First Look: Marzocchi's New Super Z 38mm Fork

Apr 10, 2024 at 11:04
by Dario DiGiulio  
photo

It's been a while since Marzocchi launched an entirely new chassis in their fork lineup, but the day has come for them to unveil the biggest fork in their lineup: the Super Z. With 38mm stanchions, a wide range of travel options, and a damper directly imported from the newest Fox lineup, the new fork is looking to be a simpler option for folks looking for one of the burliest forks around.

Distinctly Marz styling and a slightly lower price than the equivalent Fox product are meant to set it apart, but is it enough to warrant the distinction?
Super Z Details

• Wheel size: 27.5" or 29"
• Travel: 150-190mm
• Offset: 37 or 44mm (27.5"), 44mm (29")
• Grip X damper
• 38mm stanchions
• Weight: 2180g
• Price: $999 USD / $1339CAD / 1289 EUR
• marzocchi.com

photo

You can build up a Super Z with anything from 150mm to 190mm of travel, with axle to crown heights of the latter options hitting similar figures to those on dual crown forks. That's likely why we've seen the Super Z replacing equivalent dual crowns at Rampage and similar events, where the ability to whip the bike around is worth the 10mm loss in travel.

The 150mm option is also 10mm shy of the minimum travel Fox 38, which only comes in 160-180mm stock configurations.

There are some nicer details to highlight here, like the same lower-leg air bleed valves seen on Performance Elite and Factory level Fox product. The brake mount is 200mm minimum, and is approved for use with up to a 230mm rotor.

Marzocchi is utilizing the new Grip X damper that Fox just released, with the goal of keeping adjustment relatively simple and unfussy. One low speed rebound knob, a 170° high speed compression sweep, and 20 clicks of low speed compression as we're used to seeing on Fox dampers. You can find more info on those updated dampers along with some ride impressions over here.

photo
Also comes in black.

Though Marzocchi doesn't explicitly condone this, certain configurations of the Super Z are also compatible with the new gravity-focused Grip X2 damper from Fox. You'll need to stick within the bounds of the 38's travel numbers, meaning 160-180mm forks only.

Priced at $999 USD, the Super Z is only about $250 less than a Factory 38, let alone the lower-priced Performance Elite variants that are sure to follow. I think the wider travel range will appeal to some, and there may be different qualities to the Marzocchi's air spring that make it better suited to certain use cases. We haven't had the opportunity to spend time on the new fork yet, but will be testing one in short order, so stay tuned for some ride impressions.

