Submitted by
FcPhun
a Racer
from California Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Solid, solid
Plush, smooth
Weaknesses:
None
Bottom Line:
I went back to Marzocchi, and I am GLAD I did!
They make awesome forks and this one does everything I need it to, plus Larry at Mountain High Cyclery gave me a great deal on an '02. I ride a lot and it is a low maintenance, durable fork.
Don't mess with RS or Manitou- get a Marzocchi (or maybe a Fox if you want to pay a lot more).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bo
a Cross Country Rider
from boulder, co Date Reviewed: December 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
monarch crest
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$350.00
Strengths:
Plushness
Weaknesses:
Weight
Similar Products Used:
SID, Manitou Black
Bottom Line:
The previous reviewer really should get a clue how to maintain things before he trashes a product in a review. First of all, the creeping up is very common with the atom race and all it is is that the oil level is off. Marzocchi is notorious about sending forks out with incorrect oil heights, but it is extremely simple to open this fork up, fix the oil height and the ecc works perfectly. Any reputable mechanic would know how to do this and fix the ecc problem. Plus, is it that big of a deal? If the fork is performing its job correctly (suspension) then it should get a good review. My fork is awesome, it requires virtually no maintenance and it instills confidence on any downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon
a Racer
from Chilliwack, B.C., Canada Date Reviewed: June 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
The windmill
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
Jumpers
Strengths:
This fork is REALLY sensitive to small bumps, and shows some real promise for jumping. The paintjob's awesome!
Weaknesses:
The outer maetal dents really easily..... Maybe it's my fault. i do way too many bails! There's soooo much flex when doing endos, and looks creepy.
Similar Products Used:
wedge, Z3, boxxer, psylo........
Bike Setup:
kona stuff, Z2, XT, Raceface, King headset
Bottom Line:
It's kinda flexy, but the strength and plushness makes up for it. Really, the only reason i bought this fork is cuz i like 80/100 mm travel more than the crappy 110's. I bottom them out a lot, but stiffer springs should change that. There's a squishy sound i can't figure out...........
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jan Solar
a Weekend Warrior
from Prague, Czech Republic Date Reviewed: April 26, 2004
This fork creaks (in cryofit). Marzocchi say that each third fork (production year 2002) has this problem and that it doesn't affect functionality. So I try to ignore it. Otherwise, this fork is awesome.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob T
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose CA Date Reviewed: September 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any less than 3 ft wide and or rocky,rooty and rough or any in Downieville
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
Durability,(you can forget about it for at least a year)stiffness,ease and simplicity of maintainance,smooth,plush action
Weaknesses:
I with they had come up with the ETA a year earlier.Its a lot more useful to the average trail rider like myself.I don't use the lockout too much,except on long,steep,smooth climbs.The new manuals stink.They aren't model specific anymore.They're mostly vague,but have enough info to get the job done.I got the same manual as this fork with my Marathon and the word Marathon isn't anywhere in there!The manuals I got with my '99 Bombers were great.They explained any maintainance or overhaul procedure you would want to do.It was more like a shop manual.These new ones are more like the owners manual you get with a car.Fortunately Marzocchis are pretty simple forks to understand.
Similar Products Used:
02 marathon,99z2 bam,99 atom bomb,halson forks,rocksux mag21,20
Bike Setup:
Turner 02 with xce rockers,hopey damper and many other goodies.I run the stock springs with the preload cranked down most of the way.I use the smallest oil volume recommended to get a nice linear action.I weigh about 170.
Bottom Line:
This fork is typical Marzocchi.It works great.You don't have to work on it much.They last a long time.After you change the oil,it feels like a new fork again.I wanted to try a Fox but they want way too much money for those.I got this fork and a Chris King headset for $450,and got my other Bombers on sale too.Fox forks are rarely discounted.To me there really is no other choice in forks besides Bombers,unless I become rich.Over the years I've abused my Bombers in all sorts of conditions.I ride all winter in all weather.Most of my rides are 4 hours or more.I've never had an oil leak or any other failure.All I've ever done to the Bombers is change the oil.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
FcPhun
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO USA Date Reviewed: September 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Mountain High Cyclery
Strengths:
Solid, solid Plush, smooth
Weaknesses:
None Don't need/use lock out much.
