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Seen some bargain Rev on CRC (posted in another thread on here) and am wondering if they'd be any better than the Bomber Z2's I already have.
They seem to be lighter and an extra 1mm dia on the stanchions so could be stiffer, and potentially could be upgraded easier with new internals??
Reckon I could probably sell the Bombers for around what the Revs would cost as well. Should I???
My understanding is the revs have more tuning options. You can smashpot coil convert them for example, but otherwise I don’t think you’d gain much. The motion co damper is not highly regarded. It works fine in my limited experience, but I guess it depends on how hard you ride. I have the revs with a view to coil conversion further down the line and a fox 34 which I think is similar to your Z2. I don’t think there’s much difference tbh.
The thing that annoys me about Z2s is on rough stony ground i.e. lots of small bumps like you get at trail centres. They feel pretty rough and I get sore hands pretty quickly. I have used Revs in the past before and not felt that but they were shorter travel and on a more XC bike.
Reckon I could probably sell the Bombers for around what the Revs would cost as well. Should I???
Are you sure? They are only 220 at CRC https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/marzocchi-bomber-z2-rail-boost-fork-112663348
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/ridden-and-rated-four-affordable-trail-bike-forks.html
This test should help. The RC damper is simple but it works. However the Z2 wins the test.
I'm contemplating the same swap from Z2 to Revelation in part due to the extra travel on the Revelation, in part due to stiffness. I have Pikes on another bike ran at 160mm and they feel significantly stiffer under braking than the Z2's . Pike is the same chassis as the Revelation.
Yeah the extra 10mm of trave could be good as well. Hmm, not sure....
Think those ones on CRC are slightly different to mine, but it could just be the stickers!! Wouldn;t mind if I didn't quite cover costs, I'd still be getting brand new forks.
I had seen that PB review, but that was 2019 and the Revs are 2021 version....
If the z2 has the same or very similar damper as the basic fox 34 then I'd stick with that over the rev.
I'd stick with the Z2.
What bike is it for anyway?
Nukeproof Reactor, came with Z2's. I had Fox 34's on a solaris before I bought this bike a couple of years ago, and kind of always wanted a burlier fork on this. I'm pretty heavy!
Think I'll hang fire on the Revs as really I want a Lyric or Fox 36, so will save some pennies/wait til I've paid the credit card off first!!
I'm 105kg and much prefer the Z2s that came with my bike over the Yaris off my old bike. Even with the thicker stanchion and 10mm extra travel of the Yaris.
Never felt like stiffness was an issue, but the Z2 is simple and just felt better straight away. The Yari (2020, B1 spring, FAST YariUp damper) has always felt too divey, and with all the adjustment available to me in the YariUp, I'm never sure that I've got it where I want it.
I definitely don't think I'd be going to a Rev over a Z2.
Cool thats what I want to hear, saves me faffing. I'm 105kgs as well.
Nukeproof Reactor, came with Z2’s
I may change mine in the future and if I did I'd grab an extra 10mm I think.
Yeah, hold out for a Lyrik or 36 I reckon (or maybe a Z1, helm or mezzer?)
Look for a cheap 36 Rhythm. Grip damper, and should be noticeably stiffer than the Z2 or the Rev.
Experience would suggest to me at least that nothing could be worse then the RC damper. I'm fairly light at about 65kg and the RC damper in my Revs was so harsh that I couldn't see where I was going when things got fast and bumpy.
Swapped to a Fast Components Up! damper and it was night and day levels of different (better). The air spring was still terrible but the damping was acceptable at least.
Motion control dampers are mince, they always choke and spike if ridden hard.
If you are mincing about, they work fine.
Z2 bushings are not designed to be replaced, which is a problem long term.
Pick your poison.
Z2 bushings are not designed to be replaced, which is a problem long term
This is another reason I fancy a change. Is it all Z2s that are non replaceable, or just all OEM Z2s.
I put the Novyparts Splug in my Revelations and it also made a big difference to the performance of the fork. Think it cost me about £110 as an upgrade so makes it less of a bargain swap out, but you’d probably get that for the Bombers so I’d still be inclined to go for it. I’m considering a coil conversion in due course and upping travel to 150mm (it’s on a Ragley Big Wig).