[Closed] Anyone still use old Marzocchi Bombers

2002 Z1 freerides on my hardtail and my FS. They are easy to maintain and the travel is wonderfully smooth but sadly the bushings are so worn they are starting to knock like a loose headset and will have to go in the bin.

Marathon S coil from 2004; only the ETA function has finally died. Serviced twice and spring rate changed once at home otherwise working just fine. The finish on the sliders is a lot less gold than it used to be but they still work. Yes, quite heavy but also strong for a 'skinny' 30mm legged fork.

Plus a pair of @2012 Bomber 55R coil. A very different beast and one of the few models from that generation that retained the Bomber reliability.

How old? Not the Z2 X-Fly I always wanted but got some 2008 66s on the big bike

you can still get seals on ebay. Are these different from bushings? 2008 are old enough.

The ebay seals are expensive though and are not designed for mtbing but fit. TFT tuned were not very keen on them, but I will give them ago when I need to.

I have a 1997/98 pair of z1. Still occasionally use them but the bike they are on is increasingly hard to keep running.

2005ish Dirt something on my DJ, but they've chucked all their oil and no idea how to fix, so probably going to have to replace them 🙁

Pair of 1997 'Z2 lights' still operational on the occasional-when-its-dry commute bike

Yep - yr2000 Z3.5s on my jump hardtail and a pair of 97/98 Z1 BAMs with - unfortunately - a really short steerer I'm waiting to find a frame for.

I've serviced both in the past 6 months and they were immaculate inside. Stanchions more or less perfect. I don't think either had been serviced in a decade or more.

If anyone reading this has any 26" 66Tis they want to sell, PM me 🙂

My dad has my old set of Z3 Coil 100's on his MTB, 2001 edition I think. They've never been serviced or touches bar a drop of silicon spray on the stanchions. I'm sure they're not perfect but they work more than well enough for him.

Katie's commute bike has a set of Z2 Atom 80's on it that date from 2000. The bike probably hasn't been ridden off road since she got her first full sus in about 2004 and I know they've not been touched since then. Despite that they still offer some effective suspension on road and the visible parts of the stanchion hasn't noticably worn. They'll have been ridden some 10's of thousands of miles in that time i'd have thought.

Amazing things.

They looked great as well - that' "M" arch was just inspired

I went through loads of them back in the day. They were the first fork that ever did what we expect suspension to do. I rode nothing but Marzocchi for years after the Bomber came out.

I've still got an orange '98 Z1 Bam in the cellar. I've also got a Spooky Bandwagon frame at my mother's house. I haven't united them yet.

I have 2007 66 SLs on my big bike. The best thing about them is the bolt-on MX style mudguard. The only annoyance is that I cannot quite get the air spring as smooth as I like. I may try and mod it with a negative coil spring if I can be bothered.

I'd still have a pair of the gold z1 duals...!

I have some FlyLight Z4's circa 1999 (?).
Still work, some how.

2006 All Mountain SL on my 2006 Stumpy. Got them used in 2008 when I built the bike. Didn't do a thing to them other than adjust air pressure and ride, always thought they were OK but not fantastic. Never serviced them at all until late last year when I gave them a full strip down and service. Got new seals and bushings from the importer. Could only get top bushings as they had no more lowers. Didn't need to use them in the end as I couldn't detect any play whatsoever. Finally got my head around the various different air spring adjustments (small changes in pressure make a radical difference) and it's like riding a different fork. Super plush! Feels nicer to me than the 2016 Pike on other halfs Mount Vision.

Edit: Also have a set of 2001 bombers on the hardtail and an identical set waiting for a frame.

2004 MX Pro 120mm here, air with ETA... it seems to thrive on neglect. It went through a period of losing its air, but then healed itself! Good as gold now.

There is only one Bomber. Z1 Bams from 1997

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/Marzocchi-Forks-Through-the-Years-2013.html

There is only one Bomber. Z1 Bams from 1997

Ahem....

They weren't called Bam until 1998 when they redesigned the lower legs using "Bomber Aerospace Material".

Sorry.

And at the same time they lost the disc mount on the right leg because the mk1 came out when people thought double front discs might become a thing!

I was the warranty mechanic for marzocchi UK from 1995-98, I'm still using my z2 superflys I converted to progressive springs, the only set in the world, when you've got a huge parts bin to delve into its amazing what you can make, 95% original internals too

With the steel stanchions they are very early z1's

I just went with what Pinkbike says 🙂

thanks for all the replies.

I used to have a set with the double disc mount....awesome forks although I only ever had one calliper on it! Some scrote nicked it from Nottingham Uni campus in 2001 (along with the rest of my GT Zaskar). Had hope Biguns on it too!! Wonder where it is now?

I still have a set of 2003 DJ3s on a bike.

Wonder where it is now?

Er, is this it?

eBay

2007 z1 anniversaries on my hardtail

I serviced them for the first time in a couple of years yesterday and now they are notchy.

Any suggestions as to what I did wrong or how to fix it properly?

