The BRAND NEW 2023 Trek Marlin 8 Gen 3 Released!!! (Review + Weight)

[@TheLawlbreaker]

Having just picked up a new Judy Gold, it's far more of a noodle than I'm happy with. Adding travel would only be desirable on rougher trails, but that additional travel will only add flex; there really isn't a good case to be made for upping the travel. It's a fine fork for getting around town, gravel, and CX / CX racing (it is lightweight). Trek always has inflated retail as they offer a discount to NICA members; the problem with this retail price is, even with that discount, the price is higher than good (arguably better) alternatives. Trek support is great, but QC has been far more variable than one would expect for the premium price.

[@Qlicky]

Agreed. Trek is too expensive for what they offer compared to competition. Having said that, I was shopping used for a month and finally found a Marlin 8 2nd Gen in basically new condition for about $600. Couldn't be happier with the bike.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I have a 1995 Nuke Proof Ti. Frame 17" Mt. bike, (I used to work there when they were in Michigan USA), that is very complete, including the twist on Ti. skewers that are super light. The bike with a 3" Rock Shox Duke fork weights just over 22lbs, and boy, you can sure feel the difference. It has a shorter wheelbase as a 24 speed 3 chain ring bike, and it is fast. The frame sold for about $1,500 in the 90's, and about 3 grand complete. The V-brakes are as strong as these disk brakes, (so far as I can tell.).

[@rfo23]

I own the crimson colour. Absolutely love it!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

It's so good!

[@chrisa6950]

How has it been treating you? I am picking this up in a couple days and will be riding this weekend. My first MTB so I don't expect to be bombing intense trails anytime soon.

[@rfo23]

@@chrisa6950 love mine. So fast and smooth.

[@TheFaz793]

This looks like a great bike for someone who wants to hit some good trails but can't afford a roscoe. Trail geometry in a cross-country bike! I have a Marlin 7 gen 2 and a roscoe 8 2023. Still feel like having this gen 3 in my fleet 😅

[@jasonricard5058]

compare for the Marlin 7 to the Roscoe 8 for me. Why would I want one or the other?

[@TheFaz793]

@jasonricard5058 in my opinion, Marlins are cross country bikes because of their 100mm travel forks. You can ride them on trails but they're not made to be ridden on very rough trails and downhill rides. Roscoe is a beast! It's a hardcore trail bike.

[@aldomolinamoore]

@@TheFaz793793 I had read his review the day before yesterday and thought, " Man, I wish it was answered"... Here I am seeing this lol

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@TheFaz793 I bet you can ride it anywhere the Rosco goes with no problems.

[@Qlicky]

@@EarthSurferUSAI've got the Marlin 8 2nd Gen and I can say with certainty that it's a more capable bike than 80% of people riding them. The Giant I trashed in the 90s going anywhere and everywhere with it doesn't even come close in comparison. People are just spoiled.

[@harrygrimley4352]

Seems more like a gravel. Nice though. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@jordanoliveto5863]

Always has been, not meant for real mountain bikiing

[@Terror_Unit]

⁠@@jordanoliveto5863Eh, used my Gen 2 in MOAB along with my Status 160. The Marlin 8s are capable. If you’re not a good rider however, probably not for you.

[@RadoslawAdamStachnik]

My son has been riding it since December 2022❤🎉❤

[@chrisa6950]

How is it holding up? This will be my first mtb and I am picking it up in a couple of days. I have ridden road bikes for years, but this was a whole other beast that I was a bit unfamiliar with.

[@kevinmedina2254]

I wish they would just make this thru axle. Then id buy one.

[@seboc1]

Maxxis tyres. What went wrong?

[@tanseewei99]

Thanks James. I have been following your videos, they are informative. How is Marlin 8 compared to Giant Fathom 1 which u also reviewed?

[@nyreppin1]

2 cents alert! Definitely not a bike worth spending money on if you plan on hitting tough trails or competing in races IMO. The frame isn't built to withstand anything too crazy and it's just heavy enough to slow you down in a race. I upgraded to a top fuel and even though it's heavier I'm able to hit everything i see, take it to bike parks and run XC races. No matter what components you upgrade on the Marlin the frame will always remain the same

[@_BigBoss...]

