What kind of Marin mtb do I have?
03-07-15, 02:41 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 40
Bikes: Orbea, Carlton, Gazelle, Centurion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What kind of Marin mtb do I have?
I looked and learned, but still not sure exactly what it is? Learned a lot about Marin's and Mtb's in general because of this one - a bargain I couldn't resist 
Came nude as you see. 2145 grams, and an elusive seatpost diameter for now. Serial number(?) is WDN3537J, and the other number is M23BA0253 - anybody have an idea what model it is?
03-07-15, 02:49 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,663
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5766 Post(s)
Liked 2,538 Times
in
1,404 Posts
I don't know their line, and even so might not recognize the model anyway. But it appears to be a welded Titanium frame (made in Taiwan).
Based on the aparent geometry, I suspect it wasn't built for mtb, but more likely cyclocross or touring. Or you could say a road frame with cantilever brake bosses.
Start by checking the wheel size using the bosses as a guide. The right wheels most likely 700c, will have the rim about 1-1/4" above the rear canti boss. If so, you'll want to find the appropriate fork with canti bosses.
BTW- I said Ti based on the color of the metal and the welds. I'm 98% certain it's not aluminum for a variety of reasons, but it could be steel, or stainless steel. Steel is easy enough to confirm either way with a magnet, but separating stainless from Ti isn't all that easy except if it's one of the stainless grades that's slightly magnetic.
Based on the aparent geometry, I suspect it wasn't built for mtb, but more likely cyclocross or touring. Or you could say a road frame with cantilever brake bosses.
Start by checking the wheel size using the bosses as a guide. The right wheels most likely 700c, will have the rim about 1-1/4" above the rear canti boss. If so, you'll want to find the appropriate fork with canti bosses.
BTW- I said Ti based on the color of the metal and the welds. I'm 98% certain it's not aluminum for a variety of reasons, but it could be steel, or stainless steel. Steel is easy enough to confirm either way with a magnet, but separating stainless from Ti isn't all that easy except if it's one of the stainless grades that's slightly magnetic.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Last edited by FBinNY; 03-07-15 at 02:52 PM.
03-07-15, 02:50 PM
#3
Banned
Tig Steel , Probably by Maxway, Imported from Taiwan (Sticker was an easy clue). , they probably sell the same frame thru other importers
with their chosen brand name applied.
+1. measure the radius to the brake post from the axle center of the rear dropout.
with their chosen brand name applied.
+1. measure the radius to the brake post from the axle center of the rear dropout.
Last edited by fietsbob; 03-07-15 at 02:55 PM.
03-07-15, 03:23 PM
#4
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,499
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2740 Post(s)
Liked 3,388 Times
in
2,051 Posts
03-07-15, 03:44 PM
#5
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,845
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2925 Post(s)
Liked 2,921 Times
in
1,489 Posts
Why do you think it is a Marin?
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
03-07-15, 03:53 PM
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 40
Bikes: Orbea, Carlton, Gazelle, Centurion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-07-15, 03:56 PM
#7
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,845
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2925 Post(s)
Liked 2,921 Times
in
1,489 Posts
Ok
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
03-07-15, 05:27 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,799
Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times
in
225 Posts
Knowing next to nothing about Marin bikes except their reputation back in the day, I'd say that you have something nice.
03-07-15, 05:32 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,663
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5766 Post(s)
Liked 2,538 Times
in
1,404 Posts
Check that. It would imply a wheel of 950mm diameter or so. I suspect it's more like 275 or 280mm which would be right for a 700c wheel (622mm / 2 minus 30mm or so).
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-07-15, 06:28 PM
#11
Still learning
03-07-15, 06:33 PM
#12
Senior Member
Could be a Marin Team frame from ca 1993.
03-09-15, 03:03 PM
#13
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 40
Bikes: Orbea, Carlton, Gazelle, Centurion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-10-15, 07:24 AM
#14
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 40
Bikes: Orbea, Carlton, Gazelle, Centurion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It does look exactly like a '92 or '93 Team Marin, or Team Issue. These are the only two models I can spot, with struts on the headtube?
If You scroll down to page 17 and 18, You can see both models:
https://www.mtb-kataloge.de/Bikekatal...Marin/1993.pdf
03-10-15, 10:45 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Yukon, Canada
Posts: 8,759
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
14 Posts
Thank You for the link - I have been reading up! If the danish serial number is to be trusted, it is a '93. Strange thing about that is I can't find the importer in the system, so not completly sure wether to trust that...
It does look exactly like a '92 or '93 Team Marin, or Team Issue. These are the only two models I can spot, with struts on the headtube?
