It has more suspension travel than the original Alpine Trail E, too. With its DH-ready spec and large battery, this top-of-the-range E2 model is a heavy bike, but it's well-priced and feels at home on the fastest and roughest descents.
THE FRAME
There are more subtle details on the 'Series 4' aluminium frame than its chunky looks might suggest. Cables are routed internally, there's fibreglass-infused nylon chain-slap protection on the chainstays and seatstays, and the down tube has a removable guard over the battery port. The bike now uses SRAM's universal derailleur hanger (UDH), too.
While the original Alpine Trail E had a single-pivot swingarm and linkageactuated shock (Marin's 'Multitrac system), they've now switched to a four-bar, Horst-link suspension design ('MultiTrac 2 LT'). The brand say this has enabled them to add more anti-rise-making the suspension more active when braking - and also gives them more control over the leverage rate. Mid-stroke support and bottom-out resistance are said to have been increased, and the Alpine Trail E now has 160mm of rear-wheel travel, up from 150mm.
Bosch's impressive Performance Line CX motor provides the pedalling assistance, supplying up to 600W of power and 85Nm of max torque.
Charge is supplied by a 750Wh Power Tube battery, while an inbuilt top tube display conveys battery life and motor mode, the latter controlled via a wireless Mini Remote.
Geometry can be adjusted via headset cups and chainstay flip-chips. On our size large bike, in the 'low/long' setting with the standard cups, figures include a 63-degree head angle, 485mm reach, 443mm chainstays and 344mm bottom bracket height. The 78-degree seat tube angle is designed to boost climbing performance. Two alternative head angles are available - 64 or 62.4 degrees. In the high/short setting, the BB jumps up to 352mm, while the stays are a compact 435mm.
THE KIT
Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av Mountain Biking UK.
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Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av Mountain Biking UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
GRIME TIME - EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE
WHEELY ANNOYING
TRAILCREW HAFOD TRAILS
We discover the delights of Wales's newest bike park, located deep in beautiful Carmarthenshire
BIKETEST ULTIMATE HIRE BIKES
We test three park-cum-DH rigs - the kind of bikes available in holiday spots like Morzine and Whistler, as well as uplift venues closer to home
SCOTT GAMBLER 910 - £4,399 A bike park-ready budget beater worth taking a chance on
This latest iteration of Scott's long-standing Gambler launched in 2019.
THE MANY FACES OF MOUNTAIN BIKING
WE HIT THE ARIZONA DESERT AS PART OF A HUGE FEMALE-LED GROUP RIDE THAT PUTS THE FOCUS ON FUN AND FRIENDSHIP
PARIS HERE WE COME!
With the 2024 Olympics in France fast coming around, we take a quick dive into the history of mountain biking at the Games, plus explain what to expect, how to watch and who to keep an eye on this year
TRANSITION SPUR XO AXS - £7,999 Can the smallest of revisions keep Transition's downcountry demon at the top of the pile?
Transition's Spur has set the benchmark for downcountry bikes since its release in 2020.
MARIN ALPINE TRAIL E2 BOSCH - £6,385 Big-battery, high-powered e-MTB for gravity fans at a (relatively) affordable price
The Alpine Trail E Bosch is Marin's first e-MTB to use a four-bar linkage suspension design and a non-Shimano motor.
PINARELLO DOGMA XC - £12,000 Designed by and for Elite racers, with a ride feel to match
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS
MBUK SUPER BIKE - #128 MATT WALKER'S SARACEN MYST
The British national downhill champ has a new ride for the 2024 race season