Cheers

Er, is this it?

eBay

Its the same frame and forks!
Don't recognise the other bits on it though
Id have a tough job proving it was mine after all those years 🙂

I have a set of 2004 Super T's on my Norco modded with another set of HSCV internals (swapped with another pair effectively leaving me with a set of Juniors which I sold) to bring them to 2003 spec but with fully adjustable crowns. The QR20 cams got lost off the back of the car after a race so I eventually swapped the lowers for a set off some 2007 Z1 sports.

I'd quite happily grab a pair of 55 RC3 Ti's if they came up for my Pitch and a set of 44's for my Trailstar.

2002 Z1 freerides on my hardtail and my FS. They are easy to maintain and the travel is wonderfully smooth but sadly the bushings are so worn they are starting to knock like a loose headset and will have to go in the bin.

Must still be able to get bushings, someone will have them somewhere.

Even if not, don't bin them, there are plenty of bits someone could use to keep another pair going.

I’d quite happily grab a pair of 55 RC3 Ti’s if they came up for my Pitch and a set of 44’s for my Trailstar.

You do see them on ebay, from time to time - I picked a couple up from there for not that much money and in great condition.
Anyway, I’m using one pair on a Liteville 301 and a pair of shim stack modified 55 TST 2’s on my Genesis Alpitude, which I have out in Greece. I reckon that they’re the plushest Marzocchis that I’ve ever used.
One pair of 55 RC3’s is nicer than the other too, in spite of identical set-up. It must be just down to stanchion-bushing tolerances.
I’m a bit of a Marzocchi fan-boy, tbh - right back to my trials days I’ve always rated them.

Yeah I missed a set of 44's through dithering, to be fair I needed forks for the other bike. I'll keep an eye out as always but there are far too many chancers and hoarders that want silly money for spares.

I assume you all have seen the offer that marzocchi are offering money off for old forks? I got rid of a set many years ago. I'm sure some have a set under the bed or in the car, to end disputes lol.

55rs here,hit by a car last summer and they didn,t even have a scratch.Owned him!

Was the car written off?

I'd love to ride a 55rc3 ti again, just to see if they're as good as I remembered.

What are Marzocchi’s modern forks like? Never really see much about them

They are like fox forks, literally.

This thread gives me a raging nostalgia boner...

Back in the day I had a 1999 full build Orange Patriot that came with V brakes and QR Manitou X-verts with Elastomers; the tyre would rub when cornering with a sound like a drunken maybug bouncing off everything in it's path and the damping had a similar quality to trainers before all that air pocket thing in the 80s.

I bagged a deal for some brand new Z1 CR QR20's from Canada, complete with wheel and disc mount, man I miss that exchange rate.

(Not my bike, just nabbed these pics of t'internet for nostalgia value)

Anyhoo, beyond the plush world of marshmellow wonder that actual damping circuits provided, the reduction in flex meant I could rag it and my bling Continental Vertical Pros wouldn't even think about all that noisy knob gubbins.

Later on I had some 66 RC3s and some 55 RC3tis and I'm still convinced nothing has ever achieved quite that same level of plush support... if you had damping like that in your face and suchlike, Bruce Lee wouldn't have a hope of landing a blow.

Still using a set of 2006 bombers. Think they cost about £200 from CRC and have paid that back many times over.

Still work. Still smooth. Can't see any reason to change them yet!

I got a set of NOS Z1 CR QR20's in 2004, got a brake mount, fitted them to my Le Toy III and had it stolen during a break-in my flatmate slept through a couple of months later.

I still remember the bike frame number and I know the forks (oddly) started with Z4.

Still using a set of 2002 MSC 100 on a rocky mountain hardtail.
Was in the garage today removing them in preparation for service.... Any hints, tips, advice before I strip them???

2000 Z4 Flys going strong on my hard tail. Better than anything until my 2015 Pike’s came along 🙂

Yip, still got a pair. Only used for 'owning' nowadays though.

I had these for a while. I bought them NOS from eBay USA when the pound was worth something.
I was planning a retro build like an LTS DH or a Sintessi Bazooka but I definitely just sold them when I was skint!

I wish I had them now, even if just for a wall ornament above my desk.

unlucky - i remember those Le Toys. I loved them. Interesting there's a fair few of us with them still. ; )

A friend is still riding my old Z150s.

What are Marzocchi’s modern forks like? Never really see much about them

Unfortunately Marzocchi, through poor QC, managed to screw up the reputation of the more recent forks, which should have been great. I bought a set of NCR 350 Ti 160mm coil forks in 2015 and the bushes were too tight so they had a lot of stiction and the coating wore off the stanchions. I received a set of 2017 warranty replacements (170mm) from Windwave which were gorgeous and the problems were sorted but unlike MRP they only came with one spring option and they were just a bit oversprung for me at less than 12st. That was a response I think to long term moans that Marz coil forks were underspung. I sold those and then picked up a set of NCR 350 air forks in a Sports Pursuit deal which are just post the Fox buyout and they are superb.

I have a set of 44 RC3 Ti 140s that I'll be selling soon when I split a 26" bike.

