That means they weigh as little as 1390g/3.06lbs for the Factory 27.5-inch version. 2020 Grip Remote Installation. If your bike currently has 100 or 120mm of travel I'd go with the fox. 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. For reference, my riding weight is about 165lbs. I like the support it provides, both under power and when I press the bike in a corner - and it does this without feeling like someone replaced the air spring with a stack of air volume spacers when I'm pounding over a series of big ruts androcks. 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. Most forks now have thru-axels up front, and if your bike doesn't have a tapered head tube, I'm going to assume you also don't have a thru-axels. BOMBER Z2 Full Rebuild. 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. Nice review! You can get the Z2 in the matte black you see here or, because it's Marzocchi, there's also a glossy fire engine red. Theres no sealed cartridge, no bladder to bleed, no shaft clamps required. Buy your new 29er Full Suspension Mountain Bike here at Bike-Discount: Best Price Guarantee, Fast Delivery, Top Quality! After a few weeks of riding, I think that I've found that elusive sweet spot with the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork. After every ride. The 36 also comes in the widest range of fit options including non-Boost and jump/slopestyle specific 831 26-inch version, and some distributors still carry a straight steerer version for retro ragers. RockShox forks overview After buying a base model Specialized Stumpjumper, I was in the market for an upgrade to the Rockshox 35 SIlver TK fork that came stock. When mountain bike suspension first hit the ground, things were simpler. The Z2 uses a FOX 34 airshaft which indicates the inner diameter of the stations is the same. The best mountain bike forks will add speed and control to your riding. Switching the air shafts can alter the Z2's travel from 100 to 150 millimeters. Changing and re-bleeding the damper takes no time at all. The $499 Bomber Z2 is going to make a lot of trail ridershappy. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 is a low maintenance, high durability mountain bike fork for trail riders. A new fork can only do so much. I'd actually rather have a Bomber Z2 than a more expensive Fox 34 due to its stiffer construction and the knock-on effect this lack of flex has on the fork's predictability and consistency. The Bomber Z1 is a 36mm crown fork, there will be both 29er /27.5+ with travel ranging from 130mm to 170mm and 27.5" versions where the travel available will be 150mm to 180mm. But is the Z2 just a cheaper Fox fork? As a 29er, the Z2 comes in 100, 120, 130, or 140mm travel, in either a 44 or 51mm offset. Subscribe to our free newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest from Its capable, stiff, offers good service interval times and a genuinely pleasing price tag. That being said, these products have a lifetime and will deteriorate over time and may require service to maximize its performance and functionality. . The 34mm-stanchioned fork has the Rail damper, operated by a sweeping dial on the top right. In other words, its very Marzocchi. 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. Fox 34 GRIP and Marzocchi Z2 RAIL are slightly different. To make sure he rarely sleeps and to fund his custom tandem habit, hes also penned a handful of bike-related books and talks to a GoPro for YouTube, too. Focus on whats important having fun on your bike. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 should be of interest to any rider that just wants to get out and ride, whatever their age. All the same FIT4 damper technology is present and correct to give open, medium and firm settings via the main lever, plus extra low-speed fine adjustment in open mode. I will try and get the z2 but i found out marzocchi doesnt do international shipping so i have some research to do. 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. The review youre about to read will be simple and straightforward. I do this because it provides context. Featherlight Fun on the Rigid Enve Mountain Fork [Review]. At the 34 level, the z2 is supposed to be a bit stiffer. 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. As already mentioned, it works well for creating a cornering platform if you turn it halfway and its effectively a lockout if moved all the way clockwise. 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. The latest FIT4 dampers use a smaller diameter (8 rather than 10mm) SC fork bred damper shaft for a noticeably more sensitive and supple feel than previous FIT4 cartridges. Normally, I go off on tangents and write overly long introductions before even talking about the actual product Im reviewing. Hatched in Yorkshire he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. Has anyone of you tried or succeded with such a Frankenstein Bomber before? Simple rebound adjustment for the set-and-forget rider. Why you can trust BikePerfect Were keeping this simple. 