vtt trek marlin 6 2022

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2022 Trek Marlin 6 Review

by Riding With Ryan (Official)

In this 2022 Trek Marlin 6 review I’ll explain why this is the best beginner XC mountain bike on the market. When you are cross country riding, or even trail riding, having fast and snappy handling is extremely important. A geometry that supports a good climbing posture and efficient pedaling are also top priorities. The 2022 Trek Marlin 6 has all of the above, and more!

If you are considering the 2022 Trek Marlin 6 as your next mountain bike there are a lot of things you need to know. The features, available upgrades and accessories on the Marlin are great, but don’t forget about maintenance. Take care of your chain and keep the bike clean to ensure a long lifetime. (Read: Bike Chain Lubricant Guide )

2022 Trek Marlin 6 Features

The Blendr Stem on the Marlin 6 ranges in length from 50-90mm depending on frame size. When paired with a 720 mm handlebar you have amazing handling ability at high speeds.

It may be important to some knowing the top tube comes curved on the extra-small and small frame options. It is not enough to make the bike look like a stagger or lowstep (step-through) frame. That curve is great for shorter riders looking for a comfortable stand-over height.

Aesthetically the Trek Marlin 6 looks amazing. It comes in some really cool color options and accessories with colored features really add to the style. I’m partial to the Nautical Navy with Orange accessories, grips and bottle cage.

Commuters will also love the Trek Marlin 6 thanks to several mounts available for accessories like racks and bags. The Shimano drivetrain provides smooth shifting, and the bike can stop on a dime thanks to hydraulic disc brakes.

Must Have Trek Marlin 6 Accessories

I’m a big fan of immediately upgrading the touchpoints on a bike. Those touchpoints are the pedals, saddle and grips. For pedals, the RaceFace Chesters ( Check Price on Amazon Here ) are popular. Ergon saddles have never let me down, but they might not be the right price point for the average Marlin 6 rider. Head to your local bike shop to see what feels good.

Whether you take a hydration pack with you mountain biking, or not, you need to add a bottle cage to your bike. There will be plenty of bike rides where a hydration pack is too much. It’s also nice to have a water option with some electrolytes in it. Even when I take my Osprey hydration pack, having a water bottle with electrolyte tablets is a must. Putting those things in a hydration pack makes future fill ups taste funny since you can’t clean a hydration pack the way you can a water bottle. Besides, not having a bottle cage on your bike looks ridiculous.

The final must have accessory on a Trek Marlin 6 is a phone or computer mount. For phone mounts, consider the type of cycling you will do. Pick the phone mount that will secure your phone, but not be a distraction on your handlebars. If you really want to look legit, ditch the phone mount and add a GPS computer on an aero stem mount.

Trek Marlin 6 Upgrades

There are several upgrades you can do to enhance your experience on the Trek Marlin 6 as parts begin to wear down. For starters, the SR SUNTOUR fork keeps the price of this bike down, but an upgrade will likely need to take place within the first few years of use. The RockShox Recon RL is a popular choice.

Another upgrade is adding a chain tensioner. While the new 1x drivetrain drops the chain a lot less than Marlin 6 bikes from previous generations, it still isn’t perfect. A chain tensioner will help keep your Trek Marlin 6 shifting like a dream even over rough terrain. The tensioner acts like a clutch similar to what comes in a high end derailleur.

Another part worth upgrading when the time comes is the tires. The XR2 tires that come stock on most Marlins are fine, but I prefer something more aggressive like the Bontrager SE5. Another option is choosing from a wide variety of Maxxis tire options. According to Trek 2.2″ is the maximum tire width the frame can handle.

Trek Marlin 6 Dropper Post

A dropper post is a seatpost that moves up or down. They operate similar to an adjustable height office chair. When descending downhill at high speeds you want your saddle down to prevent the saddle from bucking you over the handlebars. While climbing you want your saddle at the appropriate height to maximize your pedalling efficiency. The Trek Marlin 6 dropper post compatibility is based on your seatpost width.

