Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane Date Reviewed: May 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Mt Cootha
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Plush Travel, Tracks well, Tinkering ability
Weaknesses:
hmm.. that little black plug that slides into the travel adjuster top part
Similar Products Used:
Judy, Skareb
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC 2 LE
Bottom Line:
Great fork, handles agressive xc well, tracks well. robust design.
The tinkering factor is great, changing oil wt, levels and air pressures adds a whole new dimension on how you can set up a fork.
I can honestly say this is a top product and would have no hesitation in buying marathon series fork in the future.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonas
a Racer
from Vaasa, Finland Date Reviewed: April 25, 2005
Favorite Trail:
pilvimaja
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
BEST! It is the softest and nicest fork I've ever had, light, beautiful look, easy to get full travel. Cheaper than FOX. List price is about 750€ in Finland.
Weaknesses:
All 3 airvalves leaked, manual had crappy pressure recommendations, could be a bit stiffer.
Similar Products Used:
None, maybe some FOX.
Bike Setup:
Santacruz superlight, shimano XT, Hayes MFX Mag+, thomson stuff et.c.
Bottom Line:
I have the 100mm version, it really has 100mm travel. Valves cost 60cents to change, no problem! Adjustment is easy when you read the reviews here. Use fast setting, I'm 62kg and use about 22/65psi. Lube tubes before every ride especially during the firs 10 ridein hours. For a rider of my weight the fork is stiff enough and should last for many years. Weight is 1521 grams, with oil, rimbrakebolts and 19cm steertube. I call that light for a superb 100mm fork! I love this fork, if you have the money buy it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Western PA Date Reviewed: December 1, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Dirty Harry's Bicycles
Strengths:
Long, Long, Long, lasting fork,(thanks to Open Bath) Smooth if set up correctly.
Weaknesses:
Flexy fore and aft with disc brakes ( due to '02 single bushing design, they changed that for '03), Pain to set up air pressures, Neg. air (doppio) leaks between chambers and out the top. You need an adapter to set the pressures. ECC knob a pain to grip to turn. Ecc on 80mm? what for? Lockout perhaps more useful. Pain just seams to fall off lower legs. Seals are expensive. No rebound adjustments. It makes a ton of Clunking and clacking noises. Plastic caps on top suck.
Similar Products Used:
Fox F100x, Sids of all types, Manitou Black, and Rock Shock Judy ('98)
Bike Setup:
Bluestone (RMI Titanium) 19.5L
Bottom Line:
Our Team has been using this fork for two seasons. They have been relaible for the most part, but are just lacking some key ingrediants we'd like to have in a 80mm travel XC fork. Mainly a lockout and stiffness, side to side for precise steering, and mostly fore and aft. Because of the large bushing at just the top of each leg, the fork would flex under braking, enough you could see and feel it. Even after new bushings were installed. A 100mm version on a FS bike would be nice for just everyday trail use. But even with that in mind a lockout is so nice with that amount of travel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
roger brown
a Weekend Warrior
from spring hill tennessee Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
loch 4
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$379.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
light / plush now dependable
Weaknesses:
not a good manual for set up
Similar Products Used:
marz x fly / marz atom race / rs psylo / rs judy/ rs duke
Bike Setup:
sugar2+ xtr hayes
Bottom Line:
I have had this fork for 9 months. I changed the oil to 5wt and rode with the Marz techs oil settings. 2 weeks ago I took some advice from the guy a couple of reviews down and changed to his levels and my fork changed completely. I now have 95mm travel instead of 80mm and it is plush like it should be. I am using 25/75psi and like it just fine. This is a great fork just change the oil levels! 165lbs Thanks for the good advice
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lloyd
a Cross Country Rider
from Malibu, Calif Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Sycamore Canyon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$439.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
More travel than I used to have (50mm). The fork weight was a plus. Marzocchi was good to deal with.
Weaknesses:
Never got the 100mm of travel. Constantly had to adjust the air pressure. Negative valve always leaked. With the factory recommend pressure settings their was never any travel. Poor fork for the price.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy
Bike Setup:
Intense Tracer, XTR groupo, hayes brakes, fox float rl shock, mavic f219 wheels, chris king hubs.
Bottom Line:
Poor performance for a high price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SRR
a Cross Country Rider
from Tacoma, WA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Little Bald Mountain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$369.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
It's a Bomber and it's longer and lighter than my old reliable Z2 Atom 80. Great value at clearance price.
Weaknesses:
It requires some setup for best results.
Similar Products Used:
Too many to list, going back to first-generation Rockshox, Manitou, and Marzocchi.
Bike Setup:
XC Dually (Amp B4 w/Risse Astro 5 in the rear)
Bottom Line:
If this fork proves to be as reliable and trouble-free as my old oil/coil Z2 Atom 80 (3000 miles/3 years/Pacific Northwest grunge/no boots/original seals/2 oil changes/no noticeable slop, wear or leaks), it will be the best fork I've ridden so far. I switched to the longer fork principally for the sake of slackening my head angle a wee bit but a got a lot more return than this. I couldn't be happer with my decision.
Tuning is not a big deal, if you read the posts here carefully. I filtered them for a dozen or so that sounded credible, approached my weight and riding style (165/hammer), and seemed to agree on certain points:
5wt oil(definitely), 35/87cc, 30/90psi.
This formula seems to be the charm for me (and others apparently)and saved me a lot of trial-and-error. No need to experiment further (although I have dropped the positive pressure a couple pounds since for an even more supple ride -- 27/85). Full travel, no bottoming, no complaints, and no desire to compare with the 'factory' recommendations. I use the fast rebound setting exclusively and no longer mess with the other settings, even for sustained climbs. My bike is very light and efficient already and I prefer to be dialed-in to one consistent feel.
I used the settings above, gathered from reviews here, as my initial reference and fiddled no further. Before that, however, I put 15-20 hard hours on it to ensure that it was adequately broken in, so I wouldn't have to second-guess things later on.
FYI: When I dumped the oil the first time, the left leg was BONE DRY from the factory, so it might be a good idea to check this beforehand (Marzocchi is famous for this sort of oversight).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Lindsay Date Reviewed: June 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
i love 'em all
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Looks amazing, super stiff, smooooth once you break it in, ECC is a great feature.
Weaknesses:
Negative chamber loses air fast, hard to get positive chambers equal, doesn't come with a shock pump, ECC knob a little awkward, see below for more.
Similar Products Used:
Just crappy forks, this is my first good one.
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude Comp, all aftermarket, sweet ride.
Bottom Line:
Well I got my fork, brand new, and the ECC leaked, so it would only stay locked down for about 2 minutes. No problem, it's under warranty, so back to the distributor it goes. Small problem, they don't have any spare parts for it, won't for 5 more months. So i get it back and ride it, it works fine except for that, for 5 more months. Then i send it back to Marzocchi to have the part fixed. Took them almost a month. Not impressed. But now that i have it, and the ECC works and i have broken it in and experimented with the air pressures, it's awsome. I am running pressures 15-20 psi below what the manual recommends and it is workin great. Bottom line, decent fork, little pricey for the amount of grief i went through with it, a little bit of a b!tch to set up, but works excellent once it is. STIFF
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Princeton Jct. Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
MCP
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$355.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Laterally stiff, excellent compression stroke, ECC is exceptional, handles great, very well damped, gets full travel.
Weaknesses:
No infinite rebound adjustment, ECC cap a bit hard to turn fast, my left leg looses air pretty quickly
Similar Products Used:
1999 Manitou SX-E, 2000 Mars 1, 2001 Psylo
Bike Setup:
1999 Giant ATX 890, ESP 9.0, LX, Magura HS-33
Bottom Line:
At $350, a great fork. After initial break in- it usually felt too stiff during break in- this thing is now buttery smooth and gets a full 3" of travel (I bought the 80 mm version). Get on the bike, compress the fork twice (I guess that lubes the seals), and no stiction for the rest of the ride.
Front wheel now tracks incredibly well on rooty trails- far better than the Manitou did. I can actually feel the fork taking the edge off hits and keeping the tire planted. No pogoing, either.
Handles superbly. I need to get another, grippier and wider front tire, as I can now feel how that's robbing so much traction from the front of my bike.
Depending on the conditions, I turn the rebould damping halfway or all the way open- I would prefer infinite adjustment, but this works well for me as it is. ECC is heaven on climbs- lowering the front of my bike by 2.5" has gotten me up climbs I have never made before. Wish there was actually a lever on the ECC cap though- kind of hard to flick quickly.
I have to refill the left air chamber every other ride or so (once or twice a week, depending on weather), but that's a small nuisance.
I ride roughly 30 lbs positive and 80 negative, with rebound adjustment turned halfway for most flat trails.
Great value, executed well, but just a little bit short of perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Barry
a Cross Country Rider
from Edwards, Colorado Date Reviewed: May 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Mars, Marzocchi Bomber
Bike Setup:
01 Racer X
Bottom Line:
Well, I read all of the reviews below, and needless to say I was a bit nervous. I am DEFINITELY not one to spend countless hours tinkering with settup of any kind on my bike. I had a custom fit done 3 years ago, and have ridden the same setup since then. However, I took my rig in for some R&R to the LBS, and discovered that my Manitou Mars fork had separated from the steerer crown. (I guess that was the clinking noise I heard when going off of drops and waterbars!). Anyway, it was definitely time to purchase a new fork.
So, I did my research, and it came down to the 03 Skareb and an 02 Zoke Marathon. I found the Marathon on line for a pretty decent deal, and went that route after much consternation.
So, the ride. I have set this fork up much plusher than my old Mars, and it has been a joy to ride! I am going downhill with much more confidence than I had last year (I probably shouldn't have waited to get a new fork). Very plush, without bottoming out.
Weaknesses - well, maybe it is me, but getting the right amount of air in the chambers has been tough. I have a manitou fork pump, and have to use the adapter to fill the air in. Unscrewing the adapter while it is attached to the pump is tough, and you can definitely hear some leakage, so I am not sure exactly what I have in the chambers. I gave up on the scientific method, and have now gone along to how it 'feels'.
All in all, I am very happy, as my riding (and body) is definitely more plush and faster than before.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from orono maine Date Reviewed: April 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
heart attack hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
uncle henrys magazine
Strengths:
great for 3-5 foot drop offs, gives very smouth landings, helped by fox vanilla shock in back.
