Submitted by
Seadog101
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham, UK
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2010
Strengths: Simple, strong, straight forward
Weaknesses: Little adjustability
Bottom Line:
This fork, I kid you not, was fitted to my bike in 2001.
The only thing I have done to them is adjust the air the pressure to get me the right feel.
They have never leaked, squeaked, gurgled or moaned. I've ridden lots on these forks and they have never let me down
At only 83mm of travel you are never going to hit the big stuff with this fork. But if you want a fork that will just keep on running without any fuss or bother, then this is the one. OK they are no longer available, but if you are looking for a fork which you will simply fit and forget, then this is the one.
Compression damping is altered by changing the oil weight, but I've never even changed the oil, as it's fine by me.
Bike Setup: Aliuminium Hardtail (Orange O2), cross country, tracks and trails.
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Submitted by
robmax
a Downhiller
from Dublin, Ireland
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2009
Strengths: Simple, strong FAIRLY supple fork. Pretty much nothing to go wrong in them.
Weaknesses: Dire lack of adjustment ability. All you can do is adjust air pressures and more than likely have oil piss all over you through the shraeder valves while you do so.
Bottom Line:
Prob dirt cheap if you find them anywhere and a pretty solid fork giving 100mm of usable travel just dont expect any miracles. Prior to this era everything was pretty much coil and elastomer so these arent exactly the cutting edge by todays standards
Similar Products Used: Before these it was RST mozo pro 3.5" which were rubbish. Now its Corsa WC's for XC and 66rcv's for DH
Bike Setup: DMR trailstar, lx groupy, either Z1 dropoffs, pikes, or AM's depending on the day. Hope hubs, D21's, enduro 4 discs, DMR finishing kit.
BeOne team replica, XT groupy, Corsa WC 2008 forks, carbon finishing kit.
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Submitted by
Hitman
a Weekend Warrior
from Graham WA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2006
Strengths: [Oil an Coil] Incredibly well built fork. This thing even held itself together, somehow, for months of pretty hardcore riding when I unwittingly removed the brake bosses (for looks). Note: on the model I have the V-brake bosses are supposedly integral to the fork and connect the arch to the legs.
Weaknesses: did I mention that the brake bosses hold this thing togeter
Bottom Line:
These things can take a beating and keep on breathing. I just purchased a "new" 01 Junior T (wanted standard axles)that has yet to arrive but I think I'll keep the Z4 around as a backup or just to swap in and out depending on the trail of the day. This isn't the best fork out there but if you can find one for a reasonable price I'd have to recommend picking one up.
Bike Setup: 03 Rocky Mountain Edge everything upgraded
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Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005
Strengths: Smooth, responsive, durable
Weaknesses: weight?
Bottom Line:
Great fork, I got it in 2001 with my current bike. Great all around, fairly stiff, not too heavy. Had an entire summer doing urban rides. 3-4 foot drops regularly, no sweat. Never had a leak or any other problems. Seems to be the best fork I've ever had, should go strong for another few years. If you find one, check it out.
Submitted by
Adam Fenner
a Weekend Warrior
from Bath / Bristol England
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2004
Strengths: Plush, smooth, adjustable, easy to service.
Weaknesses: Slight flex, or is that my bar's, or maybe my stem..
Bottom Line:
As I have been spending too much recently, I was looking for a middle of the road bargain, so I checked my normal source of bargains, took the risk, and an E-bayer, has realy sorted me out. I usualy prefer a solid bike with no sus, but I thought it might be good for the forest trials, as my front wheel is bouncing from root to root. I pumped these up hard, so they only realy kick in on the bigger bumps, but dont boing all over when pedaling. Love them they look realy good and have proved to be strong and reliable, I will pass on the advice I was given - Get Marziconi's rather than Manitou etc, but if you can save up go for Pace or White Bro's. As Im not looking for 10" downhillers my Z4 / Z1's are perfect for the job.
Strengths: This fork is absolutely great. Its weight is considerably light when aspects such as performance and strength are combined. This fork feels very very light on the trails and in the air. It has the ability to adjust to different types or rides, and its feel on the trails are killer. The ratio of weight to performance is un describable
Weaknesses: None - great product, their older forks perform much better than the newer forks.
Bottom Line:
If u have the chance to try this forks, or even buy them i wouldnt think twice about it. I managed to get a good deal on them, and i'm so glad i made the desicion to buy these forks. If u're looking into buying these forks u're making a right choice, just look at all the reviews that this fork has had and look at how good they are rated. I wish Marzocchi had continued making the Z4 series cuz they are killer forks at a great price, great weight and great performance. I give it 5 chillis for everythin. WHy? Cuz this fork has done wonders, its great and if these forks some how died on me, i'd be looking around to buying another pair.