The 2022 Trek Marlin 6 will need a 31.6 mm dropper post. You can find droppers with travel ranging from 60-150mm. Of all the available upgrades you can do to your mountain bike, adding a dropper post should be priority number one.

If you enjoyed this 2022 Trek Marlin 6 review, please let me know by leaving a comment down below.

8 thoughts on “2022 Trek Marlin 6 Review”

I’m interested in the dropper seat post but from what I understand the dropper seat post cable will flow into the frame up front and come out the bottom of the frame under the crank. Unfortunately the 2019 Marlin bikes had the capability of running the rest of that cable upward from there and maintain the cable inside the frame but the newer Marlins they got rid of that feature. If you make mention of this feature upgrade does that mean you’ve done it and if so how did you do it ?

I’ll be posting a video within the next few weeks adding the dropper to my sons bike. It can be done, in fact it is done, I still need to edit the footage though.

Any update on that video? I’d be interested in seeing & learning about that mod

Someone stole my camera case with all my SD cards. I haven’t replaced anything yet so not sure when I will be posting videos again.

Also interested on putting dropper post in Marlin 6 ’22.

I’m interested in Trek frame sizes. For instance, if I want a Trek 19.5 frame size, what size should I buy?

A 19.5 is a large with Trek.

Thanks for your reply. Some other people also recommend I buy this one with an “L” Alpha size, which is recommended for people with a height of 5’9.7” to 6′ 2″.

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Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Review: Beginner’s Dream Mountain Bike

The Trek Marlin 6 2023 is the newest iteration of the entry-level XC hardtail family designed for light trail riding, gravel paths, fire roads, and mixed-terrain commuting.

The 2023 Gen 2 model is the same as the Trek Marlin 6 2022, only with different colors and a new name. Trek overhauled its naming system for the upcoming year, referring to the models by the number of generations there have been. So the latest version of a Trek bike has the highest ‘Gen’ number.

This Trek Marlin 6 review will cover the bike’s main specs and highlights, answer some buyer questions, and provide our verdict on who should buy one.

How Much is the Trek Marlin 6?

Trek Marlin 6 price is $850 and sits in the middle of the price range of the five Marlin models. The cheapest model costs $630, and the most expensive is $1,330. Alongside the 820, the Marlin is Trek’s most affordable mountain bike family.

Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain
Rack and kickstand mounts
Progressive sizing
Low-performance coil fork

Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Full List of Specs

Trek marlin 6 gen 2 full review.

In this section, we will cover the main features of the Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 and what makes it stand out in the sub-$1,000 MTB category.

Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 is available in four modern paint jobs that will suit any type of rider.

What Type of Bike Is a Trek Marlin 6?

The Trek Marlin 6 MTB is a modern-looking cross-country hardtail with a 100mm coil suspension fork, perfect for beginner mountain bikers. Unfortunately, the rudimentary suspension limits the Marlin 6 to relatively mild trails. Nonetheless, it makes an excellent day-to-day bike for commuting, transport, and leisure.

Alpha Silver Aluminum Frame

Trek uses its Alpha Silver aluminum frame for the Marlin 6. Thanks to the company’s consistent design and materials innovations, these frames outperform the similarly-priced competition in compliance and comfort.

Internal cable routing means Marlin 6 looks sleek and neat, while it also protects the cables from excessive wear and tear.

The frame has quick-release axles, tidy internal cable routing, and mounts for a rack and kickstand, allowing you to equip the Marlin for commuting or bikepacking. One unusual feature of this bike is the curved top tube on the smaller models (XS, S) that lowers the standover height for a better fit.

Is the Trek Marlin 6 Good for Jumps?

No, the Trek Marlin 6 isn’t good for jumps. Unfortunately, as a cheap hardtail, this bike uses a low-performance coil-spring Suntour XCT 30 fork with 100mm of travel (80mm on XS). This fork performs poorly on bumpy trails but is adequate for day-to-day riding and light off-roading .

