CAN A CHEAP HARDTAIL SURVIVE THE UK'S BIGGEST JUMPS?!

www.marinbikes...
Can this affordable stock hardtail MTB survive the biggest downhill bike jumps and tracks in the UK? Dyfi bike park has huge freeride lines and gaps, and most people take expensive downhill bikes to ride these big hits. But can an out-the-box $959 Marin Hardtail survive the new big jump line and race tracks? Let's see how long a sub £1000 cheap bike can actually last?

[@ChanseMacabre]

I bought the 27.5 version of this bike six months ago (before the 2025 refresh) after not touching a bike since high school, and have gone from barely being able to climb a hill to hitting six-foot-tall wooden jumps in that time. I found out about Matt Jones's channel after the fact from looking for videos of people doing cool stuff on this bike, and it gave me a big confidence boost knowing that the bike could survive massive bike park jumps. I've taken it on trails, pump tracks, skate parks, and anywhere else I can get away with, and it's been rock-solid the whole time. Thanks for the videos, Matt, you ended up completely changing my life from halfway around the globe.

[@MattJones]

That’s so rad!! I loved reading your comment. Thanks so much and keep sending it

[@Skyknight256]

@@MattJonesI bought the marin bobcat train 4 and it works great and is better than the marin san quintin 1 and cheaper. Also there are no marin dealers in Australia that you can go instore and try them on

[@mwboost]

​​@Skyknight256 ​​ you might be able to check them at the bicyclesonline warehouse? Though not sure where abouts you are in Aus lol.

[@rodrigodiniz13]

"Hard tail for the win" 10 seconds later, "I'm so out of control" hehehe, master class of advertising lol...

[@aaronbloomberg385]

If a professional rider “is out of control”, your beginner or average joe is gonna die😂

[@lucasa_3101]

i love riding hardtails they make the easy trails feel fun and bring a new sense to mountian biking for me

[@bradridesNZ]

There is no better feeling than shredding a hardtail down an insane line, then watching the jaws drop of every 10K+ bike owner as your rubbing their back tyre 🤣 love the video 🤘🏻

[@PriZeMaN1]

Matt, that inflation comeback was absolutely rapid fire hilarious, BWAhahahahahaa!

[@-tr0n]

This is so rad. It's doable, it's been done, it's where the sport came from. Every trail can be ridden on a hardtail, just gotta be careful. A-Line will punish no matter the frame. You don't need to be made of money to ride, just grab something with a slack headtube angle and go! I remember my first day riding the north shore on a 17" Gary Fisher HKEK with a 80 or 90mm Manitou elastomer fork. Sure we bypassed some of the skinny drops, but we were there riding and eventually digging! We stepped up to Norco 250s, chunky Konas with the fat gussets and whatever we could bolt a used JR T and a 3" tire onto. The guys with money eventually ended up on duallies and now everyone's got a carbon 14" travel moto bike, but this is how the sport was forged!

[@SonyToprano1908]

Yesss, hardtail content! This is what I enjoy the most on your channel 🤘

[@olliecrook9192]

I took my San Quentin 3 here a couple of weeks ago. Im still a beginner but absolutely loved it. If i can become half as good as you, then ill be happy. Keep up the good work. 🤟

[@sandorclegane5321]

I got a Marin San Quentin because of Matt Jones - and I love it! I would reaaaally go for the SQ2 though, if you can afford it. The dropper post etc. really makes it more fun to ride than the SQ1. I had a SQ1 and went to a SQ2 afterwards.

[@bribri5458]

This makes me feel a bit better for still ramming my 09 Hardtail down most blacks it can handle. And to see the difference from Matt’s normal type of riding to this makes me feel a bit better 😅

[@gerardolastiri]

A video detailing cautions and techniques to be able to go that big on a hardtail would be greatly appreciated

[@stujm8376]

I love my hardtail, I ride it more than my dual sus because I just love it… you don’t need to spend shedloads to start, and it does help you improve quicker.

