The Rail damper's compression dial offers a useful range of tuning options. Most forks now have thru-axels up front, and if your bike doesn't have a tapered head tube, I'm going to assume you also don't have a thru-axels. In reality, the new Z2 is essentially a shrunken-down Z1. Remote Info. That isnt a big deal, but we do wonder how the rebound dial will hold up in the long run, since they tend to take a beating down at the bottom of the fork. To make sure he rarely sleeps and to fund his custom tandem habit, hes also penned a handful of bike-related books and talks to a GoPro for YouTube, too. I had the z2 and now a 36 performance. RockShox forks overview By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. The Z2 might not be the lightest fork, and it might not be the most advanced, but its affordable to buy, cheap to own, and it just keeps on ticking. Its a proper Bomber. That means fewer clicky dials, but all the on-trail performance of a stiff chassis and butter-smooth damper, from top to bottom. It means the Z2 uses essentially the same bigger-negative volume EVOL air spring as our test-winning, 1,000+ Fox Factory 34 inside a chassis with the familiar 'M' on the fork arch. Contact your local dealer or Marzocchi for repair. For more reference, the Z2 costs 500 bucks and can be purchased directly from marzocchi.com while the 34 Factory goes for around $900 and must be purchased through a dealer. The review youre about to read will be simple and straightforward. Built to handle big days of trail and XC with a range of travel options in 27.5 or 29" wheel sizes. All rights reserved. The GRIP is still on the best "entry level" damper you can buy. By signing up you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Stiff 34mm chassis for precise steering and traction, Low maintenance Rail Damper for intuitive compression adjustment, Simple rebound adjustment for the set-and-forget rider, Travel options from 140-150mm (27.5), 100-140mm (29), AVAILABLE COLORS Matte blackTRAVEL: 100mm, 120mm, 130mm (29"only), 140mm, 150mm (27.5" only)WHEEL: 27.5", 29"RAKE: 44mm, 51mm (29"only)AXLE: 15QRx110DAMPING: RAILSPRING: FLOATSTANCHIONS: 34mm Black AnodizingSTEERER: Tapered Aluminum. Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; YouTube; Main Menu Main Menu . Heres how it works. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. MRP Simplifies Tuning on the All-Mountain Raven Mountain Bike Fork Ohlins RXF36 M.2 Coil Fork: Performance Comes with Patience [Review]. He spent a few years working in bike shops and warehouses before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. It turned out to work brilliantly though (the original 34 Rhythm fork was a game-changer for affordable Fox), and the grapevine was soon alive with stories of Fox racers and engineers running GRIP dampers in Factory forks. You also get a recommended pressures sticker on the leg. Yeah true, definitely makes sense but im not trying to shell out another 700 dollars on top of what i sell the bike for just yet. In between is a large column of damping oil that partially fills the right-hand stanchion tube. All the same FIT4 damper technology is present and correct to give open, medium and firm settings via the main lever, plus extra low-speed fine adjustment in open mode. The Revelation, however, beats the Rhythm, with equal suppleness everywhere else and a lower asking price (if you can manage to find one on the interweb). Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. The chassis is based upon the popular Fox 34 Float fork, with both forks utilising 34mm diameter stanchions. The Bomber: low on frills, high on thrills. Id actually rather have a Bomber Z2 than a more expensive Fox 34 due to its stiffer construction and the knock-on effect this lack of flex has on the forks predictability and consistency. 2020 Grip Remote Installation. Fox has resurrected the brand with that same ethos. As a result, our first drop and jump set-up session regularly saw us smashing straight through the travel unless we half-closed the Rail damper, but that risked jolts on sudden slap impacts. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 ought to appeal to riders who are rough around the edges, who dont need a lot of bells, and who dont want to service often or fuss with complicated steps. There arent any foam rings under the dust wipers when the Z2 is new, but they can be installed when its serviced. Everything you need to know about the current range of Fox and Marzocchi suspension forks. Thats about 100g more than Foxs Performance Series 34, and about 70g more than the Revelation. Join Singletrack From Only 12.50 1/2 . The Marzocchi Bomber Z2, Bomber Z1, . Two opposing camps will probably weigh in on Marzocchi's call to abandon external end-stroke and high-speed damping adjustments in the interest of economy and simplicity. They now come with black stanchions too, rather than the silver originals and they feel great on the trail. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page. If the tapered adapter adds this then you are out of luck adding more to the travel of the fork without consequences. Both the Performance Elite (FIT4 damper) and Performance (basic GRIP damper) versions share the same chassis as the Factory just without the Kashima coating. The Bomber Z1 is a 36mm crown fork, there will be both 29er /27.5+ with travel ranging from 130mm to 170mm and 27.5" versions where the travel available will be 150mm to 180mm. They come in the widest range of travel and axle options, and you also get the option of pro gloss orange colorway for a truly Factory look. The latestFox 32SC forksare surprisingly tight tracking for a super-light fork. The best mountain bike forks will add speed and control to your riding. These forks cover everything from cross country to Downhill and everything in between. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Fork Matte All Black 29 In. I'm one of them, but Marzocchi just proved that I don't have to. The fork should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. My only small gripe is with those few little plastic bits, which, again, as long as they hold up, dont affect the performance of the fork whatsoever. The top end is the heavier 6000 series alloy set up from Foxs 34 Rhythm fork, which takes weight up to 2kg (4.4lbs). That price puts it a fair whack cheaper than a Fox 34 Performance Elite Series fork ($1,189), and it also undercuts the RockShox Revelation RC ($999). All rights reserved. Without a discount, I would not even think about it and grab a z2. Privateer racers will be pleased that they are also available in a more affordable Performance version with the same lightweight structure but a simpler, yet still very effective, GRIP damper. The fork takes mid- and big sized hits truly excellently. While you're saving up, try rebuilding your fork. Retailing at $499, less than their flagship Z1. You can set your preferred closing angle by unbolting and rotating the toothed chuck in the fork leg. The fork is noticeably stiffer fore-aft than a Fox 34 (and thats coming from a 72kg rider). The current 34 still cant compete with the RockShox Pike when things start to get rowdy though and recent Pike upgrades make that even more obvious. For full warranty information, please clickhere. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 at Chain Reaction Cycles for 420.99. Featherlight Fun on the Rigid Enve Mountain Fork [Review]. My bike isnt tapered but that is no issue as i can get an adaptor. Given that those glory years started two decades ago and tailed off ten years later its perhaps not surprising that Fox largely used their existing economy range as the base for the new Bombers instead. Fox lists all of the technical specs here, including recommended parts, oil type, and everything else. Theres no sealed cartridge, no bladder to bleed, no shaft clamps required. Thanks alot! I emerged at the bottom end with a fully functional fork. That price puts it a fair whack cheaper than a Fox 34 Performance Elite Series fork ($1,189), and it also undercuts the RockShox Revelation RC ($999). Personally love my new z2. You wind the dial counter-clockwise to decrease compression damping, and clockwise to increase compression damping, all the way to a full lockout. When mountain bike suspension first hit the ground, things were simpler. About getting a new bike, if i could sell this one for around 800 dollars then i would be happy to add another 600 or 700 to get one for 1500 but that seems to still get me a budget full sus. $519.00. Guy Kesteven is Bike Perfect's technical editor-at-large. Similar to the Z1, I ran the Z2 with the sweep dial near the 2 oclock position. The castings for the lowers are clean, the dropouts are nicely done, as is the M-shaped brake arch. It's got lots of support for pedaling and cornering, and it never goes all the way to the O-ring unless you make a hugemistake. The Bomber Z2 forks share Fox's air volume spacers and the Rhythm 34's air piston assembly. Weve always been massive fans of the 34 Rhythm as the cheaper, thicker-walled 6000 series alloy stanchions are a lot stiffer than the lighter 7000 series tubes of the Performance- and Factory-level forks. Im not sure what to do. The EVOL air spring is backed up with an additional chassis air bleed to cope with the longest descents and altitude changes. There arent any indicators, so riders will have to remember where they like their settings, but its not hard. I have soft fat rubber tyres on wide rims for that. Why you can trust BikePerfect The Z2s stiffness is on par with a Fox 34 and not once could I detect any more flex, even down steep, rocky trails. The Fox 36 Performance Elite version saves some money if you dont fancy gold stanchions but want the same damper options and overall performance which makes it a potential best buy. Once dialled though and itll happily chase down significantly more expensive Fox siblings or RockShox competition particularly where precision steering is key. And the Z2 is a little smaller in stature with 34mm anodised alloy stanchions, and is available in 100-150mm travel options, in both 27.5 and 29" sizing, with Boost spacing (only) and 44mm or 51mm offset. Travel is now limited to 130-150mm (27.5in) or 130-140mm (29er), which is a good thing as flex was definitely an issue at the longest 160mm extension of older 34s. At that price and with an impressively tough chassis, it looks a bargain for DH racing or bike park use, and the only potential no go is that theyre only currently available in a 27.5-inch wheel format. My first ride felt too harsh at 85psi, so I dropped the pressure to 78psi, and then finally settled on around 72psi with one spacer, right in Marzocchis recommended range. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Yea making a 500$ purchase of a new fork wouldnt really make sense then. Factory forks are Foxs flagships, fully loaded with either FIT GRIP2 or FIT4 damper technology inside super slick Kashima coated stanchions. Both are noticeably better than a budget fork and you can always change travel within reason. The left fork leg houses a standard Fox Float air spring, while the Rail damper in the right leg features a sweep-type, detent-less (non-indexed) low-speed compression lever up top and 17 clicks of rebound adjustment on the bottom of the leg. Normally, I go off on tangents and write overly long introductions before even talking about the actual product Im reviewing. FIT4 damper forks are designed more for all-round use with a three-position - Open (max smoothness), Medium (cornering), Firm (climbing) - low-speed compression lever. They reset the benchmark again with the hard-hitting, hench-legged 36 and then went on to reset stiffness standards in DH racing with the 40. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The nearly 430mm axle to crown height will probably disturb the static geometry of a fixed fork bike too, although thats less obvious when sagged. about 250 grams more than the comparable Fox 34. Part of the price reduction can be spotted in the adjusters, which are all made from plastic rather than the alloy dials youll find on a Fox fork. Weve got a 29in Bomber Z2 test fork in at the moment thats set to 130mm of travel, and it weighs just a lick over 2kg with a full-length steerer tube. The latest FIT GRIP2 damper with Variable Valve Control gives a more open and fluid ride to improve the grip and comfort of this previously masochistically hardcore fork choice. Not as much as you might think. But like someone else said, if I was you I'd put that money into a newer bike with newer standards, like thru axle and tapered head tube. Im thinking if i will go on with this plan itll be around christmas, maybe early 2022. Simply drain out the old oil, and refill with fresh oil until youre about 10-15mm from the top of the stanchion, before threading the top cap and compression assembly back on. The Z2's chassis is based upon Fox's 34 forks, with heavier stanchion tubes and a restyled lowers. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | You can get the Z2 in the matte black you see here or, because it's Marzocchi, there's also a glossy fire engine red. If only Marzocchi had come out with the Bomber Z2 first. With a quick test around the neighborhood after I installed the fork, it felt divey, so for my first ride started at 85psi with one volume spacer. Second, because you can also buy one off the rack for $500 USD and avoid the fuss of purchasing grey market or take-off merchandise. Hatched in Yorkshire he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 should be of interest to any rider that just wants to get out and ride, whatever their age. We tested out and reviewed the 2019 Bomber Z1 last year, and came away thoroughly impressed by the forks control and sensitivity, especially given its sharp pricing relative to its big brother, the Fox 36. - Asse passante: 9 Foxs cam-locking skewer is arguably the best around, with a broad, finger-friendly spade-ended lever and reliable smoothness. The Z2 nearly matches the performance of forks that cost hundreds more by getting rid of aesthetic frills and making the fork simpler. Get a new bike as it sounds like your current one likely needs more than just a fork. The Z2 also gets one-piece magnesium lowers, but theyre treated to their own unique M-arch design. Its nice to see Bombers again. The 34mm-stanchioned fork has the Rail damper, operated by a sweeping dial on the top right. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Marzocchi products are designed and engineered to withstand some of the harshest riding conditions. Even though the new Marzocchi is designed and manufactured by Fox, the products are specifically made under the same principles that made Marzocchi the suspension powerhouse it was in its heyday. Fits Fox 34 Rhythm & Marzocchi Bomber Z2 forks. Marzocchi is offering the 2020 Bomber Z2 for both 27.5in and 29in wheelsizes, and you can choose from 100, 120, 130, 140 & 150mm travel options. At 2.8kg (6.2lb) even in 27.5-inch, it is relatively weighty and the price is very high as theres no economy option unless you shift onto Marzocchi branding with the Bomber 58. Based upon the popular Fox 34, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada precision steering is key passante., and clockwise to increase compression damping, all the way to a full lockout stanchions! Do n't have marzocchi bomber z2 vs fox 34 new bike as it sounds like your current one likely needs more than the comparable 34! Fork is noticeably stiffer fore-aft than a budget fork and you can set your closing... Simple and straightforward, and clockwise to increase compression damping, all on-trail! The dial counter-clockwise to decrease compression damping, and everything else & amp ; ;. & amp ; Marzocchi Bomber Z2 forks share Fox 's air piston assembly is... Than their flagship Z1 can set your preferred closing angle by unbolting rotating... 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