Skip to main content

Marzocchi 55 CR fork


MARZOCCHI’S 650B/27.5IN fork wasn’t ready for testing, but the 55CR is a hard riding 26in bargain.

The 35mm stanchions and big 20mm screw-through axle aren’t light but they hold the front wheel in an impressively solid grip. The Teflon enriched Gold Race stanchion coating and coil negative spring mean a smooth and sensitive start, and the AER air spring gives a smoothly progressive stroke rather than blowing through its travel. Spacers to take the travel down to 150mm (5.9in) are included in the box

One click of the small ‘flagged’ rebound knob makes a big difference so tuning needs care. The hybrid Dynamic Bleed Cartridge damping system works well. There’s occasional rebound hiccup on really savage sustained sections or a hint of spike just before the blow-off valve in the cartridge triggers when you really slap it. But we never felt the fork was cramping our speed or style, which makes the Marzocchi a real bargain for just over 780$.

The low-speed compression dial adds useful pedal bob and cornering stability if you need it. And if you don’t, there’s a coil sprung, straight steerer version of the fork with rebound adjustment only for just 625$ (55 R).

Travel 170mm
Weight 2,235g
Length 555mm
Wheel sizes 26in

PRICE: 828$








Labels

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

Nukeproof Vector AM Comp Cro-Mo saddle

The Vector AM is pretty race focused, with minimal padding. There’s a deep (if narrow) pressurerelief channel to keep the blood flowing where it’s meant to. Used with bib shorts, we found it pretty comfortable for shorter rides and suffered no pain or discomfort in the central region. On steep climbs the slightly downturned nose provides a reasonable forward perch, while the svelte profile and smooth edges make it particularly unobtrusive when moving about on the descents. It’s quite stiff though, and can feel harsh on long rides or bumpy ground. We definitely wouldn’t want to spend much time on it without a chamois. It’s heavier than we’d expect for such a lightly padded perch too. There’s a lighter Pro version with titanium rails for $105, but at 241g it’s only 10g lighter. Weight 251g Price $67

READ MORE >>

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

READ MORE >>

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

Merida Big Seven 100

We've rolled up to our local woods, with a meandering blue trail, some natural wooded tracks and a bit of fire road chucked into the mix to see how the Big Seven 100 tackles trails that entry-level riders are likely to cut their teeth on.

READ MORE >>