[@markyd504]

56 years old and just bought myself my first mountain bike, it is all your fault Matt Jones 😁p.s. I live in mid wales, not far from Dyfi or Revolution bike park, might be a while before I make it there though!

[@AllenProsser-q6i]

Matt jones this video has mad me realise how much I love my hard tale but how much I need a full suspension bike!

[@JMH33SD]

Let's all say a prayer for Matt's knees and ankles for proving you can ride a hardtail on the mountain of death. Yes, you can ride the SQ1 on the hill, just don't case a jump or drop. The shall rock just makes it insane. Mad props to Matt for proving the point

[@tbull1545]

lol stop i do this shit all day on a hardtail people are just pussies these days

[@joecanuck3751]

RM Growler here. Loads of fun as soon as I upgraded it away from the spring forks.

[@johnconarty3762]

Don't get me wrong I am all for the more budget friendly bikes being able to handle crazy stuff. I mean I am 275# and ride a Giant Stance 2 (entry level FS) and other then needing to change the rear wheel it has been fine. I don't bomb huge jumps and drops but it takes a bit of a beating from me cause I don't baby it haha. A lot of what a bike can do comes down to skill of the rider and Matt you are a hell of a rider!! Sam Pligs is proof of it as well he rides the craziest crap on bikes that would crumble under me or someone with less skill haha. Regardless great video and Marins look like good bikes to get anyone out there to experience this awesome sport!

[@_ToDesk]

Im going to subscribe since ive been watching ur videos for a few months now^^

[@TheEldestScroll1]

more SQ1 content please matt. i have ridden mine on EVERYTHING and nothing has beaten it in my skill range so far.

[@tonyburns3586]

we all started on a hardtail, its not the bike you ride its the ride your bike takes you on always said that you don't need to spend silly money to have fun . Also shows how good the build quality of it.

[@lil-data]

Marin best be paying up for this fine piece of advertising

[@emmimanni]

I like these videos very much even though my only biking is me going to work and back. 😊 Thank you!

[@danfarmer_photo]

Matt screaming and laughing at himself is what riding hard tails are about! 😂

[@Helloqw]

Yessss

[@aonghasmclaughlin5519]

Finally!! Content that respects the hardtail

[@Helloqw]

Yeah

[@Jayhudson__]

Broooooo! You sent those runs deep and fast! Oakley on a Hardtail! Full credit!

[@mikek9297]

At the end of the day, that little Marin needed a cigarette...

[@zethjugos1250]

Cheap aggressive HTs are still the best way to get people in mtb riding...so much bang for the buck and they can learn to work on their bikes in the process without having to think too much about costs

[@loose_unit]

I remember being kinda compeditive in Downhill races on a hardtail back in the day :D Use your legs for suspension!

[@focuskid22]

These are the videos I like to see Matt

[@Josephmtb-x2w]

Highlight of my week 🎉

[@Biking_with_Akiva]

That was absolutely fantastic riding💪🏾💯

[@AlfieMackie-2]

Love it 🎉🎉🎉🎉 proving Marin can do anything

[@Tom_On_NS]

mat jones you inspired me to start riding mtb your my idol and ive been going now for almost a year all your videos are sick bro keep it up man!

[@MattJones]

Thanks so much that’s an awesome message. Keep smashing it

[@Brannagan.8]

@@MattJonesTom is my idol

[@michaelhill6980]

I remember when I was young my mates dad had a Marin b17, white and red. Such quality bikes

[@emma_m0]

I literally just made a comment about the B17. I still have mine in the garage.

[@benji431976]

FairPlay play I used to ride neally everything on a hard tail including 35 foot jumps But now at 48 and a fair few injuries full suspension is my only hope 😂🤙

[@dannyparkins7396]

Think we need to see you build a frame up pro level and a series of how far you can actually take it!

[@shreditaus3039]

I mean I’ve been on a San Quentin 3, customer build for the last 8 months, ridden it all over Canada, did most of the big hits in Whistler bike park on it and now over in wales riding it on some great stuff, this thing can take A LOT!