Between x caliber 8 and marlin 8 2023, which car should I choose? Please help me answer

[@karimt99]

Better X-Caliber 8 for speed and sport vtt or Marline 8 gen 3 ???

[@alonzosmith6189]

Nice, my 1st bike is the Giant FastRoad

[@Bonboy2012]

Recommended this to my friend as a first bike. Very nice first bike I think. Very versatile hybrid with 40mm tires, Shimano Sora, and a carbon fork. Great value at $1000 too. I think James should do a review on it since there is literally none out there.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

I'd make a video on one if I could ever get my hands on it

[@thedownunderverse]

@@Jamesthebikeguyive seen one in the flesh here in ‘straya. They are basically a diverge evo without the wanky steerer suspension and about 1/3 the price

[@lucasfesta]

SPECIALIZED CHISEL OR TREK MARLIN 8 ? WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY ?

[@Ilovethisaccount500]

my jaw dropped when you said the price, that was way more than I was expecting but I think its a great bike.

[@TheLawlbreaker]

There are definitely better value options for this MTB category.

[@jasonricard5058]

@@TheLawlbreaker What do you suggest?

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@jasonricard5058 The 2022 marlin 7. $900 and a better shifting system. I prefer a coil spring over a air fork, (and can be tuned to be better than air. Plus, a spring can not go flat.), and this bike looks to be about 5lbs heaver than the 7. I like the steeper head angle of the 7 also. Steeper turns better, and the bike is still plenty stable.

[@Qlicky]

@@EarthSurferUSADisagree. I've got the Marlin 7 2021 and Marlin 8 2nd gen (2002). The air fork on 8 is a LOT better than the spring loaded one on 7. Having said that, at $900 Marlin 7 is an awesome bike. I paid $450 for Marlin 7 and $600 for Marlin 8. Both used and in absolute mint condition, like new. I dont think they had 400 miles between them when I purchased them. A lot of people buy bikes and then never ride them for whatever reason. Buying used is the way to go imho.

[@CasperRc81]

Really nice bike. I’m not a qr complainer. But I think the Marin Team 1 would be the buy. Out a dropper

[@mr.d7429]

This bike frame appears not to be for tapered front suspension forks??

[@greekveteran2715]

This or the Elite version of the Specialized Rockhopper 29? Can anybody help me choose,please?

[@GokkunGuru]

Why these mid range bikes still don’t run boost sizing?

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Cost. Most specifically repair cost. I know it over $1,000. It's hard to think of this as an entry level bike, but somebody would be real pissed if they needed to replace their wheel and they only started at $250. It also allows them to put money into a few different places on the bike and boost would not make a meaningful benefit on something like this or the type of writing somebody would use it for.

[@myfreakyvalentine]

Hi James, could you let us know about your bike overview arrangements? Do you work for a distributor? Are these paid promotions? TIA.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Just a FYI the answer of your questions is called out in the video description of each video, but here ya go! These videos are done out of my own curiousity and goal of creating a digital archive of specs and weights for bikes and gear. Mostly gear I should say, but a couple of years ago when I did my first bike I realized that bikes bring way more views than a brake rotor does lol. I work in the bicycle industry, have so most of my life. These videos are not part of my job nor are they done with any guidance or oversight of my employer. Solely done on what interests me and what access I may or may not have to bikes or gear to take out into the parking lot. I also make sure to never suggest someone buy something, or use a link ect, as that's not what these videos are about. Rarely do I do paid promotions, but in the cases that I do, I overtly call it out and what the relationship is. I also click the "paid promotions" button with KZbin that tags the video as such. The only "paid" videos to date have been products given to me, such as a bottom bracket from Wheels MFG. I have yet to do anything that was an exchange of money, but maybe in the future and if I do it will certainly be clearly laid out. Hope that helps your curiosity.

