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Marzocchi
Bomber Z1 drop off
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Submitted by
james freerider
a Weekend Warrior
from basingstoke
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | towns and dirt traks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | off a m8 | | Strengths: | strong as anythin, if u treat them right they r as strong as monster t's. the crown is just sweet- its so stiff. travel is so so so so very plush! its great. it eats up bumps with ease they got perfect sping in them, they luv bunny hops. | | Weaknesses: | the fork legs do move if u dunt land right and the wheel moves even wen v tight. the oil wears fast and they scratch easy- ruins them exelent looks | | Similar Products Used: | monster t's, z3's, old z1's, ect | | Bike Setup: | trek bruiser, z1s (2001), ditch witches, gazolodis, clim8 hydralics, middleburn cranks, dmr chain device | | Bottom Line: | great fork, perfect for what i do, they love stunting they are great to throw aroung but they need regular maintinance | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mtbboyz
a Downhiller
from Boise,ID
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ussery jumps | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Damping, fairly light for a long travel fork, looks cool, | | Weaknesses: | Marzocchi warrenty dept!!, Stanchion snapped, little damping adjujstors on the bottom fall out easily | | Similar Products Used: | Sherman, psylo, fox talas | | Bike Setup: | Kona scab, truvative, MRP, race face, sun double wides, ringle hubs, hope discs, sram shifter/derr | | Bottom Line: | I loed this fork up until the day I borke it when i cased a 5foot double. not a really hard landing but too much for the Z1. I snapped the left side stanchion tube right below the crown. endo faceplante lots of fun. Anyway i take it to the LBS. My buddy down there calls marzocchi. The marzocchi guy laughs and says " we need to get him on a new fork." My buddy asks him what the repair cost will be and the marzocchi guy says "it aint worth it" then tells us that the repairs will be over 200 dollars. Sh** i can get another fork for that!! Marzocchi warrenty is only two years they offer crash replacement not free replacement within those two years unless the break is obviously their fault. This is not the kind of service I am used to with MTB comapnies. I dont buy my parts to be disposable. I expect to break things, I'm a 190lb dirt jumper but seriously I shouldnt have to replace the whole fork if I break it. I will not buy another Marzocchi fork I'm going to try manitou despite my previous experiences with them hopefully they will be better now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Giuliano
a Downhiller
from Australia
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Majura Grape Vine/Outside Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Mal Adjusted, Canberra | | Strengths: | All the strengths everyone else describes. | | Weaknesses: | Axle moves in drop-outs with sharp braking. Tyre clearance (my 2.6 Tioga White Tigers juuuust fit). | | Similar Products Used: | Many forks. | | Bike Setup: | Mountain Cycle Shockwave | | Bottom Line: | every other aspect of this fork is covered in all the many other reviews, but I was tossing up over whether to get the QR20 version and I didn't. This was a mistake. Even with an XTR skewer, if I hit the front brake sharply on asphalt, the wheel moves in the drop-out and the tyres now rubs on the arch. Spend the extra, get he QR20. Other than this small thing, these forks are magic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew Gill
a Weekend Warrior
from Selkirk, Scotland
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Glen tress | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | www.wiggle.co.uk | | Strengths: | Great fork lots of travel except factory setup is bad and forks were to soft. | | Weaknesses: | M arch over the top of the wheel crodes. | | Similar Products Used: | judy xc's, judy tt's, jounior t's, boxxers, mx comps. | | Bike Setup: | Trek bruiser frame, xt hubs, deore discs,mavic 321's,dt swiss spokes,xt shifters,deore derailers, raceface prodagiy xc cranks. | | Bottom Line: | the best single crown forks on the market got mine for a bargan price of £230 on wiggle last year, the forks do bottom out very easily new springs and thicker oil was is in order but i am a heavy rider who does do some pritty stupid stuff. (try snaping a mavic 521 in half)the forks have withstanded ruff stuff and thats all you can ask for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
clay
a Weekend Warrior
from orono, me
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on kona stinky deelux | | Strengths: | best feel of any fork. Super plush and very stiff with 20mm axle. | | Weaknesses: | mine started creaking after a few months and had to be sent back. | | Similar Products Used: | all types of forx | | Bike Setup: | 2002 stinky dee, xt cranks/bb | | Bottom Line: | sweet fork feel, but arch is not as good as 2003 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
richard ponec
a Weekend Warrior
from north vancouver bc
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | cbc,corksrew,neds | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | flip cycles | | Strengths: | plush, looks cool, nice coulor (lime green) | | Weaknesses: | not very strong. it held up quite well for dirt jumping but i took it off a few 6 foot drops and it started leaking oil everywhere. | | Similar Products Used: | nonr | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz cameleon | | Bottom Line: | good dirt jumping fork, goood for lghit freeriding. not very strong. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
craig murrant
a
from red deer alberta canada
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | north shore | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | red bike | | Strengths: | It has lots of traval. strong, it doesnt bottum out alot. | | Weaknesses: | i bent them back toward the frame at the stem, but they didnt break. alot of flex between the two. | | Similar Products Used: | Z3, judy, 01' z1 | | Bike Setup: | rocky mountain flow | | Bottom Line: | they are good forks just watch out for trees | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Niall Flinn
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | peak district | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | not yet | | Strengths: | Very very plush, easy to adjust and service. | | Weaknesses: | Not super light, bobs on out-of-the saddle climbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Pace Pro Class | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler (the original). | | Bottom Line: | I borrowed these (2001 model) from a friend for a trip to the French Pyrenees, and I don't want to give them back! I wish I'd got my hands on some of these before! They alter the geometry of my bike a little, and they make climbing really steep stuff tricky, but it's easily worth it for the performance going down. I can't wait to slap on my Factory DH's and ride them in the boulder fields of the Peak District! I'm not a DH'er, or a "freerider" - I just like to ride hard and fast, and for that these are perfect. Also, the silver/black 2001 version looks great on my polished Heckler :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
carl
a Cross Country Rider
from bellingham, wa
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bob's Trail, Skookum Flats, anything nasty | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Clark's Cycles, bellingham | | Strengths: | Stiff as all getout, w/QR20, nothing tracks better. It does its job so well, I don't even know it is there unless I'm climbing very slowly (bad) or dropping an 8 ft fall-away (good!). | | Weaknesses: | ya, right. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing comes close | | Bike Setup: | 2001 kona stuff, trailrider style w/ aformentioned fork and shimano clipless | | Bottom Line: | For the nasty and technical trails only the northwest can give, this "free rider's" fork deals with every inch of the mountain. It looks beautiful, slides predictably every time, and swallows deep. Get one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from North Shore, BC
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Fairly easy to take apart and repair. Plush when it works. | | Weaknesses: | Weak plastic valve disc in the valve body. Replaced 3 times already. One medium drop and "crack". Makes for no damping and a boingy shock. VERY flexy. Replacing bushings soon. Oil dirties fast. Change it often. Buy motorcycle oil from a motorcycle dealer to save coin on oil changes. | | Similar Products Used: | Other Marzocchi, Phsylo, etc | | Bike Setup: | Kona Chute hardtail, 321 rims, hayes, etc. | | Bottom Line: | Ok for light trail/DH use. They used to use aluminum valves in the valve bodies and went to plastic a few years ago to save coin. These things are total crap. I replaced mine with a steel washer I custom sized to replace the plastic piece. Still playing with settings. Probably have to replace the pump rods too. I bought the bike used so who knows what happened to it before I owned it. Download the manual for these from Marzocchi, then you can fix them yourself. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jensen Fong
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tai Mo Shan -- Ho Pui or Gap Lung | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | second hand | | Strengths: | it works as a suspension.....it's plush when using normal springs but it bottoms when i pedal while standing up..imagine going downhill... | | Weaknesses: | ---all these results are with the hard springs---
>the thing bottoms while going to the stairs...the most i got it the bottom was 5 times..
