Marin up to date the 4 Corners 2 for 2024, an extended overdue change to the traditional 4 Corners line. The final time Marin up to date a motorcycle on this lineup was 2020, with the $3,949 4 Corners Elite. The 4 Corners 2 replace is way more interesting to the budget-conscious, with a price ticket that’s $1,400 much less.
At an MSRP of $1,999, the Marin 4 Corners 2 has plenty of competitors in a really aggressive gravel bike value class. The Canondale’s Topstone 2 and REI ADV 2.2 are examples of equally priced gravel bikes geared toward price-conscious two-wheeled adventurers. Marin additionally had the chore of justifying double the worth over its up to date 4 Corners 1, a low-cost, long-running first alternative amongst many.
I strapped it to a roof and drove cross nation to trip it by 4 completely different states: rail trails by Illinois thunderstorms, up Wyoming bluffs, over Utah’s salt flats, and down alpine lake switchbacks in Nevada. How did it maintain up?
Briefly: The Marin 4 Corners 2 is a flexible, enjoyable beast huge on consolation, customization, and reliability. Its 1×12 SRAM drivetrain is steadfast and succesful. There are mounting factors galore, making it a cinch to load out. The geometry is at dwelling on average single observe and on metropolis streets. And even for a man a bit of jaded with the gravel bike market in 2024. I have to admit, rattling, is it enjoyable.
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Body materials
Double-butted Chromoly -
Fork materials
Chromoly -
Drivetrain
SRAM Apex 1 -
Wheels
Marin double-wall aluminum rims with cast aluminum alloy hubs, 32 14g chrome steel spokes -
Brakes
SRAM Apex 1 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors -
Sizes
SX, S, M, L, XL
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Comfy driving place -
Load-friendly body, mounts galore -
Extensive gear vary -
Minimal upkeep drivetrain
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Low-end gearing reasonably excessive for climbing -
Not probably the most versatile tires -
Apex brakes considerably spongy -
Not probably the most nimble on technical turns
Marin 4 Corners Discipline Take a look at Plans
The testing recreation plan would possibly’ve been too bold. I needed to drive cross-country for a wildland firefighting place. From Illinois, I’d detour to hit a few of the tons of of miles of latest trails being mapped out close to Fayetteville, Ark. Then, I deliberate to cease on the 4 Corners Monument for a bit of bikepacking and eventually trip throughout the Nice Salt Lake Desert into Nevada.
That didn’t occur. It seems that the fuel mileage on an abused 2001 Nissan Xterra drops to about 10 mpg with two bikes strapped to the highest. Happily, over the previous couple of months, I’ve nonetheless been capable of put the 4 Corners 2 by a gauntlet.
In Illinois, I noticed how nicely the 4 Corners 2 dealt with commuting by cities and speed-running rain-slicked rail trails. The bike tackled a mountain double observe within the Medication Bow Nationwide Forest outdoors Laramie, Wyo. In Utah, it obtained its first style of salt drifting over the flats.
Nonetheless, Nevada was the largest take a look at. For the final month, the 4 Corners 2 carried me over just a few hundred windswept miles of entry roads within the Nice Basin area. It’s additionally climbed as much as alpine lakes, hit mountain singletracks, and been requested to make 50+ mph runs down paved switchbacks. And each time, its response has been the identical: What’s subsequent?
Upgrades and Options
So, if the 4 Corners 1 is a low-cost gravel and bikepacking traditional, what upgrades make the 4 Corners 2 price an additional stack? In a single phrase: ruggedness.
The 4 Corners 2’s 460mm handlebars supply extra steering stability than the 1’s 420mm-wide ones. The hoods and hydraulic braking have been upgraded from mechanical Shimano Soras to SRAM Apex 1’s.
The Apex brakes felt a contact spongy however have been dependable, providing middle-of-the-road suggestions and nice stopping energy. Additionally, the Apex brake hoods are a bit of greater and thicker than the Shimano GRXs used on many gravel bikes. Personally, I discovered them extra typically ergonomic.
Each frames are constituted of 4130 CrMo metal and sport tall head tubes, mounting factors galore, and ports for dropper posts. The 4 Corners 2, nonetheless, gives extra weight-saving double-butted body tubes and extra dependable thru-axles.
The 4 Corners 1 gives clearance for as much as 45mm tires, whereas the 4 Corners 2 claims 50mm. I’d truly peg that as 2-3mm brief, as I felt wider tires would match with out problem.
As an alternative of the tubed 700x40mm (650cc for XS and S-sizes) Vee GPs, the 4 Corners 2 opts for 44mm (650cc for XS and S-sizes) tubeless-compatible Vee Rocket Man tires. It’s one step up in reliability and luxury however three steps up in knobbiness — a gravel-first, pavement-second decide.
