Marin Debuts Rift Zone Carbon

Nov 19, 2019
by Daniel Sapp  
16 17.10.19. Marin Bikes. Mount Vision Carbon. Rider Nikki Whiles. PIC Andy Lloyd www.andylloyd.photography

Marin have announced the details of their Rift Zone Carbon today. The RZC adds two carbon models to Marin's line of aluminum short travel MultiTrac full suspension bikes. The RZC has 29" wheels, with 125mm of rear travel and a 130mm fork.

The two carbon models of the Rift Zone Carbon will provide a higher end spec and carbon frame for riders with the same modern geometry as the 2020 Rift Zone Alloy models. The bike has a 65.6-degree head tube angle, a 76-degree seat tube angle, 425mm chainstays, and a 480mm reach for a large size frame. The RZC utilizes a high modulus carbon fiber monocoque front triangle with an aluminum swingarm. The swingarm is modeled after Marin's Alpine Trail, with oversized bearings and a locking collet main pivot.
Marin RZC Details

• Wheelsize: 29"
• Travel: 125mm (r) / 130mm (f)
• Carbon front triangle, aluminum swingarm
• 65.6-degree head angle
• 425mm chainstays
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Carbon 1: $4,399 USD
• Carbon 2: $3,499 USD
• marinbikes.com


16 17.10.19. Marin Bikes. Mount Vision Carbon. Rider Nikki Whiles. PIC Andy Lloyd www.andylloyd.photography
16 17.10.19. Marin Bikes. Mount Vision Carbon. Rider Nikki Whiles. PIC Andy Lloyd www.andylloyd.photography

There is an integrated rubber downtube protector, short seat tubes to allow riders to use extended dropper posts, a threaded bottom bracket, and ISCG 05 tabs.

The RZC will be available in late November 2019 and is priced at $4,399 USD for the Rift Zone Carbon 2 and $3,499 USD for the Rift Zone Carbon 1.



Rift Zone Carbon 2

RZC 2

Fork Fox Performance 34 Float, 130mm
Shock Fox Performance Float DPX2
Wheels Marin Aluminum Double Wall, 29mm on Shimano Microspline 12x148 CL Hubs
Drivetrain Shimano SLX/XT, FSA Cranks
Finishing kit Deity Skyline Bars / X-Fusion Manic Seatpost w/ PNW Loam Lever / SLX Brakes
Tires Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5 WT 3C EXO+ / DHR 29x2.4 WT 3C EXO+
Price: $4,399 USD


Rift Zone Carbon 1

RZC 1

Fork Marzocchi Bomber Z2 29", Rail Damper, 130mm
Shock Fox Float DPS, Performance Series
Wheels Marin Aluminum
Drivetrain SLX/Sunrace, FSA Cranks
Finishing kit Marin Bars, Shimano MT420 Brakes, X-Fusion Manic Seatpost
Tires Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5 WT 3C EXO+ / DHR 29x2.4 WT 3C EXO+
Price: $3,499 USD

Available Late November 2019

16 17.10.19. Marin Bikes. Mount Vision Carbon. Rider Nikki Whiles. PIC Andy Lloyd www.andylloyd.photography


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Trail Bikes Marin Marin Rift Zone


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90 Comments

  • 112 2
 Marin really seems to have their shit together. Stunning bike.
  • 27 33
flag ctbiker888 (Nov 19, 2019 at 9:52) (Below Threshold)
 I'd agree... but $4400 for a blended carbon frame, performance level suspension, and a mainly SLX drivetrain seems PRETTY steep... no ?
  • 38 0
 @ctbiker888: Ehh, I would say more "average" priced than steep.
  • 9 1
 @ctbiker888: To be honest I'd prefer the Carbon 1's Bomber Z2 to the 34. And I could 'live' with a Float DPS. MT420 4-piston calipers are a solid spec. Marin pro deals are also dope ifyouknowsomeone *cough*, I mean if you have one. Only downside is that you wouldn't get that sweet sweet SLX shifting.
  • 5 2
 @ctbiker888: Don't forget that NONE of the important bits of that "mainly SLX" drivetrain (the chain and cassette) are SLX. Cmon Marin, have none of your product managers ridden the new Shimano stuff, or even looked at the technical details of it?
  • 3 3
 @ctbiker888: This doesn’t deserve a bunch of downvotes, it’s just not objective enough to get the point across. I would lean towards agreeing with what ur trying to say.
  • 1 1
 @iduckett:
  • 69 1
 <Deleted photo>
  • 1 0
 took me a second pass thru the article. nice one.
  • 35 1
 Optic seems like the bike still, but having Shimano 12 speed over Sram is a bonus for Marin. Would love to try the two back to back.
  • 6 19
flag mmoon (Nov 19, 2019 at 13:26) (Below Threshold)
 What gives the Optic the edge over the Marin?

I’m leaning towards the Giant Trance as my next bike because of the glowing reviews of its suspension, and its affordable build options with well reviewed parts such as the Giant carbon wheels.

