Submitted by
cloggy
a
from welsh marches Date Reviewed: December 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Extremely reliable and durable [the stanchions and seals don't seem to wear and once run in it doesn't lose air] Stiff [2004 105 version] Damper has a widish range of adjustment and the fork seems pretty supple, mind you I've never tried Fox or the Sram designed RockShocks
Weaknesses:
ETA slowly releases whilst climbing and would be much better to have a handlebar adjuster. Crown has corroded a bit, needs polishing
Similar Products Used:
Pace 70mm, durable but a bit whippy, mind you they are still going strong after 10 years. Manitou 200 air forks [utter crap, would go solid after 4 hours riding due to water ingress in the fork]
Bike Setup:
Steel hardtail set for 100mm, previously on hardtail set for 80mm fork at which time I used ETA a lot to stop the front end from wandering whilst climbing
Bottom Line:
I don't use ETA now and I wonder whether the non ETA version was better value, at least for a 100mm corrected frame. There is apparently an MX pro for 2007 but as the price has dropped a good bit I wonder what is inside it, and I wonder what is in the Gran Fondos which seem not be an aftermarket fork I might have to go Magura to get the same durabilty in future as Fox and Rockshock don't appear to be as problem free in our muddy climate
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Maine Date Reviewed: October 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Aggie trails
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
blueskycycle.com
Strengths:
Very smooth and nice progression (ride w/ 25% sag and never bottomed out). Great construction. ETA!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses:
Weight, ETA not remote, can't adjust travel (what do you want for $250???)
I've got the 120mm version. The quality of this fork WAY exceeds the price tag. You've got to maintain perspective - this is not and was never intended to be a XC race fork or a freeride/downhill fork. However, if you are looking for a high-quality, plush, affordable, weekend warrior fork that will make you smile all day long on challenging XC/all-mountain rides with your buds, you can do no better!
I've never bottomed out even though I like to ride it pretty soft (35-40 psi). I'm 170 lbs and my usual rides are 2-4 hrs on rocky, rooty singletrack. 2 foot drops max (though I think it could handle 3-4 feet easily).
The reason I can ride it soft and still be fast on the flats and climbs is the ETA - the BLESSED ETA! What a great feature! Better than a true lock out, a quick flip of the big knob-lever takes the shock down to 30mm travel AND compresses the fork by about 30-40%. That means you can really get DOWN to business on the steep, rocky ascents.
My only gripes are weight (the 120mm tips the scale at a bit over 4 lbs) and no remote for the ETA (will someone PLEASE develop an aftermarket solution for this!). But I cannot let these minor things tarnish this great product's perfect 5.0 score. It deserves every chili it gets.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Wyoming Date Reviewed: September 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Plush, stiff, ETA works great, seems bottomless, V-brake compatible.
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy. Who cares about that, though.
Similar Products Used:
1997 Rock Shox Judy LT. Complete rubbish. Lots of older forks.
Bike Setup:
1997 GT LTS-1
Bottom Line:
Recently got back into riding. The Judy just wasn't cutting it. Bolted this on, and BAM, new bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Monument, CO Date Reviewed: June 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Palmer Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$235.00
Purchased At:
downshiftcycles.com
Strengths:
air and oil
Weaknesses:
plastic rebound knob fell off somewhere along the line.
Similar Products Used:
03 Marzocchi mx comp, Manitou Axel
Bike Setup:
Jekyll, 185 juicy 7's, wtb wheels/ hubs,
Bottom Line:
I have the 120 fork, and it rocks! I haven't had any problems with this fork. I love how plush it is. I'm 6'2' 240lb and it takes everything my big bod throws at it. It is a great fork for the price. I will put this fork against any fork, maybe not for weight weenies or hucksters but for the average rider this is awesome. I like the long travel and the percision on cornering.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
H-Bomb
a Weekend Warrior
from Warner Robins , GA Date Reviewed: June 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Chiva Falls, Tucson AZ
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$290.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Stiffness, ease of setup, good steering response
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
03' Marzocchi MX Pro ETA 105mm
Bike Setup:
ETSX-70 Bonfire 16.5"Frame, Fox RP3 Float pro-pedal,Chris King Headset, Marzocchi MX Pro ETA 105mm 03 Hope Pro II Hubs with Mavic XM819 disc UST, Hope Mono M4s, Continetal Vertical Pro UST Tires, Easton EC70 seatpost/handlebars, Shimano XT760 Cranks/cassette, XTR 960 Front Derailleur/952 Rear Derailluer and shifters, WTB Gel Speed V seat
Bottom Line:
While I havent had the opportunity to ride the bike yet,(it is still getting built) I had the 03 MX Pro ETA on my 03 ETSX-30 that I have been riding the heck out of the fork is great on difficult technical terrain from the rocky trails of Arizona, to the hardpack rooty trails out here in GA easy to switch on the ETA for climbing,(just remeber to release it before a technical downhill or it will make it that much more challenging!) and the external rebound adjustment is easy to adjust and set to your needs. The fork was so good I bought a 05 one for the above mentioned bike 120mm and tried it out while I sent the 03in for service,(first time and it was still working great)and found that while the 120mm is just as good and will allow for a little more on the drops and rocks I like the 105mm better for racing and steering control so am putting it on my new bike. The ETA knob on the 05 is better than the lever on the 03 and more durable as well. Marzocchi makes a quality product for a great price while some people like the multiple adjustments that you can get from a $600 Fox, if you like a simple uncomplicated fork that does just as good - buy Marzocchi
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Palmer
a Weekend Warrior
from California Date Reviewed: June 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Pacific Grove
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Cheap,light, FITS V-BRAKES!!
