Frequently asked questions
Product and ordering
Q. Can I buy a Marra?
A. Yes yes yes. Current lead time is about 4 months.
Q. Can I buy a Reiver?
A. Not yet, but if you want to be the first, get in touch!
Q. Do you deliver?
A. Yes, we deliver to the UK for £50 using a specialist bike courier, although we’d love it if you could come to us for the final set up and collection. If you’re in Mainland Europe, Americas, rest of world, (including Auckland NZ), send us a message and we’ll see what we can do.
Q. I have some questions, can I talk to a human?
A. Better still, talk directly to Gary. The owner, the founder, the inventor, the test rider.
Q. Why are you called Auckland Cycle Works when you’re not from New Zealand?
A. We’re from Bishop Auckland, in County Durham, England. This is the original Auckland, and it has a fabulous history – including bicycle manufacture. Our town had a factory here in the 1890’s called Auckland Cycle Works, and they even made a full-suspension bike! See our webpage [link] for more details.
Q. What’s so innovative about Auckland Cycle Works bikes?
A. Our KOLARP suspension concept is a radical departure from the mainstream and deliver significant performance gains. This asks questions of the guiding principles of MTB suspension design which have dominated our sport for over 25 years. Also, you know that this really is the true original renegade spirit of MTB innovation, because the founder and inventor is called Gary.
Q. Why are Auckland Cycle Works’ bikes so expensive?
A. Because we didn’t order 2000 frames from a factory overseas.
A. Because it’s handcrafted in the UK.
A. Because this is something special and customised for you.
Q. Do you have Auckland Cycle Works merch?
A. We will do. If you want to buy a tee or a hoodie, send us a message.
2. The ride
Q. Do I have to ride differently to get the best out of Marra or Reiver?
A. No. Just get on and ride. No different style needed.
Q. Will KOLARP suspension make me ride faster?
A. Only if you brake less and pedal harder! Fortunately, the KOLARP suspension gives you more control, more grip, more stability and massively improved braking performance. So, if you’ve got the skills and fitness to go faster, KOLARP will help you deal with the extra speed.
Q. I’m a smaller lighter rider, will Marra work for me?
A. If you’re happy on a ~17.5Kg bike, then yes.
We can make a size small with a 395mm seat tube without any other modifications. Smaller seat tube lengths down to 370mm are possible, but this would require a bit of a redesign. Super small riders will also be lighter, so we could make this work with a 230x60mm shock to achieve a considerably lighter damping feel.
Q. I’m a taller heavier rider, will Marra work for me?
A. Maximum rider weight for current design is 120Kg, 18.9 stones, 265lbs
Q. Can you share the graphs for leverage ratio, pedal kickback, anti-squat and anti-rise?
A. No. If you’re comparing a single-pivot design with another single-pivot design, or comparing two similar linkage bikes, then these graphs can be useful. But really these measurements aren’t robust enough to meaningfully compare different styles of suspension design. KOLARP bikes have a radically different axle path, so of course a ‘normal’ leverage curve isn’t going to work.
Q. Will there be an e-bike version?
A. Yes. Oh yes. There will be an e-Marra. No idea when, but Marra will make an astoundingly good eeb.
Q. Can I test ride a Marra?
A. If you can visit us in Bishop Auckland, then yes. If you’re interested and live elsewhere, please let us know.
3. Tech questions
Q. Why make Marra in steel? Isn’t that just really heavy?
A. Steel is heavier, but steel tubes are skinnier, so use less metal. Alloy and carbon work better in larger diameters, but these then become too stiff, so compliance becomes an important design challenge. And Reynolds 853 is legendary. Steel is real, baby. Steel is real.
Q. Isn’t Marra’s suspension just a DW link?
A. The swingarm does pivot on two short linkages, but the linkages put the instant-centre backwards rather than forwards. Maybe you could call it a WD link?!