>the thing flexed a lot while regular braking....
>the thing actually "shrinked" and i lost 0.5 inch of travel total(as of now)
>the bike is almost impossible to control(for me) when the thing is bottomed..the bike swings around very loose | | Similar Products Used: | my friends monster T....my friends boxxer 151....my friends manitou i dont know what model...my friends psylo xc and lots of other ones | | Bike Setup: | da bomb xlr8r with deore/xt-8 speed derailleur..hg-8 speed flywheel..xt shifters....specialized pedals...marcozchi z1 dropoff yr 2000 | | Bottom Line: | it's not that good and it's not that bad
the good thing is that it's plush....at least it was....
the bad is that it bottoms too easy, too much flex...the worst thing was that it shrinked!!!....how sad..
i will replace once i get enough money
btw i m 15 and i weight around 150 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin N
a Weekend Warrior
from B.C Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Gimp | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | 2000 lime green drop off, stiff springs, set at 4"
Everything | | Weaknesses: | Nothing at all, a excellent fork | | Similar Products Used: | Psylo sl, z3 qr 20 | | Bike Setup: | Da Bomb Sputnik, 26,24 full disc | | Bottom Line: | Excellent fork, recommend to all, Its Nice and stiff, it doesnt flex, its plush on the trails, and perfect for every kind of riding! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Farrell
a
from South of England
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | winchester | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | forest leisure cycling | | Strengths: | plush, look wicked, stronger than most. | | Weaknesses: | springs too soft, flex, cracking noises under braking, 'M'Brace is pretty weak, mine broke after a stack. | | Similar Products Used: | other long travel marzocchis | | Bike Setup: | spooky bandwagon 24", back hope, DMR wing bars, 24" halos. (dirt jump stuff) | | Bottom Line: | good forks but like any product they can be broken. If u dirt jump put them down to 110 mm this may reduce flex and make them last longer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris gray
a Weekend Warrior
from england
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | horleys | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | halfords | | Strengths: | i do jump with them and have had no problem with them they are the best single crown forks ever!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | I havent yet found any yet !!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | jr.t's | | Bike Setup: | saracen with full xtr groupset hope enduro discs and bomber z1 drop offs | | Bottom Line: | they are the best forks i have ever ridden on and the plushness is fapping excellent | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andre
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | cycle st-laurent | | Strengths: | evrything about it from the beatiful polished surface that goes with all bikes to the F@#$%$# plushness that will make u buy it again | | Weaknesses: | none this thing is awsome | | Similar Products Used: | psylo sl, maitou x-vert | | Bike Setup: | i drive a hardtail and i love riding off road. my giant atx 840 is godlike now that i have the dropoff | | Bottom Line: | if your a freeride tupe of guy and you like plushness get this fork. P.S.dont worry if anyone tells you that its to heavy becuse it doesnt ma a difference | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bag
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | plush, nice long travel; reletively sturdy for a single crown fork; disc brake mount, | | Weaknesses: | ugly orange color, my stanchion tubes were a bit worn out when I bought them, so they don't slide as smoothly as they should. | | Similar Products Used: | RST Aerosa with 3 1\2 inches of travel;
Manitou Spyder (cheap); Noleen cross-link (weird) | | Bike Setup: | 1998(I think) K2 Proflex 4000 full suspension(4 1\2 inches rear travel; Bomber Z1 Drop-off; Avid mechanical disc (front); XT v-brake (rear); Titec Hell-bent riser bar; | | Bottom Line: | These forks really made a huge improvement to my bike, the Noleen cross-link fork didn't have enough travel for any real off-roading. The bike rides more like a free-ride bike now. The forks also allowed me to install a disc brake on the front of the bike which is a bonus (my frame doesn't have the disc brake mounts on the back, nor did the Noleen fork). These forks are definately worth more than the 200 bucks I spent on them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Smith
a Downhiller
from Sheffiled ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Chainbreaker | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Winstanleys | | Strengths: | YEAR 200 MODEL+ COOL BRACE Good value for the money. Easy to twiddle with. Don`t need to maintenise them very often. Good for jumpin` with | | Weaknesses: | I took a big nosediving stack, and bent the brace badly one end of the brace was 1cm further foward than the other side. Gotta be careful with tighteneing up the bolts on the crown-too tight and the forks creak, too loose and the stachions start to slip. | | Similar Products Used: | My friends` Dropoffs. Other Bombers (the good quality bombers ie, not Z5s`+ Z4s`) | | Bike Setup: | 24" identiti, Z1 Dropoffs, Halo+Doublewides+Gazzaloddis, Planet X cranks-buy them they`re good | | Bottom Line: | If you want good forks for jumpin`, lightish DH, street etc. but don`t want to shell out nuff dolla, then these forks are great. Reassuringly weighty, appart from the brace coz it weighs nothing (bad thing). Apparently they make a clicking noise if you put a 5" spring kit in `em, so best run 4", especially for jumping. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Ratcliffe
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Aston hill | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin oop north! | | Strengths: | Tough big fork, easy to set up. Good & prompt tuning advice from Windwave & Marzocchi via net on set up, Oil levels springs etc. Loads of adjustment! | | Weaknesses: | Weight, bit flexy, took ages to bed in. Standard spring rates too light and made noise. I don't even get air and run the super heavy springs. Remember too use synthetic oil! | | Similar Products Used: | Judys(a good fork but a joke as 63mm standard on a fs bike with 4" of rear travel, Ok it was 1997) | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 990 with goldtec LT 4.5"plates.(yes it's still alive) Used for fun offroading / everything | | Bottom Line: | Iv'e got the QR20 version (2000 I think) £200 inc disc wheel (bargain)with hope E4's. I have reduced the travel to 110mm as the 130 set up felt too flexy & made the steering a bit slow and chopper like. I don't know if i'm imagining things but the small hits don't seem to get absorbed as well as with the Judy's. Maybe the bushings are still wearing in! Anyway I was going to go for psylos but after reading the reviews maybe I can put up with a reliable 4.5lb fork for a little longer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sam
a Weekend Warrior
from north shore
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | boogieman | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | simon bike shop | | Strengths: | Super plush. Dont bottom/top out. Good adjustment. | | Weaknesses: | A bit flexy, M arch | | Similar Products Used: | RST 381s (big piece of crap) , 2001 rock shox phylo xc | | Bike Setup: | Kona scab with 2001 z1 drop off with QR20+ | | Bottom Line: | These are some of the nicest shocks ive ever tried. smooth plush | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Donnie Fisher
a Weekend Warrior
from Largs, Scotland
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction online | | Strengths: | long plush travel, looks, strength | | Weaknesses: | a little flexy on the very small stuff when under a heavy setup | | Similar Products Used: | previous fork was a Manitou Spyder - utter crap - beshing wore out, rubber inside shredded to bits even using correct grease. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Marlin Frame ( 98 - before they changed to crazy colours ), XT V brakes, XT front / rear mech, D521 rims on XT Disc hubs, coda clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Quite simply, Marzocchi are the D's B's. I never thought they could be so plush once bedded in. I have still to do my first oil change ( aint clocked enough miles in yet ).
