The latest Alpine Trail E ups the ante when it comes to performance and power
Marin’s all-new Alpine Trail E Bosch electric mountain bike use Bosch’s full-power Performance Line CX motor and run a mixed wheel (29in front, 27.5in rear) setup as stock.
Like its non-electric counterpart, the Series Four aluminium frame is all-new, with travel boosted up to 160mm compared to the previous generation Shimano-powered Alpine Trail.
Moving from Marin’s standard MultiTrac 2 linkage-driven single pivot suspension to the LT version, it now uses a Horst-link design.
Flip chips adjust bottom bracket height and chainstay length, while headset cups adjust the head angle between 62.4 degree and 64 degrees.
At launch two models are available – the Alpine Trail E2 and E1. The top-spec E2 retails for £6,385 / $6,599 / €7,249 / CAN$8,799 and the more affordable E1 costs £5,515 / $5,699 / €6,299 / CAN$7,599.
Head to our full review of the new Marine Alpine Trail E2 to hear how the bike performs on the trails
2024 Marin Alpine Trail E Bosch frame, suspension, motor and battery
The Alpine Trail E Bosch uses Marin’s Series 4 aluminium with a chunky straight downtube and more svelte top tube and seat- and chainstays.
Cables enter via rubber ports on the downtube, which are held in place using a small hex bolt.
The ports’ membrane is punctured to allow the cable to pass through. This forms a tight seal around the cable to reduce rattle and improve weatherproofing, according to Marin.
The seat tube diameter is up from 30.99mm to 34.9mm. This is claimed to boost frame strength.
There’s plenty of chain slap protection. This is made from a fibreglass-infused nylon.
The bike now uses SRAM’s UDH standard, so the bike is SRAM Transmission groupset compatible.
Underside protection is also fitted. This clips and bolts in place, and needs to be removed to access the bike’s battery. Drain ports let any moisture escape the frame’s tubes.
Angle-adjusting headset cups are also included as standard. The upper cup offsets the fork’s steerer tube at an angle relative to the head tube to adjust the bike’s head angle.
To make the head angle slacker, the cup offsets the fork’s steerer to the rear of the headtube, and to make it steeper it does the opposite, offsetting it to the front of the headtube.
The lower cup uses a nylon doughnut to accommodate the angle of the tube; when the headset is tightened the doughnut lets the bearing angle within the metal cup, mirroring the position of the upper headset cup.
Suspension design
Moving to the brand’s all-new MultiTrac 2 LT design sees a shift from the linkage-driven single pivot design to a Horst-link system. This comes with a corresponding increase in travel from 150mm to 160mm.
According to Marin, moving the pivot from the seatstay to the chainstay provided designers more freedom to reduce anti-rise to improve suspension performance while braking. It also increases mid-stroke support and bottom-out resistance.
Additionally, the new design helped Marin implement its adjustable chainstay flip chips.
Motor and battery
Fitted with Bosch’s 85Nm Performance Line CX motor, this offers up to 340 per cent assistance.
The inbuilt top tube controller has Bosch’s usual ten-stage battery and colour-coded mode indicators. It’s paired with the wireless Mini Remote, fitted to the handlebars.
A 750Wh Powertube battery powers the motor. This slides into the bike’s full-circumference downtube via a port at the bottom bracket. The rail system – used on a lot of Bosch bikes – uses a single clip to keep the battery in place.
2024 Marin Alpine Trail E Bosch geometry
The 2024 Alpine Trail E Bosch’s geometry can be adjusted depending on rider needs and trail types.
The head angle can be adjusted from its standard 63 degree position 0.75 degree in either direction.
The chainstay flip chip adjusts chainstay length (CS) and bottom bracket (BB) height.
- High: BB 352mm, CS435mm
- Low: BB 347mm, CS 443mm
Although the two adjustments work independently, the chainstay adjustment affects the head angle.
In its slackest, longest and lowest setting the bike’s head angle is 62.4 degrees.
Elsewhere figures are standard for an aggressive gravity-focussed electric mountain bike.
However, a three size-range (medium to extra-large) may limit smaller riders from swinging a leg over the Alpine Trail E Bosch.
Reach figures span from 454mm (medium) and 485mm (large) up to 515mm (extra-large).
Seat tube angles are functionally steep, hovering around 78 degrees regardless of the bike’s geometry settings.
Elsewhere, stack heights start at 637mm, lift to 464mm and then settle at 650mm on the XL bikes.
Together the figures look cohesive and progressive, and the adjustability is welcome addition so people can adjust their bikes according to their own needs.
| | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube angle (degrees) | 78.4 | 78.3 | 78.2 |
| Head tube angle (degrees) | 63 | 63 | 63 |
| Chainstay (mm) | 443 | 443 | 443 |
| Top tube (mm) | 594.92 | 627.59 | 660.36 |
| Head tube (mm) | 115 | 125 | 130 |
| Bottom bracket height (mm) | 345 | 345 | 345 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1255.66 | 1290.12 | 1322.36 |
| Standover (mm) | 706.29 | 715.1 | 726.28 |
| Stack (mm) | 637.22 | 646.31 | 650.92 |
| Reach (mm) | 454.84 | 484.91 | 515 |
2024 Marin Alpine Trail E Bosch models, prices and specifications
Two models debut in the new Alpune Trail E Bosch range.
The more expensive £6,385 / $6,599 / €7,249 / CAN$8,799 Alpine Trail E2 Bosch is fitted with Fox’s Performance Elite 38 fork and DHX2 coil-sprung shock.
Elsewhere, there’s a Shimano SLX/XT 12-speed drivetrain mix and TRP’s DH-R EVO brakes with 203mm rotors front and rear.
Marin-branded wheels are clad in Vee Tire Co’s Attack HPL rubber, also fitted with CushCore inserts from the factory.
At £5,515 / $5,699 / €6,299 / CAN$7,599 the E1 is more affordable. Up front is a Marzocchi Z1 fork and CR coil shock.
Shimano’s CUES 6000 10-speed drivetrain is fitted, along with TRP’s Slate EVO brakes. Vee Tire Attack HPL tyres are still fitted, along with CushCore inserts.
2024 Marin Alpine Trail E2 Bosch
- Frame: Series 4 Aluminium, MultiTrac 2 LT 160mm suspension
- Motor and battery: Bosch Performance Line CX and 750Wh Powertube
- Shock: Fox DHX2 Performance Elite
- Fork: Fox 38 Performance Elite
- Drivetrain: Shimano SLX/XT mix
- Brakes: TRP DH-R EVO
- Wheels: Marin wheels
- Tyres: Vee Tire Co Attack HPL tyres and CushCore inserts
- Price: £6,385 / $6,599 / €7,249 / CAN$8,799
2024 Marin Alpine Trail E1 Bosch
- Frame: Series 4 Aluminium, MultiTrac 2 LT 160mm suspension
- Motor and battery: Bosch Performance Line CX and 750Wh Powertube
- Shock: Marzocchi CR Coil
- Fork: Marzocchi Z1
- Drivetrain: Shimano CUES 6000
- Brakes: TRP Slate EVO
- Wheels: Marin wheels
- Tyres: Vee Tire Co Attack HPL tyres and CushCore inserts
- Price: £5,515 / $5,699 / €6,299 / CAN$7,599