There's no doubt about the type of terrain the Z-150 is built to handle - this fork is ready to freeride! It's the only single-crown freeride fork to offer nitrite coated steel stanchions for buttery smooth performance. 150mm of travel lets you tackle gnarly terrain with ease.
Submitted by
shanedawg
a Downhiller
from san jose, ca Date Reviewed: May 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
braille trail, demo forest
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Evolution Bike Shop,
Strengths:
great tunability via oil height and air preload so get the perfect progression and bottom out for your weight and riding style. Super supple on small stuff and can take huge drops. stylish knobs and great look. Very strong.
Weaknesses:
heavy. QR20 is not super fast to use but hey it works well.
Similar Products Used:
tons of different fox forks, rock shox lyrics, totems, pikes, X-fusion forks, older marz forks.
Bike Setup:
2001 Turner RFX with a mix of freeride parts on it.
Bottom Line:
Great fork. Mine has held up extremely well and I am still riding this thing. It has had the oil replaced a couple of times and the oil seals needed to be replaced after about 2 years of use and a some very muddy rides that just beat the whole bike to hell. I like the eta for climbing smooth stuff but for bumpy uphills you gotta leave it off or it slows you down.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Mac
a Downhiller
from Germantown, MD, USA Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Marzocchi Z150 FR ETA QR20: Smooth travel. Tough in the important parts. What else can you ask for? I've beaten on it, downhill, XC, freeride - including many drops, with no complaints. Even without compression adjustment, it didn't bottom out. Heck, I rebuilt it for the first time after 3+ years!
Weaknesses:
The QR20 is a bit...er...not quick. The only thing to break on the fork was the little screws holding the QR. And this breakage was not related to poor fork performance at all. It was just an annoyance on an otherwise outstanding fork. Doesn't have compression adjustment.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Shiver, Manitou Black Comp
Bike Setup:
Vantana El Chamuco. It has decent parts - no need to brag.
Bottom Line:
Very happy with the fork. The QR20 annoyances don't diminish the outstanding performance of the fork. If you need the QR20 (as I did to fit it in my truck everytime I rode), you can live with it. If you don't need the QR - the regular thru axle should make this a near perfect fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lucas
a
from Edmonton Date Reviewed: October 31, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
hardcore
Strengths:
super plush, good sensitivity through out travel, rarely bottoms, pretty stiff for a single crown, put it through its paces on every thing form whistler to the shore and held up to two years of abbuse until I snapped the steer tube off, can't say its a crap fork cause it lasted the longest of any fork I've had and I break every thing, only cost me $120 to get it fixed including shipping with a week turn around so good service from the Van w/r department
Weaknesses:
this thing is a tank I put it in the scale and its 7.6 lbs with oil and axel, I've used it on xc but better suited for DJ or free ride, it does have its limmits but good allround
Similar Products Used:
888rc2, SC shiver, fox vanilla 130,physlo(crap),
Bike Setup:
I had it on my faith then after it broke I replaced it with a 88rc2 and put the z150 on my heckler
Bottom Line:
this fork is great for a 5-6" dually that wants some abuse but way too heavy for serious xc,worth the money if you ride hard
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Viktor
a Weekend Warrior
from Bratislava Date Reviewed: October 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Podkonice
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$540.00
Purchased At:
eBay.de
Strengths:
Bullet proof overall design proven and unchanged for years for a reason. This fork is gonna outlast your ass. Travel is used by 100%, tunable by oil height Seemless Rebound control that works HSCV cart that lasts and delivers The knobs are solid and easy to use unlike some other forks Did I mention it has the looks? Coated steel stanchions will last forever, unlike the alloy ones which will get scratched easily... and yes they start to fade a little but who cares.
Weaknesses:
...but are much lighter at the same time. This is the reason I switched to OEM '05 AM2 with the same carts and saved a lot of grams. But I am a weight weenie and own a Faith for DH shuttles so the AC with AM2 is my XC bike. For a do it all freerider, this has been a pretty solid choice. The only better you might assume is the 66 but sure not VF. My QR20 dropouts are still OK but I am happy for marz to go with maxle like design. The levers are sure prone to a failure and might become a hassle do fiddle with. ETA is not really the best for rocky uphills but you still have the choice and sure it gets handy at times. No spring upgrades/compression settings, while the air assist is a pain to inflate... if you're under 200lbs, try to top the oil level instead. If you are heavier, you are in a trouble of using the poorly designed air adapter.
Similar Products Used:
05 RS Pike SL - wow what a difference you cant believe the Z150 has only 10mm more travel. The PIKE feels like an XC fork in comparison... 05 Z1FR2 - same but lighter and no ETA 05 Z1FR3 - SSV sucks. Save your money.
Bike Setup:
Giant AC w/ 4-way, mostly DH spec
Bottom Line:
Marzocchi quality and top notch cartridges. Bombproof build. If you are concerned about durability more than the weight and you cant afford the 66RC, this is the fork for your freeride bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
david cedric
a Weekend Warrior
from philippines Date Reviewed: October 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
urban, off road
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
trix bikeshop
Strengths:
stiff, buttery smooth travel, ETA, nitride coating
Weaknesses:
kinda heavy, you cannot use headlocks
Similar Products Used:
marzocchi z1 dropoff ETA, RS psylo
Bike Setup:
'01 bullit w/ 5th element, marzocchi z150, raceface northshore DH, XT all over
Bottom Line:
i own the '03 model of this fork (or is it the oem) it has an external rebound adjusment... when i first used the fork,; i felt it was kinda heavy... the ETA works great when climbing... :) does'nt bottom out... this fork is recommended to all freeriders out there...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Westling
a Weekend Warrior
from Lerum/Sweden Date Reviewed: August 13, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Rollercoaster trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
So smooth, good locking, HSCV is wonderful
Weaknesses:
Alittle heavy maybe.. And pretty expensive.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z1 Drop Off 2 & Manitou Stance Flow
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Bullit -05, Marzocchi Z150, Hone cranks, Raceface-bars and stuff. Magura Julie 7" brakes, Hope-hubs and Mavic EX721Cd rims. XTR/Hone. V8 pedals
Bottom Line:
Wonderful fork. Best I ever tested. It is just so good. Eats everything. Realy nice with the 5th Element Coil shock. Love this fork!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dirty
a Downhiller
from Yucaipa, CA, USA Date Reviewed: July 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Any that can hurt you more than you want
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Marzocchi Direct
Strengths:
Smooth Smooth Smooth. This is a follow up from my first reveiw. After a year this fork is still working great. I have been Abusing it Plenty also, Havent had anything break on it yet and i am still Banging it offrocks pretty Much on every trail i hit. Deos well Even for my size and Stiff as crap specially for a single crown
Weaknesses:
The Axle, Spend 15 Bucks and get a Solid axle, The Brake mounts, Make sure you either get a Really thick Brake caliper stand or long Bolts if using spacers
Similar Products Used:
Psylo sl and xc Marz mxr 888 Boxxer team Manitou slider dorado All the fun ones
Bike Setup:
Khs FR 1500 with nothing left original Everything upgraded in oneway or another
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line this is an Excellent fork for anyone who like to earn there ride down. Locking in the down Position is really nice. this year i Was racing at Southridge CA, this setup worked really Well there seeing how much pedalling there was. Even though it is Only 6 Inches of Travel you get Quite a bit of Control out of it. Remember this is a taller single crown fork. Only thing i Didnt like was the QR axle. Get yourself a solid axle for it there cheap and most any bikeshop can get them for you kinda stiffen's up the ride for you. This year they replaced the z150 with the z1 fr 150 and changed the Axle style.... Its really still the same fork with some better upgrades(Straight from Marzocchi) anyways Dont put this fork down just for being a single crown... it can defently handle the abuse
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ezweave
a Downhiller
from Colorado Date Reviewed: July 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$700.00
Strengths:
It was smooth and a step up from my DJ2 QR20.
Weaknesses:
ETA isn't really that useful as it does not go all the way down. QR20s broke at the BMX track. The fork had maybe 200 hours on it. Weak.
Similar Products Used:
DJ2 QR20, BoXXer
Bike Setup:
2004 X3, e13 SRS, rear der only, primo end caps, lock ons, Z-150, single tracks, hayes 8", etc.
Bottom Line:
Well I posted this because I am not the most hardcore rider out there. I did some 4x style DJ with it, I rode all the north shore stuff at Keystone, I hit the pipeline, etc. It never saw urban or super flat landings and the biggest drop I did was head height (6') to down hill (smooth). I rode it as it was intended according to the manual and it broke. The bolt holding the QR20 bottom lever in place just sheared off and the part of the fork that held the pin broke right off (the body). The QR20 system is weak. This is the second fork I have had with it and the first one that died. A regular 20 mm axle is alot better.
I am trying to get this thing warrantied right now, so we will see how cool Marzocchi is. Worst case, I would hope to get a huge discount on a replacement. If not I am really saddened and will haggle the price with a dealer for a new one. I'd say I'd go with Manitou, but I am not sure I like their forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ads
a Weekend Warrior
from Qld, Australia Date Reviewed: July 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
one with dirt on it
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Smooth marzocchi style movement ETA QR20+ Air preload
Weaknesses:
No external rebound adjust on OEM model (drop-off). The black TI-nitride coating is starting to wear off.
Similar Products Used:
Marz MXR, Z1
Bike Setup:
Craftworks FRM125
Bottom Line:
Very nice fork. I was a bit hesitant about a single crown 6" fork when I got my bike. These forks were fairly new when I got them so didn't know what to expect really. No major flex noticable when cornering hard or hitting rough stuff. Tracks the ground well over rock gardens. The QR20+ is easy to use and a nice feature when you need to transport your bike in the back of a car. The ETA is great when you remember to use it (can honestly say I have only used it 6-8 times). The black coating is starting to show signs of wear just above the lefthand seal after over a years used. Overall, another great product from marzocchi.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Downhiller
from San Rafael, CA Date Reviewed: July 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Karpiel at Northstar
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Stock on Bike
Strengths:
This Review is for the Z-150 Drop Off that came stock on my bike: The fork is mega plushy, super, super stiff. Has a great axle system for 20mm, ETA is awesome, and has stiction free dampning.