Reviews seem to indicate that the Norco’s geometry encourages you to get into more trouble than the suspension can handle, and the starting price is on the higher end.

The Giant has a slacker seat-tube than the Norco or the Marin though, so the Marin might top my list if its suspension performance gets close to the Giant’s. The Marin builds appear pretty sorted too.
  • 13 0
 Optic C1 is full Shimano
  • 15 0
 @mmoon: Just comparing parts for the money. Pretty comparable bikes overall. I just personally prefer the suspension spec on the Optic, not saying there is anything wrong with what Marin spec'd! Honestly Norco's Gravity Tune is the biggest thing for me, as someone who rides Large or XL bikes, it's a cool feature. I think both bikes are a great option. As for the Trance, I have no opinion, not on my radar.
  • 13 0
 @mmoon: The Optic is offered as an affordable carbon frameset, the Marin is not. That’s an enormous win for a lot of people out there.
  • 14 0
 @mmoon: Norco has some really forward-thinking frame tech, like size specific geometry and carbon layups, and the tuning and setup is really easy to get dialled.
  • 3 7
flag mnorris122 (Nov 19, 2019 at 19:29) (Below Threshold)
 Marin really screwed the pooch with the drivetrain spec here...the lower end one has a fricken Sunrace cassette, and while at least you get an SLX cassette on the higher end one, you still get a goddamn KMC chain, so none of that Hyperglide+ goodness on either bike, and you have to buy a whole new wheel (or at least hub) to get it on the lower end one.
  • 3 0
 @mnorris122: you can thank Shimano and their crazy strategy for allocating Microspline licenses for that!
  • 1 3
 @bertbc: OR, I can blame Marin for not speccing a cheapie Shimano hub
  • 1 0
 @mnorris122: the sun race cassette is the same exact thing as the box 2 and is perfectly fine. And what’s wrong with kmc chains? Unless everything is XT of course...
  • 2 0
 @Frank191: Sunrace cassettes are objectively worse. Ride a Sunrace and a Shimano back to back, and tell me one isn't clunky and noisy. And there's nothing wrong with KMC chains, but on a Hyperglide+ cassette, the shifting is nowhere near as good as a Shimano chain
  • 1 0
 @mnorris122: I went from a 11 speed XT 11-42 to sunrace 11-46 for more range and didn’t notice a difference. I know the 12 speed stuff is newer and shifts better. Maybe I’m not noticing it because I have sram NX and not full XT setup. It’s a little clunky but not too bad. At least for now...
  • 2 0
 @mnorris122: I'm sure folks would stoked with cup-n-cone hub spec
  • 1 0
 @bertbc: and by cup and cone, you mean hubs that can be maintained with $20 worth of cone wrenches and some grease, as opposed to a bearing press?
  • 2 0
 @mnorris122: Yep, the same hubs whereby if you don’t catch said maintenance in time your whole hubs are trash
  • 1 0
 @bertbc: So take your shit apart once a season
  • 2 1
 @Frank191: I have a friend who bought a Marin Rift Zone 3. The cassette wouldn’t shift onto the fourth largest cog. Took it to a bike shop and personally spent 2 hours fiddling with the derailleur to no avail. Sunrace sucks.
  • 24 3
 So nice to see some bikes being offered at an affordable price for all! Congratulations.
  • 5 2
 This is not an affordable price for all
  • 13 0
 Almost no hate here. Is it a holiday or something?
  • 9 0
 I think it’s more that it’s a good looking modern bike for a reasonable price. No crazy stuff which is what most want.

Or it’s a Christmas miracle
  • 1 0
 @thook: I don't have anything bad to say about it. Usually there's crazy bike brand beef around here.
  • 1 0
 @JesseE: The only beef people have with Maria is because of the wolf ridge and mount vision supsension desin
  • 12 0
 That's a whole lotta bike for the money.
  • 10 0
 The only question is: When will Matt Jones get one in the mail?
  • 1 0
 Love that guy!
  • 3 0
 My wife loves her Rift Zone 1 Alu. It's a bit heavy, but the geo is so dialed, she continually tells me how much fun she has out riding. We are slowly adding new wheels and tires, but overall Marin is stepping it up for sure!
  • 2 0
 Marin seems to eb and flow with the good and odd stuff. They had the acclaimed Quad XC suspension, then got weird for a while. Now, they're back with their rowdy hardtail and rift zone. Still are a bit weird with the Mount Vision, though. This looks like a killer deal of a bike. Props.
  • 3 1
 These are indeed some decent builds for the price. That said, as a mechanic who worked at a Marin dealer for a few years, let me tell you the following: when customers needed parts for their Marin bikes, it was like pulling teeth to get them. So many un-returned voicemails and emails, even for little shit like a thru axle with their (stupid) proprietary closing mechanism. Took several months sometimes! As a result I will never own a Marin. Fair warning: their customer service blows.
  • 5 0
 Looks like an awesome bike, great job Marin
  • 3 1
 The Carbon 1 vs. Ripley SLX is a whopping $1600 difference. Sure Ibis has the name, but those on a budget stand to get a very similar geo set up and parts gets a deal. Right?
  • 2 0
 Keep in mind that while the specs may look similar on laper, different suspension designs can totally change how a bike rides/feels.
  • 15 0
 @hardtailparty: name checks out.
  • 1 0
 @WildBikeCompany: lol
  • 2 0
 @WildBikeCompany: careful with those assumptions.
  • 1 0
 Hmm, a bike that can make you giggle, or go to the bike park or do BC Bike Race is what I see... It's a magical time for bikes and I don't think I've seen an affordable bike answer every one of my geometry wish list items so well... though I'd stick a 140mm fork on it
  • 1 0
 There's a typo in prices, either the prices in the first list are swapped, or in all other parts of the article.

