It’s all about the frame

What the foundation is to a house, the frame is to a bicycle - everything else is a component and replaceable. Our ultimate goal in designing a frame is to choose the materials, tube diameters, and painstakingly refine geometries to make the bike an extension of the rider. Not only do our frame geometries differ for each size of a given model, every single tube is custom drawn and butted to assure maximum stiffness and ride efficiency at the lowest reasonable weight.

We utilize the most advanced computer-aided design software available, including Autodesk Inventor®, to arrive at the most efficient use of material before heading out to the trails and roads for the testing that counts the most: the kind our customers do.

Marin athletes such as Dirt Jump and Slopestyle champion, Andrew Taylor, are key members of the product development team contributing crucial feedback that we use to optimize the marriage of materials and geometry into the strongest, yet lightest bikes, on the market. We employ the most refined construction techniques available such as hydroformed tube shaping, 3D forging and robotically controlled welding in order to meet and exceed our high manufacturing standards.

We then put our finished frames and bikes through exacting safety and durability testing regimes that exceed rigorous statutory standards.

Hydroforming

Hydroforming permits the construction of complicated 3-D engineered shapes which allows us to build incredibly durable and lightweight frames. By changing the external dimensions of a tube and adding strategicall located facets or curves, we can alter how a frame behaves under a rider’s load. Increasing the diameter of a tube near a welded junction increases its strength by spreading the load over a larger area. Much the same way as the diameter of a tree becomes greater at its base, our product engineers have taken a lesson from nature and applied it to our shaped tubesets. Which allows us to build incredibly durable and lightweight frames.

Carbon Construction

2011 ushers in the arrival of a new carbon construction technique that allows us to build ultra-light fames that meet our strength and performance standards. CXR-T3 construction builds a frame in a similar way as an alloy frame where tubes are formed, mitered, and then bonded together. The advantage of T3 construction over traditional monocoque construction is the ability to achieve greater compaction of the carbon resin matrix because the tubes are formed over metal molds rather than air filled bladders. The resultant higher strength to weight ratio means we can use less material to achieve the same strength and stiffness. What’s that mean to you? It means less weight, better power transfer, and ultimately faster rides.

Custom Butting

QUAD Link 2.0 Suspension

Over the rocks and through the roots. Every trail has specific demands on a suspension system. From endurance racing through the Colorado Rockies, taming East Coast roots, landing a BC drop or unwinding a sun-kissed ribbon of California singletrack, every Marin full suspension series is designed to perform under the most demanding conditions.

Applications may vary, but all Marin Quad Link suspension bikes work under the same principle: to deliver superior terrain control and pedaling efficiency. The magic is in the Instantaneous Pivot Center (IPC). While conventional designs are limited to pivots that are fixed to the frame, Marin’s Quad Link 2.0 allows the pivot point, or IPC, to move. Utilizing two Quick Links that allow the swingarm to freely float over obstacles, the IPC changes its position depending on the rider’s pedaling effort and bump force. The result is an intelligent suspension system that automatically adjusts for maximum traction and acceleration when pedaling while allowing the suspension to absorb impacts and harsh landings. Ride one and see why riders and the media have graced the Quad Link Suspension System with multiple awards.

Ride Characteristics

• Progressive shock leverage ratio resists blowing through travel and bottoming out on large impacts
• Short links equal quick changes in leverage ratio to quickly adapt to trail conditions
• Intelligent Wheel Path moves rear wheel backwards and over the small hits
• Excellent mud clearance not characteristic of other 4 bar systems
• Chaingrowth early in the travel resists bob and improves traction
• Zero chaingrowth later in the travel virtually eliminates bob and pedal-induced lockout
• Lifetime warranty on bearings
• Patented 4 bar 4 bolt system minimizes wear and tear on pivot points while reducing weight

Design:

While the concept of the Quad Link 2.0 system is the same as the original design, the new version provides a more linear action in suspension movement. Like the first generation Quad Link, the rear wheel’s axle path and leverage ratio on the shock changes as the wheel moves through it’s travel to provide optimized control and energy transfer. This is accomplished by having the swingarm rotate off the two Quick Links that connect the swingarm to the mainframe.