Weaknesses:
None that I know of.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla R, Dirt Jumper 3, Boxxer, Sherman Breakout, Z150 FR (Not Drop off)
Bike Setup:
67 with a Z150 Drop Off, WTB Rims, Hayes 9's, e13 DRS, Holzfeller, Easton Stem and Bars
Bottom Line:
The Z150 is the perfect freerider fork in my eye. While the 66RC and the Sherman Breakout+ both have more travel, and burliness, when it comes time to ride uphill, the ETA on the Z150's will eat out those. I have the Z150 Drop Off and it has the SSVF dampning. Although I hear HCSV is better, I really love my SSVF. It feels very, very plush throught the entire travel, stiction free, doesn't feel sticky at all, and provides a great downhill feeling.
When I rode it at Northstar, it did everything I thought it would do. My wrists were sore, but so were the ones of the guys with the Fox DH40's. It held its own ground, giving me a nice plush ride, stiff, and precise.
Whats also awesome is that its practical. The ETA will assist you on the climbs. You wont have a monster ride like the 66RC with its enormous axle to crown height. The QR20 axle is very convenient. Just flip the levers, take out the caps, slide out the axle, and toss it in the car. I haven't found a easier axle system (Maybe Maxle).
All in all, a practical fork for a lot of different things. The Z150 is the best do-it-all fork I have ridden. ETA, Super Plush, and a nice axle system provides for a practical fork. Stiction free travel, 32MM stanchions, Plush travel and a 20mm axel top off its reign on Downhill. 5 Hot Chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shaun
a Downhiller
from Coventry, England Date Reviewed: May 20, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Strengths:
Strength- I have come from Z1 drop offs to these forks, and they are a world apart in terms of stifness, maybe due to the QR20, but they do track very very well.
Weaknesses:
Nitrite coating has worn off at bottom of both stanchions(about an inch), to reveal silver underneath. Paint isn't the best- there is a lot of wear under the brace. Very heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Loads of marzocchis owned(7), and twice as many different ones rode.
Bike Setup:
Patriot, Hope mono m4's and bulb hubs on D321's, Raceface etc.
Bottom Line:
Small bump sensitivity is amazing, these forks are very very good at xc duties, especially with that ETA, but release it, and they come into a world of their own- i cannot bottom these forks- even with all if the air out of them, they really do load up nice and progressively.
On downhills, the front end is very stable, and with that stifness from the QR20, you can be sure that they will go where you point.
I just wish my stanchions hadn't worn through the Nitrite coating to show the silver underneath, because it is a minor dissapointment in an otherwise very good fork. Just one thing though- they are very heavy- I have seen a few triple clamp forks with the same amount of travel, but weighing a lb or two less.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
peter Disbury
a Weekend Warrior
from Walnut Creek, CA, USA Date Reviewed: April 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
mach 5
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
super stiff with the 20mm axle, decent adjustability with the preload on the right leg, handles bumps and things with aplomb and feels awesome on the fast descents.
Weaknesses:
Heavy and a little life less.
Similar Products Used:
Z1 FR SL 130mm w/doppio air and ECC.
Bike Setup:
Weyless 67 FR bike with Swinger 4way coil shock, WTB DH hubs on WTB Dual Duty rims, Kenda 2.3 Kinetics, Thomson front and rear, Chris King headset, Sram and Shimano drivetrain, Holzfeller crankset, Azonic pedals and Answer pro taper bar. Hayes 8" discs front and rear.
Bottom Line:
Fun bike for the buck and although the fork is fun too me brudder and I are looking at changing the fork for either a Pike Team w/u-turn 95mm to 140mm or another Marzocchi but the Allmountain 1 130-150mm with all the bells and whistles. Although the AM 1 does not have the 20mm axle it will be a fantastic all day epic fork with awesome adjustablity and weighs in at a scant 5lbs apposed to 7.2lbs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dbohnsai
a Downhiller
from Chilli, Oh Date Reviewed: March 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Great Seal State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
This is for the Z-150 Drop Off. Pretty light for the travel
Weaknesses:
stearer tube didn't seem quite tight enough on the headset race. Decals kinda lame for the OEM forks but not really a weakness. Cap oil seal extremely easy to break when adjusting rebound.
Similar Products Used:
DJ3 (awsome but heavy), Super T Pro (excellent), MZ Comp (totally junk), some old rock shox
Bike Setup:
tricked out Haro X1
Bottom Line:
This is by far the best fork I've ever riden. Buttery smooth stiction free 6 inches of travel. Love the QR20 axle. This is a great FR fork no doubt. I only wish the rebound adjustment was on the outside instead of inside the stancion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Casey
a Weekend Warrior
from Thames, NEW ZEALAND Date Reviewed: January 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
oripi
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
cycle xpress
Strengths:
Sweet suspension ( compresion and rebound ) also the strenght of the fore and aft movement was highly impressive
Weaknesses:
lateral rigidity. when cornering hard i could notice movement. Bent the crown yesterday whilst falling off doing a 4 meter table top jump. Steerer tube is straight as, so are the stantions, only the crown bent side ways. WARRANTY ????
