Marin Madrone Trail: Marin's first bike returns for its 40th anniversary
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Marin is bringing back the bike that launched the brand in 1986: the Marin Madrone Trail. This anniversary edition keeps the spirit of the original, with a steel frame and a tall, upright handlebar inherited from the first California mountain bikes. But it rolls on today's components: hydraulic disc brakes, a 10-speed Shimano CUES drivetrain and 27.5-inch wheels. It is built as a limited run of 440 numbered bikes, each with hand-painted paint splatter. Here is where the Madrone Trail comes from, what a "klunker" is, what the 2026 version changes and who this bike is for.
The 40th anniversary Madrone Trail on the trail. Photo: Marin Bikes
The short version
The 40th anniversary Marin Madrone Trail is a rigid mountain bike with a 4130 chromoly steel frame and fork, on 27.5-inch wheels. It revives the name and spirit of Marin's very first model, released in 1986, with a one-piece klunker-style bar and stem, a Shimano CUES 1x10 drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes and tan-wall Maxxis tires. Limited run of 440 numbered bikes: find the Marin Madrone Trail LTD in our online store.
Where does the Marin Madrone Trail come from?
In 1986, Marin, born in Marin County north of San Francisco, launched its first mountain bikes. The very first model was the Madrone Trail. Founder Bob Buckley wanted a promotional bike to put the brand on the map: a simple, affordable mountain bike that could introduce as many people as possible to a brand-new sport. Its success laid the groundwork for Marin, which two years later released the Team Titanium, one of the first production titanium mountain bikes.
"When Marin came out with its first product line, it was just me. I made all the frame drawings on an early 512K Macintosh. Bob had the idea of a promotional bike to get things rolling – the Madrone Trail was about as low-cost as anyone could get and still be a functional mountain bike."
— Joe Murray, designer of the original Madrone Trail (as told to Bikepacking.com)
For the full story of the brand, from the early days to the Team Titanium, read our article Marin Bikes: A Story of Passion and Innovation.
What is a klunker?
In the late 1970s in Marin County, a group of road racers started riding the trails around Mount Tamalpais on old single-speed, fat-tire bikes with heavy frames and coaster brakes. These bikes were called klunkers. One local trail even got the name "Repack" because the coaster brake hubs had to be repacked with grease after every descent. Some of these riders were also bike builders: by experimenting with lighter tubing, stronger brakes and multiple gears, they gave birth to the first mountain bikes sold commercially.
The 2026 Madrone Trail nods directly to that era with its BearMoose cockpit: a one-piece bar and stem that is wide (750 mm), tall (100 mm rise) and swept back (25°). Marin describes it as a revival of the "bullmoose" bar of the klunker days. The result is an upright, relaxed riding position that recalls the very first mountain bikes.
Upright bar and tan-wall tires: the klunker spirit on a modern bike. Photo: Marin Bikes
What does the 40th anniversary edition change?
The 2026 Madrone Trail keeps a steel frame, but everything else is current. The butted 4130 chromoly steel frame (thicker at the joints, thinner in the middle to save weight) and the rigid steel fork with curved blades give a supple ride that filters out small vibrations. The 27.5-inch wheels keep the bike lively and nimble, and the 2.25-inch tan-wall Maxxis Rekon Race tires provide grip on dirt and gravel.
The drivetrain is a single-chainring setup: a CNC-machined 34-tooth chainring and an 11-48 Shimano CUES 10-speed cassette, wide enough for steep climbs and fast flats alike. The custom microSHIFT thumb shifter switches between indexed and friction modes, like on 1980s bikes. Braking comes from silver Shimano Alfine hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm rotors. Polished silver components complete the period look.
4130 chromoly steel frame and fork, 27.5-inch wheels. Photo: Marin Bikes
A limited run of 440 numbered bikes
Marin is building the 40th anniversary Madrone Trail in 440 units, numbered 001 to 440. Once the run is gone, it won't be coming back. The dark blue frame carries yellow graphics with pink and bright blue splatter that echo the brand's heritage colours. The splatter is hand-painted, so no two bikes are exactly alike. The frame and fork are made in Indonesia.
