Rockshox Recon or Marzocchi MX Comp

bertberr

Not new obviously, but...

I'm looking to get a slightly longer travel fork for my Buckshot Pro (currently 80mm Manitou Mars Elites), and based on various reviews and a reply from Tomac themselves, 100mm seems to be where it is in terms of recommended travel, though they did say you might even get away with 120mm, but I don't think the geometry would take too kindly to that.

So, based on the fact that I need v-brake bosses, and that I don't want to spend too much (ideally less than £100), I've narrowed it down to either the 100mm or u-turn version of the Recon, or the MX Comp (either Air/Coil in 105mm or ETA).

So, any of you peeps got any experience with either of these, and in particular any thoughts on how they would work on a lightweight XC HT frame, albeit a fairly old one now ???

And any thoughts on reliability, ease of service / availability of parts etc would also be good.

supersonic

Which Recon? If the 351 then without a doubt, go for it. If the 327 or 335, then very little in it. The Recon is slightly heavier due to the extra travel available, and bigger stanchions.

bertberr

Have to say, all the model numbers on RS confuse the hell out of me, particularly when you're trying to research the second hand market, not as if you can get the low down from RS own site or even current descriptions etc from CRC or wiggle...

I'm restricted by the need for v-brake bosses and circa. 100mm travel, did the 351 come in a 100mm version with the bosses?

And I'm assuming that the MX Comp with air valves on top of both legs is the 'Air' version with both +ve and -ve adjustment?

jayson

I had a set of '05 mx comps on my old bike and they were ok but the crown for some strange reason was badly affected by the weather it lost its sheen, it wasnt rusting but it looked as if it was.

Interms of performance they were ok for a lower end fork but the real icing on the cake for me was the ability to adjust them with just a pump rather than buying and fitting new springs.

For what its worth though i would buy RS these days over 'zocchi.

bertberr

Did you have the 'Air' version then? I understand that these are OK for lighter riders doing XC, but that the coil version would be better for those of us sitting a little lower in the water, or doing more more extreme jumps etc?

I take it the 'coil' version of the MX still had the one air chamber on the left leg?

Dirtydog11

bertberr wrote:

Did you have the 'Air' version then? I understand that these are OK for lighter riders doing XC, but that the coil version would be better for those of us sitting a little lower in the water, or doing more more extreme jumps etc?

I take it the 'coil' version of the MX still had the one air chamber on the left leg?

I had a set of MX comp 04 ETAs for about three years. The main criticism I have is the fact that they're quite heavy (2KG), which was the main reason I replaced them.

Parts are easy enough to come by but your unlikely to need any as in my experience they're very reliable. Even after three years I had no play in the stanctions, although I suspect the open bath lubrication system and regular servicing may have had some thing to do with it.

Ryan Leech used to use a modified coil sprung version of these forks a few years ago so you may be correct in your assumption that coil sprung would be better for more extreme jumps etc.

mikee1979

I've had the 2004 MX Comp ETA as well, I really like them. True they are on the heavier side but they are good value for the money. Still have them on my hardtail and still do the job.