trek marlin 6 fork upgrade

Trek Upgrades Its Most Popular Bike: The Marlin

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The Marlin has long served as Trek’s entry-level mountain bike, matching a reasonable price with decent equipment.

With a few significant upgrades, the Marlin’s entry-level now starts a bit higher.

Riders can expect updated geometry, a new frame, increased tire clearance, and a rear axle system that “enhances stability and strength,” according to the Trek press release. Forks can be upgraded on most models for greater versatility, and there’s even a new XXS size for younger kids who want to start shredding with family and friends.

Trek Marlin Update: Details

The new digs begin with the Alpha Silver Aluminum frame, which Trek developed for “more compliant frames that retain the acceleration and affordability that have always made aluminum popular,” according to the bike maker’s website.

Updated geometry includes a slacker head tube, longer reach, and wider bars. A 100mm fork helps absorb the shock from roots and rocks, but can also be upgraded to a 120mm fork for sizes XS and up.

Taking advantage of greater tire clearance, the Marlin now runs 2.4″ tires offering “improved grip and comfort on rugged trails,” Trek said.

Another major addition is the Thru Skew rear axle system. It bolsters safety and wheel security by fastening the rear wheel to the closed dropout system, Trek claimed, while still adhering to the 135mm rear hub standard. The Thru-Skew uses a removable lever, which riders can store for a “cleaner aesthetic” during rides, the company said.

Internal cable routing also gets an update, Trek said, enabling compatibility with internally routed dropper posts. Thanks to internal foam tubes, the cables are also less likely to rattle on rough terrain. And speaking of noise reduction, a full-coverage chain stay guard reduces chain slaps, while shielding against scratches.

Trek Marlin: Pricing and Availability

With the addition of the XXS size, the Marlin now comes in a plethora of sizes, from XXS to XXL. The sizes also change depending on the needs of different-sized riders. The smaller frames, for example, include a curved top tube and accommodate 26″ wheels.

The upgrades apply to the Marlin 6, 7, and 8 models, which have MSRPs of $900, $1,000, and $1,300, respectively.

Still want the cheaper, older version of the Marlin? No problem. Trek will continue to sell the Marlin 4 and 5 models, which cost $630 and $740, respectively.

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Rough, $900+ for a 135mm rear and non-tapered headtube..

Isn’t the Marlin a Gary Fisher?

it was, i think Trek bought Gary Fisher.

Trek bought Gary Fisher back in 1993.

I brought a Trek Marlin 6 in 2017. I have rode it over 50,000 miles in 6 years now and it is a great bike for everyday commuting. The best thing about it is it’s frame geometry because it’s very easy on the human body, especially with some simple upgrades. The upgrades, i.e. new fork etc made it look and ride like a high-end expensive bike. I would highly recommend a Trek Marlin because of it geometry alone.

You did more on your bike than me in car bought 2016 with 29000 miles.

I recently bought a marlin 7. Replaced the coil spring shox with rockshox Domaine 160mmforks with the 38mm stantions. Put maxxis minions dhf’s 2.4″ both front and back. Wider bars, lighter pedals, stickier grips, stronger lighter wheels, new Shimano xt derailer, shorter neck, rockshox dropper with int. Routing…. I’ve gotten it down to roughly 26.8 lbs and it handles amazing. Best hardtail I think….

Thru-skew sucks, I hate they are putting that on more bikes. You have to now buy different hub caps end to make it compatible, versus just being able to buy some wheels and inserting them into the bike using standard thru axles. Stop doing this stuff Trek.

Is this the same thing Marin does on the Rift Zone?

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Looking For A Fork Upgrade For Trek Marlin 6 Gen 3

Cool Features

Upgrading basic MTB (Trek Marlin 6) for "type 2 fun" gravel rides?

I have a Ti gravel bike with GRX Di2…I absolutely love it but I can’t bring myself to take it on any really gnarly gravel rides. It wasn’t cheap and with parts availability being what it is, I don’t want to risk trashing the derailleur or worse in muddy/gnarly “type 2 fun” rides. I was signed up for unPAved, for example, but couldn’t make it due to a family commitment. After seeing the mud and route I’m glad I didn’t ride it to be honest.