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120 Comments
  • 82 0
 The price difference between this and the Fox version don't seem to be enough to justify it. I think I remember the last versions having a $400 difference.
  • 63 0
 Yeah I was excited, but for 1000 dollars, you might as well spring for a 38. You can get a zeb for like 700 in base models, so what gives here?
  • 36 2
 @4thflowkage: jenson has zeb ult for $580 or something like that right now.
  • 61 0
 Isn't Marzocchi suppose to fox's Budget brand. $1000 in my opinion isn't budget, at this price your competing with yourself. Rockshox Dominion is under $600 vs the Zeb which is around $1000. Fyi sales on forks are everywhere
  • 18 4
 you mean you buy things at MSRP?!
  • 11 1
 @4thflowkage: spring for a 38? I see what you did there
  • 6 0
 @daugherd: sounds like red zeb is on the way...
  • 70 2
 @4thflowkage: unfortunately it’s a business tactic called ladder pricing. If you’re in the market for a fork, you probably had 0 plans to buy a $1200 fox fork, but now that Marzocchi makes one for $1000, your brain says “actually…. I could just get a fox for only $200 more”. But you feel like a smart budgeter because you didn’t spring for their highest end model, or the top of their ladder for $1500 because that’s what a dentist would do. It’s the same company, and they got $200 more out of you than if you went with the marz. It’s incredibly smart on their part; Apple does it all the time
  • 34 0
 @theging: this guy markets
  • 14 0
 @Glenngineer: a marketing nerd taught me this stuff and now I can’t unsee it
  • 16 3
 @theging: when Fox figures out I'd pay more to avoid the fugly gold they'll be smart :-)
  • 13 1
 @4thflowkage: the base zeb is worse than a stick tho so doesn’t count
  • 1 0
 Its nice that they waited till the new tax year to launch everyfin tho
  • 1 0
 @iJak: unfortunately, here in the Netherlands, for Fox, you often do (or don't a buy another brand or purchase from abroad).
  • 2 0
 @Mac1987: You should be able to buy from a German, French or Italian discounting site without too much trouble
  • 3 0
 @tom666: true, but a Fox 38 Factory GRIP 2 currently costs $625 in the US (on sale on the Fox website), €1399 in the Netherlands, but still €1150 from Bike24 (German web discounter).
  • 4 0
 I think we will see this as mostly an OEM option. I’m sure the manufacturers will get a better discount vs Fox 38.
  • 2 1
 @theging: thats why im buying a domain
  • 2 0
 @theging: I didn't need a marketing nerd to explain this, I just watched a MKBHD video about iPad pricing
  • 1 1
 @daugherd: spend the extra on a custom tune and there will be no comparison in terms of performance
  • 3 4
 @Bike-JAM-AMA: Or just buy a mezzer lighter and better then Fox and Rockshox
  • 4 2
 @Mac1987: Fox's euro pricing really is ridiculous. When you can buy boutique manufactured in Europe forks like EXT or even cheaper like Formula. I struggle as to why you buy Fox which in my experience have a pretty poor QC and a crap setup guide. Add in price gouging in my market and I actively avoid there products
  • 49 2
 I would love to see coil version
  • 21 1
 yep, no coil option is a major bummer
  • 4 1
 Same
  • 10 1
 We want coil @marzocchi!!
  • 27 0
 It already baffles me that they only do a Z1 coil and not a Bomber 58 coil, as an affordable and simple coil downhill fork that you could put a Fox damper in would be a really good option for some people
  • 10 0
 @samdaman1: For real, I’d buy a coil 58 in a heartbeat, even more so if they made the 58 in 29” as well. Bring back the coils!!
  • 5 0
 unlikely - too many additional skus / parts required for a "budget" brand.
  • 29 0
 That would be a great way to differentiate the two brands. In the spirit of "light, strong, cheap: pick two", Marzocchi could exclusively use coil springs and huge bushings with far more bath oil to prolong the service intervals.

Fox can be the "high performance, high maintenance" brand, while Marzocchi can be the indestructible one.
  • 16 1
 Pinkbike commenters have zero chill. They JUST launched the fork. Give them a hot minute, I bet the coil will come.
  • 4 0
 @privateer-wheels: Lol... big coil fan here, but agree, give it time... if Bomber don't make a coil themselves, I'd bet the folks at Vorsprung or Push will set us up.
  • 3 0
 Until they do a coil version it's just a rebadged 38 performance (or whatever) surely?

