2022 Trek Marlin 5 review & upgrades

[@rubeng3091]

Thanks for this video!!! I bought a Marlin 8 for a reduced price and thought I should have bought a 5 but 8 already came with upgrades you did so I feel a bit better about it. Still overpriced for sure but it does ride really nice and is basically a nice bike for my needs. I am an 60 yr old goat so it won’t see anything crazy anyways! Happy trails…

[@mcrider333]

Hi, I have an inexpensive used Hyper spinfit I am upgrading. It has a 3X7 (42,34,28) (11-28 freewheel) with a 50mm chainline. I would like to go to the same crankset as you installed. I like the direct mount chainring instead of a spider. I would like to put a 42t front chainring on (it is 95% flat riding where I live) and leave the 7 cog freewheel as is. Can you give me some advice on whether the aspire direct mount would work for me? Chainline issues? Other unknowns? Where did you buy yours? Thanks in advance.

[@Elanzer]

I bought mine from Aliexpress, although I think you can find this crankset on amazon, the crankset is chinese in origin. Since your bike is non-boost like the Marlin, you want a "6 degree" GXP chainring, which will curve the chainring inward to target a 49mm non-boost chainline. The same seller I bought mine from sells the crankset + bottom bracket and up to a 38T GXP chainring. The main thing I would be concerned about is frame clearance with the 42T chainring, Marlin frames for example are rated at 34T max chainring, although I think Trek is overly clearance-safe and I could fit a 36T on there. A 42T on my marlin would most definitely hit the frame and be incompatible. On your current 3x crankset imagine if your 42T was on your middle ring instead of the outer ring - do you think it would hit the frame? That's roughly where it would be with this crankset.

[@mcrider333]

@@Elanzer Yep, you're right 42t looks iffy. I'll have to do some precise measuring before I make the jump on the chainring size. I'll check Amazon for the one you recommend and see what they have. Thanks very much for your help. Wish you the best!

[@fastgixxer1252]

How did u get 12 speed cassette on marlin stock hub, I thought it has to be micro spline? And which model derailleur is that?

[@Elanzer]

Shimano doesn't make a 12 speed cassette for these hubs, but SRAM does (Eagle NX) and so do third parties, this ~$30 cassette is sold under a lot of other brands but it's most commonly found under "Sunshine". The derailleur is a Shimano Deore M6100. You can actually get 13 speed cassettes and derailleurs for the Marlin on stock hubs if you want, you just won't find them from Shimano or SRAM. You probably can't find the parts in a local bike shop aside from SRAM eagle NX because they're chinese parts, they're on Amazon, AliExpress, eBay etc.

[@fastgixxer1252]

@@ElanzerThank you for responding!👍🏻

[@brendanmajor424]

I have seen so many videos on this bike saying its a great bike. how come you are the one video that is complaining and saying not to get it? the bike is a great option and is so much better than any other mountain bike so i have no idea what you are talking about.

[@Elanzer]

It's not bad, you are just paying more for the Trek brand. I found out I could have gotten better equipped bikes for the same price from other brands

[@BikesNThings]

Where is the motor?

[@Elanzer]

I'm the motor

[@xuilidar]

nostalgia of getting my ass kicked on the dps meter in wow from a bike review