Marin DSX 2 review: Flat bar fun on a budget

Whatever you think of flatbar gravel bikes yourself, its becoming clear that the category is gaining in popularity, and for pretty good reason. Simply put and as weve mentioned elsewhere the additional leverage of a wider flat bar adds a healthy dose of fun to gravel bikes, making them easier to toss around and more controllable when conditions get dicey. Plus, many riders just prefer the more upright positioning and the casual attitude that comes with it. While some brands have taken a halfhearted approach to the whole flatbar gravel thing, Marin has decided to jump in headfirst, with three models built around two dedicated aluminum frames, both with longer reach dimensions than what the company uses for its dropbar models. The DSX 2 is the middle child in Marins flatbar gravel lineup, based on the the companys Gestalt X collection of dropbar gravel bikes. Like that Gestalt X, the DSX is made of TIGwelded 6061 aluminum and appears to use the same tubeset, sharing similar characteristics lik