Submitted by
Turtle01
a Weekend Warrior
from Brunswick, OH Date Reviewed: October 7, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mohican State Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$239.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Laterally stiff, price, weight for this type of fork.
Weaknesses:
Nervous of potential damper failure.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi '00 Z1cr, '05 66vf.
Bike Setup:
DialledBikes Prince Albert, 55r fork, Mavic 317/XT/DMR wheelset. All mountain / aggressive XC setup.
Bottom Line:
This fork is a has some stiction that needs to be ridden more to smooth up. Don't set the rebound to high or it will amplify that issue.
Also, I've had very good customer service with Marzocchi and hope that if there is a problem they will take care of it. Their past forks have been very good for me. Tired of all the manufactures raising prices so high on forks when they are... well... forks. This fork was an excellent deal (on sale) given current pricing and what you get.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pauljolly65Q
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA Date Reviewed: August 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ridge Trail, Annadel
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Price, beefy build, price, stiffness (thanks to 20mm thru).
Weaknesses:
Not advertised travel--far less.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Bomber Z3
Bike Setup:
'01 Stinky DeeLuxe--cranks are only original parts left.
Bottom Line:
For $230, there was nothing else available that I felt confident putting on my bike. Fork was more plush out of the box, but has gotten stiffer over many rides (I get out 3-4x/week for 2-3 hours each). It still takes the edge off the rocky trails quite well, but travel is nowhere near 140mm. I've taken out all the air (I'm only 140 lbs) and it still won't bottom. Online manuals don't help in this regard. Still, especially for the price, it works OK for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
highstandards
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: August 7, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Strengths:
Makes the trail seem slightly less bumpy.
Weaknesses:
Flexy, false travel claims, adjustability, small bump sensitivity and did I mention false travel claim? More like 130mm or 140mm NOT 160mm
Similar Products Used:
Fox Talas 36
Bike Setup:
Reign X
Bottom Line:
Fine for easy cruising and little drops, takes the edge off the bumps. Does not get claimed travel. Spend a little more if you like to go fast or big. Probably fine for a beginner.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
acostao
a Weekend Warrior
from Hood River, OR Date Reviewed: July 18, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$239.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
cheap. Looks burly.
Weaknesses:
This is the 08 55R...A big disappointment. I have been riding 15 years. I have a big bike with dual crown, and a smaller Heckler with this 55r on it. I pedal everywhere and ride down hard, including some jumps, drops, and gnar. It is NOT anywhere near a freeride fork, despite the weight. Lets see. It currently gets only 4 inches of travel (supposed to be 140 mm). It is pretty good on small and even medium hits. Unpredictable on big hits. Heavier riders have to use lots of preload (I weigh 200 lbs), which makes it feel less plush, sticky, and still blows through its whopping 4 inches instantly. My 05 Sherman firefly is still better than this fork, 4 years later. My friend had the 55 TST2, it went bad in a few months. Marzochhi kept it for 6 weeks, then returned it with the TST still not working properly.
The compression stroke is weird on bigger hits, inconsistent. Ramp faces are scary on this fork. I feel I can't trust it, even though I have been on this bike for 4 year and could always trust it before.
Similar Products Used:
too many, but mostly bigger bikes and forks lately.
Bike Setup:
Heckler, built up to about 33 lbs.
Bottom Line:
I used to love Zokes. But, the company can't even write a decent manual. their customer service sucks. The enitre 08 line should have been a recall. Too bad, because I love the zoke feel and damping. I have owned and ridden several fox forks, but don't like Fox damping, especially the cardboardy and overrated TALAS 36. The newer Rock shocks are nice, but also unreliable. I have ridden my friend's 2009 66 ATA, which is butter, but what the chambers do is a mystery, which has to be resolved by resorting to user group forum. C'mon, 1 less blond bimbo on the ads and pay some English speaking tech-nerd to tell us how to adjust and work on our forks.