I set mine to be quite soft as I've broken my wrist in the past and its now quite weak so I need to soften the blows from the trail. That being said i still dont bottom it out.
It has put my geometry out of shape a little, but its more than bearable for the ride you get. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keir Atkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Bury s.t Edmunds, England
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Great Barton | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Tri the Bike | | Strengths: | They asist you while riding better than any aother fork, they are easily adjustable and I reckon they perform better than the more expensive Z1CR. Since I've had them they have greatly improved my riding they also are quite comfortable If you mess up a drop off. | | Weaknesses: | I've just got them back from a repair because the adjuster seized up, but they are still easily adjustable. | | Similar Products Used: | Z1CR | | Bike Setup: | DMR Trailstar frame, 24-7 3-peice cranks, DMR speed guide, XT rear mech (9 speed), XT brakes, Planet X BMF back wheel. | | Bottom Line: | Great fork better than more expensive Z1CR | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Baker
a Downhiller
from Shrewsbury, shropshire, UK
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Warncliffe Forest, yorks. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Mil ordr in the UK (£300) | | Strengths: | simple, effective, and cood compression ratios. easy to strip down, and maintain. (plus spares are easy to come by). | | Weaknesses: | simplicity makes damping adjustment poor, and the brace is inherantly weak. being such a long travel fork (5.1") it is prone to flexing. As such, when using disk brakes, the fork flexes a little more than usual. | | Similar Products Used: | rst 4.5" mozo pro's (poor, bendy and weak)
Z1 bam's ('99 model)
Jr T's (2001 and 1999 models) | | Bike Setup: | 14" dual slalom frame (alloy) d321 rims, Hope 4-pot calipers and Bulb hubs... usual stong brit DS/BSX bike. | | Bottom Line: | I ride hard and fast, usually in crappy british weather. I do a good few miles each day, and have ridden these forks hard. I've replaced the seals and bushes once, and that was easy, as were the numerous oil changes.
Good solid hardware, really usable, and easy to maitain and repair.
Solid. Love it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RockyMountainRider
a Weekend Warrior
from N/A
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Single Track and Dropoffs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$568.00 | | Purchased At: | Olympia Cycle and Ski Prince George | | Strengths: | Major Plush, cool looking, not extremely springy(no topping out), slow down etchy steering on normally short suspension bikes, low maintenance, Company Name | | Weaknesses: | WHAT!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Magnums, Rock shox Jetts,Judys and Pyslos | | Bottom Line: | Great shocks. Take dropoffs and jumps landings with ease. Not overly springy like some shocks I have rode with. They have a bit a flex on an XC frame but its only really notacable under braking. Nice plush travel is notacable in any kind of terrain. If you freeride or just want some nice plush forks these are for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob cole
a Downhiller
from London, England
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Sandy Heath, Hampstead, London | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Purchased At: | GBR£230 at Evans, London | | Strengths: | Superstrong, very stiff, 5" of plush quality suspension travel, look trick too! | | Weaknesses: | won't fit an XC frame, oil noisy till it warms up | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Judy XC (100mm), Rockshox Psylo, Judy DH, Mojo 4.5 | | Bike Setup: | Identiti Dr. Jekyll, Bomber z1 dropoff, Deore Hydraulic discs, D521 on XT disc hubs, Kore B-52, Easton EA-50, 24/7 Dark Angel cromoly cranks, Roox Chain animals, Gazzolodi 2.3 | | Bottom Line: | Just come off Judy XC's which were s**t, broke the damper rod doing a jump, they never felt like 4" of travel, damping was rubbish over fast trails, springs too soft. Tried the Psylo XC which has 1" more travel and felt stiff, but had same crappy Hydracoil damping as the Judy. Went for z1 drop-off bomber, best fork purchase I've ever made!
The Bombers have completely changed my bike. I've got a dual/jump frame and this 5" travel fork has slowed down the steering (which was nervous with the Judy's), I've set them with 1" of sag which has left 4" of sweet travel for my stunts. The ride quality is incredible, the damping works at any speed and I've survived some stupid jumps gone wrong - like 20' distance gap at 6'up, dropped straight onto my front wheel, fork fully compressed yet I rode it out. Followed by the same jump, but one foot breaks loose and my body / both legs ends up on the left side of the frame, landed way hard and rode it out! With the Judy fork I would have been hospitalised on either of these mishaps. Confidence has now gone through the roof!
