Submitted by
Sherpa88
a Weekend Warrior
from Lemont, IL Date Reviewed: November 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Palos Trails
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Light, adjustable, 80mm travel
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
RockShox Indy XC
Bike Setup:
1997 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
2006 Marzocchi Marathon Race
Bontrager Jones XR Tires
Bottom Line:
This is a massive improvement over stock fork which lasted 12 years. I run the air pressures at 80% of max. Seems very solid. Can take 1-2 foot drops without issue. Took a while to break it in. Seems plush while very responsive. Seems to respond well to successive hits on easy downhill rocks and bumps. I do not lose energy while climbing and works very well with the bikes overall geometry. Can't complain for the price.
Bottom Line: If you ride mostly XC with some light technical (no big hits/drops) this is a great lightweight fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Picrylman
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond Date Reviewed: June 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sioux Creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At:
ebay.com
Strengths:
Lite, supple on small hits, looks (pearl white on black)lockout mode
Weaknesses:
Hard to get dialed in a first....fickle after a 100 miles or so...always wants to be fine tuned
This fork is awesome! Once you get it dialed in, it runs like a dream. Aborbes all the crud roots and rocks her in Eastern VA.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kris
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas Date Reviewed: November 27, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Stiff. Great big hit performance. I've never felt faster going downhill. Says it's an 80mm travel fork, but feels much longer. Not once did I bottom it out.
Weaknesses:
Breaks. Sent back to Marzocchi after 3 months of use for broken TST valve. Got another 3 months of use then the TST valve quit working again. Marzocchi claims this is "normal". Too much rake; this makes the bike feel sluggish and slow to respond in the tight & twisties.
Similar Products Used:
SID
Bike Setup:
2001 Specialized Stumpjumper Pro
Bottom Line:
Any product that breaks twice in a year and the manufacturer says that's "normal" is not worth my money. The increased rake of this fork makes it better suited for bombing downhills than the tight & twisties.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Falls Church, VA Date Reviewed: July 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$420.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Light and quick! Once you get it dialed in, it tracks very well and can soak up the big bumps too.
Weaknesses:
Not the stiffest fork out there - you can see the fork vibrate if you look at the quick-release handles while going over rough ground. It's never bothered me, but some like it stiff!
Bike Setup:
'96 Klein Pulse Comp
Bottom Line:
It's a great fork for what it's designed to be - an XC race fork. If you're doing freeride, or love those monster drops, then get something else. If you want something with modest travel that's light and fast, then get this! I'm 185 lbs, and while it does have some flex to it, it's never bothered me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Sunnyvale Date Reviewed: February 20, 2006
Intense, Marzocchi Marathon Race, Hugi 240 custon, King Headset, All Shimano XTR, Race Face Next LP.
Bottom Line:
This fork works well for it's intended purpose. I am glad I swithch out my 2005 Fox F80X - too many issues.
Marzocchi is a great company. The fork is well thought out and the controls are easy to learn. The TST is amazing and you can feel the difference in each mode. Fork is great for climbing and riding on paved or rough areas, a great setting for for mostly smooth trails.
I have been amazed by Marzocchi since 2000. I got the 2000 Atom 80 - one of the best fork ever made to date, and 2002 X-Fly 100.
I have used 2 these 2 bomber models since 2000,and I have not experience any leaked oil or leaked air. Unlike my fox F80x, wich I have used for only 2 month,oil keeps on sipping out of the stanchion. Fox says it's normal for open bath system and would not fix the problem. Good Bye Fox.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ian McGraw
a Cross Country Rider
from Adelaide, Aust Date Reviewed: December 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
the next one
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
Very Smooth travel, excellent durability, highly adjustable, solid tracking and reasonable weight.
Weaknesses:
None really. It could be argued that it is a little heavy compared to other XC forks, but you really have to compare apples with apples. This fork is about 250 grams heavier than my old SID but out performs the SID in every way, and I am therefore happy to trade some weight for performance. In any case, I see that the 2006 version of the Marathon is lighter.
Similar Products Used:
SID, old z1 bomber.
Bike Setup:
NRS aluminium frame built up from scratch - Mars, XT, X0, Thompson/Raceface, Hope Mono mini.
Bottom Line:
I am really happy with this fork. As most reviewers note, the seals are a little tight to start with meaning there is a break in period before the fork reaches its full performance. About 20 hours trail time and it became the plushest and best tracking fork that I have ever used. It is highly adjustable and thefore does take a little bit of time to get your set up perfect (depending on weight and style), however once dialed it really does very well. Holds air without any loss. Lock out is solid.
