Compare: 2023 Specialized Rockhopper Expert 29 vs Trek Marlin 5 Gen 2 vs Marlin 6 Gen 2

Overview
Ride Feel
Gearing
Spec Level
Geometry
Specs

Bike Comparison

Only show differences

	Rockhopper Expert 292023 Specialized	Marlin 5 Gen 22023 Trek	Marlin 6 Gen 22023 Trek

MSRP	$1,299~~$1,400~~	$599~~$739~~	$649~~$849~~
Where to Buy	— $1 At	— $1 At	$649 24% off At Trek $599 29% off At Trek
Category	Crosscountry	Crosscountry	Crosscountry
Weight	28.7 lbs	30.8 lbs	31.1 lbs
	4.2	3.2	3.5
Frame	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Fork	RockShox Judy (air)	Suntour XCM (coil)	Suntour XCT (coil)
Wheels	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Wheel Size	29″	27.5″ / 26″ / 29″	27.5″ / 29″
Brakes	Hydraulic Disc	Hydraulic Disc	Hydraulic Disc
Groupset	SX Eagle	Altus, Shimano	Deore
Drivetrain	1 × 12	2 × 8	1 × 10
Suspension	Hardtail	Hardtail	Hardtail
Front Travel	100mm	100mm	100mm
Brand Site	specialized.com	trekbikes.com	trekbikes.com
Summary	The Specialized Rockhopper Expert 29, Trek Marlin 5 Gen 2, and Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 are all aluminum frame hardtail crosscountry bikes. The Rockhopper Expert 29 has 29″ aluminum wheels, better components, and a better fork; the Marlin 5 Gen 2 has 27.5″ / 26″ / 29″ aluminum wheels; and the Marlin 6 Gen 2 has 27.5″ / 29″ aluminum wheels.

Similar Bikes

Accessories

Ride Feel

Based on frame geometry and build specs.

Terrain

easyextreme

Handling

nimblestable

Rockhopper Expert 29

Marlin 5 Gen 2

Marlin 6 Gen 2

Other Crosscountry bikes

Gear Range

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Lowest gear

(climbing)

26 mph

Marlin 5 Gen 2

24 mph

Marlin 6 Gen 2

Highest gear

(descending)

Spec Level

Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.

Geometry

Specs

	Rockhopper Expert 292023 Specialized	Marlin 5 Gen 22023 Trek	Marlin 6 Gen 22023 Trek

Frame	Specialized A1 premium butted alloy, zero-stack head tube, internal cable routing, 135x9mm forged dropouts, chainstay-mounted disc brake, replaceable alloy derailleur hanger, stealth rack mounts, dropper post compatible Colors: Satin Silver Dust / Black Holographic; Gloss Oak Green Metallic / Metallic White Silver; Gloss Lagoon Blue / Satin Light Silver	Size: XXS, XS, S, Alpha Silver Aluminum, curved top tube, internal routing, chainstay disc brake mount, rack and kickstand mount, 135x5mm QR; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Alpha Silver Aluminum, internal routing, chainstay disc brake mount, rack and kickstand mount, 135x5mm QR Colors: Satin Silver Dust / Black Holographic; Gloss Oak Green Metallic / Metallic White Silver; Gloss Lagoon Blue / Satin Light Silver	Size: XS, S, Alpha Silver Aluminum, curved top tube, internal routing, chainstay disc brake mount, rack and kickstand mount, 135x5mm QR; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Alpha Silver Aluminum, internal routing, chainstay disc brake mount, rack and kickstand mount, 135x5mm QR Colors: Satin Silver Dust / Black Holographic; Gloss Oak Green Metallic / Metallic White Silver; Gloss Lagoon Blue / Satin Light Silver
Fork	RockShox Judy, Solo Air, Turnkey damper, 46mm offset, QR, 80/90/100mm travel (size-specific), alloy steerer Travel: 100mm Spring Type: Coil	Size: XXS, SR Suntour XCM 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 26'' wheel, 100mm QR, 100mm travel; Size: XS, SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 27.5'' wheel, 100mm QR, 80mm travel; Size: S, SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 27.5'' wheel, 100mm QR, 100mm travel; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 46mm offset for 29'' wheel, 100mm QR, 100mm travel Travel: 100mm Spring Type: Coil	Size: XS, SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 27.5'' wheel, 100mm QR, 80mm travel; Size: S, SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 42mm offset for 27.5'' wheel, 100mm QR, 100mm travel; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, SR Suntour XCT 30, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 46mm offset for 29'' wheel, 100mm QR, 100mm travel Travel: 100mm Spring Type: Coil
Bottom Bracket	SRAM Powerspline	Sealed cartridge, 73mm	Sealed cartridge, 73mm
Headset		Semi-integrated, 1-1/8''	Semi-integrated, 1-1/8''
Stem	3D-forged alloy, 31.8mm, 7-degree rise	Size: XXS, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, 7 degree, 35mm length; Size: XS, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 50mm length; Size: S, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 60mm length; Size: M, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 70mm length; Size: ML, L, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 80mm length; Size: XL, XXL, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 90mm length	Size: XS, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 50mm length; Size: S, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 60mm length; Size: M, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 70mm length; Size: ML, L, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 80mm length; Size: XL, XXL, Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 90mm length
Handlebar	Stout Mini Rise, alloy, 9-degree backsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm	Size: XXS, XS, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 690mm width; Size: S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 720mm width	Size: XS, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 690mm width; Size: S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 720mm width
Saddle	Bridge Sport, Steel rails, 155/143mm	Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138mm width	Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138mm width
Seatpost	Alloy, 2-bolt clamp, 30.9mm	Size: XXS, Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 300mm length; Size: XS, S, M, Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length; Size: ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 400mm length	Size: XS, S, M, Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length; Size: ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, 31.6mm, 12mm offset, 400mm length
Pedals	SBC-54 Flat pedal		VP-536 nylon platform
Grips	Specialized MTB Grip, lock-on		Bontrager XR Endurance Comp, lock-on

