Marin San Rafael DS1 vs DS2 : Comparison & Customisation Review

In this example, we will show how customization can add value not just to OMO Bikes, but to bikes from many brands—especially global brands.

Most reputed global brands such as Trek, Giant, Merida, Marin and Polygon structure their ranges in a similar way: one use case with 2–3 variants covering different price points. This gives customers clear choices while allowing manufacturers to serve a wider range of budgets without creating completely different bikes.

For example, the San Rafael is a popular entry-level bike from Marin. It currently has two variants:

Marin San Rafael DS1 → ₹39,000
Marin San Rafael DS2 → ₹47,000

What's the difference?

The DS2 gets better suspension, brakes and gears. However, the fundamental structure, comfort components and wheels remain largely the same.

This is a smart approach because customers can choose the specification that suits their budget, while manufacturers can efficiently build multiple variants around the same platform.

But there is another approach: customizing the bike.

Problems in Customisation

The problem is that customization can be a lot of work. You need to find components that are compatible, check availability, compare specifications and then calculate whether the upgrade actually makes financial sense. That's a lot of hassle for an individual buyer. 

But we have reduced that hassle to 0. Because we do customizations at scale, we can also source components and calculate upgrade costs more efficiently. In some cases, this allows us to create a bike with higher-spec components than the next standard variant, while still keeping the overall price lower.

Let's continue with the San Rafael example.

We configure the DS1 with a Suntour XCM 30 fork, Shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes and Shimano Acera/Altus drivetrain components—components that, in this configuration, offer a higher specification than those found on the DS2.

And the interesting part is the price.

The Result

The OMO Custom Build costs approximately ₹45000—about ₹6000 more than the DS1, but roughly ₹2000 less than the DS2 while giving much superior components than DS2. 

That doesn't mean customization is always cheaper or better. It depends on component pricing, compatibility, availability, labour and the value of the original parts being replaced.

The real advantage is control.

Instead of paying for a fixed package, you can keep the components you are happy with and spend your budget upgrading the ones that matter to you.

So rather than asking:

"Which model is higher?"

It can be more useful to ask:

"Which components am I actually paying for, and which ones do I really want?"

Sometimes, the best value isn't the next model in the catalogue.

It can be the model below, configured exactly the way you want.