Bike Setup:
Keewee progressor ( hard tail )
Bottom Line:
Stiffer crown lateraly and these forks would still be on my bike and recomended to other riders.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, OH, U.S.A. Date Reviewed: January 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
ALL
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
150mm of Travel, ETA, Rebound, Extremly stiff, Buttery smooth, Good Looks, Tough.
Weaknesses:
Lizard skins don't stay on perfectly, the 20mm is a pain it the neck, and heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Psylo Race, Sl, Blacks, Boxxer pro, Z5's.
Bike Setup:
Kona Stinky, Avid discs, XT derailers, Kooka crank, heim bach and guide, Pro Taper bar, FSA stem, XT lace to F519,
Bottom Line:
Awesome fork best I have ever used for free riding and down hilling its stiff and soft, The control I get with this fork is unbelieveable. I had so wanted to get a 6" single crown for the longest time but it wasn't available then marzocchi did this, this is the best single crown freeride fork in the world.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Calen
a Weekend Warrior
from San Anselmo Date Reviewed: December 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
downieville downhill
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Strengths:
very stiff. pretty low-doesn't chopper the bike out like a junior t would. excellent progressive rate- plush at first, then medium, then stiff as fcuk to take big hits. eta truly makes this fork: i'll never get a 66 because you can't lower it. eta makes this fork very practical for me even tho i climb to earn the dh. rebound adjust is very effective and has a broad range of adjustment. floats really well at high speed. paint takes scratches well; doesn't scratch too easily, and when it does the color hides it. looks really, really pimp.
Weaknesses:
kinda heavy- aww boo-hoo. can feel over-damped if you aren't riding fast enough.
Similar Products Used:
older marz z-1
Bike Setup:
Transition Dirtbag, burled out.
Bottom Line:
Awesome fork for all-around trail/stunt duty. this fork loves baby heads and roots and drops - the HSCV provides impressive progression and confidence-inspiring bottoming resistance. A BIG tip: this fork likes to be ridden very, very fast. the low-speed compression is cranked up, making low-mid speed rocks and roots feel harsh. you might think that the fork would be uncontrollable over high speed gnarl because of this, but just the opposite- this baby comes alive at speed and floats over anything under 8 inches high. let go of the brakes and the z150 will get you to the bottom smooth as buttah.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from North Vancouver, BC Date Reviewed: December 21, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Ned's
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Cove Bike Shop
Strengths:
First thing I noticed is how stiff the fork is. You go where you point, like a DC fork, making steering precise. Soaks up hits very well. Typical plushness of a high-end Marz fork. Rebound adjustment allows for a large variation in tuning.
Weaknesses:
Nothing major. It's a heavier SC fork, but hey, it's not an XC fork, and I had zero problems adjusting to the weight.
Similar Products Used:
Marz Dropoff Comp, Marz Super T, Marz Junior T2
Bike Setup:
Kona Coiler
Bottom Line:
So far I'm pretty impressed with this fork. Complements the Coiler perfectly. I can ride the bike for technical XC with little difficulty. On technical downhill type runs, I have no worries about the strength of the fork. Stiffness adds to ability to carve the corners. The fork is plush on impacts/hits/bumps, yet doesn't bottom rolling larger stuff; it's like an SPV system that works.
I don't understand the problems with the QR20. Make sure you put the flap on the correct way, adjust the tension correctly, and cinch the flap. Never had a problem with this or my Super T.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Reymond Singson
a Weekend Warrior
from manila, philippines Date Reviewed: December 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Any pointing down
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$420.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great Tracking almost as stiff as an 03 Super T without the weight penalty; sensitive to stutter bumps; Damping responsive, but resists bottoming quite well NITRIDE COATING
Weaknesses:
Poor Finish - scratches easily; have hard time locking down the ETA, a first for a z-single crown I used. Air preload a hassle.
Similar Products Used:
03 Z1; Z1SL; Jr T Pro; Super T; Rockshox psylos
Bike Setup:
2002 RMB switch with Vanilla RC shock, Z150, RF kit diabolus kit, Shimano XT drivetrain and Hayes Mags. Occasional MRP minime :)
Bottom Line:
This is a good fork from a functional point of view. Am happy with the performance on the trail and the stiffness. It feels like a dual crown, but makes tight turns a cinch. Am just a bit chuffed from the failure of the ETA cartridge from locking down. I used other Z1's and its the first time it happened. As usual Marz tech support a weak point. hope they improve soon. The Black on silver finish scratches really easily - it will make the fork look old quite fast.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Elliot Ward
a Weekend Warrior
from B.C. Canada Date Reviewed: October 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
platnum (woodlot)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$512.00
Purchased At:
Life Cycles (abbitsford)
Strengths:
This fork is wicked awsome! it is so smooth, i know for a fact that the nitrate coating totaly helps and it looks kool too! the fork is extreamly responsive and stiff (i'v got the QR20) you cant bottom this thing! iv done 5 to flat with no prob. The lock out is extreamly effective and helps on the climbs up and when at the top all you do is twist the nob and go! its awsome.
