Submitted by
daodedick
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2008
Strengths: Smooth ride - after seals were broken in.
Weaknesses: TST finally broke after 2 years of riding (I got the fork in 2006 when they had a sale of their 2005 forks).
Bottom Line:
Not bad, but as you can tell from my frame - I try to buy something that will last. 2 years is a rather short time in my opinion. If you can't design something that will last for 2 years, then the engineers should go back and relook at what works. I don't want to have to service the TST every so often. Oh well, now the fork is in squishy mode forever.
Similar Products Used: Upgraded from an old RS Judy
Bike Setup: 2001 Supergo Access frame, XT/717 wheels
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Powell River, BC ,Canada
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2007
Strengths: Plush and reliable. I put all the settings at the mid-point 2 years ago when I built the bike and have never touched them again until finally just last week I checked the air pressure for the first time as they were getting a little soft but still never bottoming out. This is my 3rd set of Bombers and the best yet. All 3 are still on my bikes and working great, the oldest ones as plush as ever after 10 years or so.
Weaknesses: Nothing, and I DO NOT UNDERSTAND anyone suggesting draining the oil and going all air. So you think you know more than the Marzocchi engineers?
Bottom Line:
You want trouble-free plush forks? Think open oil bath, coil springs and if they insist on adding an air chamber, suffer the air but who needs it. If there is anywhere you should be prepared to add a few ounces of weight it is to get the sweet ride Marzocchi oil/coil springs can give. There is a reason some other forks now offer oil and coil! Trust me, I've suffered through leaky air and exploding "sealed" oil cartridges.
Similar Products Used: RockShox Judy, RockShox SID, Z2 Bombers, Atom Race Bombers
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain ETSX with Fox Float ProPedal shock (plush but yes, they leak), mostly XT, Mavic wheels (what else?), Race Face Deus stem/carbon xc riser bar. Sweet perfection.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2007
Strengths: Plush, adjustable, smooth
Weaknesses: TST cartridge
Bottom Line:
I love this fork when its working, but like John my TST cartridge broke after about 6mos. Sent it in and fixed under warranty. I've now had it for 8 mos and it broke again. This time it'll cost me $40 for a new cartridge. I've not abused it in anyway. Because of these issues, have to only give it 3 chilis. Who wants to be without their bike for a couple of wks every few mos?
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2007
Strengths: Tracks fairly well. Good adjustability. Decent ride quality for $400.
Weaknesses: TST cartridge went out after 6 months. Zoke fixed it for free, but it went out again in 4 months and Zoke billed me $135 for an 'ovalized compression knob'. Not cool. TST is very high maintenance.
Bottom Line:
Avoid this series forks. They went on closeout for a reason. TST is unreliable and expensive to service. I really like the TST system, but the 2005 series does not seem to last.
Submitted by
Tom Dibley
a Weekend Warrior
from New Milton, Hampshire, UK
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2007
Strengths: Adjustability, looks, performance
Weaknesses: Flex, weighty for what it's suposed to be.
Bottom Line:
Great looking and performing fork. However, there is a worryingly large amount of flex when you start to break even lightly. Steering seems precise though, so I just can't give it five flammin' chilli's.
Submitted by
MOFO
a Weekend Warrior
from Missoula Montana
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006
Strengths: I like the TST feature, and the ETA is great too. The Missoula area has lots of climbing and variable terrain. The ETA locks the fork down and you can climb anything.
Weaknesses: none noted, well I guess the air inflation is tricky until you figure it out. Read the manual (duh)
Bottom Line:
This is a great fork. I made the transission from a full suspension to a hardtail because of all the climbing here. I was afraid the hardtail would be harsh, but with this fork it is very plush.
I highly recommend all Marzoochi products, very well thought out and high quality materials.
