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Submitted by
robmax
a Downhiller
from Dublin, Ireland
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Crank it up, Whistler | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Chainreactioncycles | | Strengths: | Simple, strong FAIRLY supple fork. Pretty much nothing to go wrong in them. | | Weaknesses: | Dire lack of adjustment ability. All you can do is adjust air pressures and more than likely have oil piss all over you through the shraeder valves while you do so. | | Similar Products Used: | Before these it was RST mozo pro 3.5" which were rubbish. Now its Corsa WC's for XC and 66rcv's for DH | | Bike Setup: | DMR trailstar, lx groupy, either Z1 dropoffs, pikes, or AM's depending on the day. Hope hubs, D21's, enduro 4 discs, DMR finishing kit.
BeOne team replica, XT groupy, Corsa WC 2008 forks, carbon finishing kit. | | Bottom Line: | Prob dirt cheap if you find them anywhere and a pretty solid fork giving 100mm of usable travel just dont expect any miracles. Prior to this era everything was pretty much coil and elastomer so these arent exactly the cutting edge by todays standards | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hitman
a Weekend Warrior
from Graham WA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with frame | | Strengths: | [Oil an Coil] Incredibly well built fork. This thing even held itself together, somehow, for months of pretty hardcore riding when I unwittingly removed the brake bosses (for looks). Note: on the model I have the V-brake bosses are supposedly integral to the fork and connect the arch to the legs. | | Weaknesses: | did I mention that the brake bosses hold this thing togeter | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou, Rock Shox, RST | | Bike Setup: | 03 Rocky Mountain Edge everything upgraded | | Bottom Line: | These things can take a beating and keep on breathing. I just purchased a "new" 01 Junior T (wanted standard axles)that has yet to arrive but I think I'll keep the Z4 around as a backup or just to swap in and out depending on the trail of the day. This isn't the best fork out there but if you can find one for a reasonable price I'd have to recommend picking one up. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Grapevine | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Smooth, responsive, durable | | Weaknesses: | weight? | | Similar Products Used: | other suspension forks | | Bike Setup: | kona muni-mula w/ goodies | | Bottom Line: | Great fork, I got it in 2001 with my current bike. Great all around, fairly stiff, not too heavy. Had an entire summer doing urban rides. 3-4 foot drops regularly, no sweat. Never had a leak or any other problems. Seems to be the best fork I've ever had, should go strong for another few years. If you find one, check it out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Fenner
a Weekend Warrior
from Bath / Bristol England
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Dragons Nostril - Smokin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | E-Bay | | Strengths: | Plush, smooth, adjustable, easy to service. | | Weaknesses: | Slight flex, or is that my bar's, or maybe my stem.. | | Similar Products Used: | Zoom Pogo
Judys | | Bike Setup: | Hansome Dawg Trials setup. | | Bottom Line: | As I have been spending too much recently, I was looking for a middle of the road bargain, so I checked my normal source of bargains, took the risk, and an E-bayer, has realy sorted me out. I usualy prefer a solid bike with no sus, but I thought it might be good for the forest trials, as my front wheel is bouncing from root to root. I pumped these up hard, so they only realy kick in on the bigger bumps, but dont boing all over when pedaling.
Love them they look realy good and have proved to be strong and reliable, I will pass on the advice I was given - Get Marziconi's rather than Manitou etc, but if you can save up go for Pace or White Bro's. As Im not looking for 10" downhillers my Z4 / Z1's are perfect for the job. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodney Davis
a Racer
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | private sale | | Strengths: | This fork is absolutely great. Its weight is considerably light when aspects such as performance and strength are combined. This fork feels very very light on the trails and in the air. It has the ability to adjust to different types or rides, and its feel on the trails are killer. The ratio of weight to performance is un describable | | Weaknesses: | None - great product, their older forks perform much better than the newer forks. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitau Mars, Manitau x-vert, TRIALED dj1 (heavy, heavy, bad quality much rather go the z5 or z4 series because of its weight and the way it feels) | | Bike Setup: | Stinky Frame with my own components, the z4's make this bike!! | | Bottom Line: | If u have the chance to try this forks, or even buy them i wouldnt think twice about it. I managed to get a good deal on them, and i'm so glad i made the desicion to buy these forks. If u're looking into buying these forks u're making a right choice, just look at all the reviews that this fork has had and look at how good they are rated.
I wish Marzocchi had continued making the Z4 series cuz they are killer forks at a great price, great weight and great performance.
I give it 5 chillis for everythin. WHy? Cuz this fork has done wonders, its great and if these forks some how died on me, i'd be looking around to buying another pair.
