|
|
Average Rating
|
4.67/5
|
|
# of Reviews
|
21
|
|
MSRP
|
$ 659.00
|
|
Weight
|
|
|
More Products from Marzocchi
Submit a Review
|
|
Description:
- TST (Terrain Selection Technology)
- Dual hydraulic compression
- Open Bath Lubrification
- External Rebound Adjuster
- 5-position TST System
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Powell River, BC ,Canada
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bogies | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Blacks, Comox, BC | | Strengths: | Plush and reliable. I put all the settings at the mid-point 2 years ago when I built the bike and have never touched them again until finally just last week I checked the air pressure for the first time as they were getting a little soft but still never bottoming out.
This is my 3rd set of Bombers and the best yet. All 3 are still on my bikes and working great, the oldest ones as plush as ever after 10 years or so. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing, and I DO NOT UNDERSTAND anyone suggesting draining the oil and going all air. So you think you know more than the Marzocchi engineers? | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Judy, RockShox SID, Z2 Bombers, Atom Race Bombers | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain ETSX with Fox Float ProPedal shock (plush but yes, they leak), mostly XT, Mavic wheels (what else?), Race Face Deus stem/carbon xc riser bar. Sweet perfection. | | Bottom Line: | You want trouble-free plush forks? Think open oil bath, coil springs and if they insist on adding an air chamber, suffer the air but who needs it. If there is anywhere you should be prepared to add a few ounces of weight it is to get the sweet ride Marzocchi oil/coil springs can give. There is a reason some other forks now offer oil and coil! Trust me, I've suffered through leaky air and exploding "sealed" oil cartridges. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Thunder Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Strengths: | Plush, adjustable, smooth | | Weaknesses: | TST cartridge | | Similar Products Used: | Marzochhi Z2 | | Bike Setup: | Enduro Sworks | | Bottom Line: | I love this fork when its working, but like John my TST cartridge broke after about 6mos. Sent it in and fixed under warranty. I've now had it for 8 mos and it broke again. This time it'll cost me $40 for a new cartridge. I've not abused it in anyway. Because of these issues, have to only give it 3 chilis. Who wants to be without their bike for a couple of wks every few mos? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | Tracks fairly well. Good adjustability. Decent ride quality for $400. | | Weaknesses: | TST cartridge went out after 6 months. Zoke fixed it for free, but it went out again in 4 months and Zoke billed me $135 for an 'ovalized compression knob'. Not cool. TST is very high maintenance. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla | | Bike Setup: | SC Blur LT
Custom Vulture SS | | Bottom Line: | Avoid this series forks. They went on closeout for a reason. TST is unreliable and expensive to service. I really like the TST system, but the 2005 series does not seem to last.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Dibley
a Weekend Warrior
from New Milton, Hampshire, UK
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tunnel, Santa Barbara | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | Adjustability, looks, performance | | Weaknesses: | Flex, weighty for what it's suposed to be. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi Shiver DC, Z1 (1st gen), Z1 Bam Ltd, Z3, MXC ETA, Marathon SL, Fox Vanilla RL120, Rockshox Indy C, Psylo XC, SL & Race, Manitou X-Vert R, White Bros....and one or two cheapies. | | Bike Setup: | This bike is a Specialized Hardrock Pro built with XT/XTR/DT Swiss etc | | Bottom Line: | Great looking and performing fork. However, there is a worryingly large amount of flex when you start to break even lightly. Steering seems precise though, so I just can't give it five flammin' chilli's. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Alpine, UT
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | Best fork I've had. Works as well as a coil fork, but its pretty light. I love the adjustability. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MOFO
a Weekend Warrior
from Missoula Montana
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rattlesnake | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | I like the TST feature, and the ETA is great too. The Missoula area has lots of climbing and variable terrain. The ETA locks the fork down and you can climb anything. | | Weaknesses: | none noted, well I guess the air inflation is tricky until you figure it out. Read the manual (duh) | | Similar Products Used: | Marz, Rock Shox | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Blizzard (steel hardtail) with XTR, Hayes discs, Race Face bash guard, Mavic XM 321 disc rims, & WTB 2.3 tires | | Bottom Line: | This is a great fork. I made the transission from a full suspension to a hardtail because of all the climbing here. I was afraid the hardtail would be harsh, but with this fork it is very plush.
