Gary Fisher Marlin Advice

[Jimmi]

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?

 

[Retrorockit]

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.

 

[Retrorockit]

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