Q. Does Reiver work a bit like a Maverick ML5?
A. Good knowledge, but no. The BB is on the lower link, but everything else is different. And no, it’s not like a GT I-Drive either.
Q. Why are there so many linkages and bearings on Marra?
A. Marra is a 4-bar linkage with an extra link to drive the shock. Marra has 14 bearings, the vast majority of other linkage bikes have 10 bearings. The extra linkage enabled us to tune the shock progression to perfection and also protect the shock from nasty side-loads. We’d rather replace another 4 bearings than replace a worn shock body, air can and damper shaft. We also think it’s better to get the leverage rate sorted in the linkage, rather than compensate with some complicated proprietary shock nonsense.
Q. Can I fit a coil shock?
A. Yes, but we recommend a Cane Creek progressive coil spring (or the Cane Creek Tigon shock). If you’re riding somewhere with high-speed compressions and jumps, then the progression helps to give you more boost off the booter, and also helps you to ride any trail with an active/poppy/jumpy style. (This advice applies to any bike that is designed for an air spring.) Fitting a normal linear coil means you’ll get a plusher feel, as it really extends your mid-stroke, but this comes at the cost of your bottom-out resistance. Bottoming out your suspension on a take-off ramp is rubbish! However, if you’re not a jumpy type of rider and want the bike to stay planted and have a bottomless feel, then a linear coil might be just what you’re looking for.
4. Customisation & build choices
Q. What customisation is possible with an Auckland Cycle Works’ bike?
A. Choose your reach, stack and head angle. Choose a paintjob. Front wheel can be 27.5” or 29” We’ll work with you to get the right seat tube length for your leg length and dropper seatpost preference. Chainstay length can be adjusted with the dropouts. Seat tube angle is fixed at 77 degrees.
Q. Can you recommend components for building up a Marra frame?
A. Yes. Auckland Cycle Works is operated by the same people as the Inspiral Cycles independent bike shop in Bishop Auckland. We would love to work with you to custom build a bike to your budget and of your dreams.
Q. Can I wrap my Marra?
A. Yes! RideWrap make the kit already!
Q. Can I build Marra with a 200mm DH fork like a Rockshox Boxxer or Fox 40?
A. Yes. The Reynolds 853 tubeset is legendary and proven at the highest levels of DH competition.
Marra is designed around a 180mm fork with a 595mm axle-to-crown measurement, and a EC44 lower headset cup. Fitting a dual-crown DH fork with a ZS44 lower headset cup keeps the geo sweet.
Q. Can I build Marra with a 170mm fork?
A. Yes, it works nice! But make sure you also try the short dropouts! These work great with a 170mm fork and make the bike super-playful on tight twisty trails.
Q. What are the adjustable dropouts?
A. Each frame comes with 3 sets of dropouts. Short, medium and long. There is 6mm difference in length between each size.
Q. Can I fit my own shock?
A. Yes, any 230x65 will work nicely. If you want to buy the frame without the shock, we can adjust the price accordingly.
Q. Can I have internal cable routing through the headset?
A. No. Absolutely not.
Q. What’s the tyre clearance?
A. 27.5 x 2.7” tyre clearance.
Q. Can you make me a Marra with front and rear 29” wheels?
A. No. Marra won’t take a 29er rear wheel. Designing for a 29” rear wheel would detract from the braking and suspension characteristics which make Marra so good.
Q. Can you make me a Marra with 27.5” wheels front and rear?
A. Yes, we already did that. It’s ace!
Q. Marra has a straight 44mm ID head tube, does that mean it doesn’t take forks with a tapered steerer?
A. The EC44 lower headset standard fits normal tapered 1.125” to 1.5” forks. The ZS44 lower works with dual-crown forks with a straight 1.125” steerer and corrects the ride height of the longer fork. Also, Marra is made from Reynolds 853 steel, so the skinnier 44mm ID head tube provides the optimum profile for the strongest welded connection to the top and downtubes. A tapered head tube might look sexy, but it adds weight and doesn’t add strength.
