Technical specifications

Color :
- Glossy red, matte black or white (limited edition)

Diameter of the plungers:
- 36 mm (same chassis as the Fox 36 Rythm)

Travel (adjustable):
- 27.5'': 160, 170 or 180 mm
- 29'': 150, 160 or 170 mm

Cartridge
- Fox Grip (compression and rebound adjustments)
Choice of springs:
- Soft (54-68kg), Medium (68-82 kg), Firm (82-95 kg) and Extra-Firm (+ 95kg)

Deportation:
- 44 mm
Axis:
- 15X110 mm (Boost)
Weight
- 2525 g

Personal experience
Tester: Xavier Lefebvre (Mechanic at Epic), weight: 77kg, height: 189 cm,

Personal Bike: Scott Genius 2022 in size XL

favorite trails: King Kong, LB2, Super G (Sentiers du moulin), 1837, Tordue, Barbed wire, Baptême (MSA).

Installation and adjustment:
TheMarzocchi Bomber Z1 Coil comes with a Medium spring, which is perfect for me, but there's also the option of a Soft, Firm, or Extra-Firm spring. In its stock configuration, it's set to 170mm of travel for 29er wheels, which is 20mm more than the stock fork on my Scott Genius.

However, the fork travel is adjustable using spacer chips on the spring side. It's a fairly simple procedure, but if opening your suspension is a source of anxiety for you, the mechanics at our workshop will be happy to configure the suspension to the travel of your choice. This adjustment increases the versatility of the fork to allow it to conform to the demands of each bike while also offering the possibility of experimenting with different travels. For my part, I still ride the Bomber Z1 at 170 mm of travel, since it gives me an angle of about 64º very adequate for my riding style. On the spring side, once the correct spring is selected, the sag must be adjusted with the preload knob. A sag of 30% is recommended.

For the GRIP cartridge adjustments, only the slow rebound and slow compression are adjustable, which greatly simplifies the fork setup. I ride the fork with a fairly slow rebound. For the compression, I closed it by about 1/3 of a turn and the only times I change this setting is during long climbs, where I close it completely which has the effect of locking the suspension very effectively. The Marzocchi Bomber Z1 is a suspension that is simple to adjust in order to allow people who use it to maximize their time on the bike. As we say in the language of our southern neighbors: set it and forget it!

Sensations
Marzocchi has a strong history in the freeride world and this history is reflected in the Bomber Z1 Coil. This suspension is not aimed at a cross-country enthusiast. For forks of this type, it is better to look at Rockshox with the SID or at Fox 32 or 34. The Bomber Z1 is a rigid fork with a 36 mm chassis (which it shares with the Fox 36 Rythm). On the coil version, it is even heavier (250-300g more than the air version). This weight is felt during the climbs but personally, it is a detail that does not matter to me; what matters is the performance on the descents. I did notice, however, that with the increased sensitivity obtained thanks to the spring, technical climbs are easier: it is easier to maintain your line and the wheel easily passes over rocks and roots.

Downhill riding is where the Bomber Z1 shines! One word can sum up the fork's characteristic: sensitivity. Every little bump in the trail is absorbed and the big hits seem smaller! In rock fields, the fork goes over anything without problem and holds its line with ease. On longer descents, I noticed that my forearms were less tired. One of the criticisms of spring forks is the lack of progressivity compared to an air fork, but Marzocchi's engineers thought of everything: the spring side is sealed, so the air and oil inside the fork act as a cushion towards the end of the travel, thus increasing the suspension's progressivity. The only time I felt the fork bottom out was when I very badly misjudged the speed needed for a double jump on the famous elbow descent at Empire 47 and landed the front wheel in the face of the landing, thus ejecting me from the bike. It is also this progressiveness that preserves the pop so appreciated for jumps.

In conclusion, the Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Coil is an excellent choice for anyone who prefers downhill riding to climbing, looking for a quality fork that rivals the best, at a low price, while maintaining Marzocchi's simplistic philosophy.