Table Of Contents
Best Budget Short Travel Bike of 2021
- Climbing Ability 80%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 90%
Travel: 125mm rear/130mm fork
Head Tube Angle: 66.6
Seat Tube Angle: 76
Reach: 480mm (large frame)
Weight: 32.25 lbs (aluminum frame)
Price: $1,679
What We Like: Budget all day rider
What We Don’t: It is heavy
Compare to Similar Products
See Our Best Short Travel Mountain Bike Review 2021 Article HERE!
Buy Now at Ibiscycles.com
- Climbing Ability 90%
- Downhill Ability 90%
- Overall Fun 90%
Pros
Upgraded Rear Suspension
Cons
Bottom Bracket Has Had Some Issues
Head Tube Angle: 66.5
Seat Tube Angle: 76
Reach: 475mm (large frame)
Weight: 28.87 lbs
Buy Now at Backcountry.com
- Climbing Ability 80%
- Downhill Ability 100%
- Overall Fun 90%
Pros
Downhill Ability
Cons
A Bit Heavy
Head Tube Angle: 66.5
Seat Tube Angle: 76.2
Reach: 470mm (large frame)
Weight: 30.63 lbs
Buy Now at Marinbikes.com
- Climbing Ability 80%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 90%
Pros
Budget All Day Rider
Cons
It Is Heavy
Head Tube Angle: 66.6
Seat Tube Angle: 76
Reach: 480mm (large frame)
Weight: 32.25 lbs (aluminum frame)
Buy Now at Worldwidecyclery.com
- Climbing Ability 70%
- Downhill Ability 90%
- Overall Fun 80%
Pros
Downhill Prowess
Cons
Seat Angle Could Be Steeper
Head Tube Angle: 67.5
Seat Tube Angle: 75.3
Reach: 473mm (large frame)
Weight: 26.23 lbs
Buy Now at Norco.com
- Climbing Ability 70%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 80%
Pros
App To Dial In Custom Suspension Settings
Cons
Slow On Climbs
Head Tube Angle: 65
Seat Tube Angle: 76
Reach: 480mm (large frame)
Weight: 30.2 lbs
Buy Now at Evil-bikes.com
- Climbing Ability 80%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 90%
Pros
DELTA Link Rear Suspension
Cons
Expensive Build Options
Head Tube Angle: 67.9
Seat Tube Angle: 77
Reach: 480mm (large frame)
Weight: 28.3 lbs
Buy Now at Backcountry.com
- Climbing Ability 70%
- Downhill Ability 70%
- Overall Fun 80%
Pros
New Rear Linkage
Cons
Not Different Enough From The Yeti SB100
Head Tube Angle: 67.6
Seat Tube Angle: 74
Reach: 450mm (large frame)
Weight: 29.63 lbs
Buy Now at Trekbikes.com
- Climbing Ability 80%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 80%
Pros
Down Tube Storage
Cons
Suspension Sag While Climbing
Head Tube Angle: 66
Seat Tube Angle: 75
Reach: 470mm (large frame)
Weight: 28.94 lbs
Buy Now at Jensonusa.com
- Climbing Ability 80%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 80%
Pros
Upgraded Rear Suspension, Customized Colour Options
Cons
Left Hand Only Water Bottle Access
Head Tube Angle: 66
Seat Tube Angle: 77
Reach: 474mm (large frame)
Weight: 29.67 lbs
Buy Now at Trekbikes.com
- Climbing Ability 100%
- Downhill Ability 70%
- Overall Fun 70%
Pros
Super Lightweight
Cons
Knock Block in Headset
Head Tube Angle: 68
Seat Tube Angle: 75
Reach: 470mm (large frame)
Weight: 26.08 lbs
Buy Now at Bansheebikes.com
- Climbing Ability 70%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 90%
Pros
High Quality Components
Cons
Heavy
Head Tube Angle: 66
Seat Tube Angle: 76.6
Reach: 470mm
Weight: 31.97 lbs (aluminum frame)
Buy Now at Specialized.com
- Climbing Ability 80%
- Downhill Ability 90%
- Overall Fun 90%
Pros
New Rear Suspension Linkage, SWAT Bottom Bracket Storage
Cons
Price
Head Tube Angle: 66.5
Seat Tube Angle: 74.5
Reach: 480mm (large frame)
Weight: 27.80 lbs
Buy Now at Alchemybicycles.com
- Climbing Ability 70%
- Downhill Ability 80%
- Overall Fun 80%
Pros
High Quality Build Components
Cons
Low Bottom Bracket, Under Bottom Bracket Water Bottle Attachment.
Head Tube Angle: 66.1
Seat Tube Angle: 75.5
Reach: 454 (large frame)
Weight: 30.75 lbs
The Bike
On a large, there is now a reach of 480mm with a very slack 65.5-degree head tube attached to a 44mm offset fork. The chainstay on every build is a wee 425mm to keep that back end under control on climbs and descents. These are similar numbers to the Norco Optic, for reference.
Climbing
The bike itself is heavy, over 30lbs when fully loaded, but for most riders, this will likely go unnoticed with the overall efficiency of the bike on climbs. Overall it is a good climbing bike. It is not in the same ballpark as the Ibis Ripley, but for the price, it will make most riders quite happy.
Downhill
Able to eat up terrain more often associated with long-travel bikes, the 4 pot brakes help to get you out of trouble when the geometry makes you feel invincible. Marin has gone with a beefier 203mm rotor on the front paired with a 180mm rotor on the back, both Shimano. This bike impresses and will keep you grinning to the cooler at the end of a long day on the trail.
The two-piston brakes that come on all of the builds on the Ripley may be a bit soft depending on your riding style so just be warned that they could use an upgrade if you’re hitting long descents.
Build Options
The Rift Zone is available as frame only (carbon front triangle, with alloy rear triangle) for $1,999. From there, Marin offers two carbon frames with alloy rear triangles, the Marin Rift Zone Carbon 1, $3,399, and the Carbon 2, $3,999, are well priced for carbon frames and the Shimano components that come with it.
There are three aluminum frame options starting at $1,599 and going up to $2,599, again with smart components to keep the bike affordable but ready to hit the trail without any touch-ups.
The Bottom Line
The price is right with the Marin Rift Zone bikes. They have smart components and come in a good variety of frame styles for every wallet. The bike geo is just as modern and progressive as the incredible Norco Optic, and it keeps you balanced and out of trouble on a variety of terrain. The MultiTrac suspension helps to keep small bump sensitivity while being a cushion on larger drops. Sure on some climbs, you’ll want to use the lever to lock out the rear suspension, but that isn’t the end of the world.
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