[@theamazingtacocat9270]

Just fighting for his life on that last trail 😂 so sick, I love hard-core hardtails

[@5ive74]

i reckon its got what it takes

[@HiddenHelixj]

Financially, we live in completely different worlds 😅😅 when I saw "cheap" in the title. I thought it would be a mountain bike from Halfords, a £350 Carrera. Expensive for me😂

[@kingtriton7202]

Sick bro, I take my Marin rift zone 1 to snowmass,Trestle and keystone. You don’t need a 10k bike to have fun at the bike park. I ❤Marin

[@jonlavigne3270]

Inspector Jones has a reason to be on the case today. But seriously, I'm a big fan of the San Quentin from afar. It's still a bit beyond my budget because I don't have a budget, but it's rad.

[@Domikazi]

*Pedal* *Pedal* *Pedal* This bike rolls so fast! *Pedal* *Pedal* *Pedal*

[@MattJones]

Haha true. I meant in the take off transitions it generates so much pump. All that pedalling confused my point

[@METEORA_47]

Hardtail legend!!

[@beardedvikingmtber]

Send Jamie down on it 😂

[@HeidiLuechinsoochan]

Thank you Matt

[@Chris7uk00]

The big difference between a hardtail a full sus is after a full day of riding over rough stuff you will feel more knackered and battered coming off the hardtail. I know this cause I ride both over the rough stuff. It requires more input from your legs (lack of rear suspension) your legs have to be the suspension, your upper body is needed too for more balance (leaning left and right, due to the bike being move around more by the trail) also all the trail buzz is sent through the rear stays of the frame. The bike doesn't squat like a full suspension bike (front and rear). You get front end dive of the fork (this shifts you weigh fowards on to the bars threw your hands and arms), so you end up running more air pressure in the fork to compensate for this which send more buzz threw the bars to your hands and arms which after a fews hours starts to cause numbness in your hands, overtime all this trail buzz will fatigue your body pretty quickly and start to hurt your hands, wrists and legs. I bet alot of people have experienced this issue when out riding. Best leave the hardtails for the pump, jump and smooth XC stuff in my opinion. Also Matt not everyone has your skills mate, you can pretty much ride anything anywhere!.

[@jaydenrobertson-zr9fu]

What a vid, this is exactly what I needed on a Monday morning, also is that metal kicker the same one that used to be at red bull hardline?

[@thetrailrippers]

Oakley on a hardtail!! So sick 👊🏽👊🏽

[@wonderwatch2239]

Marin just released the downhill bike, and Mat has to promote the hardtail🤣🤣

[@MTBFRLIF3]

AGRO HARD TAIL FOR THE WINNNN

[@ericluthardt5386]

I still ride a HT, old fixed up schwinn, banshee enigma and dj pk ripper, but my trails are smooth. More pump track meets xc, It's just fun and easy to pop off things. Really don't need full squish for where and what I ride.

[@CarlAlbertVonKönigen]

Fantastic and hopefully you ever hold the speed I gonzahless

[@Tequila628]

U FOKIN WOT MATE? That's bloody bonkers lad!!!1

[@danlovett2158]

Hold my beer, let me get my appolo slant 😂

[@mike_ewins]

I love my san quentin 1 apart from that chain slap. The chain comes of constantly. Ive upgraded the forks and the groupset is next on my list. But as an entry level aggressive hardtail, that bike is so so worth the money. Go and buy one people.... but upgrade those gears.

[@steve23burns]

get a clutched deraileur makes a huge difference.

[@Dexter.Pearson]

Very good bike have it myself 👍

[@BertieClark]

insane mate, you are a monster!

[@hippynurd]

Im only a minute into the video, but its clearly an unfair competition. Matts a pro, no matter what he rides, he is going to win. Its all good tho, its not a real competition, its just some blokes out having a bit of fun, innit.

