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With eight sizes and three wheel diameters, the third-generation Trek Marlin 4 fits a youngster of 1.35 m just as well as an adult over 1.95 m. It combines an Alpha Silver aluminium frame, a coil fork, the Shimano ESSA 1x8 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, weighing 14.90 kg in size M. Purple Flip/Black Fade features a colour-shifting purple with bluish highlights that gradually melts into black.
| Frame | Alpha Silver aluminium, internal cables, dropper post ready, rack and kickstand mounts, ThruSkew 135x5 mm axle |
| Fork | SR Suntour XCE 28 coil, preload, 100 mm (80 mm in XS; XCM 30 with 26-inch wheels on the XXS) |
| Drivetrain | Shimano ESSA 1x8, ProWheel chainset with 30T chainring, HG300 11-45 cassette |
| Brakes | Tektro hydraulic discs (HD-M276 up to S, HD-M275 from M), 160 mm rotors, 180 mm front from size M |
| Wheels / tyres | Formula hubs, Bontrager Connection double-wall rims / Bontrager Montrose Comp 2.40 in (26, 27.5 or 29 in depending on size) |
| Cockpit | Bontrager 690 to 750 mm alloy handlebar, Bontrager Comp 35 to 70 mm stem |
| Saddle / seatpost | Bontrager Verse Short / Bontrager alloy seatpost 31.6 mm |
| Weight | 14.90 kg in size M (Trek figure) |
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At a glance
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For a family who want to equip several riders of different builds with the same bike, for the youngster moving from a children's bike to a first adult mountain bike, or for the tall adult who struggles to find an entry-level bike that fits. It suits rides on tracks, greenways and everyday journeys.
Alpha aluminium, Trek's expertise. Trek grades its aluminium frames in several Alpha levels, from Silver to NEXT Platinum. The Marlin 4 gets Alpha Silver: an alloy chosen for its strength and controlled cost, with tubes shaped to withstand the knocks of a proper mountain bike. The internal cable routing and lowered top tube on the smaller sizes show that this entry-level model does not get a cut-price frame.
| Alpha Silver (Marlin) | Alpha Platinum (Procaliber 6 and 8) | Alpha NEXT Platinum (Gen 7 Fuel) | |
| Level | Trek's first level of MTB aluminium | Race hardtail aluminium | Trek's most refined aluminium |
| Construction | Tough tubes, generous wall thickness | More refined tubes, neat welds | Complex shapes, full-suspension frameset |
| Reference bike | Marlin 4 to 7 | Procaliber 6 and 8 | Fuel EX 5, 8 and 9 |
| What it means | Strong and affordable, ideal for beginners | Lighter and livelier when accelerating | The strength of a full-suspension enduro bike |
Put simply: on a Marlin 4, it is not the frame that holds you back, but the coil fork and the 8-speed drivetrain. The Alpha Silver frame is the same as on the Marlin 5 to 7: it can take a better fork or a dropper post the day your riding evolves.
The size range is a real selling point: in XXS, the Marlin 4 rolls on 26-inch wheels with 160 mm cranks; in XS and S, it moves to 27.5-inch; from M upwards, to 29-inch with 170 then 175 mm cranks. Every rider thus gets consistent proportions, which matters a great deal for a beginner's enjoyment and safety.
On the small sizes, the curved top tube lowers the standover and the 80 mm fork (XS) keeps the cockpit low. For maintenance, the 8-speed drivetrain uses common, affordable parts. The iridescent purple of this colour is very popular with younger riders, without looking childish on a large frame.
| Model | Fork | Drivetrain | Wheels / tyres | Weight (M) |
| Marlin 4 | Suntour XCE 28, 100 mm | Shimano ESSA 1x8 | 29 x 2.40 in (inner tube) | 14.90 kg |
| Marlin 5 | Suntour XCT 30, 100 mm, lockout | Shimano CUES 1x9 | 29 x 2.40 in (inner tube) | 15.10 kg |
| Marlin 6 | RockShox Judy, 100 mm | Shimano CUES 1x10 + dropper post | Tubeless Ready rims | 15.00 kg |
| Marlin 7 | RockShox Judy Silver air, 100 mm | SRAM NX Eagle 1x12 + dropper post | Maxxis Rekon Tubeless Ready | 14.15 kg |
Our take: among the Marlins, only the Marlin 4 goes down to XXS. If the size allows, the Marlin 5 and its fork lockout are more pleasant on the road, and the Marlin 6 adds a dropper post.
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LVR sizing advice The Marlin 4 comes in eight sizes: the XXS rolls on 26-inch wheels, XS and S on 27.5-inch, the rest on 29-inch. Between two sizes, the smaller one makes the bike more agile, the larger one more stable on smooth ground.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| From what rider height? | Trek lists 1.35 m for the XXS, on 26-inch wheels. |
| Are the brakes powerful? | Yes, hydraulic: easy to modulate and effective, even in wet weather. |
| For riding to school? | Yes, with lights, a lock and possibly mudguards. |
| Does the purple change colour? | Yes, it turns bluish depending on the angle before melting into black. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict A well-proportioned first mountain bike for the whole family, thanks to its eight sizes and three wheel sizes. Its iridescent purple fading into black gives it plenty of character.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? In Béziers, we measure the rider, recommend the best-suited size from the eight available and set the bike up to their measurements.
Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.
Data sheet
Specific References