This would be a decent trail fork and good value for someone who doesn't do drops, dirt jumps or enjoy gnar... if it were more reliable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rv55
a Weekend Warrior
from Framingham, MA Date Reviewed: May 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Vietnam
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
Mifiord Bicycle
Strengths:
Not expensive, OK for the few days it worked.
Weaknesses:
After 1-2 rides had a kind of loosenes and a klonking noise. Sent it to Marzocchi, came back after 3 weeks, and after 4-5 rides the travel is only 75 mm. Marzocchi says it has a bad damper, will send a new one to the shop. Hopes are high...
Submitted by
Oregonism
a Weekend Warrior
from Oregon Date Reviewed: April 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
-Stiff
-Soaks up big stuff pretty well, still tuning for small bumps
-Cheap for a decent fork
-Can switch between 160mm and 140mm if your mechanically inclined
-Effective and simple damper
Weaknesses:
-Heavy
-Lowers seem to scratch pretty easily (set the bike down on its side, picked it up and it was all scuffed up)
Similar Products Used:
Dirt jumper, Low-end RS stuff
Bike Setup:
BMC Trailfox, marz 55r, spank wheelset, azonic and raceface bits.
Bottom Line:
I've ridden this fork pretty hard for about 2 weeks, including many jumps off of a 4 foot step down I built and it hasn't so much as hiccuped. The Ario on the rear is already starting to make some noise though..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
prowlus
a Weekend Warrior
from United Kingdom Date Reviewed: February 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
New Forest hampshire
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came on Bike
Strengths:
Very very reliable . Easy to maintain and adjust . Soaked bumps up like a sponge
Weaknesses:
Very heavy
Similar Products Used:
Rockshox Pike , Tora and currently Marzocchi 55 ata 09
Bike Setup:
Scott Ransom 40 , Marzocchi 55 ata 2009 (current fork) Avid Juicy 7 brakes, Shimano XT cranks . Sram X9 mech and shifters . Hope hoops ex 5.1d wheels Crank brothers joplin seatpost
Bottom Line:
These forks powered my ransom everywhere and have had no problems whatsoever with their simple but reliable adjustability thanks to the air dampening towards a coil as opposed to current fully air based 55 atas (which have broken even before they left the store)with their complicated tst2 system that now need a update cartridge after its 2nd failure .
The bomber R is the simplest and easiest fork to use and I should not have decided to replace it with an air based POS
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Yaniv650
a Weekend Warrior
from Tel Aviv Israel Date Reviewed: January 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ben Shemen forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa
Strengths:
I put it on my endure 2006 . It works perfectly , very plush and very stiff.
I ride it very fast , annoying any obstacle on my way . simple as point and shoot.
Whether I ride on long massive desert stone terrain or fast rounding trials , it keeps the front section under control.
I was afraid that 6 lbs on the front will make the ascent harder but on 140 mm , there is nothing that this fork will stop you.
Considering the simplicity of this product – I have never felt that I need TST / travel adjustment etc.. features.
I found this simplicity combined with well design product as advantage over multi adj forks that you never know if you have the right set up.
Weaknesses:
there is a knocking noise when riding on stone terrain. it sound like something is rocker deep in the rebound section
it doesnt make anything except the noise.
Similar Products Used:
marz' am SL , Nixxon
Bike Setup:
specilized endure 2006 , mavic 521 , juicy 7
Bottom Line:
If it will remain as good as it now ,
on 250$ there is nothing to compare with. simple as that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hmmmm
a Weekend Warrior
from Ballarat Australia Date Reviewed: December 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Whwn working its great smooth, smooth smooth
Weaknesses:
Fork was stock on a fluid LT3 (great bike apart from this fork). Right out of the box the rebound cartridge was faulty and only provided half of the travel, at best. Got that fixed up by marzocchi (took them 3 weeks to touch it) and within 4 days the cartridge failed again. The dudes in the local shop were great about it but they cant do anything if Marzocchi void your warranty for touching it
Bottom Line:
Ive been hearing quite a few bad things about the quality of marzocchi stuff over the last year or so. Be cautious of their stuff it seems to be on the slide.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chelboed
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas Date Reviewed: November 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Manseeuhn
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$259.00
Purchased At:
Jensonusa.com
Strengths:
Laterally stiff! Initially smooth and plush. Very easy to set up. (c'mon...there's only 2 adjustments, haha)
Weaknesses:
Sorta cheap'ish rebound controls with no detent.
