Love your videos dude. I've been enjoying my 2020 Rockhopper Base for the last couple of seasons. I've upgraded the seat post to a full suspension one and can't wait to try it out.
I’ve bought a Trek Marlin 8 this summer .. in blue/black finish.. beautiful bike!! Awesome frame and very good tech specs for that price. Just few upgrades: saddle, pedals and a 34T chainring. You can also find a very nice marlin fish sticker, hidden on the frame, near the rear wheel 😃 Trek is in another level 👍
Hey just a bit of info. My 2022 Expert came with SRAM Level hydro brakes and in oak green metallic/metallic white silver, large 29r also. Thanks for the video!!
Both bike frames are using a 44mm depth head tube, which means that if you want to use a tapered fork you'll need to purchase an EC44 bottom cup. Additionally these bikes are not boosted, so if you do upgrade your fork to boosted, you'll want to use a boost kit if you want to keep the same front wheel.
Appreciate your opinion! I’m torn between buying a Marlon 8 available now vs waiting for Talon 0 that’s supposed to arrive in August. The Shimano groupset on the Talon just seems to be superior.
If you're a new rider you might not even notice any difference between the two bikes but, for me being 5'9, the M/L frame that only Trek makes fits me amazingly. The sram groupset is fantastic too. Just make sure to bring it back to trek to get adjusted after a few rides. Idk if any of this helps.
I’m actually there right now, I’m not sure which one to go with, I have many shops around me that do Trek maintenance but I like the Specialized too 🤦♂️
@@oterosocram25 My Specialized Elite let me down. The fork is pretty crap, even after a rebuild, and the seat tube is too narrow for the frame and keeps making crackling sounds when I ride, along with other noises of unidentified origin. Overall, an underwhelming experience for the money.
We can't decide between Marlin 8 and Talon 0. In UK two types of fork are available for Talon 0 which depends on manufacturer. RockShox Judy TK coil spring, 100mm travel (80mm S/XS), QR, steel steerer, rebound adjust and lock out OR Giant Crest SXC32-2 RL 29, air spring, 100mm or 80mm, QR, alloy steerer, Rebound. We would like to use bike for commuting but also for trails and have fun with friends. We are beginners and we would like to use bikes straight away without upgrading it. We need reliable and long lasting bikes as we will not buy new one for many years. Which one would you be your advice? Can you help please. I already have headache from looking through reviews and trying to find comparison.
Yeah I know from my experience working at Trek that we get shipments of a lot of bikes every couple of weeks, so it’s always good to keep checking the stock online or calling in to check. Besides that I don’t know ;(
Have you compared the 2022 Trek Marlin 8 to a 2021 Scott Scale 970? Thoughts on which one is a better overall bike? The Marlin 8 in Radioactive Red would be $1440 after tax from Trek distributor and the Scale 970 in Dark Gray would be $1380 after discount and tax from Scott distributor
Hi talalipop, I know that this is not related to the video but I was just wondering since you work at trek, what is your perspective on the trek fuel ex 5? I cannot find a reliable review to consult. Thanks
Thank you for a very good video, due changes in suppliers, I need to proactively find a dealer of Trek or Specialized here in Oslo-area. Is surprising me though, that the similar price point is the Marlin 8 vs Rockhopper Expert in this video. RRP seen on the Specialized page rather suggest that the Elite (11 999,- local currency) is almost identical in price to the Marlin 8 (10 999,-), with the Expert roughly 25% above that (14 999,-) ! Keep up the great work though, appreciate it!
You mentioned that the Marlin does not come in an XXL size. The Marlon 8 i picked up last Saturday is a size XXL. And it is visibly larger than the XL that was on display in my LBS.
Oh interesting; Trek didn't list it as an available size on their website but now that I look into it more I am noticing some of those around. I'll definitely update that in a pinned comment now. Thank you!
I just picked up a Specilized Rockhopper expert as shown in video but I don't know how to enable the clutch. Any know how. It seem there is only a lock for when removing the wheel.
Why is the chainstay length typically longer than the reach on an XC bike but the other way around on trail bikes? I noticed the chainstay length is typically longer on gravel bikes too, with an even bigger disparity over the reach than XC bikes.
I almost bought tye specialized rock hopper. But instead I purchased the trek marlin 8 as my first entry level mountain bike. Maybe in another year or 2 I will buy a second bike that will be a higher level specialized suspension bike.
Had a Trek 7000 hard tail circa 1996 witha Fox shock now I have the Rockhopper expert the 1x12 is sort of really intriguing as before on the 7000 I had sram xo twisters so far I like my new Rockhopper better
the square frame shape on the trek makes a world of difference to the overall look, it just looks so cool compared to the traditional tubular shape on the specialised. for looks , the trek wins
Specialized Rochopper Elite though, beats it's rival Marlin 7. I like the looks way better too, however, I'd choose the Specialized Rochopper Elite to any other at that pricepoint and category.
No idea unfortunately :( but usually Trek releases all their new bikes in the summer so should be within the next few months if that bike is going to be updated.
