Marzocchi Shiver-is it really flexy?

deadpossum · Sep 7, 2005

Hello,

I have a few questions about the Marzocchi Shiver. It seems that a lot of people have an opinion about this fork, but I'm interested in input from folks who've actually used this fork as well as other models. My basis for comparision includes the older 7" monster T's and new Super T's.

How does the Shiver hold up in terms of flex, plushness, overall steering, small bump compliance, ability to take large impacts, etc.? Mainly I'm wondering if the flex associated with an inverted design is noticable on the trail, or more so with a "between-the-knees" type of test. Any info about this fork, specifically how it compares to older Monster's and new Super's would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

karpiel666 · Sep 7, 2005

its amazing

The shiver is an amazing fork, you dont notice the flex at all on the trail. it absorbs every little rock and still takes the big hits. mine also dose my laundry, cooks dinner and cleans the house. the other forks i have used are a 2001 monster t and a 2004 888rc. Its jsut as plush as the monster, just not as heavy.

Air Supplier · Sep 7, 2005

Don't get it, I have heard that the shiver has alot of flex. They say it is really scary, just get a monster T!

Lucky13 · Sep 7, 2005

I rode Shiver and it felt like **** compared to my monster. Yeah, it is plush and everything, but it flexy and twisty. Not confidence inspiring at all! There is a reason you see fewer and fewer inverted dc forks.

One that I rode was set up for DH only and was wicked plush, a bit more than I like. Its was eating everything, but large drops - forget about it! I haven't beat on SuperT, but I would imagine that it would be stiffer. Remember, there is nothing between lower crown and axel in Shiver.

jtc · Sep 7, 2005

My 2 Bits...

I've been running a Shiver for a couple of years on my Disco. I really like the fork. I'm running it with a pretty long stem and several spacers because I'm 6'4". This gives me a bunch of additional leverage on the fork, but I've never found flex to be a problem. I'm not hitting anything huge though, so someone who is pushing the fork alot harder may have some complaints. I feel it compliments my frame really well. If I was to pick another fork, it would probably be the 888. Best of luck.

.WestCoastHucker. · Sep 7, 2005

i was riding my homeboys bike with a shiver the other day and let me tell you...

i was riding a wheelie when all of a sudden this fat chick walked into my path and the front wheel got stuck between her butt cheeks. i tried to turn the bars to get away but the fork was so flexy, the tire wouldn't dislodge itself and i crashed. this would have never happened if his bike had a monster on it.....

kadeater · Sep 7, 2005

Shivers are sexy but also quite flexy

karpiel666 said:
The shiver is an amazing fork, you dont notice the flex at all on the trail. it absorbs every little rock and still takes the big hits. mine also dose my laundry, cooks dinner and cleans the house. the other forks i have used are a 2001 monster t and a 2004 888rc. Its jsut as plush as the monster, just not as heavy.

I have spent some time on a Shiver and it is an amazing feeling fork. The inverted design helps it soak up the little stuff very well and it will hold its own on the big drops. However There is a huge distance from the lower crown to the axel, and that allows for a lot of flex. Anyone who says they don't notice it hasn't ridden a non inverted fork much. Having two crowns, the brake arch, and an axel has proven to be much less flexy. This is why you are seeing fewer and fewer inverted forks on the market. I am currently running a 66RC and it is stiffer than the Shiver. If you want a dual crown I would suggest the Super T because it can feel super good with a little bit of tuning and you won't have the weight penalty of a Monster T. If you want to know my recipe for a super plush Super T let me know.

Andrewpalooza · Sep 7, 2005

.WestCoastHucker. said:
i was riding my homeboys bike with a shiver the other day and let me tell you...

i was riding a wheelie when all of a sudden this fat chick walked into my path and the front wheel got stuck between her butt cheeks. i tried to turn the bars to get away but the fork was so flexy, the tire wouldn't dislodge itself and i crashed. this would have never happened if his bike had a monster on it.....

i would replace that front wheel ASAP, you don't know what it could have come in contact with in the nether regions between a fat chick's butt cheeks. if you aren't careful you could get some sort of horrible disease.

bpatterson6 · Sep 7, 2005

kadeater said:
I have spent some time on a Shiver and it is an amazing feeling fork. The inverted design helps it soak up the little stuff very well and it will hold its own on the big drops. However There is a huge distance from the lower crown to the axel, and that allows for a lot of flex. Anyone who says they don't notice it hasn't ridden a non inverted fork much. Having two crowns, the brake arch, and an axel has proven to be much less flexy. This is why you are seeing fewer and fewer inverted forks on the market. I am currently running a 66RC and it is stiffer than the Shiver. If you want a dual crown I would suggest the Super T because it can feel super good with a little bit of tuning and you won't have the weight penalty of a Monster T. If you want to know my recipe for a super plush Super T let me know.

Shivers are great Forks! I have ridden my '02 Shiver now for 3 Years! I weigh in at about 220lbs When geared up. In my experience, the ONLY time Shivers are flexy is when you hold the tire between your legs and twist. If in fact Shivers are Flexy, you will never notice it! I have hit drops that go from 6' all the way up to 12' or more and NEVER EVER had a problem with Flex or even noticed Flex in the Fork. The reason you see less and less inverted forks has nothing to do with flex, it has to do with weight. I recently bought a brand new still in the box '04 World Cup Boxxer for my new Yeti 303 that I will be riding next year. I didnt buy the Boxxer because I wanted a stiffer fork. I bought it because I wanted a lighter race fork to get the weight of the bike in the middle 40's. Shivers are among the best forks out there IMO and I have never experienced what others say to be truth. I have ridden Inverted and non inverted forks for a long time and have NEVER noticed a difference in Flex. Good Luck.

