Submitted by
Insane Biker
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2007
Strengths: INDESTRUCTIBLE, chrome crown, never bottoms out, adjustable, V-brake and disc brake compatible!
Weaknesses: Sticker package...none really though, this thing rocks.
Bottom Line:
Anyone that can get their hands on this fork for less than $200 should. I have ridden mine for close to 4 years with zero problems whatsoever. Hell, I was even a dumbass and removed the V-brake boss bolts (they kinda hold the slider tube in place) and rode it for about 2 1/2 years like that without any problems till, one day, I took my bike in for a tuneup and the LBS mechanic asked where the brake boss bolts were...when he found out I had been riding it like that for some time...he was amazed. I did put them back in after that and gave the ole Z.4 a nice oil change and have had about another 1 1/2 years of enjoyment out or her. Bottom line: great fork...especially for the money.
Similar Products Used: Various Marzocchi, Manitou, Rockshox, and Suntour forks.
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher - all mountain/cross country
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Submitted by
Lucas
a Racer
from Germany
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2006
Strengths: precise way of riding, stiff , senitive , long lifetime (5 years)
Weaknesses: -
Bottom Line:
I'm now riding this fork for 5 years,mostly without interruption. I rode it on short races , long races, dry races, wet races, sunny races , rainy races ,all in all nearly about 20.000 kilometers and I really have had NO problems. My fork for the future, .....still!
Similar Products Used: sid xc,manitou mars, sunn obsys dco,
Bike Setup: xtr,xo,kinesis,syncros,fizik,sun,
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Submitted by
Dom Johnson
a Downhiller
from Here
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2003
Strengths: 1. fork gives 80 and 100mm travel, on both adjustments the travel is very very super smooth. 2. some would complain about the weight, but imo the weight is fine considering all the features the fork has 3. forks look madcore, took the stickers off and they look even cooler
Weaknesses: 1. adjusting travel is a lil time consuming but thats about it. what fork doesn't have any probelsm eh?
Bottom Line:
i do a fair bit of dirt jumping and this fork holds up to it. my friend snapped a pair of his z5 130mm travel forks, so i'm glad i have no more than 100mm. great feel when u dj with 80mm. 100mm great for when u're out on the trails.. overall, killer fork - its worth all the money
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi dj3. IMO not that great a fork, great for taking the big hits but not great for small ones. Rock Shox psylos XC. seemed to have a nice feeling but my mates said that they don't feel that great on the trails
Bike Setup: Avanti hotdog, shimano xt disks, deore rear derailer/hubs/cranks, identiti chain device... all i can afford on a students budget, does the job
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Submitted by
TNV
a Cross Country Rider
from Texas
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2003
Strengths: solid, not a manitou
Weaknesses: squishes...sometimes reaches a pitch so it sounds exactly my rubber ducky...i mean, uh, my friend's rubber ducky
Bottom Line:
this was the cheapest decently rated new fork i could find when bringing my fs out of retirement. it's a no frills fork, not much adjustment except take air out put air in, but it performs well for what it is. i say it's getting a bit stiff and sharp on the rebound after 6 months now and will probably go in for a service in a few months, but it got pounded pretty hard. no flex at all. nice finish, sharp, italian made. good investment. dependanble. they say 4 chlis = great, so that's what i give it.
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Oswego, Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2002
Strengths: Smooth, rebound, stiffness dule Air chambers. price
Weaknesses: None yet.
Bottom Line:
I tip the scales at 240lbs and these forks are very good for my weight. not too shoft or bouncy. at 10psi of air I get a plush ride. 25psi is good for all around, And I bump it up to 45-50psi for the bumps with 800 miles on the books they still are preforming sweet no leaking of oil, or air. before the breakin at 200mi. they were very stiff. but now oh how sweet. the price is droping so if you can find them grab them, you wont be disapointed, to bad they stop makking them
Bike Setup: TREK 4500 Sram 9.0 drive, Shifter, Leavers, Z.4
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Submitted by
izzy fizwack
a Downhiller
from uk
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2002
Strengths: this fork is amazing pump it up and its great for the dual scene let the air out and its good an plush. The ssv valves are amazing i love them. i use these for light uk downhill and dual, look great too!
Weaknesses: the are sick!
Bottom Line:
please buy it cost me 130 quid the best thing you can do for i cheap front suspension bike like mine
Excellent fork. For my kind of riding I could use a couple more inches. This fork is tough and durable! Great fork for the weekend warrior. Obviously not a good choice for a serious downhiller.
Bike Setup: Specialized Hardrock Comp, Z.4 80 Airs, Nukeproof DH Bar, Shimano XT everywhere else (mostly)
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Submitted by
Dan Reynolds
from Devon, England
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002
Strengths: Light, easy to fix, soaks up abuse and steers straight
Weaknesses: Dodgy adjusters; no lockout.
Bottom Line:
I got my first Z4 in the winter of 2000, and loved it. About a month later my bike was stolen. When I claimed on the insurance, I decided to upgrade to the 'sport' model with adjustable rebound damping. I was very happy with this feature at first, but I soon realised that after heavy riding, the valve always worked its way open to 'undamped'. After a while, the valve locked up completely, although the forks still worked fine. One time, after a bumpy descent, I was pushing back up when I saw a familiar object on the track: my rebound adjuster. My local shop fixed the problem for very little cost, although a new adjuster knob has still not arrived from Italy. The fork still works fine, but you just don't expect that to happen. The adjuster is in total contrast to the rest of the fork- delicate internals and tacky plastic as opposed to the bullet proof construction of the rest. I would recommend either getting the basic Z4 as a really hardcore fork at a bargain price or going for the new MX model which is lighter and cheaper than my Z4 sport and has lockout or ECC.
Bike Setup: Kona Kilauea, Z4's, Mavic 519's, Deore/Ritchey/DMR/Azonic bits
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Submitted by
kyle
a Downhiller
from Navato ca usa
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2002
Strengths: Thisis a really strong fork. nothing has hapened to it yet and ive done some pretty stupid things with it. It handles the trials nicely and whenever u wanna do some drops with it u can. The biggest drop i did with it was 8 ft of my roof and the seals didnt blow or anything i suprised. Its a aswome fork. i would get if u are weekend rider are just urban assult rider.
Weaknesses: its a aswome fork knowing that it only has 4inchs
Bottom Line:
Awsome frock handles great on the trail and does real well of the big drops.
Strengths: Very strong and reliable design, massive and strong crown, power booster, omentums perfectly work, work of a plug is excellent, perfectly studies all roughnesses, is simple and convenient in adjustment, a wide range of the adjustments, a not killed plug
Weaknesses: weight
Bottom Line:
if you are engaged freeride or fun dounhill, this plug the best choice