I bought a Trek Marlin 6 this year for easy bike trail/neighborhood rides with my son and he has a matching Precaliber 20. I’m thinking of possibly adding some upgrades (tubeless wheels, maybe 1x drivetrain) so I can still ride with him but also use it on rough gravel rides without worrying quite so much about breaking something!

I’m sure some would say it’s not worth upgrading or maybe buying a different bike, but I love that we match when we ride and it gets my son excited to get out on his bike! I think the 135mm QR rear hub limits alot of what I can do. I also know it’ll never be light, but I’m OK with that since I’m 6’5" and well north of 200 lbs.

Any advice? The 2x8 groupset actually works well, but I’d love to have a dropper and the convenience of 1x. can I get a 1x10 or 1x11 groupset to work with this bike? Is the fork suitable for more than easy bike trail rides?

I should add…I’ll won’t be doing any “proper” mountain biking with this. I broke my finger riding a MTB last year, and my wife will make me sleep in the garage if anything like that happens again!

I’d think that you can ride this bike on most of the gravel you’d want to ride a bike on. 29” wheels, 100mm suspension fork, room for 2.2 inch tires - it’s basically the equivalent of an XC hardtail from a few years ago.

The dropper post is a key upgrade! And it will work with this bike - I think you’ll probably want a dropper with external cables (not internal). I’d lean towards going to the LBS to get one unless you definitely know which model you want and have installed drivetrains before.

I personally think tubeless wheels can wait until you find yourself consistently riding stuff that is super-bumpy, and/or you do two consecutive gravel rides where you flat on the current wheels.

1x is really nice. However, the drivetrain is a wear item, so I’d say ride it until you’ve worn out the cassette and chainring, then replace it. Your bike has the Shimano HG free hub body, so you can put up to a 10-speed road or 11-speed Shimano MTB drivetrain on it. I’m not sure about SRAM. When you put the drivetrain on, you’ll need to put on:

• Rear derailleur
• Shifter for the rear

That’s why I’d suggest waiting until you wear it out or until you’ve dropped the chain in a couple of rides in a row.

Awesome…thanks for all the tips! One thing that seemed convenient about 1x is that the dropper lever could replace the left shifter. Would it be clunky to have a dropper and shift lever there?

I haven’t installed a full drive train, but I have swapped shifter cables, a bottom bracket, and replaced a derailleur successfully. I think I could manage it…but I hear you on the wear and cost concerns!!!

Glad to hear this bike could be up to the task though. With “good” bikes being so expensive, I wasn’t sure what was realistic to expect from a modestly priced one.

“Good” just means the right material, geometry, and components for what you want to do with it. “Expensive” means that it’s probably really lightweight.

There are several different kinds of dropper levers - one that replaces the left-hand shifter, one that is an “on-top” version - so you can use it with your lever. If you look closely at your handlebar and at some of the images of dropper levers, you’ll get a sense of where it will get positioned.

There’s no harm in replacing the drivetrain and the dropper at the same time - it’s just that you can still get the value out of the drivetrain before replacing it.

Sorry - one other thing you’ll need to replace when you go to 1x - the crankset. You’ll want to have a chainline that’s optimized for 1x - so your 1x chainring would be positioned halfway between the small and big chainrings on your current crankset (when you look down at it from the saddle).

Something else to consider - ride the bike as-is on progressively more interesting gravel. You’ll know the places where a dropper would make you feel more comfortable (because you’ll either need to get behind the seat, or because you feel like you’re perched too high on the bike during a descent).

My one question for you - have you identified the gravel that you’ll need this for? If so, go for it? If you just “want to be prepared” - it’s totally fine to ride the bike as-is, until you have a ride where you were clearly wishing for the upgrades…

I want to do unPAved next year…even just for that, based on the pics I saw from this year, it would be good to ride the Marlin vs my current gravel bike. I’m more worried about completing these rides safely rather than trying to race them. I’m sure 2.2" tires would give me some confidence.

