Submitted by
João Esteves
a Cross Country Rider
from Lisbon Portugal
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2003
Strengths: lightweight
Weaknesses: Generally a bad suspension. it's not adjustable in everything marzocchi says it can be.
Bottom Line:
I have to say, this was my first front suspension bought in 96. It was a light fork, but was not adjustable at all! Bad suspension in general. It started to pump out oil 3 years after i bought it. Lucky of me , it was my opurtunity to finnaly have a decent front suspension.
Submitted by
Shawn Gurney
a Cross Country Rider
from Burnaby B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001
Strengths: Air oil, Best value for the buck when I bought it in '95, adjustable damping, good customer service, weight, cam brake (see below).
Weaknesses: Shraeder air valves, needle valves are easier, recall on crown (my serial number was exempt, but cracked anyways), cam brake.
Bottom Line:
This fork has been great for the last 5 years, it has taken a pounding and still works great.
If you keep up on the maintenance, this fork will perform well.
To the guys who slag this fork, remember, it is a CROSS COUNTRY fork, not some 5 pound freeride monster, if you really thrash on it, it will probably break.
If you want a GOOD xc air/oil fork, buy the XCR, it has the same internals as the 600 series, but is not as expensive.
I am 6', 200 pounds, and yes, I can bottom this fork, if I jump my bike off of the loading dock at work.
If you are large like me, try increasing the oil level by 2-4 mm and running about 40 LB of air pressure.
Also, product suport was very good, they replaced my crown for free even though it was not part of the recall.
Submitted by
Crash Bandicoot
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2000
Strengths: cheap
Weaknesses: Leaky
Bottom Line:
My XCR's came stock on my 95 Nitro. I run x-country on weekends and thought I had a shock that could keep up with an old fart such as myself. Not. They have had the seals replaced 3 times and now the right side dropped all the oil while the bike was in storage. Anyway it's time for a new ride and it won't have 'zocchi brothers suspension. My daughter is old enough to inherit the headaches. I guess if you're strapped for cash you can find them around pretty cheap. I'd rate them for 170lb. riders and down (too flexi).
Submitted by
Mazapekka Niemelä
a Weekend Warrior
from Riihimäki, Finland
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2000
Strengths: The great XCR has a very good adjustability. And it handles big bumps greatly. It can be adjusted to have 60mm travel with R-Tech spring set.
Weaknesses: The slider bars are too close to the wheel. If you don't keep those bars clean, your seals are doomed. My XCR has leaked almost 70% of its oil, because I didn't do proper cleaning. It is not very sensitive with very little bumps.
Bottom Line:
I payed only 50$ of my XCR. It is Worth it. By if you find one, at least just for fun!!!
Bike Setup: Kuwahara Colorado(with no original parts exept seatpost and frame)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Philip Onslow
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh, Scotland
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2000
Strengths: superlight, very plush travel, totally adjustable, excellent backup service
Weaknesses: flexy in all directions, bolts prone to breakage, not suitable for hardcore riding
Bottom Line:
I bought my Kona off a mate and he'd already trashed it, but I was still very impressed with the superb action of the fork. There is quite a lot of stiction, but that makes it a better XC fork - it's less likely to bob when sprinting. Once moving they are well damped. I had steel springs fitted and they are excellent. Damping adjusters didn't seem to have an effect though.
They are very flexy but you get used to it. I have blown the oil seals twice and broken the crown bolts twice, so don't use them for hardcore riding. Also check the brake bridge bolts, they work loose. I weighed them in at 3.3lbs, so they are the "poor" XC rider's dream. Windwave's fork service is amazing, they changed all the seals and broken bolts as well for £30 and I got it back in 3 days. Spring upgrade £18, well worth it.
Strengths: It is a really good value... good preload adjustability if you have the pump
Weaknesses: i never noticed any but for a lack of travel in the year i owned it
Bottom Line:
A good plush fork... stiffen it completly for in town riding, or make it just right for XC, kinda annoying that you need a pump. But it is really good, and now you can get them for 50 bucks used so you cant really go wrong.
Submitted by
Feckrag
a downhiller
from Lancaster England
Date Reviewed: February 12, 1999
Bottom Line:
Frickin 'ell man! I took these babies down Big Bear in USA, and I raced them at Cheddar. No need for BoXXers, just take XCR! Get out your footpump and your away! No need for hydracoils, all ya need is a standard garage air line and pump em up to the max! These little bad boyz almost have as much travel as those gnarly project 2's on the market, and cost less. Why bother with my Santa Cruz Super 8 with Monster T's when I can have my Saracen Raw with trusty XCR's. Move over Rob Warner with your BoXXers, and make way for the feckrag with his XCR's. These bastards will get your down any DH in super quik time. Provided you attach rockets to your pants.
