Strengths: Smooth running fork that has never let me down.
Bottom Line:
This fork has been one of the best bike parts that I have ever bought. It has been transferred from a BR to my current set up, Turner Highline. It has proven itself at Whistler and Blackrock, Oregon on multiple occasions. it's very easy to set up and maintain. This has proven to be the last year of the truly great Marzocchi forks. If you can find one buy it. Too many issues with the 08'/09' and now 2010 versions. This fork will be with me for a long time.
Bike Setup: Currently on my Highline and was previously monted on a Bottlerocket
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
kroniktap09
a Downhiller
from new york city
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2009
Strengths: strength, adjustability
Weaknesses: weight, dampening gets screwd up easily, rebound sucks and fast speed compression can be felt through your whole body
Bottom Line:
this fork is recommended if found for cheap, but if your heart is set on flying through rock gardens and hucking big, dont expect it to hold out. my stanchions had a microscopic chip, which led all the oil to leak out and put the fork to rest. also, if riding in mud or rain the compression tends to stick alot, which leaves you with less travel
Submitted by
flyingmonkey
a Downhiller
from La Habra, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2009
Strengths: Solid single crown fork. The feel of the fork is so good. BUTTAH...smooth...bottomless. The fork gives you confidence. off 6 foot dops the fork doesn't flinch. like i said the fork is bottmless.
Weaknesses: NONE.
Bottom Line:
the fork is top shelf. it works so good. once you understand how the adjustments work you can get the fork dialed. I can't say it enough the fork is bottomless.
I have two bikes with the fork.
Strengths: Good control over compression and rebound. Smooth feel. Good looks.
Weaknesses: Sticky at first. Funky knobs and an attachment (don't lose it) needed for the air assist valve.
Bottom Line:
This fork made my riding instantly more enjoyable and controllable. The rebound compression by itself has saved my butt off the bigger drops (no more pogoing). I weigh 200lbs. and am using only 1 pump in the air assist sides. If I need more compression resistance (for trail riding) I just dial it down. Also, the sound of the cavitation on rebound is solid!
Similar Products Used: Fox Vanilla RLC, Marzocchi Drop-Off Triple
Bike Setup: Kona Stinky, 66 RC2x, SRAM X.9
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Roswell, GA USA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2008
Strengths: Adjustability, Stiffness, Very Smooth, Takes Big Hits no Problem, Burly, Looks (white)
Weaknesses: Adapter needed to set air pressure in each leg. (comes with the fork) Pricy (All good things are)
Bottom Line:
This fork has completely exceeded my expectations. I used to have to pick the smothest line on downhills now i just point the bike in the direction i want to go and the fork does the rest. IT IS SO SMOOTH. I have not found a weakness for this fork yet. I have been Carving Berms, Dirt Jumping, Hucking and riding Trails. It has performed great on all types of riding that i have done with it. The setup takes some time and you will have to experiment heavily to get the right feel. It does not take much air pressure in the preloads on both sides of the fork. I am running about 5 pounds in each side and I am just under 200 pounds. Do not be afraid to set a good amount of sag and you will be rewarded on the trail. The fork is heavy if you care about weight (I Don't).When i was shopping for a new fork i wanted a strong fork that had versatilty, low maitinance and the abilty to keep up with a growing interest in freeriding. I think that have more than accomplished that with this fork. Buy It.