The coil Z1 came a year or so after the air one, I bet this will be sooner.
  • 5 0
 @privateer-wheels: you can probably already use a vorsprung coil in it assuming the chassis is the same as the 38
  • 1 0
 @privateer-wheels: But I want it NOW!!!
/s my Z1 coil is just fine and I would never notice the greater stanchion diameter
  • 4 0
 @R-M-R: such a good idea. This was the way of the old marzocchis. Simple, indestructable, heavy. Low maintenance is something I crave.
  • 1 0
 @iseaweed: About 2 years ago I came across a Z1 with very straight casting. Was a 140mm air model. About 1h later it had new bushings, a coil system and a grip 1.5 upgrade (Grip 2 compression assembly + revalved rebound). One of my favourite forks.
  • 2 1
 @samdaman1: It's because then peoeple would realize that the best product Fox has ever made was the coil sprung 40 and they never should have gone air, and the past decade of products have been inferior to what they were making in 2011.
  • 2 0
 @samdaman1: buy a Manitou Dorado Comp, it's coil
  • 2 0
 Not if they come out with just 4 spring options like the Z1. There is better coil fork options out there
  • 1 0
 @chakaping: yup, basically the supra and z4 thing, fox engineering and marzocchi design
  • 16 0
 Is that weight accurate? Much lighter than a Fox 38…
  • 3 0
 38 has GripX2 and SuperZ has a GripX which is a120g difference.
  • 5 0
 Same question. Lighter than Fox 38 by 280 g?
  • 4 1
 I was wondering exactly the same, it's ridiculously light! or something is wrong with the info.
  • 10 0
 I'm wondering if the Z doesn't have the tube-in-tube airspring that the 38 has. I can't find any real info about what airspring is in this thing. But that plus the Grip X damper would explain the weight difference.
  • 3 0
 I wonder if it has a different airspring from the fox 38– maybe the Marz airspring isn’t in it’s own assembly like the fox 38, and just the inside of the upper tube (like “normal”)… could explain a weight difference if so??

@dariodigulio any info?
  • 40 0
 @toast2266: The Super Z uses a more "standard" air spring style that is not TIT like you mentioned, minus the sick acronym that I used. This definitely reduces the complexity quite a bit, and weighs less, too! We measured the Super Z versus a Factory 38 this morning, and it's around a 200 gram difference. Plus, the Super Z is a 200mm PM while the 38 is 180 PM, so it's even lighter if you're running a 200mm rotor without a brake adapter.

-Mike
  • 1 0
 @the-lost-co: thank you!
  • 4 0
 @the-lost-co: thanks for the info! That's a bummer though. The TIT makes the 38 ride great.
  • 4 0
 @the-lost-co: love the TIT airspring for sure everyone needs some TIT
  • 2 0
 @the-lost-co: thanks Mike! You’re a gem.
  • 1 3
 this thing is going to so progressive in the long travel options. Almost unusable travel on 180mm and up like the zeb, just cant access it even without tokens.
  • 1 1
 @kelownamike: Its the same weight. This is pulled from r2-bike for the fox factory 38 they weigh all their products. Weight according to the manufacturer: from 2180g
Weight weighed: 2311g (170 mm, 44 mm offset, without thru axle and accessories)
  • 15 0
 Price: $999 USD / 1289 EUR, europeans got screwed again?
  • 2 2
 Wait for RCZ prices. Might take a year or two...
  • 1 0
 At least now plenty of options to buy 38 grip2 for around 900€. Why even consider Marzocchi
  • 1 0
 @cxfahrer2: just bought a Lyrik today for 180eur at RCZ, bargain!
  • 1 0
 That's always the case with Fox. A damper removal tool (€5 worth of material and €2 of machining) is €70 for crying out loud! It's like $25 in the US...
  • 5 0
 EUR price usually includes VAT
USD doesn´t
That could explain
  • 2 0
 @spoegel: still, the VAT rate isn't 200% for the damper removal tool.
  • 10 0
 I remember the old days of Marzocchi, where you could take any beater Marz fork to their service center in North Vancouver and trade in for 50% off of any new fork. Did that for years many times over and kept me riding on Marz for a decade.
  • 12 1
 As a old school Marzocchi fan, this is good. I would have liked them throwing the name "Monster" in there somewhere.
  • 10 0
 They really should just bring back a burly open bath dual crown since Monsters still have such a high demand. Just bring it back
  • 5 4
 it has nothing to do with Marzo... as some one who rode 2011 Monster 888 for a few years, that fork was better than any non factory\ultimate 2023 models, had to sell it cuz getting parts was pretty much impossible or way to expansive

