Prototype Marzocchi Dropper Post - Eurobike 2014

Aug 28, 2014 at 9:37
by Mike Levy  
This year's Eurobike has been relatively quiet in terms of new and yet to be seen products, with a lot of companies choosing to debut their latest goods on a different timeline and in a different setting. That said, there's still fresh meat to be spotted if you're in the right place at the right time. Case in point, Marzocchi's prototype dropper seat post that, while looking to be well along in its development phase, doesn't yet have a release date or price for us to share.

Marzocchi

No details, but plenty of excitement. We're looking forward to having a go on Marzocchi's new dropper post when the time comes.



Marzocchi let us snap a quick photo but wasn't willing to share much in the way of information about the prototype dropper post, but that obviously isn't going to stop us from speculating as per usual, is it? One thing that was obvious is that it depends on an air spring to bring it back up through its travel, a fact given away when we spotted a schrader valve at its bottom end, although that's true almost across the board when talking about dropper posts. Travel figures weren't shared, but looking at the amount of exposed stanchion has us leaning towards it sporting 150mm of stroke, and it wouldn't be out of line to assume that Marzocchi could also offer a model with less travel that would work better for shorter people. Then again, maybe not.

There were some hints from the Italian company that it utilizes mechanical internals, which is a bit surprising given Marzocchi is a suspension brand that's well versed in hydraulics, but if true it likely means that the post features indexed height positions rather than the infinite adjustment function that is common of hydraulic models. Externally, it's plain to see that it's cable operated, with an actuation arm on one version located on its head, while the other uses internal routing that terminates at the bottom of the post. When questioned, Marzocchi did say that the internally actuated post will likely be available only as original equipment on complete bikes, at least at first. A few other things worth noting include the very stout looking head that uses a proven opposing two-bolt rail clamp and a bottom cradle that's been machine from the same piece of aluminum as the stanchion rather being a separate piece that's bonded or threaded in after, and what appears to be a removable actuation arm assembly that could have been done to allow it to be positioned on either side for more cable routing options.

Most of the above is speculation but we'll have more information as it becomes available.

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125 Comments
  • 35 1
 I'm a huge MZ fan and am looking for a dropper. I'm a big tall guy (6'4" or 192 cm), and find that I need more than 150 mm drop. I would be all over this if they could offer a 180 mm version? So far the only longer travel dropper I can find is the Vecnum, I would be all over it if MZ could produce one.
  • 147 0
 I'm 6'3" myself and I have always used a 125mm dropper post myself. I will talk to our engineers about different size drops though. that is a good suggestion.
  • 49 2
 6'11 here. I think 200mm droppers would be a great idea! Pleeeeeeeeeease?
  • 25 2
 Another 6' 3" here and I would love a dropper that could do up to 200mm!
  • 24 15
 I don't get why you want so much drop? Surely 125mm of drop gets the saddle out of the way when you don't need it?
  • 6 0
 if there is a 200mm (or more) remote dropper post for a 30.9 tube I will buy it.
I don't care who makes it, or if it's a pain in the ass for maintenance, install, whatever...
  • 11 1
 @JoeyBratten. I ride up on XC tracks (sometimes they go onto fireroads for a bit) and then down on DH tracks so I really need to go from one extreme to the other
  • 6 0
 It's important to have shorter drops too. the amount of drop you can fit on a bike has a lot to do with how the bike fits you. For instance, I can't run more than 100 mm on my bike, I'm running the fixed part of the post almost slammed as it is. Gotta give ya'll some props though, it's sexy lookin.
  • 10 0
 I second the call for more drop. I'm 6'3 and 150mm isn't enough when you hit the steep stuff.
  • 11 0
 Water, 6'11", holy crap! What are you riding? Getting clothes would be hard enough, I can't imagine the nightmare you must go through for bike gear.
  • 28 4
 MZ can you make your post so as it drops to the lowest position it raises the tip of the saddle slightly? when i ride dh vs. XC i position the nose of the saddle differently, for DH it points up slightly and for xc i like it flat. problem is that when i use a dropper post and the seat is lowered it feels really weird to me being low and all flat like even with the same saddle at the same height, its the tip of the saddles that allows me to control the bike with my inside of my legs

as well can you make a twist shifter to drop the post ? every one is basically gone single ring up front so that would open up the left side of the bars . make it so the shifter locks but when pushed inwards a 1/4" it unlocks and you can twist the shifter to either raise or lower it in small increments , in determined indents . you can lower the seat without having to weight it at the top of the hill which after a monster climb can hurt to do on the quads(especially if you make a 200mm version) , and you will still have to get off the saddle still to raise it up again but you can know exactly where it will rise too by using a twist shifter that is indexed. my 2 cents.. ive offered this design ideas to other brands and they were not interested maybe you will like it.
  • 11 0
 ^ thats a really good idea
  • 5 0
 Want lots of drop? www.vecnum.net/bike-parts/adjustable-seatpost/moveloc-seatpost.html
200 mm of Germam drop!
  • 3 0
 You know, I could use a little more drop too. 170 would get me over the line on my current bike with a 520mm seat tube and leave some room for other companies that insist on putting shorter and shorter seat tubes on XL bikes (I'm looking at you Kona!).
  • 4 1
 @wideload46 Right now I'm riding a large Last Herb, which at 416mm reach is waaaay too short. I'll be buying a new frame in the near future though, Looking at a large Norco urum, a large 2015/15 GT Fury, Nicolai ION 20, or an Alutech Sennes. And yeah, clothes are a pain in the ass. Every time I buy long pants I end up cutting them into shorts.
  • 6 3
 Negative props Joey. Why don't you eat some offing green beans, finish your puberty growth spurts, than chime in on how much drop you need in a post. With my 150 post fully lowered it sit's where most normal people would want to initially lower their posts.
  • 6 0
 I'm only 6' and I find that 150mm isn't quite enough. Seems dependent on frame geo too, by old bike which had a very slack STA had a 125mm dropper and that was enough, but my current bike has 150mm and it's not quite there.
  • 3 0
 The Black Mamba by RASE drops 9" It's expensive but I'd your a tall guy or may be worth it.
  • 9 0
 Good ideas indeed @stopcomponents!
  • 3 0
 im 5'10 with short legs and need 150mm drop for properly efficient pedalling, its easy to see how the taller lads would need 200mm with low standover bikes...just cant figure why nobody thought of it until now...
  • 6 0
 Another vote for more travel, 6'3" using a 150mm post and I have to compromise between efficient pedaling or effective DH position. One thing to note is that this is more based on leg length than total height, I have more height in my legs than torso (relatively speaking) so it's a bigger issue for me.
  • 11 8
 6' 8 and have no need whatsoever for a dropper over 150mm.
  • 1 0
 Rase black mamba is the only dropper post I've used with enough travel, too bad you can't buy them at the moment as functionally it's the only post worth getting if your 6ft or taller and like to run your seat slammed when riding dh and jumping.
  • 3 0
 At stop components definitely like the idea nose lift when the saddle is dropped DH mode great idea , been bugging me that too for sometime.

Prefer infinite adj simple stupid reliable setup, all those other things sound like a mechanical nightmare to keep working.

Other area that needs focus is the lever that drops the post, apart from KS and Reverb others are large and clunky.

I like mine on left side under the bar its natural out of the way of the brake lever for different brands and protected, I wish companies would think of these issues!

Zochi go full hydraulic as well, don't use multi position and mech plus air thats 5 years ago, if you're behind on launch you're dead this is a very competitive area making something the same as 99% of market would differentiate enough, people imo will stick with what they know if no standout comparisons, be great to have a true competitor to the Reverb, benchmark imo! KS is also working hard on improvements!
  • 4 1
 People don't realize that the seat being at a certain height and not just slammed all the way, helps you ride. Either that or they're just out there hacking it up and scared to death.
  • 2 0
 I am 6'4" and i ride a KS 150mm dropper. I am OK with that one but i would rather ride without and save the extra weight and cables and most of all $$$ than pay for one that has less travel and therefore does not work to my satisfaction.

170-175 would do it for me but i can see ho someone taller would want more than that
  • 1 0
 @xCri I like having my seatpost high, even for DH: www.pinkbike.com/photo/11260631
But even with the seatpost pretty high, the 150mm still isn't enough for climbing
  • 2 0
 If it is 150mm, available at 30.9mm, and at a competitive weight then I want one. Preferably with internal cabling but OK without. For me it is not so much the height that matters on some steep tech stuff - the extra drop pulls the saddle further forward and allows more 3D movement levering the bike around, trials-bike style.
  • 1 1
 Everyone has gone 1x up front? Except for just about everyone I see out on the trails. People who don't read Pinkbike or buy the hype have not gotten the memo yet.
  • 6 0
 Im 6'4 also März, looks like you have tall peoples attention. Run with it!
  • 2 7
flag Alias530 (Aug 28, 2014 at 15:27) (Below Threshold)
 You don't need more than 150mm drop... your frame is the wrong size or you're doing something wrong.

I'm 6'6" and my 5" dropper (DOSS) is more than enough.
  • 4 1
 I'd like 175mm please!!! some of us with bmx backgrounds love our seats slammed on the way down!!! Short,Tall and average people all would like a bigger dropper it seems.
  • 4 0
 I'm 6'1 and in my opinion 175 would be freaking awesome!
  • 2 0
 Well I guess I will jump on the wagon. 6"3 here and my Reverb is just fine but make the gosh darn hoses stronger!!!
  • 6 3
 @Alias530 - Everyone is different. Different people have different frames, different geometry, different riding styles, different body heights, different leg lengths/body proportions, different preferences for comfort. Just because yours fits you, it doesn't mean everyone else who's expressed that they want/need a longer drop on here hasn't got a clue about what size frame they should ride or how to ride.

I for one would like to see a post with a larger drop and by the looks of it, so would plenty of other PB'ers.

In short - don't be a cock.
  • 1 3
 Probably you all want to do XC race and DJ comp back to back.
  • 2 0
 Yep 180 drop would be a game changer for me too
  • 2 1
 @alias530 for some who rides a 29er with 120mm of travel with limited or as I am guessing No dh experience a 5" post would be great.
  • 1 0
 I'm 6'47" and can't afford a dropper post although I would really really need one. Hope this one doesn't cost too much...
  • 4 0
 6 foot 7 and adding my name to the list of die hard marzocchi fans who would love to see a bigger dropper post on the market. Get your niche here marz. Loyal tall fan base will be all over it. I appreciate a longer drop is like a longer travel fork (increased weight, flex, bush wear) but you make bombproof stuff at a great price so if anyone can manage it...
  • 2 0
 150mm drop is nice. using a dropper now with 100mm and its just too short.
  • 4 0
 Marzocchi - We are so glad you guys are back and making great stuff. We are all rooting for you and would love to see some more players in the dropper post space. Hopefully you can overcome some of the issues other droppers like reliability, lack of options, activating from the top, weight, etc. I currently use a 150mm post - and it's just barely good enough. It works, but wish I could get the seat lower. I also understand the market for a 160mm+ might be small. Good luck!
  • 2 0
 I'm 6ft5, and have a Norco Sight 2 with X fusion hi-low 125mm dropper (std spec). It's OK at best. I get stuck behind the seat when descending and by quite a lot too, more than 25mm as it ends up up in my waste band (that a 150mm dropper would apparently cure). 200mm sounds better to me.
  • 2 1
 Krzymndyd... my DROPPER has 5" travel, not my bike.
  • 2 1
 yes I understand you have a 5" seat post, but what I am saying is that you probably ride a bike that is for trail riding (120mm or less) and for that a 5" post would be fine. But if you had some true DH experience you would understand that you want to get the seat as low as possible so that when you are going down a steep section you can get behind your seat so it doesn't hit you in the stomach or ass and throw your balance off.
  • 1 2
 Hard to believe that Marzocchi are that late to the game and still get it wrong. Seems they didn't think of longer traveled versions, and of course the cable attaches to the wrong part of the seatpost, so that you trail a loop of cable whenever you have the seat down...
  • 3 0
 @Krzymndyd, if you had some "true DH" experience, you'd know that you don't want to run your seat slammed, as it is almost essential for bike control to be able to muscle the bike around with your thighs when going fast.
  • 1 2
 Krzy, for the third time now, my bike has more than 120mm
  • 3 7
flag jevansbike (Aug 30, 2014 at 18:30) (Below Threshold)
 im 5'5' but i have a huge penis. i mean really really big. i would like to see a 230mm. maybe something in silk. its so big. really.big.
  • 2 1
 But you, as a person, are a fucking manlet.
  • 3 0
 @WaterWaterWaterWater: welcome to 2022. we have 240's.
  • 16 1
 It looks like something that could adjust your saddle height up or down.
  • 12 1
 Looks like a Reverb!

No?... I'm sorry. I'll show myself out.
  • 9 2
 I do hope that if it comes out it'll be affordable. Lovely if the post stanchion is also coated with that slippery coating marzocchi has. Kinda like the brown, goes well with my Kowa 160ss brown stanchionz. but green is still...mmmm.
  • 4 0
 FYI: Nukeproof is debuting a new dropper as well, & it's got a price up on CR: $218. methinks that's probably one of the cheapest prices from a reputable brand I've seen.
  • 3 0
 How long till dropper posts Brecon the norm on all oem bikes and then the std frames seat tubes increase in diameter allowing for larger and more durable dia dropper posts....think wider and deaper bushes. ..or think along the lines of a 32mm fork vs a nice 36mm forks stiffness.
  • 2 0
 I think we'll at least see the 27.2 seat tube size die out. it's possible for the 30.9 as well.
  • 2 1
 how important is stiffness for a seatpost really? I for one hope that they don't start changing the 'standard' for seattube diam
just another thing to make you replace your frame when you can only find 32mm seatposts
though now you mention it, it's probably exactly whats gonna happen Smile
  • 2 0
 It doesn't have much to do with stiffness, it has to do with having enough space inside the post to size the mechanisim for durability, instead of space constraints. Most of them are essentially forks that hydrolock: if the seatpost OUTER diameter is 30.9, how much smaller is the stantion than any fork in current production?
  • 3 0
 I'd like to see a dropper that you could set the first drop distance manually and not some preset distance from the factory. My Reverb is wonderful and I use it more times than I can count during a typical ride, but I find myself using it 85% of the time in the top few inches of the drop for aggressive XC riding rather than all the way down (which I do use for more serious down hill stuff). My beef is that it's really annoying to try and find the XC sweet spot when I need it most (a little too much, a little too little, a little too much, a little too little). And I did have the supplied lock collar on for awhile, but missed the full travel for the DH.

Glad to see Marzocchi getting into the dropper post game since competition makes a better overall product for us consumers.
  • 3 0
 ooooh im so pleased there will soon be a whole world of competitors for these, I was really reluctant to buy one at the price because I rarely need one and I want one to fit several bikes (without annoying shims) but now that they're coming down its looking good Smile
I love Marz products so this'll be on my wishlist - the new stanchion colour makes me (unfoundedly) regret buying my 40 so early! I think Tahnee swayed me to marzocchi, but she could make me do anything!
I own an old 66 and 3 DJ forks, my mates had a 888 and dj forks and we've found marzocchi throughout the years to be more reliable than any other product we've owned.. and the least painful to look after (if droppers require any maintenance)
  • 2 0
 :-D
  • 6 0
 God i thought this was the new shiver...
  • 1 0
 oh dont you worry... they are... with new shaped axle, and hub, and all
  • 2 0
 I don't make the 6' threshold, and still find myself having to choose between a pedaling hieght, and descending height on my 125mm dropper post. 200mm dropper posts make sense, especially as seat tube length becomes more influenced by actual mountain biking, and less by roadie heritage.

Also like the idea of adjustable seat angle, though a travel adjust fork has a somewhat similar effect on seat angle by setting the seat in a climbing position with the fork at its lowest (climbing) position.
  • 2 0
 if you ride predominantly uphill on fireroads to access predominantly downhill trails an need more than 5" drop there already is a solution for you called quick release seat clamp. ditched the dropper post this season and I spend more time focusing on the trail rather than flicking a variety of levers to get the optimal settings of the bike for every situation...
  • 2 0
 Anyone notice the large diameter of the "Stanchion" compared to the seat tube? Finally someone gets it. Those 1" tubes on the reverb just look stupid, and we all know: larger = better.
  • 1 0
 Any reason why you are sticking with cable actuated ? Does SRAM have a patent on the hydraulic lever and that's why we see no one else using it ? Dropper posts are cool... but my sissy thumbs like the ease of the plunger Smile
  • 1 0
 200mm version and I will pay $1,000, even if it weigh 2 lb. Those folks who think 125 or even 150 is all you ever need clearly don't ride up and down the super steeps of BC or So Cal. I get tired of doing the double drop when the Sh!t hits the fan w/ my 150 Reverb.
  • 1 0
 The only problem producing an adjustable post with anything over 150mm travel is the overall length of that post. You have to more the double the length of travel, so a 150mm post would be around 325mm total length, 200mm travel around 425mm and so on.
Believe it or not, I made the very first modern day dropper post back in 2000, I used a RockShox suspension seat post for the first proto's, they had a little over 2" of travel, later semi production models of the "Elevator Shaft" had 3"-5" of travel, it predated Gravity Dropper by about 5 years. I sold Hurricane Components back in 2003, and with it went the full production of those posts....I'm kicking myself now! I got my inspiration from the Hite-Rite, which I used back in the 80's. There was another semi dropper, the Power Post, back in the early 90's, but that post was way different from what we have today.
I'm still at it, I have a design for a dropper that is unlike anything on the market, I just have so many projects sitting in front of it.
BTW, that Marzocchi dropper looks good, would like to see a production model.
  • 1 0
 Exactly. The Vecnum 200mm Model is 551 mm long. Ridiculous... Fully inserted in the frame is has ~270mm of seat height. On my bike, this would be ~70mm higher than I need my seat to be... A 150mm dropper is the max I could fit in there.
  • 3 0
 dgthyiosdfghjuhgfdsfgjktyihnbvchv...excuse me. i just had to wipe the drool off my keyboard.
  • 5 1
 I'll trade my reverb for this. I hope the remote is sick.
  • 2 0
 so far i like the crank brothers remote the best, for cable actuated anyway, because it resembles a shifter and you can mount it anywhere (left, right, above, under)
  • 4 0
 I currently use a Crank Bros and like it also. the lever is small and easily works anywhere.
  • 1 0
 Plus you can mount it inboard of brakes and it extends enough so you don't have to re adjust grip
  • 1 0
 I love the reverb remote...don't know how I'd feel about the look of a shifter--I might bump myself down trying to change gears haha.
  • 2 0
 That Cappachino coating is sooo pretty. I dont care if it works or not, im sure it does but dang its just so awesome. Cap in Kash out!
  • 2 0
 Espresso!
  • 2 0
 I love my 150mm 55cr. I'm looking for a new bike and I'm kinda bummed that no one appears to be speccing the 350 oem on their enduro bikes.
  • 2 0
 @dthomp325.. lots of Euro companies are spec'g it OEM. more 2016 US companies hopefully will also.
  • 1 0
 Hey WaterWaterWaterWater... might want to keep tabs on Norco's for next year. Something extra large has been spotted in the Whistler Bike Park...
  • 4 1
 looks like the cable goes all the way to the top. meh
  • 4 0
 Read the article, there was a stealth one as well.
  • 1 0
 yeah i noticed. i'd consider that stealth one
  • 3 0
 Oh my. This interests me... Fab
  • 3 0
 imma call them bomber dropper hah
  • 1 0
 so these dudes turn up with a "product" consisting of one tube inside another? KS LEV anyday
  • 1 0
 Thought this was pinkbike? Where's all the "looks like looks like" comments
  • 1 0
 dropper posts.... dropper posts everywhere
  • 3 3
 Seeing that brown only makes me realize I never knew how badly I want a kashima gold dropper until just right now
  • 3 2
 Now everyone can look like they've just sharted in their shammy shorts
  • 2 1
 Brecon = becomes. ...Dammed predictive text
  • 2 0
 I NEED DISSS
  • 1 2
 If I use my dropper post, I don't feel like I'm mountain biking. Keep your saddle raised you bunch of long legged fanny boys.
  • 1 0
 ummm I call BS.
  • 1 0
 Want a dropper post with 200mm or 170, 150? Google Moveloc
  • 4 6
 New rule. Stop reporting on shit we can't buy right now. So tired of seeing the 'next big thing' only to find out it's not available for 6 months (if you're lucky...).
  • 2 1
 Uh-oh...
  • 1 1
 loving the espresso colour!!
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