Similar Products Used:
MARS Elite
Bike Setup:
Rocky Element
Bottom Line:
I went back to Marzocchi, and I am GLAD I did!
They make awesome forks and this one does everything I need it to, plus Larry at Mountain High Cyclery gave me a great deal on an '02. I ride a lot and it is a low maintenance, durable fork.
Don't mess with RS or Manitou- get a Marzocchi (or maybe a Fox if you want to pay a lot more).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nick m
a Cross Country Rider
from meriden, ct, Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
phattire.com
Strengths:
durability, handles every kind of terrain, doesnt bottom out harshly, and everything else
awesome fork had it for about 2 1/2 months had the stiffest springs put in and this thing rocks. have had absolutely no problems at all handles everything for little bumps to mid drops. i dont use the the lockout i find it unneccesary but it worked well when i tried it out. ideal fork for the all around trail rider who might enter a few races.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003
Favorite Trail:
White Ranch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
SuperGo
Strengths:
Stiff, plush, all metal construction, zero maintenance, same internals as the Z1.
Weaknesses:
Only getting 3.75" of travel. Oh the humanity! Yes, it could be a little lighter, that's why they made the X-fly.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SX-R, Rock Shox Judy 100
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer X, Thomson stem/post, Protaper bar, King headset, relaced King/Bonti Racelites, Avid Mag V-brakes, Terry Ti Fly saddle, Stan's Tubeless, whole lotta XTR...adds up to about 25.5 lbs.
Bottom Line:
This is designed as a trail fork, not a XC race fork, so get over the weight non-issue. Think of it as the Z1's little brother. The weight, along with the ECC, sticks the front wheel to the ground on the climbs, so it actually helps you on the way up. As for on the way down, the fork sucks up everything, keeps the front wheel on the ground on chatter and goes where you point it. What could be better?
It easily blows Rock Shox and Manitou away. Ride a RS or Manitou, then switch to a broken-in Marzocchi. You'll never look back. As for Fox, which I've never ridden, consider this....
I know a bike shop owner who's just finished building his no-holds-barred freeride/trail bike. He's been in the business a long time and has ridden everything. He's putting the best of everything on his bike and his fork's a Z1. 'Nuf said.
If you can still find one of these, get it. Now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jaco modiano
a Cross Country Rider
from colombia Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:
pelicano
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
universalcycles
Strengths:
awesome plush ride, great looks, great price, ecc works fine and is very easy to activate while riding(unlike what other reviewers say)makes me ride faster in adverse terrain
Weaknesses:
doesnt get the advertised 4 inches weight over 4lbs is not a weakness since it adds to rigidity and thus to ride quality
Similar Products Used:
marz z3, atom 80
Bike Setup:
Cloud 9 NRS
Bottom Line:
I wish id made my decision earlier to switch from the atom 80 to 100. the difference is astounding. at this point it seems marzx never give the amount of advertised travel. i was only getting 2" from the atom 80 and now only 3 1/4 from the atom 100. nonetheless its still in the break in period and it feels great already. ecc works exactly like it should and can easily be activated while riding-just move the switch and press hard on the front end. i dont really use this feature a whole lot though. in any case, the extra weight, about .5lbs is not a concern for this beauty. i can feel myself getting faster and more in control. im expecting to be happy with this buy for a long time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington Beach Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Pinenot, SJT, Noble Cyn
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Superblow
Strengths:
Price.... Very stiff... Soaks up the big hits and everything in between.. Looks great...
Weaknesses:
Break in period can be brutal, forearms are toast.. I hear the decals don't last long.. ECC creaps up and is hard to activated while riding.. tad portly nothing serious
Similar Products Used:
Mars Elite, Mars Carbon, SX-R, SX-E, RS Judy, RS Mag 21..