I highly recommend all Marzoochi products, very well thought out and high quality materials.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AdamL
a Cross Country Rider
from San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles, CA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | cannot say | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Cycling | | Strengths: | several. Words cannot describe how a fork truely works | | Weaknesses: | hard to say, not many... but I guess time will tell(the durability/reliability factor) | | Similar Products Used: | 1997 Marzocchi Z-1 ... also very bombproof | | Bike Setup: | Ti hardtail frame(wont relinquish builder), SRAM components
King HS/F-hub, Mavic 517/717 rims, Race-Face Isis Turbine
Avid Ultimate/Juicy 5 brakes, Syncros post, etc | | Bottom Line: | Sure, you hear alot of raves about Fox Forxs, which they are good(minus the seals problems- possibly fixed by 2007??, but irregardless they are more costly $$$, so if saving a few ounces is super important to you- then maybe you should be considering a Fox ... or a SID- which would be less $$, but the money you save there you might have to invest into another fork to replace the broken SID
The Marathon XC- solid all around fork for any style rider, novice or pro, under any conditions.
Highly recommended ;-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cookie_Monster
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, ON, CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | TST works great!
TAS great for adding 20mm of travel
Great once adjusted (took 3 weeks of trying all combinations)
| | Weaknesses: | For weight weenies, it's the heaviest of all the Marathon series forks - try the SL or Race then | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi MZ Race | | Bike Setup: | '06 Kona Kula Supreme | | Bottom Line: | Great fork for a great price (can't get the 2005 anymore on sale). Plush when you want it too, and even handles the washboard ruts once the rebound and air preload has been set. Had steerer tube replaced by Marzocchi Canada - did it same day it arrived and turn around time total was a paltry 5 DAYS from Toronto!!! Great service!!!
GET THE '06 - it's lighter than the '05. Forget about overpriced F*X!!! Viva Italia!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
OG Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex, UK
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | EVERYTHING... ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING... One to mention over the rest... Marzocchi's seals... FLAWLESS... Nothing beats them. FOX, Manitou, RockShox, all leak. Your Marzocchi will NEVER lose air or oil, unless you've done something against thier purpose, even then, I seriosuly doubt you will experience problems. TST works... And it is a dream come true. ETA, another flawless Marzocchi bonus, this thing BENEFITS! Dual Hydro Damping gives a very responsive and very accurate fork. When set-up properly, and broken in... You'll find it hard to get your front wheel off the ground, honestly. | | Weaknesses: | Break in time. Not the end of the world, but needs more than usual time than most other forks. Took mine a good few weeks to break in properly, maybe becuase I was to delicate with them at first, if I get another Marzocchi fork, (and I WILL), then I will go out and thrash this about pointlessly, it needs it at first I'd say. A little flex in the fork, nothing to worry about, only noticable when going over bumps when Locked Out. | | Bike Setup: | MuddyFox Frame (THE NUTS) / Deore XT Gears / Magura HS33's / Marathon XC's.. ect ect... | | Bottom Line: | Amazing, you won't believe these things... Absolutely takes a rather large dump on FOX, and totaly wipes out RockShox and Manitou. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kir
a Racer
from Kazakhstan, Almaty
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | really works! use tst for to select one of 5 positions best suiting for the terrian (including full blocking of the fork) and eta for adjusting the geometry of the bike. | | Weaknesses: | starts working properly after 100-150 kms | | Similar Products Used: | RS Judy, RS Pike | | Bike Setup: | NRS: XT, El camino, Stylo... | | Bottom Line: | You'd better try it. It works!
Ìóðçèêè - ðóëÿò! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerardo Vargas
a Weekend Warrior
from Chatsworth, California
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Santa Monica & Topanga | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheelworld | | Strengths: | Awsome. Responds when you needed and as you expect. Height selection is great (100mm or 125mm). Rebond adjustment make it feel nice. | | Weaknesses: | Maybe the setting could be a little bit "tricky" but as long you learn to use it, it's great. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou, Black | | Bike Setup: | Specialized, Sumpjumper Full Suspension | | Bottom Line: | For the price it's the best choice you can do. It's quality is much higher than I thought. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dino
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | South Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | goodbikedeals, ebay.com | | Strengths: | ETA and TST - really nice. Plush ride.
| | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy | | Similar Products Used: | RS Judy SL, Marz MX Comp | | Bottom Line: | I bought this fork based on reviews here and elsewhere. Just installed it and took one ride, it was fantastic. Huge upgrade from the stock Judy. I love the features - they really work. Lots of times my ride starts and finishes with 5 miles of road. The ETA just works. And the TST was nice to have in changing terrain. The TAS - I won't use it.
I agree with the other reviewers here, this fork is really plush. I am 200lb and the old Judy fork had too much sag and not enough adjustability. This one really upgraded my ride.
Anyone thinking of saving up for a new frame, my advice is: forget it. Just upgrade your fork and you will get a big return on that investment.
