Marin Alpine Trail E1/2 thread

[iadmtb]

G’day! Managed to pick up a deal on a secondhand e2 recently, and am super stoked with this beast of a machine. It’s so much fun!

Got a couple newb questions tho…

…wondering if anyone here can recommend any frame protection kits, either full invisiframe or other…

…and whether transport on a folding arm bike rack is a good idea or not…as in, one like this where the bike sits atop the racks arms on it’s downtube. Have used this for years with analogue bikes and it’s bombproof, am loathe to change up, but the e2 battery sheath seems merely a flexible plastic cover and I’m wary of it on longer highway trips etc. Have seen a few threads already on here about racks and wet weather travel…thought I’d ask your opinions.

Cheers for your time, happy trails

I wrapped my E2 with Ridewrap. It fit perfectly and you can't tell the bike is wrapped unless you go up close to the bike and look. As for transporting the bike, I use a bike rack called 1up. Any bike rack that clamps on the tires vs. the frame is the best method in my opinion. As for carrying tools in the steerer, I have that option with my Turbo Levo. I actually prefer to carry the tools in my hip pack.

 

[chownr]

Helitape isnt that fiddly at all. Just be patient. Use a hairdryer/heat gun to warm the tape and its pretty flexible.
Only carry minimal tools in a pouch in my hydra pack.

Glad you’re enjoying your new ride

 

[zendo]

Hey what up fellas. Just got my new 2023 E1 n love the bike but still trying to get the suspension setup, not to crazy about the rockshox super deluxe coil R that came stock with a 300lb spring and switched it out for a mrp progressive 450+ spring which is better (sag @ 25%) and have a 400lb (nonprogressive) on order to try. Any E1 owners happy with this shock? Seriously thinking about replacing it with a Bomber CR coil shock, which I'm also curious if anyone has any experience with it on the E1. Thanks

 

[chownr]

im not sure the Bomber CR will be an upgrade. What dont you like about the current coil? 25% sag probably is too stiff. I ran a 450 at 33% sag which was too soft. Then a 550 at 26% which was too firm and have settled on a 500 at 28.5% which is spot on. R

 

[zendo]

im not sure the Bomber CR will be an upgrade. What dont you like about the current coil? 25% sag probably is too stiff. I ran a 450 at 33% sag which was too soft. Then a 550 at 26% which was too firm and have settled on a 500 at 28.5% which is spot on. R

It's a bit stiff. So I ordered a 400 to try out, the spring calculators I used said that I should be on a 473 even though I've read some people using 500lb springs who weigh considerably less than I do and even on acoustic bikes. I'm at 215lb (geared up n 10lbs extra for the weight of the bike). I've only considered the Bomber cr coil since it does have an additional compression setting and won't break the bank n seems to have some decent reviews. The super deluxe only has a rebound setting, most of the posts I've seen here are from people with E2s which has a fox float. Sorry I'm a newb to coil shocks n really only used air shocks but love the coil shocks feel.

 

[chownr]

It's a bit stiff. So I ordered a 400 to try out, the spring calculators I used said that I should be on a 473 even though I've read some people using 500lb springs who weigh considerably less than I do and even on acoustic bikes. I'm at 215lb (geared up n 10lbs extra for the weight of the bike). I've only considered the Bomber cr coil since it does have an additional compression setting and won't break the bank n seems to have some decent reviews. The super deluxe only has a rebound setting, most of the posts I've seen here are from people with E2s which has a fox float. Sorry I'm a newb to coil shocks n really only used air shocks but love the coil shocks feel.

