Rift Zone 29" Carbon XR
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension trail bike with upper mid-range components.
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Manufacturer Price
$4,859Frame | Carbon |
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Suspension | Full, 125 / 140mm |
Fork | Fox Performance Elite Float 36 |
Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
Groupset | XT, SLX |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
Seatpost | Dropper |
For This Bike
Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.
Compare the full Rift Zone model range
View Comparison5'2" – 5'7"
5'5" – 5'11"
5'9" – 6'2"
6'0" – 6'4"
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Dec 2023 · Nelson
Those ready to graduate to their first full suspension or young riders who are paying their own way into the passion of the sport should consider the Rift Zone 29” 2.
Jun 2023 · Tom Marvin
A super-fun ride that benefits from sharp reactions and a playful attitude
Well-designed frame with thoughtful features
Excellent rear suspension
Decent fork
Brakes lack bite
Not the best climber
Apr 2023
The Marin Rift Zone combines killer geometry with a burly build kit at a low price. How does it ride? Read on for our Marin Rift Zone review.
Fantastic geometry
Playful and fun-loving attitude
High traction rubber
Supportive suspension
Practical and well-featured frame
Heavy for a trail bike
Sticky tyres are very draggy
Bigger riders will want to upgrade the brakes
Nov 2022 · Tyler Benedict
The new Marin "Rifty" gets a sweet new alloy frame, more travel, and a consistent spec and geometry across all wheel sizes to fit any rider.
Nov 2022 · Danny Milner
From a brand steeped in heritage comes a bike that focuses on the stuff that matters: suspension, handling and price. Check out our guide to the best mountain bikes Need to know Alloy trail bike with 130mm travel Revised frame geometry and kinematics over previous generation Updated frame detailing with bespoke protection, SRAM UDH hanger and internal cable routing Three spec levels starting at £1,695 for the Rift Zone 1 (Rift Zone 2 is £2,195) Jr version comes with 26in wheels Sometimes the simplest ingredients make the most delicious dishes. The Spanish turn a tomato, a clove of garlic, some salt, olive oil and a slice of crusty toasted bread into a moorish appetiser that distils the essence of Mediterranean flavours. Italians can effortlessly convert some fresh pasta, a drizzle of olive oil and a shaving of truffle or parmesan cheese into a plate that tastes as good as any Michelin-starred dish. Which brings us to the new Marin Rift Zone, an unassuming trail bike, that’s plain vanilla next to the likes of Trek’s feature-laden Fuel EX and Specialized’s manipulatable Stumpjumper Evo, but has been infused with the flavour of a freshly scraped pod rather than the blandness of a drop of essence. Although outwardly similar to its predecessor, the Series 3 6061 alloy frame has been reworked with new tubing and forgings. The seat tube reinforcement strut has also been replaced by a gusset, there’s a slightly shallower bend to the seat tube, the internal cable routing has been improved and the non-driveside chainstay is no longer elevated. It still gets a chunky tapered head tube, radically sloping top tube and Marin’s MultiTrac single-pivot suspension design, where the vertical shock is driven by a rocker link. Shock length and stroke remains the same compared to the previous model (210x50mm), but Marin has teased out another 5mm travel to bring it up to 130mm. Although most, if not all, of this extra travel will be down to the chainstay lengths having been extended to 430mm across the size range. As the old Rift Zone was not lacking in length (at the front at least), Marin has not felt the need to comprehensively overhaul the sizing. Instead reach numbers grow by 5mm across all the sizes except the XL, which goes up 10mm. As head tubes have also been extended by 10-15mm, and the seat tube has been steepened by 1º, the seated riding position shouldn’t actually feel too different. But by stretching what was one of the shortest chainstays on the market, the new Rift Zone should feel more in proportion than it used to. The head angle remains a balanced 65.5º, at 337mm (measured), the BB height is thankfully not as tall as advertised, and Marin must be commended for keeping the seat tubes stubby and the standover generous. Which means the profile of the Rift Zone not only resembles an old four-cross bike, but it can be thrashed around like one as well. Consumers get to choose between …Continue reading »
Exploitable handling, whatever your level. A bike that can grow with your skills. Fun to ride. No gimmicks.
Overweight. You’ll find better spec from a direct-sales brand.
Nov 2022 · Dario DiGiulio
The Marin Rift Zone occupies a very unique spot in the bike market, as a short travel frame meant to attack relatively serious terrain.
Fun and unusual synthesis of parts and geo
Great build kit
Adaptable frame platform
Mix of progressive and dated geometry
Heavy and sticky for a short travel bike
Oct 2022 · Antony de Heveningham
The Marin Rift Zone XR - XR stands for eXtra Rad - bumps the front travel up to 140mm, adds a coil shock and beefs up the build.
Feb 2021 · Travis Engel
This short-travel shredder takes a modern trend and brings it to the entry level. The Marin Rift Zone 2 does (almost) everything.
Unbeatable value
Smart spec
Forgiving but familiar geometry
Supportive suspension
Oddly shaped brake levers
Shimano chain and crank would have been nice
Frame | Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Front Triangle, Series 4 Alloy Rear End, 29” Wheels, 125mm Travel, MultiTrac Suspension Platform, 148x12mm Boost Thru-Axle, 73mm Threaded BB w/ ISCG05 Tabs BB Standard: BSA, 68mm, Threaded Color: Gloss Grey / Carbon |
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Fork | Fox 36 Performance Elite Float, 140mm Travel, GRIP 2 Damper, 110x15mm Kabolt Axle, 44mm Offset Travel: 140mm Spring Type: Air |
Bottom Bracket | MEGAEVO BB, 73mm BSA Threaded |
Headset | FSA No 42/47, Sealed Cartridge Bearings, 1 1/8" x 1 1/2” |
Stem | Marin CNC, 35mm Length, 35mm Bar Bore |
Handlebar | Marin Trail, 35mm Clamp, 7000 Alloy Bar, 800mm Length, 20mm Rise, 5 Degree Up, 8 Degree Back |
Saddle | Marin Trail Speed Concept Pro |
Seatpost | X-Fusion Manic, 1x Composite Remote, Size S 125mm Travel, Size M and L 150mm Travel, Size XL 170mm Travel, 30.9mm Type: Dropper |
Pedals | - |
Grips | Marin Grizzly Lock On |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT, 12-Speed, SGS |
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Front Derailleur | - |
Crank | FSA Gradient, Modular 1x, 32T Direct Mount Chainring, MegaTooth Technology, MegaExo Spindle, Boost Spacing |
Shifters | Shimano SLX, 12-Speed, SL-7100R |
Cassette | Shimano Deore M6100, 12-Speed, 10-51T |
Chain | KMC X-12 Silver and Black |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Brake Levers | Shimano XT Hydraulic, I-Spec EV |
Rims | Marin Aluminum Double Wall, 29mm Inner, Welded Joint, Disc Specific, Tubeless Compatible |
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Front Hub | Forged Alloy, 148x12mm,Disc, 32H, MS Freehub Body |
Rear Hub | Forged Alloy, 148x12mm,Disc, 32H, MS Freehub Body |
Tires | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5”, 3C MaxxGrip, EXO+, Tubeless Compatible |
Last updated April 27