Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Suspension Fork [Rider Review]

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 Marzocchi is one of the original mountain bike suspension company. And they've offered the best performing products at a affordable price ever since. Our friend, John just threw on a Z2 bomber on their bike. See what they think!!

Overview

Like most people who like to ride mountain bikes and don't have a secret off-shore bank account, I'm always on the lookout for components with the best combination of price and performance. After a few weeks of riding, I think that I've found that elusive sweet spot with the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork.

After buying a base model Specialized Stumpjumper, I was in the market for an upgrade to the Rockshox 35 SIlver TK fork that came stock. I have ridden a Fox 34 with a Fit 4 damper and a Pike Select, so I have a baseline for the improved performance that can come with a more premium fork. I hadn't ridden a Marzocchi before, but all of the reviews I'd read suggested a solid budget option that could go toe to toe with those more established options.

Setting up the Bomber was incredibly simple - I just pumped the air chamber up and set the rebound to the amounts recommended by the chart printed on the left leg of the fork. I'm no expert on setting up the suspension, but I usually fiddle around with the rebound knobs and adjust air pressure after a shakeout ride or two - not the case here. After about three rides with some 3+ foot drops, chunky descents, and high-speed bermed corners, I'd used about 125 of the 140 mm of travel and never once felt like the fork was too harsh. Compared to the Fox 34 with the Fit 4 damper,

the Bomber feels a lot more plush and well-suited for all-around trail riding.

Compared to the Pike Select, the Bomber feels more linear and doesn't ramp up as quickly, though it does come with spacers if you want to hit big jumps. The Bomber also feels just as stiff in the corners as those two forks but comes in at about $200 cheaper.

That's not to say that there aren't some trade-offs, but for $520 they are pretty easy to live with. First, the stock brake mount fits 160 mm rotors - a pretty puny size even for a light trail bike. Make sure you get the right adapter for your rotor. Second, it's no lightweight. I didn't weigh it, but it's probably not far off of 2 kilos. If you want to shave off every possible gram, this isn't the fork for you. Finally, and this has nothing to do with performance, the red decals won't match all paint jobs, and in my case, they downright clash with my frame's paint. Not a deal-breaker, but it would be nice to have some other color options, especially since Fox makes about every single color for their forks.

Final Thoughts

All that to say, the Bomber Z2 blows away all of the other budget forks I have ridden and even compares favorably to some more premium models that cost $200 more. It's heavier and not as adjustable as some of the top-tier options, but for a budget set and forget option I can't ask for more. Anyone who wants near top-shelf performance, a manageable price, a simple design that won't require a ton of specialty tools to service, and won't notice a few extra grams should get along very well with the Bomber Z2.