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Submitted by
flashpoint
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | North Shore, Whistler | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$129.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Junkies | | Strengths: | Easy to maintain, once tuned it work wonders. Cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Hassle to adjust the rebound damping. | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC2 | | Bottom Line: | Perfect fork for biginners. The rebound adjuster is a pain to find but I am lucky there is a Marzocchi Service Centre near my place. Bought one and fixed the clunking noise after a few turns with the adjuster which the positive and preload adjustments was not able to do. I believe the rebound adjuster tool is a must. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fox40dan
a Downhiller
from Newport, South Wales
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | wentwood forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay! | | Strengths: | cheap, and very strong! i have had no problems with them at all! | | Weaknesses: | because there not as expencive as the other rivel barnds and modle, i keep worrying that they will snap on me. | | Similar Products Used: | 888's all of the range | | Bike Setup: | saracen recoil, marzocchi drop off triples, fox vanila rc. | | Bottom Line: | there awsome and cheap! i would defo buy them again! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rockin downhiller
a Downhiller
from Belmont CA
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | craigslist | | Strengths: | Super plush and can take the biggest drops without bottoming out. I have never bottomed it out yet. Stayed smooth without any lube so far and had no problems yet with it | | Weaknesses: | Kinda stiff and to adjust the rebound you need to buy like a 30cm alan from marozochi to get in the fork and adjust it but otherwise nothing | | Similar Products Used: | 888 | | Bike Setup: | iron horse sohon bucho | | Bottom Line: | Get the it. You can get it used for 100 and it still can work really good. Will last forever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cameron budd
a Weekend Warrior
from ashland oregon
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson | | Strengths: | i love it plush and quiet but still climbs wee | | Weaknesses: | not much | | Similar Products Used: | 888 | | Bottom Line: | buy this fork great fork for the money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Mac
a Downhiller
from Miidlesbrough , Englnad
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | carlton DH | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | great for those BIG drops even tho it isnt the biggest travel it just takes them | | Weaknesses: | no weakness | | Similar Products Used: | i find them simirel to boxxers | | Bike Setup: | kona stinky primo | | Bottom Line: | the rock says so | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
colton wagner
a Downhiller
from timberlea, nova scotia, canada
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | whopper | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | a friend | | Bottom Line: | DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEM STIFFER !?!?! I CANT FIRGURE IT OUT!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cj Smith
a Downhiller
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Secret | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Savage's | | Strengths: | The priceless Marzocchi buttery feel, Strong, Look amazing, Very cheap and Feel amazing once you adjust them properly. | | Weaknesses: | Rebound is touchy, a little hard to adjust. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Boxxer Race, Spinner stock forks. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Bruiser 1 with Triple Drop Off's, Hayes MX3, Mavic 721 rims. | | Bottom Line: | There great forks for the money. When I first got them there was a really harsh top off but I adjusted that. All you need to do is to make a 3 foot long 12mm hex key to reach down into the right leg. When your in, you turn the screw at the bottom counter clock-wise to slow down rebound and your issue will be fixed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stuart
a Downhiller
from ........
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | Its awsome for the price. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bottom Line: | If u want a fork which doesnt take a chunk out of ur wallet, this is the one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Not gonna tell
a Downhiller
from Samm town
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | SST... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Pac Bike | | Strengths: | Its fun...you can ride of these things called "kickers" on it...
ahhah kiddin.
set the fork up right and have fun.
throw some really thick oil in it and have the bike shop boys adjust your damper and rebound (requires a custom made tool).
Once you do it feels amazazing. | | Weaknesses: | It used to not be my favorite, but since i set it up all good im loving it. | | Similar Products Used: | Junior T, 05 sherman slider, 888 vf | | Bike Setup: | Stock..
| | Bottom Line: | Set the fork up right and go ride. dont post reviews saying its a piece, get rid of it...tops out blah blah blah.