Im not saying the Bomber is a bad shock. Just not sure that its an upgrade over the Rockshox. So what do you like about the coil? What dont you like about the coil? Maybe phone a suspension specialist like JTech Suspension who can give you the correct specialist advice

 

[zendo]

Im not saying the Bomber is a bad shock. Just not sure that its an upgrade over the Rockshox. So what do you like about the coil? What dont you like about the coil? Maybe phone a suspension specialist like JTech Suspension who can give you the correct specialist advice

I haven't given up on the rockshox, just trying to get some opinions of riders who have it. Really like the subtle feel, the grip of the coil shock only miss the poppyness of an air shock (reason why I purchased a progressive spring) This is my 1st Ebike n 1st time using a coil shock and I've been riding for years on acoustic bikes with air shocks.

 

[Cleggy]

Really like the subtle feel, the grip of the coil shock only miss the poppyness of an air shock

Same for me on the E2 with Fox DHX2 but not enough to make we want to go back to air, I'm really loving the coil

 

[iadmtb]

I have about 400 miles on the E2 so far. Bike is still running great. I noticed the 2023 E2 is sold out at a lot of places. Anyone hear of a new Alpine Trail E-bike coming out?

 

[ab_mtb]

I have about 400 miles on the E2 so far. Bike is still running great. I noticed the 2023 E2 is sold out at a lot of places. Anyone hear of a new Alpine Trail E-bike coming out?

Spoke to my LBS today about this. A slightly revised model due out end of the month. Very minor spec changes but essentially the same bike

 

[Cleggy]

Any of you that have swapped out the original dropper for a bigger one? Do you recall how deeply inserted the original was, i.e. is there room to raise it up higher as a temp measure to get a higher saddle height (at the expense of less saddle drop when lowered)

 

[coney]

Any of you that have swapped out the original dropper for a bigger one? Do you recall how deeply inserted the original was, i.e. is there room to raise it up higher as a temp measure to get a higher saddle height (at the expense of less saddle drop when lowered)

I started a thread in the fb group on this here, and got a reply from Marin on Insta; on the medium 2021 frame there’s room for 255mm of dropper post in the frame, meaning I could run a 210 extension oneup dropper with 230 of base inserted without issue.

 

[Cleggy]

I started a thread in the fb group on this here, and got a reply from Marin on Insta; on the medium 2021 frame there’s room for 255mm of dropper post in the frame, meaning I could run a 210 extension oneup dropper with 230 of base inserted without issue.

Thanks. I want a higher saddle height when pedalling.

My E2 is size medium and came with the 150mm dropper, it has 68mm of exposed seat post, then the 150mm of dropper shaft. I feel like I could do with raising the saddle about 30mm.

 

[coney]

Thanks. I want a higher saddle height when pedalling.

My E2 is size medium and came with the 150mm dropper, it has 68mm of exposed seat post, then the 150mm of dropper shaft. I feel like I could do with raising the saddle about 30mm.

Yeah just disconnect the lever and drag some cable through while pulling the post up; most models have a minimum insertion mark on the body to indicate how much must remain in the post.

 

[Cleggy]

Yeah just disconnect the lever and drag some cable through while pulling the post up; most models have a minimum insertion mark on the body to indicate how much must remain in the post.

yip but if i do that and its not currently at min insertion that means i can raise it, however it would then need a new longer length of outer housing and a new inner cable. Which leads to the next question, have Marin left the internal nice n handly or does the motor need to be dropped to facilitate changing the cable and housing?

 

[coney]

yip but if i do that and its not currently at min insertion that means i can raise it, however it would then need a new longer length of outer housing and a new inner cable. Which leads to the next question, have Marin left the internal nice n handly or does the motor need to be dropped to facilitate changing the cable and housing?

yeah that's an annoying job, but possible...you can leave the inner routed, remove the outer housing, replace the outer housing with new one using the old wire to route it, resize and cut, then replace the inner wire with a new longer one. Should be possible without dropping the motor...but I've not done it on this bike. Just talking shit at this point

 

[Cleggy]

From day one I've loved the E2, more so now I have the heavier spring fitted and had some riding time on it.

