I WANT A CUSTOM BIKE, TOO
Question:
I read the “B’s Buzz” section in the February issue of Mountain Bike Action, and yeah, you’ve got me itching to try my hand at building a custom bike. I was wondering how you got your Marin frame, and if it’s possible for me to purchase one. No worries if not, but I’m just curious because I’ve actually been thinking about purchasing that bike. The only reason I’m hesitant to pull the trigger is because of the cheaper components that it uses.
Christian Stypa
Cheers from Arizona
Answer:
Unfortunately, Marin doesn’t sell the Rift Zone as a frame only; however, they do offer a decent parts spec that could be upgraded over time. The bike I built was over $1,000 more than the Rift Zone 3 model you can buy online or at your local dealer. If you were to take that additional money and use it for upgrades, you could have a pretty sweet ride. The first things I would focus on are the brakes and shifter. My custom build has identical suspension, so no upgrades would be needed in that department. The next thing you would want to do is look into upgrading the wheels to a lighter set. Keep in mind that if you pull off parts while they’re still new, you may be able to sell them to help recoup upgrade costs. Hope to see a photo of your rad new bike soon!
Check Out MBA’s
First Look: Marin Rift Zone Carbon
First Ride: Marin Rift Zone Carbon
MBA Bike Test: Marin Bike’s Rift Zone Carbon 2
Have a question for the MBA crew? You can send your brain busters to
mbaction@hi-torque.com.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GET MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
Mountain Bike Action is a monthly magazine devoted to all things mountain biking (yes, that’s 12 times a year because we never take a month off of mountain biking). It has been around since 1986 and we’re still having fun.
Start a subscription by clicking here or calling (800) 767-0345.