Marzocchi Z3 Light 98 Front Shock

4.51/5 (65 Reviews)


Product Description

Marzocchi Z3 Light 98


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Reviews 1 - 15 (65 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by NA1NSXR a Cross Country Rider from Tustin, CA

Date Reviewed: August 30, 2008

Strengths:    Reliability, performance, servicability

Weaknesses:    weight

Bottom Line:   
This is a review for old time's sake, since I am still using the fork. It has held up wonderfully in the last decade. This particular Z3 model offers the same peformance of the then top of the line Z2 XC forks, without the rebound adjustment, so there isn't much to tune on this fork, just set the preload and go. The fork weighs slightly under 4 pounds, which is a bit much for the 80mm travel spec but then again the stanchions and lowers are quite beefy for the era. The performance is really great - its the coil/oil performance that air sprung forks have strived to acheive but didn't until well into the year 2000's. There is also very little to break on these forks...the seals and bushings will inevitably wear with usage, but replacement parts are common even today. I suppose Fox's Vanilla fork offers a similar formula for modern times, but then again the travel of that fork is a bit much for more traditional XC geometries, which is why this fork has been a keeper for me all these years. I strongly suggest this fork and any of the related coil sprung Marzocchi's from this era for any bike that needs a reliable, low maintainence short travel fork. This is a fork that can be bought used with confidence because most reputable shops have serviced many forks of its ilk over the years.

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Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years


Overall Rating:2
Value Rating:2
Submitted by ell reiser a Weekend Warrior from somewhere,in,australia

Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002

Strengths:    look good

Weaknesses:    makes the rider look gay

Bottom Line:   
marzoc r infemous for bustin seals on the first REAL RIDE. Dudes, if you really love your girlfriends this is the perfect bondin gift and you get your self FOX. God Bless Amarica!!!

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Favorite Trail:   everywhere

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $250.00

Purchased At:   somebikeshop

Similar Products Used:   fox

Bike Setup:   R.m, lalala

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Terry Mitchell a Weekend Warrior from Manchester UK Mainland

Date Reviewed: March 14, 2002

Strengths:    very plush, no noise, very hard to bottom as i am a light person, colour options are sensible and dont look daft even if they dont match your bike, head turner.

Weaknesses:    none so far

Bottom Line:   
These forks are the best ive seen and for the monry they are good value, if you want plush head turning suspension, go for marzocchi

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Favorite Trail:   Street

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $100.00

Purchased At:   Ebay

Similar Products Used:   Suntour stock forks, bomber Z4 2001

Bike Setup:   Giant Boulder Aluxx, Alexrims G3000 wheels, Shimano Deore chainset, single chainring trials crank with bashgaurd, DCD chain device, lizardskins, Bomber Z3 Light 98 forks, Azonic Single wall riser bars, 8 Gears.

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Scott a Weekend Warrior from Edmonton, Canada

Date Reviewed: February 11, 2002

Strengths:    Strong, works at -30celcius.

Weaknesses:    Funny rebound

Bottom Line:   
I replaced a manitou spyder r on my schwinn and now I have suspension that works on the little stuff as well as the big stuff. I've been going bigger on this fork in the winter than I was on my Psylo and full suspension bike in the summer! This thing soaks up 4 footers like they wern't even there, anything bigger and it bottoms but still helps. This fork has stood up to numerous 6 footers to flat, some 7 fotters and a 24-30 foot gap to flat! And you can't beet a deal like $30cnd unless you got it for free.

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Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $20.00

Purchased At:   purchased from a riding buddy

Similar Products Used:   Spyder R, Psylo XC, Indy SL, Judy C

Bike Setup:   Schwinn moab for winter/trials/urban/ride to school.

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by J Moh a Cross Country Rider from Knoxville,IA

Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002

Strengths:    Stiff and Smooth. Feels like more than 70 mm of travel

Weaknesses:    Had a hard time getting the top caps out. No disk brake mounts.