But there is one thing I hate and that's the speed restrictor, it's like hitting a brick wall when that thing kicks in. If UK/EU were even permitted to use the US speed limit that would be a big improvement, I notice it most on approach to jumps, I guess I need to improve my technique and pop more rather than rely on speed.

What say you guys/gals?

 

[Fielonator]

Thanks. I want a higher saddle height when pedalling.

My E2 is size medium and came with the 150mm dropper, it has 68mm of exposed seat post, then the 150mm of dropper shaft. I feel like I could do with raising the saddle about 30mm.

I've got a 200mm brand X one in my small. It's not slammed but not far off, loads of room. Cable wiggling was a pain to get right though.

 

[Fielonator]

From day one I've loved the E2, more so now I have the heavier spring fitted and had some riding time on it.

But there is one thing I hate and that's the speed restrictor, it's like hitting a brick wall when that thing kicks in. If UK/EU were even permitted to use the US speed limit that would be a big improvement, I notice it most on approach to jumps, I guess I need to improve my technique and pop more rather than rely on speed.

What say you guys/gals?

My thoughts exactly. I've posted about this in the derestricting section. E-max tuning have a very good solution. Have a gander and if you want more info maybe message me directly or within that thread.

 

[Fielonator]

yip but if i do that and its not currently at min insertion that means i can raise it, however it would then need a new longer length of outer housing and a new inner cable. Which leads to the next question, have Marin left the internal nice n handly or does the motor need to be dropped to facilitate changing the cable and housing?

The outer goes above the motor from the down tube to the seat tube. It's quite fiddle even just to move the outer through the gap, but not impossible. So, if you need more cable outer you should be able to get something through without dropping the motor if you're careful.

 

[Cleggy]

The outer goes above the motor from the down tube to the seat tube. It's quite fiddle even just to move the outer through the gap, but not impossible. So, if you need more cable outer you should be able to get something through without dropping the motor if you're careful.

Thanks, I have internally cabled plenty of bikes in the past so I'm well used to the hassle of internal routing. I think I'll hold fire until I buy a 200mm dropper, no point doing the job twice

 

[Cleggy]

every time i remove the front wheel thru axle on my E2 the hub axle end cap adaptor shifts with it and makes it very hard to remove the wheel until I manoeuvre the end cap adapter back in place beside the wheel bearing. Anyone else have this issue? Anyone come up with a solution? I was thinking some heavier grease behind the adapter to try and hold it in place better?

 

[Cleggy]

All hail the E2

 

[coney]

every time i remove the front wheel thru axle on my E2 the hub axle end cap adaptor shifts with it and makes it very hard to remove the wheel until I manoeuvre the end cap adapter back in place beside the wheel bearing. Anyone else have this issue? Anyone come up with a solution? I was thinking some heavier grease behind the adapter to try and hold it in place better?

yeah some marine grade grease sorts me out

 

[Cleggy]

every time i remove the front wheel thru axle on my E2 the hub axle end cap adaptor shifts with it and makes it very hard to remove the wheel until I manoeuvre the end cap adapter back in place beside the wheel bearing. Anyone else have this issue? Anyone come up with a solution? I was thinking some heavier grease behind the adapter to try and hold it in place better?

So after today's ride (before washing the bike) matey and I took a closer look at it, degreased the fork, thru axle etc, then ran a little pinky round the inside of the adapter and discovered a small bur. Filed that lightly, then regreased and refitted and all is good for now. I'll keep an eye on it going forward.

 

[Cleggy]

 

[Cleggy]

 

[Dmb 23]

Hi, is it possible to upgrade 2022 e1 motor? could just do with a bit more umf!

 

[chownr]

200 kilometres on my E2 now. Completely trouble free. Loving this bike. Shes a keeper. Muddy ride out today!!

 

[Cleggy]

200 kilometres on my E2 now. Completely trouble free. Loving this bike. Shes a keeper. Muddy ride out today!!

It's a beast of a Bike, if only my "skills" were a match for it, had another trail nap today and nursing my ribs tonight (again!)