STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS FIRST RIDES

The Rift Zone is Marin's trail bike, updated for 2023. This model is a 29er, but 650b-wheeled versions are also available, along with junior-specific 26in- and 24-in-wheeled bikes. The XR tested here is the range-topper, but impressively costs just over £3k.

THE FRAME 

Special forming techniques have been used to shape the Rift Zone's 'Series 3' aluminium tubes. The rear dropouts, main-pivot yoke and rocker link are all forged for higher strength. Marin have refined the internal cable routing - the entry and exit ports on the front triangle have brazed-in sections with a smoothed finish, while the ports by the head tube are angled to help reduce cable bowing. Elsewhere, the Rift Zone now has robust chain-slap protection and uses SRAM's universal derailleur hanger (UDH) standard.

Marin have tweaked the Rift Zone's leverage rate to make its 130mm of rear-wheel travel more progressive, and also adjusted the anti-squat and anti-rise, to help make the suspension work better when pedalling and feel neutral under braking.

Key updates to the geometry help bolster the 2023 Rift Zone's modern trail bike feel without straying too far from the measurements that helped make its predecessor so popular. Headline figures on the large size include a slack 65.5-degree head angle, steep 77-degree seat tube angle, long 485mm reach, short 430mm chainstays and 1,235.4mm wheelbase.

THE KIT