Similar Products Used: Rock Shocks Pike 454 Dual Air
Bike Setup: Diamonback Mission 3 Hayes Discs, Race Face Stem & Cranks
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
UncaJohn
a Weekend Warrior
from Athens
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2008
Strengths: See my previous description
Weaknesses: The IMPORTER! Boy, Since most of the riders of our group (ASKERI) are running this fork, we're getting increasingly worried about Marzocchi's importeer in Greece. Some examples: -I have ordered a Rocco rar shock. "of cource" he do not have it in stock (of cource). After 1 month (!!!) he imported a Rocco but it was an.. air shock (i've orederd a coil shock). Still awaiting to get the right one, but now i am worried about the size! -An other member of our group ordered some additional cartriges for his 66. they came after ages, one at a time (he manage to import the as single items, now that's a record) -He has NOT at stock basic parts of his products. -He's also the dealer of Specialized in Greece! Imagine. An other member of our group is still awaiting after 3 months some spare axles for his brand new SX trail bike. (now that's what we call Greek customer service)
Is there anyone who knows an online shop selling Marzocchi parts in order to avoid the local dealer? Thanks
Bottom Line:
Buy it online and never visit Greece's importer! (but the product is really good, as long as you're having control over the fork's service routine,, which meas that you'll have to do it alone!) Damn (i'me getting 3Chillis at the overal rating 'cause of the local importer)
Strengths: nice control over compression and rebound, single crown, on the fly compression control
Weaknesses: top end compression knob sticks out too far on the bottom of the fork; possible breakage could occur
Bottom Line:
I bought this fork to get better control over rebound which was giving me probs with the Drop Off. I also wanted to get away from the dual crown fork for a more agile ride. I am stoked with initial performance. I weigh 190lb, and have been dialing the compression to match the style of riding (e.g. stairs vs. drops vs. flow vs. urban). With a coupla strokes of air assist, this fork can be dialed from loose to firm with a coupla turns of the compression knob. That low speed compression knob at the bottom worries me, but I've only heard of one instance where it ever broke off. Highly recommend this fork if you want to take big (or small) hits with the simplicity of a single crown fork.
Similar Products Used: Marz Drop Off Triple, Fox Vanilla
Bike Setup: 05 Kona Stinky
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
UncaJohn
a Weekend Warrior
from Athens, Greece
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2008
Strengths: Smooth responsive action through all travel, really well thought design. i especially like the reinforcments around the 20mm axle mounts that DO protect the fork from the unavoidable banging on stones, roots and rocks.
Weaknesses: Greece's importer! Seriously, these people seem to underestimate their clients. Even worst if you ask for a Roco shock. they should have been alarmed by all the sell they are loosing through e-sores from Germany & europe in general. A note here, there are even worst shops in Greece, with dangerous lack of knowledge over.. bicycles in general. Exable? cycliststore!
Bottom Line:
This fork is really up to it's reputation! From the first ride i discoverd that i was speeding too much when started to brake! It can really improve your bike handling, especially when put on the right bike.
Strengths: Smoooooth, great adjustment, easy to set up, RC2X valving is awesome.
Weaknesses: What? It don't have any.
Bottom Line:
These are frickin awesome forks, soooper smooth, I've never bottomed it out. If you're into freeriding, and want to have the ability to do barspins, X-ups, and such, this is the fork for you, and at $550 it's pretty cheap when you consider '08's going for over a grand.
this is the PLUSHEST, best feeling fork on the market. Extremely sensitive and extremely adjustable: it turns Mountains into Molehills as the guys at santa cruz say...
Get one, fast... Should be the best fork out there.
Submitted by
Scott Weiler
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2008
Strengths: Extremely plush, with great low speed sensitivity. Noticeable improvement on cornering traction and stability in technical terrain.
Weaknesses: Compression damping adjuster on bottom of fork is too large and catches easily.
Bottom Line:
Jenson USA had it on blowout special and it was the best $540 I have ever spent. It completely changed the performance of my bike after it replaced my Talas 36. The fox either dove too easily or had no small bump sensitivity. I still have the fox for X-country riding but when I head to the shore, I put the 66 on. I would deffinately recomend getting the 66, particularly if you can get it for $540. The only complaint is that I broke the compression nob off after slipping off a skinny. It sticks out on the 2007 fork. I would recommend removing the nob after you have the fork dialed, because it costs a few hundred bucks to get it fixed.
Submitted by
Matt Kuhl
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2007
Strengths: Beefy construction, loads of travel, good adjustibility, Marzocchi reliability
Weaknesses: One-trick pony that doesn't climb as well as an air-sprung fork with lock-out would
Bottom Line:
This fork is an amazing "point and shoot" downhill beast that has never done anything but build my confidence to levels that sometimes exceed my skill. The uphill battle requires slightly more determination than some other forks I've ridden, but the trade-off is more than acceptable. I love this fork and the more I ride it, the more plush it gets.
