Choices in selling my Marin
 

Looking for some opinions here.

I bought a used mtb online at the end of last season. Wasn't sure about the size, but the deal was right and I figured I could resell if I had to and not lose any money. The thing's a 2004 Marin Pine Mountain hardtail with less than 100 miles on it. Excellent condition. Sweet steel frame. Retailed for $1300. The 2005 model retails for $1700.

I love the bike, but I'm starting to think it might be just too small.

My question is... Would I be best off selling the thing outright and starting over from scratch? Or would I be better off stripping it down, selling the frame, keeping the components and buying a new frame of my choice (the components might as well be brand new they're in such good condition)? Any idea what the frame alone might be worth?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Well if the components are in good condition and all you might as well just find a frame that fits. a good hardtail frame can be found for under 300.

That's kind of what I was thinking, but what kind of selection do I have in hardtails sold as frames only? Seems like those sold as frames only tend to be quite higher than $300. Any recommendations? I'd actually love to go with a Gunnar frame, but those obviously are well above that price range.

Theres plenty of stuff on ebay. What is your budjet?

well i know i got my frame for leaderbikeusa on ebay. I love it, it was just 99 dollars! I was expecting lower quality, look at the reviews. Its the LD 515. I have pictures in the thread post your rigs, its worth a look

Basically, my budget depends on what I could sell the Marin frame for, plus or minus $100 or so. And that's part of my question--roughly how much would my Marin frame be worth?

Not entirely sure, i can make a guess based on the price of the bike and what components it has hold on

Well you know you can always just go on ebay, stick a starting auction at 100 and see where that takes you.

Have a look at theTig Team SL frame from Merlin, i brought one as a complete bike recently and its a fantastic frame for the money. Its so stiff and light u can throw it around with no effort at all, i would highly recommend one. Merlin also ship to the US/Canada so you could buy in confidence if u choose to.

If nothing else, that's what I'll probably do. I think it all depends on who's looking for what. I went ahead and bought the Pine Mountain even though I was unsure of the size because I was shopping for a 2004 Marin Nail Trail, but couuldn't find any dealers that still had any in stock and couldn't get one anymore from their reps. And the 2005 models made a BIG jump in price (plus the new color schemes were pretty weak, in my own opinion). When I found the Pine Mountain, a nice steel frame, I had to jump on it. Now, looking for a new frame, I don't want to take a step down in quality and/or appeal. (Did I mention how much I love the frame? :D )

I would sell the bike as a whole.

Odds are, BB, seatpost, steerer length? will be different.

Although stripping it down and rebuilding on another frame would be a good learning experience.

Steerer length right now is longer than I need. I'd have to cut it down if I kept the Marin frame, so I've got some room to work with there. Seatpost wouldn't be a problem, as the frames I do have my eye on are the same diameter. Plus the post I've got is a brand new Thomson which I know I could sell for about what I paid for it. I'm considering upgrading the BB and crankset, too. And, yes, rebuilding on another frame would be an added bonus since I enjoy doing most of my own wrench work.

I like doing my own work as well, also 68 english thread seems to be the most common anyways.

Have you ever considered buying a new longer stem, moving the seat back & raising the seatpost? You can easily get a medium bike to ride like a large. Alot less $$$ than what you're thinking about spending....

Raising my seatpost any more would lock my knees out---it's already set for max pedaling efficiency. The seatpost is a setback model, and the clamp is almost to the front of a saddle with long rails, so the saddle can't go back any further. A longer stem wouldn't put me behind the pedals any more than I already am, which is the main fit problem I'm having.

Thanks for the suggestion, though. I'm actually going in for a Road bike fitting next week and will be bringing in the Marin to see what the shop thinks. We'll see.