"Gman" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 10:06:11 -0500, KLydesdale <
[email protected]>
wrote:
> > Hmm... I'm 250lbs and, as opposed to my experiences with my other Marzocchi forks (a 99 Z2
> > Alloy, a 99 Z2 Atom Bomb and a 99 Z1 alloy -
all
> > equipped with the stiffest springs available for them), my experience
with
> > Marzocchi MX Comp forks has been that the x-heavy springs are too heavy
for
> > my tastes.
> >
> > When I built up my custom Curtlo steel hardtail last summer, I ordered
a MX
> > Comp from Doug Curtiss (the framebuilder) because he said he could get
me
> > one with x-heavy springs already installed in it at a great OEM price
($185)
> > direct from Marzocchi. But it looked like there was going to be a delay
in
> > getting this fork until after the frame was ready because Marzocchi USA
was
> > out of stock on 2003's and waiting for 2004's. Since I had an MTB
event
> > coming up in which I wanted to use the new bike, I bought a 2003 MX
Comp
> > from my favorite LBS because they were able to get me one in a couple of days through Quality
> > Bicycle Products at a price that beat a lot of mail order places ($216 US). At the advice of the
> > LBS owner, I held off
on
> > ordering heavier springs for it until I saw how the stock springs
performed
> > for me. To my surprise, the stock springs actually felt pretty damn
good.
> > There was none of the mushiness, excessive bottoming out and brake dive
that
> > I experienced with my other Marzocchi forks when I rode them with stock springs.
> >
> > When I did receive the MX Comp from Curtlo, the first thing I did was
swap
> > the heavier springs into the fork that was on the bike. I was suprised
to
> > find out how much harsher it felt with the heavier springs. A major difference in the 2004 fork
> > is that is uses an air preload mechanism
opposed
> > to the mechanical screw type pre-load adjuster on the 2003 model. One
of
> > the advantages of the air-preload set-up is that it gives you a means to adjust the overall
> > spring rate without having to actually swap coil
springs.
> > Since the preload mechanism is dictated entirely by the top cap assembly
and
> > these parts are easy to swap between my two forks, I've been easily
able to
> > play around with different springs and preload setups with both forks on
the
> > same bike . The setup I ended up with is the stock springs from the
2003 in
> > the 2004 fork with the air pre-load. For most of my riding I use no
added
> > pressure in the pre-load. The only time I may add air pressure is when
I
> > know the ride is going to be a long one on relatively smooth stuff.
> >
> > Based on this experience I'd recommend heavier guys just buy a stock
2004
> > MX Comp and see how it works out before getting heavier springs -
especially
> > if you have to pay extra for them. All you may need is a bit of
pressure
> > in the pre-load to give you extra spring stiffness when you need or want
it.
> >
>
> I must've missed this post earlier...glad to hear tho! I plan to buy the 2004 MX Comp and I'm
> about 220lbs. I ride pretty hard, and I've heard that this fork rides stiff. I'm glad to hear you
> confirm. No need to swap the springs. Those are some great prices tho...Everyplace I check it's
> $299, but seems to be well worth that.
>
Yeah those were good prices - that's why I ended up with two of them.
Here's a link to 2004 MX Comp forks from a place called Alfred E. Bike that has some pretty good
prices on them.
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=FK8107
