Marin Rift Zone 1 vs Marin Rift Zone 2
A side by side comparison of two mountain bikes available in Australia, on price and specs. The Marin Rift Zone 1 is the lower-priced of the two.
Which should you choose?
Same family, different wheels and parts. The Rift Zone 2 moves to 29 inch wheels, Shimano Deore 12-speed, a Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork and a longer dropper; the Rift Zone 1 has a little more travel.
Marin Rift Zone 1
Choose the Rift Zone 1 for the lowest price into full suspension, or if you want 150 mm of fork travel.
Marin Rift Zone 2
Choose the Rift Zone 2 for stronger parts throughout: better suspension, 12-speed gearing, Maxxis tyres and a 170 mm dropper on size M.
Desk research by BikeFinder from both bikes' published specs and geometry, checked 2 Nov 2026. Not a ride test.
Key differences
- Price: the Rift Zone 1 costs $650 less at the prices shown.
- Gearing: 1x11 microSHIFT Advent MX on the Rift Zone 1, 1x12 Shimano Deore on the Rift Zone 2.
- Fork travel: 150 mm on the Rift Zone 1, 140 mm on the Rift Zone 2.
- Rear travel: 140 mm on the Rift Zone 1, 130 mm on the Rift Zone 2.
- Stack (size M): the Rift Zone 1 is 23 mm taller at the front, for a more upright position.
- Reach (size M): the Rift Zone 1 is 10 mm longer, for a more stretched position.
- Stock tyres: about 61 mm wide on the Rift Zone 1, 64 mm on the Rift Zone 2.
Worked out from each bike's published specification and the price shown on its page. The full side by side table and a to-scale geometry overlay are below.
| 2 of 4 bikesDeltas are against the baseline | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price and where to buy | |||
| Current Australian price | $2,549.99Lowest | $3,199.99 | |
| RRP | $2,549.99 | $3,199.99 | |
| Price source | At BikesOnline, was $2,699.99. Stock not confirmed, checked 14 Oct 2026. | At BikesOnline, was $3,599.99. Stock not confirmed, checked 14 Oct 2026. | |
| Retailers | BikesOnline | BikesOnline | |
| Overview | |||
| Category | Mountain | Mountain | |
| Type | Non-electric | Non-electric | |
| Model year | 2025 | 2026 | |
| Frame and suspension | |||
| Frame | Aluminium | Aluminium | |
| Fork | X-Fusion Sweep | Marzocchi Bomber Z2, rail damper with sweep adjustment | |
| Suspension | Full suspension | Full suspension | |
| Front travel | 150 mm | 140 mm-10 mm | |
| Rear travel | 140 mm | 130 mm-10 mm | |
| Rear shock | X-Fusion O2 Pro R | Marzocchi Bomber Air Inline, custom tune | |
| Dropper post | X-Fusion Manic, 125 mm | Tranz-X YSI60QL, 170 mm | |
| Wheels and tyres | |||
| Wheelset | Marin alloy double wall | Marin Double Wall Alloy rims, Shimano HB-MT501B rear / HF-MT500B front hubs, 32H | |
| Wheel size | 27.5 inch | 29 inch | |
| Stock tyres | 27.5x2.4 | 29x2.5 (front Maxxis Assegai MaxxGrip EXO+, rear Maxxis Minion DHR II MaxxTerra EXO+) | |
| Drivetrain | |||
| Groupset | microSHIFT Advent MX | Shimano Deore | |
| Shifting | Mechanical, 1x | Mechanical, 1x | |
| Crank | Marin forged alloy | Marin Forged Alloy, integrated steel narrow-wide chainring, 170mm | |
| Chainrings | 30 | 30 | |
| Cassette | microSHIFT Advent CS-H114 | Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed | |
| Cassette speeds | 11 | 12 | |
| Lowest gearRatio of smallest ring to biggest cog. Lower is easier climbing. | 0.60 | 0.59Lowest-0.01 | |
| Highest gearBiggest ring to smallest cog. Higher is a faster top speed. | 2.73 | 3.00+0.27 | |
| Gearing character | Very low climbing gear | Very low climbing gear | |
| Brakes and weight | |||
| Brakes | Tektro M3120 hydraulic | Tektro M5140 Hydraulic | |
| Rotors | 180/180 | 200/180 | |
| Geometry | |||
| Size shown | M | M | |
| Stack | 628 mm | 605.2 mm-23 mm | |
| Reach | 460 mm | 450 mm-10 mm | |
| Stack to reachHigher is more upright, lower is more stretched out. | 1.37 | 1.34-0.03 | |
| Head angleLower (slacker) is calmer at speed, higher (steeper) is quicker steering. | 65.5 deg | 65.5 degsame | |
| Seat angle | 77.0 deg | 77.0 degsame | |
| Wheelbase | 1,205 mm | 1,186.9 mm-18 mm | |
| Chainstay | 430 mm | 430 mmsame | |
| BB drop | 35 mm | 20 mm-15 mm | |
Geometry overlay
- Marin Rift Zone 1 (size M) is the baseline.
- Marin Rift Zone 2 (size M): 23 mm lower stack, 10 mm shorter reach, 18 mm shorter wheelbase.
Stack, reach, head and seat angles, wheelbase, chainstay and BB drop are drawn to scale from published charts. Tube shapes are schematic.
BikeFinder Data Profile. Geometry and component figures are researched from published manufacturer and retailer sources, not physical ride tests, and can vary by model year.
Specs and pricing are listed in AUD and sourced from Australian retail listings. Confirm current details with the seller before purchase.