A new fork can only do so much. Fox has resurrected the brand with that same ethos. 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. The lower legs come apart just like a 34 would, by removing the nuts at the bottom of the legs with the exception of a C-clip on the lower leg. Join Singletrack From Only 12.50 1/2 . The GRIP is still on the best "entry level" damper you can buy. Fox 34 GRIP and Marzocchi Z2 RAIL are slightly different. Installation and setup on the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 was straightforward, as fork installation usually is. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 exceeded my expectations for a $500 fork. The tuning took a little while to dial in though. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The square crown will hit the down tube on a lot of gravel bikes if you turn it 90 degrees, and most gravel wheel hubs are 12mm axle, not 15mm. Foxs proprietary electronic controlled damping suite uses sensors on the fork and frame that monitor incoming impacts up to 1000 times a second. Here are our top picks for every mountain bike discipline It looks badass too, and you can get Factory shocks and dropper shafts to match (although they all tend to be a slightly different color up close). By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. Despite being designed and manufactured by Fox, the Bomber CR is possibly the least-expensive coil shock you would ever want to buy. The pricing makes it more competitive with RockShoxs Reba RL and cheaper than X-Fusions McQueen HLR too, although that gets a more adjustable and refined Roughcut damper. The latestFox 32SC forksare surprisingly tight tracking for a super-light fork. Quality>quantity for overall ride feel. Foxs fork families are named by their stanchion (upper tube) diameter in millimeters. 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. from 305.00 inc VAT. After buying a base model Specialized Stumpjumper, I was in the market for an upgrade to the Rockshox 35 SIlver TK fork that came stock. This also widens the useable adjustment range so you can add some low-speed compression clicks without your hands exploding on longer/harder descents, which was the problem on previous FIT forks. BOMBER Z2 Full Rebuild. Overview Chat Bike Members News. The damper is a simpler FIT GRIP with high and slow speed compression damping combined into one fork top dial, and there are no 40 style pressure compensation ports. The dial, and the air spring top cap, and the rebound adjuster knob are all plastic, a sign that the brand is trying to save some money where it can. If you compare it to Foxs flagship Factory Series 34, the Z2 is indeed about 200g heavier. They come in fewer aftermarket options too, helping Fox reduce cost compared to Factory forks despite comparable performance on the trail. Some use the same heavier top end and Grip damper as the Rythmn forks and are available to the public as an e-bike option. The EVOL air spring has been modified to give meaningful control from less than two inches of movement too so youre getting proper suspension on rooty, rocky trails that would rattle a rigid forked bike all over the place. The Z2s stiffness is on par with a Fox 34 and not once could I detect any more flex, even down steep, rocky trails. 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. That said, Marzocchi reckons theres sufficient adjustability to cover most riders and riding styles. 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. about 250 grams more than the comparable Fox 34. Asolo. The Sweep damper adjusts both low and high-speed compression too so it can get chokey on faster, more seismic segments if you use too much damping. Since then, the Z1 has been used by either myself or my girlfriend and it feels as good as it did when I first rode it. Keeping things simple, the Bomber Z2 is designed to offer solid, honest performance and ease of adjustability, while still being loaded with the latest 2020 tech. 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Once dialled though and itll happily chase down significantly more expensive Fox siblings or RockShox competition particularly where precision steering is key. That means fewer clicky dials, but all the on-trail performance of a stiff chassis and butter-smooth damper, from top to bottom. Yes, yes it is. In his review, Mick offered up this concise but accurate evaluation; the Bomber is a great fork, hands down. It also probably helped that the Z1 looked absolutely grouse with those dashing red lowers. Im not sure what to do. Bomber Z2. Has anyone of you tried or succeded with such a Frankenstein Bomber before? Legendary Italian fork brand Marzocchi was brought back to life by Fox last year with the 36- and 40-derived Z1 and 58 forks. there are many among us who understand and can take full advantage of a thousand dollar plus superfork with all the bells and whistles. TF Tuned Mount Kit 12.7mm - M8. Marzocchi Bomber 58 27.5 Fork $1,049.00 (3) Fox 34 Float SC Factory FIT4 29 2022 $1,019.00 (3) Ohlins RXF36 m.2 Trail Air 29 Fork $1,099.00 SAVE 19 % MSRP $1,350.00 (4) Fox 34 FLOAT Performance Elite FIT4 29 2022 $869.00 Fox 40 FLOAT Factory Grip 2 27.5 2022 $1,819.00 (2) Fox 38 Float Performance GRIP 29 2022 $989.00 Ohlins RXF38 m.2 Air TTX18 Fork Something I did appreciate were the steel lower nuts that tie the air spring and damper to the lowers. Best Bike Trails | Simple as that. Foxs cam-locking skewer is arguably the best around, with a broad, finger-friendly spade-ended lever and reliable smoothness. Despite the simplicity, both the compression and rebound assemblies use multi-valve shim stacks that can be custom-tuned if the need arises. Under Fox Racing Shox ownership, Marzocchis forks and shocks have benefitted from existing and time-proven Fox technologies. The design for the Z1 as a whole though, was not completely original. 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. The Z2 fork retails for $500. It took us a couple of rides and a bit of spacer surgery to get the Z2 properly dialled but even in stock form, its an impressively controlled and predictable fork as long as you add more pressure than recommended. Long live fun. 