Weaknesses:
i dont belive this fork has any weaknesses, extreamly strong, extreamly plush...
Similar Products Used:
rockshox judy tt, manitou slider and plus, rockshox phsylo and a bunch more...
Bike Setup:
specialized hardrock pro disk with truvativ crankset,shimano deore 6 inch, mavic d321 rims and ovcorse the best freeride fork in the world! (at this time) the MARZOCCHI Z150 FR
Bottom Line:
the bottom line is, this is the ultimate freeride fork, not only that, the manitou freeride forks such as the breakout and breakout plus are the "one point five" ster tubes so when looking for your new fork you know wher to go
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike "frorider"
a Downhiller
from TN Date Reviewed: October 18, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Windrock ,Brads ,Bigfoot.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
MTBR
Strengths:
followup post!
Bike Setup:
190# rider.yellow spring on RH /Red short on LH.2004
Bottom Line:
Checked oil level & was low about 1" on each side.Added oil to make it 2" low ea. side.Noticed a difference doing that just in the driveway.Probably try about 2 psi air ea. side & im ready to rock -i mean Drop!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike"Frorider"Seymour
a Downhiller
from Kodak,Tennessee Date Reviewed: October 17, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Windrock+ Brad's & Bigfoot.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
MTBR
Strengths:
Marzocchi quality.This initial review is for a 2004 with QR20.
Weaknesses:
None that i can see, & i just did two SOLID 8' drops on it on first outing!
Similar Products Used:
Monster-T/SHIVER/Monster-T/X-vert dc/Z.1 qr20.
Bike Setup:
04 Bullet / 24" Trailpimp rear wheel,etc........
Bottom Line:
Need to check on the air pressure & spring rate.Feels totally owesome.I did a couple Big drops measuring a good 8' & it bottomed-It worked great.I wouldbn't expect it to be setup perfect for drops like that when i just got it & don't even know the air pressure & oil level.But once i check it i believe this fork is just great ! Freeride forever.................
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gomez
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Cadon Bank-Innerleithen
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Royles
Strengths:
6" Travel ETA Adjustable Air pre-load
Weaknesses:
Internals Reliability Windwave Customer Care Price
Bike Setup:
Patriot + 2 wheels
Bottom Line:
Fork returned to Windwave twice within 4 weeks after only 6 weeks of ownership (4 rides)with non-existent customer service. Thankfully Royles understand what the term means. Recommended dealer. Marzocchi should review their distributors or at least audit them!
Now 3 months fault free and riding as it should have always been. Plush. The reviews are true but the hype is not.
I probably bought a turkey so I won't recommend the fork. Read the other reviews and make your own mind up, or just wait for the 2005 range.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dirty
a Downhiller
from Yucaipa Date Reviewed: September 11, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Any that can hurt you more than you want
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Marzocchi direct
Strengths:
Looks awesome Very strong fits my 2.7 tire Smooth as Butter the air preload at 4 psi is perfect for me at 240lbs
Weaknesses:
looks awesome the rebound adjuster could ahve been designed a little better would prefer if it clicked instead of just freeturned
Similar Products Used:
marzocchi exr psylo sl psylo xc
Bike Setup:
khs fr1500 8" avid mech brakes front and rear double wide wheelset 24" rear 26" front z150 fr in front of coarse race face cranks egg beater Mallot cranks All xt drivetrain
Bottom Line:
Botom line this is the form for freeriders who know the True nature of freeriding. this was designed to take a Hit run the rough and also be able to get you up the Hill lockingo ut in the compressed Position makes this a True freeriders fork i only give this a 4 rating because its kinda costly for a single crown and to answert the question of how i got this from Marzocchi direct...... I work at a Bike shop and ordered it EP
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gal Ben-Haim
a Downhiller
from Ramat Yishai, Israel Date Reviewed: September 1, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
www.universalcycles.com
Strengths:
travel, smoothness, air preload, ETA, marzocchi's quality!
Weaknesses:
none at all
Similar Products Used:
Dirt Jumper II 2004, Super T 2003
Bike Setup:
Haro X3 w/ Z150 FR
Bottom Line:
GREAT fork, I had a DJ 2 before and its a whole new world with the Z150, I actually doubled my speed at rock gardens :) ETA looks great for climbing, I didnt have a chance to test it at a long climb yet. air preload actually works, I run it with 2 PSI and it feels perfect. this fork give so much confidence to do big stuff and it feels just great. I bet it's the best fork I'll have own..
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Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from Saskatoon, SK, Canada Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
strength, adjustablilty, ETA, cool graphics, QR20.
