Marzocchi Bomber CR Shock

When it came time to squeeze a bit more out of my current bike (Santa Cruz Nomad) I knew I wanted to change the stock Rock Shock Super Deluxe air shock for a coil shock.

I wanted better downhill performance on a budget. I bought the shock, found a spring rate Fox / Marzocchi recommended and tossed the shock on my bike.

Right away the shock felt smooth and supple out of the box. With only low speed compression and rebound it didn’t take me more than a couple rides to settle on some settings and be happy with the feel. I’ve been running LSC wide open, and rebound in the middle.

Performance has been fantastic, I’ve had the shock on my bike for about 3 months and have well over 100 hours on it. Right away downhill performance was noticeably improved, the sensitivity of the coil is especially noticeable on fast technical terrain, and rear traction became  noticeably better while cornering.

On bigger jumps, drops, and compressions the shock seems to eat it up, keeping the bike super composed with my feet planted on the pedals without any bouncing (flat pedals).

While climbing I do notice a little bob while seated, however my Santa Cruz frame has great pedalling performance and I’ve never wished for a lock out. Some frames may be a little different, but I notice no drawbacks compared to my old air shock.

To sum up, I’ve loved having the shock on my bike and it truly has been a set and forget experience for me - I pull the bike out of my shed, check my tires and fork and have complete confidence in not touching the shock. It added a little less than 1 Lb weight, but I honestly don’t even notice. 

If you’re looking for an affordable upgrade over your current shock, and want a coil, than this is definitely for you.