Trek Marlin 7 is the flagship model from the Marlin lineup. This is a race-ready trail bike that doubles as a daily commuter or a leisure two-wheeler. Thanks to its attractive price, it will find its way into the hands of a variety of adventure-hungry riders.
Marlin 7 Gen 2 is the most expensive model from the beginner-friendly Trek Marlin series. However, its $1,030 price is more than justified.
This is an affordable cross-country bike with race-ready geometry and a much better RockShox fork compared to other cheaper Marlin series models.
If you’re more serious about mountain biking and you want the key to the door of real trail riding, then you should read the rest of our detailed Trek Marlin 7 review. You’re guaranteed to like it.
Contents
Trek Marlin 7 Quick Overview
The secret to Marlin 7’s success on the entry-level MTB market is the fact that it combines race-ready elements to budget components to offer a versatile package that fits diametrically different needs, such as trail riding, leisure riding, and commuting.
Key Specifications:
- Frame: Alpha Silver Aluminum
- Fork: RockShox Judy, 100 mm (80mm for XS)
- Cassette: Shimano Deore M4100, 10 speed
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore M5120
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes
- Rims: Bontrager Connection, double-wall
- Tire Size: 27.5″/29″ x 2.20″
- Weight: 13.47 kg / 29.7 lbs
Trek Marlin 7 Main Features
Trek has obviously put a lot of effort into making Marlin 7 Gen 2 a gateway model to some of their higher-priced and higher-specked lineups such as Roscoe or Supercaliber.
Marlin 7 has features from both the entry-level and the mid-range world. It has excellent competition-worthy suspension, brakes, and frame, coupled with a low-level Shimano groupset and a heavier-than-ideal wheelset.
With a few smart upgrades, it can certainly become a bike that can lead you to a cross-country race podium!
Light and Efficient 1×10 Drivetrain
One of the high points of the Trek Malin 7 bike is its light and efficient 1×10 drivetrain. It’s built with an 11-46T cassette.
This means that it has an excellent range of gears.
High-Performing 100mm RockShox Fork
The RockShox Judy fork on Marlin 7 is a big improvement compared to the SR Suntour forks found on other lower-priced Marlin models.
It puts 100mm of travel under your hands but also equips you with a preload function and a Turnkey lockout. Therefore, you can lock it with the flip of a switch even when you’re riding.
The coil spring might make the fork feel a bit inefficient if you are very short and light, but if you have an average weight, you’ll be happy with it.
This fork is ready for fast descents, rocky terrain, and more technical trails.
Budget-Friendly Components
Shimano Deore components are an upgrade from the previous combination of Shimano Altus and Shimano Acera.
Deore is part of the Shimano lineup, the groupset is the cheapest group marketed towards real mountain bikers.
Deore is well-built and reliable, it even shares some features with more expensive groupsets.
Race-Ready Frame Geometry
By far the most important part of any bike is its frame. Trek Marlin 7 can be proud of its Alpha Silver Aluminum frame as its light, compliant, and nimble on the trails.
The race-inspired geometry makes this bike good both at tight and demanding singletracks, as well as at straight downhills attacked at high speeds.
Its 69.3-69.5-degree head tube angle combined with a 73.5-71.9-degree seat tube angle puts you in a good position to have maximum control.
Reliable Hydraulic Disc Brakes
The Shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes are a phenomenal mid-range choice. They are capable of providing you will all the braking power you need when attacking high-speed descents.
Combined with the aluminum Bontrager Connection double-wall wheels and knobby Bontrager XR2 Comp tires, you’ll get maximum confidence in bends and in wet conditions.
These wheels are not tubeless-ready. Still, they can be easily converted to a tubeless setup which would give Marlin 7 even better trail properties.
Does Trek Marlin 7 Fit Your Needs?
To figure out whether or not Marlin 7 is the right bike for you, you first need to define your needs. If trail riding is your hobby or you believe that it might become that, then you should definitely buy Marlin 7. This is a race-ready bike that you can enter amateur competitions with or just have fun with your friends.
