Jump bikes all the rage, but Marin haven’t dabbled there for a while. They
did have some remarkable monocoque construction a few years ago, but jump bikes haven’t been their thing. Curiously small framed machines for mucking around on is a curiously British pastime which probably explains why Marin USA haven’t been keen to push this sort of bike, having quite enough of the UK market driving their full suspension bikes.

The Marin Quake 5 is a jump bike, but a jump bike done by XC riders. Though the sticker on the seat stays says “Dual Slalom Racing”, we expect this is going to
be more of a wanna-be than a doin-it-large. That’s not to say it’s not capable,
it’s just that it’s a touch on the long side. It’s great for us dirty old XC hounds wanting to recapture our youth – a second play bike that handles like our other one. That’s fine. But it’s not a big wheeled BMX. Perhaps that’s not a bad thing though.

Details of the spec and the like can be found here.

I’ll mend the puncture I got casing the doubles (above) and have another go. After a first ride though, we’re impressed. Punchy and quick. Let’s see what a bit more riding brings.