Q. Can I use an oval chainring?
A. Reiver works fine with an oval chainring. Marra has a high-idler and the chain feeds onto the chainring at a 60 degree angle above the normal chainline. If you can find a crank setup that allows you to rotate the chainring 60 degrees forwards, like Hope, then yes. And this is what Gary does.
5. Set up and maintenance
Q. How do I set up the KOLARP suspension on Marra?
A. Check that the sag is set at 16 to 17mm. That’s it.
(It sounds simple, but the dual air chambers in your shock sometimes don’t equalise immediately, and over a few weeks or months it’s possible for the sag to increase. Always check the sag is still at 16 or 17mm before making other changes.)
Q. Does it clog up with mud?
A. We ride in the UK all year round. We know mud. Our bikes have good mud clearance.
Q. Why don’t other brands offer an adjustable forward shock mount?
A. Because they don’t want you to mess it up. I wanted more adjustment as this allows a bit of future-proofing.
Q. Will my local bike shop be able to service my Auckland Cycle Works’ bike?
A. Yes. Marra has 12 x 6001 and 2 x 6902 bearings, but for the first bearing change you’ll probably just want to change the 8 x 6001 that go between front triangle and swingarm. All the bearings are pressed into the linkages, the linkages all have flat surfaces to make it super-easy to work with standard bearing press tools (or a socket set and a vice). If you’ve already got the tools to hand and a clean workspace, a full bearing change only takes about 70 to 80 minutes.
Q. What’s the warranty?
A. Lifetime warranty for the original owner. This doesn’t cover wear-and-tear items or crash damage.
6. Less frequently asked questions / more tech
Q. Are Auckland Cycle Works’ bikes really designed in Lego?
A. Yes. The initial design concept and kinematic was proven and optimised in Lego. Gary then made Marra v1 and refined the concept and design with actual real-world testing. He did use a computer for refining the shock swing linkage, comparing the leverage curves of over 100 different iterations. Of course, we use proper CAD for everything to do with the manufacturing.
Q. Why wasn’t KOLARP discovered by one of the big brands?
A. They don’t play enough Lego. Seriously. They use computers and software and designers that are pre-programmed with rules and metrics which simplify the development process. But these rules and metrics don’t tell the whole story. This whole project began because Gary intuited a possible gap in the knowledge, so did some experiments to see if there was an opportunity. Using Lego was an effective and quick way to get a back-to-basics grasp of what was going on.
Q. Can other brands copy KOLARP suspension?
A. KOLARP suspension is patented in the UK, Europe and Australia. It is patent pending in the US, Canada and New Zealand. Marra also has a high pivot design licence covered by I-Track patent AU2013225624. If other brands wish to adopt KOLARP suspension, this will only be though an agreed licence.
Q. The Singletrack review said that Marra was calm. Does that mean it’s boring?
A. No. Benji preferred Marra with the long dropouts and lowered the BB by sliding the forward shock mount forward by 1 notch. This makes the bike ultra-stable. Gary prefers Marra with the middle dropouts and the standard BB height. This makes it more fun when pumping the ground and it’s way easier to tip the bike into corners. Also, because the axle path is so very diagonal, it’s possible to run a slightly faster rebound than you might be used to. This maximises the acceleration you can get from pumping downsides and keeps the ride lively and alert.
Q. I read the Pinkbike review in Jan 2024 – why didn’t they like Marra?
A. It was too soon. The basic idea was sorted and the bike was good but not set up correctly. Gary was just too excited to show off the first shiny Auckland Cycle Works Marra. We’re ready now.
Q. I’m a good rider, will you sponsor me?
A. We’re not currently looking for team riders - but show us your race results and your social feed. Riders must have wide experience of riding different bikes and the appropriate attitude to assist and inform the refinement of future bikes.
Q. Can I invest?
A. Please send a message and we’ll get back to you.