Non Retro Marzocchi Marathon SL 100-120mm

[Pipmeister]

Marzocchi Marathon SL 100–120mm 2006

Virtually immaculate with very low mileage – see picture Marzocchi Marathon_2 for unmarked brace underside.

http://s1116.photobucket.com/albums/k58 ... er4/Forks/


Air Spring 100mm – 120mm adjustable travel.
Externally Adjustable Rebound Damping.
Externally Adjustable Compression Damping with lockout (not Marzocchi Extension Control Cartridge).
Rim Brake compatible with original low profile Marzocchi removable bosses included.
Disc Post Mount with Hope I.S. Adaptor included.
216mm / 8 ½” Steerer.
1,720g.

4 separate air chambers enabling fine-tuning.
Adjustable Axle to Crown measurement and available travel (not dissimilar to Rock Shox U-Turn).
Positive Air: TST cartridge - Right leg.
Positive Air: Doppio-Air cartridge – Left leg.
Negative Air: Doppio-Air cartridge – Left leg.
PAR: Air Progression at end of travel – Lower left leg.
Marzocchi Pump Adaptor included.
Marzocchi Manual included – You will need it to get your head around that lot!

Purchased new & now removed from my Kinesis Max Light XC Pro, which I have since replaced with Rock Shox Reba.

£139 including U.K. signed for shipping - PayPal or cheque. £130 if collected. Dibs here first & PM with details.

 

[Anthony]

Hmmmm, tempting and unsurprisingly immaculate, but possibly more than I can handle.

I don't know whether I've ever consciously seen a 2006 Marathon SL, so can you tell me whether it is actually white please? It looks more like light grey.

I was just wondering whether it would play nicely with my Rocky Mountain - which was originally fitted with an earlier Marathon that was white.

 

[Pipmeister]

Good evening Anthony.

The forks are indeed grey, with a very fine metallic finish. The closest representation of the colour (on my old monitor) is the picture of the Dropouts and Rebound Damping knob.

To be honest I was always a little disappointed in them despite ‘only’ paying £260 for them from a RRP of £440. They were bought with the intention of upgrading from the previously fitted 2002 Marzocchi MXC that I had originally built the frame up with.

I spent a long time tweaking with the adjustments on the Marathon, but was never really content with them. I contacted Windwave, who gave some good tips, but I ended up wishing that I had bought some Rebas. The Axle to Crown dimension was too long for me, despite eventually achieving the shorter 100mm travel set-up. That is part of the reason for the good condition of the forks, as I tended not to use my Kinesis as much as perhaps I would have.

Having said that, they are plush, and do look a little bit old school. So if you need a little more height at the front end than perhaps the usually expected 470mm A-C for 100mm travel – then think on.

Hope that helps.

Regards, Pip.

 

[Anthony]

Do the photos show it at the 100mm setting then? I assumed it was at the 120mm travel setting, but it does look quite long if that's 100. Marzocchi quote 479mm a-c, which is just a tiny smattering longer than you would expect of a 100mm fork, but nothing to worry about.
http://www.marzocchi.com/template/detai ... tto=28027#

The 2002 Element TSc was designed as a race bike with a 455mm/80mm travel fork, so I'd have no qualms about 479mm with the EA70 riser I have on it, but that does look quite long.

 

[Pipmeister]

I took the pictures yesterday. They are currently set to 100mm travel, which leaves nearly 120mm of exposed stanchion at rest.

They do compress a full 100mm at this setting but as a result of this, the Axle to Crown measurement is not as the Marzocchi Spec documents. Mind you, they also do not weigh a piffling 1,526g as documented – my digital scales are calibrated, and they are reading 1,720g.

I’ve just measured the A-C, and it is more like 495mm. This was my problem with them, as the Kinesis was rather sluggish with such a high front end. I tried running them with more sag to compensate, but the result was a rather sloppy feel. All I can say is that I rode the Kinesis yesterday and the bike has come to life with a pair of Reba Race. I don’t get a full 100mm of travel from the Reba, but the A-C is bang on 470mm at rest, which I’m running with 15mm sag.

I probably give the impression that I’m talking you out of fitting them to your Rocky Mountain – I’m hopefully giving all the information that is relevant. Another rider may find them to be just fine. I did a little Google search on them, to find out about other rider’s experiences. The only piece I found of relevance was referring to the complexity of setting them up.

 

[Anthony]

Hmmm, regrettably I think that's too long for my particular frame, although no doubt an excellent fork for a frame with the right geometry for it.

Thanks for giving such a clear explanation.

 

[Pipmeister]

You are very welcome.

If there are no takers on here, I’ll try my very first sale on eBay this coming Sunday.