People always whine about the weight, but they weigh the same as my Judy's and seem 5x stronger. Also look wicked - moto-x beefy style. Seem very well screwed together, can see them lasting long time. Only negative would be squishy noises until oil warms up. Quite sticky when new, take time to break in (Judy's are always plush out of box unlike Bombers which are tighter when new) Highly recommended | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Saucy
a Cross Country Rider
from Webster, NY
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Geneva Bicycle Center | | Strengths: | Nice travel, stiff, sweet ride | | Weaknesses: | Squishy noise, not quite as plush as my Z1 MCR, QR20 is pretty lame | | Similar Products Used: | Z1 MCR, Noleen Pro Carbon, Manitou Carbon | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC1, pretty much stock except for Time pedals, Panaracer Fire DH 2.3 tires, better seat and grips. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is sweet. Not quite as sweet as my Z1 MCR but definitely a sweet fork, I'm not the least bit disappointed. However the QR20 is a total joke, I just leave the front wheel on the bike. Overall just awesome, minus 1 chili for the stupid QR20. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Grim
a Downhiller
from S.L.C. UT
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | holy cow | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike World | | Strengths: | soak up all the small stuff, haven't bottomed em yet(only ridden em four times off road). these things are plush and rigid for a single crown. QR20 stiffens things up and makes em steer well. Point em and they go there. | | Weaknesses: | QR20 isn't a quick release, but it is well worth the time. some might say they are heavy, but I say all the better. Squishy noise when compressed(obviously the oil), but I don't mind when they perform this good. | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 Bomber 4" Z3 air, they were good too, but I got a great deal on an upgarde so I couldn't pass it up. | | Bike Setup: | 00' Spec. Enduro Comp, nothing stock, not even the paint. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a great single crown, long-travel, freeride type fork pick one up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
barks
a Weekend Warrior
from pembroke ontario
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | something new | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$688.00 | | Purchased At: | rebec and kroes | | Strengths: | solid platform, smooth travel top to bottom, easy to maintain | | Weaknesses: | little flexy, like all forks it doesn't come set up for a 200+ lbs rider so you must invest in the correct springs | | Similar Products Used: | manitou sx | | Bike Setup: | alum. hard tail, xt | | Bottom Line: | great fork for the money. take out of the box slap it on and go. Swapped springs for 130mm and it has been fantastic. I am 200plus pounds and have bottomed it maybe twice off a five foot drop off. great ride and adjustability. zero maintenance and zero problems so far. Colour looks good on a black bike but who cares, this ain't no fashion show. no boots put spray a little silicon on the legs and they are easy to clean.don't forget to get the smaller top out spring when you upgrade to 130mm of travel! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mateusz
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, ON
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | wolf's trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Strengths: | long travel, no flex, plush, durable product | | Weaknesses: | no lockout, heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Marzzochi 500 XC (poor), RST mozo pro | | Bike Setup: | TRUE NORTH custom made chromoly with mixed components | | Bottom Line: | NO problems whatsoever, highly recommend this beast but maybe a bit too much for XC, heheheh | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Gunn
a Downhiller
from Northants
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hopton | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Julies | | Strengths: | Stong, plush, but only move on the big hits, which is good for jumping and 'big hits'. hard to bottom out, value for money. | | Weaknesses: | some flex, not much adjustment. | | Similar Products Used: | rockshox psylo | | Bike Setup: | Identiti dr jekyll frame, hope on D521's, tioga seat, stem & tyres, hope discs, azonic bars, xt stuff, and beastin' stickers | | Bottom Line: | Good overall fork for the money, good for big hits, jumping and some DH, but not realy plush enough for competition in DH. But still a good fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NICK WARDEN
a Downhiller
from KIPPAX, LEEDS, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | LOCAL WOODS/QUARRY/JUMPSPOT | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | SECOND HAND | | Strengths: | FOR THE 99 MODEL:
PLUSH
TRACKS WELL
GOOD FOR JUMPING | | Weaknesses: | LIME GREEN - GOT THEM SPRAYED GOLD
NOISY- SQUELCHY
DIVE, DIVE, DIVE
BOB, BOB, BOB
ALL TRIVIAL AND NOT IMPORTANT | | Similar Products Used: | MONSTER T'S, BOXXERS, JUNIOR T'S, LEFTY, MORE Z1'S, JUDY RACES, XC'S AND SL'S | | Bike Setup: | 1999 KONA NUNU FRAME, GOLD Z1 DROP OFF'S, 24-7 3-PC CRANKS AND DARK-ANGEL BARS DMR CHAIN CAGE, V8'S, MAVIC 521'S ON HOPE BULB FRONT AND DEORE REAR. LX GROUP | | Bottom Line: | GREAT FORKS APART FROM A FEW MINOR NIGGLES WHICH ARE PROBABLY DOWN TO ITS AGE. BUT FOR £50 QUID I CAN'T COMPLAIN | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Weekend Warrior
from kelowna bc
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | RIDDLER | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Kelowna cycle | | Strengths: | These are sweet single crown forks, super plush 5 inch travel!!! | | Weaknesses: | could use lockout | | Similar Products Used: | z.1's z.3's z.5's psylos | | Bike Setup: | Fisher level betty, not a thing stock on it, lx, superdeluxe, z.1, 2.65 tires | | Bottom Line: | these are really sweet forks, if you are considering a new long travel fork get these!! they are cheap and work wicked! i have done 7 foot drops on them, and after 10 hours i broke them in!!! but yah they are super sweet forks. GET THEM NOW!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David M
a Downhiller
from Beverly,MA(north shore rider)
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Brass balls and trail 66 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Landrys bicycles | | Strengths: | This fork is unbreakable, very adjustible, practicly no travel to DH ready travel. | | Weaknesses: | Time consuming to change travel settings, BIG DEAL! | | Similar Products Used: | Z3 QR20, Manitou supernova, and last years Z1, and the Z1MCR QR20 | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC AC1, 6" rear travel, sun synolite rims, hayes disks, XTR cranks, bb, and derailers, RF seatpost and headset and stem, hellbent bars. XTR rapid fire shifters, Shimano 545 pedals./ | | Bottom Line: | This fork can take the DH awsome, it can also take the long XC rides to get to the DH places, u dont have to walk ur bike, u can ride it. This fork can make 5-8' drops no problem, it doesn't like little drops though because it is so easy. This fork is a beuty, u better buy it. It came with my bike, but if i was building the bike i probably wouldn't have been able to decide beetween the MCR or the Dropoff Z1, they r both so nice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete Wallis
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Jumpspot | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperCycles | | Strengths: | Super Strong, super plush, light, excellent value for money, stiff, little maintainance needed. The oil damping makes a nice noise during compression. The right amount of travel for dirt jumping/dual. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough travel for serious downhill - (but they are dual forks!!) | | Similar Products Used: | Z1 Bam, Manitou (various), Rockshox (various) etc | | Bike Setup: | DMR Trailstar, Hope Pro disks/hubs, 24seven bars/stem/cranks, XTR group, Phatso rims | | Bottom Line: | These forks are the muts nuts! All that silky smooth travel lapping up the bumbs - Bombproof design + low maintainance means you can fix 'em on and forget them.
Very reliable, suitable for any riding - easy to adjust (as if u need to)
Lovely bouncers!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Dethlefsen
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Smokes on Seymour | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | This thing is plush. It gives you enough travel for freeride or downhill but without all the weight and cost | | Weaknesses: | There is nothing wrong with it. I am totally happy with it. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi Z3 with QR20. | | Bottom Line: | If you would like to freeride then this is the fork for you. Vey light compared to downhill but will still give you enough travel. Very plush. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark da Midget!!
a Downhiller
from Sidney
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mother hucker | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Got used | | Strengths: | Looks,nice and plush,easy to look after and light. | | Weaknesses: | Oil wears out quick and rebound starts to go up to fast. | | Similar Products Used: | Jr.t, Manitou xtvert's. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Torrent, 2001 Psylo's(kick ass shocks). | | Bottom Line: | Good dual slalom shock and freeride. If you don't know much about shocks and you want one to last get this one or psylo's.
