Page 53 - MTBSA JAN 2020

M
MARZOCCHI ARZOCCHI BUT HOW DOES IT RIDE
e were lucky
enough to receive
the Z1 Coil last
BOMBER Z1 Wmonth and Mar-
BOMBER Z1
zocchi paired it with a Marzocchi
Bomber CR coil rear shock for us.
170mm on a 29er was our config-
COIL FIRST LOOK uration as it replaced our favorite
COIL FIRST LOOK
Fox 36 Grip2 with 160mm travel.
We’ve been riding it for a month
and we can truly say that it’s
noticeably smoother on terrain
WHO WANTS COIL? that can use its buttery action.
The front fork is just planted on
ikes and riding styles the roughest terrain like Rocky
have progressed rapidly Ridge and Stiles in our local
over the past few years as Santa Teresa Park. This results in
Bbikes have become more more control and more traction
as the front tire sticks to the
capable and terrain has opened ground. And it results in less
up to challenge these bikes and hand and arm fatigue to add to
riders. With these demands, coil the control advantage as well.
suspension has experienced The fork is fast, controlled and
growth as rear suspension de- quiet, thus keeping up with
signs and damping technology supple Bomber CR shock in the
have advanced. They’re pretty di- rear.
aled now with many bikes sport- When it comes to jumping,
ing rear coil shocks from Push, this is a delight because it’s
Fox, and Marzocchi. easy to try things, go outside
But front forks are still the comfort zone and learn.
dominated by air suspension This suspension has your back
for a variety of reasons. One is and will not buck you even
the stunning performance of as you land on rocks, roots or
current air forks like the Fox miss the transition. I’ve always
36. Weight and cost are still thought that the bike and great
concerns when it comes to front suspension take over when
forks converted to coil as well. talent runs out and this setup
The result is a growing certainly proves that.
imbalance between front And with this suspension, we’re
and rear suspension on bikes more apt to try things and
sporting the best available rear progress as this suspension
coil shocks. Until now that is. always seems to stick the
landing.
The suspension is quiet and
ENTER THE BOMBER Z1 COIL controlled and it’s easy to adjust.
I’m a big fan of the four dials
he new Bomber Z1 Coil Z1 and the new Z1 Coil retains of the Grip2 damper but this
delivers a simple, depend- the simple dial-in Grip damper simple Grip adjustment actually active and it can rob energy With Grip2, it’s easy to flip
able, quiet and supple but swaps out the air spring works well in this case. as it moves too much during the lever and get a pedaling
Tsuspension reminiscent assembly for the most advanced If there’s one downside to coil, climbing. platform when the need arises.
sometimes it’s too supple and
of the old Bomber Z1 coil intro- coil spring system Marzocchi
duced more than a decade ago has ever made. At the heart
of this new coil system is a
when the Rockshox Mag 21 dom- lightweight silicon-chromium COIL OR AIR
inated the marketplace. This is a steel spring, silenced by a
fork with up to 170mm of con- noise management system to his is a wonderful option And if you love the tunability purchase different springs).
trolled 29er travel, weighing in at prevent knock. Also featured to have but is it for every- of an air fork, love and use the But if what you want is the most
a respectable 2,38 KG at a friend- is an integrated air assist for Marzocchi is now owned by one? No and we’ll help Grip2 adjustment knobs and supple initial travel available
ly price of R10 836. Impressed or progression and bottom-out Fox which grants most of this Tyou decipher the decision constantly play with volume and a spring rate that is very
spacers, then the high-end air
consistent and linear, then you
intrigued? Still offended by the control, and an external preload higher-end technology to bring matrix. options are key. And coil requires owe it to yourself to give coil a
performance to a wider market.
weight and the price? Listen in adjuster to dial in sag and R10 836 is a lot of money but it If you’re concerned about that you get the correct spring try. The comfort, control, traction
and find out about how much firmness off the top. And travel is compares very favorably to the weight and want the lightest stiffness right. So it is a bit more of the bump-eating, monster
fork you’re getting. easy to adjust from 170-180mm comparable high-end forks that and most efficient pedaling finicky at purchase time and truck action of these new
It’s the proven 36mm chassis depending on wheel size. are now R14 000 and beyond. platform, then air is a better it is only for riders of a specific Marzocchi coil options is a great
of the modern-day Bomber And let’s not forget that option at this point. weight range (unless you option to have.

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