Thankfully, the fork has preload and hydraulic lockout settings, but the headtube isn’t tapered, meaning it will be harder to upgrade.

Shimano Deore 10-Speed Drivetrain

The standout feature for us is the Shimano Deore M4100 10-speed drivetrain. The Trek Marlin 6 is one of the only bikes with this hardware at $850 or below. In addition, an 11-46t cassette and 30t chainring provide plenty of gearing for steep gradients.

Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 shimano deore drivetrain

Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain is a standard in this price range across the industry, as it provides plenty of gear range and smooth gear shifting.

Generally, sub-$1,000 mountain bikes have cheaper drivetrains that shift poorly and lose efficiency quickly. However, Deore M4100 is durable and smooth-shifting , and the single chainring makes it easier to maintain.

Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Another excellent inclusion for a bike of this price is hydraulic disc brakes. Although entry-level, Tektro’s HD-M275 brakeset with 160mm rotors performs well at this price range and for a bike of this spec.

Hydraulic discs allow you to stop safely in wet weather and with plenty of power and reliability in most situations. However, if you plan on tackling advanced trails, neither this bike nor the brakes are adequate.

2.20″ Tires and Progressive Wheel Sizing

The Trek Marlin 6 has Bontrager XR2 Comp tires for handling hardpack trails, gravel paths, and pavement where traction is relatively predictable. These XC-style tires roll fast and provide decent grip but will slip and slide in wet trail conditions.

Even though the tires are not tubeless-ready, they are wide enough to provide plenty of traction in varying conditions that come with modern mountain biking.

The XS and Small sizes of this bike have 27.5″ rims, while the others use 29ers. Progressive sizing makes the Marlin fit more consistently across rider heights. Unfortunately, the wheelset and tires are not tubeless-ready.

Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Sizing Chart

XS — 4’9″-5’1″ / 145-155cm
S — 5’1″-5’5″ / 155-165cm
M — 5’5″-5’8″ / 165-173cm
M/L — 5’8″-5’11” / 173-180cm
L — 5’11”-6’2″ / 180-188cm
XL — 6’2″-6’5″ / 188-195cm
2XL — 6’5″-6’8″ / 195-203cm

Who Is Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Best Suited For?

The Marlin 6 Trek MTB is best for beginner mountain bikers who want to start learning the skills and techniques of the sport on light trails. In addition, cyclists who want a bike for comfortable day-to-day use, running errands, and mixed-terrain commutes will enjoy the Marlin 6.

We recommend the Marlin 6 Gen 2 to beginner to early-intermediate mountain bikers who mostly stay on light trails and rough dirt and gravel roads.

Again, this bike is limited by its cheap fork, so if you want a bike to grow into and challenge your mountain biking skills, you may want to check out one of the higher-end Trek MTBs.

Other Trek Marlin Bikes We Reviewed:

Trek Marlin 4 Gen 2 Review
Trek Marlin 5 Gen 2 Review
Trek Marlin 7 Gen 2 Review
Trek Marlin 8 Gen 2 Review

Is Marlin 6 Gen 2 a Good Buy?

We think the Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 is a solid choice at just $850. The new-style frame and geometry make it look like the real deal, even if it can’t handle hard riding.

Most of the Marlin 6’s components are excellent for the price range, including Shimano’s Deore drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, durable Bontrager tires, and a quality frame with solid ride characteristics.

Don’t miss out on this excellent deal if you’re looking for a cheap do-it-all bike that’s at home on pavement, light mountain trails, and everything in between.

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About the Author

Jordan Grimes

2021 Trek Marlin 6

A 29″ / 29″ aluminum frame hardtail crosscountry bike with modest components. Compare the full range

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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Jun 2019 · Alan Muldoon

The first of two 29er to make it into the sub 500 category, the Trek Marlin 6 certainly didn't behave like a fish out of water.

Top-rate frame quality, available in seven sizes Independent Shimano shifters

Cable and chain rattle. Rear tyre is too skinny

Last updated 28 April Not listed for 19 days

$829.99 MSRP

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