Submitted by
riqtan
a Weekend Warrior
from Bacolod City, Philippines Date Reviewed: November 23, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$189.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
After the initial break in period, my fork has been very plush & responsive. Excellent stiffness. Extremely tunable. I own the 2007 Dual Air 80mm variety & it has never bottomed out even on tough trails. Extremely low maintenance.
Weaknesses:
Not ultralight, but for the price its fairly decent tipping the scales at about 4lbs.
Bike Setup:
2009 Giant XTC Team. 2007 Marzocchi MX Pro 80mm. Shimano SLX Components.
Bottom Line:
Great value for your money. Performance is comparable to forks costing twice as much.
Although my fork comes w/out the Lock Out feature (by choice), I have not found the need for such. Once I've found the perfect air setting, I experience almost no bobbing even on concrete roads.
It's not the perfect fork, but in its price range, its definitely one of the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan D
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange County, Ca Date Reviewed: July 20, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Santa Ana mtns, Chino Hills, Whiting
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$275.00
Purchased At:
Blue Sky
Strengths:
Great, reliable, predictable fork for the money. I keep trying to talk myself into buying a much higher-end fork, but always sop myself because this fork does everything I need it to do for the type of riding (XC) that I do. Even with only 85mm of travel it has handled an single track that I have thrown at it. I have never bottomed it out as some other reviewers have mentioned, but that's also because I don't take many drops doing the XC riding that I prefer. Basically, you can't beat this fork at this price point.
Weaknesses:
No lock out, but that was also my choice not to buy the LO version. As other reviewers have noted, the first 5-10mm of travel are a bit sticky. But once you get past that this fork is very plush; it tracks very well. It's heavy, but what do you expect for $275?
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Minute & quick demos of buddies' bikes with Fox & Rock Shox forks.
Bike Setup:
'06 Kona Kikapu
Bottom Line:
This fork gets strange looks from other riders when they see some of my other components on my Kona. It's got to be odd to see a bike with other high-end components like American Classic wheels and carbon wherever I can make it fit...only to see this anchor of a fork up front. Every few months I get the urge to splurge and go with a high-end fork. But I always talk myself out of it. Short of adding a lock-out, I would have to spend at least twice as much to get similar performance but with a bit more *bling* factor. This fork has done the Counting Coup, Vision Quest, Traverse & Sea Otter races along side forks that cost 3x as much. It's simply never let me down.
Bottom line, I know I could have a better fork. This fork isn't great, it's just extremely adequate. Until I *need* a better fork I am very happy with this one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
addict42
a Racer
from Atlanta, Ga. Date Reviewed: January 15, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Stiff, Smooth, Fairly light, Very reliable
Weaknesses:
Limited adjustability (not a weakness at this price point)
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Mars Elite, Rock Shox Pilot
Bike Setup:
XC Hardtail, short travel fork, tubeless tires, 9spd Deore/XT/XTR
Bottom Line:
My fork is actually the 2006 version (85mm travel). For the price, this fork is simply fantastic. It corners very well, even over rough and root-covered corners, tips the scale at just under 4 pounds, and never seems to need maintenance. I have ridden it for two years now and the only maintenance I've performed has been cleaning and lubricating the sliders after each ride. The fork is still as smooth as it was when new. It also maintains a consistent air pressure for months at a time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Laevian Davey
a Downhiller
from Bucharest, Romania Date Reviewed: February 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Bucegi Mountains
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
As sport florescu
Strengths:
Its very reliable on corners as well as in continuing stress along a trail. Even though i am a downhill fanatic i also use it for freeride sometimes.
Weaknesses:
None so far, will get back to you after a few months.
Similar Products Used:
Santour DURO (broke it in three spots)
Bike Setup:
Cube edge zone 2007 15", Schwalbe, Shimano(Deore) and of course Marzocchi products
Bottom Line:
Its a pretty good balance between price and quality so far... usually i get things broken in the first ten days of use so, you do the maths. The only other type of fork i would use would be another model from Marzocchi but a bigger fork would then put out too much stress on the frame. On the other hand i left the air pressure at about 23 psi and it works just perfect, their specifications were way off basis considering i have 58 Kg. Try buying this fork, though, if you're the kind of rider who could as well use fixed forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd Fredericks
a Weekend Warrior
from Bowling Green Date Reviewed: January 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Lock 4
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Wheelworld
Strengths:
I have the Marzocchi '07 MX Pro 120mm fork, OEM. I really like the amount of travel and the ability to run both v-brakes or disc also I am around 240lbs and I haven't bottomed out yet.
