The care and consideration that goes into the design, testing and manufacture of our bicycle frames is what sets a Marin bike apart from the rest.

The frame is the heart of the machine - and the single most important component of any bike. Our R&D department spends countless hours designing, engineering and perfecting frames. From big picture decisions like material selection to finite details such as butting profiles, every aspect of a Marin frame has been engineered to provide the best possible riding experience.

Born of a desire to make something better, every frame in the line began life as an idea. A simple notion, perhaps conceived during a chairlift ride at Whistler or early morning commute through the city. Initial ideas become two-dimensional sketches, which in turn become detailed 3D computer models. Once the design parameters have been defined and the detail worked out, every new Marin frame undergoes a series of computer simulation tests. Loads and stresses are applied in this virtual world, allowing us to tune the strength and performance characteristics before the first prototype is produced for ride testing.

That's when the fun starts - right in our back yard.

Marin County inspired the first generation of mountain bikers and it inspires us every day with its beautiful and challenging terrain.
Prototypes are ridden at home and across the world, feedback is given by our test pilots, designs are tweaked and bikes are tested further.

Once the ride characteristics we want have been achieved the final versions are run through exhaustive laboratory testing to ensure the frames meet the strictest international standards for strength, durability, and safety.

There is a big difference between simply checking something off a list, and making sure it is done right. Our design team is proud of the fact that nothing gets into the shop that is not considered perfect.