A report on dirt says Tennaco is to close the loss making bike unit. Really really hope not as I have always loved marzocchi forks, especially now that they have got their s..t together again and are producing ace product. Sad.
got any linkage ?
it is a shame - I've had 2 of their forks and even the "shit" one isn't bad
http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/Marzocchi-Facing-Financial-Troubles-May-Close,381
Cheers for the update, hadn't heard anything about this until read this,
if they're not making money it would make sense, after 3 years of having a bad rep. and not selling much I guess they're see it as too much effort and too exspensive to build the brand back up.
Maybe they'll pull out of the MTB market for a few years, till the financial situation starts to recover and them come back with a new range, producing the Moto stuff would mean they'll have the kit to re start production relativly easily.
The new forks are great - my 44RC3's are fantastic. I guess the years when they went to sh1t did so much damage to their reputation that they couldn't recover. Sad news.
[url= http://dirt.mpora.com/news/marzocchi-financial-difficulty.html ]http://dirt.mpora.com/news/marzocchi-financial-difficulty.html[/url]
Wow, that's a shame. What a colossal **** up moving their production out to the far East was. Totally ruined their reputation in just a couple of years. I wonder who made that decision. Probably some big swinging ballbag exec who gave himself a big pat on the back for saving money on the production costs.
Bugger, I like 'em.
Got 2 pairs that have been running well for years and I can't kill... so I guess they aren't getting any repeat business from people like me.
I suspect it would be sold rather than closed?
*looks at 2 pairs of 44 Micro Ti's in the garage and hopes for a good outcome*
Closing their MTB arm, sounds like they'd still be producing the 'power sports' stuff which is the money making part of the business.
Perhaps their products are getting too over-complicated these days? All sorts of new clever damping tech/fork tech... which breaks down...
Therefore they get labelled as 'a shit year for Marz' ?
My old Monster (1999) are still working mint to this day! And they're incredibly simple mechanically.. ( I know they're not ubber-tech by todays standards, but their simplicity has stood the test of time)
And don't they have a massive range (i.e. too big?) of products to maintain?
Bitten off more they can chew?
I still have my original Z1's I love 'em!
Also have a pair of Shivers, another great fork.
Still want a pair of AM1...
I hope for a good outcome. I've not used Zoke's for a few years but I'm always tempted to come back as I have happy memories of them.
never liked them never have (apart from the days when the z1 bams were around). fox and rockshox are the leaders in the market now since marzocchi made a series of bad batches over the years people have lost faith in them. All the major wc teams run fox or rockshox.
888's with string in them - i mean seriously come on!.
Wont be shedding a tear for them no major loss tbh.
🙁 All my bikes run Marz, they go boing-squelch since they're full of oil and don't grind stanchions into paste.
Closing their MTB arm, sounds like they'd still be producing the 'power sports' stuff which is the money making part of the business.
Not that long ago the american guy who heads the bike arm was boasting about the much higher margins in bike suspension than in the automotive stuff.
How he managed to keep his job after effectively destroying the brand in 2008 with the move to overseas production is beyond me.
Marzocchi are being taken over by Sram. They're moving part of the production to Germany and abandoning the rest. Not sure what effect this will have on the lineup though.
source?
Marzocchi are being taken over by Sram. They're moving part of the production to Germany and abandoning the rest. Not sure what effect this will have on the lineup though.
Would love to think the brand will be saved but would hate to think that the product will just be rebadged rockshox.
the bomber z2s were in one of the best colours of anything ever made. even better than the also exemplary z1s.
i really hope it gets sold some people who love bikes
marzocchi transformed the sport back in the day
forks went from crappy elastomer sprung, undamped flexy health hazards to buttery smooth indestrucable mountain munchers thanks to marzocchi
plenty of those 90s bombers are still running today, longevity that makes 15hr service intervals look like the joke they are!
My brother had some z4's and some mx pros. He rode them to work everyday and then hammered them all weekend. "Hey have you ever serviced these?" "Yeah... I put some air in 4 years ago".