Weaknesses:
It's tough to say weight because if you buy the fork for what it is intended weight really wouldn't be that much of an issue. Price.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
04' Norco Torrent, XT/Saint, Hayes HFX-9 8" Rotors
Bottom Line:
I enjoy this fork a lot, it's for all types of riding. The terrain is pretty flat where I live but it shines on all the dowhills and small bump sensitivity is awesome, and when you want to climb all you have to do is flick the eta, and slam down on it and you are ready to climb with the best of them.
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Submitted by
Radie Rider
a Weekend Warrior
from South, TX USA Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Local Shop
Strengths:
Very stiff, adjustability, plush and plenty of travel once properly adjusted. Looks bad #$@.
Weaknesses:
none so far.
Similar Products Used:
03 Rock Shox Psylo, 04 Zocchi Z1 Free Ride, Manitou, Jr. T demo,
Bike Setup:
04 Gemini
Bottom Line:
This fork is perfect for an abusive rider who likes to jump, drop, and aggressive trail ride. This thing climbs well, handles technical stuff well, and allows you to push your bike hard through all sorts of stuff. Very well balanced fork for all kinds of riding. Very impressed so far and will update after more time. If you need any more travel, you should buy a duel crown or wait for the new models. If you want a great fork now, buy this fork.
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Submitted by
Marc Armstrong
a Weekend Warrior
from Munich Date Reviewed: August 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
601 Lago di Garda
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
bikemailorfer
Strengths:
Very stiff and solid (steel!) Long durability Very good progression (Air Adjust!) ETA, best system for Uphill
Weaknesses:
No external compression adjustment Rebound knob spins free weight
Submitted by
david
a Weekend Warrior
from pinole Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Strengths:
The price was right, 6 inches of travel & single crown.
Weaknesses:
Rebound knob spins free, seal swell fork oil, customer support er excuse me extream lack of customer support, US customer support has no knowledge of product, European support dos'nt give a damn about customers, guess what?? not available next year, o what a releaf.
Buy Manitou their customer support is the best, the fork is stiction free & smoothh. Marzocchi claims to be buttery smooth ay, not bad but not as buttery as Manitou. Marzocchi seams to be living on a awsome rider name list from my dealings. I can read great reviews about there product but my experiance is/was not good, going back to Manitou they have a 110 - 150 travel fork thank you for comming through Manitou. Would like to give the overall rating -1 flamin chillis for customer support damn meant lack of.
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Submitted by
Robin
a Downhiller
from Whistler, B.C. Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Schleyer
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
dropnzone
Strengths:
Travel, Stiff, Single Crown.
Weaknesses:
QR-20, Marzocchi does not ship with enough oil.
Similar Products Used:
Jr. T
Bike Setup:
Evil Imperial, 40 lbs.
Bottom Line:
I weigh 150 lbs and was constantly bottoming the fork out on 3 ft. drops.
Pressuring the fork with air was useless.
Tech support and the dealer told me the oil level should be 2"-2.5" below the top of the fork with it completly compressed. Look on the website and it claims your oil level should be 170-175cc, well that amount overflows the fork!!! I figured out that with 140cc the level exactly 2.5" from the top. What was the fork shipped with?? When I had originally poured out the oil there was only 100cc!!! Marzocchi-how much does an extra 40cc of 7.5 wt. cost per leg you when your customers are paying $600+ for this fork???
NOW that I have the correct levels things are good and I a set to go. When buying a top quality product I expect it to be right out of the box.
4 flaming night after mexican turds across the board for poor set-up out of the box.
Marzocchi better shape up, looks like Fox has some nice kit coming out pretty soon, I bet they will ship with proper oil amounts!!
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Submitted by
Brett Slewfoot
a Weekend Warrior
from Belpre OH Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
snowshoe
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
universal cycle
Strengths:
travel, stiff, lock down, and did i say travel
Weaknesses:
lots of lbs in this thing who the hell cares though qr20 does seem a little werd
Similar Products Used:
dirt jump1and3 z1
Bike Setup:
XL Bullit z150 x9 everthing xt fr sun rino xl 36 4x 39lbs but im 6foot6 255 so what do i care
Bottom Line:
THIS FORK HAS THE BEST FEEL OF ANTHING I HAVE EVER HAD THR DAMPING ROCK THE TRAVEL IS LIKE BUTTER THOUGH THE SPRINGS ARE A LITTE SOFT BUT YOU CAN PUT AIR IN IT TO FIX THAT BUT THEN IT SEEMS TO MAKE IT CHOPPY
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Glen Feurbirn
a Cross Country Rider
from California Date Reviewed: April 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:
behind my house
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$549.00
Purchased At:
Cycle shop in Novato
Strengths:
This fork eats up sketchy downhills. I call it "Ride the line your with" because now I just turn the bike loose on bumpy downhills and let the fork ride whatever line I end up on. My last fork made me find the easiest line possible.
The ETA adjustment is what makes this fork possible. It shuts the fork down to an inch and half lower and eliminates bobbing when going up the steep stuff.
