Someone at work has left a Gary Fisher in the bike shed for weeks, according to another cyclist he’s bought a new bike. I’m thinking of putting a note on it asking if it’s for sale. However I have no idea what it’s worth…. I don’t want to take a pic in case it looks like I’m doing something dodgy. It’s metallic green, has Grip shift and says it’s made in USA other than some minor rust spots it looks in great condition. What’s a sensible offer?
Gary Fisher Marlin Advice
- Thread starter Jimmi
- Start date
Retrorockit
Retro Guru
Gary Fisher was an upmarket Trek brand. GF MTB bikes tended to be mid range and up. The Marlin was offered for many years and it evolved over time. Most of them didn't come with disc brakes. Fork travel ( or rigid) and type of disc brake mounts (or lack of them) will tell you a lot. Trek/GF needed a frame adapter to add disc brakes to the rear. They're being reproduced now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5GHVJ75?tag=bravesoftwa04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US
The regular IS caliper adapter bolts onto that. If the frame itself is made in USA It's probably a pretty old version. Some were marked "Designed in USA". They're very common here (US) but they do have a following. They usually had a little better fork, than similar Trek versions. GF is no longer made, but not forgotten. The condition of the suspension fork will determine if the bike is sueful. Parts can be hard to find
In the US 26" bikes aren't popular for MTB use, and cable disc brakes are no longer respected. A 26" bike like that with BB7 disc brakes might be sought after as a donor for Ebike conversion. $ 250. Adding discs to a non disc bike means buying a disc brake wheelset also. So rim brakes i would try to get it cheap. Some higher level GF bikes with lightweight frames for XC racing would be worth twice that, but The Marlin is GF's basic version. But some rigid bikes get converted to gravel bikes.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5GHVJ75?tag=bravesoftwa04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US
The regular IS caliper adapter bolts onto that. If the frame itself is made in USA It's probably a pretty old version. Some were marked "Designed in USA". They're very common here (US) but they do have a following. They usually had a little better fork, than similar Trek versions. GF is no longer made, but not forgotten. The condition of the suspension fork will determine if the bike is sueful. Parts can be hard to find
In the US 26" bikes aren't popular for MTB use, and cable disc brakes are no longer respected. A 26" bike like that with BB7 disc brakes might be sought after as a donor for Ebike conversion. $ 250. Adding discs to a non disc bike means buying a disc brake wheelset also. So rim brakes i would try to get it cheap. Some higher level GF bikes with lightweight frames for XC racing would be worth twice that, but The Marlin is GF's basic version. But some rigid bikes get converted to gravel bikes.
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Retrorockit
Retro Guru
A little more info would help That could be anythinfgform a rigid 26 with rim brakes to a 29" disc brake bike with patented G2 geometry.
Here is Bicycle Blue Book (Kelly Blue Book is a price guide US car dealers use) Find a similar Marlin and see what it's worth.
https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/value-guide/Gary Fisher/Marlin/?yearId=1997
Here is Bicycle Blue Book (Kelly Blue Book is a price guide US car dealers use) Find a similar Marlin and see what it's worth.
https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/value-guide/Gary Fisher/Marlin/?yearId=1997
Last edited:
Retrorockit
Retro Guru
That looks like a steel frame in a larger size. Gary Fisher was one of the originators of mountain biking. They used to run heavy American cruiser bikes (Klunkers) with coaster brakes down mountains. They called the first race Repack because you had to remove the burnt grease form the overheated brake after each run. So that's a very early MTB with the parts available at the time. Quill stem, road (Touring?) triple driveline with 26" Cruiser size tires. Sort of a reverse hybrid. Gary Fisher was always a stickler for geometry. Don't be surprised if the bike just feels right when you ride it. Modern light weight Gravel racing tires in the correct size will breath some life into it. Many of them have the tan sidewalls now. Rene Herse Extralight slicks or knobbies would give surprising performance, but triple the cost of the bike. Schwalbe Billy Bonkers hit the weight target at a normal price point. Those brakes look like they predate the side pull MTB brakes. It may be very early. The leverage is different so watch for that if you get it.
The Marlin was the entry level model, but good enough to be ridden hard. The brand has provenance. Not scarce or valuable, but still a significant step in MTB evolution.
My 2004 GF Comfort bike is now doing service as a 1500W urban Ebike. This is mostly due to the Rockshox coil and oil fork that a similar Trek Navigator would not have had. His Hybrids are the same way. A fork that can be used offroad.
The Marlin was the entry level model, but good enough to be ridden hard. The brand has provenance. Not scarce or valuable, but still a significant step in MTB evolution.
My 2004 GF Comfort bike is now doing service as a 1500W urban Ebike. This is mostly due to the Rockshox coil and oil fork that a similar Trek Navigator would not have had. His Hybrids are the same way. A fork that can be used offroad.
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joglo
Senior Retro Guru
I had once a Gary Fisher Marlin from 96, bought the frame on ebay, and was thinking of using this for a kids-bike build as it was a small size with only 36 c-t-t height.
Meanwhile it's sold again, same as I've bought it, for cheap money...
I have liked a lot the nice green color, but the quality of the lacquer was apparently not very reliable.
Also technically, the Marlin frame is solid but rather basic. At least already full CroMo, no Hi-Ten, but with plain tubing. The small frame had a weight slightly above 2Kg.
In particular the used components at the original spec Marlin had been all entry level. BB and wheel set had been rather weak.
The seat post had a strange 26.6mm size. Maybe also a sign that the used tubing wasn't very thin.
No clue about your local prices for bikes like that. I wouldn't pay more than 100€ for a full bike in good condition.
Meanwhile it's sold again, same as I've bought it, for cheap money...
I have liked a lot the nice green color, but the quality of the lacquer was apparently not very reliable.
Also technically, the Marlin frame is solid but rather basic. At least already full CroMo, no Hi-Ten, but with plain tubing. The small frame had a weight slightly above 2Kg.
In particular the used components at the original spec Marlin had been all entry level. BB and wheel set had been rather weak.
The seat post had a strange 26.6mm size. Maybe also a sign that the used tubing wasn't very thin.
No clue about your local prices for bikes like that. I wouldn't pay more than 100€ for a full bike in good condition.
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