The "synthesis" between beauty and effectiveness

[Obi-Juan]

I don't know how I answered both at the same time. I'm learning things on this forum by "infused science."

 

[Dr-Zocchi]

At least there are a couple of rigid Thrusters for sale in Spain and I was tempted to buy one, but the truth is I wanted to wait, I knew that one day a Bromont would appear within my reach.

The fork is really nice, a Marzocchi XC 400.
The decals were very bad, and I didn't recognize it (I'm not really an expert on suspension models outside of Manitou).
I'll have to make a new Marzocchi sticker to restore its beautiful image.
By the way, when I discovered the Marzocchi model, I already knew the year of manufacture for this Sintesi: 1993.

OH! And the fork isn't upside down!
Until 1995 (more or less), Marzocchi installed the crown bolts that hold the bars in place at the front. Then they started installing them at the rear. Since I only have a Marzocchi XC 700, I thought they were installed incorrectly.

My daily is also a Sintesi/Verlicchi Bromount, a red one.

I have all spares for the XC400, that service kits, stickers, tools and more.
Check my Marzocchi Manuals Repository : https://public-repository.org/

 

[Obi-Juan]

Well, I'm home, and so is the bike.
My phone coverage in Collioure was terrible, so I didn't go online much. Plus, I couldn't show anything since they took the package.
I've already taken it apart, and since the power's out, I'll continue cleaning it and everything today.

 

[Obi-Juan]

My daily is also a Sintesi/Verlicchi Bromount, a red one.

I have all spares for the XC400, that service kits, stickers, tools and more.
Check my Marzocchi Manuals Repository : https://public-repository.org/

Thanks for your offer, dr-zocchi.
The truth is, I'd already been looking at your page a few days ago
Today I did a very cursory inspection of the fork, and so far I can confirm that it has two "rounded" bolts...not complicated to fix, although laborious.
Tomorrow I'll take a closer look, as will the shock absorber.
For now, removing the Magura bolts, which are covered in rust and have bolts in very poor condition, has taken too long...

 

[Obi-Juan]

When I first saw the bike, I noticed the Magura brakes were in worse condition than they appeared in the photos.So I started looking for a replacement, which was complicated because I don't recognize the model... it must be a trials bike or something similar.A quick-release system would be ideal; the entire hardware was in very bad shape (I saw it yesterday, with seized, rounded, and generally pure rust)... well, even the brake pads are in terrible shape.
Curiously, they work well... incredible considering their general condition.

 

[Obi-Juan]

And while I was looking for spare parts and similar items, these HS 33s came up.It was like a sign, in flamingo pink!I couldn't resist, and they've finally arrived home.
I love them, they're tacky!
It works super-well, although logically I will have to bleed the rear, because I need to remove the hydraulic hose to pass it through its correct place.

 

[Obi-Juan]

My daily is also a Sintesi/Verlicchi Bromount, a red one.

I have all spares for the XC400, that service kits, stickers, tools and more.
Check my Marzocchi Manuals Repository : https://public-repository.org/

Your link has been very helpful in determining the correct pressures. Thank you very much for your effort in generating this historical material.
I cleaned the fork the day before yesterday and checked it. Initially, I only noticed that it was leaking oil through the left leg stem. That's good; perhaps just replacing or adding that simple part will solve the problem.
Yesterday, I managed to remove the two rounded bolts with great patience and effort so as not to strip any threads.
On Monday, I'll go get some stainless steel bolts, as I don't have enough. They're M5 and M6 for the fork (for both forks, since I got an XC 700 in June, and I've already seen that they use the same screw lengths).
I've bled both legs and the shock, and so far, everything's working perfectly.
I'll send you a private message with the spare parts I need.
The clear gaiters are disgusting (I hate clear gaiters and grips; they're a nest of filth and unhygienic), so I searched and found some black ones in a box... it's weird, I don't generally like gaiters and don't usually use them; they prevent me from cleaning the bars after each ride, so I throw them away.
And so I don't know whether to use those black ones or not use gaiters. I saw in a report in the Spanish magazine BiciSport that they tested a DiamondBack on an XC 400 in '93 WITHOUT stock gaiters.
I'll have to think about it.

 

[Obi-Juan]

After cleaning it, I removed the non-original stickers. It's very nice. It was curious because I saw that the original sticker was under the front sticker, so I didn't use the heat gun on that area. I removed it with oil, requiring a lot of patience and extreme care, but it turned out well! It's been saved.

And now I've been able to see that beautiful and emblematic Verlicchi logo.
One very curious thing: When I removed the rear brake tensioner, because if I put the Magura on, I don't need it, and it weighs a lot (at least 10 grams!!! )—I saw that the connecting bridge is made of two independent parts that are joined by that tensioner, which is why no one removed it before. Anyway, I suppose that's the technology Hamilton encountered when he joined Ferrari

I also weighed it, as I do with all of them. I'm posting a photo in case anyone is interested. It's clearly robust, which is logical since it's a downhill bike.

 

[Obi-Juan]

And looking at the bike in pieces, I realized it's had two owners: it's impossible for the owner who bought a 231 ceramic, a titanium Odyssey quick-release, and a Deore DX to be the same person who installed a dual-rise handlebar made of pure iron. Iron, not steel!
I suppose the second owner tried to make it more of a downhill bike on a tight budget: a 400 road rear derailleur, a 13/26 HG 50 cassette, and the aforementioned handlebar.
And that has left me with a question: Should I leave it as a more or less versatile bike, as I imagine the first owner had it, or should I finish the downhill version that the second owner started with such enthusiasm?

Well, I don't have much experience with downhill bikes, actually none at all, so I imagine this bike is a good start. Also, I imagine the second owner must have been a young person with a lot of enthusiasm, little money, and bold ideas, so I'll continue where he started.

 

[Dr-Zocchi]

...
The clear gaiters are disgusting (I hate clear gaiters and grips; they're a nest of filth and unhygienic), ...

They are mud collectors and make sure the seals will fail soon. If it would by a good solution like used on moto, which means in detail it covers part of a stanchions and the top of the lowers and is sealed completly, it would be perfect. But that shock boots are bad.