28.00 inc VAT. The EVOL air spring is backed up with an additional chassis air bleed to cope with the longest descents and altitude changes. The topic 'Marzocchi Z2 vs Rockshox 35 Gold' is closed to new replies. I gave the Z2 the chance to fail on a 9-mile local descent which features prolonged boulder fields. The range for my riding weight recommends setting the Z2 up somewhere between 72 and 82psi. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The main difference between the Fox 34 and the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 though is the RAIL damper. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Marzocchi Bomber 58 27.5 Fork $1,049.00 (3) Fox 34 Float SC Factory FIT4 29 2022 $1,019.00 (3) Ohlins RXF36 m.2 Trail Air 29 Fork $1,099.00 SAVE 19 % MSRP $1,350.00 (4) Fox 34 FLOAT Performance Elite FIT4 29 2022 $869.00 Fox 40 FLOAT Factory Grip 2 27.5 2022 $1,819.00 (2) Fox 38 Float Performance GRIP 29 2022 $989.00 Ohlins RXF38 m.2 Air TTX18 Fork For reference, claimed weight for a Fox 34 Factory (29er, 130 millimeters) is 1,790 grams. More MTB products should be like this. Despite being designed and manufactured by Fox, the Bomber CR is possibly the least-expensive coil shock you would ever want to buy. Fitting the third spacer stopped it blowing through travel as easily and meant we could run the recommended pressures but left it slightly numb. You can hit anything as hard as you want. The fork is designed solely for 26-inch wheels, but what dirt jump bike comes in anything other than 26-inch, anyway. Find out more about how we test. You can still fine-adjust low-speed compression in open mode too if you want more support. 2020 Marzocchi Bomber Z2 specs and features: The Bomber Z2 is available for 27.5" or 29" wheels. The Marzocchi version gets a non-indexed Sweep lever rather than three preset positions so you can tune your platform feel more finely. Fox 36 Float NA2 Air Shaft Assembly - 2021+. , Marzocchi is a sister company of Fox, they basically uses the same tech And for cheaper. The Bomber DJ is the 100mm cousin of the Bomber Z1. Long live fun. Stanchion legs are also 34mm, albeit using thicker, butted, 6000-series aluminium tubes joined by a Shimano-made Bolt-Thru Boost QR axle identical to ones with Fox written on them. In reality, the new Z2 is essentially a shrunken-down Z1. 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. I have ridden a Fox 34 with a Fit 4 damper and a Pike Select, . Ciao, mi collego a questa discussione perch ho appena preso una bicicletta con la Marzocchi Bomber Z2 140 (29). 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. 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. It's got lots of support for pedaling and cornering, and it never goes all the way to the O-ring unless you make a hugemistake. Or something altogether different? Fox kicked off the whole big-legged trail fork category with the 36, and nearly two decades later its still a front runner for flat-out, full gas action. You wind the dial counter-clockwise to decrease compression damping, and clockwise to increase compression damping, all the way to a full lockout. Leave it open though and it piles into the nastiest rock gardens with glee, shrugging off multiple sizeable hits without worry. Update: Here is the link for the full service procedure. 160mm rather than 180mm rotor mounts are an odd choice for a hard-riding fork that can easily handle bigger MTB discs. Because adding 20mm travel to a fork is "generally" acceptable. The Z2 nearly matches the performance of forks that cost hundreds more by getting rid of aesthetic frills and making the fork simpler. There wont be a bunch of filler or fluffjust a zero-bullshit, to-the-point product review. Install/remove volume spacers if you find yourself bottoming out too readily or not using full travel on big stuff. Its actually quite neat, and a welcome improvement to the cheaper axle used on the Z1 fork. Company The standard full leg 34 fork still sneaks in under 4lbs (1770g) in 27.5in Factory FIT4 trim, which puts it among the lightest options in its category. The tuning took a little while to dial in though. Fox 36 Performance Elite Fork Review. Find out more about how we test. 43.95 inc VAT. It shares its predecessors 36mm stanchions and features a GRIP damper. Or to put it another way, its 15 percent stiffer than the 120mm full leg 32 for just 150g more. Fox lists all of the technical specs here, including recommended parts, oil type, and everything else. There's a lot to talk about. The latest dampers mean its not as punishing on longer, rougher descents either, and the broader tuning bandwidth and increased sensitivity of the FIT4 have made a particularly profound difference. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. For full warranty information, please clickhere. Terms | Privacy. Whereas the Z1 fork borrows the GRIP damper directly from Fox, the RAIL damper found inside the Z2 is unique to Marzocchi. 32 forks are the lightest XC and gravel forks, 34 are lightweight trail forks, 36 is the trail/enduro fork, 38 is the stoutest enduro fork, and 40 is the triple crown DH fork. From what I can tell, the Bomber Z1 is just a rebranded Fox 36 Rhythm with a slightly reshaped arch. 