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Submitted by
Justin Kelsey
a Weekend Warrior
from Colchester VT USA
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Coyote Turnpike | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | JENSON USA | | Strengths: | Reasonably stiff. Can hold to a 2.7 in the front. Has lots of damping. Has a good bottom out- Never smashes. | | Weaknesses: | losses air pressure after a couple of days. The decals also peel off after a short time. | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshok physlo, Judy Race w/100mm | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale super v 500. use the bike for everything- urban, dirt jumping etc. | | Bottom Line: | Great fork for the money. Good for lots of diffrent disciplines/ | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david Molony
a Downhiller
from Canterbury Kent England
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | penshust Quarry | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin | | Strengths: | they r bnice for the money... | | Weaknesses: | They snapped | | Similar Products Used: | See below | | Bike Setup: | SEE BELOW | | Bottom Line: | I made the last review on how t set them up, I have since then snapped them. ok, so I weigh 65 kg, im 14 and I rode a)like a tank and b) very hard and aggressively, but I dont think rthey shoud have done this to me. Hopefully they will be replaced by Marzocchi under warranty, but I doubt it, I deserve to have a new set.
I still recomend them mebe the 2001 model is a better bet though, with the new crown. Doesnt really matter to neone I guess, they r not made nemore. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david
a Downhiller
from Kent UK
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin | | Strengths: | Strong (i think)
v.smooth,
plush,
well damped
bomber
beutiful
bolted crown
bam brace(these r the same as the old z1 series
£90 is incredible for a fork that performs twice its price | | Weaknesses: | Noisy damping,
I still think they could be more sensitive,
A lot of weak internals, e.g: top caps and plunger rods
Hard to get the caps off so oil height is well hard to adjust.
no damping adjuster | | Similar Products Used: | Judy race - quite frankly "bad", id like to say worse, indy c, rst 281, ok actually are ones ive owned
Jr t, monster t, boxxers, other set of judys - still bad, z1 bam, drop, cr, etc | | Bike Setup: | Identiti, d521 panaracers and the worst cranks available | | Bottom Line: | These forks rule. They r a cheap z1, and they r almost as good, although people i know will disagree. I have ridden a lot of forks, and this is one of the better ones, they r so good that everyone should have a set to use. the damping is a bit slow, but this is easy to fix:
less copression = lighter oil,
less rebound = drill the holes in the bottom of the plunger rods out, though as this will void the warranty it is best to buy a new rod and do it to that. also be careful as you only need to drill it out by about half a millemeter as the rates of fluid flow through holes is very logarithamic, therefore a 1 mil enlargement will double the flow, a two mil enlargement will increase it by 8 times and so on.
To get more than 80 millemeters from the go to ukbikestore.co.uk and order the shorter top out springs.
The spring rate is easily adjustable with air pressure, and if they r bottoming out then it is likely that the oil height is too low, therefore raise it, but beware: a 2 ml raise will make a drastic difference, and too much will mean that they will blow the seals if there is too much pressure, either continous, i.e you pump them up too hard or static, they are landed off a drop that is too large.
These forks are a bargain, buy them and tune them if you can be bothered, and be careful of those crown bolts, they are dangerous to knees and they slip.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew lwin
a Racer
from perth WA Australia
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | goat farm | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Strengths: | its very good for hardtrail mtb because of its strenght | | Weaknesses: | its got a built in axle | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox sid sl | | Bottom Line: | its good for dirt jumpin and downhill | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | North Shore | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$145.00 | | Purchased At: | Atomic Bikes/Vancouver | | Strengths: | New machined arch,better seals,BAM crown, pressure fit alloy
steerer tube, more travel.
| | Weaknesses: | To change damping requires changing oil weight. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi Z-1 BAM,Z-2,Z-2 BAM, Z3 light, Z3 flylight 100,
(owned 'em all). | | Bike Setup: | This is on my commuter bike which is a '93 Rocky Mountain Blizzard with a mix of Syncros,Race Face,Shimano,Suntour,Sachs, all of which work well together. | | Bottom Line: | Great value for a fork in this price range especially when compared to Rock Shox, RST, Suntour, Manitou, etc. Great shock for a first shock or, someone who is into a fork which can be adjusted easily for more than one rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lennart Soegaard
a Cross Country Rider
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Furesoe | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | shop where i work | | Strengths: | very stiff and strong.provides precise steering.tuneable.very good build quality.perfect damping. | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | `96 bomber Z3. | | Bike Setup: | `99 RM Blizzard.LX/XT,mavic 517 rims,SRAM 9.0 brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Great fork.I have just seviced it after 3700 km-no problemo!