Bike Setup:
Schwinn Home Grown Pro, XT/XTR, Mavic Cross Max's, stock
Bottom Line:
Great fork, no doubt about it... Handles everything I can throw at it.. The weight is noticable up front, makes it very front heavy.. Nice on climbs, keeps the front end on the ground.. Very nice on the downhills.. Soaks up everything from little studder bumbs to large ruts.. Grab on if you can get one...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simon
a Racer
from Northern NJ Date Reviewed: February 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Plattekill
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
335
Strengths:
Stiff Looks hot so smooth
Weaknesses:
Stickers peel
Similar Products Used:
Sid SL, fox vanilla
Bike Setup:
Trek 8900....nothing stock. Cane creeks, full xt, times, king headset.....good stuff
Bottom Line:
This fork does everything they say it will. It works great, ecc works, plushest fork ive ridden (including fox), doesnt leak....no flex...simply a great all around fork. I race XC on it. The confidence i have on the downhills thanks to this fork is well worth the extra pound. No complaints, except that going from 80 to 100mm, i slackened the head angle a bit, but thats not the forks fault.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael A
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: January 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Wilder Ranch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Reliability, looks, workmanship, easy to maintain
Weaknesses:
weight at 4.3 lbs for the 100mm, stickers seem to peel off easily, can't get the full 4" of travel advertised
Similar Products Used:
Judy 100mm, Manitou Mars
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR with modified Mountain speed rear end
Bottom Line:
This is one fine fork for the money. Like most people, I can't get the full 100mm of travel. I will try and adjust the oil level. Once broken in, they get smoother than the first times you took it out. I removed the top caps only to find my springs are stuck or held in by the bottom nuts. Once I removed these nuts to free the spring, all my fork oil drained out on my garage floor. I went out and bought new 7.5 wt fork oil and got it to it's proper level. Still can't get the full 100mm of travel. I'm short by about 1/4 inch. Still these forks are so stiff and so plush. I considered a fox, but their prices are too high. With the Atom Race 2002, you can't beat the deal for a great fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilroy,CA Date Reviewed: January 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Soquel Demonstration Forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Bullit proof Durability looks easy to service reputation smooth as silk
Weaknesses:
weight, heavy at 4.3 lbs stickers come off easily
Similar Products Used:
Atom 80 Manitou Mars Elite RS Judy Manitou 4
Bike Setup:
2000 FSR Pro
Bottom Line:
I owned a Atom 80 and loved it so much that I bought the Atom 100. Same quality build and that famous Marzocchi plush. My only complaint would be that on both forks, I could never get the full travel advertised. On the 80, I got 2 3/4 inches max and on the 100 3 3/4 inches max. With springs removed, you get the full 4 inches, so it would appear with springs installed, it would be impossible to get the full 4 inches claimed. However, these forks are so plush and smooth, who the hell cares for the last 1/4". I had Manitous and Rock shox before Marzocchi's and none work as smooth or were as reliable as the coil Marzocchi's. I've tested the Marzocchi air forks and did not find them as smooth or reliable as the coils. It may be heavier due to the coils, but I'd take weight over reliability any day. All air forks I've owned, and I had 3, all leaked within six months. Bottom line, if you want a smooth, reliable, fork, this would be at the top of anybody's list. since it's a 2002 fork, you can't beat the price at $299.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DrHog
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
National
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Stiffness, plushness, set 'n' forget
Weaknesses:
Could use another inch of travel
Similar Products Used:
Nothing comparable
Bike Setup:
Fisher Sugar, built for racing
Bottom Line:
I chose the Atom Race for both my Sugar and my hardtail bikes. I was looking to keep the bike weight down, and ultimately decided against the SID due to fears that it would be too flexy for my 200# frame. The AR was a good choice, as it has delivered great performance in a reasonably light package. Although this shock has been a superior performer for me, I think that its appeal is somewhat limited. Most racers (except Clydesdales) will be put off by the 3.75# weight. Most trail and free riders will want more than 80mm travel (I see their point). Riders looking to upgrade from an entry-level fork and not spend a fortune will be highly impressed with the Marzocchi. You will get a bombproof fork that will track smoothly through even the roughest terrain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Brinkerhoff
a Weekend Warrior
from St. George, Utah, USA Date Reviewed: December 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
JEM Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Strengths:
Ultra stiff, "smooth as butter" plush, and beautiful.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
I don't know if you could call them similar, but previous forks were a Manitou MARS and RS Judy.