I actually give this fork 100000 flamin chillis, but it doens't hav ethe option :P | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Krzysztof K
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Chimney Rock | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | stock w/ KHS Alite 3000 | | Strengths: | Good progressive action, look cool. | | Weaknesses: | Keep breaking. Lost all my travel -- bad seals? Rebuilt. Now, oil busts forth from between the brace and the fork legs. Never have these problems with my '01 Judy SL. | | Similar Products Used: | Judy SL, XC, TT, Manitou Six. Judy SL is the best fork I've used yet for the freeride/XC mix I put it through. | | Bike Setup: | Was KHS Alite 3000; changed frame to Rigid One. | | Bottom Line: | Maybe I've just got a lemon but everything else being equal I'd go with the Judy SL. I also weigh 200lbs so that may be a contributing factor... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC. UT, USA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Da Bomb | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Very strong and reliable, light 3.5 lbs | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Judy TT, SID, BLACK | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Trek 4500, with all new front end | | Bottom Line: | For you heavy guys you need an awesome fork, I weigh in at 260 lbs and this fork has no flex and can handle the beating. Of course you need more travel for other than precision turning on XC if you are attacking the drops. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Weber
a Racer
from Buckhannon WV USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Slatyfork and other ones with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$179.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance on warranty replacement | | Strengths: | Ability to take big and small hits, steering quality amazing, bob under control. | | Weaknesses: | Weight a bit too much. | | Similar Products Used: | This replaced a Mars Super, SID, Noleen, Judy, SxR, | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Sugar 2+ at 24.5lbs all custom set-up for racing and riding. | | Bottom Line: | I was very disappointed to get a 3.8lb fork to replace my 3.2lb mars. However, once i put air in the fork and went for a ride my disappointment was lost. This is probably the best riding fork I have ever been on. It can handle a wide variety of terrain and just pave it for you. The fork is plush and really has BOB under control, no need to worry about locking the fork out, GREAT!! I did not even need to spend time tuning it in. It makes me want this fork on a diet as 3.8lbs is just too heavy for racing by my standards but it can go to 100mm by adding shorter rebound springs. Now if I could only get somewhere that stocks these springs. This fork is for anybody that wants to go off road and tackle some cross country riding or racing for that matter it will take big and small hits better than you would thik. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Pugh
a
from Mission, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban Freeriding | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Great Feel, Wide arrange of ajustibility, Looks great and wont break the bank. | | Weaknesses: | Make sure they're pumped WAY up or they'll bottom out easily | | Similar Products Used: | Z1 Wedge, Dirtjumper I, Rock Shox Judys | | Bike Setup: | Giant Warp DS2, Z4 Flylite Air, XT components, DH bars and stem. | | Bottom Line: | Wicked deal if you can pick em up cheap like i did. I upgraded from RST's which i was doing 6 foot drops to flat and im still tweaking the shock little by little so it feels good enough to do big stuff.. Good Confidence Booster! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cameron
a
from toronto, canada
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | a shop | | Strengths: | good at first. | | Weaknesses: | oil leaked everywhere, air leaked, shock pumps are expensive and break all the time. | | Similar Products Used: | a rock shox | | Bike Setup: | who cares | | Bottom Line: | frequent oil leaks, frequent air leaks etc it just sucked | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Downhiller
from Ore
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban/Dirt Jumps | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | A Shop | | Strengths: | Not to plush not to stiff, looks good | | Weaknesses: | Very flexy, the worst is that my disc mount tabs broke off. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou, white Bros. | | Bike Setup: | Trek bruiser two(frame cracked cause of the force of the disc brakes, SUCKS ASS!!!!!!)Profile cranks, 26" stock front wheel and a 24 inch sun BFR on the back, avid mech on the back shimano deore hydro up front, Irc Kujo's, snafu pedals | | Bottom Line: | Besides the tabs braking off the fork worked great, and there was some flex but not enough to notice a lot. Get a DJ 1 or 2 instead if you can afford it, if not get these, Oh Yeah, Marzocchi is slow as hell on warranting their stuff. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Pennell
a Downhiller
from Whatcom, Washington
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | Plush without being too soft, very good fork. | | Weaknesses: | uh...the tubes just snapped today, this fork is tough but if you're jumping then hold out for a dirtjumper 2 for a little more price. Unless it's stock | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou | | Bike Setup: | Trek Bruiser 2 | | Bottom Line: | Great fork, just not tough enough for a bigtime dirtjumper | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Williams
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | stock on bike from supergo | | Strengths: | Smooth, Stiff, relativly light, bomb proof | | Weaknesses: | kind of heavy
some air leakage | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox judy, psylo, and manitous | | Bike Setup: | 2000 KHS alite 3000 | | Bottom Line: | THis is a good well built shock. reliable and stiff. i wouldn't recomend it for hardcore xcountry riders but for freeriding and some xcountry it works very well. some air leakage after 4 months but otherwise great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brendan
a Downhiller
from Longmeadow
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Laurel Park Dual Slalom | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo.com | | Strengths: | Weight,Smooth,Adjustability,Looks | | Weaknesses: | Need a Pump | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | WTB Moto Raptors (2.1), Marzocchi Z-4(100mm), Azonic Handle Bars (2in. Rise), Race Face Stem, Grimeca System 8 Hydrolic Disc Brakes, Grimeca Hubs, Wtb Speed Disc Rims, WTB Speed V Seat, TruVativ Firex Crank, Deore Front Derailluer, Deore Shifters, WTB Grips, Deore 9 Speed Cassette, Mosh BMX/DS/DH Pedals, KHS Easton Frame | | Bottom Line: | Good all around fork for anything you want from downhill to dual slalom to cross country. If you want a nice air fork but don't want to buy SIDs then I would go with the Z-4. The only problem is you need to buy I pump and I'm broke after customizing my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from Alpharetta, GA.
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chicopee Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Wide stance, accomodates large tires, right amount of travel. Make sure you get the coil fork like I did; Mountain Bike Magazine says the air sprung Z.4's are not as good. | | Weaknesses: | Not a lot of external adjustments but that doesn't matter to me; I adjust my fork maybe twice a year and leave it. Also, the fork makes weird clunking noises but the tech support guys say that's normal for Marzocchi coil forks. I'm just not used to it because I raced only with Rock Shox forks before. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Sid 100, Sid XC, Sid SL, Psylo XC, Judy Race
Manitou Black Comp., Mars Super
Coda Headshock Fatty DL on an F-900 (great fork) | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn 7005 alu. hardtail, Kore and Titec parts, Michelin Tires, some derailleurs, a chain, some brakes, blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | After racing for Rock Shox last season, I decided to go un-sponsored for the 2002 season and I was no longer restricted to racing with Rock Shox forks. So I got this fork. It is holding up good but the springs seem a little soft (I'm only 120 lbs., race in Junior II men's category) so I'm replacing the springs before the 2002 race season starts but the plush fork is good for winter training. I might get a Manitou Mars Super, which I tested. Overall, great value and a great fork. I an going to see if I can sign on with Marzocchi for the 2003 season; they make really nice forks.
The importnt thing is, you can't be strictly devoted to one suspension manufacturer (Rock Shox is gonna kill me for this) because they all make good forks (Except for InSinc, SR Suntour, RST, and other K-Mart brands). The secret is to go out and test them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Mcgrath
a Cross Country Rider
from Boddington W.A Australia
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Northcliff | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | The bicycle entrepreneur | | Strengths: | Strong,Reliable,Very smooth (when you get the pressures right). Compression easy to adjust.
Has pulled me out of more nasty situations than I can poke a stick at. | | Weaknesses: | Although the air spring is easy to adjust,dampening is not. Could do with out side adjusters.
