ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST?

[DarkMonster620]

Sad news in a way . . .

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/tenneco-marzocchi-closing-factory/

[EEL]

I've always felt they've been inferior to Showa and Ohlins and it looks like KYB and WP are up and comers making good progress.

Based on the article they don't want to spend the up front capital to keep up with technology advancement. Better that they close down than keep making inferior components IMO.

[oldndumb]

Always hate to see a manufacturer close the doors as I feel that competition improves a product.

Probably more than meets the eye to this story. If a holding entity does not want to invest in R&D it means that they are willing to accept dwindling market share and have a plan to account for that event. In this case, it seems their plan has been to sell Marzocchi.

Other bike parts companies have gone through similar and some have survived and improved their market share.

Having just disassembled a set of 1100 evo Marzocchi forks I can say I was less than impressed with some aspects of the internals. Just matching Showa or KYB machining tolerances would be a welcome improvement.

[ungeheuer]

...still... they've been a part of Italian motorcycle manufacturing for a lot of years....  sorry to see them lapse into history.

[ducatiz]

I hope someone steps up to make the parts for them.

Now I know why the supply of older parts just STOPPED recently.

They subbed out the manufactured of all the older shock rebuild kits, but now.. who knows?

I was able to get parts for a pair of M1BBs recently -- those were used on ONE bike.. lol. 

Oh well, nice knowing you for the last 30 years.

Almost every bike I've had used Marzys.  The ones that didn't used Paolis or Showas. 

[oldndumb]

Several outcomes possible. A few might be positive for the brand.

[Bill in OKC]

I think Marzocchi was involved with the BMW recall on the R1200RT.  Maybe the cost of making that right was too much for a small manufacturer?

The story I heard was that Tenneco owns Marzocchi and maybe Marzocchi didn't actually make the shocks but their name was put on them.  Not really sure.

[Curmudgeon]

I've always felt they've been inferior to Showa and Ohlins and it looks like KYB and WP are up and comers making good progress.

HMMM.........

Generalities can be tricky.  The fork on my 796 and later 696's is hugely better in practice than the Showa on the early 696's.

I'm not greatly bothered with the internals because mine performs so well in practice. Not in the market for an Ohlins $4,000 SBK fork on a $10,000 bike.  I agree it would be 10% better. For me that math doesn't work...

KYB? Ride a Bonneville lately? 

[oldndumb]

Some people are fortunate in that everything is better on their choice of ride.

More KoolAid, please. 

[ducatiz]

Several outcomes possible. A few might be positive for the brand.

I would not hold my breath.  The number of Italian companies has imploded in the last 20 years. 

I remember being excited when Morini looked like it would survive.  So many names that have disappeared -- Malaguti, Fantic, Aermacchi, Gilera, Garelli, Motobi, Parilla..etc etc etc etc

it's shocking they managed to survive this long.

Notably, Ducati kept them in business because every model of their bike had Marzocchi on at least one version -- all the entry level bikes for sure.  Most of the monsters did except for the higher end.

I can't imagine what would justify buying them at this point.  Maybe just the name.

I just feel nervous about the rebuild parts. I just received an order of Strada rebuild kits, which are nearly impossible to find, probably the last batch done.

[oldndumb]

I can't imagine what would justify buying them at this point.  Maybe just the name.

I want to be guardedly optimistic, but I'm afraid you are probably correct. Sadly, for whatever reason, they did not keep up with the evolving technology.

Wouldn't be surprised if someone, somewhere, will try to corner all of the spares.