The drivetrain is the largest improve. As an alternative of a Shimano Sora 3×9, the 4 Corners 2 sports activities a SRAM Apex Eagle 1×12 drivetrain. The Apex was easy, versatile, and bulletproof. And whereas its clutch can’t be toggled off as with GRX drivetrains, it does supply the flexibility to lock the derailleur for simpler upkeep.
That is paired with a single SRAM’s Apex Double-Faucet shifter: Gentle faucet to upshift one, deep faucet to downshift, and an additional deep faucet to double downshift — simple and dependable, although a bit susceptible to unintentionally over-downshifting.
Stacked up towards its predecessor, the costlier Elite, the 4 Corners 2 could be much more spectacular. It’s a slight step down in body butting. Nonetheless, the 4 Corners 2 is an enormous improve in mounting factors, gives a wider vary of gearing, and is a hell of loads simpler on the pockets.
Comfortable Marin 4 Corners 2 Geometry
When you’d requested me to ballpark the Marin 4 Corners 2 geometry, I might’ve been miles off. I’ve ridden a few of 2024’s finest and brightest gravel bikes round this value level. Nonetheless, a lot of the ones I’ve been pedaling have extra aggressive geometry.
I might’ve guessed the efficient high tube size and wheelbase of the big I’d been driving have been bit shorter than, respectively, 617mm and 1107mm. I might’ve thought the top tube angle was steeper than 71 levels. The 4 Corners 2 is a lot lengthy and reachy — however boasting 648 mm of stack, it’s additionally unusually tall.
At 205 kilos and some millimeters shy of ft, I’m constructed like a middleweight kickboxer who obtained into powerlifting and is now attempting to hold at heavyweight. That’s longwinded for “Quick torso. Lengthy limbs. Most likely greater than the common bikepacker.”
With that sort of construct, for the primary time shortly, the angle of my torso and arms have been comparatively equal. Your mileage might range, however for me, the reasonably lengthy attain and even greater stack combo made for an extremely comfy trip within the hoods.
I usually desire extra flared drops, however between the driving place and 460mm handlebars, the 16-degree flare left the drops feeling comfortable and accessible for extra than simply bombing downhill.
General, the top tube and fork sport some fairly versatile geometry. With a 71-degree head tube and 70mm of path, the 4 Corners 2 leans towards longer, steadier geometry — although not a lot that it turns into sluggish when you begin mounting gear.
Talking of mounts, with 450mm chainstays (432mm on XS and S), it’s additionally pannier-friendly. Though the rear mounts’ slender, angular place did make attaching some panniers barely tough. (Personally, I discovered the flat bars of my Previous Man Mountain Divide the simplest to mount.)
Around the City
My very first trip on the 4 Corners 2 was 5 minutes right into a rainstorm in a slick car parking zone. My first thought was, “These tires appear to be a a lot much less generalist decide than the 4 Corners 1’s.” My second thought was, “Ah! Slipping!”
The Marin 4 Nook 2’s geometry and ample mounting factors made it a wonderful commuter. Its body was stiff sufficient to deal with a reasonably heavy loadout. Being metal, it’s simpler to restore within the occasion of a transferring assembly with an inattentive driver. The fork and broad handlebars don’t make for the nimblest site visitors traverser. Nonetheless, the fork isn’t so slack that it felt outright sluggish when front-loaded after a giant grocery run.
Exterior of hilly cities, I discovered myself staying within the high three gears for many pavement commutes. However, the drivetrain itself had loads of vary for getting round any metropolis at an considerable velocity.
That stated, for somebody primarily on the lookout for a pavement prince to commute round city, particularly in moist areas, the 4 Corners 2 was a bit overkill.
The 4 Corners 1’s tires are a greater match for the occasional trip on moist shoulders. With the 4 Corners 2, I’d be inclined to swap rubber. However you gained’t get a lot return on funding with the SRAM 1x Apex’s reliability on metropolis streets alone.
Freeway Haulin‘
Virtually the entire FC2’s upgrades are clearly meant for the path first — however they do begin to shine for touring. Each fashions will deal with predominantly pannier approaches to packing. Moreover, swapping the tires can be a precedence for lengthy, predominantly paved routes outdoors arid nation.
However, the FC2 dealt with bombing down sharp freeway switchbacks at 50+ mph surprisingly nicely for such a comfort-forward hauler. The excessive stack and attain inspired me to trip within the drops extra usually than ordinary. On quick descents, the Apex brakes have been very linear-feeling: a bit muddy feedback-wise, however extraordinarily dependable, and packing loads of energy.