Weaknesses:
doesnt compress well on trails, regular riding in the woods
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
2001 jamis dakar sport
Bottom Line:
If your a real mountain biker than you shouldnt be worried about the small stuff, what really matters is that you dont bottom out on the 3-5 foot drops.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Victor
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: April 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
anything in Auburn area
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Phat Tire mailorder
Strengths:
Stiffness, smooth, lightweight
Weaknesses:
The ECC didn't function, should come with a 100 psi pump, dust cap on right side leg is cheesy and will probably fall off somewhere down the trail
Similar Products Used:
SID SL 2002 (very flexible and leaks air)
Bike Setup:
2002 FSR XC, mostly factory stock
Bottom Line:
Great fork. I got it for the stiffness and improved steering precision and it meets my expectations. It's hard to dial in the air pressure with the 300 psi shock pump I have; I don't feel like buying a second pump quite yet. Once the air pressure is dialed in, it holds air quite well. I can go at least 4 weeks without any noticeable fade, unlike my SID which leaked air and required frequent pressure checks. The one problem I had was with the ECC not locking down and I had to send the fork back to Marz in Valencia at my expense and 2 weeks downtime. So, it works great once past the initial problems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Alexander, NY Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Hunter's Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At:
BikeSmart.com
Strengths:
Smooth travel, Lockout option, good looks, adjustability.
Weaknesses:
SET UP! Negative air spring leaked air, ECC has tendancy to creep up, air valves let air out when pump is taken off.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z-5, Rock Shox Judy TT, Rock Shox Judy 100, Rock Shox Duke Race, Manitou FS.
Bike Setup:
2001 Gary Fisher Big Sur, Kore clipless, Avid arch rival brakes, Marzocchi Marathon 100, otherwise stock.
Bottom Line:
Well, I loved the Marzocchi Z-5 that came on my bike - but when I saw the 2002 Marathon for $340, I could not resist. After I Installed my sparkling white new fork, I found that the negative air chamber was not holding air. I was mad. Very Mad. I did not want to send the fork back, so I thought I would look at my situation. The valve core had a bad spring - AND they are the same valve cores that are in car tires. Being a little mechanically inclined, I went to the hardware store, bought a package of valve cores for $.99, and a tool for $2.50 - problem solved. The negative air chamber leaks air when I take the pump off - but it could just be my pump. The ECC feature is cool - but I never really use it. When I do - it creeps back up on me slowly. BUT...The fork is VERY stiff, and VERY smooth. BY FAR the smoothest I have every ridden. The set up is very difficult, but once it's dialed in it's good to go. I am 175 lbs - ride technical / cross country and use about 30psig positive and 115psig negative. In spite of all the problems I have encountered with this fork, I would definatly recommend it to others. Also, if anybody knows how to fix the ECC without sending it back, email me. Nice first try Marzocchi.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nathan
a Cross Country Rider
from sacramento ca Date Reviewed: April 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
auburn
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
ridden this fork twice. i just wanted to point out a tech. issue with this fork. Mine didnt come with a shock pump, so i used my brand new wrench force pump, 0-300 psi. I found it to be very innacurate at low presssure- 50 psi off!!! i thought something war wrong with the fork until i took it too a bike shop. I thought i had less than 5 psi in there and they checked it with their marzochi o-100 psi pump and it read 40 psi in the pos legs. they also said that it sho8uld come with a pump but mailorder places like to steal them out of the box and sell them seperatly. fyi!
Bike Setup:
2000 instinct
Bottom Line:
thats it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtbmon
a Racer
from NE Ohio Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$339.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Weight, stiffness, adjustability
Weaknesses:
ECC knob is plastic and small
Similar Products Used:
SID's SID's and more SID's
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mt. Blizzard (yeah steel IS real!), RaceFace/SRAM mix, top end.
Bottom Line:
I got this fork to round out a buildup on what I wanted for an xc race/endurance machine. I knew I needed a good, all around fork that was going to be very durable. Let's just say I have purchased my last Rock Shox product! This fork is killer! I have the 100mm version and after getting things dialed in (which does take some tinkering but more than worth it) this fork performs beyond my expectations. Nice progressive travel and very precise tracking and steering make this an awesome trail fork. At only 3.2 lbs, it's light enough to be raced. I think this is the best weight to performance tradeoff I have ever done and for $339, its got to be one of the best deals out there. If you get one, call Marzocchi tech support right away and give them your riding style and weight and they give you tuning specs to start from. Set it up that way then fool with it to your liking. Great product! 5 flaming alien turds from me!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from overland Park, KS Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
landahl, clintonlake
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Bikesource
Strengths:
ECC control, stiffness
Weaknesses:
Oil/air leakage, weight
Similar Products Used:
SID, Manitou Black Elite
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight, Specialized Epic Disc
Bottom Line:
When the shock worked it worked as one expects a marzocchi product to work but that was inbetween sending it back to the factory for rebuilds - 3 times in one year.
I am not an overly aggressive rider and I don't jump off of high places yet this shock always found a way to blow up after a couple of rides. The factory would take it back each time, fix it under warranty and then return it quickly. But even the best service in the world cannot replace a crappy product. It now is on it's way back to the factory with explicit instructions not to return, I want my money back or a newer and hopefully better shock.
I'm scratching my head over how I got such a lemon of a shock after seeing all the rave reviews here - anybody else had these kind of problems?
Sorry Marz, I can't reccommend this thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Racer
from Granby, MA Date Reviewed: March 26, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$202.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
Stiffness, light weight(kinda), color (RED!), ECC, dual air
Weaknesses:
Kinda heavy for an XC fork, ECC knob is kinda tough to use
Similar Products Used:
Psylo SL, SID Race
Bike Setup:
2003 BP Stealth Fiberlite Hardtail, XT, Sun-Ringle RPM's
Bottom Line:
Good XC fork for the DH weenies like me. SID is light-weight, but does not inspire confidence on the DH's like this fork. It's stiffer than my Psylo SL! Hats off to the customer service. Called up bout a new steerer. Sent it off with a money order, less than 2 weeks later i have it back! Good stuff!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Erik Krause
a
from Mercer Island, WA Date Reviewed: March 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Anything in Park City, UT
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$339.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Stiff, light, good travel, a great deal at $399.00
Weaknesses:
Not really ridable out of the box
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Mag 20 and Judy XC with Eglund's
Bike Setup:
Truth with XT and this Shock
Bottom Line:
Still getting the forked set up. I need to drain some oil out and fool with the air pressures as described below.
The main cause of the brakes rubbing in EEC lockout for me appears to be more of a function of cable/housing interaction on the v-brake when the shock is compressed. The locking out of the fork is pushing the the brakes up against the noodle/housing which in turn is compressing the the brakes.
5 chilis for value @ $349 4 chilis for rating do to the hassle of the intial setup.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Ong
a Cross Country Rider
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: March 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Love 'em all
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
400
Strengths:
Stiff, light, reasonable price, ECC lock-out, rebound adjustments what more can you ask for
Weaknesses:
You need to know the correct amount of oil and air levels, read the reviews for help. Lousy manual.
Light weight, stiff fork and a good price now. What more can you ask for. Tried it on some real aggresive trails, with my 80mm fork, the travel seems endless. On the climbs, easy flick of the ECC knobs and there I go up hill again. Just one thing, the factory levels on the fork needs some tinkering with before you can get the full potential of the fork. Read the reviews below they are a great help, otherwise the fork is way too stiff. Perfect for aggresive XC riding once you get the levels right.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Racer
from Waukegan IL Date Reviewed: February 28, 2003
Major rim grab when I lock it out-no answers from the factory...yet.
Bike Setup:
Palomino Team frame/xt rigged/speedplay(I had the fork on an adept pro and it had the same problem)
Bottom Line:
OK-The rim gram situation is extremely frustrating. I thought I was buying a top of the line fork. After my fork was at the factory for three weeks (during the gear up for racing season!) it came back with no apology, no fix, no replacement, and no explanation of why a 600 dollar fork would not perform as advertised. I have no idea what they did to the fork because the ivoice was not clear. My fork still grabs the rim(front) and basically makes the main feature useless. I really liked this fork a lot the first couple of races until I noticed the rim grab. It does not seem to be a big enough problem for Marzocchi to address. t
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
philip
a Weekend Warrior
from Vilvoorde, Belgium Date Reviewed: February 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Stiff (compared with a SID for example). 3 air chambers allow perfect tuning.
Weaknesses:
ECC button is a little bit fluffy. If the screw is not correctly adjusted it does not always work
Bike Setup:
Xesco RDL, Sram X.0, XTR 2003, CrossMax XL.
Bottom Line:
I have this fork on 2 bikes now (80mm and 100mm versions). I really like its stiffness. You simply get more precise steering and better downhilling behavior. Superior rebound. After 1 year, still very satisfied.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam
a Racer
from Boulder, CO, USA Date Reviewed: February 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Walker Ranch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
Excel Sports
Strengths:
Very stiff. Leaves the SID's in the dust on the technical downhill stuff. Doesn't leak oil or blow-up after three months like my old SID Race. Light enough to use for XC-racing without compromise of sitffness or quality.
Weaknesses:
Lockout knob is too small. When fork is locked in climbing position, brakes rub unless you really loosen' em up.
Similar Products Used:
SID Race, Manitou SX
Bike Setup:
Specialized S-Works M5. XT with XTR brakes. Fox Float RL rear. 80mm Marzocchi up front.
Bottom Line:
This is a great fork. I took the advice of the reviewers and changed my oil before ever riding this thing. I'm currently 170 lbs(race at 160). I run 35 cc left and 85 cc right 5W Motocross shock oil. I'm riding 27 PSI Positive and 90 PSI negative. This thing is plush and stiff when the going goes up-hill. I seldom use the full-lockout becuase it causes my brakes to rub. I can adjust so they don't rub but,this puts the brakes WAY out and I don't like em' like that. The fork climbs just fine in the middle position. During a race, I lock this thing in the middle position and let her rip. I got full travel right out of the box and was even able to bottom it on some rough stuff (85mm) in Fort Colins. The bottoming wasn't the fault of the fork, at that time I was riding too low a pressure and had 65 cc's of oil in the left, not the correct 35 cc.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Silicon Valley Date Reviewed: January 24, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Strengths:
Looks, "tunability"
Weaknesses:
Manual, air ports, soft metal at disc mounts, customer service
Bike Setup:
Superlight, AD-10, mostly XT
Bottom Line:
Previous reviews said that the manual was online in the US, not on the main website. I wrote M and asked for it, here's the reply:
*********************************************************** We are soon not going to be supplying the manuals online. The oil levels are 110cc in the ECC leg and up to 50 cc in the disc brake leg. You can drain and refill the oil by removing the top caps with a 21mm socket on top of each fork leg. Have a rag handy and press the valves to release the air pressure before taking apart.
Hope that helps, Marzocchi USA tech dept. ***********************************************************
This reply doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling about tuning the fork. Thank God MTBR.commers care about each other. 2 Chilis for Customer service (Can you say "out of touch with the customer?")...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
xoshiex
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA Date Reviewed: January 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
AWESOME XC fork!!! Extremely well built, easy adjustment, good manual. Will not bottom out.
Weaknesses:
Rebound control by weight of rider via air pressure from pump, not by preference. Not really a big deal, but a knob like the rock shox duke whould have been a nice addition.