Weaknesses:
Fork bobs like a rabbit when you pedal out of the seat, luckily the ETA switch on the fork tube solves this problem. Just the same if you are racing your buddies you may want to get a handlebar switch on the ETA for fast transitions.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SLR, not really in the same league, more of a crosscountry race fork.
Bike Setup:
Marin Attack Mountain Frame with Avid 8 inch discs. Oversized 19 inch frame for my 6 ft body, gets me over some bigger logs with less effort.
Bottom Line:
My current bike setup is 4 lbs heavier than my last bike, but I enjoy riding it more, even on the uphills because it has proved to be less of an extra burden than I expected. I don't seem to be riding up the hills any slower. The Z150 has made riding downhill a 100% more fun and way faster. My riding buddy, is now the one sucking dust on the downhills. I love this fork.
Oh, and the guy that said he didn't like it because it bottoms out, you gotta wonder, does he know that when you remove the right fork cap you can put more air in the fork and solve that problem? I like to know more about the guy that broke the tabs on the bottom, there's a story there and he's not telling.
Anyway 3 chilis for value cause the fork is way too expensive, but give it 5 for overall because it's the best I've been on so far.
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Submitted by
Geoff
a Weekend Warrior
from Sask, Canada Date Reviewed: April 11, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very plush, noticable better tracking than the Fox it replaced, ETA seems to work well, tunability options seem okay
Weaknesses:
little heavy, but then again so am I at 230+! Wish they'd dump the DQ20 and do a real thru axle, paint doesn't seem too durable
Nice fork, I can easily deal with the weight. What should be noted to anyone in the market is the geometry change over the weight difference, coming from a 5" Vanilla, there's about a 1.5" height difference and it is noticeable. However, the extra weight inspires confidence as the fork is rock solid and actually makes the Fox feel a little flexy when running 10/10ths. Thisis my first real experience with the QR20 and I think it's miserable, go with a real 20mm! The bottom line though is that this thing sucks up everything in a controlled manner, nothing unpredictable about it. If you can live with 6" of travel in a single crown with double crown weight go for it.
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Submitted by
dan
a Downhiller
from alexandria, va, usa Date Reviewed: March 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
prodeal
Strengths:
stiff. plush. ramps up nicely, looks, wieght, ETA!, every thing
Weaknesses:
cannot use a head lock due to the thickness of the head tube, but this just means that it is not going to break. the tire clearance is beter but still not great, when they say 2.8 they mean with not clreance for any thing
Similar Products Used:
boxxer, 2 psylo races (dual air), and demo'd most everything else
Bike Setup:
banshee morphine. setup for fr and dh.
Bottom Line:
this fork is probibly the best fork i have ever owned. it actually replaced a boxxer that i had up front and for my riding style it is a huge improvment. over all i think that it is stiffer. not having that extra inch of travel is not a problem. this is coming from a rider that does 9 ft drops on a hardtail and weights 240 lbs. now that is impressive.
if you like sigle crown forks but like more than 5 inches of travel then get this fork. even though it is a little expensive
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chuan
a Downhiller
from ABQ, NM, USA Date Reviewed: March 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
My work with a super T trade-in
Strengths:
Sweet look, awesome stantions! PlUsHy!!
Weaknesses:
I'd say paint.. but i think my freakin hayes exploded on to it...
Similar Products Used:
Super T., Z3, Black elite
Bike Setup:
Morphine, xt components, evolve cranks, atomlabs laced to marzocchi and a king, hayes rear, xt front.
Bottom Line:
Best fork ever.. takin 12 footers no problem! I love this fork, wouldn't trade it in for anything.. it's lasted longer than me.. just keep the preload high.. and regular maintance. and this will be the sweetest fork you'll ever have.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BIkebrain
a Weekend Warrior
from Corona, CA Date Reviewed: March 18, 2004
Favorite Trail:
JPL etc.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
MTBR Classifieds
Strengths:
Stiff, Stiff, Plush, Great Dampaning system, ETA, Air Adjustments, Looks Great!!
Weaknesses:
A little heavy, but worth the trade off.
Similar Products Used:
Z1, Manitou, RS Judy, Shiver SC
Bike Setup:
Stock AC1 w/Romic
Bottom Line:
I love Marzocchi forks they have always been the most reliable forks that I have owned, and they are easy to mantain. The fork is perfect for those that want more travel, but do not feel the need for a dual crown fork. On my bike it works well with the 6" of rear travel, and inspires confidence through rock gardens and rough corners. The ETA is great for grunting up steep climbs. For my style it is a great all around fork albeit a little heavy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Kadvany
a Downhiller
from Menlo Park, California Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Tyler's House
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Jensonusa.com
Strengths:
Huge + Beefy, very stiff, rebound adjuster works well, air preload is nice, metal adjustment knobs- its a nice fork, aight.