The fork will absorb small hits at low pressures but you run the risk (and that nasty feel) of bottoming. Run the fork pressures too high and its quite harsh.Its a fine line.
The stanchions came loose in the crown.Have had to send it to the eastern states to get it fixed. Not happy! | | Similar Products Used: | Z5s | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX870 (with mods). Z4,XT/XTR drive train, LX pods, Cane Creek ZS2 headset, Rest standard. | | Bottom Line: | Looks bad but its not. I realy like this fork, it works great once you "dial" it in. Pitty about the crown problem but it looks like I bought the only dud Z4 on the market.
I like these for cross country racing. I would not recomend them for down hill or duel slalom. I dont think they have enough travel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto sucks but Canada RULES
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Depot | | Strengths: | Light under 4lbs, Strong, VERY adjustable (air), lotsa clearance, 80mm travel which I believe is upgradable to 100 or even 130mm. | | Weaknesses: | none found yet | | Similar Products Used: | 99 RS Jett C, 99 RS Judy,... | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh Deore Aluminum frame, Acera drive and crank, XT v's, Marzocchi Z4s, Syncros handlebar, (wierd set-up, eh?) | | Bottom Line: | I bought these at the end of the season for $200 off regular price, replaced my supercraps jetts. Haven't used them off road yet but can't wait till spring.
At the price range of these shocks, they're definately your best bet. The RS's and Manitous just don't cut it at this entry-level area. It's your choice at either 80mm or 100mm and sometimes 130mm with either air or coil. Mine are 80mm with air, and they're very sweet, I also got the optional EASTON aluminum steertube, very cool.
Get these over the Z5s because they're way better for just a couple bucks more. They're a lot better than other shocks in this price range, especially RSTs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from Southampton, England
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Stoke woods | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | woolly hat shop | | Strengths: | plush travel, fairly adjustable with the low-pressure air design, can take anything from small bumps to big hits,can shift mud from the dust caps easily if its wet enough it runs off. | | Weaknesses: | cannot adjust the preload from the outside, you need to take off the stansion caps | | Similar Products Used: | 01'judy xc | | Bike Setup: | Own built, Viper F14 frame, deore r-mech shifters, xt front mech, lx bb, avid 3ad levers, tektro brakes, xt hubs on d521ceramic spokes, fsa v-drive cranks,and the marzocchi z4 air 100 forks set up to about 80mm of travel | | Bottom Line: | decent fork worth the money, plush travel easily adjustable air pressure, slightly heavy but safe in the knowledge that they are strong and not much can or will break on them. if you are either a xc rider or semi-downhill (dual or biker x) then this fork will suit all types, with its adjustable travel and strong design it will stand up o everything you throw at it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harrison
a Weekend Warrior
from South Carolina
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | south side | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came on my bike | | Strengths: | these are in destructable shocks or how ever u spell it but they have gone thru all types of drops and stuff like that | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | jetts, phsylo xc, and z5's | | Bike Setup: | trek bruiser two with avid cable disks and truvative hussifelt cranks and all this other stuff | | Bottom Line: | these are awsome shocks that u can beat the haill out of and other stuff like that so GET SOME these are so awsome to be hitten ten foot drops and dual slolam | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evil Bob
a
from London, England
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Whipendell Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Wades Cycles | | Strengths: | Price and strength | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | RST 381CL's (you can't get anything worse) | | Bike Setup: | GT Arrowhead frame, 24/7 bar/stem, LX/XT drivetrain, Z4 | | Bottom Line: | This is the best investment i have made. It never runs out of travel for the stuff i do. It took some time to wear in and i've got to change the clean the bushings. but after after the 4 months i've had them they have turned out to be just brilliant. the only thing that has annoyed me is that you have to pay extra for the shock pump. if you are after a strong cheap freeride fork this is the one to go for. if you are looking at this fork just because it's cheaper than judy's then don't remember it's gonna cost you an extra £30 for a pump unless you can borrow one of someone else that owns an air fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke Price
a Weekend Warrior
from Milton Keynes, UK
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Aston Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Broadribbs | | Strengths: | Bombproof, great value, fantastic fork for budget dirt jumper. Fit and forget usage. this fork is gonna outlive me if i keep jumpin' | | Weaknesses: | This might sound stupid, but dont pump this fork up too much. i got paranoid about the fork bottoming out, and pumped it up to about 36psi. this caused one leg to continue to lose air until i let all the air out and pumped it back up. | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour (poopy), Rigid (Painful on big drops) | | Bike Setup: | Hardcore 5.0 14" frame, ddg tangos, acera (sounds bad, but just add a rollamajig), rest of componentry jump style | | Bottom Line: | Buy these forks now, but remember to get a brain and a pump first. rockshox can get lost, MARZOCCHI ROCK! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Racer
from Urbana, IL
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$225.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Built strong
Super Smooth | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | SID, Judy | | Bike Setup: | WTB Phoenix, all XTR or Sram 9.0/9.0sl | | Bottom Line: | I purchased the flylight air '01 model, and it is way smoother than my sid ever was. This fork never looses air either, it took a full week of hard riding in Sedona, AZ without loosing a single PSI in either side. Best upgrade I ever made. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kip schlinker
a Racer
from idaho
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | vertical earth | | Strengths: | can handle anything | | Weaknesses: | bit heavy but the weight is worth the strength | | Similar Products Used: | z5 80mm air | | Bike Setup: | kona roast | | Bottom Line: | the travel is plush at 100mm it will soak up anything you dish out cannot break it this is the only shock i have ever used that when you hit somthing the shock moves insted of the bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Mack
a Weekend Warrior
from Yorkshire, England
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Julies Cycles, Leicester | | Strengths: | Strong, plush, stiff for disk brake. Air system has effect of progressive spring-very hard to bottom out, even at low pressures. Easy pressure adjustment & good damping (with theraputic squooshy noise at low speed. Open bath, so no popping cartridges). Not too heavy. Big tyre clearance with 'M' arch. Pressure doesn't drop over time. | | Weaknesses: | No external damping adjustment (rebound can be adjusted, but only by unscrewing stanchion top). Air fork, so can't adjust spring rate without pump. Steerer tube can only be replaced by Marzocchi themselves. No fork boots as standard, but doesn't appear to really need them. | | Similar Products Used: | RST stuff, rigid forks (try 'em, you'll learn a lot about front-end traction.) | | Bike Setup: | MFX alu hardtail with Z4, LX 9spd and Hope O2 front disk. Mavic F519 on front, D521 rear. Built slightly heavier than strictly required, but I like a good safety margin. | | Bottom Line: | Soft, Strong and 4" long. Good bit of kit at a good price. Inspires confidence in build quality without reminding you of it going uphill, and easy to look after. Best suited to touring, all-round riding or heavyweight XC. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
semat
a Weekend Warrior
from BC , Canada
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | These shocks are easy to set up and feel farily plush one you get the right air setting. They handle both the small stuff and the big hits pretty well for an air shock. | | Weaknesses: | oil leakage | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Judy XC..Bomber Z2 | | Bike Setup: | 2001...Kona Mokomoko..xt..fox air rear...hayes disc | | Bottom Line: | I have been running the Z4's for about nine months now. At first I was impressed with their plushness and reliablity. Things changed a few months ago. When I was on a climb and all the oil leaked out the bottom of the left hand fork leg...I had to ride 14 kms downhill without any travel.
