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Today’s Deals2025 Trek
Marlin 5 Gen 3
A 27.5″ / 29″ aluminum frame hardtail crosscountry bike with mid-range components.
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Manufacturer Price
$679| Weight | 33.3 lbs |
|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Suspension | Hardtail, 80mm |
| Fork | Suntour XCT |
| Wheels | 27.5″ / 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 9 |
| Groupset | CUES |
| Brakes | Tektro Hydraulic Disc |
Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.
Compare the full Marlin model range
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Jul 2025
A 27.5″ / 29″ aluminum frame hardtail crosscountry bike with mid-range components.
Modern XC geometry
Clean aesthetics and internal cable routing
Shimano CUES drivetrain democratizes great shifting
Straight headtube, QR front hub, and “Thru-Skew” axle in the rear limit future upgrades
Wheels are not tubeless compatible
Heavy, poor performing 80 mm travel fork
Apr 2024 · James Huang
Trek’s entry-level aluminum hardtail mountain bike.
Fantastic frame geometry
Excellent shifting
Good tires
Looks great
Generous tire clearance
Easy-to-live-with semi-internal routing
Sort of a rear thru-axle.
Mega-heavy fork with minimal adjustability
Tubeless costs extra
Limited upgrade potential.
May 2023 · Andrew McLemore
Riders can expect updated geometry, a new frame, increased tire clearance and a rear axle system that "enhances stability," Trek said.
Feb 2023 · Oscar Huckle
Can the Marlin compete with the bigger players?
Lots of frame sizes
Excellent tyre choice
Dropper seatpost
Upgrade potential
Roomier seated position would be preferred
Quick-release rather than thru-axle
Rattly internal cable routing
Dec 2024 · Scott Alexander
Built up this bike for a friend this weekend and have a few initial observations. * Trek knows how to ship a bike direct. Awesome packaging, simple in
Easy build, decent pedals included, modern geometry.
Fork
Jul 2025 · Easton N
Overall, this is a great bike! If you’re a minimalist and you just want to own one bike that does it all, then Trek Marlin 5 Gen 3 is that bike. For a
Trail-ready geometry
Nice paint job
More capable on singletracks than most XC bikes in the market.
Affordable
Internal routing, so it looks clean
Has a suspension lockout option
Heavy and stiff fork.
Manufacture tires aren’t good for aggressive trails.
| Frame | Frameset Marlin, Alpha Silver Aluminum, curved top tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, rack and kickstand mount, 135x5mm ThruSkew - XS : Alpha Silver Aluminum, curved top tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, rack and kickstand mount, 135x5mm ThruSkew; S , M , ML , L , XL : Alpha Silver Aluminum, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, rack and kickstand mount, 135x5mm ThruSkew BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Tire Clearance: 2.4" Color: Matte Dnister Black |
|---|---|
| Fork | SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 27.5'' wheel, 100mm QR, 80mm travel - XS : SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 27.5'' wheel, 100mm QR, 80mm travel; S : SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 27.5'' wheel, 100mm QR, 100mm travel; M , ML , L , XL : SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 46mm offset for 29'' wheel, 100mm QR, 100mm travel Travel: 80mm Spring Type: Coil |
| Bottom Bracket | VP BC73, 73mm, threaded cartridge |
| Headset | Semi-integrated, 1-1/8'' |
| Stem | Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 35mm length - XS , S : Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, 7 degree, 35mm length; M , ML , L : Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 50mm length; XL : Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 60mm length |
| Handlebar | Bontrager Approved Lowriser, 31.8x690mm, 5mm Rise, 9D Bend/4D Upsweep, Black - XS : Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 690mm width; S : Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 720mm width; M , ML , L , XL : Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 750mm width |
| Seatpost | Bontrager Approved Seatpost, 31.6x330mm, 12mm Offset, Black - XS , S , M : Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length; ML , L , XL : Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 400mm length Type: Rigid |
| Pedals | Nylon platform |
| Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano CUES U4000 |
|---|---|
| Crank | Prowheel Crankset C10Y-NW, Narrow Wide 30-tooth steel chainring, 160mm Arms, square taper bottom bracket interface - XS : Prowheel C10Y-NW, 30T steel narrow-wide ring, 160mm length; S , M , ML : Prowheel C10Y-NW, 30T steel narrow-wide ring, 170mm length; L , XL : Prowheel C10Y-NW, 30T steel narrow-wide ring, 175mm length |
| Shifters | Shimano U4000, 9 speed |
| Cassette | Shimano LINKGLIDE LG300, 11-46, 9 speed |
| Chain | Shimano LG500, 9/10/11 speed |
| Brakes | undefined - XS , S : Tektro HD-M276 hydraulic disc, short reach; M , ML , L , XL : Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc Type: Tektro Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | Bontrager Connection, double-wall, 32-hole, 20mm width, schrader valve |
|---|---|
| Spokes | 14g stainless steel, black |
| Front Hub | Formula DC-20, alloy, 6-bolt, 100x5mm |
| Rear Hub | Formula DC-22, alloy, 6-bolt, Shimano 8/9/10 freehub, 135x5mm |
| Tires | Bontrager Tire XT3 Comp, Wire Bead, 30 tpi, 27.5'' x 2.40'' - XS , S : Bontrager XT3 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 27.5x2.40''; M , ML , L , XL : Bontrager XT3 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 29x2.40'' |
| Disc Rotors | Tektro, 6-bolt, 160mm |
First added July 5
Last updated June 13