Boardman TRVL 8.9 DB vs Marin Four Corners 2
Both are gravel bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.
The short answer
For a typical all-round rider the Marin Four Corners 2 comes out ahead (66% against 64%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.
What actually separates them
- Price
- The Boardman TRVL 8.9 DB is £99 cheaper — £1,800 against £1,899.
- Weight
- The Boardman TRVL 8.9 DB is 1.2kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
- Riding position
- The Marin Four Corners 2 sits you more upright (1.53 stack-to-reach against 1.49). The Boardman TRVL 8.9 DB is the more aggressive of the two — quicker if you can hold it, harder work if you cannot.
- Climbing gear
- The Marin Four Corners 2 has the easier bottom gear (21 gear inches against 25), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.
Side by side
| Spec | TRVL 8.9 DB | Four Corners 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,800 | £1,899 |
| Weight | 11.3 kg | 12.5 kg |
| Frame | alloy | steel |
| Groupset | SRAM Apex 1x12 mechanical | SRAM Apex 1 12-speed mechanical |
| Stack / reach | 1.49 | 1.53 |
| Tyre clearance | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Lowest gear | 25 in | 21 in |
| Mudguard mounts | Yes | Yes |
| Comfort | 69 | 81 |
| Speed | 15 | 10 |
| Climbing | 39 | 45 |
| Value | 6 | 3 |
Neither might be the right answer
This page assumes an average rider. Tell us how you actually ride and we will rank these two against everything else at the price.
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