Marin Quake review

The new Marin Quake is a 180mm-rear and 200mm-front travel ripper designed to tackle everything bike-park lappers can throw at it – while being fun, intuitive and reliable.

The Quake isn’t a downhill race bike and Marin is clear it was never meant to be.

Matt Cipes, Marin’s product manager for the Quake, says downhill bikes are so specific, and tuned for such high-speed racing, they're not practical for most mere mortals.

After athlete demand from Marin’s pro riders and a long-term vision from its staff, the Quake was finally realised nine years after its initial concept to fill a gap in the brand's catalogue.

Marin hasn’t been shy about the Quake's existence, either – the bike has been in development under its athletes for two years. This has built up plenty of interest in the bike, which is priced at £4,599 / $4,699 / €5,199.

Through Fest Series exposure and Red Bull Hardline invites, the Quake has seen plenty of hard hits and proved its concept.

I was shown the Quake during Crankworx Whistler and got to spend several days lapping the world's most famous bike park.

With a huge range of trails on tap, the Quake got exposed to exactly the type of riding it was designed for – from big jumps and huge berms to chunky tech and everything in between.

Marin Quake frame and suspension details

The Quake is built around a Series 4 Alloy frame, sharing tubing with models such as the Marin Alpine Trail AX AXS.

It features 180mm of rear travel using Marin’s MultiTrac 2 LT suspension – a Horst-link pivot layout that improves braking control, mid-stroke support and bottom-out feel compared to the previous single-pivot design Marin used across its range.

This updated design also allows for adjustable chainstay lengths and bottom bracket heights, enhancing customisation.

Two flip chips on the Quake offer versatility: one enables switching between 27.5-inch and 29-inch rear wheels (the standard is 27.5-inch), and the other adjusts the chainstay length and bottom bracket height for different riding styles and trails.

The bike also features a straight 56ZS head tube to accommodate various aftermarket adjustable headsets.

With a downhill-fork standard 1.125-inch straight steerer tube, the head tube will support up to a 10mm reach-adjust headset or 2-degree headset angle adjustment.

Further customisation is possible with compatibility for 27.5-inch forks, requiring an external lower headset cup. This enables the use of a 180-190mm single-crown fork.

The frame includes chainstay protection, with durable rubber guards to minimise noise and protect the paint finish.

Other protective features include a gasket around the cable exit hole, a mud flap over the lower suspension pivot, an integrated lower down tube guard and an upper down tube shuttle pad.

Cable management on the Quake is refined, with new design ports featuring rubber membranes for a sealed interior, reducing noise and preventing frame damage.

The bike also uses SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger standard, offering compatibility with direct-mount rear derailleurs and a rear-hub spacing of Boost 148mm, making replacements easier compared to the 157mm downhill standard.

The Marin Quake is intended for riders of all skill levels who want a thrilling, fun-filled riding experience on a robust, highly customisable downhill/bike park bike.

Whether tackling tough lines or enjoying playful jumps, the Quake is built to keep riders engaged and entertained.

Marin Quake geometry

The Quake is available in three sizes: small, medium and large. Overall, the geometry mixes progressive angles for steep and chaotic lines, with modest lengths to help maintain manoeuvrability and keep riding fun.

I tested the medium frame and kept the bike in its stock geometry settings. This includes the 27.5in rear wheel and long/low chainstay flip-chip setting.

In this configuration, the Quake has a short 438mm reach and a gravity-focused 639mm stack height. The chainstays are 440mm in the long setting with a 353mm bottom bracket height.

It has a slack 62.3-degree head tube angle, which shows off its burly nature.

The seat tube is a short 415mm, giving plenty of clearance for hitting the biggest drops and jumps.

Marin Quake specifications

The Quake is equipped with a RockShox Vivid Ultimate Coil shock, tuned specifically for the frame, and a 200mm-travel RockShox Boxxer Charger 3 RC damper fork in the front.

It features a complete SRAM GX DH seven-speed drivetrain with Truvativ cranks, SRAM Maven Bronze brakes with 200mm HS2 rotors and a Truvativ direct-mount handlebar and stem.

The bike rolls on DH-casing Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip 2.5-inch tyres, which are mounted on Marin-branded wheels. Additionally, Marin supplies the saddle and seatpost.

Marin listened to the retail partners and rental shops to help finalise the spec. It was here it learned that features such as a sealed headset and more expensive, yet reliable parts were preferred over hitting a certain price point.

Marin Quake ride impressions

I got to test the Quake for four days around Whistler bike park. Trail conditions were dry, dusty and loose.

I rode as broad a range of trails as possible, from the sharp, janky rock tech at Top of the World, to Whistler’s infamous A-Line and Dirt Merchant jumps.

The chunky rock slabs, sculpted flow trails and a little hidden off-piste made for a well-rounded test.

Marin Quake setup

I set up the RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil shock with a 400lb spring that gave me the recommended 25 per cent sag for my 75kg riding weight.

Marin recommends running slightly less sag to help give the bike a higher dynamic ride height and better geometry conservation.

I ran the low-speed compression fully open and set the high-speed compression in position four out of five from closed.

The HBO (Hydraulic Bottom Out) was set to its middle position, three out of five. Rebound was set to 13 clicks from closed out of 20.

I inflated the RockShox Boxxer fork to 140psi, removed 12 clicks of low-speed compression from fully closed out of its 15, and set the rebound to 14 clicks from closed out of 18.

The forks were dropped through the crowns fully to raise the handlebar to the height I was after. The flat crown on the fork limited height.

