New value-packed Marin Rift Zone E range includes CushCore as stock

New trail-focused electric mountain bike has 140mm of travel and easy internal cable routing

By Finlay Anderson

Published: Monday, 17 April 2023 at 12:00 am

The Marin Rift Zone E is a new trail-focused electric mountain bike based on the Californian brand’s popular Rift Zone trail bike.

The new eMTB has 140mm of travel, 29in wheels and is designed for maximum fun on a wide variety of trails.

Three bikes are available at launch, starting at £4,355/$4,499/€4,999 for the Rift Zone E. The top-spec Rift Zone E2 will set you back £5,895/$6,299/€6,899.

Technical editor Alex Evans has been testing the new bike for the past few months – you can read his full verdict in our in-depth review of the new Marin Rift Zone E2.

CushCore as stock

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The internal cable-routing layout should make servicing easy.
Andy Lloyd / Our Media

The Rift Zone E’s frame is made from Marin’s Series 4 hydroformed aluminium tubing. This is the brand’s top-spec alloy construction.

The bike features 140mm of suspension travel and internal cable routing.

Unlike many new mountain bikes, the cables route into the frame through ports at the side of the head tube, rather than through the headset. This should simplify servicing.

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Rubber protectors on the chainstays should dampen noise on gnarly terrain.
Andy Lloyd / Our Media

The new Marin Rift Zone E also uses SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger, future-proofing the bike and making it easy to find replacement hangers.

Protecting the aluminium frame is a chunky rubber chainstay cover, as well as bump stops located on the underside of the down tube.

These prevent contact between the frame and fork crown.

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The bike is set up tubeless out of the box.
Andy Lloyd / Our Media

The Rift Zone E ships set up tubeless as standard and, unusually, also includes CushCore tyre inserts as stock on the Rift Zone E1 and E2 models.

Tubeless tyre inserts protect your rim from impacts and can help support your tyre, potentially improving control in certain terrain.

All models are powered by Shimano’s STEPS electric bike motors and have easily removable, integrated batteries.

Marin Rift Zone E geometry

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The bike’s geometry looks sorted.
Andy Lloyd / Our Media

The Marin Rift Zone E is aimed squarely at trail riding and has the geometry to match.

A 65-degree head angle is paired with a 77-degree effective seat angle for a modern riding position on the climbs and descents.

In size large, the Rift Zone E gets a confidence-inspiring 485mm reach and a short 425mm seat tube for maximum bum-to-seat clearance and manoeuvrability.

440mm chainstays and a 348.5mm bottom bracket height are shared across all sizes.

Marin Rift Zone E geometry chart
SmallMediumLargeExtra-large
Stack (mm)606.98614.04625.1634.16
Reach (mm)445465485515
Head angle (degrees)65656565
Head tube length (mm)100110120130
Seat tube angle (degrees)77777777
Seat tube length (mm)390400425435
Top tube (mm)585.13607.22629.32661.41
Bottom bracket height (mm)348.5348.5348.5348.5
Bottom bracket drop (mm)32323232
Chainstay (mm)440440440440
Wheelbase (mm)1,198.291,222.521,246.741,280.97
Standover (mm)693.65696.01709.94719.93

Marin Rift Zone E specs and pricing

Marin Rift Zone E

  • Frame: Series 4 aluminium, 140mm travel
  • Shock: X-Fusion O2 Pro R
  • Fork: RockShox 35 Silver R, 140mm travel
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 10-speed
  • Motor: Shimano EP6, 504Wh battery (upgradeable to 630Wh)
  • Price: £4,355/$4,499/€4,999