I have nothing bad to say about this fork.great value.Good for allround use;racing,hardcore riding-anything.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a
from Kent UK
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Big fat legs, OH SO PLUSH, very adjustable, you really do get ALL the travel | | Weaknesses: | err, thinking, ummm, nope | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox judy(orrible need stripping down and re doing inside to make them work properly and even then...) rockshox indy c (avoid) manitou spyder(hard spring no damping euch) rst 281 (better than u think actually) bomber Z1 (oh yeah their nice) bomber jnr T(nice lots of travel) rst 381 (orrible) manitou x vert (nice) | | Bike Setup: | little merlin trials/jump thing | | Bottom Line: | oh so good i got mine for £110 @ bike 2000, they are so nice. (if u r lighter u might want 2 change from 7.5 to 5 weight damping oil) DONT THINK JUST BUY THEM | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin Soul
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Delta Watershed | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$210.00 | | Strengths: | PICKS UP BUMPS LIKE NO OTHER SHOCK IN IT'S PRICE RANGE. | | Weaknesses: | NOT A HIGHER END MARAZOCHI SHOCK. | | Similar Products Used: | RST 187, 261, 381, Camel- ALL WORTHLESS.
ROCK SHOCK JETT RACE- CAN'T COMPARE TO Z5'S. | | Bike Setup: | GT OUTPOST | | Bottom Line: | GREAT SHOCK FOR THE MONEY. A GOOD INVESTMENT TO MAKE IF YOU WANT TO UPGRADE YOUR BIKE. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ITTO RILLO
a Weekend Warrior
from RESEDA CA.
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | caballero & serrano trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | Z1 cr bomber 2000 awesome!!!very very heavy duty fork. for heavy riders, look no more. | | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | judy race 100mm 2000 // manitou magnum r 2000 | | Bike Setup: | marin eastpeak y2k frame with raceface turbine lp cranks,xtr rear/front der,avid 40 brakes,raceface bb,fox vanilla rear and z1cr bomber fork. | | Bottom Line: | the first set up of my bike was alright,then after i upgraded my suspensions!oh boy,big big improvement.eat my dust aeon from rsm. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Beek
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Goat farm | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Fleat cycles | | Strengths: | Big beefy wide forks that take all the sh*t I give it.
Plush and smooth | | Weaknesses: | A bit to much weight for normal riding but that dosen't matter when doing dirt jumps | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox Race Sh*t, these are the sh*test weakest pieaces of crap I have used, In 2 months there was oil leaking from the top. | | Bike Setup: | Custom Giant Warp | | Bottom Line: | I top fork for dirt jumping, for a good price, I've wacked some liziad skins as boots and they look pretty good. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Utah & NM, USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ne downhills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Plush
Travel
Price | | Weaknesses: | Noises | | Similar Products Used: | Indy XC | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Ground Ctrl. '97 AIM, XTR/Avid/Risse rear | | Bottom Line: | Excellent budget shock, sure beats the hell out of the old
sucky Rock Shox elastomer crap I had (Indy XC).
No problems with the shock as of yet, however I had a friend who had a leaky seal. I figure, as long as you
put some lizard skins on, if you ride in dusty terrain, you'll be fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Freerider Shum
a Racer
from Australia
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Plush action over big hits.
Relability
Stiffness (for a budget fork)
| | Weaknesses: | Stiction - due to air seals
Damping for lighter riders
| | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi z3/z2-fly
RS Judy race | | Bottom Line: | A terrific deal for the price. Watch the damping rates though if you're a light rider. The air spring has an aewsome rebound so they put fairly thick oil in stock(7.5), once you start running lower pressures, eg. around 30lbs the damping turns galacial!
Also, these forks don't react to the small bumps very well due to the stiction in the labrynth of seals but their action on big hits is top notch.
All in all, a great budget fork! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jamsta
a
from Australia
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | they work. - i got mine in bright orange [looks wicked] | | Weaknesses: | drop-outs are a bit of a pain getting the front wheel off, but you get used to it - most people are complaing about the weight, but i find them to be ok, just ride harder! | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox | | Bike Setup: | Norco XCS dual sus. | | Bottom Line: | I love them - they seem to work fine, they're made by the best damn suspension company around. i love the orange colour. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy G
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ute Valley, Cheyenne Mt. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Plush, clean looks, rigid. | | Weaknesses: | Weight (?) | | Similar Products Used: | Elastomer Manitou Spyder | | Bike Setup: | Marin Rocky Ridge customized for freeriding. | | Bottom Line: | Finally got around to upgrading the sucky stock fork/headset on my Marin after swapping out almost everything else (dem forks can be pricey). Got mine for around $190 from Jensen, pretty good deal. Picked this over a Judy Race based on price, reviews, and I really wanted to try out a 'Zoke. Basically I'm very pleased so far, the fork is plush, rigid laterally, and has great adjustability with a decent shock pump. Techie trails that were a pain in the *ss before are much more bearable. I was little sketchy about going with an air fork since I'm in the Clydesdale class but zero problems so far. Overall I'd highly recommend it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D-money
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks, PLUSH, travel | | Weaknesses: | weight, no boots!!! | | Similar Products Used: | RST CRAP | | Bike Setup: | Kona hahanna, full xt, z5, titec stuff | | Bottom Line: | I have had this fork for 2 days only and so far it feels awesome! It is very plush and is worth the price. This fork takes the small and large bumps with ease. who cares about the weight when it feels so great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick Do Trong
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada, quebec
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hard packed on the Mount-Royal | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The fork is Sweettt!
