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2021 Marin

Headlands Frame Kit

A carbon frame gravel frameset.

Manufacturer Price

$1,799
FrameCarbon
SuspensionRigid
ForkCarbon
Wheels650b
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Reviews

Summary

The Marin Headlands is a versatile gravel bike praised for its smooth ride, lightweight frame, and modern geometry, making it a fun and capable choice for a variety of terrains. It features a vibration-damping carbon frame, confident handling, and ample mounting points for accessories, though some reviews note limitations with tire grip and component specs. The bike's design appeals to both mountain bikers and gravel enthusiasts, offering a lively and playful ride.

Pros
  • Lightweight, vibration-damping carbon frame

  • Versatile all-rounder suitable for various terrains

  • Ample mounting points for racks, fenders, and bags

  • Confident, grippy tires on descents

  • Modern geometry and lively handling

Cons
  • Tires lose grip on loose, steep climbs

  • Components don't fully utilize the frame's potential

  • Not ideal for riders with less than 66cm seat height

  • Performance tires not tubeless-ready

  • Front wheel tends to wander on steep climbs

Key Quotes
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Well, skip the slow part—this bike smooths everything out so you can just go freaking fast on rough surfaces.
Bicycling
This bike has more quirks than the Johnny Depp version of the Willy Wonka film, but being different doesn’t mean it’s bad.
Cycling Tips logoCycling Tips
The Marin screams at you to load it up, climb aboard and have fun!
Gran Fondo Magazine logoGran Fondo Magazine
It’s a relaxing ride, but still engaging enough to be fun.
off.road.cc logooff.road.cc

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Gran Fondo Magazine
Marin Headlands 2 in bikepacking review

Oct 2020 · Benjamin Topf

With the Marin Headlands 2, the iconic US brand sent us their brightly coloured carbon bike for our bikepacking group test. Does the bike, with clearance 700 x 45C tires and a dropper post, tick all the boxes for your next adventure? To find out, we put its mountain bike DNA to the test.

Highs
  • High fun factor

  • Comfort and vibration dampening

  • Lively handling and modern geometry

  • Integrated dropper post

  • No toe overlap

Lows
  • Components don't do justice to the frameset’s potential

  • Tires limit the bike's versatility

Read Review

Cycling Tips
2021 Marin Headlands 2 gravel bike review: Upright meets fun - CyclingTips

Jun 2020 · Dave Rome

Marin County, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, is widely considered the birthplace of the modern mountain bike. Here, the likes of Joe Breeze, Charlie Kelly, Gary Fisher and John Frey rode and raced their clunkers down the rocky forest access roads. They broke them, refined them, and eventually created a market […]

Highs
  • Welcoming fit and feel, multi-purpose design, Shimano GRX components, threaded bottom bracket, colour scheme, fun ride.

Lows
  • Polarising fit, toe overlap, 1x-only, rim choice, non-tubeless tyres.

Read Review

Bicycling
Marin’s Headlands 2 Gobbles Up Gravel and Singletrack

Apr 2020

This fast, smooth, dropper post-equipped all-road bike begs for adventure.

Highs
  • Super smooth ride

  • Confident, grippy tires

  • Mounts for racks, fenders, and bags

Lows
  • A little heavy

  • Not ideal for riders with less than 66cm seat height

Read Review

off.road.cc
Marin Headlands 1 2020 review

Dec 2019

Marin’s new Headlands 1 is a bike with multiple personalities. You can ride it like a hooligan on twisty technical trails while bunny-hopping rocks and roots, cover huge distances in comfort on gravel tracks, or just potter along with everything but the kitchen sink strapped to the bike. It’s a true all-rounder, if not quite as well specced as some.

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Geometry
Specs
Build
Frame

Unidirectional Carbon Beyond Road Platform, 1x Drivetrain Specific, 700c x 45mm/650B x 50mm Compatible, Flat Mount Disc, 142x12mm Thru-Axle, Internal Dropper Post Routing, Internal Housing Routing, Mudguard and Rear Carrier Mounting, Plentiful Gear Mounts

Tire Clearance45c (700c) / 50c (27.5″)

ColorPacific Ocean Blue / Golden Gate Bridge Orange

Fork

Marin Full Carbon w/ Tapered Steerer, 12mm Thru-Axle, Flat-Mount Disc, Fender Eyelets

Headset

FSA Orbit IS, Sealed Cartridge Bearings, 1 1/8” x 1 1/2”

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First added December 23

Last updated March 2

Not listed for 1,903 days