Bike Setup:
2000 Marin RIft Zone, Race Face cranks/b.b./bar, XTR shifters/derailers/brakes/levers, Thomson stem/post, WTB wheels/saddle/tires, King headset, and of course Marzocchi Atom Race 100
Bottom Line:
This fork is absolutely wonderful. I didn't even know I had flex in my MARS until after I rode this fork, what a difference! This fork is unbelievably plush! It eats up everything on the trail. It is soo stiff, there is no flex. You just point and shoot, and this fork will hold a perfect line. I was worried about the .75 lbs I would be gaining at first, but I did't even notice the weight gain and the benefits of riding the perfect fork totally outweighs any weight you might gain with this fork. Oil and Coil is definitely the way to go, I don't think I will even ride an air fork again. I really don't think I can do this fork justice with my words. The real bottom line is the fork is smooth, plush, stiff, and gorgeous. Honestly what more could you want from a fork. I will never buy anything but a Marzocchi again. This fork is the "King."
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nate smith
a Cross Country Rider
from santa cruz, CA Date Reviewed: December 2, 2002
Favorite Trail:
the one in my shorts
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
universal
Strengths:
pretty stiff. very plush. easy to work on.
Weaknesses:
ECC creaps up
Similar Products Used:
tried lots, but last fork on my bike was a '97 judy 80mm
Bike Setup:
heckler,fox rc
Bottom Line:
When i first rode it, I came all over the bomber stickers, and i had to peel most of them off to keep it from melting the fork legs. the last fork on my bike was a '97 judy that bucked me every time i took a drop . . . (but then again that made it kinda fun to try an' hold on.) it's a super duper great fork w/ a little tuning (it's a little too linear.) i remember first riding over some big rocks and roots and preparing to jump off the bike so i wouldn't land on my cheek, and then laughing because it was so easy too ride through(i pooed my pants.) the only thing is the fork creeps up in the ecc mode and that just doesn't seem right, but it really isn't that big a deel'eo. i ride everything: long hills,120" drops,rooty steep climbs, 60* drop-ins,long twisty flat singletrack,street, shoots and ladders, everthing. i liking it. a lot.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
frankstr
a Cross Country Rider
from myrtle creek Oregon usa Date Reviewed: November 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
universal cycles
Strengths:
every thing ,great ride real plush now i know what a real suspension fork is about
Weaknesses:
had to get heavy springs for im a big boy i guess they cant come raedy for all sizes
Similar Products Used:
none really,had noleen mega air before change pure junk imo.
Bike Setup:
2001 k2 razorback3.0 yada yada yada...
Bottom Line:
love to bike thought full suspension was way to go front noleens was to harsh ,allways leaked air lbs said thats normal *#*# bit the bullit after reading reviews and talking to mike at uni cycles and bought the atom race 100 and man its like a whole new bike now i know what a real fork should do. now riding will be great. anybody wanna buy a noleen mega air only 6 months old???
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stan
a Cross Country Rider
from Sandy, Utah Date Reviewed: October 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Park City Resort /Spiro
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$359.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycle
Strengths:
Plush, ECC control,low maintenance, Stiff
Weaknesses:
Possibly weight but not that bad, ECC knob - I need to stop to turn on and Off ,you need to be carefull not to move the compression knob while adjusting the ECC level. However I really like the ECC feature
Great shock, what Ive been really looking for since purchasing my bike a year ago. Came with RS 99 Sid fork , which the neg. seal started leaking within 2 months, rebuilt by factory, but Ive been nervous about it going out again.Also RS doesnt make replacement parts after 3 years. Purchased the 2002 Atom Race 100 and what a difference. Much Stiffer, doesnt deflec going downhill like the Sid did. 20mm more travel and I notice a big diffeence in plushness. I like the ECC valve, at first I didnt think I would use it, But on the last several rides I have not ridden up without it on at some point. Will be much easier to maintain. Very satisfied with this product
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette, NY, USA Date Reviewed: September 30, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$359.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycle
Strengths:
I have the Atom 100. Very plush, love the ECC for road training and big hills, It's best strenght is that it just works like it's suppost to.