For pics of bike with shocks go to www.marksphatair.homestead.com/phatairpage.html
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Beare
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | MCC Cycles | | Strengths: | Strong, good looking, a nice lot of travel, fully adjustable. Great for Downhill or Dual slalom. Easy to set up. | | Weaknesses: | Can't think of any! If you find any please let me know! | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou X-Verts | | Bottom Line: | An excellent fork! I have had no problems yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt hansen
a
from comox b.c canada
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | simons cycles | | Strengths: | I love it so plush. i'am a professional downhiller, and i am 13!! i only weight 100 | | Weaknesses: | BOTTOMS OUT TOO EASY | | Similar Products Used: | z-1 bam | | Bike Setup: | Kona MOKOMOKO with sun rims and rokko tires. and z-1 dropoffs. fox vanilla float R.full xtr | | Bottom Line: | HEY i"M ONLY 13 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jonathan stackhouse
a Downhiller
from mission,bc,canada
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | bear mt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | life cycles | | Strengths: | the z1 drop off is the best single crown fork on the market
this fork is for anyone,go buy it | | Weaknesses: | this fork is dope | | Similar Products Used: | judy 100 | | Bike Setup: | rocky element | | Bottom Line: | If your not a xc racer and you are looking for a new fork buy this one it is the plushest 5 inch travel fork i have used,low matenence works like a charm yo. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
horsey horsey
a Downhiller
from Kitchener
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | the cut, any urban with stan the man and the boys | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | Brauns | | Strengths: | super plush
takes anything i throw at it (i way like 215)
6 and 7 footers are easy with this baby | | Weaknesses: | it will probobly tear off the head tube on my fisher | | Similar Products Used: | manitou sx, x-vert super, x-vert r,
marzocchi monster T, Z1 QR 20, z4, mr. T, | | Bike Setup: | i used a negative spring out of a 98 z2 for negative spring
and stacked the stock neg. spring on top of the compression spring, it is much stiffer and now gets 139mm of travel,
BIKE- fisher bi sur, bontrager riser, race face cranks and huge flats | | Bottom Line: | wow with 139mm this fork is unbeatable for any similar price. it eats up everything | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a
from Beverly Hills, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$315.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Very smooth. Absorbes every bump. | | Weaknesses: | The springs are very loose. I would reccomend getting a heaver weight and stiffer springs. When you adjust the knob on the top their is a deffate difference when you increase the plushness but when you put it on the stiffest their isn't much of a difference | | Similar Products Used: | '97 indy xc | | Bike Setup: | Barracuda comp w/ 9.0 and Rock Shox seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I highly reccomend this fork | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Masta Jay
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ladies Only, Dave's Line | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Oak Bay Bicycles | | Strengths: | Plush, super plush, takes everything that you throw at it, i love this fork. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Jr. T | | Bike Setup: | 200 Norco XCS2, Vanilla Rear, front Grimeca 2 piston disc, xt/lx, front and rear 2.4 inch rokko's, axiom seatpost and handlebar. | | Bottom Line: | BUY IT!!! It'll be the best fork that you will ever use, it's not to heavy but still gives you marzocchi quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd mcmeen
a Cross Country Rider
from seattle, wa, usa
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | seattle center | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | oil bath,5 inches of smooth travel,single crown design | | Weaknesses: | hard to get!! | | Similar Products Used: | judy xc,sid 100,monster t | | Bike Setup: | k2 proflex4000 set up for urban assault,spin rear,8speed triple up front big ring filed on lx cranks sun sub5 up front conti vert pro tires profile bar | | Bottom Line: | this is the best fork for true freeride bikes not downhill nothing better for the north shore unless you ride a dh.urban assault you cant do better smooth travel with no frame stress. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Downhiller
from victoria,australia
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any big stair gap | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | It puts up with anything! | | Weaknesses: | Bit too much flex | | Similar Products Used: | manitou mack 5s, fatty DL | | Bike Setup: | Slalom Azonic DS1, magura disks, Azonic chubby bars, Mavi 521 DT alpine wheels | | Bottom Line: | These forks are briliant get a set you wont be sorry! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a
from Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Super plush! Soaks up everything including your big mistakes. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Judy XC, Judy T2 | | Bike Setup: | Pipeline so, 5" front and 6" rear travel...perfect setup! | | Bottom Line: | If you're a 165 or heavier and doing 10 footers plus, get the heavier spring put in. Now that I've done that, up to 12 feet and I haven't bottomed it yet! Buy these forks! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Flying Circus/all the others | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | plushness...mmmmmm. amount of travel ( 5" ). they don't bottom out easily. that lime green color. | | Weaknesses: | flex. i got the year 2000 ones and i was surprised when i was told that that stock product only comes with 110mm of travel. i had to upgraded to 130mm. a little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Bomber z-3 Light | | Bike Setup: | Kona Pahoehoe. XT. maxxis tires. z-1 drop-offs. Easton components. rhyno lites & big mammoth. | | Bottom Line: | sweet shock. a little too much flex but hey, it has 5.1 full, sweet loving inches! ( of travel! ). they have a great feel ( classic bomber ) and excellent value for the money. i recommend these to anyone who wants to get lots of travel, a great feel, and bomb-proof strength, all for a good lookiing price tag. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JoeBob
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ned's Atomic Dustbin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | 5" of Plush, controlled travel, single crown, not too heavy, bombproof, relatively maintenance free. | | Weaknesses: | A bit flexy, single crown. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou X-Vert DC, X-Vert T, RockShox Boxxer ('98 and '00), Marzocchi JR-T, Z-1 QR-20, RockShox Judy 100. | | Bike Setup: | '99 Norco VPS-2, hope disks, etc. | | Bottom Line: | These are great freeride forks, the travel is about right, it's VERY plush, very little maintenance (it's been ridden in mud, etc. for about 8 months with no problems). I put the single crown as a benefit AND a weakness because of the added turning radius, but it also brings added flex. I can feel the fork flexing in rough corners and I only weigh 150lbs and am not an extremely aggressive rider. They're great for the money, and though I may be upgrading to Boxxers or MX-6s in the future (added stiffness and travel for DH racing) I'd reccomend the Dropoffs for anyone looking for a good, hassle free FreeRide fork. 5Chilis for the great Value, and 4 for the performance (I took off 1 for the flex) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sheldon Dyck
a Downhiller
from Boissevain
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Chaos (secret trail) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Super plush, nice to look at. | | Weaknesses: | way too flexy and the stiffest springs still don't allow me to take drops with out bottoming out incredibly hard, even with a heavier oil. | | Similar Products Used: | x vert r, white bros. dc 118, Rock Shox Boxxer, zzyzx | | Bike Setup: | Pipeline with mammoths, SDG big boy, race face, 9.0 shifters, derailleurs, hayes hydraulic, jr gazzalodi's, pro tapers. | | Bottom Line: | If you are over 200 pounds and you take drops bigger than 10 feet, don't get it. I've bent so many arches, even those envy ones. I'm gonna stick with the Boxxer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex von Esebeck
a Weekend Warrior
from Liphook (near Guilford)UK
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Older Hill, +Queen Elizabeth Country Park quarry | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | it has a very plush, a friend had RS Judy XLs and at first said that they were too plush..