If You scroll down to page 17 and 18, You can see both models:
https://www.mtb-kataloge.de/Bikekatal...Marin/1993.pdf
It does look exactly like a '92 or '93 Team Marin, or Team Issue. These are the only two models I can spot, with struts on the headtube?
If You scroll down to page 17 and 18, You can see both models:
https://www.mtb-kataloge.de/Bikekatal...Marin/1993.pdf
This one is a little long but you get the idea. You'll want something close to 400mm A-C I would think.
Trigon MTB 26" XC Carbon Rigid Fork Alloy Steerer MC03 Disc V Brake New | eBay
__________________
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
03-10-15, 11:38 AM
#16
Senior Member
This is my 1991 Team Marin. To be honest most of the Marins from that era looked very similar. I think mine has a weird 30.3 seatpost size or something like that.
04-21-19, 01:17 PM
#17
glorified 5954
Hello,
What type of finish did these early '90's Marin Team's have? In the catalog (in German) it says that the frame is plated to save weight from the paint... What kind of plating? Is the frame simply brushed and then zinc plated?
Thanks and regards.
What type of finish did these early '90's Marin Team's have? In the catalog (in German) it says that the frame is plated to save weight from the paint... What kind of plating? Is the frame simply brushed and then zinc plated?
Thanks and regards.
04-21-19, 01:55 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Murrieta Ca.
Posts: 537
Bikes: Teledyne Titan, Bob Jackson Audax Club, Bob Jackson World Tour, AlAn Record Ergal, 3Rensho Katana.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 215 Post(s)
Liked 623 Times
in
245 Posts
: Mike
__________________
Booyah Hubba-Hubba!!!
Booyah Hubba-Hubba!!!
04-21-19, 02:12 PM
#19
glorified 5954
04-21-19, 02:30 PM
#20
glorified 5954
Iwould build it up with one of those carbon forks from ebay with the short A-C dimension. It would make a really nice ride.
This one is a little long but you get the idea. You'll want something close to 400mm A-C I would think.
Trigon MTB 26" XC Carbon Rigid Fork Alloy Steerer MC03 Disc V Brake New | eBay
This one is a little long but you get the idea. You'll want something close to 400mm A-C I would think.
Trigon MTB 26" XC Carbon Rigid Fork Alloy Steerer MC03 Disc V Brake New | eBay
04-21-19, 02:48 PM
#22
glorified 5954
Well I really want to keep all the original 900 series XTR components. I've been looking for a used bottom bracket but can't find one that's perfect for the price so most likely will get a phil wood or white industries square taper bottom bracket.
The wheels I will have to build up with new rims because the ones that are on there right now are so thin that the pumped-up tire is bending them outwards extremely. That will be kind of tough because finding high quality lightweight rims for v brakes gets more difficult every day.
I measured the seat post and I think it came in at 26.4. it's going to be impossible to find a nice carbon seatpost in that size.
I will be doing a carbon handlebar and carbon fork with a nice stem.
The frame is at the shop right now having new bottle holder bosses welded in. It comes back in 2 weeks at which time I will send it to Germany to have it re-brushed and again nickel-plated.
The wheels I will have to build up with new rims because the ones that are on there right now are so thin that the pumped-up tire is bending them outwards extremely. That will be kind of tough because finding high quality lightweight rims for v brakes gets more difficult every day.
I measured the seat post and I think it came in at 26.4. it's going to be impossible to find a nice carbon seatpost in that size.
I will be doing a carbon handlebar and carbon fork with a nice stem.
The frame is at the shop right now having new bottle holder bosses welded in. It comes back in 2 weeks at which time I will send it to Germany to have it re-brushed and again nickel-plated.
05-16-19, 01:56 AM
#23
Newbie
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Please update this thread as you progress on this build! I just saw a 1992 Team Issue at local shop today and am tempted to buy it, but it's a bit over my budget if I include the things I want to upgrade.
Are you adding additional bottle holder bosses? What do you think you're going to do with the bike? I'm looking for an old steel frame for a long-distance bikepacking trip and this looks like a good option, except it doesn't have any rack braze-ons.
Are you adding additional bottle holder bosses? What do you think you're going to do with the bike? I'm looking for an old steel frame for a long-distance bikepacking trip and this looks like a good option, except it doesn't have any rack braze-ons.
05-17-19, 07:11 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 778
Bikes: Marin Bolinas ridge, Carlton Corsa 5, Falcon Olympic 12, 98 Shesh Rockhopper,
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Judging by the bosses on the headtube it’s definitely a Marin Team Issue circa 93-95, I have just sold one.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
landlover1
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
28
06-02-11 04:52 AM
