Marzocchi's new Bomber Z2 fork is a welcome development for a number of reasons. Fox's acquisition of Marzocchi and the storied brand's return to the marketplace generated much anticipation. Depending upon where your allegiance fell, there were questions to be answered. Would future products from the Italian brand simply become rebranded Fox production, downgraded to hit key price points, or would the Marzocchi team produce stand-alone performance suspension that spoke to riders who may not resonate with the Fox brand? The Z2's answer is,"Yes."
Admittedly, the
Bomber Z1 which announced Marzocchi's comeback last year was essentially a doppelganger of the Float 36 with Fox's GRIP damper, thicker 6000-series aluminum stanchions, the trademark Marzocchi fork crown, and with fewer adjustments.
Marzocchi's Sean Estes defends the decision to essentially rebrand the 36, saying that Marzocchi needed a strong product to help re-launch the brand, and it bought the design team the time they needed to develop unique damping and technologies that spoke to the brand's loyal fans. "The Z2," said Estes, "was the team's first beginning-to-end fork design," and he hinted that its new semi-open-bath Rail damper would be proof enough that it was an authentic Marzocchi fork.
Bomber Z2 Details • Intended use: aggressive trail
• Air sprung, Rail semi-open-bath damper
• 34mm 6000-series aluminum stanchions
• Travel: 100, 120, 130, 140, 150mm
• Offset: 44 or 51mm
• External adjustments: rebound, low-speed compression
• Internal adjustments: air volume spacers, travel
• Weight (150mm, 29"): 2000 grams
• Colors: gloss red, matte black
• MSRP: $499 USD
•
Marzocchi Meet the Bomber Z2 The new Bomber Z2 is positioned as an aggressive trail rider's fork. Marzocchi's design team took full advantage of Fox's industry standard for reliability, using the seals, bushings and chassis technology of the Float 34. From there, however, they took a turn from their parent company, weeding out over-complicated damping and adjustment features that could be replaced with simpler, more robust and user-friendly options. The idea was to both modernize and maximize the Z2's performance, and deliver it at a more realistic MSRP than today's super-forks are asking.
Your fancy fork may have five dials, each with 20 clicks, but 19 of them are going to be wrong. The Z2's "less is more" design strategy distills the body of knowledge suspension experts have learned from the recent enduro/all-mountain epoch, then hard-wires those improvements into the fork's internals. Fewer parts, spot-on damping, and simplified adjustments that provide clear feedback are Marzocchi's formula for success. That, and the Bomber Z2's refreshing, $499 USD sticker price are poised to shake up the performance suspension marketplace.
Thicker fork legs: In part, to reduce the expense of the Z2, Marzocchi uses thicker walled 6000 series alloy stanchion tubes. The damper side needed to be a bit thicker walled because the Rail damper actually operates on its inside diameter. Reportedly, the Z2 fork, while slightly heavier than the Fox 34, is also stiffer. No Kashima either. Bombers use a black anodized surface treatment that traps lubricant.
Adjustable travel: Here's where sharing components makes sense - the Z2 shares the same air piston assembly as the Fox 34 Rhythm fork. Customers can change their fork travel from 100m, 120, 130 140 or 150 millimeters by changing to a different length air-spring shaft that is readily available through Fox and its retail outlets. Inside the Z2, the standard damper and stanchion tubes will extend to the maximum 150-millimeter-travel option without modification.
Rail damper: Instead of sliding a separate damping cartridge into the right fork leg, Marzocchi configured the Rail damper to operate inside the stanchion tube. That reduces the parts and weight, while increasing the volume of fluid inside the damper. The Z2's damper has no bladder or pressurized compensating piston to separate the oil from mixing with air inside the fork. Admittedly, there will be some emulsion (air bubbles mixing with the oil), but Marzocchi suspension engineers say that the length of the stanchion tube and the location of the rebound damper at the bottom of the oil column allows the most important function of the damping system to operate in fluid that has released most or all of its bubbles.
As mentioned, the Bomber Z2 has the basic damping and air spring adjustments: low-speed rebound below the right slider, a "Sweep" low-speed compression dial up top/ remove the air cap on the left side of the crown and the Z2 accepts standard Fox air volume adjustment spacers.
| That's where the efficiency of partnering with Fox pays off. We use the same A-grade components everywhere on the Z2. The efficiency is that we designed the fork so we can use less of them.—Sean Estes |
A-grade seals and bushings: Most, if not all of the Z2's remarkable performance value can be attributed to reducing the parts count or using new knowledge to simplify older, more complicated designs. "Marzocchi riders will want to bolt this fork onto their bikes and shred without a thought about periodic maintenance," says Estes. "To achieve that kind of reliability, we knew we had to use the best quality seals and sliding parts. That's where the efficiency of partnering with Fox pays off. We use the same A-grade components everywhere on the Z2. The efficiency is that we designed the fork so we can use less of them."