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. Its still a smoothly consistent fork though and a valid alternative to the current RockShox SID for affordable race and light trail duties. JavaScript is disabled. Well get into how it performs in a minute, but first, lets do a bit of an overview on the Z2. They were zero-bullshit and to-the-point. That being said, these products have a lifetime and will deteriorate over time and may require service to maximize its performance and functionality. Fork- Basic Maintenance. And cheaper. While you're saving up, try rebuilding your fork. It feels a little more sticky, and small and fast bumps are more noticeable but by only a little, and Id say for many of us, its negligible. Service Procedures. The lightest Fox XCO fork uses cutaway lower legs for a narrower stance that reduces crown and brace width and mass. At the 34 level, the z2 is supposed to be a bit stiffer. Instead, a 4mm hex bolt in the end of the axle allows you to tighten or loosen the axle after youve clamped the lever in place. So you will probably also need a new front wheel. >>> Best mountain bike suspension forks 2019. It comes from a Japanese developed, ultra-slick and slippery molybdenum sulphide coating which Fox claim reduces friction and improves longevity. But is the Z2 just a cheaper Fox fork? I like the Fox a little more because it feels better off the beginning of its stroke. Use a 4mm Allen hex to adjust the engagement of the Z2's 15mm QR axle. I smile every time I look at this fork. Marzocchis whole brand identity was centered around reliability and durability, function-over-weight. Meaning that it is the thicker wall stanchions. The 2020 Marzocchi Bomber Z2 is available in Australia for $799, which we think is mighty impressive given both the forks heritage and feature list. The 38mm legs place the fork in between Fox's 36 fork and their 40 downhill fork. I believe, that your only damper options are going to be the rhythm grip damper or the rail damper which are very similar. We've 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. If the tapered adapter adds this then you are out of luck adding more to the travel of the fork without consequences. It is heavier and more expensive than the obvious RockShox Yari and expensive compared to more adjustable X-Fusion and Suntour opposition. The differences arent just limited to the narrower cutaway stance gains either, as the 8mm diameter Step Cast damper shaft also gives a more sensitive, adjustable feel. Marzocchi's 34-millimeter Z2, raises that bar, probably by another ten percent, with pinpoint steering accuracy in situations where I was using most or all of the fork's travel to find a line. But after a while I kinda embraced the budget vibe. Focus on whats important having fun on your bike. This simple rotating disc valve is czar of the Yari's compression damping system. No doubt, there are many among us who understand and can take full advantage of a thousand dollar plus superfork with all the bells and whistles. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 at Chain Reaction Cycles for 420.99. If not metal, Id at least like to see a harder type of plastic with higher glass fiber content. From what I can tell, the Bomber Z1 is just a rebranded Fox 36 Rhythm with a slightly reshaped arch. The only thing I couldnt do straight out of the box was use my 180mm brake rotor, so I added a 20mm post adapter since the Z2 mounts are designed for 160mm rotors. So i currently have a budget full sus (subtour xcr32 on the front and xfusion e1 on the front) and i recently found out that there is a huge bike park in my city. Find out more about how we test. What I do know that can help you, the z2 shares the same air spring as the 34 rhythm. The resulting oil flow control - particularly during bigger, faster impact sequences - mean its the best Fox damper for hard-hitting gravity warriors. Similar to the Z1, I ran the Z2 with the sweep dial near the 2 oclock position. Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article. At the 34 level, the z2 is supposed to be a bit stiffer. Both the Performance Elite (FIT4 damper) and Performance (basic GRIP damper) versions share the same chassis as the Factory just without the Kashima coating. Whereas the Z1 fork borrows the GRIP damper directly from Fox, the RAIL damper found inside the Z2 is unique to Marzocchi. He spent a few years working in bike shops and warehouses before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. The fork is designed solely for 26-inch wheels, but what dirt jump bike comes in anything other than 26-inch, anyway. 18.00 inc VAT. 26". But Im skipping all that this time. The range for my riding weight recommends setting the Z2 up somewhere between 72 and 82psi. It does look as cheap as it is. Marzocchi Z2 vs Rockshox Revelation RC. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 exceeded my expectations for a $500 fork. You can hit anything as hard as you want. You get Foxs 15QR lever though which is a definite plus compared to the awkward lever on the Z1. The Rail damper is an all-new take on Marzocchis classic open-bath design, with no separation between generous amounts of damping oil and the air in the leg. Fully open is where youll normally want it though, flowing very smoothly over roots, rocks and bumps but maintaining control impressively well over bigger, successive impacts once youve got the spring rate and pressures right. MRP Simplifies Tuning on the All-Mountain Raven Mountain Bike Fork Ohlins RXF36 M.2 Coil Fork: Performance Comes with Patience [Review]. Sweet performing fork with simple, effective adjustments. The top end is the heavier 6000 series alloy set up from Foxs 34 Rhythm fork, which takes weight up to 2kg (4.4lbs). Reasonably light and more controlled than current RockShox SID, Not as light or controlled as 32 Step Cast, Surprisingly significant, fully adjustable control boost for gravel bikes, Heavier than Lauf (but actually controlled), Unsure on XC or trail? Plus compared to more adjustable X-Fusion and Suntour opposition benefitted from existing and time-proven technologies... Consume alcohol for XCO performance existing and time-proven Fox technologies Fox fork 15QR lever though which is a plus. If not metal, Id at least like to see a harder type of plastic with higher glass content... The range for my riding weight recommends setting the Z2 's 15mm QR axle, Marzocchis forks are. Be the rhythm GRIP damper directly from Fox, the Z2 just a rebranded 36. Yari and expensive compared to more adjustable X-Fusion and Suntour opposition for 26-inch wheels, first. Bomber is a definite plus compared to the awkward lever on the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 exceeded my expectations a! 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From a Japanese developed, ultra-slick and slippery molybdenum sulphide coating which Fox reduces.
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