Are Marzocchi's too plush?

[keen]

  I have been riding around on a RS Psylo for the last few months (4" mode w/ a firm spring) I finally got around to installing my 02' Z1 Freeride (4" travel kit installed w/ X heavy springs). Much smoother over the rough stuff but I have noticed I go thru most of my travel on mild downhills- which makes the front end nose dive on the mildest descents. I decided to run it @ 5"- same thing. I am sure the fork is performing the way it should- Is my riding style @ fault? or do Marzocchi's just soft? I am going to post a picture of my bike in the gallery in case something looks wrong in the set-up. Thanx

[TCP]

I have a number of different marzocchis and one of the main tuning adjustments is the height of the oil in the stanchions.  it sounds to me like you could raise the height of oil a bit (3-6mm) and that would make a bit of difference in the sagging.  take the top caps off, remove the springs and push the fork until it is completely compressed.  then measure the oil height from the top of the stanchion.  add just enough to raise the oil height a few mm and then try the fork again.  you may need to repeat until you get it the way you like it but it makes a world of difference in the feel.

[Dennis]

keen,
sorry can't help you with the fork issue, but I do have a question for you. I noticed in your gallery that you have a Talas rear shock on your bike. Have you had any of the problems that OP has had with his?
how do you like it? how does the bike handle at the different travels?
thanks for any info you can give me.
[smiley=groucho.gif]

[numbnuts]

yes they are well plush but i don't think you should be bottoming out when using your front brake ! You can play around with the oil level and also preload. I have been messing with mine [2001 z1] and currently have a soft and a med spring in there. It is like butter over small stuff but a bit too soft for my wt so i will be putting in the other med spring and probably add a touch more oil. You could also try a heavier oil.

[kkeen]

  I started out w/ a Marzocchi Wedge and messed around w/ it too much trying to make it a trail fork so I bought a Psylo. I purchased the Z1 and thought it would perform much better than the Psylo. I have the X heavy green springs and 7.5 wt. oil @ 50mm, a couple turns of preload. I am not sure that the problem is a dampning issue, it feels more like it is just under sprung. I could raise the oil level or try a different weight but I may loose the small bump plushness- reason I ditched the Psylo. Id like a fork that is plush on small bumps, but doesn't sag/ bottom on med. hits. I wonder what a coil w/ air fork rides like? Dennis: I never had the Talas on the trails (have a Stratos now) it blew thru too much travel w/ over 200 psi, it also would have required a slight frame notch which I didn't want to do.

[numbnuts]

I can't remember how much sag is recommended but if you haven't already, check the Marzzochi site, it has good charts giving recommendations for different wts and forks. Obviously you shouldn't be compressing the fork too much just sitting on the bike, but think all you can do is turn the preload more. If you're bottoming then you're going to have to mess with the oil. How much do you weigh ? A friend has the 03 Z1 sl, air/oil and he's been really happy so far.

[jimbo]

Here's a discussion from mtbr.com.  The original thread is about the DJs, but they talk about the Z1 as well and how to cure bottoming problems.  

http://forums13.consumerreview.com/crforum?14@66.LAI7a02sPuM.0@.efcfbd1

The Psylo is very progressive so it ramps up really quick.

[Matno]

Id like a fork that is plush on small bumps, but doesn't sag/ bottom on med. hits.

I'm no expert (i.e. I haven't tried all the new models) but I'm a huge fan of Manitou's TPC+ system. Works beautifully on my X-verts. There's a reason why Cannondale licensed the technology on their latest 5" Lefty fork. It's considered by many to be the best damper in the business. Allows you to have small bump plushness but ramps up quickly on really big hits.
I feel like I can compress my fork most of the way down just standing there, but I NEVER feel like it's bottoming out on the trail (in stark contrast to my old TPC "sport" fork, which bottomed easily). I use the lightest springs available with medium elastomer bumpers. Manitou ditched the TPC+ for a year due to some weird production issues (the first series of "Black" forks), then came back to it because it's so much better...

[keen]

  I might try more oil or a heavier wt. I still feel that the springs are too light. Like it was said "Psylo's are very progressive". I'd like a soft start and a quick ramp up in spring rate. I am no suspension expert but I think my Stratos rear shock (Helix Pro) uses the coil for small bump absorption w/ the added air to add for bottoming control. If Marzocchi had a stiffer spring I'd try that first but since I have the X heavy i'll go the oil route before I try the Psylo again.