After Marzocchi was taken over by the suspension giant Fox, the Italians presented a damper at the beginning of 2019, since then MTB enthusiasts have been able to install a complete Marzocchi suspension system. We have mounted the Marzocchi CR coil spring damper - now a classic - on the mountain bike and tested it for you!
General Information
Like the Bomber Z1 suspension fork introduced the previous year, the CR damper from Marzocchi is aimed at riders who want easy handling and yet good performance. The damper can be adjusted in the low-speed rebound and compression stage, so that even less experienced riders can quickly find a good setup through "Try & Error". It is important not to forget that the coil spring of the damper must be adjusted to the corresponding weight of the rider or the correct spring must be selected.
The range of use for the Marzocchi CR is broad and is intended to make riders with trail bikes as happy as those with a downhill bike. Accordingly, the damper is available with 130 - 200 mm travel and thus logically in many different installation variants. We have tested the damper, as well as the Marzocchi Bomber Z1 suspension fork, for several months and put it through its paces.
Facts
- Damper price: 399.00 € RRP
- Coil spring price: 56.00 € RRP
- Suspension: Coil spring
- Adjustment options: Low-speed rebound & compression stage
Installation Dimensions
- Standard: 7.5x2.0”, 7.7875x2.0”, 7.7875x2.25”, 8.5x2.5”, 8.75x2.75”
- Metric: 210x50mm, 210x55mm, 230x60mm, 230x65mm, 250x75mm
- Trunnion: 185x52.5mm, 185x55mm, 205x60mm, 205, 65mm, 225x75mm
Test Report
After the takeover by Fox, Fox know-how is also flowing into the products at Marzocchi. So it is hardly surprising that the relatively new Marzocchi CR damper is reminiscent of the older Fox Van RC, which also relied on the same functions from a technical point of view. The compensation reservoir has definitely been modernized, so you can undoubtedly confirm a rejuvenation treatment for the damper, and it is not a 1 to 1 copy of the Fox Van RC. After we mounted the appropriate spring and adjusted the rebound to our liking, we hit the trails. The smooth responsiveness was immediately noticeable - even small obstacles on the trail were well absorbed. This also results in a high grip of the rear wheel, as it does not bounce around on the roots but sits nicely and firmly. This brings a lot of safety while riding, and you can fully concentrate on choosing the lines. Despite the smooth responsiveness, the Marzocchi CR has sufficient reserves when things get a bit tricky on the trail. So you can also let it rip in the bike park and on the downhill track without fear of bottoming out. The performance is very good for the relatively simple damper and considering the quite attractive price. Whether on loose trails or in hard use, the CR convinced us with its solid performance and easy adjustability. However, it is also a fact that a coil spring damper without a platform lever bounces a little when pedaling. For us, this was not particularly disturbing, as we were mainly in the bike park or on downhill-oriented tracks, but on extended tours in the terrain, this can be a bit tiring in the long run. The weight is, of course, not comparable to a high-end air damper.
Conclusion
Marzocchi delivers a robust coil spring damper with the CR, with which you can have fun on a wide variety of terrains. The performance is good, the price attractive, and the adjustment is absolutely easy even for suspension novices. In this context, the missing platform lever for better uphill performance can also be overlooked. For riders looking for a well-functioning damper with a 'Ready to Ride' character, we can unreservedly recommend the Marzocchi CR.
Here you can find our Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Fork Test. If you want to refine your MTB (whether Fully or Hardtail) with a fork or need a damper for your trail bike, you can visit our online shop, where you will find both and more products from Marzocchi.
