Marin Larkspur - any thoughts?

[Den John]

Hello all,

My LBS has a Marin Larkspur 2 in stock. When I saw it in the shop, my first thought

was that it's a knock-off of the Clem-L or Platypus.

https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/family/larkspur

I'm interested in this bike because my wife has expressed an interest in gravel riding/easy mountain biking, and this looks like a relatively accessible way to get into it. A Rivendell isn't really feasible due to us being in Belgium, the way Rivs sell out within minutes of going online, etc. etc.

There's a short review of the Larkspur on Path Less Pedalled, seems quite positive and gives the impression that it's quite well suited for what my wife wants her bikes to do - utility with a bit of off road at the weekends.

My other idea was to find an old mixte/low instep mountain bike frame and do it up as a PPR (Poor Person's Riv), but all the ones I found so far are pretty nasty low end mid-90's BSOs, and all in stupidly small sizes for some reason. It's easy to find quite nice Mixte frames, but they tend to have limited tyre clearance so they probably won't work so well off road. I think it'd be less trouble to just go for the Larkspur in this case.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Marin?

Cheers,

Johnny in Belgium

[Johnny Alien]

stell frame, lots of clearance and 650B wheels seems like a nice setup. I never rode one but my guess is that it could be a great bike if your wife is comfortable on it. The 1x setup is pretty good with a wide range of gears and they are using a sunrace cassette which have better gearing than Shimano does.

[David Person]

Russ (Path Less Pedaled) did a review a few months ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIpOLmO-Oic&t=459s

[Pancake]

I've been looking at the Larkspur as a possible ride for my wife for the same reasons (and because it comes in a small enough size for her): wide 650b tire clearance, steel, step-through, 1x11 with 38t chainring by 11-51t cassette (or 1x10 on the Larkspur 1 with the same 38x11-51t), even comes with nice enough tires. Could take or leave disc brakes but the Shimano deore hydraulics are good (the Larkspur 1 with Tektro low end hydraulics are ... fine, not great).  These have been hard to find in stock (and impossible to find used, likely a good sign). Unfortunately, between 2020 and 2022 the price has jumped substantially (the Larkspur 2 was $929 back then, $1,199 now without changes to justify the cost increase, appears to be related to supply and demand). That took it from a great value to a good value in my book. 

We ended up getting a Kona Coco which is similar to the Larkspur 1 but in aluminum (and significantly lower price, used [very little from what I can tell] on craigslist for $500). When our kiddos are a little older and we can go on longer rides together then I'll be looking for a used Clem L or Larkspur. In the mean time the wide tires and lower pressure are making up the difference for a comfy ride. 

That said, I like your 'find a used mixte and build it up as a poor person's riv' idea ... perhaps mostly because I'm currently in that same project with a Nishiki Bel Air ;-) This will be for my dad who, after 80 years, prefers a lower step through/over. 

Notice that THREE pulley rear derailer! 

Notice that THREE pulley rear derailer! Sugino VP triple crank, clearance for maybe 2" wide 26" tires, MKS pedals, a nice setback seatpost hidden by being lowered all the way here, color matched stem, power ratchet Suntour friction shifters (not exactly but similar to the Silver shifter precursor), and nice Dia Compe brakes/levers. Steel and lugs and such. Happy with this find that seems to have spent 20 years resting in a basement. Already cleaned everything and removed some rust pitting, new cables/housing, trued the wheels (tension meter at 22 on the front, rear is 25 drive side and 17 non-drive side), a lubed/greased parts as I find them. Stem's original red grease was still in great condition, brake pads were barely worn so I think it's got very few miles ... so far.

Good luck on your search, the Larkspur will be great but the used restomod is another fun option ... do both!

Abe

[Den John]

Thanks Abe,

The Kona Coco looks like a good option, I like the 47mm tyres which are a good size for gravel riding. There are a few Kona dealers near me too.

Your Nishiki would be eaxctly what I'd do if I could find one! Perfect colour and lugged frame and fork too. I've never seen one of the three-pulley suntour derailleurs, except on the Disraeili gears site. Does it work in practice?

Like I say, higher end step through MTBs like your Nishiki are near impossible to find here. Koga-Miyata did a couple of nice models, the Heartbreaker and Terrarunner I think, but I've not seen one for sale lately. I'll keep looking though.

I think the Larkspur would cover most of what we want from a bike so if I got one of those I wouldn't need to do a resto project, even though that's always fun :-)

Cheers,

Johnny

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[Philip Barrett]

I've been saying...we're the next big thing!

Just like "gravel" - first the boutique custom brands, then the mid levels & finally the Treks, Giant & Specialized of this world. Standby for Trek ads extolling the beauty of lugged steel.

[Garth]

The Marin looks like a bike for under 6 feet tall, and decidedly bears no resemblance to a Clem. It has no curves, no elegance, no style. The Clem design on the other hand looks similar to many other like elegant step-thru bikes, albeit more stretched out and nicer riding. That's what the pictures never show, "the how" a bike rides... it can only be experienced.

Trek and all the like have already made lugged steel bikes. They may return to them but they will be with disc brakes and whatever latest gizmo parts the industry want to force upon unsuspecting buyers. I've never used disc brakes, but they're not pretty to look at that's for sure.  If I want to ride a motorcycle I'll get one of those, but leave the bike alone. Steel frames are wonderful, but not if it requires parts you do not want to ever use or look at. That's what the big fake Corpses do, propose what you do not want under the guise of "desirability".

Hmmmm ....  It's like a "irresistible temptation" from the Garden of Eaten'... all the "thou shall nots". So which is it , shall or not ? It cannot be both. Either the fruit/LIFE is good and wholesome, or doesn't even exist at all. In other words what's wholesome cannot be changed into what it is not.