Marin Hawk Hill vs Marin Gestalt 2

Despite being relatively low-end, it uses an air-spring suspension instead of a coil spring or no suspension at all. The air suspension can be more precisely adjusted and while it may feel stiffer and with less play compared to more expensive systems, it’s a very noticeable leap from cheap coil suspensions.

Braking is handled by Shimano Deore brakes with 180/160mm center lock rotors. These don’t have the same bite as more expensive models, but the longer levers provide good leverage and precision. Although these won’t totally compete with high-end trail bike equipment, only professional-level riders will have to worry about the difference since it’s good enough for most situations.

The 10-speed gears are shifted by a Shimano Deore Shadow Plus derailleur that are known for their sturdiness and precision. Combined with an 11-42t Sunrace cassette, it also brings the costs down without sacrificing performance.

This bike comes in five different frame sizes, but the gear stays the same. With this approach you only need to choose the correct size and don’t have to worry about the equipment differences. Most mountain bikes are available in multiple models that use the same frame with different build kits to create a range. This can be confusing especially when you try to figure out why some bikes are more expensive than others though they look the same.

The bike uses cable-operated disc brakes. Although they have fairly large 160mm rotors, their performance is somewhere between traditional V-brakes and hydraulic brakes. While they are better at braking compared to V-brakes especially in wet conditions, they fall far behind hydraulic brakes. Still, they are easier and cheaper to maintain compared to hydraulic brakes but are more expensive compared to V-brakes.

There are slots and holes on the bike where you can add or upgrade equipment. There’s an internal cable routing port for a front derailleur if you want to add one. There are also mounts for mudguards and a lug on the seat tube to mount a rack, so it would serve commuting and load lugging duties well too. The frame lets you put on wider tires if you are thinking about more serious off-roading.

The frame is made from aluminum and is fairly light, so you can gain speed on flat surfaces while still being sturdy enough to not bend when going off-road.

If you want even wider tires, the frame can easily take 35mm wide tires too.

The bike combines the best from both worlds. The 30mm wide Schwalbe G-One tires with lightly dotted treads lets you ride the bike quickly on tarmac while providing a decent amount of grip when going off-road and the drivetrain provides a wide range of gears, so you can use the bike to gain high speeds on flat surfaces or to do steep climbs.