New axle adjustment: Marzocchi redesigned the adjustable quick release through axle from Fox's splined clocking mechanism, to a simpler and lighter weight threaded adjustment. The axle threads into a fixed steel insert. The angle and tension of the through-axle's quick release lever is tuned with a 4-millimeter Allen key from the right side of the axle.
Two offsets: While the crown, stanchions and steerer are the same between 29 and 27.5 inch wheel forks in all travel lengths, the magnesium lowers are not. 29-inch sliders offer either 44 or 51-
millimeter offsets, while 27.5-inch wheel sliders only have the 44-millimeter option. Interesting note: our 29-inch fork's sliders were labeled 29/27.5 Plus, which suggests that there's generous tire clearance built in to the Z2 fork.
Riding the Bomber Z2 From the first roll-out, I knew the Z2 was going to deliver a special ride. Pressurized at 77 psi, which was on the high side for my weight, the Marzocchi damper was a measure smoother off the beginning of its stroke than any fork at its pay grade, and better than most forks costing hundreds more. I say this because it was my first thought - and I had only made ballpark adjustments to the air spring and low-speed damping dials.
I rode the 29" Bomber Z2 originally in the 140mm travel setting without any air-volume spacers, which produced a ride quality that was supple up to the mid stroke, with a gradual ramp up in the air spring. With the compression dial backed off completely, I could bottom the fork landing to flat and impacting moderate rock drops. Bottom-outs were never harsh and both control and front wheel traction were enhanced compared to the same tire and bike set up with a RockShox Revelation fork at similar travel.
Adding a quarter turn of low-speed compression brought the ride height of the Z2 up and reduced the number of full-travel events without diminishing the fork's velvety feel over smaller roots and trail chatter, but when I started smashing rock gardens, I found the need for more support up front. I added one Fox air volume spacer, which handily solved the issue. With the low-speed rebound somewhere in the first third of its range, the O-ring indicating 20-percent sag and the Rail damper's compression dial rotated slightly less than a quarter turn, I found the fork's sweet spot: sensitive off the beginning of the stroke, ample support for pedaling and corners, and with enough oomph left in the end-stroke to cover my mistakes at higher speeds.
Later, I switched to the 150mm air shaft that Marzocchi provided me - which added a spoonful of sugar to an already awesome performing fork with no further adjustments.
One concern I had after learning that the Rail damper had no volume compensation device to isolate air from the damping fluid was that the fork would fade dramatically after a long pull down a rocky descent. I gave the Z2 the chance to fail on a 9-mile local descent which features prolonged boulder fields. I emerged at the bottom end with a fully functional fork. 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 the green.
While on the subject of bashing rocks, I found the Z2's chassis was much stiffer than expected. Admittedly, Fox's 34 chassis is also underrated by '36 devotees for its rigidity and steering precision. 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 down the rocks.
Technical Notes 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. One nick is that the brake caliper post mounts are dedicated to 160-millimeter brake rotors. I think the last time I saw one of those was on the back of a 26-inch wheel Trek Fuel. Nowadays, 180 rotors are the smallest I'd suggest for a 29-inch wheel trail bike and considering their target audience, Marzocchi should make this a running change.
Good call on the new axle design. Dialing in the splined Fox axle system is not a huge deal, but it can become a guessing game. Marzocchi's Allen key adjustment should (and probably will) begin to appear on Fox products in the not too distant future.
Pros
+ Remarkable damping performance, top to bottom
+ Stiff chassis for a 34mm fork
+ Excellent performance value
Cons
- Dedicated to the disappearing 160mm front brake rotor
- Knob twisters may not accept its minimalist adjustment options
Pinkbike's Take: | 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. Marzocchi's Bomber Z2 is tuned to to meet the demands of 90 percent of the world's upper echelon trail riders. Most of the remaining ten percent get their suspension and tuning for free. 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. I'm one of them, but Marzocchi just proved that I don't have to. The $499 Bomber Z2 is going to make a lot of trail riders happy.—RC |
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Obviously the recall levers and the need to bleed more frequently (god it takes forever to de-gas and get all the bubbles out) make them a little annoying but when working they are awesome! @makripper:
I have no idea how many of us have a 9 mile descent to test on. I wish we had them in the UK that were bike friendly and not walking routes.