Weaknesses:
Not a true 20mm axle, should bought the new Marzocchi 66 :)
I've only been riding this fork for a couple weeks now and so far it has outpreformed my anticipations. Coming off the boxxer, the z150 seems much stiffer and confidence inspiring. The travel ramps up nicely and is easily adjusted using the air assist. Definitley a great freeride fork in my book. The only thing I am worried about is wear on the new black stanchions- did Marz make a bad call there. I will post a follow-up review later after riding the fork harder. Bottom line is I like this fork alot so far, its great!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daevh
a Weekend Warrior
from Sheffield, UK Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
LBS, actually £450
Strengths:
6" singlecrown with a 1.1/8" steerer! speaks for itself really. very plus, stiff and look great.
Weaknesses:
QR20 thing broke but that was more my fault that anything. premature wear! see below...
Similar Products Used:
alsorts
Bike Setup:
Bullit, Swinger shock, Hope this and that, XTR, Saint...
Bottom Line:
they're great but after 6 months (about 4 months use) the black nitride coating is wearing off the stanchions! not good. its supposed to be a very tough ceramic, about half that of diamond IIRC but its still coming off. thats with good weather riding too, so its not the mud. i've sent pics to the UK importers and they said they would sort out a replacement or get them fixed on warranty which is a good start but i'm wondering if its going to happen all again. may well to. i've seen three other Z150's with EXACTLY the same signs of wear! maybe 6" with a 1.1/8" steerer isn't possible? i'm thinking of buying a Orange Patriot 7+ (with a 1.5" headtube) to replace my Bullit so that i can fit Sherman's and see what they're like. It's a shame they're wearing, Bomber have always been great and totally faultless in the past to me. Still love them though! long live the Bomberhood!
ps/ i wrote a service guide to my Z150's since Marzocchi have stopped publishing them for the end user - http://www.daevh.co.uk/z150-service
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff D.
a Weekend Warrior
from Delta, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: January 17, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came with the bike
Strengths:
very plush, locks down to 2ish inches..able to pump it up and make it stiffer.. not too much flex, nice looking
Weaknesses:
it broke! qr20 tabs broke off the fork after 3 weeks and 3 days of having the bike. i have only hit 4.5 to flat with it so far and already the qr20 is snapped off. seems really weak at the dropouts
Similar Products Used:
other marzocchi forks
Bike Setup:
2004 Norco VPS Six stock
Bottom Line:
i dont know if this is the manufacturer's fault or if this can happen to all the Z150FR's. i really thought this was an awesome fork untill this happened and i do not want it again!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Marksbury
a Weekend Warrior
from Hungry Horse, Mt, U.S.A. Date Reviewed: January 6, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Spencer
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Bike Rite
Strengths:
Tough. Looks sinister. ETA great for all mtn. Buy this fork if you want to huck, downhill and xc.
Weaknesses:
Heavy, but not too concerned. Fork keeps bottoming out. Even on three foot dirt jumps to flat. I am 200 lbs. Anyone with this problem or a solution please help. Other than bottoming out works great!
Bike Setup:
03 Bullitt, 321's, 40 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Great fork. Just need to solve the bottom out problem. Four turds for bottoming out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Benny
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia Date Reviewed: December 20, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Cycle Paths, Tahoe
Strengths:
- Super plush 6 inches - Travel adjuster (ETA) - Setting really work well; rebound and preload - Looks mean - Their really stiff - Handles large drops with ease
Weaknesses:
Somewhat heavy sigle crown at more than 7 pounds; Marz Junior T's are bout the same.
Similar Products Used:
Answers Sherman Breakout Rock Shox Phylo Other Marzocchi forks
Bike Setup:
03 Bullit, Z150's, Sun rims, Race Face etc
Bottom Line:
Awesom performing fork and in less than one month they have saved my sorry ass more than once as landing nose-first is not a problem at all for these.
They are a little heavy so those looking for a lighter alternative take a look at the Z150 FR SL or a Sherman fork which are really nice too.
But overall they are designed for the purpose of huckin and stuff and they are cheaper than the comp and seem to perform better. 5 and 5 me thinks...
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Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairfield, CT Date Reviewed: December 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Indian Ledge
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Stength, Lock-Out, Dual Crown travel in a Single Crown Fork,Buttery Smooth, Looks F-ing Cool, It's a Marzocchi!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Nothing else like it, unless you have one of the 6 frames with a 1.5 headset, then I suppose you could try the Sherman Break-Out
Bike Setup:
03 Heckler, Z-150, King/Intense Mag 30, ITS 2.35 Sticky, King, RaceFace, Hayes 8" w/ Razor Rock, Thompson, WTB Laser DH,XT, XTR, ODI
Bottom Line:
Bike was orginally set up with a Fox 125 RLC. I swapped my Bullit/Jr T for the frame and wanted a little more up travel front 125 vs. 150. Needless to say this fork will take anything you throw at it. Manages to do all the Bullit/ Jr. T did but allows me to get around the trails a lot faster. The ETA is great for hills and allows me to reduce the shock height and balance out the bike geometry. If your looking to take your all mountain bike (5"/6" rear travel)bike and turn it into an ALL MOUNTAIN, ALL HUCK, ALL DROP BIKE, then buy this fork.
$ 649.00
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