I can't comment on the long term reliability, as I've only got 20 miles on it. But based on the intro ride, this is a nice fork I will keep for a long time.
[I found a great deal on this fork on ebay. ps: I am not affiliated with goodbikedeals.]
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan R.
a
from Long Island N.Y.
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dirt Ones | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Stiff, Strong fork that tracks unbelivable. Highly adjustable, plus those adjustments really work, Bomb Proof design, no stupid plastic parts in high stress areas, TST really works and you can feel the diffence, ETA god send on long climbs or steep technical climbs. TAS nice to be able to adjust the height to my frame. Best of all it a Marzocchi, that means durable, superior design, and a great company backing it up! | | Weaknesses: | A little on the heavy side but I'd rather durable than light weight and breakable! TAS needs to be have air preload drained before adjusting it, not really on the fly here. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi Drop off, Jt. T, Shiver DC
Rockshox Duke XC, Judy
Manitou Minute, Spyder | | Bike Setup: | Specailized Stumpjumper FSR XC, too many mods to be listed here and do you really want to read the list? | | Bottom Line: | This is a great XC fork, Durable and well built and thought out. Another winner from Marzocchi again as usual. I'd rather ride a Marzocchi than any other brand. Fox is great and all but who can afford their prices unless you take out a loan on a new fork? I'd like to own one but at $600 to $900 plus who can, unless your sponsered or have money to burn? Marzocchi is a great company and sells their fork at a reasonable price. They make a quality product and the Marathon XC shows it. The fork is well thought out and the controls are easy to learn. The TST is amazing and you can feel the difference in each mode. CL: is great for climbing and riding on paved areas, totally locked out, AM-: is a great setting for for mostly smooth trails with some bumps nothing too nuts, for Fireroads and Jeep Trails it works excellant, AM: this is the mode I keep in the most, basic trail riding with bumps and small downhills very comparable to SPV in this mode, Stay seated and just pedal smooth and the fork performs excellant stand up you better switch to CL or AM-, AM+: Dampner is slightly more open making it great for very technical trails with allot of roots and rocks. able to take a very good hit and still able to soak it up, you must pedal very smooth or you'll over come the threshold and it will bob, DS: This mode makes the fork full open no damping at all, it lets the fork soak up any bump in the way. No pedal platform at all lets it deal with techy decents like it nothing, much better than SPV in this area. ETA setting is great lets you drop you travel down to 30mm and turn off the Rebound, climbing turns into a breeze, great for steep or long climbs. Just make sure you don't forget to open it up before you do anything else. TAS is a little weird you can't adjust on the fly without removing all the air from the preload, not really on the fly like they advertise, I normally keep in 100mm anyway. The rebound really works, better than most fork I've owned, each click really makes a difference, takes a while to set up but once it's dialed in it's dialed! Other than that that's it, not to mention it's got a drop dead sexy look! Anyone who has a trailbike or looking to upgrade to a great fork you should look into this fork. Totally worth it if you can get a great deal! Toatlly adjustable and compleatly reliable, from a great company like Marzocchi. I'll never use another fork company but Marzocchi again! Great Fork! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rommel fernandez
a Cross Country Rider
from manila, philippines
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | san mateo, maarat rizal | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | velocity bikeshop | | Strengths: | shiny crown, seals and bushings, stiff controls | | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy,long time to break in | | Similar Products Used: | bomber z2,bomber mx comp, manitou palmer,fox 100rl | | Bike Setup: | salsa el santo, el camino and other stuffs | | Bottom Line: | i hav used 2 bomber models since 1999,and i can say that in all the time i have been riding on a marz,none of them leaked oil or leaked air. unlike my fox 100rl wich i have used for a month,oil keeps on sipping out of the stanchion.since marz has a good reputation in building industrial seals and pumps,they did a good job incorporating it in mountain bike suspension, TAS is designed to balance the front and rear shock. its not someting you want to do wile on the trail,so no problem with the setting of TAS. ETA plays a major role wile climbing sudden steep hill,lowering the bikes front end makes it easier to climb. no other fork offers the same function,i dont want to turn knobs for 4 times and chek if i got the right travel setting before a climb,wen all i want is to lower my front end. this is a no non-sense fork designed specially for 24hour racers and endurance racers,TST gives us the choice between a firm,not so, and very plush setting, it works. lockout is best for flat sprinting, 1 turn from lockout gives u a firm compression that still absorbs impacts dats best for uphill climb with some rocks giving you a good control of the bike.full turn towards the extreme end converts the fork from a racer-boy fork to a full pledged trail-fork. its nice to have a fork with all this settings without having to worry about blown seals and wornout elastomers/platic just like what you expect from REBA. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DLH