The Apex drivetrain is a significant boon for long-distance runs. Even after a month with out oil, a cross-country drive, and 100 dusty miles with none cleansing or lube, it was nonetheless shifting reliably. Nonetheless, even with a comparatively gentle day journey loadout, 9% grade climbs on paved roads had me sticking to my two lowest gears. The actual take a look at can be heavier loadouts, on extra technical climbs, over rougher terrain.
Off-Street Operating
The Washoe Tribe of the Nice Basin believed that Lake Tahoe housed a creature referred to as the Ong, with wings so long as the tallest pine tree, with a human face. I imagine it as soon as flew far sufficient East to chew up and spit out the grime and gravel BLM entry roads I usually commute alongside as a wildland firefighter in Northeast Nevada.
Even so, it’s been some time since I’ve had this a lot enjoyable, this comfortably, on mountain “roads” this questionable. The FC2 has been extraordinarily simple to load out for every part from work commutes to weekend journeys. The Apex drivetrain is a minimal-maintenance beast with gearing that hits the candy spot for average ups and downs, with the drops being accessibly flared.
The ergonomic hoods and extra upright geometry make for a trip that’s surprisingly simple on the wrists, even over earth extra rut than highway. From bouncing over the odd baseball-sized boulder to drifting by activates unfastened gravel, the tires and comparatively progressive geometry go away the bike feeling secure.
The excessive stack does go away the bike feeling a bit tippy throughout quick banking activates unfastened grime and gravel, however fatter tires will make up some floor. (I’ll be choosing a pair of Maxxis Ikons, myself.)
Singletrack Shuffle
I did discover the restrict: slender, boulder-strewn singletrack with sharp ups and downs.
On average singletracks, the place you don’t must navigate tight, hemmed-in turns round boulders, the Marin 4 Corners 2 was a lot succesful. The handlebars and tires have been fats sufficient to attenuate the odd boulder deflection. The drivetrain made fast shifting simple, with a clutch that minimized chain slap. And for these tackling lengthy tracks, the body carried weight like a mule.
Throw in tight turns, steep verticals, and frequent hazards, and the 4 Corners 2 began to really feel a bit clumsy. On slender trails, I discovered it arduous to discover a candy spot to distribute my weight for climbing out of the saddle. Likewise, the gearing grew to become a bit aggressive when it was time to sort out steep climbs on tough trails or navigate round obstacles uphill.
For bikepacking journeys the place I anticipate plenty of verticalities, I desire the low finish of my gearing to be under 20 gear inches — a measurement of the mechanical benefit and distance coated in a given gear. At 22 gear inches, in case your bikepacking routes are inclined to resemble hospital EKG readouts, the Marin 4 Corners 2’s low finish would possibly go away you pushing your bike up the steepest bits.
Nonetheless, I’m 200 kilos. Between myself, digital camera tools, fishing gear, my urge for food, normal packrat tendencies, racks, and bag, I’m often pushing near 300 kilos, together with the bike itself, for multiday journeys.
Lighter, much less maximalist cyclists will most likely discover the Marin 4 Nook 2’s gearing and geometry to climb higher. All of the extra so in the event that they capitalize on the accessible port to put in a dropper put up.
Conclusions on the Marin 4 Corners 2
When you’re on the lookout for a motorcycle that may spend most of its life commuting on roads and rail trails round city, or in case your multiday journeys are primarily jumps from city to city alongside paved shoulders — Marin’s 4 Corners 1 stays a succesful, lower-cost traditional.
If most of your multiday journeys are alongside slender, extra technical singletrack with tons of climbing — the 4 Corners 2 won’t be the transfer. The 4 Corners 2 may use a dropper put up for difficult climbing and would possibly want different tires (particularly for wet-weather riders).
Nonetheless, should you frequently sort out backcountry entry roads, average singletrack, or multiday journeys off paved paths, the Marin 4 Corners 2 greater than justifies its updates.
Its SRAM Apex 1 drivetrain was bulletproof and coated a large gamut of what you’d ever want a gravel bike to do. The broader handlebars and elevated tire clearance supplied higher dealing with on the path.
The body tube butting made for a contact lighter trip. The hydraulic brakes have been a big efficiency improve. Through-axles and tubeless compatibility made path upkeep that a lot simpler.
Brakes, body, drivetrain, wheels, and handlebars — 4 years later, with 5 main enhancements, Marin has elevated the 4 Nook’s fame as a dependable, comfy, easy-to-kit-out, do-it-all bikepacking and touring-oriented gravel bike.
However you already know what hasn’t modified? It’s nonetheless a rattling good bang in your buck.