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain Blizzard (steel hardtail) with XTR, Hayes discs, Race Face bash guard, Mavic XM 321 disc rims, & WTB 2.3 tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
AdamL
a Cross Country Rider
from San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles, CA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2006
Strengths: several. Words cannot describe how a fork truely works
Weaknesses: hard to say, not many... but I guess time will tell(the durability/reliability factor)
Bottom Line:
Sure, you hear alot of raves about Fox Forxs, which they are good(minus the seals problems- possibly fixed by 2007??, but irregardless they are more costly $$$, so if saving a few ounces is super important to you- then maybe you should be considering a Fox ... or a SID- which would be less $$, but the money you save there you might have to invest into another fork to replace the broken SID
The Marathon XC- solid all around fork for any style rider, novice or pro, under any conditions. Highly recommended ;-)
Similar Products Used: 1997 Marzocchi Z-1 ... also very bombproof
Bike Setup: Ti hardtail frame(wont relinquish builder), SRAM components King HS/F-hub, Mavic 517/717 rims, Race-Face Isis Turbine Avid Ultimate/Juicy 5 brakes, Syncros post, etc
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Cookie_Monster
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, ON, CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006
Strengths: TST works great! TAS great for adding 20mm of travel Great once adjusted (took 3 weeks of trying all combinations)
Weaknesses: For weight weenies, it's the heaviest of all the Marathon series forks - try the SL or Race then
Bottom Line:
Great fork for a great price (can't get the 2005 anymore on sale). Plush when you want it too, and even handles the washboard ruts once the rebound and air preload has been set. Had steerer tube replaced by Marzocchi Canada - did it same day it arrived and turn around time total was a paltry 5 DAYS from Toronto!!! Great service!!! GET THE '06 - it's lighter than the '05. Forget about overpriced F*X!!! Viva Italia!!!!
Submitted by
OG Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex, UK
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2006
Strengths: EVERYTHING... ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING... One to mention over the rest... Marzocchi's seals... FLAWLESS... Nothing beats them. FOX, Manitou, RockShox, all leak. Your Marzocchi will NEVER lose air or oil, unless you've done something against thier purpose, even then, I seriosuly doubt you will experience problems. TST works... And it is a dream come true. ETA, another flawless Marzocchi bonus, this thing BENEFITS! Dual Hydro Damping gives a very responsive and very accurate fork. When set-up properly, and broken in... You'll find it hard to get your front wheel off the ground, honestly.
Weaknesses: Break in time. Not the end of the world, but needs more than usual time than most other forks. Took mine a good few weeks to break in properly, maybe becuase I was to delicate with them at first, if I get another Marzocchi fork, (and I WILL), then I will go out and thrash this about pointlessly, it needs it at first I'd say. A little flex in the fork, nothing to worry about, only noticable when going over bumps when Locked Out.
Bottom Line:
Amazing, you won't believe these things... Absolutely takes a rather large dump on FOX, and totaly wipes out RockShox and Manitou.
Strengths: really works! use tst for to select one of 5 positions best suiting for the terrian (including full blocking of the fork) and eta for adjusting the geometry of the bike.
Weaknesses: starts working properly after 100-150 kms
Bike Setup: Specialized, Sumpjumper Full Suspension
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dino
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2005
Strengths: ETA and TST - really nice. Plush ride.
Weaknesses: a bit heavy
Bottom Line:
I bought this fork based on reviews here and elsewhere. Just installed it and took one ride, it was fantastic. Huge upgrade from the stock Judy. I love the features - they really work. Lots of times my ride starts and finishes with 5 miles of road. The ETA just works. And the TST was nice to have in changing terrain. The TAS - I won't use it.
I agree with the other reviewers here, this fork is really plush. I am 200lb and the old Judy fork had too much sag and not enough adjustability. This one really upgraded my ride.
Anyone thinking of saving up for a new frame, my advice is: forget it. Just upgrade your fork and you will get a big return on that investment.
I can't comment on the long term reliability, as I've only got 20 miles on it. But based on the intro ride, this is a nice fork I will keep for a long time.
[I found a great deal on this fork on ebay. ps: I am not affiliated with goodbikedeals.]