This fork takes bumps like a cadillac. Rides smooth in the worst conditions and does not bottom out. This will make any begining/intermediate XC rider efven better. The great price of $330 should still be available at www.supergo.com. More than worth the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Ramstien, Germany Date Reviewed: January 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
rodalben
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$460.00
Purchased At:
internet
Strengths:
weight, durability, adjustability, rigidity
Weaknesses:
air adapter, crappy decals, needs more than three rebound options, price
Similar Products Used:
Z2 air, SIC XC, manintou SX-TI, Judy SL
Bike Setup:
99' truth, hope mini, race face, hugi 240 discs
Bottom Line:
I really love this fork. It's the only fork I have owned that still works after a year of riding. I love that you can finally tune the negative spring on the bombers now. It's not quite as supple as my Sid but it's tons stiffer and has more travel. My fork broke in the standard 20 hours and still works great. The first few rides I noticed that all the fluid would drain to the bottom of the fork and it was really stiff until you got some fluid near the upper bushings. I soaked the wipers in fork lube and rode it. It never does it any more. After a year of wet weather in Germany in exhibits no play in the bushings and I rarely check it for pressure leaks because it just doesn't. The X-fly is stiffer but overall this is a great trail bike fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John M
a Cross Country Rider
from Potomac Falls, VA Date Reviewed: November 8, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Tons
Weaknesses:
Set Up. . . but it was no big deal
Similar Products Used:
SID
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
Forget all the issues people are whining about. There was a couple of issues but once the kinks are worked out, the forks performs beautifully. I did have a bad valve for the negative pressure chamber and it was shipped with too much oil. I spoke with Tech. Service at Marzocchi a number of times and they were great. They immediately sent me parts needed- no questions asked and were more than willing to take time on the phone. . . Maybe we shouldn't have to deal with all that work and one week of effort-whatever. With too much oil and minimal air in the neg chamber its leaps and bounds better than my SID SL. Now I love it. Specifically- went with the 100 knowing 100mm may compromise climbing. I've never used my rear lock out on my SL but I love the lock out on the fork because it puts me into a better climbing position. Its great. I've ridden the Fox Forx 100 twice and thought it was great also but heavier and not noticably stiffer (to my 200lbs). Despite hassles-5/5
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SLR
a Racer
from Japan Date Reviewed: November 7, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat.com
Strengths:
Stiffness to weight ratio is very good. Mine came in at 3.4lbs. ECC is good for steep smooth climbs. Stiff enough for disc brakes. Bomber white looks tight on my blue ano frame.
Weaknesses:
None really, wish it were a bit lighter but I don't notice the extra weight.
Similar Products Used:
00 SID XC, 02 SID SL, and 02 Duke Race
Bike Setup:
80mm Marathon, on SC Superlight w/discs
Bottom Line:
I used to be a RockShox fan and coming off the SIDs there is no comparison in stiffness. The Marathon wins hands down (the Duke comes close). I have yet to feel the front wheel wander on technical sections. This allows me to bomb down the trails with a new found confidence. It took about 10hrs to break in but it was well worth the wait. Now my fork is super plush/smooth. My old forks, 02 SID SL, bushings wore out in a couple of months, I had RS replace the bushings and they had some slop after a few rides. With the Bomber there is no slop to date. My oil levels are 105ml in the right leg and 35ml in the left. PSI is 35 pos and 105 neg for my 175lbs. I usually get around 75mm travel...the fork will bottom out at 84mm. From what i'm hearing of the 03 models the 02 seems to be the better deal. 03's are heavier and the 5 position ECC is not needed. MSRP of $600 was too steep for me a year ago so after seeing Marathons for $375, I couldn't pass it up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris maier
a Racer
from austin Date Reviewed: October 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$525.00
Purchased At:
bikesmart
Strengths:
stiff,light,smooth
Weaknesses:
air chamber leaks
Similar Products Used:
headshock
Bike Setup:
truth,xtr etc
Bottom Line:
I have the 100mm version. I had trouble setting the shock up for months. Generally, the pressures everyone, and including marzocchi, was recommending for my weight were too high. These pressures are for a shock thats broken in. In my opinion, this shock takes a long time to break in. The shock will respond to pressures in the first 100 hours different then the next 100 hours. I have approx. 800 hours on this fork and the fork is now performing the way its should. I run 70-80# and 20#. When I first ran this fork with these pressures, it was too stiff and didn't get full travel. When I reduced the pressures to get full travel, the front end became mushy and not responsive. The bike handled poorly. After talking to marzocchi and reading many posts I experimented with many settings but I wasn't happy with the performance with the fork. I just rode the fork for many hours and started noticing that the fork was working better with higher pressures in the chambers. I think there is a break in curve thats longer than marzocchi thinks and during this "breakin" period, your shock will respond differently to different pressures and levels in time which makes setting the fork a moving target. Anyway, I like the fork now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JC
a Cross Country Rider
from Sausalito California Date Reviewed: October 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Lockout. Good Tech Manual available on web site (supplied manual is worthless.)
Weaknesses:
Lockout knob NEEDS to be bigger. Fork arrived with NO AIR in the negative chamber (Negative Air Valve leaks.) Came with wrong Air Adapter; took 14 days to deliver. Makes a Clunk noise if it moves laterally (like when your riding in a rut.)
Bottom Line:
I have the '02 Marathon S 80. The fork came with 110/30cc oil. Called Marzocchi- they say to use 110/50cc even though the online tech manual states 110/30cc. I weigh 150lbs and Marzocchi recommended 30/95psi.
I've put 150 miles on the thing, and pump up the negative air chamber before every ride. I still haven't figured out how I'm going to get the valve fixed because I can't part with it for more than a couple days max.
Can anyone tell me how to fix the negative air valve myself? Any info about oil/air levels would be appreciated.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Danville, CA Date Reviewed: October 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$540.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
See comments below.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth -- set to perfection, except this fork.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up from the "idiot, baby,jerk", etc. etc. Obviously, I wasn't clear in my review. First, let's start with the facts about this fork: 1. Although it costs between $525-575 it doesn't come with a pump. Not a big deal, only that, to fill this fork properly requires a Marzocchi low pressure pump! You can't use a standard 300. What's more is that I couldn't find one shop in the SF Bay Area that carries Marzocchi's pump or an equiv. low press pump. You have to order it from Marzocchi. Speedgoat also carries one. What I really find astonishing, are the bike shops that sell Rocky Mtn., Kona,and others (which are spec'd with Marathons), yet don't carry the right pump for these forks!!?? You've got to realize that in order to get this shock to travel properly, chamber pressure is critical -- a difference in one to two pressure points can have a significant impact on travel. 2. The instruction manual that comes with this fork is a generic bomber manual that doesn't cover the Marathon. The PDF manual on Marzocchi's site is the same crap. Don't worry though, the correct manual can be found on Marzocchi's US Site!! Again learned that one from Cust Support. Frankly, Marzocchi's Cust Support is awesome. It has to be -- it's the only way you'll get info on this fork. 3. The knobs on this fork are cheap plastic. The RH pos. air chamber cap is a cheap plastic plug, that you will tear or loose during repeated tuning excercises. 4. READ THE REVIEWS BELOW, it's luck of the draw on whether your fork will have defects -- wrong oil, bad ECCs, bad seals, etc. 5. I've had several professional mechanics try to adjust this fork -- getting it right is extremely tricky.
Okay, to recap -- no pump, wrong manual, several defects ... "Thanks Marzocchi"??????
So you have to ask yourself, what kind of rider am I?
If you think skip/ghost shifting on an F/S bike is okay because "it just happens", then buy this fork.
If you think constant drag and squeal (enough to clear wildlife in a 2 mile radius) from your disc brakes is okay because "it's just that way", then buy this fork.
If you think it's fun to constantly adjust your CK hubs, then buy this fork.
If you like constant headaches from UST set-ups, then buy this fork.
If you like working on your bike more than riding it, then buy this fork.
If you're a professional racer, and have a dedicated mechanic, then buy this fork.
If you bought into Detroit's strategy in the 1970s to make defected cars, and then let the dealer/consumer handle it, then buy this fork.
On the other hand, if you're a dumb, idiot, baby (like myself) that expects value and perfection. If you believe that manufacturers (like Ellsworth) should always strive for zero defect. If you believe in simple, elegant, high-performance design (e.g., Ellsworth vs. Specialized "Brain"). If you enjoy being a rider, more than being a mechanic, then seriously consider choosing a different fork.
Sure, I might not be the smartest guy on the planet. I didn't score top of my engineering class in abstract algebra. And, yes, poor peformance can be caused by user error and/or design flaws -- with this fork, it's more of the later in my opinion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Fonthill, Ontario Date Reviewed: October 3, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Super plush and responsive. Great fork... when it isn't broken
Bike Setup:
100m marathon on RM element
Bottom Line:
I've had this fork for 3 months and it has been in for repair two times for two seperate problems. First the lockout wasn't functioning and now all the air leaks out of the fork over the duration of a half hour. I love the fork when it is working and I will be patient untill all the problems are delt with and fixed, it's a little frustrating is all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Emmons
a Racer
from Castle Rock Date Reviewed: October 3, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Anything that Bumps!
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Well built, solid. EXCELLENT support.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
White Brothers CX-1
Bike Setup:
29er Matt Chester.
Bottom Line:
What kind of baby wrote the review below! There is a problem in the market here in the USA. That is, those who make stuff have got to "dumb it down" for the buying public. I appreciate the fact that Marzocchi has not done that, but rather has allowed the end user the credit to adjust and tinker with a product. The fork is bomb proof, but not idiot proof. If you are too stupid to realize that not every fork sold will be automatically set up for you, then buy a friggin spring fork with no possibility to make adjustments. I cannot believe there are jerks who think it is a weakness that the factory put the wrong amount of oil in the fork. BFD!!! The fork is designed to be tinkered with, adjusted, re-tinkered, etc. Guys, we do that with our scrotums all the time, so why not with a fork? I race a 29er bike, I use the 29er Marathon, I run 60 and 90 in the oil, 40 and 120 psi air and the fork makes me want to touch myself. Thanks Marzocchi!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Danville Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$540.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Stiffness. Good Looks. Aside from that, this fork is nothing but trouble.
Weaknesses:
Extremely painful to tune. Can't get the fork to travel 100mm. Obviously, fork left the factory with several defects. CHEAP PLASTIC NOBS. PLUG FOR RH ACCESS TO POS AIR IS AN ENGINEERING MARVEL --- NOT.
Similar Products Used:
SIDs. I know SIDs aren't the end-all/do-all, but i never had to constantly tinker with tuning.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth, full XTR with all the good stuff --- EXCEPT THIS HORRIBLE FORK -- IT DISGRACES MY TRUTH. It's like a bad bondo job on a brand new mercedes.