Anyway, as mazro fan I deviated, FOX uses marzo brand just to get a use of their machinery that was used to run manufacturing of previous gen forks. I am surprised to see they released this with current damper and chassis... looks like they just gonna compete with themselves
  • 1 0
 @valrock: That was a solid fork. Especially for the era. As for the second statement. How is this surprising when the Z1 and Z2 platforms already exist doing the exact same thing. Also curious about "use of their machinery" statement. You saying they bought Marzocchi for the machines?
  • 9 2
 @valrock: there is no such thing as a Monster 888 There was Monster T's or 888's. I find it hard to believe you're a Marzocchi fan but yet you say that. On another note it's nice to see the 66 has been reincarnated!
  • 2 0
 @onemanarmy: No I think he means when Fox does new tooling for some new product, they can continue using the existing tooling for the Marz line rather than it all going to waste.
  • 1 1
 @valrock: This is truth. Other than the weight, the old school coil and oil Marz forks were way ahead of their time, performance wise, and still hold up today.
  • 1 6
flag valrock (Apr 11, 2024 at 13:12) (Below Threshold)
 @mhoshal: Monster or Bomber... tomato or tomato ( I know you read it differently lol ) - www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3799161

I am 100% sure you are marzo fan if you are so particular, also fun at the parties Big Grin Sorry dude, you can like brand without fapping at it Big Grin
  • 1 2
 @slimjimminnies: that is what I meant, Z1 and 2 as well as 58 are using "previous" gen tooling from Fox, this one on the other hand looks like current and even upgraded 38 chassis ( 2022 38 had 180mm post mount)
  • 2 0
 @valrock: z1 and z2 both have unique lower tooling to Fox.
  • 1 0
 @slimjimminnies: That make sense but that's not what's happening here. The Z1, 58, z2 and this fork all have unique tooling to any fox fork. It's not like they're using 38 lowers to make this fork or the old 36 lower to make the z2. DJ... well... there's the DJ...
  • 4 0
 @valrock: huge Marzocchi fan fan lol I still have my Shivers hanging on my wall!! I get ya I was just trying to correct ya sorry for calling ya out bud! That ti evo was a sweet fork!! I miss the days when Marzocchi reigned supreme!!
  • 3 0
 @luckynugget: bring back 20mm axles too!
  • 2 0
 @valrock: makes you wonder why they did not give it the floating axle, quite a huge miss if you ask me.
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: I was thinking internals
  • 1 0
 @slimjimminnies: Ah...
  • 8 0
 Love how they marketed the grip x to trail riders yesterday then release this freeride fork with it lol. Come on just say you wanna up charge for fan boys lol
  • 8 0
 If €1289 is called budget fork nowadays then I will simply stick to the second hand market, bike industry doesn't deserve anything good
  • 7 1
 Lol so why anyone would buy this when a 38 with a grip 2 is less. Gotta love marketing!
  • 6 10
flag valrock (Apr 11, 2024 at 9:31) (Below Threshold)
 cuz GRIP 2 is outdated and inferior. This is budget version of new FOX 38 Grip X Big Grin
  • 6 0
 Can’t wait for this bad boy to go on sale at Jenson
  • 3 0
 Why is the 27.5" version only offered in 180mm travel? The 29 version goes to 190mm. This is taken from the Super Z web page.

www.marzocchi.com/products/super-z?variant=40997171462246
  • 2 0
 The one thing I am curious about - In the Fox release, they say GripX is for trail/AM, and GripX2 is gravity/enduro.

Super Z looks to me to be 100% gravity/enduro - but has the trail/AM damper.

What's the story Marzocchi/Fox? I guess the GripX CAN be pushed harder?
  • 3 0
 In the press release yesterday here, one of the editors said the gripx is more for those that don’t explicitly fine tune their fork settings and the gripx2 was more for pro/super fine tuning.
  • 2 0
 @Klimbnbike: I saw that.