Strengths: Stiff, Strong fork that tracks unbelivable. Highly adjustable, plus those adjustments really work, Bomb Proof design, no stupid plastic parts in high stress areas, TST really works and you can feel the diffence, ETA god send on long climbs or steep technical climbs. TAS nice to be able to adjust the height to my frame. Best of all it a Marzocchi, that means durable, superior design, and a great company backing it up!
Weaknesses: A little on the heavy side but I'd rather durable than light weight and breakable! TAS needs to be have air preload drained before adjusting it, not really on the fly here.
Bottom Line:
This is a great XC fork, Durable and well built and thought out. Another winner from Marzocchi again as usual. I'd rather ride a Marzocchi than any other brand. Fox is great and all but who can afford their prices unless you take out a loan on a new fork? I'd like to own one but at $600 to $900 plus who can, unless your sponsered or have money to burn? Marzocchi is a great company and sells their fork at a reasonable price. They make a quality product and the Marathon XC shows it. 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. CL: is great for climbing and riding on paved areas, totally locked out, AM-: is a great setting for for mostly smooth trails with some bumps nothing too nuts, for Fireroads and Jeep Trails it works excellant, AM: this is the mode I keep in the most, basic trail riding with bumps and small downhills very comparable to SPV in this mode, Stay seated and just pedal smooth and the fork performs excellant stand up you better switch to CL or AM-, AM+: Dampner is slightly more open making it great for very technical trails with allot of roots and rocks. able to take a very good hit and still able to soak it up, you must pedal very smooth or you'll over come the threshold and it will bob, DS: This mode makes the fork full open no damping at all, it lets the fork soak up any bump in the way. No pedal platform at all lets it deal with techy decents like it nothing, much better than SPV in this area. ETA setting is great lets you drop you travel down to 30mm and turn off the Rebound, climbing turns into a breeze, great for steep or long climbs. Just make sure you don't forget to open it up before you do anything else. TAS is a little weird you can't adjust on the fly without removing all the air from the preload, not really on the fly like they advertise, I normally keep in 100mm anyway. The rebound really works, better than most fork I've owned, each click really makes a difference, takes a while to set up but once it's dialed in it's dialed! Other than that that's it, not to mention it's got a drop dead sexy look! Anyone who has a trailbike or looking to upgrade to a great fork you should look into this fork. Totally worth it if you can get a great deal! Toatlly adjustable and compleatly reliable, from a great company like Marzocchi. I'll never use another fork company but Marzocchi again! Great Fork!
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Drop off, Jt. T, Shiver DC Rockshox Duke XC, Judy Manitou Minute, Spyder
Bike Setup: Specailized Stumpjumper FSR XC, too many mods to be listed here and do you really want to read the list?
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
rommel fernandez
a Cross Country Rider
from manila, philippines
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2005
Strengths: shiny crown, seals and bushings, stiff controls
Weaknesses: a bit heavy,long time to break in
Bottom Line:
i hav used 2 bomber models since 1999,and i can say that in all the time i have been riding on a marz,none of them leaked oil or leaked air. unlike my fox 100rl wich i have used for a month,oil keeps on sipping out of the stanchion.since marz has a good reputation in building industrial seals and pumps,they did a good job incorporating it in mountain bike suspension, TAS is designed to balance the front and rear shock. its not someting you want to do wile on the trail,so no problem with the setting of TAS. ETA plays a major role wile climbing sudden steep hill,lowering the bikes front end makes it easier to climb. no other fork offers the same function,i dont want to turn knobs for 4 times and chek if i got the right travel setting before a climb,wen all i want is to lower my front end. this is a no non-sense fork designed specially for 24hour racers and endurance racers,TST gives us the choice between a firm,not so, and very plush setting, it works. lockout is best for flat sprinting, 1 turn from lockout gives u a firm compression that still absorbs impacts dats best for uphill climb with some rocks giving you a good control of the bike.full turn towards the extreme end converts the fork from a racer-boy fork to a full pledged trail-fork. its nice to have a fork with all this settings without having to worry about blown seals and wornout elastomers/platic just like what you expect from REBA.
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