Marzocchi MX Pro Vs. Marzocchi MX Pro ETA

Santibes

I'm gonna get some new forks next week, either of the above.

Are the ETA's worth the extra £40 (or so) - they have a kind of lock out which still gives 30mm travel, which I think I like the sound of!

Anyone got these/had bad experiences of them?

budget is up £200 & I only have V brakes, so choices of forks are a little limited.

any input (constructive) appreciated!

cheers

DoubledUp

If you have the money get the ones with the eta!
if not just get the normal version.

ROCHA

If you're gonna use the eta on the tracks buy it. Otherwise don't. ETA works but no point on buying the eta version just to make sure it works.

N4PALM

I'm currently facing the same choice.

I'm just about to buy a new bike and a set of decent forks to go with it. I've so far done alot of research into forks less than £200 and the MX Pro's really do look like the best for the money. The Pro ETA's are actually more like £55 more than the Pro's.

Both forks get awesome reviews. I've never actually owned a bike with suspension before, so I'm unsure about how valuable the ETA system will be. Perhaps they will make riding uphill or on the roads easier?

An immediate advantage of the Pro ETA's is the fact that they have an Alloy Steerer and crown, whereas the Pro's have a steel steerer and crown. So that'll make them lighter, provided the ETA system doesnt add weight.

I didnt really want to spend even £150 on forks but then I realised most forks under this price are utter garbage. Im really pushing the edge of my budget with the mx pro's, but I'm still undecided on wether its worth the extra £55 and go for ETA.

supersonic

RS Recon?

shadybean

I'm riding MXCs, and due to budget issues had to buy the forks without the ETA (I'm a student after all). The forks are superb value, so I'm not going to talk you out of gettin them at all. However, I would say the ETA is worth the money, I've but the cartridge aftersale and it makes gettin out the saddle for a climb a lot easier as the front of the bike doesn't bob.
Infact, I use the lock outs on a hard clim on my 46 aswell. OK, it turns it into a heavier rigid (there is a tiny amount of travel when locked out but its negligible) but the problem I find with Maverick DUCs is the same as the MXCs and they bob far too easily when climbing out of the saddle. The lockout is personal preference though, a lot of people don't use it but I love it and now wouldn't ride a fork that doesn't lock down.

N4PALM

The recon's do look nice, but they are budget breakers for me. I've got a £400 limit max for a bike. I'm looking at a £200 bike which is loaded with shimano gear, the only let down is the forks, which are zoom and I've heard nothing ever good about zoom forks or any other fork that comes out of that factory, which also makes many very bad RST forks. So I've got another max £200 for forks, I doubt I'll get as good if I spent £400 on a bike, I'd probably still want to chage the forks.

Its mainly for road and towpath use but I'm gonna take it round the local trails at teh weekend, so I dont wanna break the forks when I do so. And I'm sure I'll break Zoom forks going over a kerb let alone a trail.

I did consider judys but I for a few quid more the mx pro's do look way better. The cheapest I've seen the mx pro ETA is £184 and the pros £130 and thats really the most I want to spend.

supersonic

Can you link us to the 200 quid bike? i have the feeling this isnt the best use of budget, depending on frame and wheels/parts.

N4PALM

Yeah perhaps youre right, but I'm not seriously into the off road side of things, just want it to work ok when I do.

The promax brakes could do with being upgraded too I rekon, but If I set those up right they'll do me fine till I change em. Still Imo the bike aint all that bad for what I want it for.

http://www.mailordercycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b66s2p3094&tbv=CROSS_SPRINTER_SE_

supersonic

Hate to say it mate, but they are very heavy, and the frames and wheels are crude to say the least, and the rest of the spec average at best.

If buying online, how about this?

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... Suspension

Far better frame, hydro discs, full 27 speed shimano running gear, decent wheels, great fork already!

N4PALM

Yeah that does look good indeed, tho I had rules out suntour as I was under the impression they wernt all that good nowadays. And as superficial as it sounds I much prefer the look of the cross. Tho that giant does have much better shimano gear and the added bonus of hydro brakes.

Can you be more specific about the inadequacies of the cross if u dont mind? I havent actually bought a new bike for pushing 10 years and I've been getting by on a very heavy rigid steel bike with cruddy brakes for a long time, to me that cross looks ideal.

supersonic

The cross is mostly form over function, my mate has a slightly cheaper version. The frames are plain guage alloy, very harsh to ride and heavy. Giant make some of the best frames in the world, its a beautiful frame on the Terrago. The Acera running gear is simply average, though its a good chainset. These fancy spoked wheels weigh a ton, and the pattern is weaker than a normal one. The discs again are form over function, cheap floating rotors simply not needed on a mechanical disc brake. The suntour on the giant sports a damping cartridge, which is why it is a good unit. Also heavy harsh steel bar

Price comparison would be this:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/details.aspx?cgid=&id=5504&cid=

Another giant. Its just better in nearly every department!

N4PALM

I think I've see your point now I've had a look at a few giants. Thx for that, still I'm not sure I'd be happy with suntour forks, maybe they'd be fine for me, but I do see they score quite low.

Just spotted this '05 bike
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p428&z=496

and the same as an '06 bike which has RS Judy J2 forks.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p470&z=552

Think 21" frame is a little large for me tho.

Also none of these forks would compare to the mx pro's I'll wager. But these bikes are very nice in all other respects thats for sure.


EDIT: Actually this looks rather good too, in fact this might just be "IT"!! http://www.tredz.co.uk/details.aspx?cgid=&id=7282&cid=

warrerj

This months MBR has a bike test of sub £400 bikes. Pick up a copy may be well worth your while.

They rate the mongoose super tyax and gary fisher marlin as 9/10.

http://www.mongoose.com/bikes/detail_us.php?id=437&brandLine=Pro_US&brandID=79

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=genesis&bike=Marlin_E

There are loads of deals around on last years bikes or even 2005 bikes and in a few weeks time there will be a lot more deals around as the 2008 bikes will be released. Keep an eye out and if you can try the bikes first. Not all makes ride the same and suit everybody. There are some makes I just don't get on with because of their geometry but they still get top reviews.

Happy hunting
PS don't rule out suntour. The French know a thing or 2 about bikes and most French made bikes come with suntour. As with wine they won't out up with crap!!

N4PALM

Heres another question for ya...

Giant XTC 4.5 or Specialised Hardrock Pro disc 08?

Specialised has sleeker look, but has mechanical avids, tho I hear they rock nonetheless.

Same price £400

supersonic

Hardrock blighted by the poor fork and heavy overall weight. I would say the GT Avalanche 2.0 is the best sub 400 quid bike.

N4PALM

The only reason I ruled out suntour was that they have a few forks in their range that are utter garbage and are made in the same factory as zoom and RST. Now perhaps then suntour do make some other better forks that dont piss oil everywhere and blow out on a 4 inch kerb drop. They really shouldnt let that midway factory make their budget models unless they want people like me to think they make shit forks. I know suntour once had a great rep, I think thats been more than a little tarnished by their budget end.

I'm sure the French dont put up with shite, but I'll warrant they do sell their crap wine to international supermarkets for a quick franc nonetheless.

Anyway the GT avalanche looks good, but so does the Giant XTC 4.5 and I'm leaning more towards the giant, even if the GT has that cool triple triangle frame. The GiantXTC has possibly one of the cheapest Rock Shox fork available on it, but from all accounts its rather good anyway. Its a very close call between either.