I am confused about rim size concerning a bike assembly project I've been doing. I want to know if Shimano MT15 Wheels will be compatible with a 1997 Gary Fisher Marlin frame. I also have purchased a RockShox XC30TK - Coil 80mm 26-Inch 9mm fork, if that is relevant.

How do I determine if these components will work together?

Those wheels are disc-only, and your frame does not have a disc brake mount. The front wheel would work if you installed an appropriate disc caliper, but the rear will not work unless you fabricate or install a disc brake adapter. The adapters I've seen are more expensive than some cheap frames.

Are the original parts broken or worn out? The price for the rims w/ free rotors is very, very good. Hopefully you can get them to work on your bike or just resell them at a small profit on C/L (the worse case?). And looks like you have avoided the normal mistake of buying 700C's to fit a 26" frame so you are way ahead of other beginners. Others have pointed out that the disk brakes bring issues you may have trouble solving, More than likely you will just have to put the rotors on the wheels and try to put the wheels on the frame, then see if you can fit the calipers using any mounts that came with the kit, but you could just use the original rim brakes and keep the rotors in reserve unit you can sort out how they might be integrated. Even if you don't use the rotors, you are still money ahead on the wheels (assuming your current ones needed replacing anyway). Keep us posted on your progress (and hopefully someone has done the deed on the same frame and can tell you what needs to be done to make it all go well).

These would work at about the same price point

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...87_-1___400933

So would an Eastern Nighttrain MTB Rear ($115) and Front ($80) Wheel be compatible with my frame ('97 Marlin)? What about a Mavic 26" Crossride UB MTB Wheelset ($170)? Any opinions on the prices?

And thanks, ksisler. I'll update my progress at some point. It's definitely not cost effective to assemble a bike component by component (at my level, anyway), but I'm having some fun and learning a lot.

Well, you've got a good attitude, and you're asking the right questions. Both will "pay off" sooner or later (probably sooner in your case). Making sure that you know exactly what you need before you order will save you a bunch.




This is very true. I just spent ~ $400 completing a "bits and pieces" frame up build that I could have bought "ready to ride" for ~ $200 or so. But hey, it's what I wanted to do. Btw, you'll want to avoid ordering a just few parts at a time in order to reduce shipping costs. Doing this will, of course, be much easier once you've got the frame, fork, and wheelset to work with (I'm sure that you already know this, but I thought I'd mention it anyway).

Thanks FMB42. I really want to order those nighttrain wheels, but I'm waiting to hear if they're compatible with my frame or not. I think they must be, but I'd like confirmation from someone more knowledgeable before I commit.

The Eastern wheels: no. These are disc-brake only, and the front utilizes a 20mm "thru-axle" to boot.

The Mavic set will work with your frame/fork, and that's the same price as Performance: https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...34_-1___400933 . Performance also sells a slightly heavier wheelset for $40 less: https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._400002_400219

Darn, I really liked the blue of those Eastern wheels. I thought they were compatible from what you folks said, but there's so many different variables that are going over my head. I don't suppose anyone could recommend some blue-rimmed wheels that are $100-$200 that would be compatible with my '97 Marlin frame?

DIY? Metal can be painted Blue, the part that the brake shoes grab will work better
if un painted there where the brakes grab the rim.

friction, how you stop, will wear thru the paint if over sprayed ..
that is if the Blue ness is what attracted you..

Velocity powdercoats colors on rims & some older rims were color anodized.