Weaknesses:
very lose unless you fill it to recomended PSI
Similar Products Used:
Crappy Insyinc, it sucked
Bike Setup:
Trek 4100, Back Trails tires, Easton handle bars.
Bottom Line:
after 3 years on the crappy insyinc grind 320's that came on the Trek stock, i got sick opf hearing bang bang after a simple wheelie or 3 foot drop. So i started looking for new forks. after abut a week i found these on price point. I ordered these and they arrived 2 days later. I quickly took my bike and the forks to CycleSport. For 20 bucks they put them on for me. When i used them for the first time they were a little lose, it turned out that the PSI wasn't high enough so they were to lose. I pumped them up and they were perfect. they take 4 foot drops like magic and i have never bottomed out. GET THESE FORKS!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Jackson
a Cross Country Rider
from Cedar Park,Tx Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
marzocchi direct
Strengths:
stiff,still, kicks ass,plush able to deal with it.
Weaknesses:
slightly heavy(for a reason)
Similar Products Used:
marzocchi z.2 super(miss it greatly)other lesser forks
Bike Setup:
stated in previous
Bottom Line:
Update, this fork I've had it for a year, and hav'nt serviced it yet, the only thing wrong is that the rebound knob came off and got lost during a ride.bottom line I can't get dissapointed at this fork at all! I've decided to put this same fork on my wife's bike since her fork is starting to give up(manitou splice eeeeeewwwwww)the fork is tunable, reliable, plush, stiff tracks well,and can be pushed harder than I can dish out.This fork is one of the many reasons Marzocchi has it's reputation .And I will be back on the bike soon as I recover from a car wreck to pound it some more.And I think my brother my buy one as soon as he gets the chance (convert),Marzcchi hit the nail on the head agin.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Big Popi
a Cross Country Rider
from Somewhere, MA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
Jensonusa.com
Strengths:
No flex, ETA Rocks! External rebound adjustment, smoooooooooth as buttah!
Weaknesses:
Little hefty, but what do you want for less than $300!
Similar Products Used:
Various Girvin & Noleen linkage forks, Some Rock Shox crap
Bike Setup:
Sure is.
Bottom Line:
For the loot, you can't find a better buy! I got the 105 and it is perfect for the type of riding I do - cross country, some small drops (nothing too insane). If you want a great budget fork, GET ONE!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Rey
a Cross Country Rider
from Provo, UT, USA Date Reviewed: April 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Slickrock
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
It feels pretty soft with plenty of travel but never bottoms out. It was a steal for the money. ETA is awesome. Perfect XC fork.
Weaknesses:
None come to mind. It does what it was intended for VERY well. Obviously you shouldn't be pulling 6 foot drops with it.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Six, Manitou Axel Platinum (crap)
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Tass that I bought 2 months ago. This fork is the first upgrade.
Bottom Line:
This fork is confidence inspiring. I didn't mind the Manitou Axel that came with my bike, but it locked up on me (broke) 3 times in a month under URBAN riding (no drops, jumps, or anything). The LBS was great and rebuilt it twice free of charge and this third time they sent it back to answer. I guess I can use the new Axel that they send me as a back up for when this fork breaks. Oh wait, this fork is not going to break. I am not that hardcore. Buy the fork if you can find it on closeout like I did. it is worth every penny and more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shawn
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT Date Reviewed: April 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The one with some Climbing
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
Its stiff, ETA, air pressure and rebound adjustments - it all you really need.