As far as 80 mm forks go, this fork works great. I weigh 68 kg and have had no bottom out problems (adjustable rising rate means spring can be set to kick in harder at varied points of travel). I do serious XC/Trail riding including some solid descending. If you weigh 75kg plus I would be inclined to go for the longer travel Marathons, even if you only ride xc. For its intended use, however, this fork works great. My only disappointment is that a newer version came out so soon after I bought this one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Obi Juan
a Cross Country Rider
from South Texas Date Reviewed: October 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Urban
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$390.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
-lightest fork marzocchi makes -compression control and lockout
Weaknesses:
-pain to set up -bottom ends of fork legs are open causing flex
Similar Products Used:
Z1-drop off, Judy-xc-air, judy-sl, Axel-comp
Bike Setup:
05 Scale-60 "mostly stock"
Bottom Line:
i got this fork to replace the p.o.s. axel that came on my scale. but after taking a few headers over the bars, i would like... i need 100mm of travel. i was stoked to find this fork cheep... well, cheaper than full retail. but i spent much more than i had to and ended up with the wrong part. i was looking for a light weight xc fork with lockout and that is exactly what i got. i chose a 100% air fork so it would weigh less but having never used an all air fork before, i found it hard to set up to my liking. the travel has a stiff feel that is not as plush as other less expensive forks i've used. and the construction of the fork makes it seem too fragile to ride off-road. marzocchi has made this fork for xc racing and that is all it should be used for... climbing smooth dirt paths. but if you plan to ride trails you should look elsewhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gerry Dupaya
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont, California, USA Date Reviewed: October 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Soquel Demonstration Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$380.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
Lightweight. Great for climbing. Perfect for XC.
Weaknesses:
Expensive. Definitely not for DH. If you must, bring your pump and set the pressure towards the high end of the specs. This should keep the likelyhood of flying over the handlebar to a minimum.
Similar Products Used:
Late 90s Marzocchi xc700 and bomber.
Bike Setup:
Self built 23 lb steel hardtail w/ twist shift and v brakes. Light and simple.
Bottom Line:
This fork is perfect for what it is made for, XC racing. It's ridiculously light and smooth. These are it's strenghts and also it's weeknesses. This fork is too task specific.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from winnipeg, manitoba Date Reviewed: October 11, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Strengths:
light, looks good on my bike, very adjustable, excellent action
Weaknesses:
cheaply made rebound adjuster. expensive.
Similar Products Used:
fox f80r
Bike Setup:
devinci dragonfly
Bottom Line:
I love this fork. my fox fork died, and it took a month to get it back, so I went out and bought this one. the fox is now my backup fork.
nice smooth action. I keep it fairly plush, but never bottom out. super adjustable (you almost need to take a course on how to adjust the thing, there are so many options). Doesn't seem to lose any air between rides. I'm light (155lbs) and haven't noticed much in the way of flex.
Only problem was, on my first ride with this fork, the rebound adjuster (at the bottom of the fork)came right out. It's a metal knob, but it sits in a very cheap plastic housing. I just ditched the knob, and adjust the rebound damping with an allen key.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Lewis & Clark
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Relatively smooth and adjustable X-country racing fork that is weight wise in the ball park for racing.
Weaknesses:
My Marathon Race fork worked well for about a month and then developed a harsh top out action when I lofted the front end. Rebound damping did nothing to relieve this and the TST unit had to be serviced by Marzocchi. I am still waiting to get the fork back. Also there is a noticable amount of flex in the fork similar to the Sids. Also the placement of the TST control on the left leg makes it difficult to activate the lock out during a race.
Similar Products Used:
Sid Team, Reba Team, Rock Shox Duke Race, Fox Rlt.
Bike Setup:
Felt RXC Team with all XTR, Crossmax wheels and a stellar Easton Monkylite SL bar.
Bottom Line:
I am not sure that this particular Marzocchi model is as durable as the rest of the line, but it is lighter. I feel that if you run disc brakes, the Reba is a much better choice and much cheaper. You are paying a premium price for a fragile fork without remote lock-out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Shawano Wi Date Reviewed: January 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
9 mile or guary park
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Perfection squared, i cany beleive how incredible this thing is take my word for it boys, get thsi fork
Weaknesses:
its white
Similar Products Used:
skareb, sid, sid, sid, atom
Bike Setup:
top fuel 110 custom color full carbon black letters, 05 skareb platinum, manitou rear shock, x0 drivetrain, magura mantra sl brakes wiht hope 2 peaice rotors, easton ec90 0 offste post, fsa os-115 stem and os carbon flat bar, fsa carbon team crankwith ac bottom bracket and custom milled rings, wheels ( you gonna like ) chris king red iso hubs-black sapim cxray spokes-red nip nips-and stans olympic rim, chris king headset red
Bottom Line:
get it, if i can get it in black its going to be my next race fork
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$ 699.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
