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EB13: Marzocchi Revamps XC, DH Forks & Shocks – Plus All-New 350NCR Enduro Fork!

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2015-marzocchi-350NCR-long-travel-enduro-suspension-fork

For 2014, Marzocchi’s completely revamped their naming scheme along with their DH fork, updated the cross country forks and introduced a bruiser of a new long travel enduro fork.

Each fork gets named based on the stanchion diameter, which gives a clue as to its intended purpose, and letters mainly indicate the key external adjustment features. The 38mm stanchion dual crown downhill fork is the 380, the XC models are the 320 (32mm) and the new 350 enduro bouncers have 35mm stanchions…and we’ll start with that one.

New top of the line 350NCR enduro fork is technically a 2015 product and will come available next spring. It gets a modified lockout damper that doesn’t actually fully lockout, it just creates more of a platform. They felt this was more appropriate for that type of rider.

It also features are external compression and rebound dials. Now, let’s learn what’s on the inside…

2015-marzocchi-350NCR-long-travel-enduro-suspension-fork

It does away with their usual open bath system, instead getting a new Dynamic Bleed Cartridge (DBC) semi sealed system that lets the oil circulate out of the top of the cartridge to cool and go back into the circuit as needed.

2015-marzocchi-350NCR-long-travel-enduro-suspension-fork

Next down the line is the 350CR without lockout lever but gets a new bronze-hued “Gold Race Coating” on the stanchions.

Both of those use an air main spring with coil negative spring. On the other leg you have the damper cartridge with various external adjustments based on model. Marzocchi wanted to make their forks even more tunable, so you can easily pull the cartridge and change the compression shim stack to customize it, all without having to completely disassemble the lowers.

Travel options will be 140, 150 and 160 millimeters, internally adjustable with spacers. A third model (not shown) will be a coil spring version with only rebound adjustment. Final weights are TBD, but they should be very competitive.

2014-marzocchi-new-remote-lockout-switch01

Those and the XC forks will get a new lockout remote lever as an option. Push the lever down to lock (or turn on the platform for the 350’s), then just tap the button to release. Easy peasy.

Both the 350 and 380 fork get high end SFK seals.

2014-marzocchi-380-dual-crown-downhill-suspension-fork

The new 380 downhill fork gets external high and low speed compression and rebound damping knobs, giving you a lot of control over the feel. Plus, it also has the easy change shim stack.

2014-marzocchi-380-dual-crown-downhill-suspension-fork

The top model gets a titanium coil spring (it’s not an air fork) and comes in at a claimed 2.79kg. Helping keep the weight low is an all-new lowers casting…

2014-marzocchi-380-dual-crown-downhill-suspension-fork

…and a new taper wall thru axle.

2014-marzocchi-380-dual-crown-downhill-suspension-fork

The 38mm stanchions use their nickel coating and taper externally between the clamps.

2014-marzocchi-Moto-C2R-DH-coil-mountain-bike-shock

The Moto shocks also get updated, with two versions of the Moto C2R. The one shown here is the stock item and has hi/low speed external compression adjustments at the top. Pull them out and you can quickly change the shim stacks on these, too.

One of the big structural changes is that the shaft and lower eyelet are now one piece, making a stronger, lighter unit. The rebound adjustment knob is built into it.

2014-marzocchi-Moto-C2R-DH-coil-mountain-bike-shock

The upgraded version uses Progression Booster adjustment (black knob on the bottom of the piggy back chamber on left) that opens up more chambers inside the nitrogen compensator chamber, creating more volume. There are three chambers, and it’s more linear during compression with all three open, more progressive with one. They did this to avoid putting sliding pistons in it like with a threaded volume adjust knob.

Quick tech explanation: The nitrogen compensator chamber is essentially a small, compressible chamber that’s separated from the oil reservoir by an IFP (Internal Floating Piston). As the shock compresses, more oil is pushed into the reservoir, which compresses the nitrogen chamber. During rebound, the nitrogen pushes back, helping force the oil back through the circuit, which is generally routed through the rebound circuit at that point.

2014-marzocchi-320-XC-MTB-suspension-forks

For Cross Country, the new 320 series of XC forks gets 32mm stanchions and is headlined by the 320LCR Carbon (left), which has a one-piece carbon fiber crown and steerer. It uses a new LCR damping cartridge with ext high speed compression and rebound adjustment and a lockout lever.

Across the board, the new design saves about 40g over the 2013 models and come with 80/100/120 travel, internally adjustable. The fork in the middle is the alloy crowned 320LCR. On the far right is the 320LR base level with lockout and rebound only. It gets an improved gold coating on the stanchions, but it’s not as smooth as the nickel coating on the other two.