Weaknesses:
None as of now
Similar Products Used:
Nothing with this much travel but I have been riding a Manitou Black 80mm with lockout
Bike Setup:
Marin Alpine Trail w/ XT Marzocchi mx pro 120mm fork, Shock works BR rear shock.
Bottom Line:
Getting 120mm of Marzocchi travel for under $300 you can't beat that. I haven't seen any other reviews for the 120 OEM so I would like to know if anyone else is running it?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Albertinho
a Cross Country Rider
from Zagreb, Croatia Date Reviewed: September 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
beer climb beer descent beer
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Maraton
Strengths:
No bottoming, smooth when broken in, less then 2 kg, quality, elegant looks. A lot cheaper that the ETA version.
Weaknesses:
Could be a bit lighter with an alloy crown and steerer tube. No lockout, it bobs during heavy out of the seat mashing up the hill. But climbing in the seat is fine, I don't miss it then at all, you roll over roots and stuff easier with some suspension. No real weaknesses actually.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Dart 3
Bike Setup:
KTM Ultra Flite 2007 Marzocchi MX Pro fork Formula Oro K18 brakes X-9/Attack shifters Deore/LX parts
Bottom Line:
I upgraded from the Dart 3 which was quite okay for the money. The MX is lighter though and I can feel more stiffness on the front end, it is more stable and reassuring on fast downhills than the Dart was, and it tracks the terrain better. It has a bit longer axle to crown length as well. It took more than a month for it to get broken in but it's smooth now. When I ride I just pick the lines and it soaks up all the bumps in the way, doing what a decent fork should do quite well. The RV takes a bit too many turns from slowest to fastest setting, I was turning it bit by bit towards fast and left it at some 75%, I guess if the fork feels "right" then it's set up fine.
The psi settings in the manual are a bit too high, I had to reduce pressure to make the correct 20-25mm sag and achieve more travel. It does some 90mm of travel on the roughest bumps now, but I guess it's not bad actually because it has a reserve from bottoming that way. I will put a bit less oil when I'll be servicing it to squeeze out a few more mm's of travel though. But now I'm keeping it as it is, why tamper with it if it works? Good fork, get it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Kuhl
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: September 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
San Diego's complete works
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
CBO
Strengths:
Adjustability for such an inexpensive fork is rather good; rebound damping and (air) spring pre-load.
Weaknesses:
It feels a bit "sticky" sometimes and although it has provisions for V-brakes, good luck finding the pivots to actually make them work.
Too much air and this fork is crap. I think it came pre-loaded at 40psi, but it became a much more usable fork at the 26-28psi I run now. I'm 5'11" and 175lbs, so I imagine the factory pre-load is set up for 200+ pounders.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark s
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: September 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
any redwoods area in Nocal
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Randall Scott
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my earlier review and to Andy Sommerville's (and my) last complaint (about only getting 75 mm. of travel). I weigh 170 lbs. and found that I could get 90 mm. of travel out of the shock if I put in only 22 psi instead of the reccommended 35 psi (although it's a bit too soft and squishy at such a low psi). So I think the common problem of lack of travel is not so much that Marzocchi may be putting too much oil in, but that their recommendations on how much air to put in are way too high. I think you need to choose between big bump without pogo performance, or a soft cushy ride over the small stuff. So I guess the big question is "is this just a limitation of the MX Pro, or does one need to make this same tradeoff/choice on the decent Fox and Manitou shocks?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy Somerville
a Weekend Warrior
from Newport Beach, CA USA Date Reviewed: September 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Whiting Ranch/Santiago/Luge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up to my earlier post about travel issues with this fork. Though it's billed as a 100mm fork, in real world conditions, I can't get more than 75mm travel out of it. I had the guys at The Path Bike Shop in Tustin drain and refill the oil to the proper level and confirm that the fork is operating properly. When aired up to the correct PSI for my weight, and with the sag reading where it needs to be, it produces about 75mm travel max. This is a real bummer for any fork found outside a Wal*mart, much less a $400 fork (mine is the ETA version). Anybody elese got any experience with a fix for this?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
first name
a
from middlesex Date Reviewed: August 15, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Bottom Line:
i am looking to buy these forks but i cannot see the preload adjustment on the fork. any ideas where it is?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andy somerville
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Whiting Ranch/Santiago/Luge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$325.00
Strengths:
ETA, smooth stroke, rigidity, effective rebound
Weaknesses:
Doesn't produce advertised 100mm travel
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Duke SL
Bike Setup:
SC Superlight
Bottom Line:
I have a 2005 MX Pro ETA, and I'm experiencing the same travel (or lack thereof) issue I've seen from other members. This is supposed to be a 100mm fork, but I can't get more than 75-80mm out of it. E-mailed Marzocchi USA and they responded quickly and suggested the oil level may be too high. If so, it came from the factory that way as I've not had it rebuilt or serviced. Their quick response suggests they've heard this complaint before. I'll be taking it in to my LBS (The Path in Tustin, CA) for a look-see. I'll have them check the current oil level, then compare to factory specs and adjust as needed. I will post again if/when I get it resolved and out for a ride to judge the results. It will take me 3+ weeks to work through this.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Aucoin
a Weekend Warrior
from Thorold, ONtario, Canada Date Reviewed: July 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
None
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Stock on Norco Wolverine
Strengths:
Lots of travel,great alaround fork
Weaknesses:
a bit too soft even on the hardest preload setting(2007) model
Similar Products Used:
RST T7Launch(Garbage) and RST Omni(also garbage)
Bike Setup:
Stock 2007 Wolverine
Bottom Line:
Great alround fork may not stand up to freeride but so far has held up to everything else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt F.