I actually give this fork 100000 flamin chillis, but it doens't hav ethe option :P
Similar Products Used: Manitau Mars, Manitau x-vert, TRIALED dj1 (heavy, heavy, bad quality much rather go the z5 or z4 series because of its weight and the way it feels)
Bike Setup: Stinky Frame with my own components, the z4's make this bike!!
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Submitted by
Krzysztof K
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003
Strengths: Good progressive action, look cool.
Weaknesses: Keep breaking. Lost all my travel -- bad seals? Rebuilt. Now, oil busts forth from between the brace and the fork legs. Never have these problems with my '01 Judy SL.
Bottom Line:
Maybe I've just got a lemon but everything else being equal I'd go with the Judy SL. I also weigh 200lbs so that may be a contributing factor...
Similar Products Used: Judy SL, XC, TT, Manitou Six. Judy SL is the best fork I've used yet for the freeride/XC mix I put it through.
Bike Setup: Was KHS Alite 3000; changed frame to Rigid One.
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Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC. UT, USA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003
Strengths: Very strong and reliable, light 3.5 lbs
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
For you heavy guys you need an awesome fork, I weigh in at 260 lbs and this fork has no flex and can handle the beating. Of course you need more travel for other than precision turning on XC if you are attacking the drops.
Bike Setup: 2002 Trek 4500, with all new front end
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Submitted by
John Weber
a Racer
from Buckhannon WV USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003
Strengths: Ability to take big and small hits, steering quality amazing, bob under control.
Weaknesses: Weight a bit too much.
Bottom Line:
I was very disappointed to get a 3.8lb fork to replace my 3.2lb mars. However, once i put air in the fork and went for a ride my disappointment was lost. This is probably the best riding fork I have ever been on. It can handle a wide variety of terrain and just pave it for you. The fork is plush and really has BOB under control, no need to worry about locking the fork out, GREAT!! I did not even need to spend time tuning it in. It makes me want this fork on a diet as 3.8lbs is just too heavy for racing by my standards but it can go to 100mm by adding shorter rebound springs. Now if I could only get somewhere that stocks these springs. This fork is for anybody that wants to go off road and tackle some cross country riding or racing for that matter it will take big and small hits better than you would thik.
Favorite Trail: Slatyfork and other ones with dirt
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$179.00
Purchased At: Performance on warranty replacement
Similar Products Used: This replaced a Mars Super, SID, Noleen, Judy, SxR,
Bike Setup: 2003 Sugar 2+ at 24.5lbs all custom set-up for racing and riding.
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Submitted by
Dave Pugh
from Mission, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2003
Strengths: Great Feel, Wide arrange of ajustibility, Looks great and wont break the bank.
Weaknesses: Make sure they're pumped WAY up or they'll bottom out easily
Bottom Line:
Wicked deal if you can pick em up cheap like i did. I upgraded from RST's which i was doing 6 foot drops to flat and im still tweaking the shock little by little so it feels good enough to do big stuff.. Good Confidence Booster!
Weaknesses: Very flexy, the worst is that my disc mount tabs broke off.
Bottom Line:
Besides the tabs braking off the fork worked great, and there was some flex but not enough to notice a lot. Get a DJ 1 or 2 instead if you can afford it, if not get these, Oh Yeah, Marzocchi is slow as hell on warranting their stuff.
Bike Setup: Trek bruiser two(frame cracked cause of the force of the disc brakes, SUCKS ASS!!!!!!)Profile cranks, 26" stock front wheel and a 24 inch sun BFR on the back, avid mech on the back shimano deore hydro up front, Irc Kujo's, snafu pedals
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Submitted by
Kyle Pennell
a Downhiller
from Whatcom, Washington
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Strengths: Plush without being too soft, very good fork.
Weaknesses: uh...the tubes just snapped today, this fork is tough but if you're jumping then hold out for a dirtjumper 2 for a little more price. Unless it's stock
Bottom Line:
Great fork, just not tough enough for a bigtime dirtjumper
THis is a good well built shock. reliable and stiff. i wouldn't recomend it for hardcore xcountry riders but for freeriding and some xcountry it works very well. some air leakage after 4 months but otherwise great.
Similar Products Used: rock shox judy, psylo, and manitous
Bike Setup: 2000 KHS alite 3000
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Submitted by
Brendan
a Downhiller
from Longmeadow
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2002
Strengths: Weight,Smooth,Adjustability,Looks
Weaknesses: Need a Pump
Bottom Line:
Good all around fork for anything you want from downhill to dual slalom to cross country. If you want a nice air fork but don't want to buy SIDs then I would go with the Z-4. The only problem is you need to buy I pump and I'm broke after customizing my bike.