More recently the oil leaked out of both for legs where the brace and legs meet...another warranty job. Still waiting to get them back.
Overall they work well when working but reliability is a problem...no were near as reliable as my Z2s were. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alan
a Downhiller
from Hilton NY USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything Technichal | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | universal cycles | | Strengths: | Bomb proof reliability , Good looks , Affordability | | Weaknesses: | No boots , blown seal after a year of hard use | | Similar Products Used: | Sid xc , Headshock , Sync515 , Z1 | | Bike Setup: | Nukeproof Hardtail , Mammoth rims , XT components | | Bottom Line: | Buy this fork if u are on a budget or need a bombproof repacement | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Bowns
a Weekend Warrior
from Derbyshire, England
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | silly dale | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | J.E.James | | Strengths: | Can take one hell of a whack for 8 centemetres!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | One of the valves on mine is f*cked up, every time you take the dust cap off it takes the valve out aswell. | | Similar Products Used: | none(except my bros Z1's) | | Bike Setup: | 97 Gt tequesta | | Bottom Line: | Good fork, get it if you only need short travel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Ruhland
a Cross Country Rider
from Eden Valley, MN
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | minnesota river valley | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | For the money, this was the most durable product which I looked into. Seems to track very well, looks great and I'm not going to complain about the weight. | | Weaknesses: | I hear bad things about the service, but it really hasn't been an issue yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shock Judy, Indy, SID XC, Some Manitou etc.. | | Bike Setup: | ancient schwinn frame with a few go fast goodies... | | Bottom Line: | When my real bike got stolen a year ago I really did not want to spend real cash on a nice dual XC ride. So I went home and decided to rebuild an old Schwinn Mos Impact Pro (what is that?) bike that my brother rode through college. The bike was thrashed, but I started to rebuild it anyway. Now, about $350 later it is a decent ride. I still need a better wheelset and crank but anyway, to the front shocks-they seem to look and perform great. I had to set the preload about 9mm down to compensate for my weight. I hear people complain about the weight of the m-line but when you weigh 220, who cares! The 150 i spent on this fork is seriously the best money I have spent on my bike and I would recommend a Z-4 to anyone. I keep up to my buddies on their $1500 rides without a real issue, and thanks to my fork I can still hold a beer in my hand after the ride without having wrist, hand failure! For the price of this unit, go for it and ride it until it blows up! I think your knees will be toast before this fork checks out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve brumbaugh
a Cross Country Rider
from brigham city, utah
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere around moab is good | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$289.00 | | Purchased At: | loveland's cycle | | Strengths: | Stiff, strong, and respnsive. | | Weaknesses: | On the heavy side of the scale. It's not all that adjustable either. | | Bike Setup: | '95 Trek 9700 OCLV with healthy mix of components from XTR to old Grip Shift X-Ray shifters and a Hayes front disc brake. | | Bottom Line: | An awesome fork for someone on a budget. It works well on the big hits as well as the smaller stuff. Inspires confidence in the steeps and the rough sections. It's also an easy fork to maintain. I ride in all conditions from dry and dusty to snow and I haven't touched them except for the occasional smattering with Judy Butter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jan janocko
a Racer
from Kosice, Slovakia
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Strengths: | the best working fork for this price, works better for xc than a '00 judy xc, never bottomed
very strong
precize cornering
very good price | | Weaknesses: | too heavy | | Similar Products Used: | '99 indy xc, '00judy xc | | Bike Setup: | Scott pro racing, LX | | Bottom Line: | I bought this fork because I needed something under $150 and this was the best. It's much better than any rockshox jett or manitou spider. In the shop they had more bombers and I wondered when I saw, that the same construction works also with 130 mm travel.
It could be called maintance free. I used it without touching it for 13 months in all weather also in winter, then I changed oil, i used 5wt from rockshox because i use it without preloud (i'm 135 lb, climb usually in seat). I hope to buy some sid or mars soon, because this fork is too heavy for xc racing. Also Al steerer tube could help(150 g) It works better than more expensive Judies.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Raul
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Otero Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Strengths: | quick rebound, plush, great value | | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Spyder | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper, LX, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I'm reviewing the 1999 Z.4 flyair. For the money, this is a great shock. It soaks up bumps with ease, it's sensitive to small bumps, and the rebound is fairly quick so it's right back to where it needs to be for another hit. It has made me a faster rider - I'm much more confident on descents and bumpy turns. Great buy for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
muff
a Racer
from aberdeen scotland
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | kirkhill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | ukplus | | Strengths: | aye quailty fork with good travel and hardly any flex... every bit as good as SID's but 2 ton cheaper u just can't go wrong with these baby's | | Weaknesses: | haven't seen any yet but time will tell... | | Similar Products Used: | judy xc, sid 100, rst 381, z5 | | Bike Setup: | ddg shooter on mavic d321 cd hope sport hubs and c2 brakes with lx drive train | | Bottom Line: | aye at £150 (there or there abouts) u just can't go wrong brilliant all round fork for mad 6ft drops or just popping down the shops. I always thought that rockshox sid's where the only quality single crown air fork but these things are just as good at half the price | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kwik Z
a Cross Country Rider
from severna park, md, USA
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | plenty of plush travel, solid and responsive. | | Weaknesses: | no boots, suggest buying lizard skins to keep the dirt out | | Bike Setup: | stock kona fire mountain, with GT dual density seat and the Z4 | | Bottom Line: | an excellent fork. Plush travel and lots of it. i like the air a lot more than my old coil. it soaks up the small stuff without you even realizing you hit a bump. at the price i got it for its a steal. the only problem is no boots, thats easy to fix though, just buy lizard skins, like $10 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Martin
a Racer
from peterborough
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | some where in northhampton | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | merlin cycles | | Strengths: | plush travel, go-anywhere do anything fork. | | Weaknesses: | rebound damping if you dont have the z4 sport | | Similar Products Used: | in sync, z1 drop off(98) | | Bike Setup: | merlin trials frame, doere group, d521 wheels. | | Bottom Line: | these forks are the bomb compared with the z1's an exellent medium budget fork.
