Many will argue that mountain biking was born in the hills and mountains surrounding Marin County, California. Decades ago, early “mountain bikers” took their klunkers into the mountains and, as they say, the rest was history.
(Now, if you are from Colorado, you’ll likely know a very similar story but with a different location. But that is an article for another time.)
To honor the Mt. Tamalpais (Mt. Tam) and the legacy Marin County has left on the sport, meet the TAM. The introduction of the TAM marks the end of a 15-year hiatus for Marin in the XC category.
The Marin TAM
So, to be clear, while Marin dubs the TAM its XC bike, it certainly extends beyond a between-the-tape race bike. It can line up at your local race series just as easily as it can be your daily driver. It is the bike to choose for a big backcountry mission or a lunch-break hot lap.
Marin designed the TAM leaning more toward “modern XC” standards and 29” wheels, front and rear, and 130/120mm of travel, front and rear. The headtube angle is a moderate 65°, while the seattube angle is 76°. Longer reach numbers give the TAM a more traditional XC feel, while the modern HTA and 435mm chainstays provide stability.
Stepping away from their faux-bar MultiTrac suspension system, Marin went the way of flexstays. Marin feels that riders not only benefit from the Isotrac Flexstay Suspension’s performance but also appreciate its design simplicity. Fewer pivots reduce weight and ultimately means one less bearing to replace.
Each shock damper has been tuned to match the unique characteristics of a flexstay and the fork of each model. Marin dialed up a leverage rate that is “predictable and balanced,” from pushing hard on a race track to an afternoon spin. The TAM’s anti-squat sits at 124% (at SAG), while the anti-rise remains neutral at just under 100%.
For the frame, Marin sticks with hydroformed Series 4 aluminum, allowing engineers to add strength and save weight where needed. Hydroforming is used for the seat tube and nearby pivots, allowing them to be as light as possible. Yoke-free hydroformed seat stays allow for maximum power transfer, and a curved design minimizes heel rub. The bottom bracket and shock mount areas feature forged aluminum, enhancing durability without a significant weight penalty.
But, just how much are those weight savings? We’re unsure, as Marin’s press material didn’t note weight (that I saw, at least). Beyond that, the TAM features UDH, boost (148×12) spacing, and a 73mm BSA threaded bottom bracket. It also has enough space for two water bottles in the front triangle, regardless of frame size.
Three Models
Marin offers the TAM in three builds, with prices starting at $2,400.
The TAM XR is Marin’s top offering in the lineup, featuring a Fox Performance Elite 34 SL fork (130mm) and a Float SL shock. It has a Shimano Deore Di2 drivetrain, SRAM Motive Silver brakes, and a PNW Loam dropper post. It rolls on WTB KOM Light i30 wheels wrapped in Maxxis Recon Race tires.
Marin’s TAM XR retails for $5,499.
At $3,399 is the competitively spec’d TAM 2. It features the same Fox suspension but at the Performance level rather than Performance Elite. The TAM 2 also moves away from batteries and SRAM, with a full Shimano Deore groupset–4 piston brakes and a 12-speed drivetrain. Marin uses its in-house rims on the TAM 2, but still wraps them in Maxxis Recon Race rubber.
Marin anticipates the TAM 2 to be the most competitive build.
Lastly, the most affordable offering from Marin is the TAM 1. Yes, the more entry-level build veers away a bit from the component performance of the TAM 2 and TAM XR. However, at $2,399, the TAM 1 is priced to accommodate more riders peeking into the sport.
The TAM 1 features an X-Fusion Rezza fork and shock, both tuned for the TAM’s suspension platform. It also saves money with a MicroSHIFT Advent MX 11 drivetrain and an X-Fusion Maniac LC dropper. Stopping power is provided by Tektro’s HD-M535 hydraulic brakes, with the same in-house wheels and Delium Fast tires.
For full specs and details, visit marinbikes.com.