Weaknesses:
ECC knob, yeh, I know it's just a little piece of nylon but for the single most expensive part on my bike they could have put the $16 metal one I replaced it with on the bike instead. They need to get an owners/service manual for this shock too. I had to talk to Marzzochi headquarters 5-6 times to get an understanding of how to set these up right and still
Similar Products Used:
Roxshox Psylo SL
Bike Setup:
Home grown - xtr, xt, abc, qvc, u&me, etc
Bottom Line:
Had to go to the stiff (green) spring to get the ride I wanted (i'm only 190 lbs)and had to get the metal ($16 plus shipping) ECC knob just so it didn't look like 'Mattel' made it (am I dating myself ?)Frame geometry is good for the road with it down and locked and the trails are good with it up. It works flawlessly. My second bike has a Psylo SL and I love that it can be dropped but it doesn't come up like the Atom. It's just a comfortable fork to use for eveything I do.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sammy
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder,CO Date Reviewed: August 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
White Ranch, Monarch Crest, etc
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$370.00
Strengths:
Super Plush, small stutter bump performance, steering precision, looks, ease of maintenance, just about everything.
Weaknesses:
ECC knob is ridiculous, ECC did not work correctly when I received it.
Similar Products Used:
SID SL, 2000 Z2 Xfly.
Bike Setup:
Yeti ASR, XTR all around, Ryno lite rims with XT hubs.
Bottom Line:
This fork is the bomb, especially after I changed the oil for the first time it just eats up everything I see in my path (100mm). The ECC crept up on me when I used the stock oil height and guess what, the height must have been wrong from the factory like many people have mentioned, so if your ECC is not working correctly try to change the oil, just 5mm difference in oil height can determine if the fork will creep up on you while it is locked out. The steering precision for this fork is incredible, I had a SID prior to this and what a difference! I am actually oversteering turns now and I can pretty much take sharp switchbacks at frightening speed. The ECC knob is the main weakness with this forks, it is small and the black knob that it is attached to also turns so you have to hold the larger knob while you turn the ECC knob all while riding! But I hardly ever use it so it's rarely an issue. The action on this fork is amazing over small stutter type bumps, I let my friend ride it and I watched the fork while he was riding it and it was pretty much eating up everything. I was split between this fork and the 125 RLC Fox Forx Vanilla and I am really glad I picked this one. My friend has had to send in his Fox twice for service, and I can do my own maintenance on this fork and it's ready to rock. GO buy it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steven
a Racer
from Davis Date Reviewed: July 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere in Auburn
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$304.00
Purchased At:
Directly from Marzocchi
Strengths:
Good Amount of travel for the weight, ECC control, external adjustments, sweet looks, very stiff
Weaknesses:
Marzocchi forks are awesome and are very hardy, but every fork I have bought from Marzocchi doesn't have enough oil in it. Not a huge issue but can be annoying. The ECC doesn't seem to hold and slowly rises back up.
Similar Products Used:
98' Atom Bomb, Manitou CL, 98' Z1 Bam, 00' QR20.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth, Next Cranks, Hope Mini's, Hope Hubs, Thomson goodies, everything else xtr and of course my Atom Race 100.
Bottom Line:
This Fork rocks. I got this fork because I didn't gain much weight and at the same time my riding has improved. Very reliable and is bomb proof.. As I wrote in the weakness section the ECC is slipping and the oil level wasn't properly filled. Even with these complaints I will stick with Marzocchi because of how well this fork performs. I don't think I will ever buy a sid just for the weight advantage because it makes the ride so harsh and basically "less fun". Keep up the good work Marzocchi. 5 chilis for value and 4 for Overall because of improper levels and slippage. If you want a fork that is almost maintence free and is still light enough to race with... look no further.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from PA Date Reviewed: May 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$525.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Plush, plush, plush. 100 mm soaks up bigger hits. Came with a free king headset!