now he wants to swap forks. These forks have saved me in some scary incidences! | | Weaknesses: | Some might say that they are too heavy, it doesn't bother me and i used to have the RS Judy FSXs which weighed less than 3lbs!
they do bounce a lot on uphills | | Similar Products Used: | RS Judy 100 and XLs- there really is no comparison with my Bombers! | | Bike Setup: | Club Roost Stinger frame, Azonic handlebar/stem combo. XTR wheels. | | Bottom Line: | these are ideal for those who are into tricky trail riding where the land is very rocky/bumpy. i am waiting for the day when another fork even comes close, especially at this price! £320. just do it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
danny bronsh
a Cross Country Rider
from israel haifa
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | high enduro to big hits and a great sus tune sys | | Weaknesses: | heavy.... | | Similar Products Used: | nothing like this...maybe a RSjudyXC...or a manitou SPYDER R | | Bottom Line: | if it wouldn't be so heavy it probaly would be a good one.
if u r a hard taken rider and u smack youre bike on the rocks with high power u need the z1 to hold on and keep riding but if youre a racer get u something lighter to put at youre front...(a SID would do .)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis
a Weekend Warrior
from Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | urban assualt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | very plush
5 inches
its a bomber | | Weaknesses: | a little flex but that can be cured with a envy arch | | Similar Products Used: | Z3 lights
Z2 bams
Z3 Qr-20 | | Bike Setup: | Kona chute
Z1 dropoffs
mammoths rims with rokko tires
soon to have chromoly profile cranks | | Bottom Line: | These are the sweetest forks, they have so much travel. I do a lot of street riding and i land hard sometimes, these forks just suck up the big hits very nicely. If you weight more than 175 and do big drops then i would recommend getting the stiffer springs, but other than that these forks rule. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitchell
a Weekend Warrior
from Hawaii, USA
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mililani | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Plush travel, five inches of plush travel. Did I say it is plush? Price. Polished finish looks Grrreeeaattt! | | Weaknesses: | Alittle flex, crown got loose a couple of times. Dives upon hard braking. | | Similar Products Used: | Boxxer, Jr. T, DC110, Z.1, X-vert R,Mr. T. | | Bike Setup: | Team LTS, XT everything, Z.1 Dropoff, Kujo tires | | Bottom Line: | I heard alot about the flex of the droppoff being that it is 5 inches and single crown. Being that downhill is not a huge part of my trail time, I thought that I'd give it a try. The price was right and so I thought "what the hey".
I was not disappointed. I took off the x-vert and could not believe the difference. This fork is very plush. I find myself going a whole lot faster on the rocky stuff than before. The more I ride, the more my confidence builds. I have ridden down some very rocky trails with tight switchbacks and mega dropoffs and I really have not noticed the flex too much. I am trying so hard to keep my butt in one piece, I don't find flex to be much of a problem at all. It goes where I point it and that is all that matters.
Anyway, for what it is, I find it to be a great fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Palmer
a Downhiller
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Plush 5" travel
Strong and beefy!
Awesome lime green colour!! | | Weaknesses: | There is a little flex which is noticible when climbing, but apart from that it rocks! | | Similar Products Used: | Lefty
Judy 100
Z3 light | | Bike Setup: | Intense Uzzi DH, hayes hydro, hugi hubs, thompson seat post, sram 9.0 shifters/derailluers... control tech bars, XT cranks | | Bottom Line: | This fork totally kicks ass, especially compared to those pussy ass Rock sux. 5" is plenty of travel to do drops and jumps. It is so plush, it is hard to feel the big hits aswell as the smaller ones!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fred Rufino
a Downhiller
from Biscaia Portugal
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | long travel yeah thats right works at low temperatures in winter, super smooth | | Weaknesses: | lacks a bolt through | | Similar Products Used: | White Bros DC118, Z2 | | Bike Setup: | freeriding hard tail | | Bottom Line: | If u can't afford the Z1 dual, the reg Z1 or the dual crown version then this is the fork u need. Its a marzocchi way better than any skinny rock shit or manitou!!! X-tra bonus u can fit large tires including gazza Jr 26x2.6. low maintaince cuz of the oil bath | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a Downhiller
from washington
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | long travel, durable | | Weaknesses: | there arent any | | Similar Products Used: | X vertr, Jr. t | | Bike Setup: | Gt timberline frame, full XT, Z1 drop off | | Bottom Line: | the best fork i've used has more travel than an x vert r and single crown. I think its just as good as a jr. t and single crown. Plusher travel than any other fork i've used. This is the best fork i've ever riden on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan
a Racer
from sd
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
anywhere | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
strong | | Weaknesses: |
to plush | | Similar Products Used: |
all single crown with 4' of travel or above | | Bike Setup: |
giant warp ds2 | | Bottom Line: | great exept get better springs | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a Downhiller
from washington
Date Reviewed: December 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
galbraith | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
long travel
It's a bomber | | Weaknesses: |
none that i notice there is a little flex but it dosent bother me | | Similar Products Used: |
X-vert R
Judy T2 | | Bike Setup: |
GT timberline, full LX/XT, spin wheel, chris king wheel, race face cranks, | | Bottom Line: | Best fork i've ridden with I think its great | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitch
a Weekend Warrior
from Hawaii
Date Reviewed: November 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Aiea Loop | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Very plush travel. Polished Sliders are cool. | | Weaknesses: |
Flex, but it seems the faster I go, the less I noticable. Upon hard braking, it seems that I use 4 inches of the travel. | | Similar Products Used: |
Boxxer, X-vert R, White Brothers DC110, Judy SL, Girvin Elite fork. | | Bike Setup: |
LTS team, Z~1 Drop-off | | Bottom Line: | I really like the fork. I got a chance to ride it on a real downhill...finally, and found that if I let it roll, the fork was soo plush. Taking off on the kickers made for a soft landing as well as making those nasty ledges not so nasty. I did find that if I braked heavy on a steep, the travel became way less. I guess I gotta get my weight a bit farther back. I felt the dive changed the geometry alot. Overall, I give it a two thumbs up! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith
a Weekend Warrior
from Courtenay, BC
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
I love them all | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
weight
travel
easy adjustability
performance | | Weaknesses: |
slight flex(very slight)
bobs on steep climbs | | Similar Products Used: |
Rock Shocks:Judy-100, Judy long travel cross country | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Raven-4000
Z1 Bam | | Bottom Line: | I originally wanted the 4 reduction kit. I thought 5 would be to much for cross county. Lucky I didn't!! This shock is so smooth. It is so good at obsorbing chatter in a high speed cornering, drop offs, log hops or anything you've got. I'm happy with my 5(I use every inch) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james dudley
a Weekend Warrior
from bournemouth