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Wayne, In. USA Date Reviewed: July 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
red
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$227.00
Purchased At:
greenfish.com
Strengths:
Price. Very responcive
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Manatou Black Elite
Bike Setup:
2001 M4 hard tail
Bottom Line:
For $200 this fork rocks. It is on par with forks twice it's MSRP
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shane Scrimager
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Barbara, CA USA Date Reviewed: June 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Jesesita
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$216.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Great fork for the price. I've been riding this trail forever and this is my third fork, to describe it best - I'm braking less because this fork eats the bumps!
Weaknesses:
The intended use warning from Marzocchi, must be a legal thing.
Similar Products Used:
Marocchi Jr T, Judy XC, Judy DH
Bike Setup:
KHS comp with a quick connect to my adrenaline gland.
Bottom Line:
I'm impressed, this fork tracks amazingly. I went for glory this morning and didn't touch the brakes on the fast part of the trail, I usually hit the brakes in the same spot every time to ease the pain on my old forks. The MX carved through like butter. I noticed I brake a lot less since the fork is eating up everything I've put in front of it. I've only had it on one technical ride and didn't feel any flex and it handled all the drops just fine. I'm really impressed, it's Marzocchi you can't go wrong. There is an extension package taking it to 120mm of travel if you feel your riding needs more travel...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Seth
a Racer
from Orem UT USA Date Reviewed: June 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
This fork is really great for all round crosscountry riding and racing. Its better than any other fork out there for the price for sure. Very good bump absorption. Decently light weight. (about 4 pounds)
Weaknesses:
None yet...
Similar Products Used:
RST peice of crap that came stock on my bike.(it weighs like 7.5 pounds) and I've tried all my friends bikes with, Nixon, Fox, and everything else too.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Hardrock Sport....Everything is upgraded exept the wheels and the frame. Truvativ Stylo cranks and BB, WTB weirwolf tires (BEST TIRES ON THE PLANET) random new handle bars and other things......
Bottom Line:
This fork is absolutly amazing for what I use it for. I race every week and its awsome, this really was a huge upgrade from my last fork and makes my bike a whole lot better. If there is anyone who rides XC that is considering this fork, Buy it... You won't be dissapointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brett McKinney
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise Date Reviewed: May 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Shane's loop
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
A1 Bicycles
Strengths:
Price, weight, and small bumps
Weaknesses:
Not designed for big hits. Break posts flex a little.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi XC-600, RocKshox Judy, RocKshox Reeba
Bike Setup:
1995 Kona Kilauea
Bottom Line:
I put this on an old bike that was designed with a steep head tube and designed for 85mm of travel. It had an old Marzocchi XC-600 that had lived its useful life. The new MX Pro (85mm travel) rocks. This is the best transition I have had on any component. I know that I am comparing apples and oranges, but this fork is great. Effortless on washboard, good on rocks and smaller bumps, very little flex. Could use a little more on drops over 2', but it is not designed for that. This is as good as the Reeba for 1/3 the cost. I am very happy with my selection and would recomend it to anyone trying to breathe new life into an old ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Arizona Date Reviewed: May 17, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$195.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Design, looks and ride quality. Not soft like other reviewers running too low of presure. Read the bottom line below.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't have things I don't use. I guess that's a positive. ;-)
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Axel
Bottom Line:
I'm riding this review in defence of a great product. The reviewers below have complained about bottoming out or the ride being too soft. They are running way too low of air presure. I weigh 145lbs and according to the manual I should be pumping the fork from 35 to 40psi.