Movement:

Because the swingarm is mounted to two links, it does not rotate from a single point, or pivot. Instead, the swingarm “floats” or rotates from a constantly moving pivot point in space. This pivot point is called the Instantaneous Pivot Center (IPC). Because of this changing pivot location, the shock’s leverage ratio and the axle path of the rear wheel change to allow the suspension to react differently to pedal and bump induced forces. The initial pivot point begins above and forward of the BB to provide a higher leverage ratio on the shock. When the suspension is first compressed, the rear axle travels in a rearward and upward direction, increasing the effective chainstay length and providing a greater leverage ratio on the rear shock.

Results:

These features add up to better square-bump compliance and reduce the tendency of having the bike stall when encountering an impact (especially important to maintain speed while coasting through a corner or when trying to clear that technical climb). The lengthening of the effective chainstay also causes chaingrowth, which promotes the rear wheel to dig into the ground and maintain traction under pedaling force. Midway through the travel the axle path changes to an arc around the bottom bracket, yielding zero chainstay growth to allow the wheel to freely move without any pedal induced interference while the leverage on the shock gradually decreases to slow compression and resist bottoming out on hard landings. The result is a constantly adjusting suspension system that allows the suspension to easily react to small bumps to maintain traction and reduce rider fatigue while providing greater control under hard impacts or landings. A lifetime warranty on all bearings ensures that the suspension will operate smoothly for the duration of ownership.

Womens Fit Geometry

We started from scratch to create a range of bikes that fit the shape of a Women’s body better than ever before and Marin’s Women’s Fit Geometry (WFG) is the result. Typically, a woman’s body is proportioned differently than a man’s. Her longer legs relative to her torso may mean that some women fit better on a bike adjusted for these factors than a standard unisex frame.

Our engineers have designed the frame of the bicycle to fit a women’s body better, along with choosing parts and accessories that put all the contact points in exactly the right place for improved comfort and control. With the same attention to detail as our other models, we use custom drawn and butted tubesets in each size to tailor the ride feel. This means that every size frame rides with the same comfort and performance characteristics and offers a class leading ride feel.

Based on rider feedback, we have also designed a custom handlebar and unique grip system that is slightly smaller in diameter for smaller hands to comfortably hold onto without excessive fatigue. Exclusive to Marin are a set of eccentric shims that allow the brake levers and shift levers to be positioned independently in the most ergonomic positions for performance and comfort.

The end result is a near custom feel with Marin’s Women’s Fit Geometry.

• How The Women’s Fit Geometry Bikes Are Different:
• Shorter top tubes reduce the reach to the handlebars accommodating shorter torsos.
• Slightly relaxed steering geometry makes bike feel more stable.
• Smaller diameter handlebars and grips reduce fatigue for smaller hands.
• Custom tuned suspension components maximize performance for a woman’s body weight distribution.
• Women’s specific saddles provide more consistent support for a woman’s anatomy.

Hydroformed Edge

Edge 2

Edge 3

Edge 4

G7 Scandium-Enriched

3/2.5 Edge Titanium

T3 Carbon Frame

CXR Carbon Frame

QUAD Link SAG Set-up

Correctly setting up your Marin Quad Link suspension bike is very important in order to maximize the effectiveness of this leading edge design. While we recommend personal tuning for all usage, these guidelines will enable the rider to start from a recommended and optimal setting.

Regardless of the bike model or rear shock, optimal sag setup for the Quad is measured at the rear shock from the dust wiper (located on the shock canister) to the rubber O-ring while the rider is sitting static in the position they would normally ride the bike.

It is important not to bounce onto or off the bike when measuring sag! Be gentle and roll onto and off of the saddle in order to not disturb the sag measurement (lowering the saddle may help). The range of sag settings is provided to tune the ride characteristics and feel of the bike. With less effective suspension designs that rely on more air pressure to counteract pedal bob, the Quad-Link FRS design requires appropriate sag to be completely functional. More air does not necessarily mean a more effective ride on a Marin!

Note that within the recommended settings, more air - less sag, will translate into a more cross-country style ride for maximum pedaling efficiency. Accordingly less air - more sag will make for a plusher feel for ultimate bump absorption and control.

Recommended SAG Settings