rellimnad

I purchased this used Gary Fisher Marlin for $175 from a local pawn shop, previous help from this forum helped me determine that is a 2010. First off, how did I do? Secondly, what should my next step be? I tested it out on some local trails and everything on the bike seems to be in alright shape. I'm not a fan of the toe straps so those will go but should I invest any more money into this bike or just ride it as is?

Thanks in advanced for the help!

osco53

Ok Loose the toe straps pronto.

You said everything seems to be working, shifting, brakes ok ?
Fork not bottoming out ? air fork ? spring hydro ?

Next check ALL the spokes for tight, by hand, each one....
Roll the wheels,,do they need truing ?
Tires not cracked or dry rotted...
Chain lubed ?

Pull the seat post out and grease it, re install it..

Check all the nuts n bolts,, People always over tighten the pedals, sometimes way over.
If they can be broken free just re snug them.

5 to 6 nm of torque Is all the stem needs at the bars and neck...

This next one is IMPORTANT,,,
Stand over the bike, grab all the front brake, locking it, take your other hand, use your thumb and place that thumb across the head set where it meets the frame.,,Like,,,hand wraped around top tube,,, thumb extended forward covering the brearing seal and onto the neck...

Push the bike forward and back,,, Your looking for play in the head set,,any Is bad BUT !!!!
that top bolt facing straight up is an adjustment NOT a tighten down bolt.....

If there is any play loosen the stem up good and turn the bolt untill any play is gone,,NOT tight,,
re-tighten the stem. The steering should be smooth and fairly light, no binding.

If this was neglected, ridden real loose the neck of the frame can get oval shaped,, turns a frame into garage art

Now go ride it, take the first ride easy, no jumps..

osco53

Pawn shop bike,,,, find the frame serial numbers, make sure they are on the pawn shop receipt, proving you didn't steel it.

Most local Police or Sheriff have a bike registration program, get registered asap...

Looks like you live in an apartment,,a bit of advice,,
cable locks can be cut in seconds, chains faster,, you leave it propped outside on that rail for just a second and it may be gone,,,just sayin...

osco53

You'll be more comfortable if you level that seat...

Zephyr11

Swap the toe clips for either clipless pedals or pinned platforms, whichever you prefer.

If everything is in good condition, ride it and upgrade things as they break, or as you decide you want more performance in a certain area. Don't just upgrade blindly before even seeing what you do and don't like about the bike.

osco53

The best upgrade bar none,,,saddle time..

Don't spend money on anything but ride gear, Hydration pack, stuff to change a flat in the field, helmet, gloves, good shoes.
Tires if needed,,
Chain repair stuff is a good idea,, so is a first aid kit......
They took duct tape to the moon and on every shuttle mission, My moma didn't raise no fool.
I roll some in a ball, keep it with me..
And electrical tape is as good as any stitch job a doctor could do if you slice yourself open...

Fill your skills bag !!!
Eat right,
Hydrate right,
Ride It like you stole it,

Your searching for the, 'Flow'

It's all about the Flow

There Is ONLY the Flow

Google it.

rellimnad

Thanks for all the advice, I'll definitely go over all those steps you mentioned and the toe straps are gone. The seat is also a little cracked so I'll be swapping that out with an extra I have.

As far as duct tape is concerned, take an old store loyalty card or the like and wrap duct tape around it a bunch of times. This will fit nicely in your gear bag and be a little more manageable when you need to use it!

roccobike

You got it for $175!, I need to take you to the bike shop next time I buy a bike and let you bargain with them. Way to go, I think you did well.
Where in NC are you. Lots of NC folks on these forums.

LesterOfPuppets

I don't mind toeclips myself but if you're gonna ditch 'em, definitely get different pedals.

rellimnad

It was at a pawn shop but yeah it seems like a good deal from what I'm hearing. I live in Wilmington and have only ridden at the couple local trails around here. Advice on where I can go that's not to far?

roccobike

I'm in the Raleigh area. Triangle MTB, trianglemtb.com can provide you with information regarding the trails in this area. Harris Lake is my ATF. But Raleigh is a 2+ hour ride for you. Sanford has a couple of trails, SanLee is supposed to be a very nice trail with lots of climbs and a difficult technical area. That's a little closer, but still over an hour from your location. Sorry, I don't know any trails in your area. As you know, Pisgah is in our state, that ought to provide enough challenge for the most hard core MTBer.

WVmtbkr

Sounds like a great deal to me for a first time bike. As far as what to upgrade, I wouldn't suggest trying to go wild on trying to upgrade the performance of the bike. Switch out the comfort items such as seat, pedals, and grips, to suit your liking. Looks like those brakes are Avid BB7's, which are top notch mechanical brakes. If they are the BB5's which don't have the outside pad adjustment knob on them, they are a lot harder to adjust and prone to rubbing, and I would recommend an upgrade to 7's but only if they are giving you problems. Otherwise I would recommend just leaving the bike the way it is, riding the crap out of it, and saving your money for a new bike. It will cost you ten times more to spec your current bike out with top notch components than it would to buy a new bike with the whole package you want. By the time you wear this one out, you will have some cash toward a new one, and a far better idea of the style of riding you like, and what to look for in a new bike.

Canker

I don't know, it is a fairly good bike already. If you can find a good deal on a used air fork and wheelset down the road it might be worth it. Used 26er stuff can be found cheap.

ghause

I've got one of those from '96!
I redid the wheels after taco-ing the front one.
I bumped the drivetrain up to xtr as stuff got busted.
Great bike.