Weaknesses:
little on the heavy side for racing. ECC lever too small
Similar Products Used:
Sid SL 100, marzocchi MCX-ECC
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz superlight, XTR goodies and vee brakes
Bottom Line:
great all around performer. ECC is a nice touch. Almost bought the MCX based on price, but the coil over atom 100 turned out to be the best performer for all around trail riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Beeson
a Cross Country Rider
from Boone, NC, USA Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Yancy's Ridge Long
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Rock and Roll Sports
Strengths:
Very plush feel with coil/oil combo. Stiff 30mm stanchions. Excellent tolerances and Italian quality. Very easy to setup and tune. Love that ECC!
Weaknesses:
Heavy, around 3.7lbs with a cut steerer. Didn't come in the color scheme I wanted...red was only avaliable in the 80mm version.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Mars Super, Rockshox SID XC
Bike Setup:
Yeti ARC, XTR, Thompson post, XTR/Valient wheels, Time pedals, KORE Elite stem, King headset
Bottom Line:
Great fork! After riding it for the first time today, this fork has allowed me to clear many obsticles I normally have had trouble doing so. I have come off of a lightweight racing fork, Mars Super, so I was a bit concerned about the weight. However, after riding a fork many more times smoother than the Super, I am quite impressed. The ECC lockout is nice and does lower the front end for more effective climbing. Great fork!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guero
a Cross Country Rider
from Orting, WA, USA Date Reviewed: April 20, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Palisades
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
buddy
Strengths:
PLUSH!!! they suck up the little stuff like its not there, they suck up the bigger stuff even though they are 80 mm. STIFF!!! I had ridden an sx-r for a few months and ended up placing them in the trash. I will never again buy a fork that compromises stiffness. These are stiff, stiff, stiff! Adjustability. I considered the marathons because of weight, but after learning that they had limited adjustability, i went with the atoms which have great preload adjustment, and easy rebound adjustment. These things are super easy to fine tune, which means that you are more apt to make the adjustments and actually get your forked dialed. Durability. I don't know about this particular fork yet, but other experiences with zokes leads me to believe that i will be riding these for a long time with no headaches.
Weaknesses:
They are heavy (close to 4), but worth the weight!!
Similar Products Used:
99 z2 atoms (awesome, but only 63 mm of travel) 2001 Manitou SX-R (Pathetic, wimpy flexy sticky ugh)
Bike Setup:
Klein adept race, with XTR, King hubs, ceramic rims, monkey light low riser bars, and other really nifty stuff.
Bottom Line:
I was tempted by the Fox and Rockshox, but my 99 z2 atoms treated me so well that i just had to go for the zokes again. So far i couldn't ask for anything better. The combo of ultra plush and ultra stiff is unbelievable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: April 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
West Coast Bush Tracks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Inspires confidence when riding at the edge of control. Ideal fork for serious off road riders who are more concerned with performance than a slight increase in weight.
Weaknesses:
No functional weaknesses, but damn expensive. Bloody briliant.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z2('98), Rock shox Judy.
Bike Setup:
Litespeed hardtail with XT components and Hope mini disc.