super plush | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FreeRider/NorthShore
a Downhiller
from Canada, New Brunswick, Saint John
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | My North Shore Trail In Back Yard and the Local Mall | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Works | | Strengths: | They have very nice travel for example just the other day I did a 6 Foot drop and I didnt feel them bottom but I think they did but its so soft I didnt feel it and they kick ass!! | | Weaknesses: | None as of yet.
Except I want Z1's cuz they have more travel. | | Similar Products Used: | RST 381 CL and Manitau SX | | Bike Setup: | 99 GT Outpost 18" with a Rolf Dolomite Rear wheel. And Trans-X Dowhill Handle Bars and Fishbone Bite Me's flat pedals. | | Bottom Line: | These shocks are very good for the price so if you have the choice, get these . Or you can be a cheap person and buy Z5's and 4 of my friends have Z5's and they are all broken. And None of them hbave done a dop as big as me!
These shocks kick ass! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete i
a Cross Country Rider
from Mass
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal | | Strengths: | Rigid | | Weaknesses: | No Boots or Dust caps | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Judy T2 w/GEM & Dirtworks springs, Rockshox SID XC | | Bike Setup: | Spec FSR Comp w/ Mt. Speed rear kit, XTR drive | | Bottom Line: | Got tired of having the SID get stuck in between rocks and twist and flex. this caused a lot of endos. Then the RS Cartridge blew out. Bought the Z4 and have not lloked back. Z4 is Set & Forget. Rigid crown inspires more confidence especially on DH sections and through the bowling balls. The bike goes where you point it with the Marzoch. Bye Bye RShox SID you should be melted down and reused at marzoch to make trophies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from GA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | Stiff,can take anything u dish out at it, plush, and the tune ability of an air fork | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Sid, Mars, Manitou sx | | Bike Setup: | K2 proflex 5000 frame carbon stays, Tompson seatpost and stem, Mavic Gt wheels, Avid brakes | | Bottom Line: | This fork works and is an awesome deal for the price, it rides like your on air mainly because you are. Now sorry to cut so short but i'm going riding
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelvin Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Royal National Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bikeaddiction | | Strengths: | It really does the job. Its stiff but yet absorbs everything u throw at it. Really good stuff. It is also only 120gm heavier than a Z2 x-fly | | Similar Products Used: | I've tired the Psylos XC, Manitou SX-R, Z5, Jetts and A fatty M headshock | | Bike Setup: | 00 Kona Muni Mula with V8s | | Bottom Line: | Its a good fork for its price range. I'll always be using bombers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Nicoud
a Racer
from Calgary Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The pretzel | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shop | | Strengths: | The thing is sweet for being on a 1200 (canadian-thats like 10 bucks american) bike it was on sale thou regular price 1600 but anyways it rocks at first i thought it was really stiff but after a while and using other forks and adjusting it i figured out i love this fork it rules go buy one unless u have more money then buy a better marzocchi but no rockcocks | | Weaknesses: | not very adjustable | | Similar Products Used: | Who uses that many shocks? really? | | Bike Setup: | lx/xt flat bars xc race bike | | Bottom Line: | This thing rules you should buy one unless your crzy | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sLiM ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
a Racer
from gravenhurst ( Canada, ontario )
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Egar Bever , Do Drop & Cliff Hanger | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | $400 est. it came with the bike | | Strengths: | everything ~!~ i don't know why these people are saying that the fork is heavy . maybe because mine is the flyair | | Weaknesses: | nothin is weak about this fork | | Similar Products Used: | rock shocx sid ( even then it can't compare to this
fork ~!~ ) | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Rocky Mountain Spice part combined LX XT and rocky mountain compoinents | | Bottom Line: | buy the dame fork.......its amazing ~!~
i am a dirt jumper , x_country racer and i do a little bit of both dual slomam and downhill | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt W
a Weekend Warrior
from Kent, England
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | MX play area nr Boxley Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$205.00 | | Purchased At: | Tri The Bike Shop, Gravesend | | Strengths: | weight, stiffness, plushness, adjustable | | Weaknesses: | paint finish, crap user manual | | Similar Products Used: | judy XC(y2k) judy race, RST 461, RST mozo pro, some Sync thing on my mates marin | | Bike Setup: | 96 Saracen Tufftrax, xt/lx | | Bottom Line: | I bought this fork on Marzocchis reputation and it certainly lives up to the name- the z4 is much smoother and beefier than any of the forks above. The monster stanchions for a fork this cheap- £135 in england - means that ive not experienced any leg flex, but im pretty light for a six footer. I do general xc riding + play around on jumps, and the fork takes it all in its stride. . .
