|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Andy
a Racer
from UK
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$980.00 | | Purchased At: | well £495 in 1997 | | Strengths: | Perfectly smooth, very sensitive, perfect for Dual slalom, full use of travel. Very good all round fork, but not for going up hills - suck the energy out of you! freeriding, 4X, although todays forks come with more travel. Oil + dust seals last forever! Dust seals work to perfection! An exremely well made fork! Up there with todays Marzocchis. | | Weaknesses: | There is a compatibility issue for disc brakes, I just tried putting some new shimano XT Discs on mine. The IS standard mount changed after these forks were released, therefore todays IS mount adapters do not fit on the forks. Unless you have some Hope disc breaks or an IS mount from 1997/1998 then you will have to use V- brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | 1998 Z1 BAM | | Bike Setup: | Azonic DS1 (original) frame, Z1 1997s, Halo Tornado rims, XT hubs, Azonic double wall bars, Roox stem, Middleburn cranks, Flite titanium saddle, Kenda tyres. Attempting to put discs on... | | Bottom Line: | At the end of the day, these forks made history! I see young lads up at the course riding new 2006 Z1s, dirt jumper forks etc...Z1 97's do everything you need them to do, except XC! I have had these forks for 10 years now, and they still work better, smoother and more sensitive than todays ones. I feel that with marzocchi forks today you cant really be sure with what you are getting, but 9/10 years ago, everybody new that the Z1s were the best, and that you new they would be almost indestructable, even the pros admit that very few forks over the last decade can compare to the 97 Z1s! If marzocchi re-released these forks, with the updated disc mount, then the Z1s would set the standard again, like they did so brilliantly 10 years ago. So dont waste £500 on a set of brand new bombers, get hold of some 1997 Z1s for £100 and you will be laughing your head off all the way down the course! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gore 2000
a Weekend Warrior
from the continent
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | moto | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Smooth response, reliable | | Weaknesses: | I changed to heavy springs a few years ago and over the course of one summer, the ETA quit working. | | Similar Products Used: | Z2, Manitou 2, 66VF. | | Bike Setup: | Single speed with trail riding components | | Bottom Line: | Excellent fork. Mine never leaks oil, works almost flawlessly (see ETA problem above), and feels great. I don't mind the eta problem because I climb better with suspension anyway. Fork occasionally bottoms out (I'm ~170lbs.), but I have to be doing something X-country stupid to reach its travel limit. Fork is a little flexy, but any fork that isn't probably doesn't belong on a xc bike.
I completely recommend this fork to anyone that rides trails, even with the occasional natural drop. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg
a
from seattle
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | It's 9 years old and it works great. | | Weaknesses: | Can't really find any. It's 9 years old and it works great. | | Similar Products Used: | Variety of Marzocchi, RS, and Fox forks | | Bike Setup: | IRO Highlander singlespeed | | Bottom Line: | I needed a fork for a low-budget singlespeed, so I picked up a '97 Z1 Bomber with leaky seals for 40 clams on eBay. Changed the oil, put in some Enduro seals. Total expenditure 65 bucks. Also I had to scrape out the gummi-bear-like remains of the top-out elastomers and replace them with some random springs from another old Marzocchi. I think that maybe one of the damping cartridges is still clogged with the gummi stuff, but boy, this is a nice fork. It's not exactly light, but it's super responsive and has a nice soft landing towards the end of the travel. Not many adjustments, but I don't need to adjust anything, it works great with the stock springs. Conclusion: mountain bike fork technology was pretty much perfected by 1997. Buy an old Z1 and save your money for some nice disc brakes. By the way, this fork has two disc mounts, one on each side. It looks like you're supposed to run dual discs. Is this normal? Where the hell do you get a mirror-image caliper for the right leg? What about a hub that takes two rotors? How do you not kill yourself as soon as you hit the brakes? It's not like you've got 800 pounds of Honda Goldwing here to hold you down. What were they thinking? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from NorCal
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Downieville Butchers-3rd Divide | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | http://www.universalcycles.com/ | | Strengths: | durable, stiff, metallic ETA lever, dual coil | | Weaknesses: | 5.7#(?), does not use all 130mm of travel, even ever a 3~4' jump. initally had 105mm of travel, sent the Z1 to factory for warrenty work ($70 for shipping, four weeks), came back at 135mm travel. | | Similar Products Used: | '97 AtomBomb 70mm, '03 MX Comp ETA 100mm (one sided coil spring) | | Bike Setup: | Kona Lavadome steel, 8" rotor Hope M4, 2.5" & 2.0 UST tires, titanium handlebar & seatpost. UST rear wheel.
<27~28#. | | Bottom Line: | I use the ETA lever on road climbs toward end of an exhausting ride, where the reduced travel and increased stiffness helps (psychologically, more or less) to sprint over the hills. on dirt, i leave the ETA open for a full range. It's like having two forks in one... in performance wise and in weight wise...
I wanted a plush fork for all around xc trail riding that i can rely on...and my Z1 ETA QR delivers.
And when the going gets rough, the tough fork gets going, big time.
I like to climb, but I love the descends, fast and rough: 5" Z1, 8" M4 disk, and 2.5" WTB tires are fun and assuring combination.
The 2006 Z1 versions may be a tab lighter, if that matters to you.
130mm~150mm Z1 forks are among the best xc forks. As long as you're not a serious xc racer that may wish to have a Sid or a Fox 100, Z1s are the "bomb." | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Gramp
a Cross Country Rider
from South Jersey
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Fairhills DE | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$359.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Plush, ECC is nice a feature | | Weaknesses: | Creaking sound comes from the crown. Rides low in its travel. Has excessive amount of stiction after 6 months. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is great. I like it except it rides low in its travel. I have a Psylo that is on another bike. It ramps up nicer than the Psylo but is not a plush as the Z1. The Z1 shows alot of stiction which cannot be smoothed out(Teflon spray and such). I am 200lbs and 5'11" and ride aggresive fast single track. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Cisco
a Weekend Warrior
from Peterborough Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Fontains Sport and Cycle | | Strengths: | Nice and stiff, not too much travel, cool looking, proof. | | Weaknesses: | Super Bad disk mounts mine broke off doing an endo hope it was a fluke, got new ones workes fine | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shock jetts I know they are not the same, and bunch of bad ones crappy tire bikes lol | | Bottom Line: | Very good shock not to pricy great for free riding | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Schelske
a Weekend Warrior
from Aberdeen South Dakota
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Dakota Outdoors | | Strengths: | Stiff,Plush,Tracks Well,ECC Rocks,nice range of adjustments | | Weaknesses: | The Cryofit crown started makeing noise, but that can be fixed by poaring lock tight in between the stanchions and the crown | | Similar Products Used: | none like this | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Aavid Mechanical Disk, XT, Z1, TiTec | | Bottom Line: | This fork kicks ass for what it was made for. It can handel some of the roughest trails and come back asking for more. If your looking for quality 5" trave fork that will take beatting. This is a good choice.
I just wouldn't sugest this fork to someone that is worried about saving weight on their bike or someone that races. But other then that Its a great all around fork | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
F*ckEN H*ckEN
a Downhiller
from toronto canada
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with stunts, jumps etc. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | aj's cycle in stowe vermont | | Strengths: | really plush, not a rockshox, greatest single crown fork ever, really stiff with the QR20 dropouts, smooth,oh and plush by the way, did i mention it was plush | | Weaknesses: | nothing | | Similar Products Used: | shivers, monster t's, judy- xc's c and races, stratos s7, super t's physlo's (pieces o' junk) | | Bike Setup: | Rocky mountain reaper frame, hayes 8 inch discs, sram 9.o sl drive train, THE fender, double wide rims, other big stuff | | Bottom Line: | the greatest fork ever, inch per pound lighter then a SID, f*cken plush, strong, bloody strong actually, really plush, bomb-proof, buy this fork right now, get off the computer and buy it good | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith Elliott
a
from Newbury Park, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Michael's Bikes | | Strengths: | Stiff, real springs, real damping controls, ECC | | Weaknesses: | Price (only had to buy it once) and weight (I couldn't care less) | | Bike Setup: | Orange Sub-5, CrossRoc UST wheels, XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | Update to my past eview, where I had the fork installed on a Giant NRS. When I finally got my Orange frame I added the 5" springs to the fork, and put in an ECC cartridge as well. The ECC locks out the rebound, so the fork stays at the bottom of it's travel when you flip the switch. This is easily worth at least one gear while climbing, and gives tons of steering precision on really steep climbs. The whole bike goes down hills like no "cross country" bike has a right to, covers miles efortlessly, and still weighs 29 lbs. with a Pazzazz downhill bar and stem. That's with 5" travel on both ends and hydraulic discs, mind you.
As for the ECC-other brands are doing variable travel forks, and my buddy that owns a shop has gotten about half returned that he's sold, with stripped or broken bits inside the adjustment mechanism. He say he's NEVER had a Marzocchi warranty claim. And unlike compression lockouts, big hits are acting against the springs themselves, not the valving in the compression damping circuit. There's a special bottom-out spring in the Bomber, so it don't blow up if you forget to flip the lever back. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stephen cameron
a Cross Country Rider
from tasmania
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | myrtle gulley | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | treadlies kingston | | Strengths: | plush 5 inches of travel - absolutely silky smooth and irons out everything in your way. nice and stiff - tracks really well. also have had zero maintenance and trouble from this fork | | Weaknesses: | my z1 mcr is the 2001 model with the lockout on the travel - great for hillclimbs and road sprints etc BUT i find when locked out, the rim is bent towards the opposite side to the lockout (which is only on the left side of the fork) making it impossible to run the brakes (xt v's) nice and close to the rim (ie it rubs when locked out. i've even had some huge washers made up for the hub (equivalent to 20mm axle) to try and make it stiffer but still to no avail. i'd really be interested to hear from anyone who has had or overcome this problem. | | Similar Products Used: | mozo pros | | Bike Setup: | dodsun frame (firepower), xt components, rhynolite rims. | | Bottom Line: | awesome freeride fork. perhaps a little heavy for cross country racing. watch out for movement of the rim when using the lockout. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Hampton
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, Arizona USA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$420.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Loft | | Strengths: | Plush travel, super stiff. I have yet to bottom it out. | | Weaknesses: | The lockout on mine leaks off but it's no big deal. | | Similar Products Used: | Judy XC, Girvin Elite | | Bike Setup: | GT I-drive, Z1 MCR, Race Face cranks, Shimano xt everything else. Odi grips | | Bottom Line: | This isn't the fork for the gram-counting cc riders on the steel frame hardtails. No this fork is for hucking, for fast sections where you need your fork to track right without flexing all over, for pushing you into trying things you never knew you had the skills to do. It's consistent in ride and always asking for more. If this fork was a female, I'd ask her out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Balboa
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | got a pro deal | | Strengths: | super stiff, super plush, ECC is dope for technical climbs, 5.1 inches, SO MUCH FUN | | Weaknesses: | huh? | | Similar Products Used: | '99 Marzocchi Z-1 Alloy | | Bike Setup: | GT XCR-1000, XTR/XT w/ LX shifters, Sun Rhyno Lite Rims laced to XTR hubs, Thomson stem and post, Easton Monkey Bar, CK headset, 2.4 WTB Motoraptor tires, and of course a Z-1 MCR | | Bottom Line: | this fork is dope, prefectly balances my 4.6 inches of rear travel, so if you're looking for a relatively light, long travel fork, this is it. You may think climbing with 130mm of travel is difficult, but when you're able to lock out the rebound and decrease the travel to 2 inches, there's no problem at all. The absolute BEST single crown fork out there...no complaints here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Novis
a
from Montreal, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Stiff, looks good, PLUSH, MCR lockout is sweet. | | Weaknesses: | I weigh 180lbs and the medium springs suck. I bottom this fork out on anything higher than 3'. | | Similar Products Used: | none in a single crown! | | Bike Setup: | Kona Explosif 853, full XT, Azonic Shorty, Race Face Low Riser, Avid Arch Rivals, Salsa QR, XT Disc Hubs on Rhynolytes, Race Face Turbine LP's, big ol 2001 Z1 MCR | | Bottom Line: | The medium springs suck, royally! And it sucks to not be able to buy them with heavy springs already installed. Now I have to spend more money to get new springs so I don't ruin the fork. You should be able to order the fork with the necessary springs. Anyway other than that it is super plush, stiff, and great tracking. The guy who has 200mm (8") rotors on his fork should never have put them on anything other than a 20mm axle. Duh the crown can't handle the forces. A 6" rotor will be fine on the standard dropouts. It sounds like there is a defect in the stauncions pressed into the crown of his fork. I ride with a couple of guys who ride 6" rotors on standard dropouts and they have nothing but praise for the fork! The 130mm of travel is sweet and rolls over everything.
I only give this fork full rating when it is DIALED IN. If the travel is too stiff or too soft the fork sucks (as will any fork!) I highly recommend everyone saving up for the 2001 Z1 MCR. It is the best single crown on the market! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shawn
a Cross Country Rider
from santa cruz
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mailbox | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Another Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Great plush travel makes me more than I am. Feels solid. 3 inch lock out point is great for the long climbs; road sprints. | | Weaknesses: | Servcie. Marzocchi sucks on this front. An O=ring went out on my for during month two so I went in for repair. Somehow the fork was lost in being shipped back to the bike shop. Marzocchi would not issue a new fork until they figured out what to do. Its been about 6 weeks now and I'm still w\o my basically new $600 fork. I called them on a Friday and was told they'd be getting a check from UPS and would probably ship a new replacment out on the following Monday as if somehow I should have to wait (forkless) while this mess gets worked out. The week passed and nothing ever showed up. The bike shop is a confused and dissapointed as I am. I guess you would have thought I'd have leaned with my 1st Z1 being shipped \ built by Marzocchi without the topout springs installed on my four inch build Z1. Everything I read about the Psylo and the service of RockShox has me looking in that direction because this really sucks! | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 Z1 CR (4 &5); 2001 Z1 MCR | | Bike Setup: | SC Chamelon; SC SuperLite. | | Bottom Line: |
A good product is more than the sum total of its performance and cool factor. We ride and we ride hard so things do fail and then we are at the mercy of the customer servcie department and I'm not convinced Marzocchi has one. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jens
a Downhiller
from Muenster, Germany
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Buhl Bikes in Germany | | Strengths: | long travel since it's a single crown fork; perfect suspension performance; price | | Weaknesses: | durability | | Similar Products Used: | Judy 100, Jr T | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR, Z1 MCR, Hayes, Mavic D521, XT-stuff, ... | | Bottom Line: | OK, the rating needs to be explained: The performance of this fork is fantastic. No comparison to the Judy100! Rebound-adjustment works pretty good. So if you're not going THAT big, take this fork.
But after 6 months of riding and only 2 months using a Hayes with the 200mm-rotor the fork is scrap... :( The whole unit of the crown needs to be replaced including the stanchions since the stanchions cause noise in the crown because of a material defect when braking (I'm sorry I don't know the correct english terms for that).
This fork definitly does not like tough braking and especially nose wheelies...
Important: I recommend to take only the QR 20-version if you want to use a disc brake! Not only because of the durability but also because of the stiffness!
The rating is for the normal Quick-Release model only. 5 chilis for beeing the best looking single-crown fork on the market. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan
a
from uk
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | the amount of travel, the quality of travel, the strength, looks nice on my bike, cope with more on the trail than i can, which is cool | | Weaknesses: | ok, its a little heavy, specially because im light, but you know, compromises and stuff | | Similar Products Used: | rockshox. not impressed | | Bike Setup: | zaskar with xt mavic wheels with nice yellow hubs and z1s | | Bottom Line: | exceptional travel and strength
it will improve whatever riding you do | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Cooke
a Downhiller
from United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Cove | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | www.supercycles.co.uk | | Strengths: | Silky smooth, you can't bottom them out, look the mutts nuts! | | Weaknesses: | Weaknesses? | | Similar Products Used: | RST Mozo Pro's, RST 281, Rock Shox Indy S, Marzocchi Jr T. | | Bike Setup: | Coyote Dual, Hope Disc, Hope/Mavic Wheels, Azonic bits. | | Bottom Line: | BUY THIS FORK. It gives you so much confidence! It makes you ride better without a doubt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Neiles
a Downhiller
from Annapolis, MD
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Patapsico State Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | my boss at the bike shop i work at | | Strengths: | Straight up da bomb. plush, smooth, like butter, etc. | | Weaknesses: | are you kidding. what a bomber Z1, a weakness. hell no | | Similar Products Used: | rock shock pyslo xc, sid xc | | Bike Setup: | 4 banger xtr, king, hayes, hugi.da bomb | | Bottom Line: | They best fork ever made for free riding. I can't believe it not, no wait, it is butter. Like $500+ butter, but the down right best butter i have owned. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TLtheHun
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountain View, CA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the ones that go downhill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$438.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | damping control and adjustability, serviceability, no plastic anywhere except for spring seat | | Weaknesses: | weight, I guess, although this might be the practical minimum weight for a 100mm travel fork that works, is durable and doesn't cost $1000; duplicating fork with lighter metals would surely get the weight down and the price up | | Similar Products Used: | 98 Judy SL | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bottom Line: | My 2000 Z.1 CR arrived with a broken topout spring and the oil level at 70mm, low by 20mm according to the specified standard of 50mm.
I had removed the cap assemblies to confirm that the red “heavy” springs were in my fork and found that paint had flaked off into the oil and that the oil level was low (70mm). Damping was unaffected by the seemingly low oil level and it may be that Marzocchi is sending them out with lower oil levels to make more of the travel accessible to more riders as a lower oil level will reduce the overall spring rate.
At that point, I decided to disassemble as far as practical, flush the internals and refill with Redline synthetic 5-weight @ 50mm in both legs. That’s when I found the broken topout spring. There was no sign of the 1 ½ coil that had broken off so it must have been assembled with a broken spring.
After a few emails to Marzocchi’s tech department, each of which was returned the next business day, I had a new pair of topout springs within a week. Excellent communication and service.
This fork replaces a ’98 Judy SL with which I’ve had no mechanical problems but has poor damping characteristics, limited adjustability and very limited tuneability with too little rebound damping that meant that it took a few cycles for the bike to settle after a jump or hard corner entry. Lent no confidence. It was light for a coil fork at 1512 grams (3.33 lbs) with about 190mm of steerer and a Chris King lower race.
My 2000 Z.1 CR with “satin” sliders weighs 2102 grams (4.624 lbs) with about 190mm of steerer, 50mm oil height and a Chris King lower race so I added almost 1.3 pounds which seemed like a horrible amount of weight to add but the added weight is nothing in
comparison to the instant increase in confidence that I now have in the front end and the
fork is working as POORLY as it’s ever going to. The bushings and seals still need to break-in and all I did with setup was set the preload to zero, open the compression all the
way and adjusted the rebound until it felt about right.
Climbing is something I have to do not want to do so I was prepared to live with whatever difficulty would be added by the Z.1. Again, it hasn’t been a big deal. Between the stiff springs resisting compression and topout springs resisting extension, the fork bobs very little with my climbing style which is standing (saving my balls and my personal Hungarian sausage for something infinitely better than riding UP another F’in hill) and chugging along in the biggest gear that I can sustain easily. If anything, the added weight of the Z.1 compared to the Judy is helping more to keep the front end down than it is hurting by pushing more weight. In fact, with the Z.1 my Heckler carries 50% of its 27.0 lb weight on the front wheel.If I find it to be too front-heavy, I’ll buy a shorter stem (105mm x 10 now).
With my Heckler and 170# weight, the only setup change I've made to the rest of the bike was to install a 350# shock spring in place of the #300 to balance the bike and raise the rear end a little for cornering.
These forks are easy to service and tune and return excellent control and steering precision. Customer service has been excellent. Downloaded tech and tuning manuals are clear and informative.
Allowing a broken topout spring to make it into my fork is obviously bad quality control but luckily I found it and it wasn’t a big deal for me. I would recommend to anyone that buys these or any other coil Marzocchi fork to take steel wool or Scotchbrite and remove the marking paint from the main springs to keep the paint out of the oil, valving and bushings.
I'm giving 5's because this fork is easy to work on, just plain works and has brought trust to my front end, without which I may as well go back to riding motorcycles.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Downhiller
from Ringwood, England
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them as long as the jumps are big | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bicycle world in home town | | Strengths: | These forks are ace, they take out all the bumps really well small or big. Only ever bottomed them ot once and that was doing a 12 foot drop off on my hard tail an dboy did it hurt. | | Weaknesses: | none are you mad | | Similar Products Used: | Judy 100, JRT's, Drop offs, boxxers, MX6's, Z3, Z5, the list goes on | | Bike Setup: | Orande Air O, Z1's blacke spire, XT, Azonic, Tioga, Fire Pro DH's, Hope up the front | | Bottom Line: | These forks are the best you can buy and i wound not by any thing else escept for a pair of shivers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Auto (HARDCORE)
a Downhiller
from OREM, UT
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rock Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Aardvark | | Strengths: | Small and big bumps. It will make it Fell like you riding a Cadillac with the Northstar system. Strong and can take one hell of a beating. | | Weaknesses: | hmmmmm..... Let me think....... NO!!!!! duh!!! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Race Face bars, stem, cracks, chainrings and seat post. SRAM 9.0 grip shift setup, Sun Rhino light rims, Coda expert hubs. Avid Arch Rival 4.0. | | Bottom Line: | This shock kicks ass and for downhilling there is nothing better!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave E
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Julie's cycles | | Strengths: | cant bottom it, smooth once worn in, looks v. good. 4"-5" travel option. easy to change main springs | | Weaknesses: | poor finishing, (machining around legs is uneven, scrapes on bottom of legs, poor polishing around brake pivots) set up for heavy riders, not enough range of adjustment in the compression damping, takes ages to bed-in. even after putting in softer springs, i don't get the full benefit of all the travel. changing travel option requires lots of messing with oil. quite pricey, but hey, this is the best single crown coil sprung they made in 2000. | | Similar Products Used: | Judy XC, which is plusher for someone of my weight (150lbs) | | Bike Setup: | 99 FSR comp, '00 Z1CR, Hope O2 | | Bottom Line: | Good, but could be improved for the benefit of those who aren't quite so hefty. The best way this could be done would be to provide a greater range of compression damping, so an oil change isn't required to get a fast enough compression stroke. The adjustability of rebound is cool. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Flentye
a Cross Country Rider
from Redding, CA
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Chimney | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | The Chain Gang, Redding,CA | | Strengths: | Absorbs the trail for my 275 pounds on my 35 pound Giant WarpDS2 | | Weaknesses: | none other than won't pull me uphill | | Similar Products Used: | low end suntour m80 that did little good. | | Bike Setup: | Giant WarpDS2 with all new frame & componets because I have broken everything. Handle bars, stem, brakes and shifters are orginal. | | Bottom Line: | I use all five inches of travel of the Z1 to keep me from flying off my bike. I've slamed that fork hard and it has not failed, yet. The Z1 greatly improved the bikes performance. Now I ignore most obstacles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Carey
a Downhiller
from Shottisham
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ufford | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Everything, there is nothing that you can fault on these things. If everything else is bust on your bike, you will always know that these babies will be there soaking everything up. I've jumped them and DS, DH and they have worked perfectly. | | Weaknesses: | The shop that serviced them recently had a problem with them, but the whole way through Windwave said they would give me new ones if they couldn't fix them | | Similar Products Used: | JNr t | | Bike Setup: | Zaskar, L&M cranks, full XTR, Z1's and Mavic | | Bottom Line: | The dogs bolloks, strong as an Ox
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Portsmouth, England
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Q.E. Country Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Good Design
Strong
Very Active
No Stiction
2 Disc Mounts [ on 97 ] | | Weaknesses: | Nothing Much .... Seals Die After a Year Of Hard Riding
can't fit 3 " tyres | | Similar Products Used: | Z3 | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 990
Hope Pro 4 Pot Front Disc
Magura Rear
Shimano XT / XTR Parts
Azonic Stem
Club Roost Hardcore XT Bars
Big Un Hubs
D 321 and D 521 Rims
Michelin Wildgripper DH Tyres | | Bottom Line: | This Fork is one of if not the best single crown long travel fork......i cetainly noticed a massive difference over my crappy 97 judy sl.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Efren Serrano
a Weekend Warrior
from San Juan, Manila, Philippines
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | streets of Manila | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Plush...plush...plush... wide range of tuning. Very responsive. An all around big-hit, I-can-take-it-if-you-can-dish-it type of fork. Love that machined crown!!! | | Weaknesses: | There is some flex... and if you're the weight conscious type, don't even consider this fork... | | Similar Products Used: | RST: Hi-5, RST: Mozo-Pro, Rock Shox: Lefty, Rock Shox: Sid, Cannodale: Headshox. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bullit with Z1 Bam, Azonic PDW, Simano XT Discs, 8 speed Gripshift Attack, XTR rear der., XT 5 arm crank, Mavic 121 with Tioga Factory DH tires. | | Bottom Line: | One freakin' fork... if ya like street riding and don't want the weight of a dual crown... then this is yer fork. Five inches of oh-look-there's-another-ledge-to-be-dropped travel... I just wish there was a QR 20 version being sold in Manila. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allister
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Creek-Mountaintown | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Tracks well, Absorbs what I throw at it. Low maintenance. The guys at Marzocchi have always treated me well when I call in with my dumb questions. | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Judy, Judy SL, SID 100
Manitou Mach 5 | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight with a 97 Z.1 Bomber | | Bottom Line: | This is the 3rd Bomber I've owned. 2 Z.1's and 1 Z.2. I'm sucking it up and adding the extra 1.5 pounds to my Superlight b/c the fork is just that damn good. It completely changes your whole downhill mindset b/c of what it allows you to do. My SID 100 was great, it was just not as plush or a stiff. I must like Zokes if I'm trading a 00 fork for a 97 one. I like em. Matt Piercy gave me a good deal on this white bomber. I hope the steerer is long enough. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Downhiller
from Dublin, Ireland
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | street and dh | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | plushest single crown fork ever.
Not to expensive
colour
Stiffnes | | Weaknesses: | paint chips easily | | Similar Products Used: | rst mozo pros
stratos mx 6
zzyzx | | Bike Setup: | Dmr Trailstar, z1s, magura louise, tioga, azonic etc | | Bottom Line: | Best fork ive owned
makes you wanna go faster and spend more time in the air, insainly forgiving and tracks brilliantly.
Go buy one if youre looking for a single crown 100mm fork theres no point in going near anything else. Its the Bollox! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Robinson
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodland Hills, CA
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | fire road 30 to Eagle Rock | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Probably the most adjustable, plushest shock I have ridden.
Easy to rebuild. | | Weaknesses: | When the shock goes bad you have to deal with the factory. I have replaced both seals and now need a new cartridge. The factory is fifteen miles away. First this Mark in tech support tells me I am "stupid because of where I live"? I live in the Santa Monica Mountains off Mulholland Hwy in Woodland Hills. I can feel the Ocean breezes and from my house it is a 1/4 mi to the dirt road that takes me into Topanga State Park almost everyday. This guy must live in one of the hottest deserts I have ever seen. Give me a break.
So I have a friend go and get me a new cartridge. They give him the wrong one. This is Thursday. They promise to send it out Friday. On Wednesday we haven't gotten it. It takes them till three to check it out. No they haven't sent it but promise to make it a priority.
What a bunch of assholes with attitude.
I called a couple of times when rebuilding my shock over the years and the same question, discussed, got a different answer each time. Not a very professional operation. | | Similar Products Used: | Judy SL 96 | | Bike Setup: | Trek Team Pro Y bike all XTR. Stratos Pro with a spring very plush. | | Bottom Line: | I don't like dealing with a bunch of idiots like those at Marzochi. They send out the wrong part and then could care less about the replacement. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | white trail skyline drive | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | everything | | Weaknesses: | nothing | | Bike Setup: | Bullit....Hayes.....XT KIT....6.5in(measured) | | Bottom Line: | simple this fork is the best freeride/light dh single crown fork out there...could be more like the avalanche fork from c-cycles.....but then again its only a single crown | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, DC
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere away from the city | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | All the standard stuff -- good travel, low maintainence, responsive . . . all that jazz | | Weaknesses: | Umm . . . the red of the fork doesn't quite match the red on my bike? | | Similar Products Used: | Old school Marzocchi, a little Rock Shox here and there | | Bike Setup: | This was my 'back from the dead' project . . . old 1995 Barracuda (when they were still good) with some new Avid, XT, Real, Kore, and some old crappy wheels | | Bottom Line: | If you can find one, just nab it. It's one of those can't-go-wrong investments that you'll never have to worry about.
Admittedly, I haven't owned it for an EXTRA-long time, but for the span that I've had it, I've got ZERO complaints.
Buy it, install it, wipe it down every now and then, and it'll take care of you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane Australia
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | channel 9 @ mt coot-tha | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | nice adjustability, smooth travel, big & chunky, tough as | | Weaknesses: | too heavy for serious cross-country racing, but what's it built for? | | Similar Products Used: | none (would not consider Indy XC similar) | | Bike Setup: | generic 7005-T6 hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Picked them up from SuperGo for USD$269 (99 Z1 Alloy), which works out at about half-price in Oz including shipping and import duty -- I couldn't go past that !! Just looking at them sitting next to my old Indy XC, I had to laugh.
The Z1 eats anything I can feed it, yet to find a situation in which it is not capable -- I'm obviously not a full nutbag DHer, but for the more aggressive all-round rider like my good self, this fork is brilliant. 5 chillies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zaphod beeblelrox
a Downhiller
from perth W.A. Australia
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Goat farm | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | no cleaning(within reason) adjustability | | Weaknesses: | need more travel for serious downhill hits | | Similar Products Used: | z2 zzyzx judys whitebros | | Bike Setup: | Avanti moto | | Bottom Line: | z1's are the best fork for serious riders who don't want to stuff around with cleaning and general maintenance.They would be better if they had an inch or two of extra travel and a double triple clamp . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Andrews
a Downhiller
from Ft. Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
long travel, nice looks | | Weaknesses: |
incredible amount of flex. Over- sophisiticstion. | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou X-vert R. Ud 150. | | Bike Setup: |
Dakar Pro. Santa Cruz Bullit. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is way to flexible! Stiffen it massively and it would be unbeatable! Forget weight with a 5 travel coil spring fork. Make it stiff! Any decently damped suspension works well in straightaways, what counts in in the corners! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GrittyKitty
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
Skeggs | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Loooooooow maintenance, plush, takes all the abouse you can throw at it | | Weaknesses: |
heavy heavy | | Similar Products Used: |
z-2, manitou stx, sid | | Bike Setup: |
voodoo canzo, z1, xt/RF | | Bottom Line: | Just read the preceding 150+ reviews. A solid workhorse, adjustable, just a little too heavy | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Downhiller
from NJ
Date Reviewed: December 28, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
long travel, somewhat plush | | Weaknesses: |
too flexy!!, no dual crown | | Similar Products Used: |
jr t, super t, mr t, ud 150, dh118 | | Bike Setup: |
bullit, xt, hayes, 6 in rear | | Bottom Line: | i have to say the fork is some what plush but if youre looking to race dh or go freeriding dont buy this thing...it has so much flex, youre better off goin w/ a dual crown that actually is stiff | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross-Country Rider
from Fremont CA
Date Reviewed: December 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Toads | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
STURDY construction, exellent action, looks, and adjustability. | | Weaknesses: |
could use stiffer springs | | Similar Products Used: |
DC 118-junk,Judy SL,Sid,Answer TI spring,and Rissi Champ. | | Bike Setup: |
FSR,full XTR,517 rims,King headset,pro tapers,Syncros stem and post. | | Bottom Line: | These are the best single crown forks out.They just out perform every thing I have tried .Posers that complain about spring noise should try riding in dirt instead of parking lot. The 130 mm travel seems to work just fine with my FSR .Great forks - worth every penny. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: December 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The woods | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Lots of o so sweet travel
v.plush | | Weaknesses: |
nowt | | Similar Products Used: |
rockshox
manitou
suntoer
rst ect.. | | Bike Setup: |
heavy tools prototype
BMF's
roox
planet x | | Bottom Line: | This fork is da bomb , it may be a bit pricey but it is well wort it buy them right now and feel good | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross-Country Rider
from Mpls. MN
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Porcipine Rim (Moab) | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Plush
Buttery Smooth
Adjustable | | Weaknesses: |
A little spendy (The best is never cheap)
A little heavy(the performance is worth it) | | Similar Products Used: |
Rock Shox
Manitou
Hanebrink
Girvin/ Noleen | | Bike Setup: |
Marin Freeride Xt/Xtr | | Bottom Line: | This fork kicks ass. I was riding a Hanebrink XCL, it was WAY to expensive, and it wasn't that great. The Z-1 is very plush, and other than blowing the upper seals, after a year of hard riding it is to be expected. No complaints, you want long travel single crown? Buy a Z-1. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J-F
a Downhiller
from Gatineau(Quebec)
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
lots of travel
very plush
not too heavy | | Weaknesses: |
the seals suck
paint job | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
santa cruz bullit | | Bottom Line: | really good fork but after 2 years of beating the seals will give up. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chad
a Cross-Country Rider
from md
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
trails around conway NH | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
this thing is bomb proof.
lots of travel
o so plush | | Weaknesses: |
price
weight if your one of those nit picky riders who owns a sid | | Similar Products Used: |
all the crapy rock shox and maniyous that have failed | | Bike Setup: |
pimped out gary fisher joshua xo. z1 bam xtr derailer crank and shifters. hayes disk with mavic cross link disk | | Bottom Line: | ok im just gona come out and say it THIS FORK ROCKS!!!!!!!! this fork is bomb proo.f u give it all u have and put it through hell and it just laughs and comes back for more. this thing is plush plush plush. and un-liek rock shox and manitou u dont have to take the thing apart and clean everylittle pice everytime u ride in the mud or dust. if your nice u just have to hose it off every once in a while. this is posibly the greatest fork ever made it cover everything from downhill to xc.ther is no equal so go out andbuy a z1 if u dont already have one. i give it 5 flameing terds. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos
a Racer
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Barullio Carillo | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Beutiful
Strong
Timeless
As good as it gets baby! | | Weaknesses: |
There are none | | Similar Products Used: |
I've tried them all! | | Bike Setup: |
Bianchi Super Bee | | Bottom Line: | As one of the top mountain bike racers in Costa Rica, I can verify that these forks have improved my performance. Quite simply the best fork I have ever used in my 7 years of mountain biking. First class design and state of the art engineering all the way. The Ferrari of forks! You won't be dissapointed. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Wood
a Weekend Warrior
from Nottingham
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Jacobs Ladder | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
oil bath system
5 travel from a single crown fork
brilliant seals
not a lot of neg travel | | Weaknesses: |
may top out on large drops | | Similar Products Used: |
manitou x-vert R
Girvin chubby
RST alfalfya | | Bike Setup: |
Proflex 857 expert series xc frame | | Bottom Line: | Brilliant long tavel fork in its price range | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chung Leong
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: October 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Mandai | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
It's beefy strong and burly.
Smooth, active, doesn't bottom. | | Weaknesses: |
Heavy, doesn't bottom, doesn't give me 4 inches. | | Similar Products Used: |
1996 Judy XC (speed sprung)
1997 Judy SL
1998 Judy SL | | Bike Setup: |
Rocky Mountain Element Race, 1997 Z1 Bomber, Cane Creek AD8. | | Bottom Line: | Plush, smooth and controlled, but not radically more so than my 1996 Speed Springs Judy XC, as most Marzocchi proponents would have you believe. Excellent steering tracking, can't get it to bottom. A glance at the dust mark shows only merely 2.75 inches of travel being used. I guess I am too light, even for the stock springs, I am 120lbs. The weight actually makes me feel like I have to pedal harder! I expect I'll get used to it, besides it's good training, and with a fork that feels as bottomless as this, I don't really care. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic
a Cross-Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: October 4, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Plush, Smooth Travel
Very Effictive Rebound Adjustments | | Weaknesses: |
Lack of Precision in Corners
No Rebound Adjuster Knobs | | Similar Products Used: |
Cannondale MC60 HeadShok
RST Mozo Pro
RockShox Judy 100 | | Bike Setup: |
SC Heckler w Fox Vanilla R, Z1 Bam, XT/XTR Drivetrain, Sun Rhyno Lite Rims, Azonic Riser Bar, Thomson Elite 410, SDG Comp, Cane Creek C2 Headset, Gore Ride-On Cables. | | Bottom Line: | Very controlled, very smooth suspension stroke. This fork really delivers in terms of adjustability and suspension action. Although I ride mainly XC, this fork is super plush and bobs a little if you don't spin smoothly. However, this fork bobing doesn't really matter much when you're on the trai. Take the time to setup the fork and you'll be rewarded with a controlled, plush ride. If you're worried about the weight-get a road bike~!. If you like to feel the burn in your quads, get this fork and blaze the trail~! Wheee~! 5 Burnin dead rats - 1 for each smooth inch of travel~! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Veero
a Downhiller
from Southampton
Date Reviewed: September 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
LordsWood | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Plush travel
Preload/damping adjusters on each leg.
Ifinite Adjustability | | Weaknesses: |
Clicky spring sound
A bit flexy | | Similar Products Used: |
99 RockShox Judy XLC
98 Manitou X-Vert E | | Bike Setup: |
Identiti Mr Hide,
DMR Speedguide
LX/XTR
Azonic
Sun Mammoths etc | | Bottom Line: | When i use them i hardly notice they're there.
They just sit up front and get on with the job quietly and soak up all manner of bumps with ease. I just love them! (99 5inch versions) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Plush plush and plush
Stiff (30mm legs)
lots of preload adjustment
loads of travel
pretty light for 130mm | | Weaknesses: |
the clicking sound
maybe they should change to heavy oil and heavy springs as stocks | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou Sx-Ti 97 | | Bike Setup: |
Chameleon
Z1 BAM
XT/XTR
121
Azonics | | Bottom Line: | It's a superb fork......Super plush and super stiff.....Not as heavy as I thought it would be......A bit to the long side...But once get used to the motion of up-and-down while climbing will make u a superb biker | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Georg Parthen
a Weekend Warrior
from Hessen, Germany
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
all the way down | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
-smoother than any other fork
-cool looks
-improves bike´s performance | | Weaknesses: |
-Pretty heavy and not very stiff
But then again....It´s the price to seriously kick ass | | Similar Products Used: |
-Rock Shox Judy DH
-Manitou X-Vert | | Bike Setup: |
-Pure Power Pedal Power DS
-Z1
-small and ass kicking | | Bottom Line: | Pretty much the best fork I´ve ridden and - most important - it has endured my riding for the last 3 months. Lots of parts don´t. Get a pair of Bomber forks and revolutionize your riding... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ralph huckable
a Cross-Country Rider
from Honolulu, Hawaii
Date Reviewed: August 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
aiea loop | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
plushness,stiff and a
whole lot of travel!! | | Weaknesses: |
weight, kind of heavy
but that's the price you
pay for a nice kickass
fork. you catch anybody
on the downhills. | | Similar Products Used: |
rock shox DH
Manitou 3 | | Bike Setup: |
i use this fork on my
old Balance 750 | | Bottom Line: | this fork is for someone who really likes butter
smooth travel. it's kind of heavy buy that's the
price you for execellent quality. would recommend
this fork to anyone.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from ohio
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
the dump | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
strong
no flex
purty | | Weaknesses: |
ummm....uhhhh...well,i like to take things apart and i figured since the fork was a little to soft that i would change the oil and springs to make it stiffer....so i got it apart,no problems there...i couldn't find my instructions and tried 5 times to put it back together but i couldn't....i know i'm an idiot....finally i got mad and took it to THE bike shop to get it back together...They were nice they put it back together in a matter of minutes,dialed it in to my weight,bike and type of riding...and all for free (maybe because i spend 1/2 my income there) | | Similar Products Used: |
rock shox | | Bike Setup: |
cannondale | | Bottom Line: | SWEET SHOCK!!!!!!! I think i might buy a spare just in case something goes wrong....the bottom line is buy this shock/fork er what ever the techno weenies call'em | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
moe
a Weekend Warrior
from edmonton
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
everything in nordegg | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
plush
easy maintenance
easy adjustments
bombproof | | Weaknesses: |
yeah, right! | | Similar Products Used: |
rock shox poop | | Bike Setup: |
rocky mountain rules! | | Bottom Line: | Goodness me, I love these forks! The z1's are simply 4 inches of perfectly smooth, easily adjustable, virtually maintenance-free travel, that can glide over anything from big drops to washboard roots. I cannot believe how much better my riding is with these Bombers compared to my poopy Rock Shox. Yay!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GRAHAM
a Downhiller
from ONTARIO, CANADA
Date Reviewed: July 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
MINE - TECHNICAL DH | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
EVERYTHING! THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL IS AMAZING, AND HOW PLUSH THE FORK FEELS! | | Weaknesses: |
TOO SOFT OF SPRINGS - FOR SOMEONE WHO WEIGHS OVER 175 POUNDS | | Similar Products Used: |
RST 280, ROCK SHOX SID, ROCK SHOX JUDY XL | | Bike Setup: |
GT ARROWHEAD, SYNCROS RISER BARS, SUN MAMMOTH/RHYNO LITE WHEELS, PLATFORM PEDALS, CONTROL TECH STEM, STX-RC COMPONENTS | | Bottom Line: | THE BEST FREERIDE FORK EVER! I PURCHASED MINE FROM A RACER, AND IT WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. IT IS SO SMOOTH, I CAN GO OVER AN 8 INCH CURB AND FEEL NOTHING! IT'S TRAVEL IS SO LONG, ABSORBS ANY BUMPS, AND FEELS EXTREMELY PLUSH! ONE MORE THING - IF YOU WEIGH MORE THAN 175 POUNDS, GET THE HEAVY SPRINGS OR YOU WILL BOTTOM IT OUT TOO EASILY! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris. H
a Downhiller
from Yeovil (england)
Date Reviewed: June 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Bradley hollow- wohoh it kicks ass!! | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | Firstly these forks kick ass as cartmand would say. I bought these for my LTS and I don't regret spending the money. It makes things easier all those bumps are now nothing. FLY MY LITTLE PRETTYS TAKE AWAY ALL THE NASTY BUMPS!! BUY THEM NOW IT WILL BE THE BEST THIONG EVER AND THEY LOOK THE MUTS NUTS!! WOOHH YEAH!! ANYWAY THEY ARE CALLING ME AND I MUST GO RIDE THEM. (IS IT ME OR DO THEY LOOK LIKE DEAD MICE ON FIRE???) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JohnL
a Cross-Country Rider
from Stamford, CT
Date Reviewed: June 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Neiss Forest, Santa Cruz CA | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Smooth, Progressive travel.
Infinitly adjustable
Easy maintenance
Super reliable | | Weaknesses: |
Needs upkeep - no fork seal (boots)
Takes a while to Dial in
Stock springs soft for aggresive riders over 165 lbs | | Similar Products Used: |
White Brothers 90 & 110 | | Bike Setup: |
Santa Cruz SL-XT Cane creek AD-10 shock, Mavic 517s on White Industries hubs, Time ATAC pedals (the best!), Kore goodies | | Bottom Line: | An excellent performing fork, and perfect for those who like to take things apart, 'cause it takes a while to get dialed in (stiffer springs, heavier oil, more preload, more compression, etc). But when its dialed in, its' a piece of heaven. Stars for ratings? What happened to the flamin' turds?
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Cross-Country Rider
from Barreiro
Date Reviewed: June 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Arrábida | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
All round quality | | Weaknesses: |
There are none | | Similar Products Used: |
There are no similar products | | Bike Setup: |
It was muonted on a wheeler 5000 frameset w/xt 99 and canecreek rear sock | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that this suspension has no equal it's the plushest suspension you'll ever ride it will soak every thing you put it trough i do advise to change the springs if you wheigh over 80 kgs because they are to soft. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Nashville, TN
Date Reviewed: May 23, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
The technology
The design
The engineering
The reliability
The Performance | | Weaknesses: |
Doesn't have a stronghold on the American market that it rightfully deserves. | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou (just about all of them)
RockShox (just about all of them) | | Bottom Line: | Marzocchi is truly the king of forks! Nothing compares to this beatifully crafted pice of racing machinery. It's truly unfortunate that not enough manufacturers use Marzocchi's as standard equipment on their bikes. If RockShox or Manitou didn't have such a monoply on the American market, people would get Marzocchi's as standard equipment on their Treks and Specialized and would probably be a lot happier with their bikes.Hey Trek and Specialized, wake up! Manitou and RockShox make products that are unpredictable in quality and unreliable in performance.If you want the best there is to buy, and you demand the best there is to ride, then nothing but the Marzocchi will ever do. Marzocchi was making forks for championship moto-racing teams 50 years ago when mountain biking didn't even exist!
Marzocchi REVOLUTIONIZED and CREATED a lot of the technology that goes into fork building today. It's technology that Manitou and RockShox attempts to copy (unsuccesfully).
A product of this quality and engineering deserves to be glorified simply because Marzocchi is the standard by which all other fork manufacturers attempt to match. MARZOCCHI RULES!!!!!!!!!
(In case you're wondering, no, I do not work for Marzocchi) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tacoma
a Cross-Country Rider
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: May 4, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
super plush
pretty stiff for 4 | | Weaknesses: |
soft in the beginning of travel | | Similar Products Used: |
Judy DHO
Answer X-Vert
White Bros SC90 | | Bike Setup: |
1. Ellsworth Truth
2. Stumpjumper M2 | | Bottom Line: | great fork. It's a little soft in the first part of the travel, but it's nice on braking bumps, or bulldozer tracks... I'll be swapping to stiffer springs when I do the first rebuild. I haven't noticed the weight, even on the hardtail. I will say that it changed the steering a tiny bit on the Stumpjumper, but that's because it also doubled the travel. All other forks feel like sh*t to me now. All hail Marzocchi..... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wayne macneill
a Cross-Country Rider
from Banff,Alberta.
Date Reviewed: April 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Hellraiser | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
plush,stiction free.
Bomb-proof.( will take the most vigorious testing I've ever tried.)easy to adjust.
stiff. | | Weaknesses: |
frequent oil changes.
oil seals blowing. | | Similar Products Used: |
all rockshox and manitous in the same catagorie. | | Bike Setup: |
(2)
A. 1996 giant ATX 990 (john tomac edition).
(B) Rocky mountain Hammer.
All with Z-1. | | Bottom Line: | Stellar in performance,bomb proof fork. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: April 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Braley's Pond | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Easy to rebuild. Great for rding the steeps. Works like a charm. | | Weaknesses: |
Change the fluid regularly to prevent bushings from wearing out. | | Bike Setup: |
10 wt. Bel-Ray Fork oil (for motorcycles). It's cheap, and much better than any bicycle shock oil. $10.00 for a quart. Reccomended by Marrizochi for all their forks, I know I'm a wrench..... | | Bottom Line: | Kicks all other single crown forks ass. Much easier to rebuild and service. Great performance at and a good value. Go with Bel-Ray or other motorcycle fork oil for the best perfomance, plus they are better for a zoke than bicycle fork oil. And they are much much cheaper..
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MK
a cross-country rider
from Pasadena,CA
Date Reviewed: March 12, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Why do other 'major' mtb fork manufacturers (two IHO:Rock Shox & Manitou) go through the 'next big thing' redesign or enhancement every year throughout most of their line, while Marzocchi has kept the same basic internal design of 80% to 90% of their line for at least the past 4 years? Gee, does the tired and overused cliché (I do apologize), if it ain't broke don't fix it ring a bell?
C'mon, all these positive responses can't be a huge case of the 'Emperor's New Clothes'. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: February 21, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the perfect long-travel fork for cross country riding! The weaknesses of the fork can be rectified with tuning and the proper spring rate. I put a heavy Speedbomb kit in it and I now have a fork that doesn't dive, bob, or rob me of precious power when climbing. It is da' bomb! Please don't give me that weak argument about it weighing too much! The long-travel Manitou's and the such are nearly as much weight and don't work nearly as well. By the way, this bike works best on a double boinger...last, forget maintanance almost except for the annual oil change and monthly seal clean. Ride on and quit worrying about your fork. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a weekend warrior
from Suffolk, UK
Date Reviewed: February 2, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
The Z1's are unlike any other fork I've ridden. There sweet and stiction free straight out of the box and get even better still with time. They have just the right amount of travel for my Kona hardtail, soaking up anything in their path. If you're thinking of getting a pair, I'd say go for it. There is no better single crown suspension fork out there! Oh, and they are a really funky Orange, not unlike curry puke! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HARDCORE
a downhiller
from B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: February 1, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought this fork for really cheap and from the day I bought it I thought that it kicked ass.It is the perfect fork for downhillen and is strong anough to stand up to hardcore riding of the north shore.But the only thing is I am getting rid of my bike and getting a kona stinky so now I am getting a new marzocchi Z1 which kick even more ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
CORY | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MTNBIKN
a weekend warrior
from Tampa,FL
Date Reviewed: January 30, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
THIS FORK IS SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!! The weight? WHO CARES!!! This fork soaks up everything on the trail and as far as big hits are concerned...WHAT BIG HIT! :-) This fork and Marzocchi Rule! I wouldn't own a ride that didn't have a Zoke up front! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from Oklahoma City
Date Reviewed: January 29, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm entering this review to setoff the ignorant ratings by Dave Jones and Rod Munch. Rod my other forks have 13 inches of travel doesn't even deserve a response. Dave Jones compared the Z-1s to his AMP forks--what a joke. I'll be out riding my Zokes while his funky-no-travel-harsh-but-with-no-damping-adjustment AMP forks are at the factory undergoing their fifth rebuild.If you buy these forks and weigh over 150 lbs or ride hard, order heavy springs. If you like to ride anything rough, these forks kick ass. If you think they're too heavy for you, they probably are. Go buy something else for your 21-lb hardtail. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
proxy_me_digger
a downhiller
from perth western australia
Date Reviewed: January 13, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
get these forks!!!!!! i had a pair of indy c befoe these and i bent them so i got some bomber Z1 and they rock!!! they have up the 99 ones though they have to much travel and are to long for a single crown fork......so if you are looking at a new pair off forks try to get your hands on a pair of the 98 bams because they are alot better | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Toby Klein
a weekend warrior
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: January 12, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
There are four reasons why this is the best long travel fork on the market. It will make your front end stick to the ground like a tird sticks to your shoe. It's stiffer than Michael Jackson at a little league game. They don't come in goofy colors like forks Answer and Rockshox make(Mango...come on!). Finally, the Made In Italy sticker....priceless.
P.S. BaBaBooey! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
todd
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: December 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the best fork I've ever ridden!! I have a 98 Judy SL 80mm, I thought it was good(a bit flexy for me). Man,I spent a little time in my '99 Z.1 and now I hate my Judy!! This thing is the best!!and I have no flex!! I have spent some time on Manitu's products and did not care for them. The Z.1 is a great fork. I am very happy with it and would buy another. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Yeung
a downhiller
from Cornwall/UK
Date Reviewed: December 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These forks are the best!!
I have the Marzocchi Bomber Z1 BAMS 98.
Plush, sensible travel, good looks - everything.
I've read the other reviews. What does the bloke form Australia know?
He thinks that he's got forks with 13 inches of travel - Bullsh*t
13? Not a chance 8 yes, but not 13 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimbo
a downhiller
from The Blue Mountains (Australia)
Date Reviewed: December 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I find it interesting that most of the reviews that put this very tunable fork down are from people that obviously have not tried to tune the fork for their riding style and have consequently had a bad experience with the fork.For example, forK bottoms out - easily solved by either fitting a heavier spring or raising the oil level by a few mm (to increase the ramp-up effect towards the bottom of the suspension stroke)too choppy at high speeds if this means the fork doesn't have enough compression damping, replace oil with a higher viscosity oil (say from 5 wt to 7.5 wt) of too much damping, reduce the oil wt.too bouncy at low speeds der increase the rebound damping (doesn't take a genious to work that one out!) Increaseing the oil weight will also make the rebound damping more effective.oil keeps blowing past seals check your oil level as it is probably too high. If the oil level is too high, there isn't enough room in the fork legs to contain all of the oil and air towards the bottom of the suspension stroke thus the oil will be forced past the seals (not good).I went DH racing on the weekend and compared my new '99 5travel BAMs with a host of other DH forks there. The Bombers felt soooo much nicer than '98 Boxxers, '98 WB 118s, and of course Bullet Bothers. The single crown Z1's are the perfect choice for riders who enjoy riding their bikes every day over all manner of terrain and then like to race DH on the weekends. These forks will not let you down. The extra lightness and manouverability of the single crown coupled with the travel that is comparable to most double crown forks makes for a logical choice. I easily give this fork full marks. Once set up, this fork will give years of no hassle service. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tyler bommer boy gerace
a cross-country rider
from Kelowna B.C.
Date Reviewed: December 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i have a 97 Z1 on my Kona aa hard tail and i have never slammed rocks a such
high speeds. Trails that where tecnical and slow on my other forks {rock shock
indy long travel,97 Z2}I can now just blink and its gone.
suggestion:if you have a hard tail and like the speed of DH put a short
Roox stem, big riser bar, and the one and only Z1 all up front and wala
welcome to the next step in speed....note:i have never rode a full suspension bike..i love the bommers,next year its the Z1 drop off 99 yes on my hard tail.. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a racer
from Mentor Oh
Date Reviewed: December 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
It sure seems that all the bad reviews on the bomber line are from the people who don't own one of these dogs. If you think the weight of the fork is slowing you down mabey you should try getting on your bike a little more often and ride.
This whole line of bombers kick ass. I have a Z2 on one bike and will hopefully be getting the superfly on the frame I am building up. Worth its weight in gold! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RF
a cross-country rider
from Fresno, CA
Date Reviewed: December 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These forks are the sweetest forks I have ever owned. I just replaced my Judy SL with these about 2 months ago, and I must say that now I know how a suspension is supposed to work. I don't care if they are 2 lbs heavier. I'll just lose two pounds and it will be a wash. The paint job is kinda cheap looking. It looks like they left alot of painter's holidays on the lower legs. No more blown damper cartridges or crappy MCU stacks ever again. Rock Shox belongs on Huffys and Murrays. 4 stars since the paint looks like someone used a can of krylon to spray it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a cross-country rider
from Newfoundland, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Orgasmic. Need I say more? Sexy orange color too. Gotta love that. ummm... four inches of Sweeeeeeet travel. just enough for radical xc. Holy shit. What if i only want to write five or six words!!!! This sucks Thirty words my ass. There that should be enough. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a cross-country rider
from New Hampshire, USA
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
An excellent shock, it's survived what my previous Rock Shox couldn't. A little heavy for up hill climbs, tends to stop you if you not moving fast enough when you hit a 6+ obstical on the steeps from the plush, but great every where else. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil
a weekend warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: November 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The forks you are looking at are the best since i son't know what, i can't afford much but what i payed for the Marzocchi Bomber Z1 was well worth the money I suggest you buy them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith
a downhiller
from Boston
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great fork. Had one for more than a year now, and it's great! I had it on my down hill bike until a few months back. it's plush, stiff and strong. Slap it around quite a bit and it's holding up like nothing else I have used. (Judy, RST mozo, Manitou X vert) I think the only problem is that it dives a little too much than I'd like. Even after a lot of messing around with the settings, and different springs and oil. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a weekend warrior
from singapore
Date Reviewed: October 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Not bad I run them with 1.5 inch of sag on a tandem, they wander a bit under load but are as good as you can get without being a girvin fork. Ive not bottomed it out in 2 years of use although the springs are now getting a bit tired.I would buy this fork again. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a cross-country rider
from Hamilton Ont,
Date Reviewed: October 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Got the Z1 at a price I couldn't refuse even though I'm a X-Counrty Rider. I love it. Its a little heavy, but a guy my size need a beefier shock. Climbing is bit of a challenge with all the travel and but it forced me to adjust and improve my pedalling position. Great product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a cross-country rider
from Duluth, MN
Date Reviewed: October 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had the z1 for 8 months and i love it. all them crybabies talk about their preload adjusters. it isnt like anyone actually needs 5 inches of travel. give me a brake. this is the best shock i have ever felt. there is no such thing as maintenance with this fork. my brother has a judy and it sucks. whenever he wants to go riding he has to fix it one way or the other. he has that thing apart at least once a week. nothing can compare to a zokie. i give it 5 flaming chiles for plush but only 4 for uphill. but i can go off any drop i want. it takes care of me. i give it a 5 for saving my life a couple times. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kern Osterstock
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: September 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the 1999 version with 5 travel. The owners manual says the stock shock is rated for riders up to 180 pounds. That's BS! I weigh 190, so I figured it would work. Not even close. I put it on the bike and went to pogo city. Not only did it pogo, but the springs rattled like beer cans in the tubes. With the flimsy springs it was tough to bottom it, but just sitting on the bike used well over an inch of travel. Yeah, I did the preload and damping adjustments. The first fix was my l.b.s. adding more oil which made no real change. So I ordered and installed the heavy springs. What a change! The fork now works like it should have all along. My feeling is that the stock springs are good for up to a 125 pound rider max. They should come with real springs in the box, not 2 weeks and $40.00 away. Do I like it? Yes, I think it is the best single crown unit out there. Another gripe: Mine was apparently early production and the machine work on the fork bridge looked like it was done with a knife and fork. Razor edges and no deburring are out of place on a $600.00 fork. Also, the instructions that come with the springs don't even come close to the installation process. Fortunately, the manual will walk you right through the job. My rating is five chilis for the final product, less one for the cheesy springs and sharp edges. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Morgan
a cross-country rider
from Glendora, CA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
An excellent, versatile fork. Took it to Mammouth and it handled all the heavy hits. Nice adjustment knobs.A plush fork with open bath system. Other forks need after market kits. The 98 Fork is much lighter than the 97. It does bob a bit on cross country rides. Everyone should junk their Rock Shocks. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a cross-country rider
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I feel like I have a brand new ride. This Z1 upgrade is the best. I have a GT Zaskar hardtail that had a 97 Judy on it. I was not sure about 4 inches of travel on a hardtail, but went for it after a number of conversations with local folks that had done the same to their hardtails. It took a couple of rides to get used to the feel of it in steep technical, but once accustomed to the characteristics of this fork, I would never go back to Judy.
D.D.M.B.C.
Wadda Ride
Doug | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Radek
a downhiller
from Adelaide, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
one word
P L U S H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it is a massive improvement on my RST Mozo Pro which now seem like
snail shox. These forks stick the track like glue and so much action
You can do tight single track, fast fire tracks or 6ft drop offs and
these beuties handle them perfectly.
Their good enough to race pro dh and yet their not triple clamp.
There isn't another fork in the world that can match this performance
even more expensive triple clamp forks are shit compared to these.
THE KING FORKS FOR DH AND PLAYRIDING
definetly 5 flamin horses!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L.T.
a weekend warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Most of these reviews seem to echo what I have to say, which is: THESE ARE THE BEST FORKS-- BAR NONE! They are incredibly strong and plush, not too plush though. Don't worry about the weight, it is minimal, and they more than make up for it with strenghth and consistentcy . | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a cross-country rider
from Milton, Ont, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 31, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I replaced the rigid fork on my Marin Eldridge Grade with a '77 Z1. The difference was remarkable.It improved my riding 100%. I was going over rocks and bumps without even realizing it , the fork was so smooth. But any suspension fork could have done that, couldn't it? Nope! I compared my Z1 to my buddy's Rock Shox fork, and the Z1 is so much smoother, with consistent travel all the time. Make sure you get the rebound right otherwise you will get too much bobbing, and make sure you change the oil regularly. This thing is a fine piece of engineering. And the weight? No big deal - go on a diet and lose a pound if it's so critical. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a cross-country rider
from Philly
Date Reviewed: August 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These forks are great for getting eventully to the top and then getting back down hill. Perfect match for me, Im a hybrid XC-DH'er--the only way to be-- BEST FORK FOR MONEY RATIO on the market---That munch guy is an PRO ass, If he new what he was talking about he would of bought Mr.T in the first place. He should learn how to buy products for his PRO ride, hes probally real fat. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stuart Smith
a downhiller
from Aliso Viejo CA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great Fork! I race expert DH and could probably use some more travel but the fork is very PLUSH. I weigh 220lb so the stock springs were a bit soft. I replaced them with the stiffer springs and now the fork works great. Over-all I think this is a very good product. It's smoooooth over the small stuff and will only reach it's limitations in the most extreme situations. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
forkman
a downhiller
from
Date Reviewed: August 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
rod munch. If you are a pro you should be able to ride with 4 inches of travel. If you cant do that perhaps you should improve your technique instead. You know a good technique means a lot. period. If you are a pro you shouldnt bother talking down on products. You should be busy racing and training. You should have the latest and best products anyway. So shut up and start racing instead. The Z1 works very well by the way. Set it up right and you have a superb fork.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a weekend warrior
from So. Ca.
Date Reviewed: August 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I do mostly free-riding and downhilling.
If I was a racer (downhill) I would go for more travel period.
For the style of riding I do, These are Bad to da Bone' Forks.
The little xtra weight dosn't bug me and they jump great
These are THE BOMB
I only wish they had better colors to choose from.... I think polished is the best
Fire up the chilly's | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rod munch
a downhiller
from aussie land
Date Reviewed: August 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i am a pro down hiller i demand the very bet to preform the best. the fork only has 4 inches of travel and its not very plush. i have mr dirts that i converted to 13 and a half inches and they are plush so all you people who like z1s are not pro | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimmer m
a downhiller
from HELL
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
S W E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E T ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!! ! !! i have had this fork on my bike for 4 hours and I T R U L E S. i recommend it to everyone and anyone who isn't worried about weight (WHEELIES ARE STILL EASY!!) 6 O U T O F 5 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rupert Jabelman
a downhiller
from Hampshire, England
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Can I give 'em a 6?? They're great! yeah, they may be weighty but what DH fork isn't? The performance on mine (98 Z1 non-BAM) is great. Smooth as a buttered ferret. Tip- fit shock boots for UK riding, my bombers have got a bit (only a bit) less smooth after 6 months of filth (I hate winter). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leif
a weekend warrior
from
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had my Z1 for almost a year now and I can't say that there is a fork out there that can beat it. I ride mostly xc but with the occasional narly downhill. This fork is so sweet. I recomend the heavy springs to the stock springs but thats because I'm on the upper end for the stock weight. This thing rocks. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wolfgang Peti
a downhiller
from Germany
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
You can just beat this fork with a bomber wich has got more travel say at least 200 mm. try out the super T. much better. it is worth every single dollar you spend on this fork. an who cares about weight when you can go fast with that fork. check out the new marzocchi rear shock. i love it too... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver, WA
Date Reviewed: June 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
What a sweet fork, I ride XC and have an awesome time with this thing. Anyone who says the weight is too much really only says that because they KNOW how much it weighs...you never notice it once its on your bike! Climbing, yeah, it might bob, big freakin deal. No oil leak problems with mine. Hey, can I take off the fork boots? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Jones
a cross-country rider
from Virginia Beach, Virginia
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I don't own these forks (thank God), I rode them on a friends bike and the are notimpressive. And when I found out their weight I fell over. These things are hunks of sh*t! Maybe for downhill they are fine, but most of the east coast riders don't need a crappy heavy fork like this. I'm comparing them to my AMP F3's which are WAY BETTER IN EVERY WAY THAN THESE OVER PRICED, ALL HYPE, OVER WEIGHT PIECES OF CRAP FORKS. . | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a weekend warrior
from ca
Date Reviewed: June 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Awesome. Compared to anything I have tried (rock shock Judy dh included)these forks are widely adjustable throught the useable range. This makes them very user friendly. I set mine up so closely just in the garage that I was shocked how good they worked on the trail. There are stretched of trail where the old judy DH would wash the front, I couldn't even feel the bump on the Marzocchi. This got me so excited I started pushing to find the new limit. Unfortunately I found it. And since I was going at such a higher speed than with the judy (way more lean angle, way less forgiving) it was not much time to react. At least I didn't damage anything but my pedals he knee will heal too.
great forks!! They do what forks are supposed to do. Keep the wheel planted. Also I did not notice any bobbing. I have the 97 version, the bam may be a little more plush. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a cross-country rider
from Bothell WA
Date Reviewed: June 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I would recommend this fork to anyone who enjoys very fast and technical single track. I use the fork on a GT RTS3 Frame and it has made it a very good cross country/downhill ride. The fork is heavey but worth every bit of extra weight. Buy this and encrease your top speed over all types of conditions. They do bob on agressive out of the seat climbs but learn to spin smoothly and you should not have troubles with it. Somehow a 5 seems not good enough for these killer forks! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FULL TIME WORKING WARRIOR
a downhiller
from THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA..
Date Reviewed: June 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
To be going from cruiser BMX, TO FULL FS The action in the front takes
a while to get used. Although once mastered its the _ _ _ _. After investing in
such a machine, Combined w/rear suspension i turned in the stock titanium-sx within 2 mo. So Now once again i'me back in the Air, as king of
the sky, partly to my ability to read it like a science, and secondly to quality
& consistency that make the product WHAT it ISS. >> | | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 649.00