A drop crown would give more room for adjustment for riders wanting a taller front end. I run my handlebars quite low, so I managed fine.

I ran the bike with its stock mixed-wheel setup, with the frame in its 27.5in flip-chip setting and the chainstays in their long/low setting.

Marin Quake descending performance

Matt Cipes highlighted how Marin set out to make the Quake feel like an old friend; a bike that’s easy to get along with.

He said Marin wanted it to be comfortable and intuitive from the get-go – and it’s clear the brand has achieved this.

The Horst-link rear suspension feels predictable and capable. Marin's new MultiTrac 2 LT system is designed to balance supple small-bump sensitivity with progression through the travel that builds support smoothly.

Thanks to the RockShox Super Deluxe Coil’s low breakaway force, even with 25 per cent sag, the Quake feels as though it has decent small-bump sensitivity.

However, it’s not the most plush bike through its early travel.

Still, the Quake did a good job of smoothing out Whistler’s relentless small rumble-strip bumps caused by thousands of wheels.

That helps keep the rear tyre in contact with the ground, maintaining traction in the loosest, most slippery turns and dustiest rock slabs.

The progression feels as though it builds early during the stroke, and thanks to the coil shock's more supportive mid-stroke nature, the Quake delivers a supportive platform that delivers plenty of chassis stability.

I never found the rear suspension sinking through its travel during high-load berms and upsetting the bike’s dynamic geometry.

This enabled me to remain composed through corners, maintaining a central body position to help hunt out the limited traction.

This also helps keep the bike predictable on jump lips and through compressions. The mid-stroke enabled me to pump the bike where needed to maintain speed or pop lips to clear jumps.

The Quake has a playful feel that enables you to get creative on the trail. However, it can still take the sting out of harsh bumps, which are plentiful around Whistler.

The shock remains active enough to keep it riding high in its mid-stroke, meaning there’s plenty of travel on tap when needed.

Repeated bumps are absorbed without unsettling the bike, or transferring harsh jolts through the frame to the hands and feet.

While I didn't feel as isolated from bumps as on a full-bore 200mm-travel downhill bike, the Quake’s 180mm of travel feels like an agile downhill bike, rather than a burley enduro bike.

If I was told the rear end had more travel, I would believe it.

As you get deeper in the travel, there isn’t a harsh ramp-up in progression, however, there’s still plenty of bottom-out support.

I never had any harsh bottom-out events, no matter how many rock drops I misjudged or heavy landings and deep compressions I ploughed into.

You don’t need to travel at Mach 10 to get the Quake to feel responsive. Overall, the handling is good and the Quake is easy to place where you want it on the trail.

The slack 62.3-degree head tube angle has pros and cons. On steep chutes, rock rolls and slabs – or rough and fast blown-out trails – it delivers plenty of stability and enables you to charge.

However, in Whistler’s notoriously techy, slower-speed trails it took a conscious effort to place the front wheel precisely. It could sometimes feel laboured initiating a turn too.

I don't think running the head tube closer to 63 degrees would hinder stability significantly, yet it would give the bike more dynamic steering. This can be addressed with an angleset headset if needed.

Once up to speed though, the Quake feels composed and handles well.

The RockShox Boxxer fork impressed me. Its lower-spec Charger 3 RC damper and DebonAir+ air spring delivered impressive sensitivity and support.

Whistler is a tough place to set up suspension forks. You want plenty of initial suppleness for the relentless braking bumps and trail chatter. However, there are tons of hard compressions that you need firm support for.

The RockShox Boxxer managed to balance this well. Its initial sensitivity was good, while it rode tall enough in its travel to provide enough travel and progression for harder hits.

The sturdy dual-crown chassis and 38mm stanchions were great for battering into rough trails I didn't know well.

The SRAM Maven Bronze brakes are impressive, too, offering bucket-loads of power – they're a great addition to the bike.

They deliver plenty of control on the steepest trails. Still, you need careful control in certain situations, such as quick panic pulls, because the initial bite is strong and can easily lock up a wheel.

The part of the Quake that took the most abuse was the rims – Whistler’s rocks are unforgiving.

If you’re lapping bike parks, I would recommend some tyre-insert protection to help keep the rims in one piece.

How does the Marin Quake compare to the Devinci Chainsaw GX 12S?

While the Chainsaw GX 12S is the single-crown version of Devinci’s 170mm-travel park bike, the frame and suspension are the same as the DH dual-crown fork version.

The feel of the rear suspension on the two bikes is different – Devinci’s high-pivot design absorbs small, mid and large bumps impressively well.

The back wheel tracks trail contours impeccably and mutes aggressive trails with ease.

The Quake gives more feedback, and while it soaks up bumps, it doesn’t iron out the trails as well. However, this gives the Quake a more playful and poppy ride character. It’s easier to hop and pop bumps and jumps.

Both bikes feel robust and capable of hard charging. If you want impressive composure and stability, the Devinci should be on your list. If you prefer a more versatile ride, the Marin covers more bases for the bike park.

Marin Quake bottom line

The Quake is going to be a good companion for those riders looking for a simple, robust and capable bike to rip park laps and gravity duties.

A smart spec choice, predictable suspension and confident handling make a great package for the price.

The adjustability will help riders get the best from it for their needs, although it may not offer the lust-worthiness of the latest Santa Cruz or Commencal downhill bikes.

It’s all the bike most gravity-focused riders will ever need in a practical package, though. Plus, it’ll sure put a big smile on your face when you launch off the first kicker.