Marzocchi Drop Off Triple 2005 Front Shocks

4.23/5

(22 Reviews)

Write a review

Weight : 3020 grams

Product Description

Travel: 170mm
Steer Tube: Steel
Open Bath dual SSV System
Dual External Air Preload Adjuster

Review Options: Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Reviews 1 - 15 (22 Reviews Total)

| Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by Stinky Lee a Downhiller from Torbay, Devon, United Kingdom

Date Reviewed: September 21, 2008

Strengths:    Lightweight, Very Inexspensive, Quite Plush

Weaknesses:    Lightweight, Innacesible Internal Rebound Adjustment, Tops-out easy, No modulation of damping

Bottom Line:

Firstly, let me say that this review is judging the forks almost regardless to the price. The value of these forks are unbeatable, and I don't think you will find any better triples at this price. However, that would make a pretty boring review, and would in now way help you guys understand this fork any better. Moving on...

I know I have put 'lightweight' in the Weakness Section, and the Strength Section. That is becuase the weight of these forks will be either a good or a bad thing, depending on you, your style, and what you will use them for.

Let me explain. They are so light, that getting them off the ground in jumps is no problem at all, and you have to push the front of your bike down to compensate for the lightness. They really do just make your bike float on smooth jumps. HOWEVER, when going over rough ground and rock gardens and such, or just doing any Downhill Trail riding fast, they simply rise over the ground rather than compressing, becuase they are too light. This would suit a heavier rider, who could really keep them planted, however it would also require a lot of your weight shifted to the front of the bike, which is not ideal when it comes to steep descents and high speeds. So it really is all down to who you are, and what you will be doing.

The biggest drawback, in my opinion, is the lack of an easily accsessible rebound control. To adjust the rebound, you will need a custom made 30cm long, 12 mm hex/allen key to shove up the arse of the forks. And the factory set rebound is a little on the fast side, sometimes making it feel as if the travel is stopping dead at a certian point and being forced back.

Another downside to these forks is the fact there is no difference in the 'stiffness' or 'resistance' of compression at an inch into the travel, or the full 7 inches. In other words, the high-speed damping that you will want going over little roots and bumps feels the same as the kind of damping you get when you are bottoming out of a huge ladder drop, meaning you either have the forks soft for the trails but will bottom out on drops, or hard for the drops but will feel rough over bumps. There really is no in-between, and no difference between the speed the forks move at one inch of travel, and the speed they move at 7 inches of travel.

To make matters worse, chaning the air pressure seems to affect the forks a little too much, in the sense that one minute they're too soft, and just a few pumps later they're completely solid. A lot of this is becuase of the fact you can't change the rebound, it makes the forks will stiffer as it springs back to position before the forks really get a chance to move.

But being the cheapest triples Marzocchi have ever made, I suppose your wondering whether or not they have the trademark Marzocchi plushness. Well after hours of mindless twiddling and altering all the setting, they do! When you have them set up right for what you are doing, they move with ease, and not 'stick' or move in 'bits' like other budget triples do. You do get the feeling that your forks are top-quality for the pricetag, and you feel safe in the knowledge that you have an affordable top of the range make of fork.

The bottom line is this: If you are getting a bike with these forks on them, and you are looking at big jumps and general freeride, they will suit you more than fine for quite a while, and when you feel its time to upgrade, go grab yourself a pair of new 888's.

If your buying a bike with them on and intend to do downhill, then they will easily survive, but you won't get the best feel ever out of them and it will take a while to get them right, you will want to upgrade to some Boxxers in the not so distant future. But they will suffice until you have that cash.

However if you already have a decent bike, and are looking to upgrade to some triples, stick with your singles for now on, save your money and then splash out on some slightly newer and more advanced forks, ideally 888's for FR, Boxxers for DH.

So in general, if your bike comes with them on, you won't have any problems for the time being, and for the price you can't go wrong. But the second you start getting serious about your riding, you will start to quite desperatly seek a fork a little better.

(Lee Webber)

Marzocchi Drop Off Triple 2005 Front Shocks

Product Description

User Reviews

Related Drop Off Triple Forum Posts

Race Face:

Diamondback: