I had the z2 and now a 36 performance. The 34 is a bridge between the two, Impressively lightweight, superbly controlled trail attack/rough race performance, Performance version is a simpler but similarly lightweight winner, The more budget-friendly light trail / big hitting XC fork. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2, Bomber Z1, . Sure, this is principally due to thicker wall 6000 alloy stanchions tubing but it works. First Look | RockShox Flight Attendant now available as an upgrade kit, Flows Fresh Produce | New Continental tyres, clever tools & fresh kit from POC, Marzocchi launches Bomber Air Shock with crooked piggyback reservoir, The 2023 Fox 36 claims to be lighter and more durable with new crown, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 at Chain Reaction Cycles for 420.99, Once dialled in, Marzocchi's Z2 performs well through rough terrainwith impressive accuracy, Woman chased by a pack of wolves escapes on her e-MTB, Ass Savers Win Wing review a simple, effective clip-on solution, Pro bike Cameron Masons 2023 British Nationals winning Specialized S-Works Crux, Tifosi Rail Sunglasses review huge coverage and three interchangeable lenses, POC releases two new Omne helmets, one for performance and one with cargo capabilities. With deep roots in the foundation of performance MTB suspension, Marzocchi shocks and forks keep you riding longer with minimal maintenance. Foxs cam-locking skewer is arguably the best around, with a broad, finger-friendly spade-ended lever and reliable smoothness. Likewise, the 110x15mm dropouts arent quite the same as what youll find on a Fox fork the QR15 lever is the same, but the threaded nut isnt clocked like the Fox version. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 at Chain Reaction Cycles for 420.99. 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. There are no indexing clicks - similar to the original. A superb value-for-money proposition if you set it up correctly. Given the very linear feel we took off the top cap expecting to find no volume spacers but it actually comes with two pre-fitted (plus two in the box). Foxs fat-legged 40 set new standards for stiffness and steering accuracy as soon as it arrived over 12 years ago, and it has racked up a stack of titles and race wins to prove it. Marzocchi Z2 is slightly heavier but stiffer and cheaper than the Performance version, Excellent accurate, reasonably light chassis in loads of formats, Now backed up with equally excellent GRIP2 or FIT4 dampers, Marzocchi Z1 provides a Rhythm level equivalent, Even stiffer big hit single crown performance with Foxs excellent damping tech, Extremely precise line and damping control, Very expensive and no Fox budget options, just Marzocchi, Fox derived GRIP damper and EVOL air spring guts for smooth big hit control, Less mid stroke support than lighter, cheaper RockShox Yari, Fit and forget forks with impressively long service intervals, Predictably controlled, fit and forget suspension action, Stiff structure gives accurate steering without flutter and binding, Relatively heavy and not as supple as Fox, Compression damping needs situation specific use, A bargain for 27.5" wheeled DH racing or bike park use, Nice to see brands offer a dirt jump fork. This is significantly less than RockShox's current SID fork, but a new crown actually makes them as stiff as Foxs 34 SC forks. There's a lot to talk about. Heres how it works. $519.00. Z2 specific bushings are not replaceable. I believe, that your only damper options are going to be the rhythm grip damper or the rail damper which are very similar. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Real Bike Weights from PB Editors, Shimano Consolidates Entry- to Mid-Level Groupsets With New CUES Drivetrains, Porsche Takes Complete Ownership of Greyp, First Look: Reeb's New Steel Enduro Racer is Partly 3D-Printed, GT Becomes a "Stand-alone Business" as it Returns to Southern California, [Updated] Revenue Round Up: Shimano Breaks Sales Records & More from Q4 Reports, nsmb.com/articles/manitou-mezzer-pro-suspension-fork-ridden, www.ridefox.com/family.php?m=bike&family=34s, forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/new-2019-rockshox-charger-rc-cartridge-style-self-bleeding-damper-1089874.html, www.srsuntour.us/collections/enduro-all-mountain. Step Cast (SC) 32 and 34 forks use cutaway lower legs with a pronounced step in the casting. 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. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). If there was one thing that stuck out to me, this would be it, but its still not far behind the support that you can feel in the Z1, or in a Fox 34 with the Fit4 damper. However, the Z2 uses cheaper and heavier 6000-series alloy upper tubes instead of the 7000-series alloy found on the 34. 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. 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. I have soft fat rubber tyres on wide rims for that. They come in fewer aftermarket options too, helping Fox reduce cost compared to Factory forks despite comparable performance on the trail. 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. March 12, 2022, 7:53 p.m. jgshinton Posts: 27 Joined: Jan. 5, 2021 Copyright a360media 2023. Marzocchi Z2 vs Rockshox Revelation RC. The 40 still sits at the top of their gravity family, but the latest range covers every type of off-road riding right down to the AX gravel fork. For this test, Mtbr installed a 130mm travel Marzocchi Bomber Z1 on a Scott Spark 900 29er that came stock with a 120mm Fox 34 Float Performance Elite. Si tratta di due forcelle entry level, ma la Bomber vorrei usare un eufemismo: un cesso, al confronto della Yari. RockShox forks overview Bath Just like back in the day, removing the right side top cap reveals the damper oil, in all its glory. 43.95 inc VAT. And cheaper. Fox 36 Float NA2 Air Shaft Assembly - 2019+. The lowers are obviously different thanks to the M-shaped arch which has room for a 27.5x2.8in or 29x2.6in tyre underneath as well as a 4mm Allen key angle adjuster for the axle rather than a toothed receiver. I have ridden a Fox 34 with a Fit 4 damper and a Pike Select, . You also get a recommended pressures sticker on the leg. In the other leg youve got Marzocchis own RAIL damper, which offers adjustable rebound damping via a single dial at the bottom, with an adjustable compression/lockout dial up top. Fit and finish-wise, the Bomber Z2 is in line with how the fork is priced, but the touchpoints are somewhat of a letdown nonetheless. Bike Magazine has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. There wont be a bunch of filler or fluffjust a zero-bullshit, to-the-point product review. This insert can also be replaced if you strip the thread but weve never actually had to do that. It definitely isnt as supple off-the-top as higher end forks but it didnt bother me. Downsides? Marzocchi's air-volume spacers may be green, but they, and the Z-2's air spring are identical to those found in Fox 34 forks. Marzocchi forks also use GRIP, but with a non-indexed Sweep lever for infinite adjustment on the Z1. Nice review! Performance forks are the most confusing in the Fox range. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fits squarely in the trail bike category, whereas the Z1 takes on enduro and freeriders alike. Heres how it works. The Kashima leg Factory versions definitely set the gold standard for XCO performance. 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. After every ride. Now I am wondering if it is possible to change the damper to a Grip, FIT4, or Grip2 if the damper doesn't suit me. Please, It appears you're using an old version of Internet Explorer which is, tested out and reviewed the 2019 Bomber Z1 last year, 34mm diameter butted & anodised 6000-series alloy stanchions, 100, 120, 130, 140 & 150mm travel options, Adjustments: Air pressure, air volume, rebound, low-speed compression & lockout. For the money this fork is hard to beat. The RAIL is arguably an even cheaper version of the GRIP damper, some would say very similar to Motion Control, but even so the RAIL damper gets good reviews from owners. Continual evolution means the latest Factory options come in FIT GRIP2 or FIT4 damper options with travel up to 180mm in 27.5-inch or 170mm in 29-inch. Asolo. All rights reserved. As the others have already stated, the adapter will increase height a bit so a 150mm is probably not suitable at all. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. *NOTE* - This ai If you're looking to increase or decrease the travel in your 2018+ Fox Float 34 Rhythm or Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork, then just snag an air shaft and swap it out in your fork! Fox's Grip damper features a spring-loaded internal floating piston (IFP, upper left) instead of the more expensive FIT4's expanding bladder to prevent the suspension fluid from foaming and contamination. Service intervals are also extended considerably as the damping oil acts as a seal lubricant, too. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. 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. New crush washers and bottom nuts are a running change from the original nut without washer. Fox also recently bought the Marzocchi name from the Italian company renowned for their super smooth Bomber series forks. Il trattamento degli steli anodizzato nero. There arent any indicators, so riders will have to remember where they like their settings, but its not hard. 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). One nick is that the brake caliper post mounts are dedicated to 160-millimeter brake rotors. 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. 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 most recent comeback fork from Marzocchi is a properly affordable fit and forget performer in true Bomber style. Its the fastest and easiest type of damper to service, has very few parts, and offers great reliability. Two years ago, Marzocchi set me up with a new Bomber Z1 to check out, the re-emerging brands renaissance fork after Fox gave the angry M a shot of adrenaline to wake it up. The topic 'Marzocchi Z2 vs Rockshox 35 Gold' is closed to new replies. Aiming to simplify the internals while also making maintenance easier, the RAIL damper completely separates the compression and rebound piston assemblies. Fox performance vs bomber z2 is very similar performance. Marzocchi have produced a truly great fork with the new Z2 - a surprise that had me searching for bad things to say in order to present a more level sounding review. The Factory 34 SC comes in 27.5 or 29-inch wheel formats with two color options and either two-position fork top damping or two-position remote control damping. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 exceeded my expectations for a $500 fork. 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. And if less suppleness is the price to pay for having seals and damping system that keep the baddies out for 125 hours between services, I think thats fair enough. It seems fitting that Fox chooses to list price but not weight for the Bombers, and weight but not price on for the Fox Factory forks. How much travel does your bike currently have? If it did fade, I didn't notice - the Marzocchi had enough performance left in the bank to keep the rubber side down and my confidence in thegreen. 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. Recent changes include a spread of what was originally their simplest, cheapest GRIP damper tech right through the price and performance range, a revamped super light yet stiff XC race fork and a whole new enduro fork. This is cheap stuff that works really, really well. The full-legged 32 still exists, but its clearly being phased out in favor of the lighter Step Cast forks. Leave it open though and it piles into the nastiest rock gardens with glee, shrugging off multiple sizeable hits without worry. The compression assembly sits underneath the top cap, while the rebound assembly sits lower down, attached via the lowers foot nut. 2020 Grip Remote Topcap Interface Part Installation. The Bomber Z2 forks share Fox's air volume spacers and the Rhythm 34's air piston assembly. 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. Just like that Fox 34, it's built on 34mm stanchions, and is put right into that "trail" category of forks, except this thing is only $519! 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. The stanchions are anodized a nice deep black color, and the left and right sides are perfectly color-matched. Fox 34 GRIP and Marzocchi Z2 RAIL are slightly different. Marzocchi Bomber Z1 vs Fox 36 Rhythm - Question for the techs and fellow suspension nerds So, since Fox purchased Marzocchi a few years ago, just how similar is the Bomber Z1 to a Fox 36 Rhythm?