Trek Marlin 7

Marlin 7 is where race-worthy mountain bikes begin. The smooth, lightweight RockShox fork and widest range of gearing in the Marlin family make this model the best choice for new riders who want a cross country hardtail with great parts that will hold its own against Trek's higher-end race bikes.

It's right for you if...
You're new to the trail but have serious singletrack aspirations, and want a race-worthy mountain bike with upgrades on the parts that make a big difference in performance, like a higher quality suspension fork.

The tech you get
The flagship model of the Marlin lineup has a lightweight Alpha Silver Aluminum frame with internal derailleur routing to protect your cables and add to the bike's sleek look, a high-quality RockShox fork with a lockout feature and 100mm of travel, a 27-speed drivetrain, and a low-profile Shimano Shadow rear derailleur that's made to avoid snagging on trail debris. The quality fork and parts make Marlin 7 fully capable of taking on off-road marathon rides and XC races.

The final word
The RockShox suspension and wider range of gearing make it the best choice in the Marlin lineup for new mountain bikers who know they want a serious bike for their money.

Why you'll love it
- All the value, plus all the versatility—it's a totally race-worthy mountain bike, with rear rack mounts if you use it for commuting too
- It's really fun to ride, and feels like a much more expensive mountain bike
- Great suspension at an even better price
- Like every model in the Marlin family, it's backed by Trek's lifetime warranty