A quick look at the fork: 170 millimetres of travel, air suspension with adjustable rebound and compression up to blocking of the fork, a massive chassis with 36 millimetre stanchions, not exactly light at 2.24 kilograms and visually a mix between Marzocchi and Fox. The latter is no coincidence, as the Italian suspension fork brand is owned by Fox. It is therefore not surprising that the inner workings also come from the US suspension specialist. The difference lies in the price - the Bomber costs less than 900 francs. So a cheap brand from Fox?

The basic set-up suggested by Marzocchi and Fox fits quite well. In this case, 70 psi at 74 kilograms body weight. The one factory air volume spacer was mostly left in, as the Z1 offers sufficient progression for normal to active riding. The 170 millimeters of travel are never fully usable at the right air pressure. The last bit of travel is only released when the going gets tough. Thanks to this, the fork remains high enough in its travel during prolonged braking on steep terrain, offering reserves even in such situations. However, if you are riding aggressively, you can easily add one more spacer. When it comes to rebound, the specification of fully closed eight to ten clicks open fits quite well. However, this is also a matter of taste, and the fork has often been ridden with a little less rebound.

When the fork amazed us on its first trail with its very fine response, it was to be expected that the response would deteriorate over time. But just because the Z1 is inexpensive doesn't mean its quality is poor. Even after more than half a year, it still works almost like new. Even though it has not been treated nicely. Washing with a high-pressure cleaner, no relubrication or putting it in a dirty corner - Marzocchi's Enduro fork has endured all of this without a murmur. So the quality is impressive. Of course, the Bomber Z1 did get some "love" from time to time.

Good quality also means that the damping still does its job perfectly. The same applies to the air chamber: no air loss, no overflow.
It is also pleasing that the connection between the crown and steerer tube does not tend to crack, as was the case with other models.

Less convincing, however, is the quick-release axle. Marzocchi has its "own" solution here, similar to the old Maxxle system. This is really outdated and somewhat fiddly. However, it fulfills its purpose of holding the front wheel securely in the fork. However, the standard and simple Fox axle would have been the better choice if all the technology came from Fox.

Conclusion

Even though it is not exactly light at 2.24 kilograms, the Bomber Z1 impressed us on the first ride with its fine response and good, solid damping. The minimal adjustment options are also pleasing. They are effective and you don't have to be a suspension guru to adjust the fork to your needs. There is also a sticker on the back of the Z1 with setup recommendations to help even uninformed bikers. The classic is therefore a real tip that is ready for almost any off-road outrage, but doesn't put too much strain on the budget.

www.marzocchi.com
www.fuchs-movesa.ch