set the fork up right and go ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from oswestry
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | coed llandegla forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | winstanleys (with bike) | | Strengths: | never bottoms out and im a heavy bugger. | | Weaknesses: | TOPS OUT ALL THE TIME since i got it from the shop(sent them back) | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 tiple clamp bommers | | Bike Setup: | 2006 norco shore 3, standard | | Bottom Line: | dont buy a bike with these forks. or buy them seprately, im waitin for the shop to get me some 888s. they always top out and all drop offs do it. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
terry_toughnuts
a Downhiller
from wollongong
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | 170mm of travel, triple crown fork | | Weaknesses: | Not much adjustability, a little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | marzocchi 888VF | | Bottom Line: | Good Fork for entry level D/H and freeriding. The 888 is a better fork but for the money this isn't a bad fork at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
luke
a Weekend Warrior
from langley
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | came stok on bike | | Strengths: | decent stock fork if setup right. | | Weaknesses: | easy bottom outs, mine leaked from the beginning, not easy to adjust other than pumping it full of air when you want it to be stiff, but them the top out it terrible. | | Similar Products Used: | marzocchi 888, 04 droff triple, 05 boxxer race, manitou dorado | | Bike Setup: | devinci johnson 06, stock exept for the rims, seat and tires | | Bottom Line: | i had this for on my giant faith 3, when it was stock..good for a while till i got the boxxer, fuk i had gotten the mavic 729's and a 06 6 way swinger...i put so much into that thing, it was a great bike!!!..then wat happends?! it gets jacked!!! but i do love my devinci | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a
from Croatia
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | strong freeride fork | | Weaknesses: | no SAG, easy bottoms out, unsensitive for small bumps, complicated rebound adjust | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Kona stinky 06 | | Bottom Line: | Used this fork on Stinky 06 as standard equipment and found out it's a junk. Replaced with 66rc2x that's perfect, state of the art fork! Try to avoid drop off tripple if you'r buying a bike or even thinking of buying this fork! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tesh parker
a Downhiller
from pagosa springs, co, usa
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any good dh trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Pedal & Powder | | Strengths: | Once hydrolic dampening is adjusted, it works like a dream. | | Weaknesses: | In order to adjust the rebound dampening a 30 inch long 12mm hex key must be used. It's, for all practical reason, impossible to get the special tool from Marzocchi, or your shop. So, I went to Home Depot and made my own. I took one 36 in threded rod, two 1/4 in nuts(note: 1/4 an inch does not = 12 mm; however, since it fits very closely and you will only be using finger pressure, it's ok.), and a lock washer. If you can't figure out what to do from here then you don't deserve to know. If you really need more info, feel free to email me. | | Bike Setup: | 06 Bighit fsr II | | Bottom Line: | Although the fork pissed me off to no end when I originally bought the bike, after custom making the tool, and adjusting the rebound dampening, the fork is superb. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Downhiller
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with Devinci Johnson | | Strengths: | This is a followup to the review just below. Still very solid. A good compromise between superfast responsive DH fork, and a freeride jumper. | | Weaknesses: | Factory setup not suited to most people. User's Manual has vague troubleshooting like "Bottoms: Check oil level" | | Similar Products Used: | 888 and Shiver | | Bike Setup: | Stock Devinci Johnson with the pivot on the chain stay. | | Bottom Line: | After more tweaking, here are some findings that may interest you. I test everything in a jump and drop park to get a quantified result, for example bottoms at 3, 4 or 5 foot flat drops. Jump launches well, or gets sucked. I use long stair cases to check packing.
DAMPER:
The (new in 2006) DOT daming adjustment works great, and is easy to do if you have the tool. You can eliminate the characteristic clunk as the fork extends quickly.
I made my adjusting tool from a 3 foot long threaded rod, with a broad turnbuckle nut. Bring a 12mm socket to Home Depot, and pick the turnbuckle nut that fits closest. I filed it down a bit to fit in the socket.
Release the air pressure in the right leg, remove the aluminium schreader cap, insert tool, turns easily with fingers. Couter-clockwise increases damping (ie slows rebound)
OIL:
Also note that I called Marzocchi about the oil level, which is not in the online listing. They said: "Use whatever level is in there".
I tried the same level with 10, 15 and 20W fork oils. Well after all, I'm back to 7.5W and I think it was only the oil levels were seriously wrong. The shock was too soft, and would bottom out harshly, and the slightest air pressure would make it too stiff, like a hard-nose.
I think the oil was too high, and did not account for some foaming volume. So it would bottom out on a real hydraulic lockup. Some air space is needed. Too much air space has a linear compression feeling. Less air space has an exponential compression feeling, also gives the impression of a smoother finish for large compressions. (this is the same principle or "gimmick" in the Manitou SPV forks, where the air chamber size is adjusted.)
I think I found the correct volume by doing this check.
- Ride bike, shake up the oil
- Release all air pressure
- Compress the fork all the way to the limit line marked "MIN". Use a windsufer tie down strap and cinch between the handle bar and lower crown. Keep releasing air.
- When fully compressed, press the air valves again. There should be no oil coming out. Mine did.
If oil does come out, you need to take a bit more out to get some air space to suit your riding.
Method 1)
- Release the fork, and add about 20-50 psi in each leg.
- Turn the bike upside down, with a bent coat hanger, press the air valves and take out about 5 tablesoons of oil from each leg.
Method 2)
- Release the fork. Release all air pressure. Remove the aluminum caps (they are not very tight, and should not be).
