Submitted by
Coppermine
a Weekend Warrior
from Poland Date Reviewed: July 31, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$470.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
In theory, the perfect fork for my needs, truly all mountain. ETA will makes it so easy for climbing, QR20 axle and 35 mm stanchions make it stiff.
Weaknesses:
After 500 km (over 300 miles) it started to lose air. After 700 km (over 430 miles) it lost 1/2 of travel and after 1000 km (over 620 miles) it lost 80% of travel.
Similar Products Used:
marz. all mountain II 05
Bike Setup:
santa cruz heckler 06, manitou swinger 4 way
Bottom Line:
I guess it's true that marz. has serious problems with quality control. I require reliability, but this fork is a complete failure. It's something wrong with the left leg (with coil), because the fork lost almost all travel. It's also something wrong with the right leg (with ETA and air), becase air leaks so fast that it lasts for ca. 150 km (90 miles).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sharpbrick
a Weekend Warrior
from norwalk CT USA Date Reviewed: March 11, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa
Strengths:
strong, eta works great, tst works great too, plush very adjustable (if you don't lose the knobs lol)
Weaknesses:
eta knob fell off and now i can adjust it :( you can get a new one for $25 though (it looks like m0ngy has has the same sort of prob)
Bike Setup:
giant reign 3, fox float r, 55 eta :)
Bottom Line:
great for allmtn/light freeride the lost knobs prob makes me mad but other than that the fork works like a dream!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
m0ngy
a Cross Country Rider
from Adelaide, SA, Down Under Date Reviewed: January 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Winter Track, Chambers, Horsenell Loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Stiff, juicy plush, ETA
Weaknesses:
Tricky to dial-in, especially since the adjustment knobs just fall off mid-ride!
Great forks once they're broken-in, which takes about 150kms or so of riding. That's a good thing, means the seals are nice and tight. You gotta spend some time fine tuning the air, but once you get it spot-on you'll know - awesome ride. Pity I can't play with the compression adjustment...
What isn't so awesome (or tight) are the bloody adjustment knobs. The TST Micro knob (the 'lil gold one) fell off on my first ride and no-one seems to be able to find me a new one. Unforunately, Zokes after sales service is pretty appalling. They're just not interested. Man, I'm glad I didn't get the other TST 55's, sounds like they're real lemons. C'mon Zokes, get with the program!
I'm still giving 4 chillis 'cause besides sh!t falling off 'em, they are pretty rad forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
frankyvh
a Downhiller
from scheveningen Date Reviewed: December 28, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
cellblock board and
Strengths:
strong ,plush (right out of the box,eta ,tst.overall dependable because of NO air but spring.dampening very good
Easy set up.Light for a short downhill fork(actualy about 165 mm in stead of 160
Weaknesses:
you need a special schader adapter for the positive air assist
tst works on /full of instead op gradualy.
Weight if 2800 gr is heavy for a freerider ? talas is 2300 but feels undergunned if you step on the peddel on the downhill
Similar Products Used:
marz 66 to tall and not as plush-fox talas 36 sticktion and defenately NOT plush-
Bike Setup:
intense 6.6. rocco tst r (great by the way)
Bottom Line:
I ride allmountain and freeride and love a plush ride.This is the set up I need because for the long UP hills The eta is great.the rest is no problem with 160 up front as the intense has a steep geo for a allm./licht freeride bike.
I loved the marz 66 but wanted the eta and the spring feels so different in plushness it's redicules .
This fork works best if you want to do everything ,but fun is more important than being the quickest up hill.
there are lighter forks around with a whole lot of hi-lo speed adjustments but I feel this compromises the plush feeling of most forks .
never mind the fact that they are a very hard to tune perfectly.
It took me a while to decide because of the weight but I love it.
my bike is 16 kg but rides verry light because of the geometrie and fun factor.
serious drops and downhills are no problem but turn on the tst in the back and front you can easyly ride up the hill to the next DH.no back pain.
have fun and ride
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: December 4, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
£370 on Ebay
Strengths:
Stiff, good looking, good range of adjustments, easy to setup, reliable, ETA very useful for climbing
Weaknesses:
Not as light as air ATA version but at least they work!
Similar Products Used:
2004 Z1 Drop Off 1 ETA, 2006 Z1 Light ETA
Bottom Line:
I have not much to say apart from these are a great forks, faultless and very plush, I would recommend them to any aggressive AM/FR rider. I was very happy with the previous forks with ETA feature and this is why I chose this 55’s out of the range. Coil spring forks seem to be the most reliable and maintenance free.
At £370 they were not the cheapest on the market but still a bargain compared to £550 RRP.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
killer1
a Weekend Warrior
from victoria, british columbia, canada Date Reviewed: October 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
mount zouhalem
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
adjustments that really work
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
zi 2006, z1 air 2004, z1 2001
Bike Setup:
nomad 2007-- dhx5 air 2007
Bottom Line:
this fork has to be the best marzocchi fork i have owned so far--- it has 6.6" travel and adjustments that really work
--- preload is determined by air
--- each setting has indefinite tst micro adjustments
--- i am still playing with the adjustments and continue to be blown away with the end results
-- the ETA is awesome--- you can drop this fork down to about 1 inch from the bottom
-- on the cl setting--- you can actually lock this fork out
-- BOTTOM LINE--- THIS FORK RULES--- WAY TO GO MARZOCCHI---
FYI-- IT TOOK ME ABOUT 6 WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT WHICH FORK TO GO WITH--- IT PAID OFF--- I CHOSE A WINNER
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allrotor13b
a Cross Country Rider
from La Mesa, CA Date Reviewed: June 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
ATT
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Trade
Strengths:
Easy set-up, adjustability, sturdiness, ETA!!!
Weaknesses:
It is definitely butt fugly and it would be nice to be able to reach the rebound while riding - like on the top of the 66's
i had to trade down to the 55 because the 66 was too much for my 66. i loved that fork's bottomless feel and the ability to adjust end of stroke compression, too. The 55 lacks the same point-and-shoot mentality of the 66, but is a better trade off for me because of the TST on the fly compression and preload adjustment and the ETA just kicks so much ass it's silly. It isn't nearly as plush, but i really don't care. It's just as tough under abusive flat landings, so i'm pretty stoked so far... We'll have to see if it's as reliable as the 66.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jgusta
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: February 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
anything fast, rooty, and rocky
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Cycletofitness.com
Strengths:
Stiff chasis/crown, great adjustability and dampening with ETA and TST micro, Zoke smooth and plush feel, no break in period like other Zoke forks
Weaknesses:
Could be a little taller, fugly looking stickers, made in Tawain, not Italy anymore (this is not terribly bad though), long term reliablity (but you have a 2yr warranty for that)
Similar Products Used:
Zoke Z1 light, RS Pike, Fox Float
Bike Setup:
06' RFX w/all the AM/FR goodies
Bottom Line:
Great fork! I like this even better than the good, very reliable Z1 light that it replaced. It is stronger, more versatile, and has a better dampening feel altogether. Even though the pre-08' TST AM forks have a bad track record with failed dampeners.
Feels like I can ride a bit of everything on this fork without any hesitations going up or down. Strongly recommend for the AM/FR's out there looking for a new fork for their 5.5-6.5" traveled bikes.
Would give it 5 chilis if it came with a hot "Marzocchi babe" on the ads to make it outstanding, otherwise a great fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