Bottom Line:   
My first marzocchi-- nothing else compares. I needed to get firm springs but I weigh a little over 200#. The original springs were bottomed out too easily. Coil-oil is the only way to go if you just want to set it up and ride. I have used elastomer forks, linkage forks, RS judy coil-oil, this fork is the smoothest fork I've ever riden.Thanks to all of you who posted reviews of this fork. You are the reason I bought it. This fork makes my hardtail a lot more fun to ride. I will be a lifelong Marzocchi rider from here on out.

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Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Price Paid:    $199.00

Purchased At:   WWW.

Similar Products Used:   Manitou Mach 5, Noleen Pro Carbon, Judy

Bike Setup:   Schwinn Moab 1 (2000 model)

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Kirk a Weekend Warrior from San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA

Date Reviewed: March 24, 2001

Strengths:    Great Shock! Strong as nails and very plush! Minimal maintenance and Marzocchi quality! I think oil and springs are the best in a shock!

Weaknesses:    None so far!

Bottom Line:   
Great Shock! Strong as nails and very plush! Minimal maintenance and Marzocchi quality! I think oil and springs are the best in a shock! Buy this fork if you can still find it! 5 flamin' chilis!

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Favorite Trail:   San Juan Tail

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Purchased At:   Web

Similar Products Used:   Just Marzocchis!

Bike Setup:   Kona Manomano

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by darren a Racer from pa

Date Reviewed: February 13, 2001

Strengths:    very smooth, easy adjusting, and minimal mantinance required

Weaknesses:    a bit on the heavy side 3.9lbs

Bottom Line:   
easy mantinance and one of the smoothest forks ive ever used

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Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Price Paid:    $250.00

Similar Products Used:   manitou sx

Bike Setup:   specialized stumpjumpet pro xt/xtr

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by mike a Cross Country Rider from N.B Canada

Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000

Strengths:    awsome fork it is a very smooth working fork.its quite stong and resists flex well.it is super sensitive over the smallest bumps and did I say it looks cool too.

Weaknesses:    the only major anoyance was the seals after two weeks of riding the right leg started gushing oil marzocchi replaced the seal.then a few weeks later the other side started leaking.it is also a bit on the hevy side.

Bottom Line:   
totaly awsome fork I have used it for 8 cross contry races and I can say marzocchi makes the best the best forks out there.this is an exelent fork for any serious mountan biker who dosent mind spending a bit of cash

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Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Price Paid:    $300.00

Purchased At:   darlings island

Similar Products Used:   manitou sx/ manitou spyder r/marzocchi z5/z4/rock shox indy xc.

Bike Setup:   a 1998 norco rampage 631 steel frame

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Djonko a Cross Country Rider from Zwolle

Date Reviewed: September 4, 2000

Strengths:    Strong;Good performance in every conditions;No shockboots so you can clean the seals easily;Open bath design; good working preload adjustment

Weaknesses:    70 mm travel

Bottom Line:   
This fork is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! it blows every fork of this planet!
I bought this fork 2 years ago for my Goose. After changing the springs (the red ones for the heavy guys) the performance of this fork was even better!!
Tip: Keep your seals clean!! and give them after every ride a silicondip! and every year a hydraulic oil change.
Then you get the maximum performance out of this fork. 5 flammin peppers!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   2 Years

Price Paid:    $250.00

Similar Products Used:   Rock Shox Indy sl; Judy xc; RST

Bike Setup:   Mongoose Rockadile; Marzocchi Z3 light,XT/LX compenents,Profile Stiffy and Ultra bar,RS Suspension Sweatpost

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Johnny Sprockets a Weekend Warrior from Cali

Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000

Strengths:    These Zoke's are the baddest arses this sport has ever seen. No flex, no stiction, just buttery smooth, and I mean real smooth travel man. It's so smooth I can now honestly say I know how it feels like to be a pimp during the 70's,...y'know what I'm sayin!

Weaknesses:    Lamos and weight weenies judging this product. As if, I say to all of you within these 2 categories: go loose some weight and ride!

Bottom Line:   
When the Italians created the Ferrari I thought nothing could surpass this engineering marvel, I'm so glad that I was wrong! The awsome I-Talians from Marzoochi came up with the Z3 light!

