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Bomber Z1 Coil Spring Question

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Bomber Z1 Coil Spring Question
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flag TheGame1
Posted: Aug 9, 2022 at 8:00 Quote
Hi There,
I am going to be getting a new Bomber Z1 coil and had a couple questions about the fork.
1 - Out of the box the website says a medium spring is installed in the fork, however I have heard from some people its actually a firm thats installed out of the box which is what I am looking for. Is it always a medium spring like the website suggests?
2 - If I do have to change the spring from a medium to a firm, what is the process? Is it as easy as just unscrewing the top cap, pulling out the old spring, greasing and throwing in the new one and reassemble? Or would i have to add more oil or any other steps?
Any and all info is appreciated Smile
Thanks
flag scitrainer
O+
Posted: Nov 2, 2022 at 21:30 Quote
Any update on this?
flag andyk
O+
Posted: May 17, 2023 at 9:24 Quote
Medium spring is installed when new. I'm 170lbs 5'9". In a 29" fork (170mm travel), the medium is really plush, but
bottomed out to easily. I moved up to the firm. Less plush, but far better for jumping/hard riding.

Process to install is straight forward. You need a 32mm socket that has a slim fit. Fox sells one for a reasonable price, or you can take a cheap one from an auto store and grind the front edge of the socket to be thin enough. Unscrew the top cap, pull out the old spring, grease the new one with slickoleum, and insert, screw the top cap tight. Done!

I really like this fork (I'm coming off of a 170mm lyrik).

It's supposedly stiffer than a 36 due to thicker material, doesn't creak, and low service. It's very active and I really don't even think about the fork. No regrets!

Andy

TheGame1 wrote:
Hi There,
I am going to be getting a new Bomber Z1 coil and had a couple questions about the fork.
1 - Out of the box the website says a medium spring is installed in the fork, however I have heard from some people its actually a firm thats installed out of the box which is what I am looking for. Is it always a medium spring like the website suggests?
2 - If I do have to change the spring from a medium to a firm, what is the process? Is it as easy as just unscrewing the top cap, pulling out the old spring, greasing and throwing in the new one and reassemble? Or would i have to add more oil or any other steps?
Any and all info is appreciated Smile
Thanks
flag allsk8sno
FL
Posted: Jun 21, 2023 at 11:10 Quote
I just did this spring swap, super simple but I will do the travel adjustment now, since sag is less.

I am only 155lbs and still found stock too soft

Firm feels great

The only tricky part of the swap was a metal washer on the top of the spring between the two plastic parts an the spring I assume is to help distribute the force, likely easy to miss as its thin
flag montesque
Posted: Jan 21, 2024 at 1:04 Quote
Hello… i wanna ask about Z1 27.5 fork… can i reduce travel from 170mm to 120-130 mm travel? And what parts i should buy to make it
flag iduckett
O+ FL
Posted: Jan 26, 2024 at 7:03 Quote
montesque wrote:
Hello… i wanna ask about Z1 27.5 fork… can i reduce travel from 170mm to 120-130 mm travel? And what parts i should buy to make it

I think the lowest you can go on Z1 is 150mm... As far as I know. With the travel, you just have to rearrange the plastic spacers on the coil shaft.
flag montesque
Posted: Jan 27, 2024 at 0:34 Quote
Thanx for ur answer Sir……
flag nightflight
Posted: Mar 23, 2024 at 11:10 Quote
I understood the springs are an upgrade with the Bomber 1 and 2 forks. That's good to know I was wrong. I'm 195 I just hope the heaviest spring will be adequate because I already snagged a set an hour ago.
flag twentysixlife
Posted: Apr 24, 2024 at 17:18 Quote
iduckett wrote:
montesque wrote:
Hello… i wanna ask about Z1 27.5 fork… can i reduce travel from 170mm to 120-130 mm travel? And what parts i should buy to make it

I think the lowest you can go on Z1 is 150mm... As far as I know. With the travel, you just have to rearrange the plastic spacers on the coil shaft.

