Can anybody tell me where the leading axle marzocchi forks work best because everything I hear say's I need to try and get what I can for them and buy some ceriani's.I have rebuilt these fork's and now I am not sure they are worth keeping.
Thomas Carmichael
Thomas, As I understand it depends on the frame that you have. If you have a 76 GS frame, then yes. I have heard too that the cerani's work better. I think that it is because the frame was oringally designed to work with the them. The 76 gs frame is more like the older frames that came with cerani's. I do not know for sure because I have never seen one. It suprised me when I firts heard it. I had thought that the gs and the Mc frame were the same. The MC 5 frame is quite different. I have found that at least for me. going to a heavier weight fork oil and dropping the legs as far down into the triple clamps as possible helped with the steering. I wish that I had a set of Marzokes off of a 78 or 9' I think that they are stiffer and that may be part of the problem. I was noticing the other day as I was adjusting the front brakes that the forks flexed quite a bit. It is hard to get precise steering if the front end is moving about. I have been playing with using longer rear shocks, I tried a set but the springs were the wrong weight, I set them back and it was worse. before I had 41/2 inches sag and now I have 61/2 inches sag. how hard could it be to get the springs right! anyway the jury is still out on this because I have yet to ride them with the shocks set up right and that would signifcantly effect the steering. Teh other thing too is that it caused chain problems. with the new shocks the chain became really lose and tightening it up only caused it to be too tight in the middle of the travel. I instaled a roller to take up the slack but have yet to try it with the new shocks. I am trying to figure out what to do with them. The shop does not seem to be very interested in being of much help. This may be a isolated kind of problem so I do not wish to tarnish their reputation. so they will remain nameless.
Thom Green,I own and ride a 76 250 MC5 MX which I bought new.
What are you going to do with your bike exactly. That will help me answer the question better.
Mike, I live in South Carolina and as you know the wood's are tight, I was going to ride some hare scrambles and trail ride and might do some light moto cross.Thank's for your input!
Thomas Carmichael
Are you going to ride any Ahrma events and if so do you care if your in the Vintage or Post vintage class? If you want to be in post vintage or dont care I would just leave the marz forks on and run longer rear shocks,say 14 to 15 inch layed down. This will help it turn good and give you more rear wheel travel due to more shock shaft travel. If you are going to buy new rear shocks take care to find out the shaft travel. There are large differences with different brands. I have a 76 GS I run 15 inchers layed down. At first I thought it wouldnt work because they were an inch and a half longer than stock and I thought it may handle funny,but it doesnt and corners real well. I dont have the 9 inches of rear travel an mc-5 does ,but I bet I have 8 inches. I have progressive shocks on it. The cheaper way to go. If your going to run Vintage you will need 73 to 75 forks. Id run the 73 or 74 if possible they have an inch less travel but are completly AHRMA legal and are shorter to help turning. The 75 forks sit an inch and a half higher. I also run 15 inch shocks with this set up in the rear most hole over the axle.
Mike, I have the marzocchi rear piggy back shocks.I have had them completely reworked and I am running the purple spring's and the shocks have the large shaft's,Rocket completly went through them,and as they are now they are mounted in the lay down position.suggestions?
Thomas Carmichael
You have two choices at this point. Run the Marz shocks and see how you like it, or sell the marz shocks and purchase longer ones??
Thank You Mike, for your time and trouble.There dosen't seem to be one answer.I didn't know all the info before I started redoing the fork's and shock's.The forks need to go before the rear shock's. I have a good bit invested in the rear shock's and they are in top shape.Thank's Again Mike!!
Thomas Carmichael
Why dont you try it out the way it is. Using the forks wont deminish their value if you deciede to later sell them.
Mike, with all the work I have left to do I guess I shouldn't worry about the fork's and just keep on moving forward,who know's,I might come across a pair of ceriani's later on down the road.
Thomas Carmichael
A pair of 75 Ceriani forks just went off ebay with no bids. They were listed at $50.00. Listed as 73-74 Marz forks they were actually the 75 Cerianis. However remember these forks sit about an inch higher than the 73-74 forks,but have an inch more travel, 8 inches. The ebay number was 2435748343. If your interested you could email him from there and offer him the 50 they were listerd at.
Mike, Thank's for the tip! What do you think? Will they fit my 76 GS and do they look good to you? The last time I bought off E-Bay it ended up being the wrong part,I guess that's the chance you take.
Thomas Carmichael
Thomas,
I think the forks Mike is talking about are back on Ebay listed as Cerianis. Search "Penton" and you'll find them. Opening bid is $40.
Glenn
Thank's Glenn !
Thomas Carmichael