a Cross Country Rider
from PNW - Seattle
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great bushes - no leaks - solid construction - operates RIGHT - RIGHT out of the box! Easy to set up - insert preload air - set rebound - ride - adjust air/preload settings - ride - USE TST - ride, USE ETA ride, ride, ride, ride... forget settings and ride! | | Weaknesses: | A strength actually - as long as the "Fox Forx" syndrome hangs in there -- these superior forks will be a bargain! | | Similar Products Used: | Most makes and models known to or produced by man... | | Bike Setup: | Two wheels - saddle - gears - brakes and a MARZOCCHI MARATHON XC! -- which is about to duplicate itself and get attached to my second bike! | | Bottom Line: | What do you know!? A fork product that works -- all the functions do what they are suppose to do - all the knobs operate the functions. All the functions create a smooth, tight, solid, plush suspension fork with Solid tight bushes - solid tight tapered stanchions. This fork is smooth -- puts all other offerings in it's class to sleep -- including Fox. Buy one - be happy again... RIDE ON! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dbohnsai
a Downhiller
from Chilli, Oh
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal cycles | | Strengths: | strong, light, easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | wish it was a little lighter | | Bike Setup: | 03 Dawg Primo | | Bottom Line: | Great Trail Bike fork. probably a little on the heavy side for stricktly xc use. travel adjust is nice since I like to play around with my head angles to get my trail bike and DH rig close to the same head angle. ETA is great for those really steep sections. TST works well although I usually either use the downhill setting or completly locked out. Seams to hold up to my constant abuse so thats good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vallie Atkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Roseburg, Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | work | | Strengths: | Plushness, ease and effectiveness of adjustments, ETA travel reduction, quality. No crappy plastic knobs!! | | Weaknesses: | Not cheap, but worth it!! | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Minute 1, several Fox forks, Rockshox Psylo Sl,and too many to list. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Trance 1 with Marathon XC, and SRAM 9.0 shifters and derailler, and Stans no-tubes. | | Bottom Line: | The best fork I have used! Almost perfect trail fork! The TST dampener works well. I mostly use the DS setting since it is super plush and soaks up roots and rocks so well in this setting, whether going walking speed crawling over rocks, or bombing down a hill at warp speed. The TAS travel adjuster takes a minute to do, but is more for setting up initially for the geometry of your bike. I set mine in the long travel setting and left it alone. The AM settings have much more dampening and would work well for a smooth trail where you want some suspension, but want to attack out of the saddle with little movement, or for doing jumps. The ETA works great for lowering the front down almost 2 inches instantly, and makes climbing those super steep pitches easier, and makes the rear bob less since more weight goes on the front. This fork is so much plusher than the Minute 1 that I just took off, and the Fox that the Trance came with. I kept wishing I had the Minute dialed down on the hills, and up on the downhills, but you have to stop. The Marathon is just slightly lower from axle to crown than the Minute, and I can climb steep hills easier even when I don't use the ETA, and yet it downhills better because it does not bounce off of rocks. SPV and Terralogic are overrated!! They take away plushness to take away bob. On the Marathon XC you can set it to not bob, or set it instantly to super plush. Also, all the knobs are metal, not plastic junk. And all the settings feel very much different, so you really can tune this fork to your liking. This fork is going to stay put!! I have tried many forks the last couple years, and finally found one I really like!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jherich
a Cross Country Rider
from The Colony, TX
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rockledge Grapevine Lake and Erwin | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | http://www.downshiftcycles.com/ | | Strengths: | 0Strength, Function, Handling, even looks, this fork has it all, this is the nicest fork I have ever personally owned, but I have ridden tons of bikes, and being a Clyde at 217lbs. this fork is amazing. It out performs my old Rock Shox, and Manitou Hands down. This bike out climbs my Rockhopper Comp, and out descends my old Haro X2, and every other bike I have ridden, and although the frame and rear suspension have a lot to do with that, this fork deserves it fair share of the credit. On my current setup I have cleaned lines that previously I would have had to walk up, or would have tumbled down. At the price most people have been listing for this fork it a definite bargain, and at the price I paid which is a lot less than 600.00 Jared from Downshift cycles made me an offer I could not refuse. One of the adjustment knobs came off the bottom of the fork, when I contact the manufacture, they said they would replace it for me at no cost, and even made a few suggestions.