[@jeffreyknox3676]

New Subscriber! Great channel! I’m in Sturbridge Ma.! I’m a mountain biker and looking for people to ride with. Usually ride at Hodges. Great videos, keep it up!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

It was a sales brochure.

[@samuelshelton8042]

That's funny cos I'm from a place called stourbridge hahaha..I am buying the red marlin 8 after getting my xcaliber 7 stolen

[@bert6744]

Nice job!

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Thanks for watching

[@alessandroisaale5752]

what size is the front rotor ?

[@harryscarisbrick2457]

Anyone know if I can upgrade the chainring to a double

[@btcodm5035]

its a great beginer bike since all the specs on the frame are already good wich only neeeds a few upgrades like the crank

[@michaelmay9728]

Why no tapered head tube at this level

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Why would you need one at this level?

[@michaelmay9728]

@@Jamesthebikeguy it’s nice to have, just for future proofing, bought my son a Schwinn, and it way easier then throwing the whole bike away

[@theymademepickaname1248]

​@@Jamesthebikeguyit's nice to have options. I bought a bike with this fork about 2 years ago. My skills have progressed, and I would like to get a little more performance out of my bike ( plus shave a few pounds.) I'm not ready to drop $2 to $3 thousand on a new bike yet, so a fork upgrade is a good option. Luckily, my bike has a tapered head tube.

[@joshuaallswang8016]

It has a 44mm HT which means it can take a tapered fork! It just requires a new headset to accommodate the new tapered fork.

[@TheLawlbreaker]

@@joshuaallswang8016 That changes the geometry and is never as strong.

[@vbBegin1957]

Im disappointed that its discontinued by Trek

[@Tides212]

Scott scale replica

[@richarde1355]

I am a bit surprised at the weight; seems a bit chunky.

[@TheCanopyAirResidencesMakati]

So great to know that it is now MADE IN CAMBODIA. instead of C

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Just a sales promo. No different than a sale brochure. I understand the Shimano Deore on the "7" is a better shifting system. Nope, won't find that in a sales brochure. I just bought a 2022 7, and I am not jealous.

[@randommtbridr]

No tapered head tube?

[@frotto]

and no boost in the rear axle

[@SPECIALIZED95711]

It's funny how people get on board with marketing nonsense, boost, carbon, internal cables, etc....

[@randommtbridr]

@@SPECIALIZED95711 I mean, the tapered head tube lets you use more and different forks, ion give a f about carbon Edit:I don’t know what is "boost"

[@gregslowik4756]

RockShox Judy Silver / 30mm ......Really?

[@grindelwald_5306]

66° head angle is overkill for xc bike right? maybe its trail bike too i think this bike can use 140mm fork travel

[@shanea3956]

but why not buy a roscoe for 3 hundred more?

[@matiasnicolas7610]

for a $1200 bike, mt200 brakes? is this a joke

[@THEBLACKANARCHIST]

I'll pass

[@theymademepickaname1248]

This guy gets snippy.

[@JohnCena-dp5bd]

Square Taper on a $1300 bike.Yikes

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

No square taper on this bike.

[@theymademepickaname1248]

Meh.

[@Jamesthebikeguy]

Different strokes for different folks. That's why there is a nearly unlimited number of bike brands and models to choose from.

[@aryanalasvandian1579]

Beautiful heavy rubbish, these types of front forks roughly do nothing in city but add weight. Full suspension Mountain bikes are made for mountains, rigids for cities and there is nothing between them.

[@PizzaSlices2000]

Shitty bike really. Maxxis tires? Plus, nobody uses 27.5 inch tires anymore. Even the brakes are not that good

[@user-ef1vz9jm9o]

😂

[@darrellkidd8946]

Roscoe 9 is better

[@joshuaallswang8016]

LoL..DUH!!🤣🤣

[@Reeltinyphish]

You could buy 2 of these marlins for the price of a roscoe 9 lol

[@SPECIALIZED95711]

Lol, yeah, you cannot compare $1300 - $2800.

[@richarde1355]

😂