Great forks at the time, but when I was looking for something new they didn't have anything that matched up.
fox and rockshox are the leaders in the market now since marzocchi made a series of bad batches over the years people have lost faith in them.
Rock shox: anyone remember how dreadfull everything pre reba/revelation/pike? I had some dukes and they were just awfull forks.
Fox: Stanchions, and the 40's have a reputation for needing a rebuild every 5 miuntes.
All the major wc teams run fox or rockshox.
Intense/Nukeproof CRC?
Besides, they're paid to ride what they're given, iff 'Zocchi are in financial dificulty they wont have been paying big bucks to get them on big teams.
Why would SRAM buy another fork manufacturer?
Why would SRAM buy another fork manufacturer?
Google says nothing? Source Jack?
Especialy seeing as 'zocchi were always associated with the burly end of the spectrum, where RS's Boxxer is equaly iconic?
Agree with DBW, can't see SRAM buying them.
I think they struggle with a bit of an identity crisis, I just don't really know anything about them, and I like to think I know a reasonable amount about bikes. I remember the old Z1-Z5 range in the late 90s/early 00s, Monster-Ts, MX Comps etc etc, but I have no idea at all what their rival to an F100 or a SID is these days (if they even have one), and consequently I'd not consider buying them. Suggests this:
And don't they have a massive range (i.e. too big?) of products to maintain?
Could be true.
Sad news 😥
My 44RC3ti s have been absolutely superb. Knocked the spots of the previous Fox junk that disintigrated within 9 months. 🙁
I'm so very tempted to buy some 55s or 66s in RC3ti flavour now, while I can, even though I haven't yet sorted a bike to put 'em on.
Hmm, I would've thought they'd bin the Suntour name and keep Zocchi even if it were just a case of renaming all the XCRs etc? Marzocchi might have lost some of their brand rep but it's still a strong name.
A real shame but the blip they had really was unbelievable.
In addition, how do you make a loss on such ticket items that aren't that complex internally?!!!! Afterall they aint FIT internals are they?
Signed alongterm Mazz fan 🙁
I'm so very tempted to buy some 55s or 66s in RC3ti flavour now, while I can, even though I haven't yet sorted a bike to put 'em on
Wait till they are being knocked out cheap on CRC.
this just came up on twitter from the UK Marzocchi Rep;
[i]positive vibes coming out of #Marzocchi watch this space[/i]
2005 FORKS WERE GREAT
When I was buying my DH170 Lyriks the lbs also brought out some 55 RC3's. I liked them however I couldn't understand why the 55's were £200 more (at that shops pricing).
Wiggle's was a fantastic deal!
Wait till they are being knocked out cheap on CRC.
...buys stack of vouchers and sits back in a manner closely resembling that of a (hungry) big cat ...
It will be cool if CRC etc sell them off cheap; not so cool if there's no back-up or spare parts.
Heard hope was thinking about buying that side of the bizness,maybe bollocks,you never know?
but I have no idea at all what their rival to an F100 or a SID is these days (if they even have one), and consequently I'd not consider buying them.
The Corsa Superleggera and it's quite good. And with 3 years warranty with no servicing stipulations too. Be a shame to see it go under just as they're turning it around.
http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/gear/components/forks-mtb/marzocchi-corsa-super-leggera-rc.htm
how sad based on gary lakes review up there the supperlaga wees all over the sids and f series but obviously no ne buys them
i think id like hope to have them, great service would be guaranteed!
2007 FORKS WERE GREATERER.
THe 2004 Z1 FR was the pinnacle of fork development.
I'm looking forward to the 10th anniversary of mine in about 3 years time, I'll probably celebrate by giving them their first service.
Shame if this happens, had pretty-much decided on a 55 for next year now that they've put the 2008 debacle behind them.
So does that mean warranties won't be honoured ?
Still loving my 2001 Z1 drop offs. Running flawlessly for 10 years. Wasn't aware they'd lost reputation at all.
Also still running 04 z1 forks. Have been a cracking fork, 2 services in that time. Only looking to upgrade now to a 20mm axle. Will put these on another bike and keep running them. Maybe I'm light on forks, i still run a set of '98 SIDS- always gets comments when they come out!