Bottom Line:
Like many of the reviews below, my fork came from the factory with the wrong oil levels. After having the oil levels corrected, i'm still trying to figure-out how to make it perform. I've tried several combinations of negative/positive air (per the suggestions below). This fork is anything but plush and smooth. It's a mystery to me how they can claim this is a 100mm fork. I paid $540 for this fork -- money down the toilet. Now I can only help others avoid the same terrible mistake. DO NOT BUY THIS FORK. IF YOU DO, IT IS A CRAP SHOOT. WHY SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY TO D@#K AROUND ALL DAY TRYING TO GET IT TUNED?????
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad Newby
a Racer
from So. Utah Date Reviewed: August 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
I Shutter at the very thought
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Pro Deal
Strengths:
Stiffness. Great control feel
Weaknesses:
Switch hard to handle at speeds.
Similar Products Used:
manatou sx-r, Z1's
Bike Setup:
Fuel 80. XTR. Sun-Ringle Tomac XC Wheels. WTB. Thompson. Chris King. Other pro-deal goodies.
Bottom Line:
I've raced this fork for six months. This fork made me a better downhiller. From the first time I pointed the bike downhill it gave me confidence. I had a feel of control I was not used to on my Fuel. I could hold my lines better and my bike didn’t feel so delicate. I put fifteen Lbs. in the positive pressure and three times that in the negative. And it has felt bottomless since. (I weigh 145 Lbs.). I really find the three-position ecc switch useful, it’s just hard to get my hand on. Click that thing on fast and point down, works like a champ. When the cartridge is compressed/locked out it becomes a great climbing machine but gives the bike a weird feel from what you've become use too. If you feather the bumps while standing and hammering, the bike will retain the geometry that you’re used too. Locked in the slow position is where you could just leave this fork the whole race, it climbs and descends well in that position. The strength in this fork is in the stiffness. It gives confidence on the downhill. Tracks extremely well, and is very predictable. Buy this fork if you need help on the downhill. It’s also been very easy. I haven’t adjusted yet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a
from Arizona Date Reviewed: August 23, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
less flexy than SID or Mars and better bearing durability Open bath Works great when itws working
Weaknesses:
Lots of problems with damping system Works bad when it doesnt
Bike Setup:
80mm fork on Titus racer-x
Bottom Line:
Three times I have had problems with excessive oil spewing out of the negative chamber. Over time the fork will start to bottom out easily. I wonder if oil passes from the positive to negative chamber. I end up having to pump the beejesus up in pressure to prevent it from bottoming out very loudly and noticeably. Very disappointing for such an expensive piece of equipment. Sorry Marzocchi. You should have done your homework before releasing this fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marcus
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh, NC Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$560.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Smoothness, Weight, strength
Weaknesses:
Too much oil from the factory.
Similar Products Used:
Sid Race, Marzocchi Z1MCR.
Bike Setup:
2002 Truth, AD12, Marathon S, XTR Shifters & Derailers, Raceface bars, stem, post, BB & Cranks, King ISO , Mavic 317, King Headset, Selle Trans Am, Hayes Hydros.(24.8lbs)
Bottom Line:
After reading other reviews I checked the oil level from the start. I went with 85cc in the right leg & 30cc in the left. Set the pressure at 70 & 20 (I weight 155lbs) and the fork just keeps getting smoother with every ride. Kinda wondering about dicrepencies in the reviews below about oil level in each leg, from the factory mine had 115 in the right(ECC)leg and 35 in the left so I just dropped it down in each because I noticed it was not getting max travel. Oh well its working great so far so I won't mess with it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
The Chaos Factor
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3400.00
Purchased At:
Fork came with a free Rocky ETS-X70
Strengths:
Very nice under most conditions. Maybe I'm just too spoiled with a 12" moto fork. Can be quite plush.
Weaknesses:
negative air chamber leaks down in a day or two. Factory DORKS overfill fork. LBS doesn't check this on bike setup. Lockout hard to actuate in bumps.
Similar Products Used:
fatty, rockshok
Bike Setup:
rocky X-70
Bottom Line:
Can work good if you dig into it - best I've ridden. There is a good chance the the factory dorks overfilled your fork with oil. Mine were at hydro lockout at 50mm, i.e. they will never "break in" when the oil level is too high. Oil level controls bottoming resistance. After going through these forks, I went with 85cc right and 65cc left and I haven't had a bottomong out problem (I'm 170lbs). Free tip of the day - use a very lightweight oil in these forks. No need to get into the techno bable, but the forks are over damped for the oil that comes with the fork. On long braking downhills, the forks are still a little harsh, which may in fact be oil level related, so I'm going to try dropping 5cc out of left. left chamber is very tricky, be careful not to overfill, since negative air chamber competes for fork volume with oil. You WILL want to use a low foam good quality motorcycle fork oil (e.g. 2.5 or at most 5 weight - my favorite is the race tech US1). The left fork (compression damp side) is kind of funky design and causes a lot of foaming - This can cause fading on long rough downs if your oil foams. ECC is cool, but want a remote and a *little* travel like the '03 will have. If you want the most of of this fork, you will at least need to put in lighter oil and fiddle with oil levels.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil
a Racer
from halifax,canada Date Reviewed: August 3, 2002
Favorite Trail:
wandrees
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$530.00
Purchased At:
the bike people
Strengths:
It's super plush, i find when I push down on it it doesn't feel too plush but when your riding as soon as you hit rough terrain the fork is like a miracle.
Weaknesses:
adjusting pressure is a bit of a nuissence but pays off!
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi atom race, Rock shox psylo xc
Bike Setup:
2000 giant atx 870, avid hydrolic disc brakes, this fork,
Bottom Line:
great fork expensive but is worth it, is not ment for big drops but handles them well.The only fork that has not broken somthing in the first month.If you like to ride hard and fast this is your fork.*not good for freeriding
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy Spiher
a Racer
from Winston Salem Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Forbidden Acres
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$521.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
This an update to my previous review.Apparently I clicked when I should not have and entered that I had only demo'ed the fork, well no I bought the freakin' thing and now maybe I should not have. See below.
Weaknesses:
No adaptor was included in which to inflate the fork.I borrowed an adaptor and now my mooching days are over.I have logged onto the Marzzochi site and have contacted customer service to no avail. No reply.I have just contacted them again.This thing simply will not break in. I have done two races and three or four rides and this thing still has a lot of stiction at the beginning of each ride.
Similar Products Used:
SID SL, SID RACE, SID XC< JUDY SL
Bike Setup:
Steel Gunnar Rockhound Crossmax XT, XTR, AVID etc. Steel is Real baby
Bottom Line:
The word on the street is that with these cats performance and customer service are tops. I HAVE YET TO SEE A WHOLE LOT OF EITHER. If any one knows where I can get a shock pump adaptor let me know. I guess its a lot like the old Italian Fiat Spyder,The company will provide you with almost everything you need but the little details you are on your own.Kinda like a Derosa road bike. I hope this fork doesn't turn out like the Spyder, FIAT = Fix It Again Tony. I now go on the record as making an impassioned plea for an adaptor. Contact me thru this web site or at RacerHairball@aol.com.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy Spiher
a Racer
from Winston Salem, NC USA Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Forbidden Acres
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$521.00
Purchased At:
Price Point w/ free Chris King hd set
Strengths:
Dude this thing is Stiff,Plush, and infinitely tunable. ECC is great. more time to ride see below.. this thing is cherry.
Weaknesses:
Cost a small fortune!! Have to add legal fees to purchase p[rice as my wife has filed for divorce. gonna miss her-not!!ECC is difficult to use.A thumb lever woulda been nice. extended break in period
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox SID XC, SID Race, Judy Sl.
Bike Setup:
Custom Steel, Gunnar Rockhound -Large. Mavic Crossmax Conti Explorer Pro, Xt,XTR, Race Face Cranks & assorted goodies and not so goodies
Bottom Line:
Walk into the bathroom and look yourself in the mirror, ask yourself what kinda rider you are.If you shave your legs and count your carbs and travel ungodly miles to pre ride some obscure race course then keep your SID.BUT.... ifff you enter 24 hr races and epics such as the Leadville 100 Shenandoah 100 and the occasional NORBA race this fork is you bro.This fork eats rocks for lunch and roots for dessertThe ECC is an excellent feature. I will devote some time to making it more user friendly.Perhaps a thumb lever to ease actuation of ECC.If you are a rider who really rides in the mountains then this fork will shine for you. Many thanks to Al from a previous post for an excellent review. One note, Don't be afraid to experiment with the air pressures.As a rule... If you are 150 to 165 pounds. go five pounds less on the positive air pressures than the manual reccomends and 85 to 100 pounds negative pressure.Don't think SID when you set this baby up. OH, By the way, get out and ride this baby.. Yeah you!! get out and ride.. value 3 and a half cat turds. Its expensive!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sterling heise
a Racer
from des moines, iowa 50313 Date Reviewed: July 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
any singltrack
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
rasmussen bike shop
Strengths:
-ease of tuning and adjustability -super low air pressure -super plushness
Weaknesses:
-slightly heavy (compared to sid,mars) -small rubber plug on ecc side has to be pulled out to put in air -lacks more tuneable compression/rebound dampening
Similar Products Used:
-answer mars forks (mars 1, mars elite) -marzocchi xc500, xc300
the days of flexy, flimsy, brake rubbing, cant track in a straight line fork days are gone! this is the creme de le creme of forks.i bought the 80mm version to put on my race bike and have not been dissapointed.this fork tracks straight,is SUPER plush, and even works great with discs. i have had zero problems (no leaking cartridges,no broken ecc,etc)like some others and my fork worked great out of the box.the only suggestion i can make is to drop 5psi from what the manual recommends per a given rider weight. if you do have problems, dont hesitate to call the guys at marzocchi as they know what customer service is all about!!! these guys know forks. ps thanks to phil at hjc for the advice!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DaBinChe
a Weekend Warrior
from san jose Date Reviewed: July 2, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
This is a riders fork!!!
plush (comparable to coil but still has the progressive feel of air)
stiff (more then my older xfly and z1)
durability (only had to change oil once a year on my other bomber forks and notthing else, had those for 2-3 years)
Weaknesses:
should of came w/correct oil levels and working ecc
Similar Products Used:
a bunch
Bike Setup:
tracer
Bottom Line:
When I first got the fork there was too much oil (was only able to get half the travel) and the ecc didn't stay locked down. Called M and got a new ecc (apparently the first batch of ecc had a defective o-ring/washer) and the correct oil levels (95cc on rignt leg and 65cc on left leg). I actually also played around with oil levels and wasted over 2 liters of golden spectra 7.5wt and I finally found the perfect amount which was the amount that Ronnie at M told me. Now I get full travel and the ecc stays locked down. This fork is very plush comparable to coil and is very stiff, much stiffer then my 2000 xfly and z1. I was hesitant of getting this fork but am so glad I did. I now have more control (stiffer) and better traction (better working travel and more active) then my older bomber forks. My rider weight is 135lbs and run 20psi positive and 60 psi negative. My front end is now equally as good if not better then my rear end!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City Ut Date Reviewed: June 28, 2002
I am really impressed with this fork- I felt it was great out of the box, but the more I ride the more I love it- after about 5-10 hrs of riding this fork really comes to life..like everyone else has mentioned you point and shoot with this fork- it runs anything over. I weigh 175-180 and I run 35 Pos 100 neg and it has been perfect. ECC works great, no brake rubbing here.I can't believe some of the negative posts on this fork..I try to talk anyone and everyone into getting one...an easier adjuster knob would have been better..but once you get used to it is fine. If you are an XC rider but love to bomb the Down hill..this is your fork.. at just over 3 lbs you can't beat this fork!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
AL
a Cross Country Rider
from Northwest MA Date Reviewed: June 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
New ones
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
SUPER SUPER and I mean S U P E R plush, Precise crisp steering, Doesn't require a lot of maintenance. EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!
