[Closed] Marzocchi 55 RC3 Ti - Still worth a punt?

After doing lots of reading as I am in the market for a fork in this range, I think if I can get one it will be my next fork. The reviews are all amazing, it's still fairly current. The last of a good fork it would seem.

I thought long and hard about these when I replaced my 36s, the one thing that put me off is the 170mm - Marz are normally a slightly longer A2C than Fox IIRC, plus the extra 10mm travel - I didn't want a longer fork, and they can't be lowered AFAIK.

I run them on a meta five in the Lakes, they are a brilliant fork and I would highly recommend them,yes there a bit too long for the frame but they sit quite low in the travel and don't seem to bother the steering on techy stuff.

The only down side is the bike can feel as though you have a soft front tyre compared to an air fork, if you do a lot of rocky trails or endure events a fork cant get much better than this imho..

I took a while to make up my mind also, 36 Floats, Devilles, Lyriks or these. 175g heavier than tha 36 talas I took off but my are they worth it. Super plush and no more arm ache after a longish descent.

Travel is easily reduced - just pop a 10mm spacer underneath the negative spring and reduce spring pre-load accordingly.

Will do mine when they get a stock-oil flush and see how i like it....

Had them for a couple of months now and they are amazing. Had 36 Talas and they are not comparable, well worth it, so so plush!

crankrider - Member
Travel is easily reduced - just pop a 10mm spacer underneath the negative spring and reduce spring pre-load accordingly.

Sure about that? I had read differently.

I have done with other forks in the past (boxxer and an old pace fork) and have seen here: http://forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/marzocchi-44-ti-rc3-140mm-internally-lower-travel-726972-2.html

Adding a 10mm spacer underneath the negative spring compresses the postitive spring by 10mm - coil springs are linear so just back the pre-load off, you can adjust oil height and weight if needed.

I wonder if windwave would sell the 2011 spring assembly though if you want to do it the 'correct' / easy way.

amazing fork!

My 55 RC3 Ti is 250g heavier than my 36 Float RC2. Performance wise I prefer the supple feel of the 55. My fork is 2010 so any relevance to 2013 models is almost pointless.

£850 for a fork? Madness.

Paid £700 for my 2012 ones, and they're mint. Just out of interest, who is everyone sending their forks to for servicing? Windwave offer it for £65, which is a whole lot cheaper than TF. I won't be doing them myself as I'm crap with this sort of thing. Also, anyone on here removed the foam seals (under the dust seals) to improve performance, or changed the oil after the first week (as recommended in the Dirt review)? Ta.

Amazing forks! Have had two sets (2010 & 2011 models), both amazing. p!ss all over Fox RC2 and Lyrik RC2DH dampers IMO.

Haven't removed the foam ring, just popped the dust seals up and soaked them in oil and added some fork grease. Stops them getting notchy when the ring dries out 😉

>£850 for a fork? Madness.<

Indeed... but isn't a comparable Fox product in the same ballpark?

Besides, I'm more interested in whole life costs - what does it take to keep a pair of these running reliably over 3 years hard use in comparison to say Fox for example?

I've had Lyrik 2 steps and Fox Talas 36 recently and neither impress quite frankly. Far too complicated with service requirements which are too onerous for UK riding. If Marzocchi or the guys that left to set up this new operation can produce something that works reliably and doesn't need opened up every 15 hrs that's where I'll be taking my business.

wl - Flotec in Scotland. Very good service...

Just got a set of 44 RC3 Ti's from CRC for £300.

I've been using the 44 Micro Ti forks for a couple of years.

The RC3's seem to be the same, but more so, if that makes sense.

Probably best fork I've owned, tbh.

If you don't change the oil the performance deteriorates considerably... thankfully changing the oil is piece of piss (which reminds me mine are rather overdue 🙄 ).

For the ultimate performance fork how about the [url= http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/Marz/Marzocchi%2055.htm ]Avalanche racing 55 RC3 Ti EVO kit[/url]

At speed and in the gnar the 55 is devine but at low speed in techy manouvers and under braking it is a little prone to dive through the travel... you get used to how it behaves but a little more hold-up would be good (IMHO/IMHE tweaking the adjusters to fix this does little other than ruin the high speed performance... and my Fox RC2 is no different in this regard). The Avy kit could make a good fork awesome... and since I paid £340 for mine as they are the unloved 1.5" steerer model even with the kit they would still be a bargain 8)

Messiah - cheers. Do you mean changing it once after the initial bedding in of the fork, or changing it often? I read that changing it after a week is good. And will any fork oil do, so long as it's the same weight as what I'm replacing? Or are some better than others? Ta.

Worth a punt **** me compared to sh11ty Fox these are the dog danglies..

i have 55rc3 ti's 160 mm 2011's, they're amazing on the bigger stuff!

wl - I meant after a week as advised. Then yearly is probably enough. For oil I would not go super cheap or expensive.

Messiah - cool and cheers for the advice. I'm running these forks on my hardtail and full-sus. Is there any particular oil you'd recommend, and what weight oil for a 12 stone (kitted up) rider for a nice 'active' feel? Soz to fire so many questions at you - I haven't got much of a clue about oils and servicing. Ta.

wl - I just go by here (I'm no expert but at 12 stone normal 7.5 weight oil should be fine for you).

[url= http://www.marzocchi.com/Template/contenuto.asp?idC=1561&IdFolder=777 ]Marzocchi Oil Volumes[/url]

My LBS had the right oil but if your's dousn't they could order for you, or try a motorbike shop... or order online etc. Loads of places have the stuff (even Halfords probably).

Messiah - thanks again. I do a lot of riding and the 55s are great, but ever since I bought them I couldn't help thinking that I wasn't quite getting the best performance out of them, despite regularly lubing the foam rings under the the dust seals. Never realised changing the oil could make such a difference until I saw stuff online and in Dirt's review of the 2012 model. I'll be getting the oil changed in both sets now. Cheers for your help.