Date Reviewed: November 11, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
the plushest fork that i have had the pleasure of bouncing on. Strong, and not forgetting the famous 5 of velvety travel | | Weaknesses: |
none at all | | Similar Products Used: |
Judy 100,z3 lt, judy xc | | Bike Setup: |
azonic ds1,lx mavics with Tiogas | | Bottom Line: | go and buy one if you want the ultimate riding comfort. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross-Country Rider
from agoura hills
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
sissy, easy ones | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
plush, strong | | Weaknesses: |
noodly | | Similar Products Used: |
z.1 QR20 mister T | | Bike Setup: |
DBR X-6, set-up very downhillish | | Bottom Line: | try the QR 20 version, more torsionally stiff. also, bump up the oil viscosity to ward off the sharp impacts. i have the new QR 20 Mr.T, it rules. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BenX
a Cross-Country Rider
from that place
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pink Starfish..... | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Really plush (like all Marzocchi's), looks cool, 5 travel single crown (saves weight), soaks up everything | | Weaknesses: |
REEEEALLY flexy (and I only weigh 145 lbs), not as stong as needed for a fork with this much travel.................... | | Similar Products Used: |
Most of the high end Zokes, most rock sux, most Manitous, Noleens, etc. | | Bike Setup: |
Stock 1999 1/2 Kona Stinky Dee-Lux (w/ exception of Magura HS -33's) | | Bottom Line: | This fork disappointed me greatly. I thought it would ride a lot better than it does. It soaks up forward hits really well. Really plush as all Zoke's are. But on any terrain where there's any torsional forces (really rocky, irregular terrain) the fork flexes like mad torsionally, even though I'm a lanky ass mofo (5'10, 145). I mean it's knida hard to review this fork cuz it really feels awesome most of the time, but I think Marzocchi was a little overambitious trying to make a single crown 5 incher. It's one thing if your an older guy with a bad back and you just want a plush ride on the rec path, but if you really crank your bike hard on DH's with giant drops, etc., you're definiely gonna notic e the flex regardless of how much you weigh. Also, I was huckin' some big 10' cliffs the other day the brake arch on my fork twisted so my fork was wracked (legs were un-aligned). Let's face it, most 5 forks are intended to be used on terrain like this and you shouldn't have to worry about your fork failing while riding this stuff. This would never have happend with a Jr T or some other dual crown. And 5 of travel is just too wild to try to tame with one crown IMHO. If you want a good 5 travel fork, try the Z-1's bigger brother, the Jr T or Mr T. That's just what I did. You wont have any of the weaknesses I mentioned above with a dualie. I'd probably normally give the z-1 D.O. 3 chillies since it busted within the first month, but I'm sold on other Marzocchi products and I have to hand it to them for trying to make a 5 single so I give it 4 chillies. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Campbell
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
all of'em | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
allows death drops I couldn't do before - easily | | Weaknesses: |
Allows death drops I couln't do before, follwed with biff.
chaged bike geometry so standover height is limited, and the stem/barrs will hae to be tweeked. | | Similar Products Used: |
RS Quads 10,21R, bomber Z2's | | Bike Setup: |
New Santa Cruz Hecler with Z1 drop off, chris King Headset, RAce Face Air Risers, LX drive with XTR derailleur, XT Brakes (sqealing da*n things!) | | Bottom Line: | I love it. No Mtce. on this baby for 100 hours of wet Norshore riding. It should be better when I tweek the stem and bars to get the right cockpit. and hey, i can change 'em back to 4 if I want, too! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DARWIN
a Weekend Warrior
from SUDBURY ON
Date Reviewed: October 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
MAKIN MY OWN | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
ITS A BOMBER | | Weaknesses: |
NONE THAT I HAVE NOTICED,SOME SAY THAT IT IS FLEXY BUT TRY MY TEST WITH A JR.T OR A 4 IN BOMBER AND THEY ALL FLEX THE SAME.(FRONT WHEEL BETWEEN KNEES, TURN BARS) | | Similar Products Used: |
STRATOS MX 6 JR T 4IN BAM MONSTER T AND ALL OF THE ROCK SHOX JUNKKK! | | Bike Setup: |
Z1, KING, RACEFACE (RINGS CRANK), BLACK SPHIRE RING GOD,9.0 SHFTRS R DER., FLATS TIOGA 2.35, SDG,THOMPSON, XTR, MAMMOTHS. | | Bottom Line: | I WEIGH 240 AND STILL MANAGE TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE SKINNY LITTLE GUYS. THIS FORK IS THE CHEAP WAY TO GET 5 IN OF BOMBER ON YOUR BIKE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY SETUP I RIDE NORTHSHORE STYLE (MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ROCK IN SUDBURY) AND WE DO NOT BOTHER WITH ANY DISPOSABLE PARTS ON THE BIKES, THAT IS WHY I TRUST MY BOMB TO CORRECT MY MISTAKES FOR ME. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Takuma Ogihara
a Weekend Warrior
from Dobbs Ferry, NY
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Grahm Hills | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
great travel for a un-downhiller look fork. not as heavy for the weight/travel ratio. | | Weaknesses: |
very soft but that can easily be fixed. | | Similar Products Used: |
Z.2 atom bomb,
Rock shox judy xc | | Bike Setup: |
Friend's Jamis Diablo pro,
my kona king kikapu | | Bottom Line: | it couldn't get better than this. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stu Miller
a Cross-Country Rider
from Littleton, CO
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
just about any trail with rocks | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
130 mm (5 inches) travel
low maintenance
single crown | | Weaknesses: |
stock spring too soft
sharp edges on bottom | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou EFS
White Brothers SC90 | | Bike Setup: |
Titus Quazi Moto
Marzocchi Z1
Nuke Proof Superfly wheels
SRAM shifters, deraileur, levers, & brakes | | Bottom Line: | Never was a question which shock to get. Needed to match 4.5 to 5.9 inch travel on rear suspension. Didn't want triple crown fork with extra weight and potential slow speed turning restrictions. Upgraded to Speed Spring mediums. Best shock I ever owned. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SAVVY
a Weekend Warrior
from MANITOU
Date Reviewed: August 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
west bay's laxitive | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
PLUSH
ADJUSTABLE | | Weaknesses: |
VERY FLEXY | | Bike Setup: |
BRODIE ELECTRO | | Bottom Line: | THIS FORK IS THE PLUSHEST FORK I'VE EVER RIDDEN! BUT, THE FLEX CAUSED THE STANCHION TUBES TO FALL OUT OF THE CROWN. IWAS JUMPING OVER A SMALL HILL AT THE TIME SO WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED WHAT HAPPENED IT WAS TIME FOR A COUPLE STITCHES IN MY FOREHEAD! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simon Tschernomor
a Racer
from montreal,quebec
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
bromount | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
VERY PLUSH
130MM OF TRAVEL | | Weaknesses: |
BIT TO FLEXY | | Similar Products Used: |
RS 100
MANITOU X-VERT R
Z.1BAM
Z,1 ALLOY | | Bike Setup: |
KONA HAHANNA
DUAL SLALOM
Z.1 DROP OFF | | Bottom Line: | THIS KICKS ASS IVE TRIED MANY OTHER FORKS AND THIS ONE IS THE BEST! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kwg
a Cross-Country Rider
from SACRAMENTO
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Best fork for the $$
Smooth & plush | | Weaknesses: |
DIVE DIVE DIVE DIVE
Flexy
Heavier than some | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou FS-TI
Rock - Shox SID | | Bike Setup: |
FSR-XC PRO | | Bottom Line: | Great fork for the money - very plush; however, as other reviewers have said, it may be too much fork for regular XC rides. But it kicks ass on the big rocky stuff.