Very subtle knock/rattle noise when quickly going from compressed to extended. It's not a rebound clunk, the noise occurs prior to full extension. It happens when the fork initially begins to extend. The only thing I can think of is that there's a tiny bit of play in the rebound cartridge, so when the fork begins to extend, the clunk happens. It doesn't effect anything and half the time I don't even hear it.
2005 Jamis Komodo (light Freeride setup)
-Hope Pro II / EX5.1d
-Elixir
-Hone
-XT
-Nevegal 2.35's
-1x9
Bottom Line:
This is an early review that I will update as I use the fork. I've only had it a month or two and though I'm always bagging on the dorks around here that prematurely review products with no time invested...I wanted to do an initial review and add to it later. Mainly b/c the thing is so great right out of the box.
I've been riding AM/Light Freeride before Cannondale tried to patent the term and building my own bikes from scratch for about 4yrs now.
Reading about the 2008 lower line Marz crap, I was a little leary to buy this fork. So far so good.
It's set up right now at 140mm...I think I'll leave it that way for now. It feels really balanced and the ride height is nice. I ride Kansas singletrack and urban.
Small bump compliance straight out of the box was 100% better than my Fox 32 Vanilla. (which is supposed to be the "plushest 5 inch fork out there") Preload is accomplished via a coil spring with air assist. Initially, I thought the fork was way too soft, but the air preload actually ramps up quite progressively. With 10-15psi, there's little-to-no stiffening of the first 1/2 of the fork travel. Very responsive to small bump input. Going beyond the first 1/2, the air begins to compress enough to firm it up a bit. I spoke with Marz about the chamber being able to withstand more pressure than the 20psi max and they said it would handle at least 50psi with no ill effects. I pumped it up to 30psi and did some 3' to flat stair drops just to try it out. I wasn't getting anywhere close to full travel even when stiff-arming a curb. I dropped the air down to 10psi and did a 5' to tranny and still had at least 10-15mm of travel to spare. (remember its only set at 140mm)
I use the fork as an "all-rounder" so it's my trail shredder, urban hucker, and even occasionally my commuter. It will bob on you if you stand up and pedal...that is obvious. I'm not a huge fan of threshold and blow off b/c I think it takes away from the "plush-factor" of my suspension, so it works well for me the way it is.
Overall, comparing it to the 32 Vanilla is a joke. The only thing the Fox had over the 55 was less weight. This fork is heavy at 6lbs, but I didn't care with a Freeride Hardtail. It has superior lateral and fore/aft stiffness. It's super plush right out of the box, and the simple controls will kill the learning curve. I know that this fork is more in line with the Fox 36, RS Lyrik, and the like, but I can't afford that crap and I don't need to as long as this thing holds up.
I will expound on this review as I break it in a little more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
schneidie
a Downhiller
from south windsor, ct Date Reviewed: October 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Killington
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Plush and smooth when it works
Weaknesses:
Oil leaks into air chamber and locks up fork in extended position.
07 stinky garbonzo, race face DH crankset, race face chainguide, 888, D.O.P.E
Bottom Line:
This fork may be ok if you get it fixed by marzocchi, but it tends to blow o-rings, so it frequently locks up. This can be dangerous when downhilling.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
skip canfield
a Weekend Warrior
from norcal Date Reviewed: August 3, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$275.00
Strengths:
easy to set-up, simple,not broken in yet still smooth, steers really nice
Weaknesses:
to many decals
Similar Products Used:
RS psylo sl,Marz.Drop-off.