Do you count yourself in this 99%? Just curious. Whenever a new budget fork comes out I hear this XX% couldn't tell the difference type line, and I wonder if it's true and where the author sees themselves within that population.
Just like FNG's, pretty much useless for knowledge, except FNG's are not so damn condescending....
It's a full circle kind of thing...
When bike snobs were FNG's, just like all FNG's, they were useless for knowledge because they didn't have any yet, but you couldn't hold that against them....
Because they were FNG's...
Now they may know everything, but they are still useless for knowledge, because they are condescending a*sholes, & nobody cares how much a condescending a*shole knows.....
Because they are a condescending a*shole....
Unfortunately, there is a lot of them....
& they are all on the internet trolling for opportunities to exhibit their snobbiness....
Most of them don't have a real life or real friends to speak of...
Because they are bike snobs...
& bike snobs are condescending a*sholes...
I'd like to see a review of RockShox's new 35 Gold, looks like it's pretty much the same features/design concept (except 35mm stanchions) at the same price point. My wife has one on her bike and it feels very smooth, can't vouch for its actual on-trail performance though.
What I imagine as semi-open is a system just like this, but with inside another tube that is inside the stanchion, while closed system is on another level of engeneering of a tube inside the stanchion, but with less possiblities to open and service it yourself.
Again that is SEMI-OPEN. A full open bath system has the oil contained within the stanchion and lower leg. As far as I know we haven't seen a fork like that in a long time. They tend to work well for a long old time, problem is they're heavy and if your stanchion seals are compromised you're going to have a bad time
What would be nice is to see parallel air and coil spring again, like I have in my Dirtjumper fork. The coil spring is good enough for the lightest riders, you could add air if you need a stiffer spring. And you could always reduce the volume of the air spring (using oil at the time, now they have these huckpucks) to make it more progressive near bottom out.
As for Marzocchi now, it depends on where Fox wants to position them. If they get to compete at the top end, we'll be seeing titanium coil sprung Marzocchi forks again.
It will actually be Fox who doesn't want Marzocchi equipped athletes beat Fox equipped racers at WC events. So that may be their incentive to keep Marzocchi at the budget end of it. But I'm pretty sure if Marzocchi comes with a titanium coil sprung fork, semi-open bath damping and all that, they will go like hot cakes even if the prices are on par with top end Fox forks.
I enjoy RC's articles He is always fair & it is nice to have him here at Pinkbike. Many of the other contributors could not find their ass with both hands.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf2g7dMyPqg
It might not be the end of the world for most people but it is adding an extra point of failure for a system that you REALLY don't want to fail.
Generally, the bolts going into the lowers are finicky because you're screwing into soft magnesium. The threads are surprisingly easy to strip which can cause the whole adapter to loosen over time. Alternatively people undertighten them precisely because they don't want to destroy their fork lowers, which can cause the same problem.
And plenty of people fail to correctly clean and re-apply the locktite when needed.
Regardless, a 160->203 adapter exacerbates the problem by hiding the critical bolts, making it that much harder to spot on a pre-ride check.
Marzocchi is a budget-oriented brand, get over it. The industry does not need another RS/Fox competitor for the already crowded top-of-the-line/most-adjustments market segment. It needs more options in the Manitou / Suntour / X-Fusion segment - solid options for riders on a budget.
Give me reliability ditch the fancy crap and you have a fork for a crusty old codger like me.
Half the cost of most forks in this category. Nice.
Would love to see a pic of the damper . Does it use ports with needle valves or shims?
Nothing like the old stuff. I have 2 x 350NCR's which are just amazing forks. Now a few years on we have basically a budget 36 and a budget 34 with a basic emulsion damping. The "all new Rail damper" sounds like a MoCo design, which used to SUCK.! No compensator in the damper.
And DON'T make that suggesion about the brake mounts. There are still people that run 160mm front rotors. This is actually more versatile. It's not that hard to just fit an adapter
www.pinkbike.com/news/marzocchis-z2-bomber-returns.html
Did they drop that? Would have been the perfect 26" wheel specific fork again.
Anyway, Marzocchi still lives on in my garage. Just finished doing a full service on a '10 888 RC3 ti Evo. Next on the work stand is a 1998 Z2!
Big mistake in buying these.
Rhythm chasis is beefier than regular 34, as it's "ebike compatible" if you want more stiffness over regular 34.
i got one mofo !!!
i'm joking....just in case the industry doesn't get that.
Good for Fox to sell left overs in a nice package.