If you ride XC, Aggro XC, or All-Mountain, even at the regular retail price, you will not be disappointed.
| | Weaknesses: | TST Deflate inflate procedure to change travel, but t just means plan ahead. | | Similar Products Used: | Several Rock Shox and Manitou and considered Fox | | Bike Setup: | Leader 626S with a Marzocchi Marathon XC Front Fork, and Cane Creek AD-12 Rear Shock. SRAM X.9 Trigger Shifters, and Rear Derailleur, with Sram Chain and Cassette. Shimano Front Derailleur, FSA Head Set, and V Drive Cranks, and Mavic Wheels. | | Bottom Line: | If I could Love a fork you know in the "biblical way", this would be my one and only.
FYI the XC weighs only slightly more than the SL.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Turtle
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Honest Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Plush. Well damped. I'll just go down the list of features and let you know what I think. TST; good range of control, I leave it on either DS or AL-1 which keeps it pretty plush. Anything firmer is too rough for me. ETA; awsome I use the lock "down" feature all the time and can get up technical hills that would otherewise make my front wheel from lifting off the ground and surprisingly even my rear shock from squashing down while climbing, by putting more weight of the front of the bike. Rebound; you turn it, it slows down the rebound, nuff said. Honestly I've never used the TAS to turn between 105 and 120 mm of travel. The owner's manual suggests letting all the air out of the TST chamber then refilling it after adjusting the travel, not exactly "on the fly" so I don't bother. As far as stiffness and weight go it tracks well considering it has virtualy no stiction and it weighed just less that 4 lbs or 1.8 kg which is one of the lightest coil forks I've tried. The 04 Manitou minute 1 weighed an ounce or two less but the Marzocchi blows it away in performance. | | Weaknesses: | TAS system too bothersome for me to bother with. It would also be nice to get a bossless version for us disc users. My frame doesn't have rim brake bosses so it's pretty pointless to have it on the fork, nit picky I know, so put as much weight on that gripe as you want. | | Similar Products Used: | Many forks and many bikes over the years | | Bike Setup: | Giant Trance 2 with a new fork from Marzocchi. | | Bottom Line: | I just saw this fork for $500 online which is a steal for a fork of this performance level. I can run it race firm or trail bike cushy (TST) and can even shorten the travel while pedaling, which is as "on the fly" as it gets (ETA). This fork is a HUGE improvement over the Rockshox Reba it replaces. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Southeast Alaska
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | supple
tunable
laterally stiff
looks great
light weight | | Weaknesses: | The only complaint that I have and it's a minor one at that, is that it should come with fork boots. Fore to aft stiffness is good, but not great, as stantion flex is readily appearant. I can't detect any performance loss though, so it is negligable at best at this time...time will tell. | | Similar Products Used: | none in this forks' class of travel | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek Fuel 90, upgrades to full XTR and typical high zoot components - set up for XC use and ceramic rims for near disc brake performance. My
fuel is used mostly on flowing technical singletrack hiking trails with aggressive rock gardens and wet tree roots. | | Bottom Line: | As set up on my bike, a frame not intended for anything more than a 4inch, and that is argueable, the Zoke is very plush and supple, yet takes the bigger hits without drama. Handling is drastically slow in full travel mode, but when set in reduced travel mode it is just like the fork it replaced - fast without being twitchy. I was surprised at how effective the tunability of the fork is, especailly when in the reduced travel mode...the compression dial really has 5 different linear stages, from stiff to supple. The Marathon XC weighs the same as the Manitou Black it replaced and has a full 1 1/2 inches greater travel...remarkable considering it still has a coil.
I love going down the more aggressive sections of trails in my area, the sections that scared me before, due to large slippery rocks and roots. Being able to adjust the travel, on the fly, from XC(reduced travel mode)to full travel mode suited to an all mountain trail bike is a wonderful thing for this bike. Once the frame is worn out, I'll switch the frame for a Liquid, 5.5 or other similar bike for a more appropriate suspension balance.
I got this fork as a scratch and dent model, so the value rating is pegged, if I had paid full price, it would have gone down a notch...good equipment is getting expensive these days. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gareth McGauley
a Cross Country Rider
from Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mourne Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Dock Belfast | | Strengths: | Strong, plush, very tunable, confidence inspiring, no flex | | Weaknesses: | A bit heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox SID | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Ocoee hardtail, XT / XTR usual bling | | Bottom Line: | These forks have revolutionised my riding style. I am a heavy rider at 215lbs. The forks take all the punishment I throw at them and at no stage make me nervous. My riding style is now much more aggressive and I will take on trails I shyed away from on my SIDs.
Very plush fork out of the box. Very tunable. Handles the big and small hits comfortably. Well engineered and strong. Marzocchi will definitely be my first choice from here onwards!
Probably not a race fork but a great all day riding, aggressive XC fork. If you are a weight weenie go for the Marathon SL. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
