|   New Heckler vs. Marin TARA bikes | Dropout
Aug 4, 2002 5:54 PM | | I am currently riding a 2001 Marin TARA (adjustable travel single pivot). I have read in a number of places that Santa Cruz and Marin use almost the exact same pivot point on their bikes. I was thinking of getting the new Heckler with the Progressive 5th element shock, but now I am wondering if I can save some money by simply buying an aftermarket 5th element shock and putting it on my Marin.
Any ideas on whether this would work? Do the two companies use the same pivot point? Has anyone ever ridden a Santa Cruz and a Marin to compare the rides?
I don't want to buy a whole new frame, if I can get the same results with my current frame.
Thanks. |
| you got some bad info, man... here are my thoughts | gonzostrike
Aug 5, 2002 3:21 PM | | the only thing the TARA bikes have in common with Santa Cruz bikes is a single pivot design. the pivot points ARE NOT THE SAME.
the TARA bikes have a peculiar pivot location that doesn't give the fully active feel of an Ellsworth Isis/Joker, or the "tightened-up" hardtail feel of a Santa Cruz Superlight. They cause more pedal-induced feedback than either the Ells or the SC. Also, they have very short top tubes for their respective sizes.
I own a 2000 Ells Isis and a 2002.5 Santa Cruz Bullit. I've ridden a Santa Cruz Superlight, and a Santa Cruz Heckler. I've never ridden a TARA series Marin, but have talked to people who have compared the Marin TARA series to the Ells Isis and Joker. The Marin TARA frame **looks** a lot like the Ells Isis/Joker frame, but that's the only similarity.
The new SC Heckler will be one hell of a bike with the Progressive 5th Element shock. That shock works wonders on the Bullit. My Bullit actually climbs better than my Isis. The Isis is the finest climbing 4" travel sinble pivot rear suspension frame available, IMHO. It's better than many 4-bar bikes.
The Marin TARA bikes are attractive in concept, but there are MANY bikes that are in the same travel range that will perform better in every instance. IMHO, the best 4"-5" travel single pivot rear suspension frames that will be available this Fall will be:
1. Santa Cruz Blur (not a true single pivot)
2. Santa Cruz Heckler
3. Ellsworth Isis
4. Ventana Pantera
5. Santa Cruz Superlight
IMHO, the best 4"-5" travel multilink rear suspension frames this Fall will be:
1. Iron Horse Hollowpoint
2. Hammerhead 100X
3. Titus Switchblade
4. Ellsworth Truth
5. Specialized FSR
I'm definitely not trying to say the TARA frames are crap. They're just not the best design available. For a single-pivot rear suspension frame with 4"-5" travel rear, I would consider one of those I listed above. |
| another opinion... | NuMexJoe
Aug 6, 2002 8:24 AM | | I don't disagree with anything that gonzostrike says above, but in reading your post I'm not sure that your question was answered completely. As background, I ride a '00 El Salty, and my wife has a '00 Isis on which I've spent time, so I'm not unfamiliar w/ good FS bikes. That said, do you like your bike? I mean, does it fit you, and climb/descend that way you'd like? The Marin frame you have gets very good reviews here and elsewhere, and while there may be better bikes, you may be at the point of diminishing returns were you to upgrade. Can you get a 5th Element or Romic that'll fit? Why not try it then? Make a deal with shop so you can return it for store credit if you don't like the results. It sounds like your at the "tinkering" stage rather than being afflicted with "upgrade-itis" so why not tinker if you're generally pleased with the bike you have. Regards,
- Joe |
| shock rate and fit differences | derby
Aug 6, 2002 9:51 AM | | If you are experiencing unstable wallow and bob on your bike now at lower speeds or need very slow rebound for stability, a 5th Element or Romic would virtually eliminate the instability and still feel quite smooth over small bumps without feeling overly firm and improve higher speed suspension compliance. If you feel quite stable already on your bike at lower speeds with medium range rebound damping, then those shocks will firm up the small bump response to be more harsh and feel firmer at any speed, and eliminate any wallow that you didn't realize you had before, mainly improving high speed stability at the sacrifice of small bump smoothness at lower speeds.
I compared my old Superlight (which has the same frame pivot point as the New Heckler) to a Mount Vision (I think the Tara uses the same pivot geometry frame as the Vision). The Superlight and Mount Vision had the same pivot point and same head angle and BB height, with the Mount Vision having a shorter top tube in a given size. I'm guessing that the New Heckler and Tara in 5 inch travel mode with the same fork will be similar handling except for wheelbase differences and shock rates.
The biggest difference other than TT fit and wheelbase handling is the Marin suspension bikes have generally more rising rate shock linkage vs. the Santa Cruz's falling rate. The Marin bikes will ramp up later in travel so the same shock and spring under the same rider on both bikes will feel noticeably different. The Tara bike would likely wallow a little more than the Heckler with the same travel, same shock, and sag.
- ray |
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