This might be a dumb question but does this actually change the height of the fork accordingly? Like in my brain I picture that if all the spacers are always in there just in a different config it's the same overall height?
flag mrliver
Posted: Jun 13, 2024 at 8:17 Quote
allsk8sno wrote:
I just did this spring swap, super simple but I will do the travel adjustment now, since sag is less.

I am only 155lbs and still found stock too soft

Firm feels great

The only tricky part of the swap was a metal washer on the top of the spring between the two plastic parts an the spring I assume is to help distribute the force, likely easy to miss as its thin

I'm 145 on a stock spring and on a 4-5' drop to flat, I'm still sitting at maybe 2/3 travel used on a 170mm fork. That seems excessively stiff. I've yet to bottom the thing out even hucking to flat and coming up short, but similar sized riders like you say the medium was fine or even too supple. Kinda wondering if there's something up with mine from the factory? I love the small bump sensitivity on it, but it feels really harsh from mid-stroke on and I'd like to at least occasionally use up my full 170mm. Seems like 5' to flat should be at least close to bottoming out...
flag iduckett
O+ FL
Posted: Jun 13, 2024 at 11:09 Quote
twentysixlife wrote:
iduckett wrote:
montesque wrote:
Hello… i wanna ask about Z1 27.5 fork… can i reduce travel from 170mm to 120-130 mm travel? And what parts i should buy to make it

I think the lowest you can go on Z1 is 150mm... As far as I know. With the travel, you just have to rearrange the plastic spacers on the coil shaft.

This might be a dumb question but does this actually change the height of the fork accordingly? Like in my brain I picture that if all the spacers are always in there just in a different config it's the same overall height?

Just reduces by the travel you reduced it. The axle to crown height is 20mm longer in the 170 config vs 150.

mrliver wrote:
I'm 145 on a stock spring and on a 4-5' drop to flat, I'm still sitting at maybe 2/3 travel used on a 170mm fork. That seems excessively stiff. I've yet to bottom the thing out even hucking to flat and coming up short, but similar sized riders like you say the medium was fine or even too supple. Kinda wondering if there's something up with mine from the factory? I love the small bump sensitivity on it, but it feels really harsh from mid-stroke on and I'd like to at least occasionally use up my full 170mm. Seems like 5' to flat should be at least close to bottoming out...

It could be the air spring for bottom out is preventing you from full travel, and perhaps more so for you as you're lighter. It's a known "feature" with the Z1 Coil. The O-Ring can be removed and/or the air piston drilled out to allow air flow and full travel. Just have to be aware grease/oil will make it's way past easier, so you'd want to stay on top of your service intervals with this. Another option in place of the coil and bottom out air spring is the vorsprung smashpot conversion with hydraulic bottom out.

I recently reduced my Z1 coil to 160 from 170, and stiffened the spring from Med to Hard. I've also lost 10lbs and am around 200lbs even sans gear, and the fork feels pretty darn good. On a '22 Process 153 29 DL.
flag derick1
Posted: Aug 20, 2025 at 11:45 Quote
Nice pick on the Z1 coil — I’ve been eyeing that fork too. I’ve heard the same mixed info about which spring comes stock, so I’m curious what you find out. Did you go with it mainly for the small bump feel, or just wanted something super simple and reliable?
flag MrHyak
Posted: Aug 25, 2025 at 5:33 Quote
derick1 wrote:
Nice pick on the Z1 coil — I’ve been eyeing that fork too. I’ve heard the same mixed info about which spring comes stock, so I’m curious what you find out. Did you go with it mainly for the small bump feel, or just wanted something super simple and reliable?

I picked one up last year for my ski bike and so far its worked out well for me. Prob a bit different to compare riding on snow to dirt though. Prior to the Z1 I had the 350R which wasn't bad either. =)
flag gribble
Posted: Nov 25, 2025 at 9:12 Quote
Am interested in this. Purchased a used set of Z1 coils from a friend. I think I need the stiffer spring - the fork has a medium I think, I am 90kg/200lbs, so not light weight.

I am also fitting this to a hardtail, so don’t want to have it ride like a crocodile snap.
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