- Use a straw to suck out about an inch of oil. Hold it in the straw by blocking it with your tongue. Should be about 5 tablespoons.
You can do this feelgood check to visually see the oil level when compressed.
- With the caps off, you need to loosen the handle bar to slide out the spacer tube in the left leg.
- Compress the fork with the cinch strap. (Never unscrew the caps if the fork is already compressed).
- The oil should be an inch below the left leg. The right leg is not visible because of the spring's volume is not sqeezed in it.
BY THE WAY regarding oil.
When new, after just a couple of urban jumping rides, the right side oil is black from the paint that is worn off something inside. The paint flakes are as large as pepper from a shaker. Motorcycle shops have fork oils at a fifth the price of bike shops.
BY THE WAY regarding oil.
I'm not finished my tweaking, but I'm very satified. Quite responsive, but not as quick at a 888 (which can be too quick for small jump launching). Plenty of drop absorbtion capability without botttoming. I have 20W in the left leg, and 7.5W in the right. No real reason, other than that's where my trials are at at the moment.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Downhiller
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | on Devinci Johnson | | Strengths: | Light weight. Good compression damping with stock oil. Very effective adjustment of rebound damping using internal adjuster. | | Weaknesses: | Takes a while to setup. Stock settings don't seem to suit many people in these forums. The internal rebound adjuster needs a special tool that is probably unaccessible to most people. Oil levels in manual are in liters, not in inches from the top. And this for is OEM only, so it is not even in the online oil level listings. | | Similar Products Used: | 888 RC on a stinky, dorado on a M3 | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Devinci Johnson stock | | Bottom Line: | I don't think many people know that the 2006 model has slightly different guts that previous years. The internal rebound adjuster needs a special tool that is probably unaccessible to most people: 12mm hex key 30 inches long. I made one for $3 at home depot, using a threaded rod, and some nuts that I dremmeled to 12mm. The rebound now works like a dream. Plush, yet very positive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Norco Shore
a Weekend Warrior
from Middleton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Same as my other review. | | Weaknesses: | Harsh clanging at top out. | | Bike Setup: | 06 Norco Shore 3 | | Bottom Line: | Got my bike back from the local repair shop. Problem solved for the most part. If i pull up quite hard to wheelie the fork will make a slight sound, but overall not bad. During my ride the clanging is gone when travelling over the smallest of bumps. The oil used is said to be an 80W oil......which would be "thick as molasses." Thumbs down to Norco for billing the repair shop for the oil. If I had purchased the bike at this particular shop there would have been a bit of a discussion on me being charged for a cheap solution to a faulty product. However, the techs at the shop are top notch, so I wasn't going to get into it with something that was out of their control. I was always a huge Norco fan but after I purchased a Tacktic with the garbage Stance on it last year, and the Drop Off Triple on the Shore 3.......plus the billing charge for the oil, I'm not feeling the love anymore. I realize these components are from other companies, but I would have thought that the quick fix oil would have been a freebie.....even if was only ten bucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Norco Shore
a Weekend Warrior
from Middleton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good solid fork for the dollar with adequate travel. | | Weaknesses: | Makes loud clanging sound when topping out or pulling up on front tire. Quite rigid, but overall performs well. | | Bike Setup: | '06 Norco Shore 3 | | Bottom Line: | I purchased the bike in New Brunswick and I live in Nova Scotia which is a bit out of the way for sending back for repair. I opted to take the bike to a local shop in the valley to see what the hell is up with this fork. Last year I bought a Norco Tacktic with a Manitou Stance on it......and we all know how well those pieces of crap work, and I really didn't feel like getting burned twice in a row. Anyways, back to the Drop Off Triple. I dropped it off this morning at the repair shop where the tech tells me this is the third fork he has seen with the same problem. I was assured that the problem was not the rebound damper adjustment, but in fact the oil (7.5) was too thin. The story is that Marzocchi has an oil that is "thick as molasses" that will fix the problem. Seems that Marzocchi is aware of the problem and have hopefully fixed it. I'll be picking up the bike in few days.......fingers crossed I'll be a satisfied customer!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Saber Haghvirdy
a Downhiller
from Iran / Tehran
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Shafaq 3 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | Nope | | Weaknesses: | every thing if you want to adjust | | Similar Products Used: | The rebound you have to buy or make a special allen driver for it and each time open the forks sealing and it takes too much time and accuracy to insert the allen in the rebound adjuster .
Too much rebound it tops out harsh with a bad knocking sound a little less and you fork dies on the rebound and if you hit a down hill course with fast sharp impacts and bumps it will compress all the way down.
