I've just got a new bike (first time with suspension forks after years on an old Saracen Tufftrax circa. 1988 solid!!). The forks are Marzocchi MX Comp ETA and I've got the pump to go with them. Initial reading was 20 psi on delivery - in the manual, the minimum given is 30 psi for a 55 kg person. I'm fairly light at about 58 kg, but even at 20 psi the SAG isn't sufficient. Is it OK to reduce the pressure even more to achieve a larger SAG? - or will the forks "loosen" up a bit with use? Should I top them up to 30 psi now?
I've just got a new bike (first time with suspension forks after years on an old Saracen Tufftrax circa. 1988 solid!!). The forks are Marzocchi MX Comp ETA and I've got the pump to go with them. Initial reading was 20 psi on delivery - in the manual, the minimum given is 30 psi for a 55 kg person. I'm fairly light at about 58 kg, but even at 20 psi the SAG isn't sufficient. Is it OK to reduce the pressure even more to achieve a larger SAG? - or will the forks "loosen" up a bit with use? Should I top them up to 30 psi now?
30 PSI seems very little indeed for an air fork, but I'll believe you. I would tend to start out with the book value, ride it a little, and then adjust to suit your riding style.
30 PSI seems very little indeed for an air fork, but I'll believe you. I would tend to start out with the book value, ride it a little, and then adjust to suit your riding style.
Marzocchi forks (well, the MXes at least) are very low pressure forks; when I first fiddled with mine I gave it a few strokes with the shock pump "just to see what difference it made" and they were absolutely rock hard!
Phil -- "Cattle Prods solve most of life's little problems."
I've just got a new bike (first time with suspension forks after years on an old Saracen Tufftrax circa. 1988 solid!!). The forks are Marzocchi MX Comp ETA and I've got the pump to go with them. Initial reading was 20 psi on delivery - in the manual, the minimum given is 30 psi for a 55 kg person. I'm fairly light at about 58 kg, but even at 20 psi the SAG isn't sufficient. Is it OK to reduce the pressure even more to achieve a larger SAG? - or will the forks "loosen" up a bit with use? Should I top them up to 30 psi now?
Would appreciate your comments. Cheers, Pete
They will loosen up a bit. I ran my MX Comps at ~24psi (I weigh 70kg), so 20psi sounds reasonable. Use the zip tie (lightly zipped) on one fork leg trick to check the max travel you are getting - braking going down steps usually does it 😉. Both the Mazocchis I have owned came with the oil level (which controls the max stroke) too high. Nice forks IMHO.