Thinking it's the first list (the Carbon 2 should cost more than the Carbon 1 by their spec)

Marin RZC Details
• Wheelsize: 29"
• Travel: 125mm (r) / 130mm (f)
• Carbon front triangle, aluminum swingarm
• 65.6-degree head angle
• 425mm chainstays
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Carbon 1: $4,399 USD ---- swap?
• Carbon 2: $3,499 USD ---- swap?
  • 3 0
 Yeah, Marin spec and pricing increases as the model number goes up
  • 3 0
 This is a nice ride. The New Kona Process 134 29 Carbon IS the bike. The bike is dialed! Quick, responsive, nimble. Go find one to ride.
  • 1 0
 I picked up a Rift Zone 2. The components are lower end, but I'm not a tech nerd that gets caught up in that stuff. I just rode it down Burro Pass, Hazard, Jimmy Keen, UPS, LPS on Saturday 11/16/19. The bike is sick, especially for the price. The one I bought only retailed for a little over $1900.
I'm a taller guy with weird body proportions. This bike fits me so much better than my others did.
  • 4 1
 Marin wins the price/spec/performance gain award again for this segment.

Rest of the industry needs to see this
  • 1 0
 I thought "rift zone carbon" was Marin's version of the 'superior' quality carbon on the market that everybody else has a name for.

Now that I figured it out, looks sweet. They have the looks/geo dialed lately
  • 3 0
 Pole bike breaks and this Marin gets no attention lol....actually looks like a decent bike!
  • 4 0
 So... did 29ers win?
  • 3 0
 #650baintdead. Hahaha
  • 1 0
 Time for a new bigger wheelsize. You know it's coming.
  • 4 1
 that is a lot of freaking bike for the price.
  • 3 0
 Next on the list: Alpine Trail Carbon!
  • 1 0
 Here's hoping...
  • 1 0
 I wonder if they will continue with the Wolf Ridge seems they have thrown a lot of them to CRC at half price. I guess that funky design has wallets running scared.
  • 11 10
 Geo looks awesome, great spec for the price, but who is picking the paint job on these things?
  • 24 1
 Idk, but I'm into it
  • 2 0
 Oh. Oh damn. The heat is volcanic.
  • 4 2
 425mm chain stays in a 29er!? Oooooffff!
  • 7 0
 Yeah that thing is gonna rail corner and be playfull AF ????
  • 6 0
 Greeat to see some short chainstay options in this ever-increasing-chainstay-world. With this, the process 134, 2020 Tallboy and offerings from Evil and pivot short rear-ended 29ers still have a place
  • 2 0
 Those are some beautiful looking bikes.
  • 1 0
 Agreed nice offering for the price. Looking for a little more travel, but its a nice bike.
  • 1 0
 Notice a few new bikes coming out with alloy rear triangles - Optic, and now this. Wonder why, stiffer?
  • 1 0
 Cheaper to make
  • 1 0
 I don't believe there is much performance gain for the weight difference between alloy and carbon rear triangles. And cheaper to replace as well as to make.
  • 1 0
 More likely to be smashed by rocks
  • 2 0
 Marin graphics are really looking dialled these days. Both models look ace
  • 1 0
 I'd like one of those in that textured zolatone grey they used to use in the early 90's!
  • 1 0
 Really nice. I'm sure these will sell really well. Good geo, spec, value and looks.
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy

How do you think this would have compared to the Norco Optic in thee field test?
  • 2 0
 Marin knows what’s up!
  • 2 0
 Good job Marin.
  • 1 0
 ... but how does it compare to a Trail Pistol(a)?
  • 1 0
 The seat tube is some what tricky, looks like being bent.
  • 1 0
 I weigh 210lbs and broke 3 Marin Carbon front triangles in 2 years...
  • 1 0
 what the f*ck on seatpost?
  • 1 0
 Looks like a great bike for the $ … Cool.
  • 2 2
 Giants are over rated... great spec for money..blah blah blah Smile
  • 1 0
 Affordable?
  • 1 0
 hmmm
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