The brilliant Marzocchi seals means that i havent had to strip them down since i got them when they first came out, oct. 99. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ali c
a Cross Country Rider
from Ayrshire Scotland
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | innerlethen | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | chain reaction ,Ireland | | Strengths: | p l u s h.....adjustability great seals like the new mag arch colour did i mention p l u s h........ | | Weaknesses: | slightly heavier but not noticeble on the trail | | Similar Products Used: | rock shocks | | Bike Setup: | scott racing comp xt running gear | | Bottom Line: | for the price this is a fantastic fork infinitely tunable and very plush low maintenance even without boots | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
snup dog
a Cross Country Rider
from victoria, B.C. ,canada
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | n/a | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | very very very good shocks better than anything in the price range from another company | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | z3 z5 | | Bottom Line: | awsome shocks for someone who cant aford to spend 1200$ just for shocks | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rocky Isastud
a Downhiller
from Denver co
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | deaths hand | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good travel and it absorbs the bump like no other | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox sid | | Bike Setup: | alta frame with xtr componets | | Bottom Line: | the only comparonson to any marzocchi is a rock shox sid | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roti Chanai
a Weekend Warrior
from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | FRIM | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good look, plush ride, low maintenance, built like a tank, reasonably priced | | Weaknesses: | A bit on the heavy side | | Similar Products Used: | Judy XC | | Bike Setup: | Kona Muni-Mula 2000 stock | | Bottom Line: | This front shock works well with my Kona Muni-mula. With this Marzocchi, I can confidently run over obstacles. I am very happy with the ride with this front shock. Since it built like a tank, it can withstand some abuses on the trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Dean
a Cross Country Rider
from Aylesbury,England
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Excellent travel, looks great, Extremly Plush | | Weaknesses: | None atall! | | Similar Products Used: | RST 281R | | Bike Setup: | 7005 Alloy Scott Frame, Z4 Forks | | Bottom Line: | Its an excellent fork for the price, full of goodness!
In my opinion go and buy one now! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PAUL GORDON
a Cross Country Rider
from EDMONTON,AB,CANADA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | EWOK VILLAGE | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | PLUSH PLUSH PLUSH!!!!
BOMB PROFF!!!! | | Weaknesses: | WEIGHT | | Similar Products Used: | BOMBER Z5, ROCK SHOX JETT C ,INDY C, QUADRA 21R | | Bike Setup: | RALEIGH FRAME, Z4 FLYLIGHT FORK, XT REAR, AIRLINE RIMS | | Bottom Line: | PERFECT FORK FOR A RIDER LOOKING FOR A PLUSH RIDE WHICH CAN BE USED FOR CROSS COUNTRY RIDING AND DOING DROP OFFS.
GREAT VALUE. TRY THEM ONCE AND YOU'LL BE HOOKED ON THE BOMBER STYLE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Landau
a Cross Country Rider
from Fredericton
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | coloddy | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Sweet stock fork, good value to boot. 80mm of plush travel, and that lime green color..... oh yeah. It's a bomber, what else can i say? | | Weaknesses: | shave off a little weight maybe. | | Similar Products Used: | '99 rockshox judy | | Bike Setup: | stock KONA munimula 2000. | | Bottom Line: | Basically, i'm gonna keep this stock fork until i break it from too much use. I've ridden about 1000+ km of trail with this stock fork on my bike and it still performs great. It would also make a good aftermarket purchase for someone who might want to convert their old rigid to a trail ridin' machine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
faceplant WA
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tiger, tapeworm | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | light, good for climbing | | Weaknesses: | brace bolts | | Similar Products Used: | Judy, X-vert | | Bike Setup: | Kona muni mula stock | | Bottom Line: | Great folk, light, smooth travel. Watch those bolts, however. Mine keep coming loose after 4 or 5 rides, I check them every other week; however, don't tighten them too much b/c they strip easily (I discovered) -- kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. Good stock folk for weekenders who have to climb for sweet single track. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cadel
a Weekend Warrior
from macon,ga
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | its stiff, but very plush, easy to adjust and has very good small bump response, awesome low pressure high volume spring | | Weaknesses: | none at all | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Mars, Rock Shox SID | | Bike Setup: | pro-flex 756 frame, custom wheels custom everything else at that with the z-4 flylight up front | | Bottom Line: | its a very sweet fork and a good price marzocchi put there top end technology into this fork and u can tell, it works awesome, anybody wanting the infinate tunablity of an air fork and doesnt have $400 should look into this even if u do have the money this fork is still totally sweet and rides the best of any other air fork i've ridden in about the $400 price range | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clark
a Cross Country Rider
from Silver City, NM
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | CD | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price, low-mantinence, eye-candy | | Weaknesses: | Travel vs. weight, customer service, replacement parts, dampening adjustments | | Similar Products Used: | Z-5, Smartshock, RST 281, etc, etc | | Bike Setup: | KONA | | Bottom Line: | After riding this shock for another 3 months I definitely want to change my review. This shock is a tank for the travel it offers - it weighs as much as a 4" travel fork!Another thing, the stock springs are horrid. I have been jumping off some nice little drops and have yet to reach the advertised 70mm travel! I hit a few foot drop with the preloads all the way out and I am lucky to get 2" out of this fork. Also with the preloads all the way out it bucks like a bull when I am on the trail, but the only way I can get the "recomended sag" is to leave them out. I rode 20 miles the other day with the preloads all the way in and this corrected the rebound problem, but I only get like 1.5" of travel now. I looked for replacement springs for a different weight rider, only Mountain Springs sells any (too bad they cost $80)- not even Marzocchi wants to give its customers options on the lowly Z-4.