Groupset

Rear Derailleur	SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed	Shimano Altus M310	Shimano Deore M5120, long cage
Front Derailleur		Shimano Altus M315, 34.9mm clamp, top swing, dual pull
Crank	SRAM SX Eagle, Powerspline	Size: XXS, Prowheel TM-CY10, 36/22, 160mm length; Size: XS, S, M, Shimano M315, 36/22, 170mm length; Size: ML, L, XL, XXL, Shimano M315, 36/22, 175mm length	Size: XS, S, M, ML, Prowheel C10Y-NW, 30T steel narrow-wide ring, 170mm length; Size: L, XL, XXL, Prowheel C10Y-NW, 30T steel narrow-wide ring, 175mm length
Shifters	SRAM SX Eagle, trigger, 12-speed	Size: XXS, XS, S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Shimano M315, 2 speed; Size: XXS, XS, S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Shimano M315, 8 speed	Shimano Deore M4100, 10 speed
Cassette	SRAM PG-1210 Eagle, 11-50t	Shimano HG200, 12-32, 8 speed	Shimano Deore M4100, 11-46, 10 speed
Chain	SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed	KMC Z8.3, 8 speed	KMC X10, 10 speed
Brakes	Front: SRAM Level, hydraulic disc, 180/160mm, Rear: SRAM Level, 2-piston caliper, hydraulic disc, 180mm	Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc, 180mm rotor	Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc, 180mm rotor

Wheels

Rims	Specialized Alloy, hookless, Tubeless ready, 25mm inner width	Size: XS, S, Bontrager Connection, double-wall, 32-hole, 20 mm width, Schrader valve, Black; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager Connection, double-wall, 32-hole, 20 mm width, Schrader valve	Bontrager Connection, double-wall, 32-hole, 20mm width, schrader valve
Spokes	Stainless, 14g
Front Hub	Formula DC-20, 6-Bolt, disc, 100x9mm spacing, quick-release	Formula DC-20, alloy, 6-bolt, 5x100mm QR	Formula DC-20, alloy, 6-bolt, 5x100mm QR
Rear Hub	Formula DC-22, 6-Bolt freehub, disc, 135x9mm spacing, quick-release	Formula DC-22, alloy, 6-bolt, Shimano 8/9/10 freehub, 135x5mm QR	Formula DC-22, alloy, 6-bolt, Shimano 8/9/10 freehub, 135x5mm QR
Tires	Front: Specialized Fast Trak, Control Casing, T5 Compound, 29x2.35, Rear: Specialized Fast Trak, Control Casing, T5 Compound, 29x2.35	Size: XXS, Bontrager XR2 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 26x2.20''; Size: XS, S, Bontrager XR2 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 27.5x2.20''; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager XR2 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 29x2.20''	Size: XS, S, Bontrager XR2 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 27.5x2.20''; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager XR2 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 29x2.20''

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