Upgrade or service old fork?
djcombes
Posts: 63
I've got a Marzocchi Z1 Flylight 2001. It's an air fork, and is old enough to have a bolt on brace which is all nice and machined. 100mm travel, which was fairly long back when it was new. Also rebound can only be adjusted by removing the valve (and air) and using a long hex wrench.
It works reasonably well, but I've not serviced it ever, and I've had it for at least eight years. Didn't ride the bike as much as I expected to - new job, kids etc. Now started to ride again, and it feels very sticky and bouncy when compared to modern stuff (e.g. Fox TALAS).
It makes a slightly suspicious clonk when it goes over bumps while subject to lateral forces too. Is it worth stripping down and replacing bushes and seals (at a cost of around 50 quid)? Or should I just buy a new fork?
Which brings me on to - would a Recon Race (for example) be a marked improvement? Or would the fork work just as well if it was at its best?
It works reasonably well, but I've not serviced it ever, and I've had it for at least eight years. Didn't ride the bike as much as I expected to - new job, kids etc. Now started to ride again, and it feels very sticky and bouncy when compared to modern stuff (e.g. Fox TALAS).
It makes a slightly suspicious clonk when it goes over bumps while subject to lateral forces too. Is it worth stripping down and replacing bushes and seals (at a cost of around 50 quid)? Or should I just buy a new fork?
Which brings me on to - would a Recon Race (for example) be a marked improvement? Or would the fork work just as well if it was at its best?
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Comments
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things have come on a lot.
but a flush out and oil change and lube up of the seals will make a big difference."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
It was a nice fork in the day - fairly light for a Zochhi, very smooth - so if you like it, for 50 quid, could be worth keeping.
But the Recon Race is a step up. Stiffer, more adjustable, it is the better fork and will work better.
But 50 quid or 250 quid ;-)0 -
After a bit of an issue with me being stupid (thanks Nicklouse, for helping with that), I've serviced the forks (Z3 flylights BTW, not Z1). Went out for a ride last night (in the p*ssing rain). They were definitely much improved. More compliant in the first part of the stroke, and much better damped. It was especially easy telling the difference down some stairs. I was being a bit slow most other places due to it being very slippy and dark, and on my own (which always makes me ride like a wet lettuce).
Having looked at the internals, I can well imagine that things have come on. They are pretty basic inside: open bath damping, highly non-linear low pressure air spring on both sides.
Anyway - thanks for the advice.0 -
The springs, IMHO, were the best part ;-)0
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The springs are so non-linear that it seems to be impossible to acheive full travel. At least they didn't have to come up with a soft limit stop.0