Great fork for the dollar....I've put this fork through alot of pain and it still works great. Have heard stories about blown seals but this has never happened to me. I have the 96 version and its well worth the money and its light to considering other shocks on the market. Would give 5 star but it is a little flexy.Hawk.
Submitted by
Barrie Clarke
a weekend warrior
from Lancashire
Date Reviewed: January 18, 1998
Bottom Line:
I love these forks! They are superb! What more can I say. Better than Hannebrink's anyday! Go out and buy some then pump up a hill! These forks are so good, that I think that they should come stock on every Kona Stab released. Their massive 51mm of travel really rocks the house on a 6 minute downhill. They feel like rigid forks, in fact I think that they are actually rigid!
Submitted by
Brian Cheek
a downhiller
from Corvallis, OR
Date Reviewed: September 3, 1997
Bottom Line:
These forks came stock on my '95 Kona Sex too. I used a pair of xc600s on my hardtail and felt the performance was just fine.I too suffered much crown bolt breakage and eventually went to all stainless steel bolts. The best upgrade is the steel springs from Marzocchi. use these and a small amount of pressure for the big hits, and stop blowing seals and reduce stiction. (a small travel increase may also be present)True they are not the greatest for downhilling, but I can still finish in the top ten in senior sport. I recently broke the crown on a big crash front wheel hit, and with no questions my LBS called Marzocchi and they are replacing it for free. No proof of purchase and I did not even buy the bike from them. No questions whatsoever, no whining, just service. I recommend any marzocchi product to any rider. The older stuff works just fine and is much cheaper than a lot of crappy new stuff. (indys, machs, quadras, etc.)Maybe I biased from my motorcycle background but Marzocchi has been building high quality suspension for a while and I like adjustability.Get the springs, it's more than worth it.
Submitted by
Brian Cheek
a downhiller
from Corvallis, OR
Date Reviewed: September 3, 1997
Bottom Line:
These forks came stock on my '95 Kona Sex too. I used a pair of xc600s on my hardtail and felt the performance was just fine.I too suffered much crown bolt breakage and eventually went to all stainless steel bolts. The best upgrade is the steel springs from Marzocchi. use these and a small amount of pressure for the big hits, and stop blowing seals and reduce stiction. (a small travel increase may also be present)True they are not the greatest for downhilling, but I can still finish in the top ten in senior sport. I recently broke the crown on a big crash front wheel hit, and with no questions my LBS called Marzocchi and they are replacing it for free. No proof of purchase and I did not even buy the bike from them. No questions whatsoever, no whining, just service. I recommend any marzocchi product to any rider. The older stuff works just fine and is much cheaper than a lot of crappy new stuff. (indys, machs, quadras, etc.)Maybe I biased from my motorcycle background but Marzocchi has been building high quality suspension for a while and I like adjustability.Get the springs, it's more than worth it.
Submitted by
MR. D
a cross-country rider
from Cornwall Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1997
Bottom Line:
I bought my XCR about a year ago. This is an excellent fork, no question. I was going to buy a Quadra 21r to replace the Quadra 5 catastrophe that came with my bike but my BSG suggested I try the air oil XCR. I was kind of reluctant at first but when he said that if I didn't like it he would switch it for the Rock Shox plus the difference I said what the hell. I never did go back. Fact is, the XCR costs about a third less than the Quadra 21r and outperforms it in the bargain. It's got a pretty plush feel which makes me forgive it's admittedly limited 2 inches of travel. But for X country how much more travel do you really need?I was suprised the fork has held up so well. I am a 200lb. plus rider and consider myself to be fairly agressive. I can't detect any of this flex everyone keeps talking about. I have tried out some other forks on my buddies' bikes, including the Judy SL and I feel they are about the same for rigidity. So I think it's important to say at this point that as far as MTBing goes there is definitely stuff that works and stuff that doesn't. Why pay four or five hundred bucks for a minor increase in performance? Unless you've got Bill Gates' bank account it just doesn't make sense. Ther's been a lot of hype about the new Indys and they are a good fork but they cost more and still have that rubber ball feel which I hate, having put up with it for too long on my Q5. Looking at the manual, servicing looks kind of complex but it's nothing the average joe can't handle. I haven't even serviced it yet and performance is still about as good as when I first got it except for a small amount of stiction. The seals on this fork also work extremely well. I have heard horror stories about blown seals and/or cartridges on other forks but have never encountered that problem with the XCR. Another plus is Marzocchi's 2 year warranty. The only thing I hate on this fork is the stupid cam brake adjuster on the brake arch. What a Martain nutcracker! Would I buy MArzocchi at some point in the future for the dualie I plan to get? Absolutely.
Submitted by
Special Ed
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 1997
Bottom Line:
Great fork for the money (250$ can.). Personally, I've tried some higher priced forks, and the XCR out performed them. The adjustability is great, and it's low maintainance. The cable hanger can be a piss off to adjust, but other than that. I weigh 180# and have had no problems with the rigidity on technical decents.
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