Marin Rift Zone XR AXS on test: Guaranteed fun with plenty of pop in the rear

The Rift Zone XR AXS is not only the latest, but also the most expensive aluminium model from the Californians in the all-mountain range. For those who prefer carbon to insensitive aluminium, the Rift Zone is also available with a carbon fibre main frame and aluminium rear triangle from € 3999. Interesting: Despite the more expensive frame, the price range of the carbon models ends at 5099 euros. The cheapest Rift Zone with an aluminium frame is already available for less than 2000 euros.

A look at the equipment confirms a consistently solid and functional orientation instead of high-end parts. A Rockshox Lyrik suspension fork and a Superdeluxe Select+ shock in the medium Select+ grade are used. The gears are shifted using the wireless Sram GX AXS Transmission, which changes gears reliably even under load. In the practical test, the rear derailleur briefly stopped working and no longer responded to shifting commands despite the full battery. However, once we had removed and reinserted the battery, everything worked reliably again. Sram Code brakes in the inexpensive bronze version and favourable wheels complete the build.

Visually, the Marin stands out from the mass of test bikes and adds a splash of colour. In the saddle, the short, upright riding position is immediately noticeable: The bike has a stubby stem that is only 35 millimetres short and extremely wide handlebars. In combination with the very short chainstays, the Marin tends to climb on steep climbs. You have to actively put pressure on the front wheel. As the affordable wheels are quite heavy, the Rift Zone accelerates rather comfortably. The rear suspension reacts a little unwillingly to the finer details, which means that traction suffers. There are definitely stronger candidates on the climbs.

Marin Riftzone: Driving fun is a top priority

However, as soon as you head downhill, the fun character promised by the colourful exterior comes into play: the Rift Zone XR is a lively and agile bike that is at its best on winding, narrow trails. With its 65.1 steering angle and short chainstays, the wheelbase is relatively short. Manuals can be done with little physical effort, and the rear suspension also has enough pop for flying manoeuvres. Fast hits, on the other hand, come through strongly to the rider. We would have liked a little more sensitivity in rough sections and a little more comfort overall. A softer set-up with a little more SAG brought a slight improvement, but due to the solid construction of the rear triangle with forged parts, the stiffness is generally quite high, as our measured values from the laboratory prove. On the one hand, this has a less forgiving effect, but on the other hand, it also offers enough support for heavier riders.

The unusual tyres stand out in the details: a Maxxis Assegai on the front and rear wheel is unusual. Although the 2.5 mm tyres come in a cheap rubber compound, they offer a large volume and allow low tyre pressures. The cable routing for the rear brake and the telescopic seat post is functional but not very attractive. Although this makes the Marin easy to maintain, it doesn't win any beauty awards. You won't find an integrated tool, an additional mounting option or even a storage compartment on the Marin. This costs points in terms of usability.

Details of the Marin Rift Zone XR AXS

• Price: 5399 Euro
• Suspension travel: 150/130 mm
• Frame material: aluminium
• Wheel size: 29 inch
• Application: All Mountain

Equipment

• Fork: Rockshox Lyrik Select+
• Shock: Rockshox Superdeluxe Select+
• Gear system: Sram GX AXS Transmission, 1x12
• Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 10-52 / 520 %
• Brakes: Sram Code Bronze 200/180 mm
• Telescopic support/stroke: Tranz X / 170 mm
• Wheels: Formula hubs, Marin rims
• Tyres: Maxxis Assegai Exo 29 x 2.5

Measured values

• Total weight: 15.18 kg without pedals
• Weight of wheels: 5428 g
• Acceleration of running wheels: 4362 kg x cm²

Rating: The BIKE judgement is made up of the subjective impressions of the test riders and our laboratory measurements. The judgement is independent of price.

Range of grades: very good (0.5-1.5), good (1.6-2.5), satisfactory (2.6-3.5), sufficient (3.6-4.5), unsatisfactory (4.6-5.5).

Conclusion from Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor

The Marin Rift Zone is a solid all-mountain bike with a robust aluminium frame, where riding fun is a top priority. There is still room for improvement in terms of equipment and suspension.

PRO

• Playful handling
• Rear triangle with good pop

CONTRA

• Less comfortable rear triangle
• Slightly sluggish due to high wheel weight