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, www.pinkbike.com/news/marzocchis-z2-bomber-returns.html. Since then hes written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. Thanks! 74.95 inc VAT. 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. 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. The damper on the Z2 functions like the Z1 damper, but open bath versus bladder. The Z2 came on my Hawk Hill 3, and Ive found it to be excellent! $519.00. We might even prefer it to the Fox QR15 axle system. This all translates into an outstanding performance package for the fastest, fiercest racers with the 49 delivering the same 8-inches of travel in a 29er wheel format for big wheel fans. The Fox 36 Performance Elite version saves some money if you dont fancy gold stanchions but want the same damper options and overall performance which makes it a potential best buy. Indeed, Marzocchi says it would like to bring sexy simple back with the Z2, which is kind of what the brand is best known for. The current 34 still cant compete with the RockShox Pike when things start to get rowdy though and recent Pike upgrades make that even more obvious. Remote Info. The Bomber Z2 revives this purist mindset with a smooth and plush mountain bike fork thats ready to ride out of the box. With deep roots in the foundation of performance MTB suspension, Marzocchi shocks and forks keep you riding longer with minimal maintenance. Meaning that it is the thicker wall stanchions. Its worth noting that the air spring is exactly the same EVOL design that youll find inside the Fox 34 though, with a self-equalising positive/negative spring chamber and the same coloured plastic volume spacers used for altering the spring rate. 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. Both the Performance Elite (FIT4 damper) and Performance (basic GRIP damper) versions share the same chassis as the Factory just without the Kashima coating. Adjustable. Without a discount, I would not even think about it and grab a z2. My test fork (29er, 140 millimeters) weighs in at 2,030 grams. However, the Z2 uses cheaper and heavier 6000-series alloy upper tubes instead of the 7000-series alloy found on the 34. Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; YouTube; Main Menu Main Menu . Even the Van RC, which Fox is still quietly producing, goes for $20 more than the $300 Bomber CR and isn't available in the fancy metric and trunnion standards that the Bomber CR is. The best bike was the one you were riding; uphill, downhill, quick laps or all-day epics. One nick is that the brake caliper post mounts are dedicated to 160-millimeter brake rotors. Fox 34 vs Rockshox PIKE . Id actually rather have a Bomber Z2 than a more expensive Fox 34 due to its stiffer construction and the knock-on effect this lack of flex has on the forks predictability and consistency. They reset the benchmark again with the hard-hitting, hench-legged 36 and then went on to reset stiffness standards in DH racing with the 40. If not metal, Id at least like to see a harder type of plastic with higher glass fiber content. Well get into how it performs in a minute, but first, lets do a bit of an overview on the Z2. A full service is recommended every 125 hours and can be done with a Fox 34 rebuild kit. Contact your local dealer or Marzocchi for repair. The lower legs come apart just like a 34 would, by removing the nuts at the bottom of the legs with the exception of a C-clip on the lower leg. Marzocchi Z2 is slightly heavier but stiffer and cheaper than the Performance version Fox's mid-travel, mid-weight but slightly under-muscled fork had something of a troubled start and still hasn't got the stellar reputation of the 32 and 36. How come? Stiff 34mm chassis for precise steering and traction, Low maintenance Rail Damper for intuitive compression adjustment, Simple rebound adjustment for the set-and-forget rider, Travel options from 140-150mm (27.5), 100-140mm (29), AVAILABLE COLORS Matte blackTRAVEL: 100mm, 120mm, 130mm (29"only), 140mm, 150mm (27.5" only)WHEEL: 27.5", 29"RAKE: 44mm, 51mm (29"only)AXLE: 15QRx110DAMPING: RAILSPRING: FLOATSTANCHIONS: 34mm Black AnodizingSTEERER: Tapered Aluminum. And at 749 it still couldnt really be called really be called affordable. Its basically just a headset, it adds less than 10mm im pretty sure. The most recent comeback fork from Marzocchi is a properly affordable fit and forget performer in true Bomber style. One year on, and weve seen the new generation Z1 fork make its way onto a load of bikes out on the trails. Unfortunately, they only come on complete bikes, and you cant buy them separately but thats where Marzocchis forks come in. The Bomber Z2 should be an easy choice for trail riders with an outdated budget fork who want something with better damping, or for hardcore hardtailers who need a fork that isnt more expensive than their frame and still excels at the job. This is cheap stuff that works really, really well. Compression damping, however, is controlled by an upgraded version of the plastic Motion Control device. Fox 34 Float NA2 Air Shaft Assembly. We hope you're not busy. Fox performance vs bomber z2 is very similar performance. It comes from a Japanese developed, ultra-slick and slippery molybdenum sulphide coating which Fox claim reduces friction and improves longevity. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Fork Matte All Black 29 In. The difficulty, however, is that you'll have to search the interwebs to find one - and you'll have to live with the Grip damper's simplistic low-speed adjustments. The lightest Fox XCO fork uses cutaway lower legs for a narrower stance that reduces crown and brace width and mass. Bombers were simple and straightforward. Cheaper, tighter seals mean its not as sensitive off the top as Fox step-siblings either. The Rail damper is impressive though. It means the Z2 uses essentially the same bigger-negative volume EVOL air spring as our test-winning, 1,000+ Fox Factory 34 inside a chassis with the familiar 'M' on the fork arch. Heres how it works. One thing we do like about the lever on the RAIL damper is that its a lot firmer in action, which means youre less likely to accidentally bump it out of position. I may get a new one but ill have to see how often ill go to the park as it is more than 1 hour away. But stiffer. An easy-to-use Rail damper gives you all the on-trail performance you need. But after a while I kinda embraced the budget vibe. Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking, plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week. When Fox bought the Marzocchi brand in 2015 there was a hope theyd revive the open bath damper, sloshing oil forks of the Italian firms glory days. Price (SRP) - Z2 $799, Rockshox Revelation $799; 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. Thanks! This gave me a more supportive mid-stroke, as the Z2 can still dive through corners. We use the same A-grade components everywhere on the Z2. One thing to note - the 29" 150mm model I tested is an OEM fork only. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Fox performance vs bomber z2 is very similar performance. about 250 grams more than the comparable Fox 34. Z2 specific bushings are not replaceable. This one is a little different to the original though. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The latest issue of MBR is out now, and as, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Best mountain bike wheels: aluminium, carbon, and budget options, Best mountain bike sunglasses: protect your eyes, Best mobile pressure washers: blast the filth away, Best mountain bike full face and convertible helmets, Best mountain bikes under $/500: capable and affordable MTBs, Sonder Signal Ti GX Eagle with Pike Upgrade review, Santa Cruz 5010 C GX RSV first ride review, Best hardtail mountain bike: classic trail shredding machines. And because the Marzocchi-branded products are designed by Fox and made in Foxs own Taichung factory, we know the manufacturing is up to snuff. I think the last time I saw one of those was on the back of a 26-inch wheel Trek Fuel. Press J to jump to the feed. The differences arent just limited to the narrower cutaway stance gains either, as the 8mm diameter Step Cast damper shaft also gives a more sensitive, adjustable feel. Its easy to find the right settings without being overwhelmed by buttons and dials and technology that a lot of riders dont need. Aiming to simplify the internals while also making maintenance easier, the RAIL damper completely separates the compression and rebound piston assemblies. Sweet performing fork with simple, effective adjustments. Hatched in Yorkshire he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. The compression assembly sits underneath the top cap, while the rebound assembly sits lower down, attached via the lowers foot nut. Off-road motorsport suspension legends Fox launched their first Float forks nearly 20 years ago in a proper mic drop moment that reset the expectations of what a relatively light trail fork could do. Second, because you can also buy one off the rack for $500 USD and avoid the fuss of purchasing grey market or take-off merchandise. Not just a fork for old Bomber fans. Fox 34 FIT GRIP2 29" Fork Factory Series, Model Year 2023 From: $1,039.00 Boost 15x110mm Spacing Available in Black or Orange Fox 34 FIT4 3-Pos 29" Fork Performance Elite Series, Model Year 2022/2023 From: $869.00 Boost 15x110mm Spacing Fox 34 FIT4 3-Pos 29" Fork Factory Series, Model Year 2022/2023 From: $969.00 Boost 15x110mm Spacing By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The full-legged 32 still exists, but its clearly being phased out in favor of the lighter Step Cast forks. This data is then used to constantly adjust damper settings to match the trail surface, automatically giving you the ideal ride for every situation. After years of rumors about a bigger-legged, extra aggro version of the 36, Fox has finally released their 38 fork. About Us | The lower legs are also hollowed out more than normal, but theres still enough bushing overlap and top-end stiffness to keep them acceptably accurate. At the 34 level, the z2 is supposed to be a bit stiffer. 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.