All told, this is a good shock if you wanna buy a name and don't ever want to have to fix your fork, which is a good enough reason for most I suppose. But I am going to be getting something else as soon as I can. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jory MacKay
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, B.C, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Snakes and Ladders | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Looks great!!! Great fork for the money.. feels VERY plush | | Weaknesses: | umm... the paint chips easily.. or is that just me? | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi XC400, Judy XC's, '98 Z-2's | | Bike Setup: | Kona, LX/XT Z-4's... | | Bottom Line: | beautiful!!! for any beginners or someone who doesn't do too much stuff on their bike.. definitley a good starter shock.. Marzocchi has got to be da BEST shock company.. so go buy one RIGHT NOW!!! unless u r doing some hardcore stuff this shock should be fine.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan (A.K.A. "Whitey")
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Super Plush!!! Super Smooth, and it looks damn good!!! | | Weaknesses: | Preload tuning | | Similar Products Used: | RST 281
Judy XC
other Rock Shox | | Bike Setup: | Custom Trek Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | The fork is super smooth, it has made me a Bomber lover for life. If this fork is the lower end Bomber the the higher end ones must be insanely nice. This fork is a tank, I don't think I could ever bust it up. On the '99 model I have the preload must be ajusted by a allen wrench, which sucks because nobs would have been nicer. For the price this fork blows all others away!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | UBC Endowment Lands & Burnaby Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Very smooth ride, what else can I say? | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mtn. Hammer, Stock setup. | | Bottom Line: | I have know idea why some of the readers in here say this fork is heavy...it's only 1.6kg! and other comments like oil dampening? wrong...the Marzocchi Z4 is an Air/Spring shock, go to www.marzocchi.com
Anyway, this fork does the job for me and I'd recommend it to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Sisson
a Downhiller
from Cumbria, England
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | stong, light, superb performence | | Weaknesses: | paint scratches easily | | Similar Products Used: | R.S.T 381tl | | Bike Setup: | Dawes Watoga cross country bike | | Bottom Line: | Excellent for all riders apart from hardcore riders. Should last a like time | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
graeme
a Weekend Warrior
from north shore
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ned's atomic dustbin | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Plush, strong, low maitenence | | Weaknesses: | its pretty heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | NONE | | Bike Setup: | 15 inch nisiki lx brakes, mammoth rims, and some other good componemts | | Bottom Line: | This is a heavy fork but that does not matter to me. It is very strong fork. Although it does not have much travel the travel it has is very plush. I am very happy with it. Five flamin' chilis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon
a Downhiller
from Covina, CA
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Its a Marzocchi. The Bomber setup is soooo plush with a sweet limo ride. The rebound and compression control. | | Weaknesses: | I waited so long to buy one. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Mach 5, RS Judy | | Bike Setup: | FSR, Marzocchi Z4, Race Face System Stem, Azonic PDW risers, LX drivetrain, Shimano 323s, Specialized Body Geometry Saddle, Michelin Wiidgrippers. | | Bottom Line: | I scored this fork at gear.com for $89.00 and only a quarter to ship it. I think the MSRP is around $229, so this was a smokin' deal. All my friends have been riding Marzocchis for years and kept telling me that they are the sh*t and worth every penny, but my cheap a$$ would never break down and spend the coin. Well I quess holding out was worth it for the deal I scored, although my riding probably suffered a little. I noticed a huge difference the first time I rode with this fork and my riding has improved drastically since. This fork is worth the two bills Marzocchi is asking, but look around, there is a ton of deals out there. I give this fork 5 burning Rock Shoxs for value and for overall performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clark Boatwright
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Cruces, NM 88001
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | A-mountain! Tortugas on the maps | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Stylings, Comfort-ride, PRICE! | | Weaknesses: | Comfort-ride, weight | | Similar Products Used: | RST 281, Judy XC, Marzocchi Z-5, Indy XC | | Bike Setup: | KONA BLAST! Completely new mods, great bike for a budget! | | Bottom Line: | This fork is the last fork that I will ever buy unless:
a) The seals and everything else bust on this fork, very very unlikely with Marzocchi quality.
b) I am hit by a car the next time I ride out to the trails at night, very likely.
c) I gain superhuman strengths and actually become good enough at mountain biking to compete in state competition!
This is a great fork for a weekend warrior, and with some adjustments can even be used by a much more experienced rider. The weight does hamper the fork - I weighed it for all the wondering people, 3.9 lbs. Which is pretty heavy when you can get some cheap ass Rockshox crud that weighs 2.5 lbs for $100. But after riding that crud, I now know enlightenment - Marzocchi! I haven't had the chance to try anything in their higher levels, but they have to be great. Bottom line, if you like mountain biking, buy any Marzocchi you can get your hands on!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kona Muni-Mula
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, B.C.
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Who's Your Daddy (befor tore down). | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Strong, Looks BEEFY, good for XC, plush for the amount of travel it has. | | Weaknesses: | Short travel. Weighs same amount as forks twice it's size. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | '99 Muni-mula with cook cranks and NS bashguard. | | Bottom Line: | The fork is good for XC riders on a budget. If your like my then dont get it. I need plush travel (Z-1 BAM)just uprgrading to it. You want good travel and dont mind voiding the warranty then take the negative springs out and place them onthe main springs and add some 7 weight oil. Then you get close to 4 inches of pluck bomer travel(very sensitive). I give it 4 flaming rats with the travel modification ;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Mardus
a Weekend Warrior
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso- Technical | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | real plush,great rebound, cool colours, great price. | | Weaknesses: | ???? none | | Similar Products Used: | Indy S, Manitou SX ti, Judy 100 | | Bike Setup: | 99 Kona NuNU | | Bottom Line: | A great all around fork for a good rider. Great price, and good warranty. The first time I used it I was totally amazed, I never thought for 175 bucks that the fork would be this good. If you want a good all around fork for a great price, buy this fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hugo Santos
a Weekend Warrior
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Palmela | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Smooth
Non flexible
Price
Looks | | Weaknesses: | Weight ? | | Similar Products Used: | RST 281 | | Bike Setup: | Scott Navajo, full Deore | | Bottom Line: | I'm using this fork for more then 1 year now and i never did any maintenance on it (only cleaning)... and she doesn't need any ! It's very smooth and deals very well with big drops too ... i never reached the bottom of it and if i did it was so smooth i didn't even notice. A great deal for the price. Gonna miss her but i'm gonna trade her (today :o)) for the new 2000 Z4 flylight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bike Master Mike
a Racer
from Canton, MI
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Island Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Smooth-no stiction
Great finish on the parts | | Weaknesses: | Could use a little more compression damping-stock | | Similar Products Used: | All of em | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Single Speed | | Bottom Line: | This fork makes bombing down stairwells sweet! It does need more compression damping, but Ill fix that as soon as I remember to bring a 15mm socket and extension to school. Gonna throw in some 10 wt oil.
Little heavy, but that just takes a couple of wheelies to get used to.