Weaknesses:
None for me. Fork has worked perfectly for me from the start. Never any ECC brake pad rubbing and correct amount of oil was installed at factory. I HAVE 80 MM VERSION!!!!! Installed Lizard Skins to keep stanchions clean and wet with lubrication. Manual could be better.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SX-R 1998 (Sold for $424.00 in 1998)
Bike Setup:
Trek Elite 9.8, Spinergy Spox, Raceface Next LP, Avid Mags, Easton carbon bar and post, XTR (20.1 lbs with everyday wheels, 19.1 lbs race wheels)
Bottom Line:
After 7 hours of use (break in period) fork started to work very well and put a large smile on my face. After 50 hrs I drained the oil into a measuring cup. (100cc & 25cc drained out) I REPLACED WITH 5 WT OIL (NOT 7.5 WT) 100CC & 35CC FOR MORE PLUSHNESS AND IT REALLY DID THE TRICK BIGTIME!!!! I weigh 160 lbs. Air pressures are 25 pos & 75 neg. Fork has never bottomed with this setup. I used to go around rocks and roots with the Manitou but not with this fork. Run over anything as travel seems endless. I would not of ever believed this but this fork HAS MADE ME A MUCH BETTER RIDER.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
See Below
Weaknesses:
See Below
Similar Products Used:
See Below
Bike Setup:
See Below
Bottom Line:
FOLLOWUP TO MY REVIEW BELOW OF 6/7/02: There appears to be another factor relating to the ECC rubbing issue, and this one seems to be THE problem.
Since the lockout is on the *right* side, the left leg is trying to extend itself under the "positive pressure", so if bushing play was the main culprit, the *right* brake pad would rub, as the lowers would try to rotate CW (looking at the bike from the front) But it's the *left* pad that moves closer to the rim and rubs. So what must be happening is the left leg is actually slightly extending itself by bending the arch a little. The effect is to skew the axle (not bend, just push the left side down a bit relative to the right side) just enough to rotate the rim/tire into the left brake pad. It makes sense if you consider that any rotation in the axle will be magnified about 5 times at the rim, so the smallest extension will be multiplied by ~5, and we only have a millimeter or so gap between the rim and pad. So if the leg extends 5-8 thousands of an inch, we're rubbing.
Although the cause is different than I wrote about below, the fix is the same, so follow the setup procedure described below, and you should be in good shape.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: June 7, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
MTBR.com Classifieds
Strengths:
Above all else -- light weight. When dialed-in, very nice action.
Weaknesses:
Very poorly setup at factory. ECC actuation causes brake rub. Difficult to use knob quickly while riding. Some slop in bushings. Not for those who don't know how to tune and wrench. I'm sure someone will strip the valves when trying to use the adapter -- it's very tight if you have the pump attached.
Similar Products Used:
White Bros SC80. Marzocchi X-Fly 100.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth "Absolute Truth." XTR. King hubs and headset. 858 pedals. XY seatpost. Thomson stem (the best). Easton carbon-fiber handlebar, lo-rise.
Bottom Line:
TUNING: Out of box tuning is worse than shoddy. M messed-up big time. You will NEED to reduce the amount of oil in the right leg, period! If I remember correctly, I'm at 35cc and 90cc at the moment (std is 30cc and 115cc). I'm 200 pounds or so and am using 30 and 105 psi, but am still experimenting. If you want full travel, you're going to have to modify the oil levels. Also, if you read most of these reviews the std ratio of positive to negative pressure seems to be: neg = (pos x three) + 5-10psi. So if you're running 30psi positive, try 100psi and see how it goes.
ECC RUBBING ISSUE: This is what's happening -- the ECC damper only closes on one fork leg, the left one. This allows the positive pressure in the right leg to continue to try and extend the leg, but it's being held fast by the ECC circuit in the left leg. This torques the lowers and tries to rotate them counter-clockwise (as you face the fork from the front). If there is excessive play between the bushing and the stanchions, the lowers actually rotate until this play is taken up. This is why ALL rubbing related to the ECC will be on the left side. [Why don't the wheel, lowers, and brakes all rotate the same and maintain their relationship? It's complicated, but they don't. Forget about it.] The solution is easy though. Actuate the ECC, press down on the forks to get it to lock in the downward position. Now adjust the left brake to where it *just* does not touch the rim. You will likely have to turn the screw *in* 1/4-3/4 of a turn. Now release the ECC and make sure it's ok in full extension. You should be fine.
OVERALL: Damn close. Damn close. If they listen up, the 2003 fork should be excellent. They need to modify their tuning recommendations and oil levels, tighten the tolerances with the bushings, and change the knob so we can alter the settings easily while riding (check out the Fox). And it would be nice to have a few more clicks on the damping adjustment. They should be able to easily add one more damping level, and that might just be enough. Out of the forks listed above, this is my favorite by far. Being able to adjust the neg pressure allows it to be plush, which was laking in the X-Fly BIG time. Nice f-in try, M.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
g-banger
a Cross Country Rider
from morganton, NC Date Reviewed: June 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:
fh loops
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
lightning cycles
Strengths:
still looking
Weaknesses:
Complicated fork. Too many settings, too many suggestions
Similar Products Used:
This is my first high end fork
Bike Setup:
Kona King Ki Ka Pu
Bottom Line:
Don't read any of these reviews when adjusting this fork. I've read so many different pieces of advice on how to set this thing up that it has ultimately hurt me When I stumble upon the right settings it works fine. I'm finally tuning it propperly. It takes a little patience. (3 months) I agree with the posting below. I weigh 170 and have the main's @25lbs and the neg. @70 lbs respectively. This seems to be the best so far. Those guys that are running 120-150 in the negative I'd like to see on the trail. I'm a bit skeptical.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: June 2, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Hardcore Bikes
Strengths:
Rigidity and smoothness
Weaknesses:
All the niggles endured before it worked properly
Similar Products Used:
RS Sid, Judy, Manitou sxr
Bike Setup:
Tracer, bontrager/XT
Bottom Line:
OK, my fork must have listened to my threats because after ordering a Sid and damning it in front of my buddies, the fork actually began to smarten up. I now have a smooth, plush, bottomless fork that hasn't required maintenance since the day I swore it off. Even the lockout now functions properly (??). I will chalk up the stiction problems I had to a LENGTHY break-in period that was, however, worth the wait. Still, the website needs updating and the oil level issues should have been resolved before shipment. Luckily, I found a buyer for the Sid I had ordered--the Marathon is (now) a much more smooth and precise fork. It better stay that way because I don't want to write any more of these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO Date Reviewed: May 31, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Strengths:
Very stiff and plush. Excellent for cross country and more technical trails. Also the company: Marzocchi has great service and this goes a along way for me. Keep it up guys!
Weaknesses:
The users guide is weak.
Similar Products Used:
SIDS, Dukes, Mantitou Mars
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight and all of the good stuff
Bottom Line:
Best fork I've ever owned. I like having the stiffer feel and better steering in a cross country fork. Much more confidence inspiring than the SID. I liked the Duke SL but it didn't have near as much adjustibility.
I had a few oil leaks that Marzocchi was eager and willing to fix. In fact they turned my repair around in 1 day! That's service my friends. I will always own their products because of this.
It is tricky to setup and requires some playing with. Here's what I've honed in on: I'm 173 lbs and like it set at 23lbs in the positive chambers and 70 in the negative.
Buy one, you'll like it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from spain Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Strengths:
is a sid (a little heavier, 150 gr) with more performance for the people who enjoy the trails, and forget the problems ...
Weaknesses:
none, until today
Similar Products Used:
sid sl 00, sid sl 02
Bike Setup:
litespeed, cook bros, xtr, crossmax
Bottom Line:
i had have two sid sl, the 00 and 02 models; was perfect until they became flex, leaking oil, ... because they are perfect forks to cross country people who has a mechanical people in house. Marathon has the same performance, not the initial sensivity, but more rigid, ... and has an easy mantenaince.
excuse my english and enjoy the marathon.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Evan Piche
a Racer
from Ringwood Nj Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Plattekill Xc course
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Town cycle
Strengths:
When properly working nothing comes close to this fork. Plush, relativly light, stiff, and ecc is good (when it works).
Weaknesses:
right out of the box the fork rubbed when the ecc was locked, later all of the air blew out of the valve while i was cleaning by bike. finally all of the oil leaked out of the bottom while i was in the parking lot of Plattekill, and im waiting to get it back fom the shop. oh ya and i'll be paying my parents back forever.
Similar Products Used:
nothing comes close to this fork when it is working.
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Element Team SC, King Headset, xt/xtr drivetrain, mavic wheels, panaracer fire xc pro tires, etc.
Bottom Line:
this is a incedible fork, when it works. And im confident that the mechanic will be able to fix it, eventally.
I would give it 5 chilis, but until the Ecc problem, the leaking air, and the leaking oil are solved, i'll be forced to ride my road bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd Arvidson
a Racer
from Waukegan, IL Date Reviewed: May 4, 2002
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ And...you get what you pay for!
Similar Products Used:
Mars 1, Manitou
Bike Setup:
Klein Adept Pro, XT/XTR all over the bike. Speedplay(too darn heavy for the titanium:)
Bottom Line:
The bottom line on this fork is that it does what I expected right out of the box! Curt at Zion Schwinn hooked me up well(I tell him it's his bike and I just race it). I weigh 220 and wanted a fork that would not blow after a race(My Mars blew and sucked rain into the stanchions constantly despite many "rebuilds") I don't need infinite(whatever that means) adjustments--which are like sugar pills to me. I want ease of operation and dependability--which this fork has. I was informed of a break in period-which lasted about 3 miles. This fork has performed well! The knobs are not difficult to operate. I have rather large hands and find the knobs easy to operate and ajust while riding. I was hesitant to spend the cash and almost talked myself into a Duke Race or Sid Race and was highly encouraged by the shop mechanic that Marzocchi would treate me right...it has. If you're a Clydesdale and want a dependable fork and are willing to pinch on the latte's for awhile-Marathon is worth the caffein withdrawals:) I have my first WORS race on the 5th of May and will, if necessary, add/delete to my review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Martins
a Racer
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Saturday Night Loop, Jasper, AB.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Hardcore Bikes
Strengths:
Rigidity
Weaknesses:
Many mechanical niggles and poor dealer support.