Bottom Line:
Can't believe the difference this fork , in combination with Hope Mini disc brakes , has made to my riding in steep dodgy conditions. The only change I have made to this fork is to change the springs to the heavier duty double springs to get the correct ammount of sag. This stops the fork diving through half of it's travel when cranking on the brakes and allows much better use of the available " butter smooth " travel. If these forks last as well as my last set of Z2s (four years of hammering) which had only minimal maintenance (change oil 7.5wt and seals/wipers every year and keep stauncion tubes clean), I will be a very happy lad ! If only Marzocchi would get around to releasing a user manual for this fork (I keep checking on their web site but appearantly "it's coming soon")
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Torsten
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany, Munich Date Reviewed: April 12, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
local Dealer
Strengths:
Performance, Design, ECC, damping system
Weaknesses:
flexes lightly at uphill-pushing
Bike Setup:
Hardtail
Bottom Line:
Great working fork. I had to get the heavy springs, due to my rider-weight. But it still works smooth. The ECC is working great, it really pushes you up the hill! It's true, when the bike is standing, the ECC rebounds slowly to normal travel. This is NORMAL, because it works within the damping system. So, best fork for heavy drivers i think!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
agent grape
a Cross Country Rider
from north kingstown ri Date Reviewed: March 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
mt tom
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$449.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
OIL AND COIL FEEL EEC LOCKOUT
Weaknesses:
NONE SO FAR
Similar Products Used:
Z3QR20 ATOM 80 XFLY100 SID RACE RS JETT RST 381
Bike Setup:
GT IDRIVE TEAM I LIKE THE 100MM FORKS THEY GIVE ABOUT A 1/2 INCH OF CLEARANCE ON THE PEDALS WHICH ARE ALWAYS SMACKING ROCKS NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING
Bottom Line:
I TRIED THE XFLY100 BUT COULDNT GET THE FEEL I LIKED IT WAS EITHER TOO STIFF OR TOO SLOPPY. SO I WENT THE OLD COIL&OIL DAMPED ROUTE. WY FIRST RIDE WAS SO MUCH BETTER EVEN THOUGH THE FORK WASNT BROKEN IN. THE ECC LEVER WORKS WELL BUT I DONT THINK ITS SOMETHING I WILL USE VERY MUCH ONLY ON BALLBUSTING CLIMBS. AS ALWAYS SUPERIOR ITALIAN LOOKS DONT HURT. ALSO AFTER BUYING THE NEW FORK I FOUND OUT THAT THE XFLY CAN BE CONVERTED TO COIL SPRINGS!
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Submitted by
Dirt Surfer
a Cross Country Rider
from Black Forest ! Date Reviewed: December 18, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Tight, Twisting, Rocky and Rooty
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Extratour
Strengths:
Plushness, Stiffness, ECC-Lockout, Looks (no fork boots), no hassle with shock pumps.
Weaknesses:
Weight - does not match the advertised weight of 3.5lbs ! It's rather 4lbs.
Similar Products Used:
RS Mag 21, '99 RS SID XC, Manitou FS Ti, Rigid Forks (in the earlier days)
Bike Setup:
'99 GT Zaskar LE Team, full XTR, Monkeylite Riser, Easton stem, King Headset, Mavic 517 Ceramic, Conti Explorer Pro.
Bottom Line:
This thing feels good ! I rode it only for a couple of times so far but it's really promising. After two rides of about 3 hours it's now breaking in and getting even better than before. Technical Singletrack is now even more fun as one can really keep on rolling and the fork provides more control in the difficult sections. It's easier to stay on the choosen line on the trail as the fork tracks much better than the SID. This all results in a more confident and smooth ride -> it's just fun ! With the SID, I was just too often out of control as it was flexing like hell and the poor damping cartridge could not handle rough trails (with lota roots and rocks). This sucked and was NO FUN. The ECC lockout is a good thing when driving on the road and on very steep climbs. In the latter case the travel reduction results in a lower front end which makes extremely steep climbs much easier. So far the lockout works very good. I will post a follow up in a few months.
Bottom line: To my opinion this fork is great for the advanced allround trail biker -> real moutain bikers, no roadies on mountainbikes, no "racers". If you like surfing singletrail, prefer riding to repairing, if you live for the ultimate experience of free of that one perfect day out on the trail, this fork is your partner ! However if you prefer riding just dirtroads and pavement, get a Judy. If you're a gramm counter, get a SID or a Mars Super or Marathon S.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Davide
a
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: December 8, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
This fork is almost as good as the Z1 MCR with the advantage of a little less weight. Otherwise the fork is almost perfect for hard XC.
Weight: it is one of the leaders for coil/open bath. It is actually lighter than Psylo, Black and Z1.