So you hear it's a little heavy and it doesn't come with fork boots... well if I remember correctly a Ferrari can only seat 2 (1 comfortably) and it's still one of the most sought after automobiles in the world! Right, go figure.

Bottomline, go get a Marzoochi. Learn how to speak Italian and perhaps you will run into an Italian femme fatale that drives a Ferrari. Capicc? Good, now move it along and aim for that drop!

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Favorite Trail:   does it matter

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Similar Products Used:   RS, Manitou's, rigids from back in the day.

Bike Setup:   Kleine Race-XTR-RaceFace-Ringle-CaneCreek-SDG-Panaracer Fire-& lots of drool

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by nathan carlson a Weekend Warrior from asheville, NC usa

Date Reviewed: July 19, 2000

Strengths:    It is a very nice all around fork.
70 mm of travel is right about perfect for a trailbike even though i plan to get a z3qr20.
marzocchi nailed it with the oil bath system.
who gives a butt monkey in a tree about a little extra weight?
it has never bottomed out for me even through some hard landings


Weaknesses:    you so crazy fool

Bottom Line:   
even though you should change the oil every six months this fork is great.
anyway, i like to work on my bike
for all those who don't like marzocchi you must be sniffing manure.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   tsali

Duration Product Used:   2 Years

Similar Products Used:   marzocchi xc51
indy xc (go ahead and throw this one in the trash can)


Bike Setup:   fsa stuff xt lx kona kiluaeauaea frame

Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Evan from New Zealand

Date Reviewed: May 14, 2000

Strengths:    Look good - nice colour (blue) and smooth finish
tracks as well as my Cr-Mo fork and less flex


Weaknesses:    Oilseals blew on 2nd ride

Bottom Line:   
They cost as much as my bike, and the oil seals blew on the second ride. They give me control, but don't really make the smaller bumps any smoother - are they supposed to? Anyway, - 3 flaming turkeys.

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Favorite Trail:   Vic Park

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Similar Products Used:   none

Bike Setup:   97 CrMo Diamondback Topanga, Alivio drietrain except for STX rder; STX shifters, LX BB, Deore brakes, Avid levers, Ritchey SPDs

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by matt a Cross Country Rider from tecumseh, ontario, canada

Date Reviewed: April 23, 2000

Strengths:    good amount of travel, light, looks great

Weaknesses:    a lot of oil build up, no disc tabs

Bottom Line:   
I give this 4 flamin' chilis because it is a sweet fork but I want to put disc brakes on my bike but the freakin fork has no tabs, and I do not have the money for a new fork. oh well, thats life.

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Favorite Trail:   Brunette Park

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Similar Products Used:   z4 alloy

Bike Setup:   kona manomano

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by sam b a Cross Country Rider from australia

Date Reviewed: April 10, 2000

Strengths:    light weight,strong as hell and they will take a trashing and i ride them real hard every day (they just lov big drop off's)

Weaknesses:    i dont like the colour not enough travel (70mm)

Bottom Line:   
i love them they are real cool and smooth and dont take much looking after

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Favorite Trail:   any

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Similar Products Used:   rst mozo pros

Bike Setup:   Kona manoman

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Matt Fox a Cross Country Rider from Wakefield, England

Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000

Strengths:    Plush, Good damping, and effective preload adjusters. They look damn gud, especially in silver.

Weaknesses:    After a year without servicing they eventually start to choke and the seals have gone, my ignorance not to service them really. Oil collects some nasty shite. Expensive in this year, the're much cheaper now.

Bottom Line:   
I luv em really, but its gonna cost me 20 quid (about 35 of your American $'s) to get them sorted.

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Favorite Trail:   Grizedale Wood, FOOTPATH, in the lake district

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Similar Products Used:   Girvin Flexistem - Oh yeah baby top class technology!

Bike Setup:   Timberline wiv: XT,LX,FSA,generally a low range bike on steroids

Reviews 1 - 15 (65 Reviews Total) | Next 15

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