|   Cheap fork = bad quality? | molo
Oct 10, 2003 12:54 PM | | Hey,
I've got a few questions about forks.
Marzocchi MX Comp seems to be in my price range, but since I haven't had a suspended fork before I'd like to ask a few Q's.
How much should I spend if I mostly ride in a city and at some weekends take the bike to do some light XC stuff out in the woods.
When I ride XC I ride mostly on trails, grass or other flat'n'hard surfaces.
Naturally I don't want to spend too much money on a component that won't really be THAT needed when I ride my bike.
Are the cheaper forks bad quality, or is it just less "features" but still good quality? |
| nah. some expensive forks have bad quality control too (nm) | RVM
Oct 10, 2003 1:52 PM | | nm |
| usually you get what you pay for... | zedro
Oct 10, 2003 2:07 PM | | in the case of the MX Comp, both the internals and chassis quality (ie. strength) are in the low scale, but its sealing system is equal to any high end Marz product.
In your case the MX is highly justified for your needs; you dont require the heavy-duty chassis, and it doesnt seem you need the high end trail performance damping wise. The overall quality of the fork can still be considered good, its just intended for the low-performance range. Marzocchi has good dependability over its entire range. |
| is it? | Axe
Oct 10, 2003 6:42 PM | | I thought MX has the same lower as Marathon - but less adjustments and cheaper dumping.
I own Marathon S and MX Comp ETA on similar bikes. Swapped them once. Marathon tracks marginally better and has more knobs to play with. I am not sure I will buy Marathon for twice the price again.
If you get MX - get ETA. It is a must have feature. If you get closeout with cheap plastic lever - get a metal one. Cheap upgrade. |
| overseas chassis production.... | zedro
Oct 10, 2003 7:12 PM | | the quality of the materials and manufacturing is not the same, although visually and dimensionally they may be similar and swappable (like the z5s of old, looked like z1s but not nearly as strong.
This is where the price difference comes in between an MX and a DJ series (or other); the dampers are the same but the chassis are not. |
| Dumpers the same? | Axe
Oct 11, 2003 12:17 PM | | >the dampers are the same but the chassis are not.
Dumpers are most definitely NOT the same between Marathon S and MX Comp ETA. While the outers look, weight and feel just the same. And if I remember correctly both my Marathon S and MX came in boxes from the same country/factory. It is definitely not the Taiwan production - bought aftermarket.
It is very likely that the manufactoring costs are very similar, and they price the premium product higher because they can. After trying many forks I consider MX Comp ETA the best deal out there this year. |
| thats dampers..... | zedro
Oct 11, 2003 3:19 PM | | and i didnt say they were the same between the Marathon and MX...i said between the MX and the DJ. Go back and read my point again.
As for the box, it doesnt matter what it says, since they all come out of the last stop anyways (Taiwan chassis parts, Italian internals/assembly). Marz even says they are overseas, thats why they're so cheap. |
| Could you point me where they say that? | Axe
Oct 12, 2003 12:15 PM | | They do say that about MZ series and some OEM forks. I have not seen anything like your statement implies about MX. Where did you get this info? I think you are wrong.
I was talking about Marathon and MX, read my original post - where did DJ came from? Please point me to your source of information that says 2003 MX Comp and Marathon S have different production source of lowers (or that they are in fact different) and that there is any difference in quality of this part.
Marathon indeed has better damping. Just had a ride on they same trail on both of my bikes (was comparing a couple of carbon handlebars, borrowed MX5 and Easton Monkey. Will get MX5) |
| re: Cheap fork = bad quality? | Dudeman
Oct 10, 2003 2:54 PM | | The mx series is a great choice for what you are talking about. Mid-range marzocchi forks tend to be more reliable (hence, more "quality") than their high-end xc forks. Take a look at the reviews on the 2002 mx series or the 2000 flylights and compare them to the marathons and x-flys and you will see what I mean. You get older damping and spring tech which is on the whole more reliable.
The previous post is spot-on in regards to seals, but you honestly will not notice much of a difference in regards to the damping mechanisms. |
| re: Cheap fork = bad quality? | molo
Oct 10, 2003 6:32 PM | | oi
thanks for all the input! |
| FYI | Wm. L.
Oct 11, 2003 5:57 PM | | I have both MX Comp and MX Pro w/ETA. Both are great, and the comments about ETA are right, but as far as quality and performance your common choices are pretty much RockShox and Manitou. A friend with same MX Comp who also has a Duke says the MX Comp is the better fork. Read reviews on this site and you'll see a lot of happy owners of this fork. I've had a number of forks from 3 makers now and have had the best performance, value and service with Marzocchi. |
| FYI | Dougal
Oct 11, 2003 6:50 PM | | I'd also rate the cheapest marzocchis above a RS duke. Not because the cheap bombers are excellent, but because they're better than the cheap rockshox.
Once you've ridden a fork with a real damper (cartridge marzocchi or TPC manitou) you'll really hate the ride of the rest.
Dougal.co.nz |
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