But, Marlin 7 is still not too trail-specific that it cannot accomplish other tasks as well. If you can only afford one bike and you want to be able to commute on it as well, this bike can do that.
A few miles on paved roads to get to work will feel like second nature. Best of all, on the way back home, you can hit some trails and end your day the right way.
Geometry & Sizing
| Frame size number | Frame size letter | Wheel size | A — Seat tube | B — Seat tube angle | Effective seat tube angle | C — Head tube length | D — Head angle | E — Effective top tube | F — Bottom bracket height | G — Bottom bracket drop | H — Chainstay length | I — Offset | J — Trail | K — Wheelbase | L — Standover | M — Frame reach | N — Frame stack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.5 | XS | 27.5″ | 34.3 | 73.5° | 73.5° | 9.0 | 69.3° | 54.4 | 29.2 | 5.8 | 43.8 | 4.2 | 8.8 | 104.9 | 65.8 | 37.6 | 56.5 |
| 15.5 | S | 27.5″ | 36.8 | 73.5° | 73.5° | 9.0 | 69.3° | 55.5 | 30.2 | 4.8 | 43.8 | 4.2 | 8.8 | 106.6 | 68.6 | 38.5 | 57.4 |
| 17.5 | M | 29″ | 41.9 | 71.9° | 73.0° | 9.0 | 69.5° | 60.2 | 31 | 5.8 | 43.8 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 110.0 | 74.8 | 41.8 | 60.2 |
| 18.5 | ML | 29″ | 44.4 | 71.9° | 73.0° | 9.0 | 69.5° | 61.8 | 31 | 5.8 | 43.8 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 111.6 | 75.8 | 43.4 | 60.2 |
| 19.5 | L | 29″ | 47.0 | 71.9° | 73.0° | 10.0 | 69.5° | 63.8 | 31 | 5.8 | 43.8 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 113.7 | 75.7 | 45.1 | 61.1 |
| 21.5 | XL | 29″ | 52.1 | 71.9° | 73.0° | 12.0 | 69.5° | 65.9 | 31 | 5.8 | 43.8 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 115.9 | 76.9 | 46.6 | 63.0 |
| 23.0 | XXL | 29″ | 55.9 | 71.9° | 73.0° | 12.0 | 69.5° | 67.3 | 31.1 | 5.8 | 43.8 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 117.3 | 80.4 | 48.0 | 63.0 |
Other Marlin Models
Verdict: Good Value or Not?
Trek Marlin 7 costs $1,030 and is worth every cent if you’re looking for a real trail bike that’s ready to rumble.
Excellent geometry ensures agile steering and the coil-spring RockShox fork provides impressive shock absorption even on rocky surfaces.
The entry-level components keep the price in check but can be upgraded if need be. However, casual riders and first-timers on the trails can enjoy the original setup for years and miles to come.
Trek Marlin 7
$1,030
Pros
- Efficient RockShox suspension
- Race-inspired geometry
- Strong Shimano hydraulic brakes
- Wide-range 1x10 drivetrain
- Three attractive colors
Cons
- Budget groupsets
Hey. It’s been more than six months since you did this. How about an update? Has trek made any changes? Has time shown any problems? Thinking about getting a 7 and can’t find anything new about it. Is everyone just waiting for the next year?
Hi Harry,
First of all I want to say I appreciate the enthusiasm! Yes Trek is phenomenal. Truth is,we haven’t updated it recently because we are waiting for the 2022 models. We will update it soon.
Hi Jeff,
Unfortunately I had my Trek Marlin 7 2019 stolen so am looking at getting the 2021 model..the only problem seems to be the single chainring setup on the new model ? Won’t this be spinning out at any reasonable kind of speed and what can be done about this ? Would I be better going with a Marlin 6 or some other comparable bike with 2 rings ? Many thanks, Andrew
Hi Andy,
Single chainring seems to be the trend these days and if you ask me, it can be about aesthetics, other than dropping some weight by having fewer components. Single chainring will definately sacrifice some range however, you also gain advantage on other areas.
