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The third-generation Trek Marlin 4 is as much an everyday bike as a leisure mountain bike: its Alpha Silver aluminium frame takes a rack and kickstand, its Shimano ESSA 1x8 drivetrain does without frequent adjustments and its Tektro hydraulic brakes stop the bike effortlessly. Trek quotes 14.90 kg in size M. Matte Dark Web is a deep matt black, discreet in town as on the trails.
| 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 the employee who wants to ride to work via cycle paths and back lanes, for the student looking for a tough bike that copes with kerbs and car parks, or for anyone who wants a single bike for weekday shopping and Sunday rides around Béziers.
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.
For utility use, reliability comes before weight. The single-ring drivetrain almost never drops its chain, the 2.40-inch tyres absorb kerbs and potholes, and the aluminium frame handles everyday knocks. With a rack and panniers, the Marlin 4 easily carries a bag of shopping or a laptop.
The 180 mm front rotors from size M upwards give reassuring braking even when loaded. For town riding, we recommend adding lights, mudguards and a lock. Matt black is a wise choice for a bike parked outside: it attracts less attention and better hides small marks.
| 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: for mainly urban and utility use, the Marlin 4 is more than enough. The Marlin 5's fork lockout becomes useful if you ride a lot on the road; the Marlin 6 and 7 are aimed more at the trails.
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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. |
| Can mudguards be fitted? | Yes, we fit them and recommend a model suited to 2.40-inch tyres. |
| Is it heavy to carry? | 14.90 kg in size M: reasonable for a mountain bike, and easy enough to carry up a flight of stairs. |
| What maintenance should I plan for? | An annual service and regular chain lubrication are enough. |
| Does matt black hold up? | Yes, it hides small scratches; just avoid polishing products. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict A simple, tough mountain bike that makes an excellent everyday bike, without giving up weekend trails. Its understated matt black suits every use, in town or out on a ride.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? Our Béziers workshop kits out your Marlin 4 for town (rack, lights, mudguards) and services it all year round.
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