” / 29” Aluminum wheelset is more compatible, so whether you prefer a smaller or larger diameter rim, you can go ahead and change and remove it.
In addition, it is a full-suspension enduro mountain bike designed for women, and equipped with dimensions that fully take into account women’s height characteristics and a relatively gentle geometry design.
The Marin Alpine Trail 7’s 29” wheelset is only suitable for loading large diameter tires.
But it is for all genders with a more aggressive head tube angle and a more speed and violence seeking ride.
For those female cyclists, the Liv Intrigue LT 2 will give you a whole new riding experience.
Therefore, I recommend the Liv Intrigue LT 2 for those who wish to get a tire that is compatible and takes into account the physiological characteristics of women; as for the Marin Alpine Trail 7, it is more suitable for those who pursue aggressive and violent riding.
Summary
These are our tests of the Marin Alpine Trail 7. The Marin Alpine Trail 7 is a bike that can meet all the enduro needs of a professional rider, and it’s really good value for money.
In our opinion, the Marin Alpine Trail 7 is a worthwhile full-suspension enduro bike. That’s why we give it a high score of 4.9.
Of course, if you’re interested in exploring other similar bikes, we have reviewed a variety of bikes at different price points that you might find interesting. Feel free to check out our other reviews as well.
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