Marzocchi XC & Z series differences?

[RockiMtn]

What are the differences between the various XC series, and the three later Z series (Z1, Z2, Z3) and other designations associated to them (BAM/Atom/LIGHT/XFLY/FLYLIGHT…etc)? When did they become "Bomber", which I've got the sentiment from various posts on here that most agree they became really reliable and functional suspension forks.

Can anyone provide a link to a good overview, or provide one themselves?

 

[spacehopper]

xc series where air sprung.. had flexy legs and where basically.. rubbish..

the bombers first appeared in 1996 and where coil sprung, open bath cartridge with shim based damping. and basically transformed mountain bike suspension design, they where that superior to anything else at the time..

though they where a bit heavier than everything else as a result of all the oil and coil springs!

Z1 - longer travel DH type version.. (100mm in 1996 which increased over the years)

Z2 - shorter travel XC Version (started off at 50mm travel)

Z3 - Z4 - Z5 - Budget versions usually with more basic forms of damping..
(think oil going through just small hole in a tube rather than a shim based cartridge)

BAM - bomber aerospace material (aluminium type)

the other acronyms mean a different version of the fork, which varied from year to year.. one years atom might be different to another one..!
basically they mean theyre either a bit lighter than the standard model.. or had a bit more travel.. or where air sprung rather than coil (to make them lighter)..

checkout the marzocchi site for manuals.. (they still have them for most years forks!)

or..

http://yojimg.net/bike/equipment/forks/

 

[Maxipedia]

The differences, besides what our mate correctly pointed out above, are that we are talking about two completely different series of forks here. The flimsy XCs don't have anything on the Z series! I found out, though, that build quality is the same for those forks, so I could easily rebuild my XC700. Manitou and RockShox are really a joke compared to Marzocchi in those times. In time Marzocchi moved to more cost efficient methods I guess and also to a bigger mass production and you can see that on the forks. Worst years were '08 and '09 but they are back on track. To me, the epitome of Marzocchi build quality are the forks from '96 to '02, then they switched to the new look single-piece lowers who weren't quite the same anymore.

Oh, and there are differences in terms of design of the drop-outs. A '98 Alloy is kind of "butted", to say so, whereas a BAM has a beefy ending.

Forks from Marzocchi that I owned and partially still own:

- '01 Z1 MCR (gone but still alive)
- '99 works Super T (rare weird beard)
- '98 Z1 BAM (needs to be revived)
- '96 Z2
- '98 Z2 BAM
- '01 Z1 Drop Off
- '04 Z1 Wedge (broken stanchion, but will be merged with '98 BAM above)
- '02 Junior T (sold)
- '94 XC700
- '04 888 R (smooth as silk)

Cheers!
Mx

 

[RockiMtn]

Thanks guys, awesome summary. The chart will come in handy to find out what travel lengths the forks are.

So i should probably stick with Z2 models if I'm building up an XC rig. So BAM, ATOM, FLY, LIGHT usually are lighter models? Is there an easy way to tell if it's a COIL or AIR sprung, aside from looking at the manuals?

 

[jimihendrix]

This is handy, i'm a big fan of Marzocchi Z forks but also find the models, names etc confusing, knew the XC's were a different fork though, had a set of XC's BITD, stripped them down to service them, ended up in a million bits, could'nt get them back together again, Z series are simple in comparison and require no special tools.

So i should probably stick with Z2 models if I'm building up an XC rig. So BAM, ATOM, FLY, LIGHT usually are lighter models? Is there an easy way to tell if it's a COIL or AIR sprung, aside from looking at the manuals?

I have a set of coil Z2's and a set of air Z3 lights, the Z2's have anodized alloy adjusters on the top, the Z3 lights have black plastic adjusters.
I dont think any Marzocchi forks are particularly light (even the air ones) but they are solid and reliable so most fans live with the extra weight over lighter forks.

Just serviced my 98 Z2's, internals were immaculate, new seals and oil and they are as good as new

Also bought a set of 2000 air sprung 80mm Z5's to refurbish for my RTS build, impressed with these so far (despite them being considered budget forks), even simpler to strip, clean and service than the coil forks.

 

[Maxipedia]

Thanks guys, awesome summary. The chart will come in handy to find out what travel lengths the forks are.

So i should probably stick with Z2 models if I'm building up an XC rig. So BAM, ATOM, FLY, LIGHT usually are lighter models? Is there an easy way to tell if it's a COIL or AIR sprung, aside from looking at the manuals?

The Z2 is awesome, but take in consideration that the "long travel" Z1 was a "whopping" 110 mm, so that's a good fit without a horrendous compromise on the geometry. If you have a Rocky a Marzocchi is a good fit, as they spec'ed them themselves from a certain point on.

BAM's are all coil sprung, as are the Lights. The Atom is also coil sprung, as far as I can remember (wasn't that a 1998 special?), but if you want air sprung forks, look for Flylight and X-Fly models.

Also, the 2000 to 2002 forks have the beautiful fluid three-piece (that looks like one piece) lower that is very appealing, as opposed to the more bulky former models. Performance is pretty much the same, since the damping unit didn't change much, but you get lock-out and more options on newer forks. If you are not a special weight (too light or too heavy), I'd go for a coil sprung fork for the real "Marzocchi feel" that is truly buttersmooth. I don't think there's a big difference in weight, compared to an air fork, but there is a difference in feel!

Cheers,
Mx

 

[FluffyChicken]

XC are comparable to RockShox MAG's so first half of the 90's era and are retro.
Z's are the JUDY equivalent, so second half of the 90's era, generally not so retro. Introduced in late 1996 as some say but are a '1997' model afaik (like saying XTR was in 1991, but are really classed as 1992 year.)

Of course you have some '99 Z2 SuperFly's and all build pretty similar, use the same seals and bushings.
Air versions starting with '99 Z2 SuperFly you have have air valves... the only one, then in 2000 there where more and they all have 'fly' in the name
The others use springs and are usually heavier, anything 'retro' will be springs unless it's an XC model.

Use this to check which 'Z' is which
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/M ... s.pdf.html

 

[RockiMtn]

Also, the 2000 to 2002 forks have the beautiful fluid three-piece (that looks like one piece) lower that is very appealing, as opposed to the more bulky former models. Performance is pretty much the same, since the damping unit didn't change much, but you get lock-out and more options on newer forks. If you are not a special weight (too light or too heavy), I'd go for a coil sprung fork for the real "Marzocchi feel" that is truly buttersmooth. I don't think there's a big difference in weight, compared to an air fork, but there is a difference in feel!

need ideas for a 96 Blizzard. 65/75/80mm max and I want it in black.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=203954

 

[Maxipedia]

Beautiful! If I was you I'd try to get a 2001 or 2002 Z2 with springs and a polished arch/black lowers combo.

Good luck!
Mx

 

[RockiMtn]

Beautiful! If I was you I'd try to get a 2001 or 2002 Z2 with springs and a polished arch/black lowers combo.

Good luck!
Mx

got any images of the fork you're referring to to help me as reference for my hunt?