Similar Products Used:
2000 Sid XC, Judy Race.
Bike Setup:
Intense Tracer, XT/Bontrager/King/Easton
Bottom Line:
I have the 100 and it has been nothing but trouble from the start. From a leaky cartridge to sticky valve cores to lockdown that doesn't stay down, it has been a nightmare. During the brief occasions when the fork is working properly, it is an amazingly plush and precise steering fork. But the clincher for me was when it became sticky and squeaky halfway through its first race.
Marzocchi: If you are going to have the added weight of oil bath, make sure it actually works to lubricate the fork. And the stock 115cc oil volume hydraulically limits the fork to 30-40mm of max. travel. What kind of R&D have you if you didn't discover this before shipment? Your website has no recommendations for proper setup, the manual is of little use--I guess the consumer is left to R&D the product. NOT GOOD!!
I regret having already sold my RS Sid, but it looks like an '02 SL is in my future. I'll endure less steering precision if the fork actually WORKS.
I recommend this fork to anyone who likes working on their bike A LOT, wants to be on a first name basis with the Marzocchi warranty dept., and generally enjoys looking at their bike more than riding it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol CT USA Date Reviewed: April 24, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$445.00
Purchased At:
HA
Strengths:
Lighter than coil/oil, great adjustability, better than Fox FLOAT RLC fork
Weaknesses:
Negative air vale leaked, replacing a pain, difficult to set air pressures correctly with a high presure pump.
Similar Products Used:
Fox FLOAT RLC 100mm Fork...Z1 MCR, Atom 80, Judy XC
Bike Setup:
2001 GIANT NRS1
Bottom Line:
The negative air valve leaking was a bummer. It took almost an hour to repair myelf. It was obvious that the vale core that was installed by Marzocchi was not done correctly, a gasket was crushed. I now have a special air adapter which I can disconnect the pump from wothout losing any air, and check the pressures with a digital gage. Fork is excellent when set properly. Hopefully Marzocchi corrects the silly adapter problem and goes to Schrader ports instead. I really like the fork though. It feels just right, plush, and is almost as good as my Z1 MCR.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Walkin(Travelin)man
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction,Colo Date Reviewed: April 17, 2002
Favorite Trail:
my living room (apparently)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
why embarrass THEM ???
Strengths:
It will make an awesome toilet paper roll holder.. Its manufactorer is sleeping with the webmaster..Thank you... may I have another???
Weaknesses:
It is WAY undervalued.. It should retail for a MINIMUM of $1,500 because it really is THAT DARN GOOD..
Similar Products Used:
forks that work as advertised... Duh..
Bike Setup:
a handicapped ( by THIS fork) 2001 Titus Loco Moto.. The bike weighs ZERO (0) pounds when THIS fork is installed on it.. How is that,, you ask?? Well, if you can't actually RIDE the bike then it DOESN'T weigh anything at all...
Bottom Line:
Darn,, my original most EXCELLENT posting of April 14,20002 has been erased by Da WebMaster ( as opposed to The Rock)).. It was AWESOME,, too AND disgusting... The main thing is that those wild and crazy Zocchi BOYS have actually READ the review... YAHOO..
Ok, here is my toned down mellow heiny-kiss posting....
This is my THIRD evaluation of this fork ( see prior postings).. After setting in my LBS for SIX weeks (1/9th of a year) awaiting an ECC cartridge,, I just couldn't stand it anymore.. I went down the to LBS and liberated my most excellent TITUS toy.. I got on da internet and have ordered a RockShox PSYLO SL for $350.00.. But, in actuality, I am paying $950.00 for the PSYLO fork (( SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS for the UNUSABLE Marathon S(panky) fork + $350.00 for the soon-to-arrive PSYLO SL..)) This expenditure will bring the total price of my awesome Titus LocoMoto to about $3,000.00,,instead of the $2,400 I would have spent had I bought a PSYLO in the FIRST PLACE.. However, fear not.. I have a really wonderful mission for the MIGHTY MARATHON S(panky): TOILET PAPER HOLDER in my bathroom...TOO COOL !!!! The steerer tube should be just the right length to hold a roll... And, i will post pictures of it in the "Photo Reviews" section of this website.. However, I must wait a few months before doing so.. Why?? Because, instead of being able to buy a digital camera,, I now am spending THAT $$$$ on ANOTHER suspension fork...( time to go water my MONEY TREE ).....
So lets see: 100mm fork that only has 80mm because it was manufactored with the INCORRECT amount of oil in the legs... A "special" air adapter required to fill legs with air (highly recommended)... NO air pump included with the SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR fork,,plus the fact that a low-pressure pump is required in order to get ACCURATE psi... black plastic "Mickey Mouse" knob is a joke.... ECC cartridge is defective.. Marazocchi customer service is defective... Price of this fork is defective.... AND Marazocchi just plain DOES NOT give a DANG about their customers.. I could have easily been sent an e-mail to find out what's what as a result of my first 2 postings but NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! So, anyway,, BUY THIS FORK.... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... Why??? Because: Misery loves company..It's true It's true....
Hugs And Kisses to the ALMIGHTY Italian fork conglomerate.. E-mail me...We'll do lunch..... NOT !!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travelinman
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction,Colo.. Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Colorado/Utah/Arizona
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
SpeedGoat
Strengths:
It really is a Light Fork.. The black "M" caps on the fork tops reminds you of the "Ear'd One" (Mickey Mouse).....
Weaknesses:
Compression Dampner is Caa-Caa
Similar Products Used:
Most of Cannondale's Fatty Headshok systems..
Bike Setup:
2001 Titus Loco-Moto....etc..etc...
Bottom Line:
This is an addendum to the posting below me ( DEREK)... My 100mm SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR fork is also at the LBS awaiting a new compression dampner..... After 200 miles of easy ( and I do mean E-A-S-Y) off-road riding,, my unit developed a leak in the right side leg.. It has been in the shop for 2 weeks awaiting on a replacement unit... Looks like I will be without my most excellent toy (Titus) for AWHILE.... When I got this (100mm) fork, it only had about 80mm of travel.. After reading other previous postings, It was apparent that Zokes sent these fork out with the incorrect amount of oil.. Ah, Don't you just love that Research & Development Department... Anyway, I figured that I would put some miles on the fork (break it in) before having the oil problem rectified.. Good thing I did wait..Now I can have 2-TWO-too-to product defects taken care of at the same time.... YAHOO !! Lucky Me.. Ah, the rewards of dishing out SIX HUNDRED dollars for a @#$% fork... I currently have a 2000 Cannondale Raven800($1,500) hanging on my living room wall because that is where its' at its best (nothing like 20th century technology in the 21st century).. Think I might have to find a bigger wall to make room for this high-dollar fork, too??? I have a bad habit of buying the "Flavor-of-the-Month".. Looks like I will NEVER learn my lesson..Think I'll go out and buy a GT AND a Schwinn... MAYBE my luck will change.... My only consolation to the problems I'm having with this fork is that FOX advertises that they have been in the SHOCK business for over 20 years.. All you have to do is read the postings for THEIR products (rear shocks) to realize that THEY are STILL trying to get it right.... DUH.... Quality product OR Flavor-of-the-month..... Your guess is as good as mine... Don't get me wrong.. This fork is awesome in its' element.. Just how often that "element" is the LBS is still up in the air.. Ride Often.. Have FUN.. Don't Get Screwed..... A Chili given where a Chili is earned.....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
Very smooth, doesn't flex.
Weaknesses:
Durability. I have blown the damping cartridge in this fork 3 times in the past 3 month doing cross country riding.
Similar Products Used:
Manatou MARS
Bottom Line:
When the fork is working it is great. Unfortuneately, it isn't very durable. I have blown the damping cartridge 3 times in three months. I don't jump or do drops, I am just a cross country rider so there is no reason for them to be blowing out. It appears to be a common problem because Marzocchi has run out of damping cartridges and has more on back order. Needless to say I am in the market for a new fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Philip
a Weekend Warrior
from Belgium Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
Stiff fork with many options to adjust it to personal taste.
Weaknesses:
Same as the strenghts ... it will take some time before finding the right combination of air pressure and ECC to get the exact fork response that you want.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy XC
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Instinct, Flox Float RL, Marzocchi Maraton S, XR/Race Face drivetrain, Hope Mini Disc, Shimano 575 disc wheels, other parts Race Face.
Bottom Line:
Uncomparable to my Judy XC. Stiff fork. Combination of compression damping, rebound and ECC is great but it takes time to adjust the parameters to your taste.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron F
a Cross Country Rider
from Provo, UT Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Light, stiff, smooth, great overall fork!
Weaknesses:
some paint chipped off of the lower fork legs, but marzocchi replaced it no questions asked.
Similar Products Used:
sid, white brothers, judy, x-fly, bombers etc.
Bike Setup:
Trek fuel 100, all xtr, magura marta discs, mavic x3.1 tubeless, dt 240 hubs, etc.
Bottom Line:
I have only used this fork for a few months but already I have noticed improvement in stroke smoothness, rigididy, and steering. I am a big guy (220) so finding a sturdy fork was essential. I did have a problem with the paint peeling on the lower fork leg, but one call to marzocchi and they replaced the entire fork and even set up the fork for my individual weight (fork oil etc.) all free of charge! Hows that for service! I will give a long-term review towards the end of this season, but for now this fork is a dream come true! Five flaming turds for overall rating, four for the price (I'm a college student who had to sell plasma to purchase this fork!)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pat Gleason
a Weekend Warrior
from Warrenton, VA USA Date Reviewed: February 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Greenridge (GW Forest)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
Light, relatively stiff (Compared to SID's) good looks
Weaknesses:
Oil levels, and oil weight, not set up well to run right out of the box
Similar Products Used:
I've used just about everything out there, you name it.
Bike Setup:
Vicious Cycles Team Frame (Hardtail) Steel baby, steel! Tubless Wheelset, Truvativ cranks (not a big fan, Race Face XYO Seatpost, Hope Mini disk brakes (yes they do work, and yes they do have some problems)
Bottom Line:
Well it took about 5 good hard rides to get the fork broken in. A little stiction, and kind of a rough ride. After break in I was increasingly displeases with the harshness of the fork. No matter what amount of air I put in the negative chamber, or the main chambers it just didn't work as expected. The travel seems more like 1.5" and it's nasty stiff on the trail.
I weigh 225, and am pretty light on my equipment, no drop ins, or stupid crap. Just single track, and log crossings.
I called Speedgoat, and they said, hey, from the factory oil levels are wrong, and it's the wrong weight fluid for my weight. I'm sending it off to get 12 weight put in.
Specs called for me to put in 175lbs in the negative chamber, another tech guy suggest I use 200lbs. It makes it a little better, but not much. This thing really pogo's off of small stuff, especially on climbs.
