Trek Marlin 5 Vs Specialized Rockhopper 2021 – Better Bike for Beginners

Which bike should you choose as a beginner between the Trek Marlin 5 Vs Specialized Rockhopper in 2021?

Trek and Specialized both offer entry level  ‘serious’ mountain bikes for novice mountain bikers. Serious because you can use them thoroughly for their main intended purpose, which is riding on rough mountain terrain.

Both the Trek Marlin 5 and the Specialized Rockhopper are a step above department store bikes, both in overall build quality and specification of the bikes main components. The suspension forks are more durable and give superior cushioning where it is needed. The frames aluminum material will be of better quality making for a lighter, stiffer and stronger frame, lowering the chance of failure when under tension from heavy forces. In addition the brakes performance is superior and more consistent. Finally the shifting experience is smoother. Overall the ride  quality of the Marlin and the Rockhopper gives you feeling of confidence in its performance, and keeps you feeling  well connected to the bike.

Trek Marlin Size Chart

Specialized Rockhopper Size Chart

Essentials when buying your first mountain bike in this price range

Front suspension with 80-100mm

The more travel a suspension fork has the better it is able to absorb harsher bumps on the trail. Bikes that come in sizes extra small or small will sometimes come with 80mm of travel to compensate for the smaller bike size to keep the proportions correct.  The Specialized Rockhopper and the Trek Marlin 6 both have 100mm travel suspension forks. This reduces to 80mm travel suspension forks for the smallest sizes.

Disc Brakes

Both the Talon 2 and the Marlin 6 have disc brakes. When going down hill on rough terrain  where you may come across unexpected obstacles  and need to stop and stop quickly. Discs brakes will let you do just that reliably in any condition, as wet conditions can hurt rim brakes performance.  It is best to avoid mountain bikes that do not have disc brakes as standard as it is not only a matter of performance but also safety. This is a minimum standard for mountain bikes in this price range and if you are being offered less, best find another bike.

Now that we’ve got that out the way lets get into what you’re here for. Choosing either the Trek Marlin 6 vs Specialized Rockhopper as a best buy as a beginner mountain biker.

Trek Marlin 5 & Specialized Rockhopper Reasons to Buy

Commuting on all surfaces including pavement

If the roads in your area are poor quality, commuting on a mountain bike is an option you should consider. Rough roads filled with potholes can be a painful experience on a road bike. Being able to go off road to take short cuts or hop up or over obstacles and curbs are no problems for capable mountain bikes such as the Marlin 5 and Rockhopper. The wider tires and suspension fork take the sting out of the rough spots and the big range of gears (21 on the Marlin 5 and 16 on the Rockhopper) mean you’ll be able to get up to good maximum speeds on the pavement.

Off-roading

These bikes are perfect for taking on off-road adventures in the mountains. They love dirt trails thanks to their wider knobby style tires , the wider handlebars give you greater control  for the sharper turns. In addition, the lower gear ratios make climbing up steep hills an easier task and the frame geometry puts you in a position of control on the downhill segments. Lastly the powerful hydraulic disc brakes that come standard on the Marlin 5 give you effortless stopping power when you need it the most.

Learning and improving your mountain biking skills

These modern mountain bike frames are constructed from stiff but light aluminum frames. This means that pulling off all the basic mountain bike tricks such as bunny hops, jumps, and manuals is a less exhausting task. As a result you may be able to improve your skills at a much faster rate on the bike. Thanks to their solid construction these bikes hold up under the forces put on them by the impacts from pulling off these bike manoeuvres.

Choosing the Trek Marlin 5 vs Specialized Rockhopper as a beginner

Climbing and Descending performance – Marlin 5 vs Rockhopper

The Trek Marlin 5 and Specialized Rockhopper both have good climbing geometry. Thanks to its steeper head angle the Trek will have better control on the climbs than the Rockhopper. In addition the additional gears on the Trek (21 vs 16) will help find you get closer to the exact speed you need to get the most out of your pedalling effort. Lastly thanks to the flat handlebars on the Marlin vs the slight risers on the Rockhopper, you’ll be able to keep you weight lower . This will give you better traction on the climbs meaning more efficiency.

The Specialized Rockhopper does have the edge over the Trek in climbing geometry thanks to a steeper seating position. This will allow you to keep you distribute your weight further forward onto the front wheel leading to better traction on the front wheel, again for improved efficiency. Both the Marlin and the Specialized weight more or less the same.

Overall the Trek Marlins greater gear range and steeper head angle provides more control and stability on the climbs making it a better climbing bike.

For descending performance the Specialized Rockhopper beats out the Marlin thanks to the frame geometry and rising handlebars. This gives you greater control and stability on the downhills  giving you a feeling of greater confidence when going downhill at speed.

Riding in Different Conditions  – Marlin 5 vs Rockhopper

The Marlin 5 uses the Bontrager XR2 tires . These are great for grip in dryer conditions on all types of trail and mountain terrains especially dirt roads. In wet, muddy conditions it can sometimes struggle for grip. This can be explained by the smaller tire width of 2.2 that offers more speed in exchange for slightly less grip.

The Specialized Rockhopper uses wider 2.3 sized tires. The Ground Control Sports tires are designed to have higher rollability. These make them better for riding while on even surfaces as you’ll maintain speed on the flat trails.  This can also mean you’ll have less control over your speed in places and you’ll need to compensate by using the brakes more often which could wear the tires down more quickly.

Usability and Comfort – Marlin 5 vs Rockhopper

Both the Marlin 5 and the Rockhopper make a different frame for the smaller bikes sizes. The top part of the frame is curved to allow easier access onto the seat to make getting on and off the bike a breeze.

The Marlin offering a high range of 21 gears means you can get closest to the pedalling speed you require in the moment. The Marlin has the superior hydraulic disc brakes as opposed to the Rockhoppers mechanical type. This means you can operate the brakes with much less effort and still get all the stopping power that you would using mechanical style brakes. The downside to hydraulic brakes is that they will require more maintenance than mechanical brakes so could potential be a little more costly to run.

Both bikes lend themselves well to being upgraded. You can improve the suspension, drivetrain and tires easily for a impactful upgrade that can transform how the bike rides.

Styles of Riding – Marlin 5 vs Rockhopper

The Marlin 5 will be the better bike for longer rides on flat terrains and for commuting on pavement. Thanks to the combination of the flat handle bars, wheel angle and seat tube angle that puts you in a better position for putting the power down effectively while riding on flat surfaces. In addition when riding in wetter conditions you’ll feel confident in the bikes braking ability.

The Specialized Rockhopper will perform better on hilly trails with climbs and descents. Thanks to the angles in the frame design the bike is made to give you an easier time climbing up whilst sat in the saddle and give you greater control over the bike when on the descents.  Furthermore the wider tires also give you a slight edge over the Trek when in need of grip on trail corners.

Trek Marlin 5 vs Specialized Rockhopper Specifications

Conclusion – Should you choose the Marlin 6 or the Rockhopper?

For slightly more money the Trek gets you hydraulic disc brakes over mechanical disc brakes as the main upgrade for the price increase. Which one you would choose is dependant on your main use for the bike. Looking at the pros and cons there is little to choose between them and it comes down to what quality of the bike you feel is most important.

To conclude no matter which one you go with, you’ll be getting a quality bike that is well worth the price point. In the end which ever bike will encourage you most to get out and ride and have a blast doing so should be the one you end up going with.

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