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Mountain Speed
SpeedBombs
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Submitted by
serge
a Cross Country Rider
from santa cruz, cali Date Reviewed: November 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | cambriabike.com | | Strengths: | MUCH better spring rate than stock, more travel | | Weaknesses: | doh- a bit pricey | | Similar Products Used: | speedsprings in my ol' judy, x-hvy marzocchi springs | | Bike Setup: | M2, '98 Z2 a-bomb, xtr/xt/avid/bontrager/raceface/nukeproof hubs w rhyno lites | | Bottom Line: | These springs work great. much better spring rate for x hvy kit compared to x-hvy zoke springs! (for my 225 lbs). Can't really tell that there is more travel, but that's probably a good ting. Agree completely w/ what said in posts below- can run lower oil height and get more linear action, less bottoming and bobbing all around! makes the A-bomb even better. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin S
a Cross Country Rider
from Venice, CA USA Date Reviewed: June 24, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | the ones pointing down | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Increased travel (duh). Increased spring rate (double duh). Increased travel and rate means you can lower the oil level without bottoming out. | | Weaknesses: | Reduced bushing overlap theoretically means faster bushing wear and more stress on the fork. But it's only reduced by 10mm, and if you run a lot of sag like I do, it shouldn't be an issue. Minor loss of small bump plushness. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock medium springs. | | Bike Setup: | Element Race with 1998 Z2 BAM/1999 Atom Bomb. | | Bottom Line: | Worthy upgrade. I'm surprised there's only one other review here.
The stock medium springs are very soft, even though I'm 15 pounds under the max weight range. Marzocchi addresses this with a stock oil level that makes the spring rate ramp up very quickly to alleviate bottoming. The result is a very soft fork on small bumbs and a very firm one on big hits, with lots of bobbing and dive in between.
The medium Speedbombs are firmer than even the heavy Marzocchi's. You'll get less bobbing, but -less- travel at the same speed over the same bump because the rate is higher. Increasing maximum travel doesn't mean you'll automatically use it all. But if you drop the oil level near the minimum level (I run mine at 48-49mm) the spring rate won't ramp up until the very end of the travel.
The result with this kit is that the action becomes more linear and more consistent over a wider range of bumps, with just enough rate jump at the end to keep it from bottoming too often. It'll be less active when you want it to be, and more active when you need it to be.
On the trail this makes for a little more efficiency while climbing, less brake dive, less of a tendency for the bike to nose over while dropping down off a ledge, rock, etc., but more plushness at high speeds over nasty terrain. In other words, a better working fork. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross-Country Rider
from Boston Date Reviewed: September 5, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | strength | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | a bomb | | Bottom Line: | These springs came with aluminium stacks to increase travel 10mm.What a difference.The original Medium bomber springs were good but after awhile they became a little mushy.These new springs don't pogo around nearly as much on climbs.I really recommend these springs for some one getting a little tired of there super active bomber.I haven't noticed any handling problems with the new extra travel.The fork is better than new.I also use 10 weight motorcycle fork oil.I really believe my over all speed is increased up and down.The Atom Bomd fork has always been excellent to me but now -------Awesome!!!!! | Overall Rating: |
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