Weaknesses:
I can't find a new one that is a dedicated 105mm travel version.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z1, Rock Shock Duke XC & Race, Manitou Mars & Skareb
Bike Setup:
Ventana Pantera w/ Float RL, XT Drivetrain, Easton stem/bar/post, Terry Ti saddle, Crossmax Enduro Disc, IRC Serac Tubeless, MX Pro ETA 105mm.
Bottom Line:
The fork has performed without fail for three hard seasons, an endurance race, a road tour and countless miles. I usually have the oil changed and new seals installed once at the begining of every season. It has never bled any air. Basically, I service and set it at the start of the season and don't even think about it until the start of the next season.
The ETA feature is the best thing about this fork and the main reason I bought it. All of the trails where I live go up, up and up before dropping you back down in a fraction of the time it took you to get to the top. The ETA puts the bike and rider into an ideal position to climb. It maximizes your effort, makes you quicker than your buddies who don't have ETA and allows you to snack and rest while you wait for them.
If you are an XC junky this is the fork for you. Yes it weighs more than some of the others out there, but it is all worth it.
I will keep looking for a new(er) one the 105mm or move up to a Marathon. Either way, Marzocchi will adorn the front of my bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cobym
a Cross Country Rider
from San Juan, Philippines Date Reviewed: March 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
what goes up, must come down
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
extreme bikes
Strengths:
plush, stiff, reliable, ETA. Bombproof. I've never bottomed it out.
This review is for the 03 MX Pro ETA 105 mm. This fork is simply bombproof. POint and shoot. I just slapped it on, pumped the air chamber with the recommended pressure for my weight, and took off. Steering is precise and solid. After a short break-in, it was fantastically plush. No squeaks, noises or bottoming out, even on small jumps. Its not a light fork, but I'd rather have a tough and stiff fork than a fragile one. The MX pro is as stiff as they come, and its an xc fork. Its way stiffer than a psylo (supposedly a trail/AM fork) and stiffer than my current Vanilla. And the vanilla squeaks.
The ETA is a great feature when climbing. I miss it already.
The only problem is that I broke it because I overtorqued and snapped the main retaining bolt when I did a DIY oil change. :( Its bombproof, but not idiot proof, I suppose. The cost of the bolt was too high, so I got a new fork instead. The dude I sold the broken fork to said that he machined a new bolt and the fork is working great again.
When my current fork breaks, I'll get another marzocchi. Definitely.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Isaac
a Weekend Warrior
from Bastrop, Texas, USA Date Reviewed: February 8, 2006
Favorite Trail:
rocky hill ranch
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Downshift Cycles.com
Strengths:
of course the name says it all. marzocchi is synonymous with strength and stability, and this fork is no exception. Super stiff and extremely plush and I haven't even finished the break-in period according to marzocchi's website. good looks, good adjustability, and 120mm of travel.
Weaknesses:
none so far, but after I've ridden for 6 months I'll repost with an update. but I don't expect to have any weaknesses then either.
Similar Products Used:
2001 marzocchi fly-light air 80mm, 2001 manitou mars1 100mm
Bike Setup:
DBR X2 frame, race face riser bar 1.5 rise, wtb speed master rear wheel, xt/517 front wheel, race face stem 15 degree rise approx 110mm length, lx hollowcore cranks, stx front derailier, xtr rear, rockshox deluxe rear shock, koski brake lite rim brakes, jagwire cable set, mx pro eta 120mm fork, wtb momentum headset
Bottom Line:
bottom line is get this fork if you want plush long travel, with the choice to stiffen it up since it has air on one side. and if you're gonna get it, get it from Jared at downshiftcycles.com. great customer service and ship fast. this fork has already boosted my confidence about taking moderate drops (ie: 2 foot). it clearly states in various places that the fork is not built for big drops so the guys that complained about the fork giving out after they only dropped a few 5 footers, well pay no attention to them. this fork is THE fork to get if you're on a budget, and most of us are. very stiff, doesn't dive under hard braking, plush, all you gotta do to increase stiffness is add air. one thing i noticed right away was that my geometry was definitely different from the mars1. when i activated the eta it felt more like my old setup with the manitou, good for climbing though, and not much else. peobably won't use it much since i try not to do too much climbing. i had to give it five flamin chili's for overall rating cause marzocchi just has the hot italian style combined with near indestructability. got great value for my money cause i shopped at downshiftcycles.com. i know, i know, shameless plug, but this was the only place i could leave "feedback" for him. get this fork if you enjoy riding with minimal down time for maintenance and adjustments, set it once and you're prete much good to go.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Prescott, Arizona, USA Date Reviewed: October 24, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Looks cool, easy to setup, ETA lockout
Weaknesses:
No bar mounted lockout
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Pilot SL
Bike Setup:
KHS XC504 fame, LX Cranks and derailleurs, Sram grip shift, Marzocchi MX PRO w/ETA, IRD Dual Banger brakes, Sun RHyno Lite wheels and Kendra tires
Bottom Line:
For the price this is a great fork. It is much more predictable than my Rock Shox Pilot and the steering on this bike has improved 100%. I have read many of the other reviews comparing it to a Fox fork and I am sure the Fox is the better fork but for the money and just being a cross country rider I do not believe I would get the benifits out of the Fox. Do not get me wrong I ride hard on rocky trails with steep up hills and down hills and this fork has handled it all without any problems. The ETA works great but I have not had to use it much but still a nice feature. The styling is also nice Marzocchi has the best looking forks. For the price this is a quality fork that will deliver everything it says it will.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA Date Reviewed: October 22, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any dirt
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$269.00
Purchased At:
Superslo
Strengths:
Rigid, incredibly smooth travel, ETA works great
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
Scott Unishock, Rock Shox Mag 20, Manitou 2, Manitou EFC, Manitou SX, Manitou Ti, Manitou Mars1, Manitou Black Elite
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur, XTR, Easton, Kore, Race Face
Bottom Line:
This is the best fork I have ridden. As you can tell from above, I have been a Manitou fan for a long time. After the Scott and Rock Shox, I fell for the smooth travel of the Manitou 2 and became a diehard for Answer. I had the Black mounted on a Santa Cruz Superlight and moved it to my Blur last month. I didn't see what the deal was with the Blur initially, however, this fork is so much smoother than anything I have ridden, I finally could tell how the Blur actually was supposed to feel. I do not feel anything up front which allows the rear shock to work effortlessly. This fork will liven up any bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marc
a Cross Country Rider
from CA Date Reviewed: October 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
This fork is awesome for the money! I got it for 289$ out the door on a special at a LBS for my hardtail. I decided i would give it a chance since the price was awesome and ive heard great things about it. Im mainly an XC rider that doesnt do drops more than 3ft, I weigh in at about 175lbs full gear (3L camelbak, etc. nothing major) and have preloaded it to about 47lbs. So far this fork takes the best of em. The air preload is nice and so is the external rebound adjuster. The fork tracks very well and looks great doing it. The eta lockout on this fork helps a bunch on those steep climbs and makes regular climbs alot easier. This fork takes long continuous ruts with ease and have ridden down some really long downhills filled with rocks and roots and the fork did awesome taking every little bump while maintaing control and balance. Ive got a fox float on my primary XC bike and of course it may offer more adjustability features but for the money the Marzocchi blows it away. This fork hangs with the best of em and sometimes it makes me question why I have the fox (but i still love it). Im not a hardcore XC racer but given if both forks were set up right and used for there intended purpose and were both debadged its hard to imagine one being 300$ cheaper than the other when they both practically feel the same on the trails. Though some may differ If i could do it again and done my research i probably would have bought the Marzocchi instead of the fox and I probably would have had an extra 300$ to spend on other things.
Weaknesses:
None,
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float, Rock Shox Reba and Pike
Bottom Line:
Buy this fork, you wont be dissappointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Goffstown Date Reviewed: April 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Jakes Bike Shop
Strengths:
ETA is awesome, very adjustable, durable, tracks well, and not to much movement when you're slammin' on the pedals.
Weaknesses:
A little expensive
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy, Suntour
Bike Setup:
2005 M80 with Marzocchi MX pro ETA
Bottom Line:
Good fork very adjustable, alot of travel, ETA is good for hills and Endos. If you buy this for your bike, you'll like it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Jackson
a Cross Country Rider
from cedar Park,Tx Date Reviewed: April 15, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
marzocchi direct
Strengths:
tunable,tracks well,stiff,can punish it,takes it like a shoch for cross counrty should.This fork is also my second marccohi the company treats their customers right.
Weaknesses:
a little heavy but it's a marzocchi for the purpose of a great cross country fork.The fork rocks! so far up to this point.So far i've not been disapiontedgreat replacment for my last one,plus the extra trvel is nice 105mm it's a no nonsence fork made for a budget and high end performance.
This shock kicks ass,buy one of these forks and no disapioment nessasary,pound on it as you may but this fork works really well for cross country riding with a touch of all mountain sauce.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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