Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Fork [Rider Review]

Marzocchi is a legendary name in the mountain bike industry. They started making motorcycle suspension products in 1949, so they know a thing or two. Marzocchi is known for making incredibly high quality MTB suspension at a great value. Our customer has been running the Z1, see what they think! 

Overview

I recently picked up a Marzocchi Z1 coil fork and it’s been an excellent and affordable upgrade, considering its nearly half the price of some of the other good fork options out there. The Marzocchi Coil fork has allowed me a little more confidence and perceived traction. This fork has performed in the way I was hoping it would, increasing my bikes fun factor and tracking ability on steep technical lines. This Z1 coil’s plushness, ride feel and its increased travel (coming from a Fox 36 160 mm 27.5’’ fork) have definitely been a step in the right direction for me.

One piece of constructive criticism for the Z1 coil is that it’s a little heavier than non-coil forks. This wasn’t a huge factor for me personally since my bike frame is carbon and the overall weight of my setup is still fairly low comparatively. If your bike is already feeling a bit heavy before a coil fork and/or shock then this fork’s added weight compared could be a slight negative.

I’ve really appreciated the Marzocchi Coil fork’s improved ride feel and plushness compared to my last fork. I also love the simplicity of the adjustment features. The “Firm to Open” adjustment is nice to have if I am on a long climb although I only use it occasionally for climbing firmness. It’s also nice for my occasional park days when I tend to firm it up slightly for repeated bigger jumps and drops.

Set up on the Z1 Coil is great in it’s simplicity and also factored into my upgrade choice. I am right in the middle of the medium spring weight recommendation at 160+ lbs with gear. After you are sure you have the spring weight you want you just set the preload and the rebound and go ride. Overall this fork has had the simplest set up of any of my (3) forks ever. When I ride I never question if my set up is good or correct because it has always felt good. I would choose the firm to open and single rebound adjustment over the alternatively more complicated 4 knob adjustment again.

Another notable area where the Z1 Coil is supposed to excel is durability. This fork should require less maintenance less frequently because it has less moving parts than an air spring fork. I have only had it for a few months so I am trusting the word of others on this point but it does make sense.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Z1 Coil has been a great fork upgrade option. It has provided a plush ride feel, and increased tracking and capability on steep chunky sections. It’s a little heavier than some other forks but it's overall performance, durability, affordability, and ease of setup more than make up for it. Happy Riding!