Yeah I missed a set of 44’s through dithering,

I ordered a 26" Nicolai so I could use 44 RC3Tis when everything was going 27.5 (stupid idea financially as it's impossible to shift now). Loved the way they rode, except on super steep stuff where they sat too far into the travel, but I buried the front end a few times and was amazed at how good the damping and bottom out was on them.

I’ve got some 2004 bomber somethingorothers on the pub/pump track trailstar, which just keep working despite no effort on my part!

I’ve also got some 2011 55rc3 Ti forks in the garage - I just don’t have a 26 inch bike to put them on! I’ve kept them because I think they are the best forks I’ve ever owned, with a hope I could find a use for them, sadly looking less and less likely. If I could, I’d use them in preference to my modern Fox 34 FIT4 forks, but without a wheel size miracle,that isn’t going to happen....

fancy selling those bads boys OwenP?

Haha unforeseen stealth ad potential right there...😉

I’ve been hopefully holding on to them with half an eye to building a 26” long travel hardtail, but it just hasn’t happened!

PM me if you’re keen and I’ll give them a once-over and send some photos.

I've got some 2005 MXCs which are still working but have a bit of corrosion from abuse on the carrying the kids bike/salty roads. I may have to bin them as broken forks are not good, particularly with kids onboard.

I also have some 2001 Z1 BAMs which have no rebound adjusters anymore, are very scratched and have had 1 new set of bushes and 2 or 3 new sets of seals (only needed due to a scratch on the stanchions), but owing to their simplicity still work fine (well I assume they did, I loaned the bike to my neighbour last summer, need to get it back to do SSUK on this year I think!).

Also have a set of 2015 44s, which are more complex, wore through the anodising in about a month when new (Windwave sorted me with a new CSU which has been fine), and I've needed to service at normal rates 🙁 - plus I need to sort the travel adjust as it stopped working a couple of years ago. I think simplicity is the key to the Z1s, an oil bath/damper and a pair of springs will last a long long time compared to a load of lockouts/complicated air springs etc.

Not the oldest Bombers in town, but my god this was a great fork (and bike for that matter)...

Still using 2002 MXRs. Coil sprung, not sophisticated, but they still work. Just about, think bushings are probably near their end again, and not sure the stanchions have too much life left... Pity. Hopefully there will be something on the market we can still buy in the future when it comes to need to replace them!

Unfortunately Marzocchi, through poor QC, managed to screw up the reputation of the more recent forks, which should have been great.

Indeed, far worse than my 44s were a set of 55 or 66s on a hire bike circa 2008/9 in the alps, they bottomed out 40mm early for some unknown reason!

I have a set of 44 RC3 Ti 140s that I’ll be selling soon when I split a 26″ bike.

I'll be all ears when you do!

I'm still rockin' some '98 Z2 BAM's and a set of' 99 Jr T's that I've just fitted new Enduro seals to. Still working as well as they ever did (which was always pretty well!).

Bomber fan here!
55rs model - solid but a bit unadjustable currently on the shelf
55 RC3TI - bought second hand, never fitted them, currently on the shelf.
55TST2 shim stack conversion and spaced down on an Orange P7
55TST2 shim stack conversion on a Nukeproof Mega
All mountain 1’s (I think) on my son’s bike. Whichever model these were, it was the one with the rubber bladder as part of the damping system. When they went for repair TFTuned told me they’d be months because there were so many bladder failures, so I asked them to pop in an RC2 cartridge, which they did. They said they’d be bomb-proof with the combo of RC2 and ETA cartridges. To be fair they’re 12 years old and still absolutely perfect (I’d have them in the orange in the blink of an eye but I can’t space them down)

All of them are cosmetically tatty, but i love the tune ability of each. The 55s are a bit on the porky side but that buttery smooth action is just amazing. The shim stack conversion (and the playing around with oil weights) means I’m never going to move away from 26”, I can’t believe that anything will better them.

Got a couple of sets of 44rc3 ti, 2 pairs of 55rc3 ti (different years, 150mm and 170mm travel), 888rc3 ti and a set of much more modern 380r2c2 ti as well. Can't remember which ones are on the sts in the loft. I think they are some old z1's

I’ll be all ears when you do!

Ha! Bit of a blatant stealth ad! I’ll drop you a line.

2000 Z4s on my old Trailstar. Currently on the turbo, but get an outing in the woods a couple of times a year.

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I've got a few sets,

2003 Z1FRs on an old stumpy (and a pair that were on a bike that got nicked)
2005 Z1 150s on a Dialled Bikes Kobe Ti (if I could find something shorter travel I'd swap them out, as it no-longer climbs)
200X 66s on my SX-Trail
200x MXRs on my GF's bike

And yes I'm aware that all my bikes are ancient, I watched the standards go nuts/new golf approach emerge and figured I'd wait until it all calmed down again before I bought something new...

colournoise
2000 Z4s on my old Trailstar. Currently on the turbo, but get an outing in the woods a couple of times a year.

Forgot. Also got some 2012 44s on my BFe. It's my 'spare' bike so still gets used relatively often (especially in winter).

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