I have a gas gas ec 300 2009 model it has sachs forks that i hate i saw a set of marzochie shiver forks of a gas gas ec 250 2007 model for sale just wanted to know will they fit or do i need the triple clamps and is the brake mounting and axle the same any help much apreciated
Fork swop Help
- Thread starter dublin
- Start date
moto9
Silver Level Site Supporter
The Sachs and Marz fork are almost identical inside and out, except for the cart piston stopper and valving.
If you don't like the Sachs you won't like the Marz...at least not in stock configuration.
Your wasting your time and money swapping forks.
I hated my stock suspension, I couldn't keep the bike on the trail but our trails are all roots...wet slimy roots...so slippery it's named Hawaiian ice!
I revalved my forks and after multiple tries I finally got them working great, so they can be made to work right.
My best advice to you is to get them revalved and set up right for your weight, skill level and type of riding you do.
I ride with a guy that had his suspension (09 EC 300) re-worked by Les from LT racing.
I road his bike because I wanted to compare his bike to mine and Les did a good job.
The suspension was plush over the roots, rocks and other trail trash with little or no deflecting...yet it was compliant and bottom resistant on G-outs and other higher speed hits.
If you don't like the Sachs you won't like the Marz...at least not in stock configuration.
Your wasting your time and money swapping forks.
I hated my stock suspension, I couldn't keep the bike on the trail but our trails are all roots...wet slimy roots...so slippery it's named Hawaiian ice!
I revalved my forks and after multiple tries I finally got them working great, so they can be made to work right.
My best advice to you is to get them revalved and set up right for your weight, skill level and type of riding you do.
I ride with a guy that had his suspension (09 EC 300) re-worked by Les from LT racing.
I road his bike because I wanted to compare his bike to mine and Les did a good job.
The suspension was plush over the roots, rocks and other trail trash with little or no deflecting...yet it was compliant and bottom resistant on G-outs and other higher speed hits.
Thanks for advice guys the reason i was looking at swoping forks was like i say i never had any problems with my other bikes just the usual seals and service until i got this bike with the sachs and everything you read people getting them revalved etc so why dont they work standard the others did thanks again but still confused
darren
New member
Dont let it get you down, as i see it you either change your forks to the marzocchi s and get them to work how you want them to. Or stick with the sach forks and set them up to suit you.
One thing i will say I spent loads of money changing forks ( i have had three sets on my 98, 50mm magnums 45mm magnums and 45 shivers)
I would been wiser to spend couple of hundred quid and got them set up properly.
If you still want some marzocchies i have a set of shivers off an 03 fse with triple clamps and i have also got a nissin brake caliper mount if needed.
The shivers will need milling to the diameter of your axle as yours will be larger than mine.
If you want to trade let me know.
Good luck
moto9
Silver Level Site Supporter
It's all in the valving, Sachs has a different shim stack arrangements aimed at what they think would please the masses...In theory..???
But as we find they are way off. As are most suspensions
In all the years of riding (40+) I can count on one hand the number of bikes that didn't need the forks or shock re-worked.
Yes, I could have lived with many of them...but why, good working suspension IMHO is the most important aspect of a bike, "it's everything"
I always spend my money there first, and you should too.
iancp5
New member
The rumours I heard is for some reason no one can fathom the early Sachs forked Gassers had an MX like setup. I hear they have softened them up for enduro or woods use on the latest bikes. So, indeed a 2007 with Marzocchi probably works a lot better than a 2008 Sachs. But ... like any half decent fork it's in the setup / valving. So it may be easier to get the Sachs setup correctly. The tricky bit is knowing someone in your area that understands enduro/woods and what is required on a Sachs fork.
GMP
Active member
Talk to Les at LTR, and/or read the info about the Sachs fork on his site:
www.lt-racing.com/html/sachs_48_fork.html.
Its more than the valving, there are some other issues that he fixes as well.
Personally I love the Zokes on my '07. Les did the basic revalve and I have tweaked it a little since, gone up in spring rate and down in preload. Best fork I have ever ridden, and simple/cheap to service.
www.lt-racing.com/html/sachs_48_fork.html.
Its more than the valving, there are some other issues that he fixes as well.
Personally I love the Zokes on my '07. Les did the basic revalve and I have tweaked it a little since, gone up in spring rate and down in preload. Best fork I have ever ridden, and simple/cheap to service.
moto9
Silver Level Site Supporter
Don't be afraid to send them back for an adjustment if your not completely happy....which very well can happen.
A good suspension guy will do that.
In my early years before I started working on my own stuff, I had to send stuff back a couple of times to get the action I was looking for.
Good luck!
I had my 09 Sachs done by LTR and it did make a huge difference. I was getting unpredictable deflections and a very harsh ride. Although it is much better then stock and tracks well it does not have the same plushness as my ohlins that is bone stock off a 05. For my weight and riding the best I've found has been the Ohlins forks. I haven't noticed a huge difference between shocks but the Ohlins shock does has a plushness to it that I have not yet been able to find in the Sachs.
If your going to swap forks look for a Ohlins set otherwise send them to LTR.
If your going to swap forks look for a Ohlins set otherwise send them to LTR.
Got my forks back from steve plain this week today was the first chance i had to try them he revalved them and changed some shims and he put proper fork bleeders on he had to tap out the old ones to make them fit Anyway tryed the bike today and he seems to have done a great job but it took a good while to find a good setting but i think i have it sorted now after spending the morning playing with it so i reckon its worth getting done certainley its a lot better than before but still not a fan of sachs forks and after asking around i am not the only one plus the new advert for gas gas 2011 new adjusted sachs forks and rear sachs shock with new oil give me a break and the fact i saw an advert saying british 2011 models will come with ohlin rear suspension and marzochie front so i hope they change and put the same on all models with an option to get ohlins for extra cost because if they persist with sachs i think they will loose customers anyway this is just my opinion thanks again for all the help and still a gas gas fan