I still have a pair of 2001 Z2 BAM's in the shed, they were shit. They have a bent steerer, and the stanchions are worn on both legs. Didn't exactly work well when they were new either from what I remember, they were always blowing seals.
It's a great shame to hear this, Marzocchi seem to have turned around the quality problems of the mid 2000s and I've read some rave reviews about their stuff. The 55s in particular look very interesting.
Let's hope that someone suitable takes them over.
SR Suntour are buying them to carry on production .
Oldfart,
Any faulty forks will have to be sorted under the standard sales of goods act, which means returning to the shop you bought them at. Any extended guarantees beyond SoG your out of luck unless the new brand owner decides to honour it.
Sram must be laughing. Fox won't even notice.
How could they move production to the far east, put their prices high for what they are and still lose money? Was there a gold coin inside every steerer?
At their rrp I'd have Fox any day of the week over Mazz. I remember saying 'wow old technology with spangly paint at 600+ are they mad'?
Hmmm, 2001 Z1's still going strong here, along with far less used 2005 MX Comps.
That said, the bad years were bad. Had some on a hire bike, thought how bad could it be etc, but they were terrible and I know several people that had to take stuff back - we're not just talking a short life and a bit of stanchion wear here, we're talking scrap metal in months.
Pity as it sounded like they had sorted things out and I had some earmarked for "next bike". Hope they keep the quality up and gimmickry down if they continue (and that they keep selling spares for my old forks, not that I'll need all that many).
Still using some 02 mxc and 03 DJ3 both bought 2nd hand... pissed all over the RS dukes and psylos of the same era (IMO).
The 2008 "issues" did for their reputation with those into bikes and seems long term to have affected OEM sales too which is probably the bigger impact on the business.
I'll be interested once the interweb chinese whispers die down to see what actually becomes of them. I think there is still some value in the brand. just not as much as there was say 98 - 2000ish.
Would make sense for Suntour to buy them. I'd very much doubt that someone like Hope or Planet X would have the disposable assets to pay off Marzocchi's debts.
The big question will be, what forks for owning burglars once Marzocchi have gone?
shame, I was just contemplating moving back to them from fox for my next set.
Definitely considering buying a pair of 55 rc3 ti before they disappear. My solo air totems are nothing compared to my 44's in terms of soaking up general trail rocks and roots.
I still have a pair of 2001 Z2 BAM's in the shed, they were shit. They have a bent steerer, and the stanchions are worn on both legs. Didn't exactly work well when they were new either from what I remember, they were always blowing seals.
What the hell did you do to them? Was it the alloy steerer type? I believe the running gear in most of the range were fairly similar at that time and I know dozens of people still running forks from that era that swear by them. Suppose everyone can't get a good fork though, must have been some dodgy ones.
It would be a tragedy if Marzocchi disappears... currently got two on bikes: a 2004 MX Pro, which works as good as new; and an older MXR. A sad lesson in corporate stupidity... some of these pillocks know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. 🙁
As others have said, real shame if they are to go.
Still got some '04 Marathons on my hardtail that are as good as they were when new (in performance anyway, appearance these days is a little 'rugged'), despite only having a couple of oil changes in that time.
In terms of price and weight, they were always up against it. A price sometimes worth paying when the quality and reliability is good. When its bad, then people stay clear. Bit of a shock that its happened now, just as they are slowing regaining a bit of faith from the masses.
I wonder if as many people will still be running the same Fox/Rockshox forks with little/no service 10 years from now. Somehow I think not.
The nearest thing to a fit and forget mountain bike component I've ever had I reckon. Glad I've got some 2010 55's in the potting shed ready for when the Lyriks die.
The other two fork manufacturers have got too complacement with their captive share of the market. It seems to be common(accepted) practice these days to have to add your own oil to new forks as they can't be bothered to put enough in at the factory...on £700+ forks!!!
Having to repair their bad image seems to have made Marz really up their game. The market needs Marz (and others) to add a bit of much needed competition, both in terms of quality and cost.
latest post on Marz website gives a bit of hope 🙂