Anyone tried these forks?

The Marzo air will be a good fork, but I think for bang-buck, the Duke would be the winner.

Neil_uk said:

My local bike shop can offer me either - Marzocchi MX comp air/ or coil, Rockshox pilot sl, or Rockshox duke xc u-turn, all 2005 models.

These are all that I can afford..... Which do I choose, i haven't got a clue! I guess i'm looking for the best value and reliable all rounder.

I value anyones opinions or experiences with either of these.

thanks

chain reaction www.chainreactioncycles.com are offering the (2004) Marzo Mx Comp airs for £130. I thing for that price you wont find a better fork. I don't think there is much difference between the '04 and '05 models since Marzocchi are putting most of their R&D into the top end models. The Dukes are probably a better fork but if you are buying from a lbs I should imagine they will be costing at least £160, probably more like £180.

I have the MX comps and think that they are a great fork for the money. I bought off the internet along with a headset and paid a shop something like £15 to fit. It pisses the shops off because they want the money from the parts as well but I am not paying £200 for the job lot if I can pay £160 to have the same kit fitted to the same standard. I can't afford the upgrades as it is so I am [censored] if I am paying £40 more than I have to!

Oh and get the air shox not the coils. You can easily change the preload on airs with a (relatively inexpensive) low pressure shock pump. Coils generally require a lot of faffing about changing springs.

Question about damping......

Is the Duke's HC2 damping better than Pilot's motion control damping? I don't understand the technology or how it works

i have a better idea...get the fork im selling, it has the most amount of adjustable travel, and it has SPV

~Scott

That does indeed look like a good deal. The travel looks quite long though (140mm?) and if you are upgrading from rigid to suss may [censored] up the geometry royally. I recently went from rigid to suss with no problems on a run around ride-until-I-can-afford-better jobbie but I only used an 80 (maybe 85) mm travel fork to keep the geometry reasonable.

yeah well for the fork i figured since it doesnt fit my bike and i got it at such an incredable deal ill just buy a frame that it will fit, iv been meening to upgrade to a full suspension anyways so this way ill have a good chance

*Plus i had a garage sale today at my grandmas, or an Estate sale cuz were selling her house and made enough money to pay off my parents for the *loan* on the fork and some for a frame :-P*

~Scott

Adding a longer fork like that will add stability at the decrease of responsiveness. That said, it can sometimes be prefferable, though for rigid conversions I usually won't go past 80mm.

I think I should keep it to no more than 100mm. It's to fit to my Giant XCT3. It's a great bike for the money, but is let down by the crappy suntour fork which only gives me half of the supposed 80mm. I'm not a big jumper so I guess reliabilty and efficient damping is more important than loads of travel.

I still haven't decided which fork lol! My worry is spending what to me is a lot of cash, and regretting it. All opinions are being taken onboard though. I'm going to bite the bullet probably next week.

Do you think there are any other good forks online for around the 200quid mark?

My XTC 2 works pretty well with 100mm. I have a Manitou Black comp on it which has a 80-100 mm switch on it. 80mm is very nimble and responsive but lacks downhill stability that I like, 100mm is stable and easy but has less climb.

Can anyone explain the damping systems in more detail? HC2, SSV, motion control. Or is there anywhere on the net?

first id like to say mountain bike action mag. just resently said that they would NEVER go below 100mm anything less gives you less travel there for you bottom out more.

and also it is SAID not writen but just SAID that SPV from Manitou is the best damping around, which is why i bought the manitou breakout, because i got it at a great price and it has SPV, with or with out 140mm of travel or not.

lastly I do jumping everyonce in awile and my fork *100mm* bottoms out all the time, so i bought a bigger one :-)

~Scott

I haven't been on for a while because i was in a bit of a car accident.. nothing to serious though... back riding again now!

Anyway.... I finally took the plunge and bought some Forks! lol. I bought a pair of MX Pro ETA and blagged a free pair of continental Vapors in the deal! all for £260

These forks are bl**dy great. They were great on the first ride... and are just getting better and better. The 100mm travel seems spot on for my xtc 3. I've very pleased with these tyres to. Fast rolling and very grippy, in dry and damp conditions - not for the gloop!

Thanks everyone for so many responses and opinions.

Neil.