This limited edition is available at Bicycles Quilicot: see the Marin Madrone Trail LTD in our online store.
Before its announcement, the bike was already on display, without a word, on Marin's demo rack at the 2026 Sea Otter Classic, California's big cycling festival. It was officially unveiled in early September 2026.
The one-piece BearMoose bar and stem. Photo: Marin Bikes
Who is the Madrone Trail for?
It is not a modern mountain bike for technical trails. Without suspension, it is at home on flowing trails, forest roads, gravel and bike paths; on very rocky terrain or long descents, a suspension mountain bike remains the better choice. Its rack and fender mounts also make it a commuter or a weekend cruiser.
It will speak most to riders who love mountain bike history, to collectors, and to anyone looking for a simple, versatile steel bike that looks like no other. Steel is heavier than aluminum or carbon, but it is tough and comfortable: that is why so many frames from that era are still on the road.
| Feature | Marin Madrone Trail 40th anniversary |
|---|---|
| Frame | Butted 4130 chromoly steel, rack and fender mounts |
| Fork | Chromoly steel, rigid, curved blades |
| Wheels and tires | 27.5-inch, double-wall aluminum rims; Maxxis Rekon Race 2.25 in, tan wall |
| Drivetrain | Shimano CUES 1x10, 11-48 cassette, CNC-machined 34-tooth chainring |
| Shifter | microSHIFT thumb shifter, indexed or friction mode |
| Brakes | Shimano Alfine hydraulic discs, 160 mm rotors |
| Cockpit | One-piece BearMoose: 750 mm wide, 100 mm rise, 25° backsweep |
| Geometry | 66° head angle, 70° seat angle, 470 mm chainstays |
| Run | 440 units numbered 001 to 440, hand-painted splatter |
Frequently asked questions
How many 40th anniversary Madrone Trails did Marin build?
Marin built 440, numbered 001 to 440. Each frame gets hand-painted splatter, and the run will not be repeated once it sells out.
What is the difference between the 1986 and the 2026 Madrone Trail?
The 1986 model was a promotional bike, designed to cost as little as possible while still being a real mountain bike. The 2026 version keeps its name and spirit, with hydraulic disc brakes, a modern 1x10 drivetrain, 27.5-inch wheels and a limited-edition finish.
Can the Madrone Trail handle mountain bike trails?
Yes, on flowing trails, forest roads and gravel. Since it has no suspension, it is less at ease on very technical or rocky trails, where a suspension mountain bike will be more comfortable and safer.
Why a steel frame?
Chromoly steel gives a supple ride that absorbs some vibration, and it is very durable. It is heavier than aluminum or carbon, which matters little on a bike built for fun rather than racing.
Who founded Marin?
Marin was founded by Bob Buckley in Marin County, California, and launched its first mountain bikes in 1986. The brand still names its models after local landmarks: Muirwoods, Bolinas Ridge, Pine Mountain.
Forty years after the first Madrone Trail, Marin goes back to its roots without simply copying them: the steel, the upright bar and the period colours are there, but the brakes, drivetrain and wheels are those of a modern bike. It is a collector's bike you can actually ride, on the trail or around town.
At Bicycles Quilicot, we have been selling bikes in Montreal since 1915, and we are an authorized Marin retailer in Quebec. Find the Madrone Trail and the full Marin range in our online store, and contact us with any question about this bike.
The 40th anniversary Marin Madrone Trail is at Bicycles Quilicot
Steel frame, BearMoose cockpit and a limited run of 440 numbered bikes.
See the Madrone TrailSources: Marin Bikes — Madrone Trail (2026) · Marin Bikes — The Marin Story · Bikepacking.com · California State Parks — History of Mountain Biking