I think the dropper is a must. I’ve done a few rides this year where descending was terrifying because I couldn’t get low enough. I have alot of seatpost showing since I’m so tall.

I really appreciate the help. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t (too) crazy.

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What People Are Saying

“SR SUNTOUR’s fork upgrade program was awesome, and extremely easy thanks to Nick H.”

“I decided to upgrade my fork to this through the upgrade program which was an easy process.”

“I couldn't be any happier for spending $200 for upgrading the weakest link of my bike through the upgrade program.”

“With the help of Nick H. and the discount from the factory upgrade program my wife and I both went with the Epixon."

Upgrade your fork to a high-performance model through the SR SUNTOUR North America upgrade program.

This program is intended to allow riders using less than ideal equipment in demanding terrain to upgrade their fork for a model that will perform at a higher level than the OEM fork. Any fork purchased through the Upgrade Program is sold at a $100.00 USD discount off the retail pricing from our store.

To receive your personalized coupon code, please submit an email with your required information and we will get back with you within 1-2 business days. As and added benefit, all orders with SR SUNTOUR North America ship for free domestically over $49.95 and generally go out the next business day from our warehouse. As riders ourselves, we understand how exciting it can be do try out your new gear.

Rules and stipulations apply as follows:

• Applicants must be the original owner of the bike or fork that they are upgrading from.
• A valid proof of ownership must be submitted along with the fork serial number.

Proof of purchase can be in the form of a receipt or online transaction from an authorized seller. The fork's serial number can be located in QR code form or engraved into the back of the fork crown. Forks are not required to be sent back to our facility.

If you have any further questions feel free to submit an email or call us at 1-855-205-BIKE

Shop the Forks

To place your order, please submit an email with your required information and we will get back with you within 1 business day with a coupon code to use at the time of check out. Note that all orders with SR SUNTOUR North America ship for free domestically over $49.95.

If you have any further questions feel free to submit an email or call us at 1-855-205-BIKE.

Email [email protected]

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Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Review: Beginner’s Dream Mountain Bike

The Trek Marlin 6 2023 is the newest iteration of the entry-level XC hardtail family designed for light trail riding, gravel paths, fire roads, and mixed-terrain commuting. 

The 2023 Gen 2 model is the same as the Trek Marlin 6 2022, only with different colors and a new name. Trek overhauled its naming system for the upcoming year, referring to the models by the number of generations there have been. So the latest version of a Trek bike has the highest ‘Gen’ number.

This Trek Marlin 6 review will cover the bike’s main specs and highlights, answer some buyer questions, and provide our verdict on who should buy one. 

How Much is the Trek Marlin 6?

Trek Marlin 6 price is $850 and sits in the middle of the price range of the five Marlin models. The cheapest model costs $630, and the most expensive is $1,330. Alongside the 820, the Marlin is Trek’s most affordable mountain bike family.

• Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain
• Rack and kickstand mounts
• Progressive sizing 
• Low-performance coil fork

Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Full List of Specs

Trek marlin 6 gen 2 full review.

In this section, we will cover the main features of the Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 and what makes it stand out in the sub-$1,000 MTB category. 

Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 is available in four modern paint jobs that will suit any type of rider.

What Type of Bike Is a Trek Marlin 6?

The Trek Marlin 6 MTB is a modern-looking cross-country hardtail with a 100mm coil suspension fork, perfect for beginner mountain bikers. Unfortunately, the rudimentary suspension limits the Marlin 6 to relatively mild trails. Nonetheless, it makes an excellent day-to-day bike for commuting, transport, and leisure.

Alpha Silver Aluminum Frame

Trek uses its Alpha Silver aluminum frame for the Marlin 6. Thanks to the company’s consistent design and materials innovations, these frames outperform the similarly-priced competition in compliance and comfort. 

Internal cable routing means Marlin 6 looks sleek and neat, while it also protects the cables from excessive wear and tear.