Bike Setup: 2006 TREK Remedy 66: aforementioned fork, Fox DHX 5.0 shock, 770 XT drivetrain, Blackspire chain guide and bashring, Mavic EX729 rims on HOPE hubs, Bontrager bar/stem/post/seat, TruVativ pedals, Avid CODE 203mm brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
walter
a Weekend Warrior
from germany
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
Strengths: durability, performance, mainteinance, available spare parts
Weaknesses: price (as nearly all aftermarket bike components)
Bottom Line:
very tuneable fork (as the 66SL). perfekt spring rate adjusability through oil levels and air (rate and progressiveness) so you can use less high speed dampening and get more traction at high speeds. If you are able to dial this fork in to your needs it is by far the best single crown freeride fork out there. You can dial this fork to buttery smooth the trail and drop 6feet to flat without bottoming (try this with a Totem!). If you understand the 66s you can dial the SPRING progression from about 50% to 300% (springrate at beginning of stroke to springrate at maximum travel). NO NEED FOR A HARSH RIDE WITH LOTS OF HIGH SPEED COMPRESSION AGAINST BOTTOMING!!!
Similar Products Used: Fox 36 RC2, 66SL, Totem solo air
Bike Setup: two wheels, two brakes, one bar
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Nick G
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2007
Strengths: Plush, Solid, Adjustability, Looks.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This fork rocks. I was skeptical about going with a single crown fork as compared to a dually on my Freeride/DH rig, but I could not be happier. I have some friends who had the 2006 66 and they loved it, so took their word for it. As in other reviews, the fork seals are a little stiff at first but as you ride it more it opens up to super plush, seriously feel a difference a few months down the road. The adjustability is incredible, especially the end stroke dampening. if you crank it all the way it feels like a motorcycle shock bouncing back. I don't run it that way, just experimenting, but I was amazed how good it worked. Reccommend highly for Freeride/DH.
Bike Setup: Diablo, 66, Codes, Hadley, Profile BMX cranks, Revox
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Stinky Wiz
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara, Ca
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2007
Strengths: It really is the travel claimed, stiff, plush, great spring-rate, good damping, can climb, BIG travel, single crown, good adjustability, deadly serious weapon for all seasons and all reasons.
Weaknesses: Weight (but the only way to get lighter is to go air and lose all the goodness), No travel adjust.
Bottom Line:
I've been at this a lotta years and I was hesitant to get a longer stroke fork for the Coiler as it was designed to go 5" front & rear. I was headed to Mammoth though and knew from last year that I could use more. I had already replaced the rear rockers w/Stinky's and had run both a 5" Z-1 and 6" AM-SL up front and knew 6 beat 5. Coil beats air but travel trumps all but I worried that the geometry would be adversly affected.
Fear not.
I was a little cold going to Mammoth with a fork I'd ridden only 3-4 times but there and even more since, we have GROWN totether. It was the dogs' bullocks on the mountain and I only appreciate it more now that I've become one with it.
No geometry issues. Actually improved climbing feel due to weighting of front yet pops up & floats for the drop. I show the max travel on every ride but have yet to feel the bottom-out clunk thanks to the bottom out compression adjust. The adjustments are meaningful. The steering is solid, intuitive & just straight-up accurate. The classic zoke plushness is there (although it took Mammoth to truly break it in) and the damping system feels high-end 'zocchi good.
I was going to get the SL-1 version (air) until I read of its potential ills, experienced maintainence issues w/the AM-SL and generally missed the characteristics of a quality coil unit. I was also amazed at the speed a friend gained when he replaced his Manipoo Sherman with a Totem-Solo.... but now I understand. The battle shall be joined.
DANGER: This fork will make you faster than your riding buddies. If you feel irritation due to slower riders in front and/or waiting those off the back: DO NOT BUY THIS FORK.
What should I offer for a 2007 66 RC2X? Pics are below it looks to be in good shape. One of the seals leaks so I'd have to replace that (seal kit is $45 and then oil and my time) Read More »
I have an '06 (170mm) 66 RC2X that feels and performs like a champ, but it does have an odd sound during the rebound stroke. If I crank up the rebound damping near max the sound g Read More »
sorry for the newb question, but do you need to repump the air after changing the oil on the 66 fork? i am asking this because i bought my fork used and i didn't get the air adapt Read More »
First off please understand, I know how to rebuild these; I have an 06 that I’ve rebuilt 3 times and have rebuilt a buddy’s rc2x twice so I’m pretty positive this is not an oil hei Read More »
hi, was doing an oil change (first time for me) to my fork (i got it 2nd hand) but i can't seem to take out the bottom right leg nut i think its called the high speed compression. Read More »