Nice! just got the Rockhopper Elite a couple weeks ago…was waiting for the Marlin 8 and the Specialized popped up at my local shop out of the blue so I jumped on it. Swapped out the pedals, went tubeless and don’t have a single regerts yet. Tried to find a rack for it as it will be a commuter but nothing in the store fit without some adjustments that I wasn’t willing to make yet. Plus, I didn’t want my first scratches to be from fitting a rack in the shop. Now my bike rack has the Orange Rockhopper in large, 2 blue Marlin 6’s (1 small, 1 medium)and a Marlin Roscoe 24, all 2021. Once my kids grow next year they’ll all move up to the next size and I’ll be in the market for a full suspension(hopefully they’ll be available by then)
All seems to be same except the frame and the brand. I believe other than all these, the installation of the bike and aftersale service shall be put into consideration also. If I am not wrong, bikes are shipped in packaging and installed locally. Maybe someone can comment on this. I am from Singapore, the dealer of Trek here didn't do a good job on the installation and also the aftersale service is bad. So do also consider the service of the dealer and not mainly just on the brand or the specs of the bike. I got a new bike from Trek dealer in Singapore, after 1 week, there are problem with the gear shifting. I was told by the sales that new bike need to adjust and tuning after riding. However, what I found out was, the installation was not done properly. The front derailleur was not aligned properly, the height, angle, cable tension etc. Even the alignment sticker was not removed and was showing that the height was too high. The mechanic then acknowledged that it was his colleague who did it and overlooked during the installation. What a cow dung. The sales can push the blame to new bikes and the mechanic can push the blame to the maybe imaginary colleague. Anyway lesson learnt. First branding are very important. Secondly, the service or after sales service must be good. If not, the sales must be able to sell the shit as a fertilizer.
Yes these bikes are usually shipped to a retailer store and assembled / checked before selling at the store. That’s unfortunate that the shop near you makes those mistakes. Is there another retailer near you that you can go to? If you get the bike at a Trek store you should be able to go back to any Trek shop and let them know that the other store wasn’t doing a great job. I think both companies have good warranties and similar service, in this case it just depends on who they hired at that specific store I guess
There is another thing about Trek dealer in Singapore. Even a local shop selling those cheap china bicycle, they will at least tell the customer some simple usage (like changing gear etc) or basic adjustment. They will also help customer to do some adjustment like the seat(forward, aft, angle, height etc), brake lever (angle, close or near grip etc). However is very disappointed with Trek Singapore dealer. When selling, Trek have those kind of want to buy then buy attitude, if dont buy is ok. And after paying is your problem, you take the bike and go, no help the customer adjust or at least advice.
Update: After a ride last weekend (12may). Quick release for the front wheel was closed and never touched before since I bought the bike in January this year. However the front wheel was suddenly loose and wobbling while i was riding last weekend. It was ok for months and the quick release still in closed position. Don't know what happened and why? After tightening the quick release and lock it, everything seems fine and i continue my ride then. I will be going down to Trek sg to check and also ask why. The bike is still new which i bought in Jan and only ride few times only. If anyone know why this is happening, please let me know. Thanks.
Facts and figures do prove your point and my first test ride was a Big Nine 400. But then I sat on a Rockhopper Elite right after and it's now parked on my wall. Perhaps it's just my odd body proportions but the frame on the Rockhopper felt so much better to me. Sometimes numbers don't tell the whole story. I still maintain that a Merida is a far better deal and that Specialized is absurdly overpriced but at the end of the day one should get a bike that fits his needs and his body, not necessarily his logic.
Nah, Rockhopepr is a Classic!! Rockhopper Elite being the best of the line. No other is better at it's category and it's pricepoint.Some feel similar on paper, but Specialized is considered the best brand for a reason.. It's also the quitest bike I know of! No chain sounds, no ratling cables no nothing!!!
It went together easily in less than an hour. ru-vid.comUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Make sure the front fork is forward or the pedals will hit the front tire. Tires are both a little soft so it needs air before I ride it. The rear wheel didn't come with a clamp regular bolts hold it on. The front had the clamp. No scratches out of box. Rims are a little off with a slight wobble. They could have spent more time with the spoke tool fixing the run out. So far out of the box I'm happy with it. I did replace the pedals with a nice aftermarket set. After riding it a bit my A$$ is a bit sore so I ordered another seat. Overall I'm nearly 60 and didn't ride a bike in 30 years. I like my new 29" Schwinn. It will be used for casual rides with my friend.
Bike brands don’t really convert prices perfectly from what I’ve noticed; they’ll price the same bike differently depending on the market and country it’s in
both bikes are really beautiful... he didn't mention one thing: HUBS... and I think, the best thing to do is buying a basic model and make upgrades: 4 piston brakes, for instance
@@TalalipopMTBSir, Is it possible to upgrade a Trek marlin size small to mullet bike (front 29er and Rear 27.5). How will it perform in city roads or tarmac roads.
That's because I didn't convert them. I just checked the U.K. websites for those bikes. Sometimes bike companies change their prices in other countries, so I wanted to be accurate to those.
Yeh for some reason the specialised is more expensive in the UK than US, but trek is way better price point in the uk. Currently marlin 8 on sale loads of places for around £850