The frame has quick-release axles, tidy internal cable routing, and mounts for a rack and kickstand, allowing you to equip the Marlin for commuting or bikepacking. One unusual feature of this bike is the curved top tube on the smaller models (XS, S) that lowers the standover height for a better fit. 

Is the Trek Marlin 6 Good for Jumps?

No, the Trek Marlin 6 isn’t good for jumps. Unfortunately, as a cheap hardtail, this bike uses a low-performance coil-spring Suntour XCT 30 fork with 100mm of travel (80mm on XS). This fork performs poorly on bumpy trails but is adequate for day-to-day riding and light off-roading .

Thankfully, the fork has preload and hydraulic lockout settings, but the headtube isn’t tapered, meaning it will be harder to upgrade.  

Shimano Deore 10-Speed Drivetrain

The standout feature for us is the Shimano Deore M4100 10-speed drivetrain. The Trek Marlin 6 is one of the only bikes with this hardware at $850 or below. In addition, an 11-46t cassette and 30t chainring provide plenty of gearing for steep gradients. 

Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain is a standard in this price range across the industry, as it provides plenty of gear range and smooth gear shifting.

Generally, sub-$1,000 mountain bikes have cheaper drivetrains that shift poorly and lose efficiency quickly. However, Deore M4100 is durable and smooth-shifting , and the single chainring makes it easier to maintain. 

Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Another excellent inclusion for a bike of this price is hydraulic disc brakes. Although entry-level, Tektro’s HD-M275 brakeset with 160mm rotors performs well at this price range and for a bike of this spec. 

Hydraulic discs allow you to stop safely in wet weather and with plenty of power and reliability in most situations. However, if you plan on tackling advanced trails, neither this bike nor the brakes are adequate. 

2.20″ Tires and Progressive Wheel Sizing

The Trek Marlin 6 has Bontrager XR2 Comp tires for handling hardpack trails, gravel paths, and pavement where traction is relatively predictable. These XC-style tires roll fast and provide decent grip but will slip and slide in wet trail conditions. 

Even though the tires are not tubeless-ready, they are wide enough to provide plenty of traction in varying conditions that come with modern mountain biking.

The XS and Small sizes of this bike have 27.5″ rims, while the others use 29ers. Progressive sizing makes the Marlin fit more consistently across rider heights. Unfortunately, the wheelset and tires are not tubeless-ready. 

Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Sizing Chart

• XS — 4’9″-5’1″ / 145-155cm
• S —  5’1″-5’5″ / 155-165cm
• M —  5’5″-5’8″ / 165-173cm
• M/L — 5’8″-5’11” / 173-180cm
• L —  5’11”-6’2″ / 180-188cm
• XL —  6’2″-6’5″ / 188-195cm
• 2XL — 6’5″-6’8″ / 195-203cm

Who Is Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Best Suited For?

The Marlin 6 Trek MTB is best for beginner mountain bikers who want to start learning the skills and techniques of the sport on light trails. In addition, cyclists who want a bike for comfortable day-to-day use, running errands, and mixed-terrain commutes will enjoy the Marlin 6. 

We recommend the Marlin 6 Gen 2 to beginner to early-intermediate mountain bikers who mostly stay on light trails and rough dirt and gravel roads.

Again, this bike is limited by its cheap fork, so if you want a bike to grow into and challenge your mountain biking skills, you may want to check out one of the higher-end Trek MTBs. 

Other Trek Marlin Bikes We Reviewed:

• Trek Marlin 4 Gen 2 Review
• Trek Marlin 5 Gen 2 Review
• Trek Marlin 7 Gen 2 Review
• Trek Marlin 8 Gen 2 Review

Is Marlin 6 Gen 2 a Good Buy?

We think the Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 is a solid choice at just $850. The new-style frame and geometry make it look like the real deal, even if it can’t handle hard riding. 

Most of the Marlin 6’s components are excellent for the price range, including Shimano’s Deore drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, durable Bontrager tires, and a quality frame with solid ride characteristics. 

Don’t miss out on this excellent deal if you’re looking for a cheap do-it-all bike that’s at home on pavement, light mountain trails, and everything in between.

Buy from Trek Bikes

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