FISHLEG · Sep 7, 2005

Shivers are more twisty than flexy. Any inverted fork is, except maybe an Avy.

I've never really noticed it unless I wad it up real hard. This can cause the whole fork to get twisted from the upper crown to the axle. Just loosen all teh crown bolts and she'll snap back straight.

It's the best feeling fork I've ever ridden. Awesome on the small bumps and won't skip a beat on the drops. To be honest, I actually like the way my Shiver feels vs my Monster on the drops. Both have stock springs and extra oil.

Only reason I'm running a Monster on my Big Hit is cuz my Monster is black, and I'm the biggest tard you'll ever meet, so I want my bike to match, like my argyle socks.

I like my Shiver so much I can't bring myself to sell it. She's boxed up and under my bed, or sometimes, in my bed.

Lucky13 · Sep 7, 2005

.WestCoastHucker. said:
. this would have never happened if his bike had a monster on it.....

word brotha!

Huck Banzai · Sep 7, 2005

Seems the definiton of flexy is subjective. I am 220, have ridden several shivers, they ALL QUITE OBVIOUSLY flexed.

Now I mean tortionally - as in grabbing the wheeel with your legs and turning the bars - if you dont think this is signficant, I cant help you. They are stiff as hell fore/aft - more so than most forks - but tortionally dont track well - stiffness in this respect is a HUGE issue. If you ride rock gardnes, rutted and rough trails you will notice it VERY quickly - the heavier you are and more agressive, the more noticeable. The wheel deflects from the path held by the bars signigicantly - often several degrees off point.

This is why Manitou tried the hex axle (and eventually gave up), why both Manitou and MZ stopped making the SC inverted forks (after reducing the travel...), ...why the Shiver is now discontinued, and why forks like the Hanebrink and Foes use enormous custom sized through axles.

Its ok if you like them, they are good forks, especially for smaller riders - but to dispute reality is such a common occurence when defending an opinion these days, it must be stopped! lol..

JBsoxB · Sep 7, 2005

wouldn't the fork stiffen up(like not as flexy) when it has used travel?

and i've heard that the flex is a good thing....through rock gardens and stuff?

finchy · Sep 8, 2005

heres the solution... just buy a 66rc or 888rc2x, or a travis triplecrown... then no flex and sick dampening!

dont wory abotu small bump complience its not as important as stiffness is

TheSherpa · Sep 8, 2005

JBsoxB said:
wouldn't the fork stiffen up(like not as flexy) when it has used travel?

and i've heard that the flex is a good thing....through rock gardens and stuff?

No, its not good. It gives the bars/steering a very "vague" feeling.

Miker J · Sep 8, 2005

Do tell...

kadeater said:
If you want to know my recipe for a super plush Super T let me know.

Fill us in.

I'm about to try 5 wt in the SSV leg and keep the HSCV leg at 7wt. I talked to some folks about porting out the SSV cart changing oil weight is an easy start.

Mike

Tracerboy · Sep 8, 2005

i've only heard excellent things about shivers never bad. i've never actually ridden one but i can give imput on the 888r. its a great fork. can be adjusted perfectly to do dh racing or hucking. works great and is super plush.

kadeater · Sep 8, 2005

Miker J said:
Fill us in.

I'm about to try 5 wt in the SSV leg and keep the HSCV leg at 7wt. I talked to some folks about porting out the SSV cart changing oil weight is an easy start.

Mike

What I have found to work very well is either Spectra Gold or Bel Ray motorcycle fork oil. I don't know why but it feels better than marzocchi oil. I weigh 160 lbs. And run 7 wt in the SSV leg and 10wt in the HSCV leg. If you want it to be a little softer go with the 5 and 7. I would say the key is to use one of the fork oils I mentioned. You can get them at your local motor cycle shop. The oil should be between 8 and 10 bucks a quart.

menachite · Sep 8, 2005

And if you really want the super dope black box Super-T you do the following:

Gut the left leg entirely, pull the pumping rod, and the SSV cartridge.

Put an air cap on that leg.

Take the right leg and put an HSCV cartridge in it fill it between 95-115mm from the top with Golden Spectro 10wt.

Now tune the spring stack via replacing springs with higher or lower weights depending on where you need more compression control.

That's one sick Super-T and you get about a pound of weight savings out of it.

Huck Banzai · Sep 8, 2005

kadeater said:
What I have found to work very well is either Spectra Gold or Bel Ray motorcycle fork oil. I don't know why but it feels better than marzocchi oil. I weigh 160 lbs. And run 7 wt in the SSV leg and 10wt in the HSCV leg. If you want it to be a little softer go with the 5 and 7. I would say the key is to use one of the fork oils I mentioned. You can get them at your local motor cycle shop. The oil should be between 8 and 10 bucks a quart.

Marzochhi Oil = Golden Spectro

Thats what they put in their forks, so I dont see how it can be better than itself.....

Marzocchi Shiver-is it really flexy?

deadpossum

karpiel666

Air Supplier

Lucky13

jtc

.WestCoastHucker.

kadeater

Andrewpalooza

bpatterson6

FISHLEG

Lucky13

Huck Banzai

JBsoxB

finchy

TheSherpa

Miker J

Tracerboy

kadeater

menachite

Huck Banzai

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