Big problem is DIVE in the corners and DIVE when braking. Also, it will raise the front of your bike significantly. I'm trying the 4 travel kit and a heavier oil to try and fix the DIVE. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Plush travel
5 inches of travel | | Weaknesses: |
A little flexy | | Similar Products Used: |
97 Judy
X-vert E
Quadras | | Bike Setup: |
SC Heckler
XT and Magura | | Bottom Line: | This shock is great in the technical terrain of the North Shore (Vancouver). It is also good as a part time DH fork. The Z1 Dropoff is not a very good XC fork (heavy and flexy), but if you are using it for XC you are not unleashing its full potential. If you do primarily XC riding buy a Superfly or a Z2. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MAD mike
a Downhiller
from netherlands
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Everything beyond 20% dh | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
super plush, lots of travel for a singled crown fork,the look,big tubes. | | Weaknesses: |
she could be a little stiffer, they must offer the fork in more different colours because not everybody love's green.(i do llove it) | | Similar Products Used: |
rock shox totall air (indy)
rodem type? | | Bike Setup: |
trek y3 xt-accasoires | | Bottom Line: | It is a really great fork and jou must buy it.
I have removed the ets so i got an centimeter more of travel
If you want an reliable fork that makes from downhill-track an pool table. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from NorthBay
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Lookout in North Bay | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Its a Bomber! Put it on and ride. | | Weaknesses: |
No rebound knobs | | Similar Products Used: |
Z2, White Brothers 118???, Hanebrink XCL | | Bike Setup: |
Came on my Kona Stinky | | Bottom Line: | This fork rocks. I put a Hanebrink on this bike but within a couple weeks it was sold and the z1 dropoff went back on. This thing is solid and works beautiful. If like me you weigh over 190 then get this fork and don't worry about whether it will break or not cause it won't. I've endoed and hit trees and all I did was get back on the bike and ride away. No adjustment or straightening.
This fork rocks! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James H
a Weekend Warrior
from Anacortes, WA
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Porcupine Rim of course... | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Price
Single Crown
Pretty Stiff
Open Bath | | Weaknesses: |
Weight | | Similar Products Used: |
'Zoke: z1s z2s z3s
White Bro's DC118
RS Judy 100 | | Bike Setup: |
GT LTS: XTR/XT,RS Super Deluxe, S 636.Hard Core Play bike | | Bottom Line: | Do NOT believe the Mags, 5 inches is only too much if yer a leg shavin', XC, roadie wannabe. This is probably the ultimate single crown Moab bashing fork. It does love drop-off's, but devourers the Pacific North-Wests eternally slick roots and rocks with a vigorous appetite. Freerider? You owe it to yourself to try this fork, if only in a parking lot (introduce it to every curb you meet... You'll fall in love, I promise).XC, weight counting, 3-inches-is-too-much, I-only-ride-sub 24lb'ers, need not apply. But then again, that type of rider wouldn't be lookin' at this review anyhow now would they.Try it,
Buy it,
Fly it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan Dole
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: June 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Travel,plushness,price. | | Weaknesses: |
Tad flexy. Both side crown allen bolts worked loose, lost two of them | | Similar Products Used: |
RST 461 DH | | Bike Setup: |
Giant ATX 990, noleen rear. | | Bottom Line: | Great fork with great travel. My complaints are minor these forks are great on my bike with 5 inches front and rear. Wouldn't go for anything else for what I ride. Great fork!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Wilbraham Ma,
Date Reviewed: April 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
friends backyard | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
inches of travel,plushness,softness | | Weaknesses: |
softness | | Similar Products Used: |
headshok,jusy xc | | Bike Setup: |
cannondale super v,xtr,valiant ceramic,time atac carbons,rockwerks | | Bottom Line: | great plushness but stiffer springs would be nice.Overall just a great fork for bombing,ds, dh and occasional xc. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TC
a Weekend Warrior
from Hawley, TX
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
great useable travel, stout, light for 5 travel | | Weaknesses: |
for a 5 fork-none | | Similar Products Used: |
RST Hi5, Judy XC, Zoke Z-1 | | Bike Setup: |
'98 Trek Y-33, AD-10 shock, Boulton rear swingarm, 5 travel both ends | | Bottom Line: | Well, it's a Zoke, and that says alot. No need for dual triple clamp forks unless you compete on real downhill courses--this 5 incher is all you need. Great serviceability and tuneability. This fork works everywhere--bring on the rocks. What else do you need? Well maybe not for serious diehard XC hardtail racers--there's the Superfly for that. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Juho Sipilä
a Weekend Warrior
from Hollola, Finland
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
dunno. Messilä maybe | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
travel, plushness, everything. | | Weaknesses: |
None so far (might be too flexy for heavier riders, 5inches and only single crown.. :) | | Similar Products Used: |
'97 Bomber z1, rst HI-5 | | Bike Setup: |
Custom-built Mountain Cycle MOHO STS, z1-drop-off, full xt, mavic d521s etc etc. | | Bottom Line: | Great fork for the money. (Here in Finland it cost under 300 pounds)
Very plush 5 of travel with only 1crown. I love it =)
Great color too ( I have the kawasaki green model)
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: March 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The Dump | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Dosen't Bottom out
Soo Plush
Dampanig | | Weaknesses: |
Bit Flexy | | Similar Products Used: |
Jr t's
Judy 100 | | Bike Setup: |
1999 Kona Stinky with
a fox vinilla r coil over | | Bottom Line: | This Shock kicks ass I've road it hard and havn't
bottom it out and man this thing is plush | | Overall Rating: |
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