The ECC does what it says. It drops it down. This feature works well on smooth climbs, and fast double track where you want to put the hurt on your buds. Don't use it on rough climbs period. It changed the geometry on my bike so much that it's like driving a bus. The slightest move and the bike is all over the place. I've pretty much quit using it, and use the 2nd position for climbing, it slows down the pogo effect considerably, but still has good shock absorbtion.
The lever to switch the darned thing is really hard to get it and is a crash waiting to happen. Hopefully they will redesign it for 03. What is really needed is a remote thumb operated lever for the handlebar.
So....I do believe that there is a great fork in here, and from what I've read, and heard from the tech guys, all I need to do is have the oil changed to 12 weight with proper levels, and really spend some time on the air psi to find out what works best for me. I will post again after I have made the changes.
Some lower marks because this fork is not ready to go out of the box.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Fruita, Colorado Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Still Looking
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Soaks up small bumps well, doesn't bottom out when taking big hits. Plush. Precise steering
Weaknesses:
It would be nice to have an easier to grasp lever on the ECC.
Similar Products Used:
Various
Bike Setup:
2002 Trek Fuel 100, full XTR except for Raceface Cranks and bottom bracket, Rolf Propel wheelset.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up from my previous post. Been a cold winter, haven't ridden much, now have a little over 500 single track miles on this fork.
I changed the oil in the forks, don't know how much was in there just dumped it out. Filled with new oil as per tech support recommendations. 26# positive pressure 80# negative pressure, gives me 23mm of sag. Great ride. Small changes in air pressure do not make a giant change in ride like they did prior to changing the oil. Much easier to adjust. I believe previously there was too much oil in the fork.
I adjusted the V-brakes with the ECC in compression, they do not rub either in compression or in extension. Don't know why it works, it just does. My fork doesn't leak air as in a previous post.
I still would prefer a nob that would be easier to grasp then the existing ECC nob. It would be nice to have more options on dampening, but the 3 click setup works.
I now like this fork a lot. Great ride, precise steering. I would prefer an easier to grasp nob on the ECC, but it works great when I'm willing to let go of the bars to search for it. Great idea to drop the front end for steep climbs, helps a lot.
Despite my previous whining this is a great fork. It seems oil levels make a big difference in adjustability. I would recommend putting about 200 miles on the fork, change the oil and go with recommended levels from tech support. I'm running much less air than recommended by tech support, but the sag is correct and suspension is a individual preference. It's great to play with the suspension by just adjusting the air pressure, much easier than oil/coil. I'm more willing to experiment since it's so easy to change.
I would now buy this fork in a minute. Not perfect but best fork I've ridden. If you are a cross county rider you will not go wrong with this fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Racer
from Dallas, Tx. Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Pauls Parts
Strengths:
STIFF, LIGHT, RUNS SH#T OVER
Weaknesses:
Rebound adj should be externally adjustable (more so than 3 clicks)
Similar Products Used:
I work at a bike shop, so lots
Bike Setup:
no complaints
Bottom Line:
So I read the reviews that have been posted and see one of the biggest complaints is the color. Does it really matter if the shade is off a little bit? I am more worried about the trail than I am about how I or my bike looks! I guess if it does matter how it looks, get the gray one.
Now the important stuff! 1) STIFF! This fork can turn! That is all there is to it. If you have only ridden a sid or low-in forks, you are missing out on what one is suposed turn like! 2) LIGHT! There is no other fork on the market, except maybe a PACE, that combines smoothness and ridgity like this fork does. If you are worried about weight and not performance, get a alu. rigid fork. There are many things on a bike that just sit there and do nothing, these are the ones that can be light ie seatpost, grips, ti seatrail....... You won't care about the weight penality once have rode for over two hours anyway. 3) RUNS SH#T OVER! This is a typical trait of MARZ. forks. Ride this once and you will find yourself picking a straighter and fast line.
Ok, so I am not all joy about the fork. There aren't many steep climbs that would even be worth using the ECC for in Texas. There are however, many smooth flat sections. I ride a KLEIN, which has a very steep head tube angle already and when I turn on the ECC it is way to steep. I would like it better if when the ECC "on" the fork was only half way compressed. I have never really used it on the trail, guess I am just not willing to cary a 3Ibs for around for it to be locked out, especially up a climb. I have no problem keeping the front of my bike on the ground, so shifting weight forward by lowering the fork doesn't help me.
I do agree with other people that say the mannual had the wrong pressure setting! It is all about the negative pressure, use lots (70-80)! I like to mess with my bike, so I have no problem changing air pressures. Its much easier than changing coil springs and less expensive.
I have had V-brakes on the fork and had no-problem with them hitting the rims or anything like that. I have a disk on now, but let some of the negative pressure out so it would dive as much when I hit the brake.
Overall, this is the best fork that I have ever ridden. I don't know if it is worth the big price tag, but then again I am a college student and don't have money. Performance wise I think it is the best 3Ibs. fork on the market. By no means look past a Fox, Pace, or Stratos (if they ever produce the M3). If you are on a budget, look at a Noleen in the classifieds, they are hard to beat for the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brett R.
a Racer
from Fort Collins, Colorado Date Reviewed: February 3, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
ECC is a really nice feature to have.
Weaknesses:
Tuning is a bit complex, and the owners manual is a bit off with air/oil volumes..
Bike Setup:
Custom Indepedent Fabrication 29"er
Bottom Line:
I've got the Marathon 29"er version...it's kind of a metallic red. When building up my 29"er, I wanted the best suspension fork on the market, and this is by far the best.
I suggest riding it just like it is out of the box for 25 hours or so, then start tuning it. Once set up to your liking, this fork will do you right and smooth every thing out real nice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Racer
from Utah Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
The Bike Shoppe
Strengths:
It's a stiff one. Marzocchi quality and finish.
Weaknesses:
White? Rebound is a little fast and not easy to adjust.
Similar Products Used:
1999 & 2001 SID SL, 2000 Atom Bomb, 2000 X-Fly
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
Great fork. Stiff enough to make me notice the flex in the rear end of my Superlight frame. Nice to pick a line and hit it which the SID's had some trouble with. Excellent balance of weight and rigidity. Could be easier to adjust (SID) but stock is okay. ECC is a cool option, especially in the slowed rebound setting. 80mm travel forks are pretty tall when locked out so ECC is a great thing (even for racing).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Racer
from Arizona Date Reviewed: January 21, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Rage Cycles
Strengths:
Very smooth stroke ECC if you need it
Weaknesses:
Right damping adjuster/ECC a pain in the ass to find and turn on the trail. Fiddly to tune
Similar Products Used:
Sid SL (nice adjustments, too flexy) Manitou Mars (bushings wore out in 6 months)
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer-X
Bottom Line:
I suggest that you write down all settings you use as you set the fork up including positive spring and negative spring pressures and oil volumes and weight. Once you set the fork up it works great, I wish it had a compression lockout as well. The ECC adjuster needs to be much larger and easier to use on the trail. I am giving 4 flaming SID,s and MARS as for 600 bones it should be just about perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adriano Nunes
a Racer
from Setubal Portugal Date Reviewed: December 31, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Serra de SºLuis / Arrabida
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
R.Raposo / Setubal
Strengths:
very fine suspension it work great , but the good pressure is hard tho find
Weaknesses:
manual is very bad and the information in the Marzocchi site is very poor
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Elite Air
Bike Setup:
Shimano XT and XTR v-brakes
Bottom Line:
It´s a good suspensiom but i can´t geet any results whith the pressures that came in the manual, so i´m serch for them for my own and now i ride whith 20psi in the positive chamber and 70psi in the negative chamber , my wheith is 80kg , for now it work very smoth.The ecc is the ideia of the year becouse works very great , but if you have v-brake system you must tune your v-brake in the ecc possitim first tho eliminate v-brake rubing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a
from Harrisburg, PA Date Reviewed: December 24, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
Light but stiff. Great ride. ECC is great. Finally a negative spring!
Weaknesses:
Limited dampening options (but still works out). Manual sucks. Same gripes already noted about the special valve adapter.
Similar Products Used:
X-Fly, AMP F3
Bike Setup:
Titus Motolite. Mostly XT and XTR.
Bottom Line:
When I first got it I thought it was defective because it was so sticky, but tech support assured me that this was normal. After the first couple rides it was already smoother than my X-Fly and continues to get better. I find the negative spring to be very effective at improving the performance over the X-Fly and the ECC is remarkably effective. The one problem I had when I went to a long travel full suspension was the slow steering when doing technical climbs. The fork would go to full extention and the rear end compresses making it even more difficult to steer through techncal sections and switch backs. There are a couple of technical climbs that I could clean about 20% of the time, usually failing due to my inability to control my line while trying to maintain traction and keep the front end down. With ECC it is like the front tire is stuck to the hill with Velcro. I'm cranking up the same climbs in total control! I feel like I'm cheating. The only trade-off is the reduced ground clearance. You need to watch that you don't hit your pedals on rocks that you might have ignored before, and clearing logs and step-ups can be a bit trickier. But 95% of the time, you can just keep cranking and steer with far more control than ever before. It is also a snap to restart on steep sections that were almost impossible before. Neat idea. And no problem with it slowly leaking back up as was previously mentioned by someone.
Overall, it does everything I was hoping for, and gets smoother with each ride. I haven't played around with oil levels yet and so far, my parking lot setups on pressure have worked out well over a fair range (higher pressures when I'm going for rougher downhills, lower when I'm just taking an easier ride). I could nit-pick alot of the same issues noted by others, but for me it's about the ride and I am very satisfied. The ECC is just frosting on the cake!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Fruita, CO USA Date Reviewed: December 23, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Still looking
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light , stiff, once correctly adjusted it soaks up small bumps well, doesn't bottom out on hard hits.
I have about 350 single track miles on the fork.
Weaknesses:
ECC Requires many adjustments Limited dampening adjustments Requires special adaptor to fill fork No pump included with fork
2002 Trek Fuel 100, full XTR except raceface cranks and bottom bracket, Rolf propel wheels.
Bottom Line:
Extreme fiddle factor, I had to mess with the air pressure many times to get it right. If I run the recommended air pressure, from the manual or from tech support, I have a rigid fork. I'm running much less air than recommended by tech support. I would prefer a standard schrader valve to fill the fork instead of the special adaptor required.
After reading the other reviews maybe I should adjust the oil levels, but I really would like just to hop on the bike and ride it.
ECC is a nice feature for climbs but I use V-brakes and when the ECC is locked down the rim rubs against the brake blocks. Doesn't seem to be a good idea to climb something steep with the brakes on. Tech support recommended loosening my brakes, tried it, pads stilled rubbed, difficult to stop the bike, once again doesn't semm to be a good idea. Next call tech support recommended disc brakes, I live and ride in a desert, don't need them, don't want them. Makes the ECC useless for me.