The stanchions are really oversized which makes the fork look even better. The low air pressure dampening system actually works great.No Stiction or a lil bit
No wobbling when braking hard.
So many possiblities of upgrades and adjustments.
This fork is a steal for the price.
Admit , no body does it better than Marzocchi.
Bombers will allways kick others. | | Weaknesses: | A little bit heavy!
Why Z.5 doesn't have a MAGNESIUM arch like the Z.4?
Stanchions tubes( sliders) could come in magnesium color instead of plain polished steel.
More travel= More Fun | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox indy (98) XC long travel
They were lame... | | Bike Setup: | Oryx HTA 250 -deore and deore XT. | | Bottom Line: | These babies are sweet.
Just buy it!
Don't complain about the price ...and remember.u get more with Marzocchi's than ROCH SHOX or MANITOU. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Ross
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford, UK
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | slick rock | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | black, rigid, plush, very adjustable preload, open oil bath damping | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy and need to change oil to adjust damping | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox indyC | | Bike Setup: | GaryFisher Big Sur 97, all LX with Mavic 222 rims | | Bottom Line: | This fork has to be the best value for money around. It may be a little heavy, but it is well made, has good damping and the low pressure air system means that it is very adjustable. Admittedly you cannot change the damping without changing the oil, but if you get the damping set right then you don't really need to change it. Servicing is easy and you don't really need special tools. An ordinary pump does the trick, just pump it up until it has a little too much air, then bleed out a bit until it feels right. I paid 140 pounds (UK) which included installation, what more can you ask for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
OTB
a Weekend Warrior
from Pennskylvania
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Bull Mtn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Plush, rigid, simple | | Weaknesses: | Heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Pro C, Judy XL, Englund Air, Z1 Bam | | Bike Setup: | 14.5" Kona hardtail ( I could tell you what kind of seat and skewers I use, but why?) | | Bottom Line: | Fork basically rocks my world. It has very very smooth travel with no play (nice tight bushings, but not sticky). Air pressure can be set very low for small bump compliance, and fork will not suffer a harsh bottom out. I weigh 170, and I can use 25psi for a nice XC ride. 100mm of travel, and yes, it is actually 100mm. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind this is the best performing fork for less than $250. The adjustablility is only air pressure and oil weight/height (what else do you really need?) If you really want lightweight, it probably won't satisfy you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Bournemouth, England
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | They look really cool
Cheap, very !!
Amazing performance | | Weaknesses: | Weight? Not that I care
They were sold out and took ages to arive. | | Similar Products Used: | 99 RS Jettxc
99 Spyder R | | Bike Setup: | Little jump bike | | Bottom Line: | These forks are amazing for the price, they are incredibly plush when compared to a lot of forks that cost way more.
They are easy to adjust, look really cool in black and have bags of travel, they have transformed my previously rigid jump bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Risk
a Cross Country Rider
from Kula, Maui, Hawaii
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mamane | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Rigidity
Plushness | | Weaknesses: | Weight
What's with the dropouts? So difficult to get the wheel on or off! | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou X-Verts, SX, Judys | | Bike Setup: | Ventana Marble Peak FS set up DH | | Bottom Line: | This is a nice plush fork. It's a little heavy, but again it's lower down the line.
There is not a lot of adjustability. You can tune the air spring, but the rebound can't be tuned. The low pressure air spring is nice and easy to maintain.
You essentially have to decide how you want this fork to perform. Either stiffen the air spring and have a big hit fork or lower the air and make it more supple for small stuff.
The four inches of travel is nice and oftentimes compensates for the lack of adjustability.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Giannou
a Downhiller
from Mt.Pearl NF. Canada
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | South Side Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | nice plush Travel | | Weaknesses: | weight | | Similar Products Used: | Judy c | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | a good fork nice travel but needs to take a 1/2 pound off | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Newbie
a Weekend Warrior
from Van BC
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Seymour downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great shock ..more so becuase im heavier person lucky enough to purchase a new bike with them on as factory
THANK YOU KONA | | Weaknesses: | Thinking................nope | | Similar Products Used: | tried the others on various bikes.... | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Good bike glad it had these babies
PArt of the rating is becuase the bike purchased had them
which help in the purchase | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik van Lier
a Weekend Warrior
from Driebergen
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
Utrechtse Heuvelrug | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
More Travel than the 99 Z5 I owned before.Black fork!!!! | | Weaknesses: |
Uhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm........ | | Similar Products Used: |
Marz. XCR
Manitou Spyder
Marz. Z5 99 | | Bike Setup: |
Gary Fisher Kaitai | | Bottom Line: | Oh yeah, I bought the Y2K Bomber Z5 because of the more travel an less weight. Performs better than the other one (see my review before) | | Overall Rating: |
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