Still, Fox billed the GripX as trail/am in some of their marketing material. I suspect they just under sold it's capabilities, which isn't a bad thing. If they have confidence to put it in this fork, that says it all!
  • 4 0
 I think this thing looks rad.
  • 1 0
 Your question also leads me to ask (why) Fox/M suggest heaviest riders just about close the rebound circuit??!! Makes no sense to me why you need to do that to get it to work right…essentially asking you to overuse that circuit, potentially wearing it out sooner in it’s lifespan just to make the fork function right? Why would a heavier rider want the slowest rebound setting in the first place? The fork would certainly pack down at this setting…? Makes no sense to me.
  • 4 1
 Not sure whats going on. A bomber 58 is $1058. Why is this thing so expensive... Also the entire Marzocchi website is on sale. You can get a Z1 for $300.
  • 2 1
 Right? It’s basically a recycled 38 performance with the new damper… The same 38 that was just selling for $400 (USD). Buy that 38 and GripX damper for $650 and never look back (if the new damper performs well for the masses)
  • 1 0
 "Though Marzocchi doesn't explicitly condone this, certain configurations of the Super Z are also compatible with the new gravity-focused Grip X2 damper from Fox. You'll need to stick within the bounds of the 38's travel numbers, meaning 160-180mm forks only."

While the Max travel on the Grip X2 may well be 180mm, you can go as short travel as you like. There would be zero problem fitting an X2 damper to a 150mm (or shorter) fork.
  • 4 0
 Foxier than a Fox, with the same damper?
  • 2 2
 "You'll need to stick within the bounds of the 38's travel numbers, meaning 160-180mm forks only."

You could definitely stick a GRIP X2 into a 150mm Super Z, or even a bespoke 140 or 130 if you were for some reason making a custom shorter air shaft. They're not position sensitive dampers, you can always run them shorter.
  • 2 0
 Can we a shot of the dials and air caps? I would pay an extra $300 over the last gen to have metal instead of plastic.
  • 2 0
 So, a Fox 38 without the pain-in-the-ass to service and additional weight of the tube-in-tube air spring BS? Interesting...
  • 1 0
 Can one fork be adjusted for travel easily? Is it a different airshaft assembly or a setting or shim?
  • 1 0
 The Super Z uses it's own air spring that is not a tube/sleeve style like the Fox 38. So changing the travel is the same process as a 36, Lyrik, ZEB, etc.
  • 1 0
 Now tell me there is a coil version coming up soon and I´ll stop dreaming about smashpot and just put into 38 fox
  • 1 0
 The Smashpot is still superior unless you're just the right weight for one of Marzocchi's four spring rates. And the Marzocchi doesn't have HBO.
  • 4 0
 @boozed: HBO is called MAX now. Gets me every time I need to watch a show.
  • 1 0
 @boozed: good point, thanks
  • 1 0
 manitou did the long travel single crown first and it was amazing.. nothing shalll compare to you.... ooo how we miss travis
  • 2 0
 Marzocchi had the 190mm 66LT a little bit before Manitou did it. (big Marz and Manitou fan, both of the pioneers of the tech inside modern forks)
  • 1 0
 way too many forks on the market to keep track of now
  • 1 0
 Happy to see that the hand me downs are helping families out.
  • 1 0
 I wanna try the new mrp forks.
  • 1 0
 Just call it "THE KLASSEN"!!!
  • 1 0
 Better than a Fox 49 190mm?
  • 1 3
 "Distinctly Marz styling". If I put a Marzocchi logo sticker on my Zeb will that also give it "distinctly Marz styling" even while distinctly looking exactly like the product it is based on?
  • 4 0
 Take a look at the bridge.
  • 2 0
 Finally, a red 38!
  • 1 0
 Is there a coil option in the pipe?
  • 1 0
 190mm 38 lets go
  • 1 0
 Booster fork. I want!
  • 1 2
 I only come on here to listen too Americans whining about the price of things.
  • 1 1
 DVO more Marzocchi than the Marfoxxchi
  • 1 2
 why not fox ? i will buy zeeb ultimate.
  • 2 3
 nice fox 38







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