Single Ring Setup: Simplicity, less maintenance, a cleaner look and of course, less weight.
Double Ring Setup: Larger range of gears, efficiency in pedalling,less wear on the drivetrain.
Hi I my Weight is 120 kg and I am planning to get marlin 7 for Casual Commuting around the town and some light rail, but more casual commuting
Do you recommend the marlin 5 or 7 for my need
Hi Bdr,
They are all great series from Marlin. Marlin 5 is good enough since you are not really a hardcore off-road rider.
hi jeff
i bought the marlin 7 a couple months back and im looking to get wider tires. whats the max width i can get for front and back?
Hi Dylan,
According to the website, you can get a 29×2.2 as max size.
Hi Jeff,
What is next or higher specs than Marlin 7 with more comfort at stability? Can you please advise. Thank you.
Hi Carlito,
That’s a good question! You might want to check other bikes in the series with higher specs(and price range) so you can decide.
I am eyeing a 2020 Marlin 7. It checks off all the boxes: XL, 29er, good shape, and lastly looks decent. I have put the Trek Marlin series next to the Cannondale Trail series, and Specialized Rockhopper Series when looking for an entry level reasonably priced bike. Is this fair/accurate, and if not, why ?
Hi John,
I think everyone has their own favorite brand and those you mentioned above have already proven their strengths in the MRB market. I think this is fair and accurate.
I have a Marlin 7 since november 2019. Mine came with Tektro brakes, I don’t know the series but the are a pretty good brakes.
On the other hand, this bike comes with a couple of issues:
Plastic pedals. Changed to metal ones.
Hard thin unconfortable seat. Changed it for a fat soft one.
This bike was beyond useful during the pandemic. Since it only has front suspension, it can carry a lot of weight on a posterior rack with a double bag (like 20kg of potatoes and fruits).
It can stand 40-50Km/hour descends on a road (my maximum speed was 40Km/h last sunday mainy because I was applying the brakes, other cyclist use to go faster*).
other issue is that the derailleurs need calibration with some frecuency depending of the use, they gave me problems a couble of times (chain not going to place easily). I think it is because the Acera/Altus mix.
As a MTB with wide wheels, this bike goes slower. In fact, this trek model looks fat compared with other bikes like Specialized. The frame is squared, not like a tube, and it looked funny to me at the beginning. Non-important details apart, this is a great bike, with a soft seat and in the right frame size, it is confortable and easy to ride.
*This is the descent from Manchay to Cieneguilla in Lima-Perú.
Hi Yelinna,
Any bike should be calibrated by a bike mechanic. A regular maintenance will give you more fun with your MTB. You can also upgrade to a narrower MTB tires if you want more aerodynamics.
What is the handlebar tube size of marlin 7 2020.?
I wanna change it to Raceface bar .thanks
Hi Pedro,
Their website data has this specs:
Handlebar:Bontrager alloy, 31.8 mm, 5 mm rise, 720 mm width (13.5: 690 mm width)
Stem: Bontrager alloy, 31.8 mm, 7-degree, Blendr compatible
I hope this helps.
Hi Jeff I’m 75 and thinking of getting the marlin 7 ,plan to do more pavement riding would this be a good bike to start out with .
Hi Dough,
An MTB for pavement riding? There is nothing wrong with that. There are many people who prefer using MTB on paved roads especially when you live in an environment where there are lots of potholes. The Marlin 7 is a decent bike for someone who is just getting into MTB. Just make sure it is the right size for you.
Hi Jeff,
I’m looking to buy a a marlin 7 2021, the prices today in UK are above £660. My question is: there is anything out there below that price that is worth to buy instead of a marlin7?
Hi Andre,
There’s Cannondale trail 8 and the https://www.bicycle-guider.com/bike-reviews/best-mountain-bikes-500/. Have look!