Pump this fork up properly and it rides like a dream. I replaced my OEM Manitou Axel and my bike rides like a dream.
I don't know about the waight complaints either, as it is a whole 1.5lbs lighter than my old fork. Yes there are lighter forks, but what can you expect for a fork around $200. I was looking for funcionality and simplicity and I found it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from olathe, kansas, usa Date Reviewed: May 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
platte river state park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
scheel bike shop
Strengths:
looks good against my sunburst orange trek
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
manitou six sport, rst, rock shox judy
Bike Setup:
trek 6500
Bottom Line:
This is a sweet fork. I have rode many of my friends bikes that have expensive forks on them and they don't measure up to the value and performance of this fork. It eats up anything that single track can offer. I have rode alot of state parks, which are always the best single track, and this fork can handle 95% of them. I weigh 175 pounds and ride very hard and would 100% recommend this badboy. The only other fork that I have liked better is an older marzocchi Z2 bam, which is full oil bath. Spend more than you need to on some other shock if you want to throw your money away.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Benjamin
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: May 14, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Strengths:
Decent small bump response.
Weaknesses:
More flexible than an olympic gymnast. Seriously, the first year SID was more rigid than this thing. Weighs more than a fat pig.
Similar Products Used:
RockShox, Fox....
Bike Setup:
2007 Rocky Mountain Element 30
Bottom Line:
The back of my bike weighs less than the front with this anchor of a fork. I can twist it with my hands, imagine what singletrack does to it. The bump absorbtion is pretty decent but it's not enough to overcome the weight/flexibility. Value is pretty good I guess. Will be upgrading before the end of the summer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricardo Vasquez
a Cross Country Rider
from Quito, Ecuador Date Reviewed: April 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Bottom Line:
Just updating info:
Sorry for saying that it won´t give you 100mm of travel: since I wasn´t gettin that travel, I tried putting less pressure into it (20psi; I weight 155 pounds), it was pretty smooth nice for regular XC ... but way too smooth for a 4ft drop, and so I really bottomed it up this time, it sounded terrible! Later I entirely deflated both legs positive air so that I could see where exactly it bottoms out: you DO get 100+mm of travel, when it bottoms out, don´t deflate too much.
Anyway, my fork seems to be totally perfect after this bottoming out, and friends who own oldest MX pro (´03-´05)told me not to worry ´cause they´ve had this experiences before, and this fork is extra strong..
As I said, every other feature is awesome, so, i´m giving it 5 flamin chilis this time
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricardo Vasquez
a Cross Country Rider
from Quito, Ecuador Date Reviewed: April 4, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Strengths:
Rebound adjustment, sensitivity for small and medium bumps, very predictable, keeps excellent grip on the track at high speed.
Weaknesses:
Seems to bottom out and still won´t get more than 80mm travel. It´s not the lightest fork
Similar Products Used:
´04 Rock Shox Judy SL, Psylo XC.
Bike Setup:
GT avalanche 2, sram x.7, shimano LX.
Bottom Line:
Fisrt 10 mm are kinda stucked, but after it gets smooth, predictable, easy to tune up, works nice, it soaks bumps pretty nice, won´t hurt your wrist nor throw you suddenly after a big bump.
Perfect for a XC fork, but Marzocchi shouldn´t say it travels 100mm, cause it doesn´t.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: April 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Northstar at Tahoe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Randall Scott
Strengths:
Plush Travel. Appears to keep its air pressure well. No flexing. Looks ok.
Weaknesses:
-Moderate Stiction in the first inch of travel. Only 70 mm. of usable travel on the 100mm version. -A bit heavy at 4.1 lbs.
I've got the 100 mm. 2007 version, and I've only used it for one day of cross country: So far this shock gives you smooth, plush travel once you get past the first 5 or 10mm. of travel (I sprayed the outside of the stanchion legs with tri-flow, but it didn't help any. Some reviewers said you need a few weeks to break in Marzocchi shocks, so I'll update this post if this improves). However, this wasn't a problem on medium or large bumps, which it soaked up very well. Rebound works excellently on this- much better than on my Z4. -Since I bought this to upgrade a 2.75" shock to a 4" shock I was quite dissappointed to find out that even after underinflating it to 25 lbs. (I weigh 166 and should be at about 30-35 lbs.) I couldn't use any more than 70 mm. of the 100mm. of travel, despite how hard I hammered on it. Oddly, the same thing happens on my Z4 80mm. bomber. Perhaps shock companies are dishonest in how they report "travel"? In sum, almost as good as my Z4, and definitely worth the $250 I paid for it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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