2014-marzocchi-320-XC-MTB-suspension-forks

Marzocchi.com

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16 Comments
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Samuel J. Greear
10 years ago

I suppose they are still selling junk that breaks a few times a season…

pornitswhatlwouldratherbmaking
pornitswhatlwouldratherbmaking
10 years ago

Marz looking freakn nice! I would sport the crap out of all the stuff shown. However, l like Kashima as much as the next guy but couldnt they have another color. Kashima Gold is a Fox thing. Blue, green, or red or even multicolors would be better then gold.

Henry
Henry
10 years ago

350 looks great. Since gentlemen prefer the Kona Honzo, will the 350 be offered in a compatible size?

mzbxc k
mzbxc k
10 years ago

guessing thats a 15mm axle on the 350???

duder
duder
10 years ago

So how is the 350CR different from the current gen 55CR? Sounds like travel options and maybe chassis weight are the only things that have changed? Will it still have a 20mm axle?

Kirk
Kirk
10 years ago

What’s the wheel size on the new 350? No ti spring version is extremely disappointing. This air spring better be good. Also, is it 20mm or 15mm axle size?

shopmonkey
shopmonkey
10 years ago

I used to be a huge fan of Marzocchi. I gave them one last chance and bought a 2012 fork and had problems with it. Now I am riding a Rockshox which has been great. Note to Marzocchi: If you want customers to return, please go back to producing reliable, high quality forks…
Made in Italy.

Mark
Mark
10 years ago

Re: colours on the fork stanchions

As far as I know, they could do any colour. From my understanding, fork stanchions are just anodized aluminium. Anodizing aluminium creates surface pits, and they are dipped in a dye which fills in those pits. That’s where the colour comes from, so they can theoretically do any colour. Some colours, however, can be difficult to get a consistent result from, which would lead to some manufacturers choosing not to offer them.

On a similar note – the Kashima coat from Fox is just molybdenum disulfide and a gold dye filling the anodizing pits. (Molybdenum disulfide is a lubricant).

Geeves
Geeves
10 years ago

New lowers and graphics otherwise the 55 CR looks like it’s now the 350CR with the same dynamic bleed cartridge it previously had. Not a bad thing. Why change what works so well.

Samuel J. Greear
10 years ago

shopmonkey, Either you are far more forgiving or your bad experience wasn’t nearly as bad as mine.

My note to Marzocchi: I have wasted so much money and ride time on your products it is unbelievable. Fully refund the purchase price of the junk products you have produced that I have wasted my money on and I will consider not badmouthing your brand at every opportunity, but I will never use a Marz. product again.

Humdinger
Humdinger
10 years ago

To all those haters out there, especially you Samuel, I have been a long time owner of many sets of my Zocchi forks including 2002-2007, 2011, 2012 and recently 2013, including the 44, 55 and recently 66, all RC3 Ti coils granted, but all have been absolutely sublime.
Taking the 55 as an example, all you need to do is read the forums and realized it is one of the most bombproof, reliable, plush, superb performing forks there is too buy. Granted their air forks still have shady reliability by all accounts and need work but there’s no point in slandering a company in its entirety when they clearly still produce absolutely superb products.
I have been riding for over 20 years now and have ridden all the main manufacturers, modern on old and a variety of them at that, and they ALL have problems, none of them are perfect, none of them fully reliable, but with the coil Zocchi forks they have been sublimely good in my humble experience.

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

Why do they need sucker colored stanchions?

No information on travel, wheel diameter, and weight.

mor
mor
10 years ago

Forks: 350 NCR, 350 CR, 350 R
Travel: 140 / 150 / 160 mm, internal adjust.
Weel: 27.5′ (650B)
Weight: 1.9 kg (NRC version).
Colors: black and white.

Engineer
Engineer
10 years ago

@ Mindless

Why not use sucker colored stanchions, look at how many kashima coats fox has sold.

Samuel you gave no backup whatsoever to your problems. Im gonna have to side with humdinger here.

Tony
Tony
10 years ago

Unbelieveably marzocchi has ditched Ti springs and 20mm axles for their enduro line, and reverted to air springs. What`s the reason then for running zocchi, if you basically get a pike/float36 with a red M on it? Please tell me I can retrofit my 26r 55 rc3 ti internals with a small travel-limiting bumper to the new 650b 350-series fork, or can retrofit the 350 650b lowers to my 55s?

ka81
6 years ago

Where to buy that manual lock out lever (here on first photo in review)? Or at least part number for that lever…
Don’t like the remote lever.

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