Bike Setup:
Spec. fsr pro, Risse rear-end,Marz. 55r fork
Bottom Line:
very nice fork, simple to use, once i get it broken-in im sure it will be even smoother than it is now. steering is like point & shoot,it goes where you point it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
reelinfeele
a Weekend Warrior
from orlando Date Reviewed: July 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
nyl's
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$275.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
burly, lighter than it looks, super plush
Weaknesses:
heavier than it needs to be
Similar Products Used:
AM2, Z1 bomber
Bike Setup:
Covert, Hope ProII, rhyno lites, stx/rc,
Bottom Line:
so far so good. Very plush action. simple setup. Will be going to NC in a week so after good break in around here I will be able to there and really give it a bashing. Couldn't beat the price. I now have a respectible all mountain bike for less than the cost of a "high end" frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from westchester Date Reviewed: March 27, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
Inexpensive, stiff, plush.
Weaknesses:
Heavy
Similar Products Used:
Fox 36, Manitou Sherman Firefly, Marzocchi Junior T
Bike Setup:
Banshee Morphine, Easton Havoc Wheels, Nevegal 2.3's, Hayes HFX9s with eight inch rotors, Raceface Evolve ISIS DH cranks, Easton Vice stem, FSA Pig Pro headset, Easton EA70 OS bars, Oury lock on grips, XT shifters, XT rear derailleur, SRAM x-gen front derailleur.
Bottom Line:
Stiff beefy fork for a very reasonable price. Rides nice. Weighs significantly less than Junior T (which raked the front of bike out too much anyway, made it steer crappy)but it is pretty heavy for a single crown.
Feels nice on my bike, getting a good early season workout pushing a 6+ pound fork around. Feel lucky I'm on a hardtail when going uphill.
I suppose a lockout or compression adjustment would be nice, but I figured the lack of bells and whistles was the reason why it was so affordable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Bella Vista, Arkansas Date Reviewed: March 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Beefy, Easy to work on, 20mm Axle
Weaknesses:
Rebound keeps failing
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shock Pyslo, Zocchi 66
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Gemini, X9, Gustav Brakes, Weirwolf Tires
Bottom Line:
I am a big guy 250LB 6’2” that rides everyday. I would not call my riding Cross Country but rather All Mountain or Extreme Cross Country. I ride everyday even in the snow and rain. The fork worked great for 1 month then the Rebound locked up, I am on my second Rebound cartridge and we will see what happens next. I do not do road gaps, big drops or anything like that. I am disappointed in the shock but have been happy with the service because I am not afraid to do the work myself with new parts. The Zocchi guys have sent new parts and tried to help but SUNTOUR is making the internals which if I had known before the purchase I would have never have purchased this model. Suntour makes cheap Wal-Mart crap that goes on a $200 bike! Zocchi better watch themselves before they lose their reputation for quality products.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Emery vonPrisk
a Downhiller
from Tempe,Az USA Date Reviewed: October 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
National,Phoenix ,Az
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Local bike shop
Strengths:
Stiff,stiff,stiff compared to other single crown forks i have run.Love the 20mm quick release.Lets see how long the safety clip lasts though.Price,Quality and they work smooth as butter which i have come to expect from their forks.
Weaknesses:
For a company to make such a quality product you would think they would teach their assembly staff how to measure oil levels when assembling their forks.It's becme a ritual in my group to check oil levels on their products.They have yet to be correct.My oil level was at 35mm instead of 60mm in the right leg as recommended by their techs.No wonder i wasn't getting full travel.Marzocchi,Hint,Hint!!!
Similar Products Used:
Fox vanilla,Marzocchi AM1,Manitou Blacks
Bike Setup:
Astrix Stryke with a Pushed 5.0,Marzocchi 55R Azonic Owtlaws,Maxxis Minnions 2.5s
Bottom Line:
You cant beat this fork for price ,quality and Marzocchi smoothness.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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