If I were to use the ECC it would be difficult. You must reach down and twist the low profile plastic cap, the raised "M" is about 1/4" high, 90 degrees. I'm not wild about taking my hands off the bars on the trail to try to twist a tiny, difficult to grasp plastic cap. A lever on the shock, like the cap on the 2001 SID that is much easier to grasp, or even better, a control on the bar would be a much better idea.
Ther are only 3 dampening adjustments, none, medium, and fully locked down. It would be nice to have more options.
Despite all my complaints, the fork now rides well, it soaks up the small bumps extremely well but doesn't bottom out on the hard hits.
Price wise it's difficult for me to believe any mountain bike fork should cost $600. The cost does seem competitive to the other brands, maybe I need to adjust my expectations.
I think if I were to purchase another fork I would go with an X-fly, much less painful to adjust, good ride, cheaper. I would also like to try the Fox forks.
I think this would be the perfect fork for the rider who likes to tweak all the adjustments on his, (her), bike as much as he likes to ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travelinman
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction Date Reviewed: December 14, 2001
Favorite Trail:
they're everywhere
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$600.00
Weaknesses:
Color (Blondie White,, i.e. pearlescent white)does not match Race Face powdercoat white or any other WHITE WHITE..
Similar Products Used:
Only C'Dale HeadShox on my previous 4 bikes ( all C'dales: '93 DeltaVee700//'95 SuperVee900//'99 SuperVee500// 2000 Raven 800 ) I'm TIRED of C'Dale..both the bike AND the company...
Bike Setup:
Still waiting for parts so I can assemble a BLACK anodized Titus LocoMoto..White RF cranks,, NOT QUITE white "blondie" marathon S 100mm fork..
Bottom Line:
I have yet to ride this $600.00 fork which does NOT include a pump in the price ( and, according to previous postings,, 2 pumps are needed to set it up correctly).. The little black plug which inserts into the right side leg top-cap to protect the air valve was lost during shipment.. wonder how long the plug will remain in the cap in real world off-road bike riding on my $600 fork.. Ah, the price we pay for the latest "technology".. Do NOT depend on the word of internet bike sales companies when it comes to color matches.. If I am paying $600 for a fork and $200+ for a set of cranks( RF white) to complement the fork color,, I expect them to MATCH or at least be real real close ( as in Manitou's white or RockShox's white).. Blondie white is a ba$turd color that goes with NO other white..It more closely complements my rear derailler and that is SILVER.. Can I gripe or what ???? Duh... Also, for $600,, I expect this fork to be pretty much ready-to-go right out of the box.. The company is saying "We are charging you $600 for this fork because it is THAT DAMN GOOD".. It had BETTER BE... I don't plan on spending my time on the telephone talking to service rep's.. For now I am giving this fork 5 & 5.. After I get it in operation,, I'll update with an evaluation (unless I decide to return it for a WHITE fork)..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kelly
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO Date Reviewed: December 11, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Ebay auction
Strengths:
Light, stiff, appears to be very well made.
Weaknesses:
The manual stinks, lack of adjustability.
Similar Products Used:
Psylo Race, SID 100, White SC90 and 92UL, C'dale Headshock, X-vert Super, Judy SL, etc, etc.
Bike Setup:
Maverick ML7, Sweet Wings, King, XT discs, Crank Bros pedals(they rock!), Easton carbon, etc. Weighs somewhere around 25lbs. at this point.
Bottom Line:
First impressions were that it was stictiony, ramped up very quickly at the bottom of the stroke, and the damping settings were either too fast or too slow. After reading a few reviews, I contacted tech support and found that they recommend running the negative chamber at 3X the positive. This really reduced the stiction, and as time has gone by it has gotten really smooth. The tech made no mention of oil levels. I rode it 5 or 6 more rides, feeling all along that I was short on travel (should be 100mm). So I called tech support again and asked for the full skinny on the fork. His first question was how much oil I was running, which was 115 and 30cc (per the manual). He said I need to drop it down to 87cc and 35cc, that that would make a huge difference. It did, with the fork feeling very smooth and progressive, damping just right. This also made a big difference in required air pressure, I bumped up to 30psi pos, 100psi neg. However, on a ride this weekend in Farmington, NM while hitting high speed dips the fork bottomed out really hard twice with a loud bang. So I raised the pressure to 32 psi, which made it quite a lot harsher, but it didn't bottom. I called tech again, asking if I could add oil to make it ramp up more on the bottom of the stroke to avoid bottoming. He said very little, max of 5cc extra, as more than that would make the fork hydraulic out (now I know why my travel was so short in the beginning!) I am going to try adding 3cc of oil per side, and play with the negative pressure to see just how fine I can tune this thing. The fork is starting to get close to what I want, with much tweaking. Anybody wanting to run this fork needs to do their homework as far as pressures and oil levels and weights, those are your only tuning options and small increments seem to make large changes in the performance characteristics. Overall, I am very pleased but feel that Marzocchi needs to get their act together as far as the manual, and tech support needs to immediately advise people that the oil levels are so critical. I'm knocking it one chili cause of that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luke
a
from Laguna Beach, CA Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
Well made. Great reputation for durability and effectiveness.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
You name it.
Bottom Line:
This fork is great. Cant beat it. I am totally satisfied. The ECC really helps on the steep climbs. Turn it off and you have a stiff, plush fork that is perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Procida
a Racer
from LaHabra, California Date Reviewed: November 15, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Fullerton Loop/ Sea Otter Course
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Marzocchi
Strengths:
Takes small hits 100% better than ANY other air fork! The stiffness this fork offers is also better than any other air fork and comparable with most coil spring forks. The weight is race worthy 3.1lbs on the scale!
Weaknesses:
None, other than proper set up, mine came with too little oil, Ronnie at Marzocchi helped me out with the correct specs, this thing is AWESOME
Similar Products Used:
2001 80mm X-fly, 2001 Rock Shox Judy SL, Answer Mars W/MRD lock out
Bike Setup:
A 2001 Turner O2 with full Easton Cockpit (CT carbon seat post, Carbon Bars, Mag60 Stem, XTR groupo with the exception of a FSA Carbon crankset, Hope XC-4 disc brakes on hope hubs with Mavic D317-cd rims, Michelin Tires, and a Hopey Steering dampner
Bottom Line:
When you have to have the best, this is without a doubt, in my book the only way to go!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Colvill
a Cross Country Rider
from Missoula,MT,USA Date Reviewed: November 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Western Montana
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Marzocchi (employee purchase)
Strengths:
Large tuning range. Light weight. Ridgid enough for real world riding. Crown and magnesium lowers look great.
Weaknesses:
Tuning takes time. Lower legs cant when ECC is on (brake can rub). Takes two pumps to work with. Oil volumes in manual not correct. Call Marzocchi first!. Price.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z3, Mantiou SX-R, Serviced and test driven to many others.
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Heckler. LX Grouppo, Mavic 519 rims, Race Face post, Titec bar+stem, FSA head set, Flight XP, Tioga Factory XC tires.
Bottom Line:
Changing equipment for me is some what of a trama. New stuff never seem to live up to my expectations. It is a pathalogical need for it to work. The Marzocchi Marathon S 100 works as advetised. If you like funtion with good form buy this fork. What I mean by funtion is tuning takes time. Air pressure in the positive and negative chambers and oil weight/height all need to be balanced for your riding. If you are a tech geek you will be in heaven. If not call Marzocchi tech support first. The manual is confusing and they will be more than helpful (A+ to them). To quote a service rep I work with often "The manual sucks". In a nut shell the Marathon works great for those long cross country epics. The fork has a big personality but you need the time to use it.
Smooths as butter!! I can not beleive this is not a coil spring open oil bath fork
Weaknesses:
My fork did not come with a real live Marzocchi Girl.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox, Marzocchi MCR QR 20, and Atom Bombs
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight, full XTR, Mavic 517, Thompson cockpit
Bottom Line:
This fork is awesome. Stiff like a Marzocchi always is. Performs like a coil fork (this is not an exaggeration!). 4 inches of travel and slightly over 3 lbs is fantastic!! Running 30 pounds of air in a fork sounds much better than other forks requiring up to 130 lbs of air. The likely hood of blowing out 30 pounds of air is much lower than a fork with over 100 lbs. Buy this fork, you will not regret it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BVBR
a Racer
from Ocomukowonawaukesha, WI Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very supple on the small stuff, very adjustaable, ECC, 1 piece magnesium sliders, light weight (3.2# on my scale)
Weaknesses:
Travel cannot be adjusted, not as stiff as my 2001 xfly, PRICE!, positive spring is low pressure...negative is high pressure...necessitates 2 pumps for accurate measurement.
Similar Products Used:
2001 xfly 100
Bike Setup:
SC Superlight
Bottom Line:
Very impressive. Much more supple over the small stuff (compared to my 2001 xfly) due to adjustable air negative spring. Lighter than my 2001 xfly too (3.2# vs 3.6#). The ECC works great for long, sustained climbs. Doesn't seem as stiff as my 2001 xfly (very slight bushing play on the marathon...not Rock Shox type bushing play, just not used to it after my xfly which was rock solid)
One gripe I've just encountered is that I need 2 shock pumps to adjust it. I run the positive springs at 34psi and use the Marzocchi pump and run the negative springs at 110psi (which is off the scale of the Marzocchi pump, so I use my other shock pump). (Luckily I own 2 pumps) I found this a little odd. Another small gripe is the lockout knob is a bit awkward to use, could be easier to grab in racing situations.
Overall a great for racing, much stiffer than other dual air offerings. However, if you're not racing the xfly is more than adequate and can be had for a much better price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Walter Teoh
a
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: November 11, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Tay Cycle, Singapore
Strengths:
Strong and sexy look
Weaknesses:
The ECC is SUCK..THIS FORK IS NOT FOR U IF U WANT TO CLIMB HIGH, SEE BELOW:
Similar Products Used:
all best part on earth
Bike Setup:
S-work M4
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 STHE 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:
Submitted by
Ronald
a Cross Country Rider
from SF,CA Date Reviewed: November 10, 2001
None giving the use: all around trail riding with the emphasis on a lighter, yet precise front-end. However, rebound adjustment is limited to the the three positions of light, moderate, locked-down (ECC). Again, that works for me and what I'm doing
Similar Products Used:
SID 100, Z2 Atom 80, Manitou X-Vert Super Air, X-Fly 100
Bike Setup:
Ventana El Saltamontes. Float R rear. V-brakes.
Bottom Line:
Recently I read that this is the air/oil fork that people have been waiting for from Marzocchi. While I don't know who's waiting for what, but this is a great air/oil fork. It would even be a very good coil fork in terms of action, but riding the SID, X-Fly 100, X-Vert Air on the same bike, in virtually every meaningful aspect, the Marathon (this one is a 100) is simply better. To be sure it's expensive, but it is better. Only you know whether it's worth it. If this isn't the fork for you and weight isn't an issue, then get a Fox Vanilla, which is more robust, and more fluid in its feel, but, the Marathon is smoother, if not as stiff, as the Fox Float forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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