Trek's Gen 3 Marlin 6 Could Be the Top Low-Budget Hardtail MTB of the Year

There's no shame in knowing your limits, both financially and physically, and with that in mind, I decided to bring to light one of Trek's most affordable and rather trail-worthy hardtail MTBs, the Gen 3 Marlin 6. Oh, and if I still don't have your attention, how about the fact that it's currently selling for an MSRP of $950 (€866 at current exchange rates) on Trek's website?

Now, the Marlin 6 is crafted with nothing more than Alpha Silver Aluminum, which isn't their top-shelf stuff, but it'll do for the average Joe. With it, Trek creates a frame with a nice dropped down tube leading into the seat stay line, reinforcement where it's needed, and with internal cable routing, the possibility for a dropper post is also in place.

From here, the manufacturer shapes that frame around 2.4-inch cross-section tires, and while that's amazing for grip and even helps soften up that ride, depending on your preference, the Gen 3 Marlin 6 can accommodate everything from 26-inch to 29-inch tires. Looking to try out a Mullet configuration? This one lets you do that. Just be sure to check fork specs first.

Another benefit of this sort of wheel-size range is the ability to meet the needs of countless riders, Big and small. In short, if you play things right, nearly every member of your family can be rocking a Marlin 6. Pick the appropriate frame and wheel size, and off you all go.

Speaking of forks, the front of the Marlin is the one place where a suspension component is present. Here, we're looking at a RockShox Judy with a solid 100 mm (3.9 in) of travel and lockout. The latter is essential if you're looking to also rock this bike around town.

Oh, and the frame magic doesn't stop there. As I explored what Trek did with this one, I noticed that the rear triangle can accommodate a cargo rack. More cargo options can also be added to the seat tube, down tube, and top tube. In reality, by the time you're done loading this bike up to the brim, you'll easily reach that 300-pound (136 kg) weight limit.

Why is all this a big deal? Well, let's think about it for a second. During the week, you can use the Marlin for nothing more than moving around your local town, heading to work, and even picking up some groceries on the way home.

However, come the weekend, you can equip your Marlin with the above-mentioned cargo options, and once the dawn's early light illuminates the world, you hop on your aluminum steed, call up your friends, and ride out to the edge of town, or wherever you have in mind. When you get there, why not camp out overnight?

Now, for the level of cash this bike demands from us, we can't expect it to be equipped with the best drivetrain around. I'm not saying that an FSA crankset and Shimano CUES cassette are low-budget gear, but they kind of are. After all, there had to be a tradeoff somewhere. Overall, you'll be working with a 10-speed cassette with an 11-48T range. Tektro brakes with up to 180 mm (7.1 in) rotors will be your stopping power.

As for the rest of this puppy, none other than in-house Bontrager steps in and runs the show. Everything from the rims to the handlebar, stem, and seat post are all from this crew. Depending on the frame size, even tires can be covered by Bontrager, but in most cases, you'll be rocking a pair of Maxxis Ardent Race rubbers.

Now, the final cherry on this cake is the fact that Trek mentions the words "dropper post" on this bike's presentation page. Yes, this budget machine is built to offer you the utmost freedom in terms of customization and movement on and off the trails, well, for as much as it'll allow.

Which brings me to my last and final point. If you're ever going to buy a bicycle or already own one, be sure to ride it on terrain and in settings specified by the manufacturer. Why? Think about it; not all bikes are designed to handle the stresses of a possible drop off a ledge or are sporting tires that can glide over roots and stones without issues. It's why you don't see people rocking grandma cruisers on trails or in enduro events; you'd have to be mad to do so.

All that's left to do now is either give your local dealer a call and ask how much one of these babies will set you back or just head to Trek's website and go from there. Before you do, ask around if anyone else needs a fresh and rather affordable MTB, and you can split the shipping costs. Safe riding out there, and always wear a helmet.