For preload too much air and its not sensitive to small bumps a little lower pressure and it will bottom out on 7 feet jumps.
| | Bike Setup: | Kona Stinky 06 | | Bottom Line: | If you want a fork to work don’t pay your hard earned bucks on it .
It will bust you out on every ride and on every adjust.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Downhiller
from West Linn, OR
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Schleyer - Whistler | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Friend didnt want it | | Strengths: | well, didnt snap or anything. the SSV feels alright. | | Weaknesses: | is a bit chunky. but theres far worse forks out there. | | Similar Products Used: | 66VF, 888R, Stance flow/static/kingpin, RS argyle. | | Bike Setup: | 06 Ibex Zone | | Bottom Line: | everyone needs to stop dissing this fork. would you rather pay 200 bucks more for your bike, only for it to come with a more expencive crappy fork like a JR T. the fork is good for what it is. if you need a decient fork and someone is selling one cheap, go ahead and pick it up. its not the most bomber of all forks, but it gets the job done. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nathan toney
a Downhiller
from reno nv usa
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | mammoth | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | travel (170mm), stiffness (double crown), and positive air adjustment. | | Weaknesses: | "thunking" feel at end of rebound and internal rebound adjustment. | | Similar Products Used: | dnm vts 150mm | | Bike Setup: | I like to set up my sag so I feel like I am "within the suspension" instead of feeling as if I am "on top of the suspension". | | Bottom Line: | Does anyone know how to put an elastomer in between the two metal plates in the internal of the fork legs to eliminate the "thunking" feel at the end of the rebound? And if so where to get them? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dana Scranton
a Weekend Warrior
from Kalispell, MT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Freight Train - Whistler | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Pressure adjust on both sides with pump. | | Weaknesses: | The shocks top out and make a pretty annoying thump - makes an expensive bike feel cheap. There is nothing you can do about it, either. The other issue is that it does not ride well on choppy trails. It seems to have good damping in the upper travel range, but once you get past the mid-point of travel it is hard. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi 888. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized BigHit II | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy a bike with this fork. Change it out and pay the upcharge for a better fork. The Marzocchi 888 is a good replacement. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
g arnold
a Downhiller
from whittier
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | none!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | tops out. no external rebound . blow threw the travel. | | Similar Products Used: | hopefully nothing | | Bike Setup: | take the fork off and put a 66 rc2X 170mm travel . you'll love it. | | Bottom Line: | change out the fork. you will be happy you did. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JOey greg
a Downhiller
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | whislter a-line and b line | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$280.00 | | Purchased At: | NSMB | | Strengths: | nice strong looking, plush, black and nice, | | Weaknesses: | both side air, too soft | | Similar Products Used: | junior t, stance kingpin, sherman slider | | Bike Setup: | 2002 norco vps shore | | Bottom Line: | these forks are just great i have these on my 02 shore and i just love them, its a really nice strong fork for the price i love it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scotto d
a Downhiller
from Sydney NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | frasers cycles | | Strengths: | travel, strength, rigid | | Weaknesses: | no external rebound adjusters, on air only | | Bike Setup: | 2006 norco manik, stock | | Bottom Line: | a good fork for beginners and has good travel but not recommened for more experienced riders wanting a great downhill fork i suggest a marzocchi 888. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay chunker
a Downhiller
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | woodlot | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | PINKBIKE(from a friend) | | Strengths: | Very strong, doestn bottom out easily like the 05 and 04 ones, better and stronger than the 05, 04 ones | | Weaknesses: | no rebound adjuster, both side air | | Similar Products Used: | manitou stance kingpin(rebuilt), Junior t | | Bike Setup: | Banshee Morphine | | Bottom Line: | its a really nice fork for that price range, my friend had it on for 250(CAD) but i got it for 180 and im really proud that i got this fork, the reason why i got this was because i had manitou stance kignpin and they really suck i got them rebuilt and the seals popped again and again
so i was really pissed off and i decided to get a marzocchi again | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joey Fusco
a Downhiller
from Sonoma, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | bike peddler | | Strengths: | can handle drops | | Weaknesses: | too many... | | Bike Setup: | 2006 kona stinky | | Bottom Line: | well my friend has the same fork and its pretty darn goood but mine rides like a ridgid fork untill u go off of at least a 3 ft drop and then it doesnt re bound all the way...pretty much im realy disapointed and im hopin marzocchi will do something about it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marco
a Downhiller
from USA
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | 7", seems strong, air on left side takes out some weight | | Weaknesses: | No adjustments except air, tops out everytime, maybe cuz i need more oil, rebound is too fast, small bump sensitivity isn't great | | Similar Products Used: | Junior T,Super T, | | Bike Setup: | Kona stinky '05 | | Bottom Line: | |
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