Opinion on 2009 Marin Mount Vision 5.8

[EricBirk]

Hey guys,

I am trying to get my hands on a decent trail bike to serve as a dual purpose trail and commute machine. I want something that I can trail ride in the river valley here, and a few trips to the mountains, but also something that I can commute to work on the bike paths.

I am a huge fan of the quad link design on their big bikes, I currently have a Quake 7.9 with the 8" link/Elka rear shock, and a Boxxer WC up front that I DH. For an 8" bike it even pedals quite well.

Any opinions on the 5.8?
I should also mention that I am getting a killer deal on it (50-60% off), kinda why I am looking at it as I wasnt planning on getting another bike until next year.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Isn't that more of an AM rig? Personally, I'd go for something more XC for your purposes. Have you thought of a hardtail 29er? 2.3+ for trails and 700x28's for your commutes. No suspension bob soaking up your pedal strokes. And cheaper.

I've been eyeing the Gary Fisher X-Cal's, but I'm a steel fan, so will probably end up with the new Salsa El Mariachi with the slick swing rear dropouts.

 

[EricBirk]

Isn't that more of an AM rig? Personally, I'd go for something more XC for your purposes. Have you thought of a hardtail 29er? 2.3+ for trails and 700x28's for your commutes. No suspension bob soaking up your pedal strokes. And cheaper.

I've been eyeing the Gary Fisher X-Cal's, but I'm a steel fan, so will probably end up with the new Salsa El Mariachi with the slick swing rear dropouts.

I should have explained my riding a bit more in my first post. It is definately more of an all mountain bike but that works for me. I am used to bombing down runs and jumping all the time. I want a bike that I can still have fun with, yet go on more XC style rides, and ride to work on (only about 10km). It needs to be a bit of a do everything bike for me.

I was originally looking into a hardtail because I just wanted something cheap, but I can get my hands on this for $1,800.00.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but you're ok with using an AM bike for XC-style riding? I'm not saying that isn't possible, but at the same time, you should get a bike more suited for your needs. You are going to commute, go on XC rides---get an XC bike. And you can definitely have a ton of fun on XC bikes. I currently have both XC and AM and I can't stand the sluggish handling of the AM bike on the road (to the trail) and just the heft of it. It is going bye-bye.

 

[EricBirk]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but you're ok with using an AM bike for XC-style riding? I'm not saying that isn't possible, but at the same time, you should get a bike more suited for your needs. You are going to commute, go on XC rides---get an XC bike. And you can definitely have a ton of fun on XC bikes. I currently have both XC and AM and I can't stand the sluggish handling of the AM bike on the road (to the trail) and just the heft of it. It is going bye-bye.

hahaha to me the AM bike will feel like a feather. I am ok with an AM bike, its more what I am looking for I guess due to my riding style. I consider XC anything but down, and my XC will consist of going down as well as jumping a bit.

 

[Cackalak Han]

I understand that COMPARED to your DH bike, it will feel lighter and quicker. But it is and will always be an AM bike. There are better options. It's like if I asked if my S-Works hardtail would be good for downhill runs. It's definitely stouter than my road bike, and that's the riding I'm used to, so I should be ok with that, right?

 

[EricBirk]

Your right it is and always will be an AM bike, and I am ok with that. I have ripped it around downtown and have no issues with the "sluggish" or "slack" feel at all. I dont want a bike that I can ride down the street, yet the first time I slam into a root or it leaves the ground it folds in half. Up here the AM bike is by far the most versatile bike you can ride as you can go up and down with it. I dont want a bike with a vertical head angle that wants to throw me off as soon as I point it down a hill.

What I am trying to get at is that I want a bike that I can keep my "Dh" style of riding on, to a point, and still climb with. The AM category fits that perfectly.