Marin up to date the 4 Corners 2 for 2024, an extended overdue change to the basic 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 rather 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 quite a lot 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 aimed toward price-conscious two-wheeled adventurers. Marin additionally had the chore of justifying double the value 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 via 4 totally different states: rail trails via Illinois thunderstorms, up Wyoming bluffs, over Utah’s salt flats, and down alpine lake switchbacks in Nevada. How did it maintain up?
In brief: The Marin 4 Corners 2 is a flexible, enjoyable beast massive 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 residence on reasonable single monitor and on metropolis streets. And even for a man slightly 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 stainless-steel spokes -
Brakes
SRAM Apex 1 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors -
Sizes
SX, S, M, L, XL
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Snug 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 essentially the most versatile tires -
Apex brakes considerably spongy -
Not essentially the most nimble on technical turns
Marin 4 Corners Discipline Check Plans
The testing recreation plan may’ve been too bold. I needed to drive cross-country for a wildland firefighting place. From Illinois, I’d detour to hit among the lots of of miles of latest trails being mapped out close to Fayetteville, Ark. Then, I deliberate to cease on the 4 Corners Monument for slightly bikepacking and eventually trip throughout the Nice Salt Lake Desert into Nevada.
That didn’t occur. It seems that the gasoline mileage on an abused 2001 Nissan Xterra drops to about 10 mpg with two bikes strapped to the highest. Happily, over the previous few months, I’ve nonetheless been capable of put the 4 Corners 2 via a gauntlet.
In Illinois, I noticed how nicely the 4 Corners 2 dealt with commuting via cities and speed-running rain-slicked rail trails. The bike tackled a mountain double monitor within the Drugs Bow Nationwide Forest outdoors Laramie, Wyo. In Utah, it acquired its first style of salt drifting over the flats.
Nevertheless, Nevada was the largest check. 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 basic, what upgrades make the 4 Corners 2 value 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 had been dependable, providing middle-of-the-road suggestions and nice stopping energy. Additionally, the Apex brake hoods are slightly increased and thicker than the Shimano GRXs used on many gravel bikes. Personally, I discovered them extra usually ergonomic.
Each frames are comprised of 4130 CrMo metal and sport tall head tubes, mounting factors galore, and ports for dropper posts. The 4 Corners 2, nevertheless, affords extra weight-saving double-butted body tubes and extra dependable thru-axles.
The 4 Corners 1 affords clearance for as much as 45mm tires, whereas the 4 Corners 2 claims 50mm. I’d really peg that as 2-3mm brief, as I felt wider tires would match with out concern.
As a substitute 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 a substitute 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: Mild faucet to upshift one, deep faucet to downshift, and an additional deep faucet to double downshift — simple and dependable, although a bit vulnerable to by chance over-downshifting.
Stacked up in opposition to its predecessor, the costlier Elite, the 4 Corners 2 may be much more spectacular. It’s a slight step down in body butting. Nevertheless, the 4 Corners 2 is a large improve in mounting factors, affords a wider vary of gearing, and is a hell of so much simpler on the pockets.
Comfortable Marin 4 Corners 2 Geometry
In the event 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 greatest and brightest gravel bikes round this value level. Nevertheless, many 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 had been a great bit shorter than, respectively, 617mm and 1107mm. I might’ve thought the pinnacle tube angle was steeper than 71 levels. The 4 Corners 2 is loads lengthy and reachy — however boasting 648 mm of stack, it’s additionally unusually tall.
At 205 kilos and some millimeters shy of toes, I’m constructed like a middleweight kickboxer who acquired into powerlifting and is now making an attempt to hold at heavyweight. That’s longwinded for “Quick torso. Lengthy limbs. Most likely larger than the common bikepacker.”
With that sort of construct, for the primary time shortly, the angle of my torso and arms had been comparatively equal. Your mileage might range, however for me, the reasonably lengthy attain and even increased stack combo made for an extremely comfy trip within the hoods.
I sometimes choose 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.
Total, the pinnacle 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 parking zone. My first thought was, “These tires look like 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 superb commuter. Its body was stiff sufficient to deal with a fairly heavy loadout. Being metal, it’s simpler to restore within the occasion of a transferring assembly with an inattentive driver. The fork and large handlebars don’t make for the nimblest visitors traverser. Nevertheless, the fork isn’t so slack that it felt outright sluggish when front-loaded after an enormous grocery run.
Outdoors of hilly cities, I discovered myself staying within the high three gears for many pavement commutes. Nonetheless, the drivetrain itself had loads of vary for getting round any metropolis at an considerable pace.
That mentioned, for somebody primarily in search of 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.
Nonetheless, 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 normal. On quick descents, the Apex brakes had 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. Nevertheless, even with a comparatively mild day journey loadout, 9% grade climbs on paved roads had me sticking to my two lowest gears. The true check can be heavier loadouts, on extra technical climbs, over rougher terrain.
Off-Highway Working
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 dust and gravel BLM entry roads I sometimes 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 all the things from work commutes to weekend journeys. The Apex drivetrain is a minimal-maintenance beast with gearing that hits the candy spot for reasonable 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 street. From bouncing over the odd baseball-sized boulder to drifting via activates unfastened gravel, the tires and comparatively progressive geometry depart the bike feeling steady.
The excessive stack does depart the bike feeling a bit tippy throughout quick banking activates unfastened dust 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 reasonable singletracks, the place you don’t need to navigate tight, hemmed-in turns round boulders, the Marin 4 Corners 2 was loads succesful. The handlebars and tires had 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 onerous 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 quite a lot of verticalities, I choose the low finish of my gearing to be under 20 gear inches — a measurement of the mechanical benefit and distance lined in a given gear. At 22 gear inches, in case your bikepacking routes are likely to resemble hospital EKG readouts, the Marin 4 Corners 2’s low finish may depart you pushing your bike up the steepest bits.
Nevertheless, I’m 200 kilos. Between myself, digital camera tools, fishing gear, my urge for food, common packrat tendencies, racks, and bag, I’m normally 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 obtainable port to put in a dropper submit.
Conclusions on the Marin 4 Corners 2
In the event you’re in search of a motorcycle that can 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 basic.
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 submit for difficult climbing and may want different tires (particularly for wet-weather riders).
Nevertheless, if you happen to frequently sort out backcountry entry roads, reasonable 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 lined 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 had been a major 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 understand what hasn’t modified? It’s nonetheless a rattling good bang in your buck.
