Composed at speed, smooth over the rough stuff, and excellent at all around trail riding. Despite not having the highest end specs for every component, the Marin Rift Zone 1 feels and rides like a premium trail bike, which comes as a surprise to some because of its price tag. Read on to find out why the Rift Zone 1 just might be the best choice for your next MTB.
Pros
- Aggressive, modern geometry makes the Rift Zone 1 a blast to shred steep and gnarly descents on
- Stable and confidence inspiring at high speed
- Excellent handling over rough terrain
- Smooth and supportive suspension
- Comfortable to pedal on
Cons
- Lacks a dropper post
- No “climb” setting on rear shock can result in pedal bob
- Stock tires are good, not great
Bike specs
(Marin Rift Zone 29 1 with aluminum frame)
Frame
Series 3 6061 Aluminum
Geometry
For size large with 29″ wheels
| Spec | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Reach | 485mm |
| Chainstay | 430mm |
| Head tube angle | 65.5° |
| Seat tube angle | 77° |
| Wheelbase | 1234.4mm |
| Bottom bracket height | 343mm |
| Bottom bracket drop | 35mm |
| Standover height | 701.7mm |
Suspension
Front fork
X-Fusion Slide Boost RC with 140mm travel
Rear shock
X-Fusion O2 Pro R
Brakes
Tektro HDM-280 Hydraulic Disc
Tires
Vee Tire Co. Crown Gem 29×2.35″
Drivetrain
Shift lever: Shimano Deore
Rear derailleur: Shimano Deore
Crankset: Marin forged alloy
Bike weight
33.6 lbs
Handling and overall bike impression
The Marin Rift Zone 29 1 is very similar to its cousin, the Rift Zone 29 2, but comes at a better price point because it doesn’t have all the same bells and whistles. Does that mean its not a fun or quality bike to ride? Absolutely not.
The Rift Zone 29 1 has almost identical geometry as the Rift Zone 29 meaning that while it is certainly more affordable, it feels very similar to its higher end cousin from a geometry standpoint.
The Rift Zone 1 is a full suspension trail bike that looks great, but more importantly, is a blast to ride. The bike won’t be a dedicated downhill bike on downhill trails, and it won’t be faster at climbing than a smaller, lighter hardtail. It’s a trail bike though, so you want it to be capable in each of these areas – more of a jack of all trades.
The Rift Zone 1 doesn’t disappoint. It’s a balanced ride and holds its own on all kinds of different trails, from climbs and descents to mellow singletrack. You can take this bike to the bike park but also have a great time pedaling up and bombing down hills on your local trail systems.
Climbing
The Marin Rift Zone 1 is a capable but not amazing climber. The bike isn’t exactly light at 33.6lbs, but its certainly not overly heavy or burdensome, especially for a full suspension mountain bike.
The MultiTrac suspension platform helps to reduce pedal bob in the rear shock, but the Rift Zone 1 doesn’t have a lock out or “climb” setting, so pedal bob can still be an issue – especially if you haven’t ridden a full suspension bike before.
The Rift Zone has a fairly steep seat tube angle of 77° which helps you out on climbs by getting your weight further forward, allowing you to keep weight over the front wheel and prevent it from floating off line on you. The steeper seat tube gives the bike a good seated climbing ability as long as you ride with the seat high enough.
Unfortunately, the Rift Zone 1 does not have a dropper post that comes standard on the bike, meaning you won’t be able to adjust the seat’s height on the fly while riding.
As a result, you may not be able to take advantage of the steep seat tube angle for seated climbing if you don’t ride with a high seat, which many riders prefer not too especially on rough or steep downhill trails. This can mean you need to stand up when tackling steep climbs.
Descending
The Marin Rift Zone 1 really comes into its own on descents. The bike feels stable at higher speeds thanks in part to its long wheelbase of 1234mm, and its suspension feels smooth yet supportive.
On the Rift Zone 1, when things get rough and choppy on the trail, the bike becomes more fun to ride. The front fork and rear suspension do a great job at soaking up the chop on the trails so you can ride more freely.
Both the 140mm X-Fusion Slide Boost RC fork and the X-Fusion O2 Pro R shock with 130mm of travel are not as well known as other brands such as Rockshox or Marzocchi (found on the Rift Zone 2), but they both feel solid and do a good job at cushioning the blow of obstacles you hit on the trails, providing good compliance between your wheels and the trail and boosting the traction you have.
140mm up front and 130mm in the rear is a good amount of travel for a trail bike, especially at the Rift Zone 1’s price point. Overall the bike’s suspension helps increase your confidence while descending because you know it will allow you some forgiveness if you mess up and hit something you shouldn’t.
The bike’s geometry lends itself to going downhill at speed, particularly its slack head tube angle of 65.5° which gets the front wheel further out in front of you and inspires confidence when going down steep trails by helping to make them feel less steep.
Rough terrain, jumps and drops
Rough terrain
Over the chunky stuff, the Rift Zone 1 more than holds its own. Chances are you will be more limited by your own riding ability than you ever will be by the Rift Zone 1, which is right at home over even some of the bumpiest trails
The suspension both front and rear really helps to keep your wheels tracking the trail through the chop, which in turn will allow you to be less choosy about your lines. This means you can take the rougher but more direct route through trails which will speed up your runs.
Jumps and drops
The Marin Rift Zone 29 1 is also a solid performer off of jumps and drops. It feels stable when approaching features thanks to its long wheelbase, and you know you’ve got plenty of forgiveness in the bike’s suspension in case your landings are less than perfect.
The aggressive head tube angle is also helpful for those steep landings because it helps to keep the front wheel out in front of you and keeps you feeling in control the whole time.
Frequently asked questions
No, the Marin Rift Zone 1 doesn’t come with a dropper post, but this is a relatively cheap and easy upgrade if you get the bike and decide you would like a dropper post.
The Marin Rift Zone 1 has 11 gears, with a 1×11 cog setup.
Yes the Marin Rift Zone 1 is a trail bike. As a full suspension mountain bike with 140mm of travel in the front and 130mm in the rear, it has more suspension and travel than a cross country MTB would, but not as much travel as downhill or enduro bikes. This makes the Rift Zone 1 well suited to all around trail riding.
Mountain bike review criteria
When reviewing mountain bikes, these are the things we look for:
- Frame quality
- Component quality
- Bike weight
- Bike style and aesthetic appeal
For a detailed breakdown of how we assess each of these criteria, see How We Review Mountain Bikes.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a ride that will increase your confidence and fun on high speed descents and over rough terrain and technical features, definitely check out the Marin Rift Zone 1. It’s a bike that will handle just about everything you throw at it and will help you elevate your mountain biking to the next level.