[@ChaseMalpas]

ur to good matt

[@AlfieMackie-2]

Matt you should look at rs chrono as i know u love your cars

[@xcpt]

Yeah, just because a Prorider with the Skillset of a prorider can ride and survive it, does not mean everyone can. But the San Quentin is a very solid choice as a Bike!

[@VictorJeffs]

We know what needs to happen at hardline next year.😂😂

[@mattwhatever7419]

It would be really good on these videos to hear your opinion on how this compares to an upgraded version. For example you'd normally put a 1.5k ohlins fork on, how are those better? Is it bottoming out, do they provide better tracking, or is it just adjustability?

[@jasonthomas66]

Thank you for showing me why I shouldn't be buying this bike.

[@fredhamilton1239]

Thanks Matt

[@fredhamilton1239]

great vidoe thanlks matt

[@DuckyBee156]

Actually shocked that survived!

[@marklambert8111]

Hard tails are fun for a lot of things, but there’s no denying that a enduro or downhill rig is much more enjoyable for this type of riding 😅

[@CarlAlbertVonKönigen]

Real legends

[@bryanmartin8336]

Up until right now I figured I'd have to rent a full sus bike if I hit Whistler, Snoqualmie, or Steven Pass (again). That said, I'm still not going to take a San Quentin up any of those mountains!

[@the_elven_potato]

i’m waiting for matt to bring the hard tail to hardline

[@scrutch666]

Yeah i get also from point to point with a civic but i prefer the type r

[@KSFPV]

This made me want my dh bike back 😂

[@fud1376]

I love my Hardtail, Ragley BluePigRace with 160 Lyrik Ultimate's....Proper Weapon..Ha!!

[@NedCoombs-t6t]

time to do it again with a Marin San Quentin 20 or 24

[@Pez-mtbhq]

So Matt if you wanted to upgrade on part on the bike what would that be?

[@Marleyfsh]

Yo Mat I was there a couple of mouths ago but I wish I saw you

[@llullwllallkll]

hard tail rules 🚴🚴🚴

[@Danny_Transition_Patrol]

Hit Thumbs Up for Mini Bike’s with Jono next on the Oakley line!

[@theadventuresofraz8706]

You're mad, Matt; ankles of titanium; absolute freak!

[@zaneslavin3161]

"ya wanna have a go on this?" Contemplates life choices... "No"

[@SpaynjXD]

Hes just making fun of the all the 8000 dollar bikes the entire time 💀

[@pizzikek9980]

The Holly hard tail spirit

[@MrChristiangraham]

Tried full sus for a year, went back to hard tail. It was simply more fun.

[@jsipple31]

I also feel like my back tire always flats on my hardtail when I do jumps

[@brucecameron6910]

Hmmm id say yes next we need ben to hit it

[@Dylanpowellspace]

I love hardtail videos Doesn't the marin senquentin one cost a grand?

[@garryhaines3066]

TBH you know you would always have a suspension bike, but HT are good

[@Chad-b7w]

I bought the sq3, and I love it. Upgraded the fork to a bomber z1. And 220 mm rear rotor on the back. Ride everything in the park. It's so quiet, chainless. Dominates in the teck.

[@hedsy]

This looks Iike one of those videos "just because you can doesn't mean you should" lol

[@MattPatterson1988]

not going to lie, that does not sound like you were enjoying it one bit 🤣🤣

[@AndyNoble-c9d]

Where is Ben ?

[@olrenison]

I'm a dyed in the wool hardtail fan but to be fair, that looked blummin horrible! 😂

[@MarvinWestmaas]

Wait what I'm less then a minute in..... is that a Suntour XCM?

[@burningatthetrailhead]

So fun. Aaah, ouch, oooh!

[@Ethyn-j9z]

Nice man

[@chrisdraper9167]

Stock out the box does it come with gusset pedals put the box then

[@devononair]

Is Matt bending his knees when he lands?

[@toby8381]

Think we all know what we want to see for Hardline next year…

[@billstagram4649]

Front forks puttin in a shift

[@shaunmilor]

you can wakesurf on a sheet of plywood also.. just sayin haha