For the $159 I paid and the fact that its a 1" steerer (and you can change it to 1 1/8" with only a steerer tube), its a great fork.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Egon
a Weekend Warrior
from Kent
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | mount robin hood | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | light, stiff, good at little and small bumps, groovy colour | | Weaknesses: | hard to clean | | Similar Products Used: | used to be rigid | | Bike Setup: | saracen truftrax with extra stuff (mainly XT) | | Bottom Line: | excellent value for money. Very light- so it does not affect the weight of the bike too much. It is quite long, so older bikes slow speed handling can end up a bit weird, but who goes slow?
The fork is pretty tuneable, although its pretty much impossible to tune on the trail unless you carry a car tyre pump on yer back!
The new magnesium arch design looks really cool, but can get clogged with mud quickly if you ride in the winter. The lack of fork boots means the fork needs stripping down more regularly than most or the performance suffers ( no rebuild instructions are included so prepare for a frustrating first stripdown!)
The fork takes ages to bed in properly, but after about 5 long rides (30m+) it gets really smooth and feels like its worth way more than the stupid cheap £150 asking price. Overall, a brilliant value for money first fork, or upgrade from a budget fork (eg. RST 381). Dont buy it if your looking for a full-on DH fork, but brilliant for cross country. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | flashy looks, but solid performance | | Weaknesses: | HEAVY! | | Similar Products Used: | none (went from rigid to suspension) | | Bike Setup: | Giant Yukon: Avid Brakes, Mavic 222 rims, Continental Tires, Shimano XT Hubs & deraileurs, Icon Bar, Axiom Ti Post & Stem, SRAM Plasma Shifters, Selle-Italia Nitrox seat, Marzocchi Z4 Fork ( with Al Steer-tube ) | | Bottom Line: | Bought this fork because I didn't want to be like everybody else and buy a RockShox. Best upgrade so far (except for replacing the Shimano-crap brakes with Avid 50's) I'll describe the ride characteristics of this fork as "plush" because it IS plush,cushy,comfortable,etc. If you expect this fork to be a mountain killer, then me thinks that you expect too much for your money! This thing makes riding my bike a joy now; whereas before, it was a bone-jarring experience. I have no complaints; it even came in Black to match my bike, even though the Salesguy said it didn't. COOL!! Aluminum steer-tube, too. If this fork is near the bottom of the Marzocchi barrel, then the quality of their top-of-the-line models must be bloody fantastic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
devin
a Weekend Warrior
from boulder co
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Strong, good looks, plush,really good quality for the money | | Weaknesses: | a little bit heavy but its totaly worth it | | Similar Products Used: | rst 261, judy sl,indy c | | Bike Setup: | mesa le | | Bottom Line: | This is a really good fork. It absorbs the big and small hits. Its a lot sm0other than a judy sl. When im bombing down hill it totally absorbs every bump allowing me to go faster. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bike Master Mike
a Racer
from Canton, MI
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Island Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Oil Damping
Coil Springs
Looks cool I guess
Paid $159 | | Weaknesses: | Super heavy
| | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Mag 20, Mag 21, Judy XC, Judy T2, Judy XL, Manitou FS, XVert DC | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Single Speed | | Bottom Line: | Wow, this fork weighs more then twice what my old rigid one did. In fact, it weighs 1 oz less then my 120 mm travel Manitou XVert DC! Its pretty smooth but way undersprung. The spring preload does have some pretty good range though. And, no, Im not going to call this fork plush. You idiots that use Marzocchis marketing terms deserve to ride only Rock Shox. Cant you come up with your own terms? Like too little compression damping combined with too little spring rate=soft mushy and feels like its working, but its actually moving so much becasue its not set up right, and that means that you are wasting energy by making that thing bounce up and down. A bobbing fork is not a well damped fork, and that feels like crap. Its better to have too much damping than too little. That way you dont get lots of pitching of the bike which causes lots of weight shift front to rear. That leads to things like going over the bars when your fork compressed way too much as you hit a curb of tree branch.
Anyway, the fork is decent for $159. It makes the front track much better on stairs, but it does have a little too much bob when climbing. I plan to put a higher weight oil in to fix that-that means that the rebound damping rate is too low. I bought this fork to replace the rigid fork that I bent out 3" on my single speed after going off a 4 foot drop off. This fork feels like an anchor on the front of the bike now and makes doing wheelies a bit hard when you are used to a super light front end. It also makes the front feel a little heavy when carving through pedestrians on campus. I much preferred the rigid fork for that. I plan to race on the bike this summer, so the suspension will make it a little easier to handle in the corners. I plan to get another rigid fork for doing trials and campus riding. Suspension sucks for that stuff. Unless its extreme campus stuff like 8 foot ledges, etc. Thats when the Y with the XVert comes out.
If HTML code works in here you will see a pic of my bike:
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon Martinez
a Weekend Warrior
from Carpinteria CA
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price, Weight, good all around fork, disc brake mounts | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Gt Ricochet Sram ESP 9.0 shimano spd 545 | | Bottom Line: | MARZOCCHI has done a great job on this fork, AND THATS THE BOTTOM LINE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dondi
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Stiff and Strong, very plush, price!!! Great internals!!!
Also the looks. | | Weaknesses: | little heavy but nothing else. | | Similar Products Used: | Most Judys and some Manitous | | Bike Setup: | Yeti hardtail xt,xtr,mavic,white industries,control tech | | Bottom Line: | I purchased this '99 fork on a wim. I was short on cash but could not stand my judy Dh Sl any more. Figured I would sell the fork after a couple of months and upgrade to a higher end model if I liked it. Well guess what, I love it and don't feel a need to upgrade it. It is one of the cheapest (Jensen USA, $165) parts on my bike but it is also one of the best parts on my bike. If you need a good fork but don't have cash get one of these. one more thing, it has open bath in both legs adding weight but on a long back country ride if and only if one leg blew the other would get you back home. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris cole
a
from carew
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | good all round fork | | Weaknesses: | too soft, rebound too slow | | Bike Setup: | trials | | Bottom Line: | not good not bad | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BTV
a weekend warrior
from Cincinnati
Date Reviewed: January 2, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Seems like it is exactly the same as the Z3 but with a cheaper brake arch.
I'm about to buy one but I hope other people will post their experiences
with it first.
| | Overall Rating: |
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