

This summer while my wife is out of the country, I finally want to have a a modern (ish) full suspension trail bike.
Thru axles front and rear, tapered head tube. No half measures.
My two candidates are as follows.
A 2022 Marin Rift Zone 2 27.5.
This is new frame set only.
It as been on the market an about a year. Size XL. Might be a little large for me but I understand these ran a little small.
They are asking $300. Iām thinking about offering $200 maybe settle on $250.
The other is a 2018 Giant Trance 3. Large. A complete bike.
For $600. It has been listed for over a year. Was thinking of offering $450.
For either bike, I have XT hydraulic brakes as well as a Deore 5100/XT 1 x 11 drivetrain hack.
For the Marin frame, I would need a 27.5 taper fork as well as a through axle boost wheel set.
Which would you choose and why?
by Returning2Riding
6 Comments
I really loved my 2019 Trance.
Trance
If you want a custom frame up build go with the Marin. If you’re looking for ready to ride get the Giant. I tend to lean towards newer geometry and parts when it comes to buying used.
Trance, will not regret.
Have a Trance and love it, they are impossible to kill, no experience with a Marin though.
I will say I spent a season on an incorrectly sized bike and didn’t realise how much it sucked until I changed to a better fit, do not discount the impact the difference in sizing may have.
Your wife is out of the country… just get a new Trance, how much trouble could you get in to š