Strength: really solid and rigid, it feels even more strong than the Z1 probably due to the 1" less of travel. Construction is tops. What other makers still refused to do (aluminum fittings, no plastic) (with the exception of Fox) has been in place with Marzocchi for 6 years.
Bump absorption: extremely good both at slow and high speed. Extremely and easily adjustable.
EEC/travle reduction: the best system on the market. The ECC is a rebound based system, it keeps the fork from rebounding once activated. It is perfect for a bike going uphill because it puts your body in a much better position. Lock out devices are not that effective because put you in the worse position to climb AND loose all bump absorption.
Weaknesses:
The EEC lever could be a bit larger
Similar Products Used:
RS Psylo, SID, Judy, Marzocchis
Bike Setup:
Demo
Bottom Line:
This is one of the best forks on the market. Relatively light, adjustable, with the best reavle reduction system on the market. Perfect if you need 100mm (if you need more go to the sweet Z1).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Young
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Albans, England Date Reviewed: November 18, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Evans Cycles, UK
Strengths:
Silky smooth No noticable flex Looks great
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Pace RC36, RST etc
Bike Setup:
Orange Clockwork, LX & XT, Mavic 517s, etc, etc
Bottom Line:
I thought I'd remain a hardened rigid fork fan, until I bit the bullit and splashed out on a pair of these beauties. They are absoutely fantastic, soooo smooooth!
I thought the lock-out might prove useful, but I doubt I'll ever use it much, as locking out the forks just reminds me how harsh my rigid forks used to be. Nice feature to have to play with, but I'm staying springy from now on!
I took my new forks on a trip to Snowdonia (Wales) with the University MTB Club, they certainly performed better than my wildest expectations whilst riding down from the summit of Snowdon.
Mine weighed in at around 4lbs but although I was slightly concerned about this, once they were on my bike, I havn't really noticed the extra weight. The additional comfort, lack of any flexing (common on really lightweight/cheap forks) and hopefully the legendary Bomber durability will far outweigh any disadvantages.
Buy these forks today!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Irwin
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose CA USA Date Reviewed: October 24, 2001
Favorite Trail:
any xc
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
shop
Strengths:
The 2002 100mm Atom Race I have on my ellsworth is totally awesome. I find it to be very nimble and handles well. I don't like too much preload because I don't weogh that much. I have a SID SL on my Santacruz Hecler and there's no comparison. this baby really takes the hits.
Weaknesses:
I little on the heavy side.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox SIS SL 80mm
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth with XT drivetrain, Chris King Hubs, and Headset. Race Face Next LP Cranks, Isis BB. Romic coil rear shock.
Bottom Line:
This fork is a winner
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Walter Teoh
a Cross Country Rider
from SP, Kedah, Malayisa Date Reviewed: October 15, 2001
Favorite Trail:
XC
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Tay Cycle, Singapore
Strengths:
Strong , Sexy look.
Weaknesses:
Too many..BAD ECC funtion.
Similar Products Used:
00' SID race, Manitou SXR , Judy RAce 01'.
Bike Setup:
Spec M4 S-Work 01, Mostly XTR, all light parts..
Bottom Line:
Before you buy this fork please check the ECC (LOCK-out). After the lock out, the fork still slowly rebound to normal travel, not same as what Marzocchi stated in thier hamepage, after I returned it to the shop, they changed it to 2002, the newest fork, Marahton, (air 80mm) ( I am so happy)but have the same problem, NOW the shop told me this is normal, Marzocchi told me to go to the shop but shop told me the HQ of Marzocchi told him this is normal. Their all bull s**t..ONLY 1 week I brought this EXPENSIVE fork. SO, MAKE YOU CHECK THESE TWO FORKS, ATOM RACE AND MARATHON THE ECC FIRST BEFORE YOU PAY, YOU CAN'T SEE IT RETURN UP TO NORMAL BY YOUR EYE, USE ZIP TIE. IF NEED MORE IMFORMATION EMAIL ME. walterteoh@pd.jaring.my
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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