Mountain Biking - RockShox Tora and Marzocchi XC 600 - experience?

Any experience? These forks cost about the same right now (RockShox Tora 302 and Marzocchi XC600 TST2), and I'm thinking of picking one up. But there are numerous reviews about problems that have arisen with them. Anyone have any personal experience or can recommend one over the other?

I have a Tora 302 coil. No huge problems with it at all.

The only real minor thing wrong with it is that the spring is slightly bent or something like that, so it hits the inside of the fork leg, emitting a "click" when compressed. But I'm getting a softer spring soon anyway.

But yeah, apart from that, no issues.

Tora= excellent fork for the coin. Heck man...if you can get it with a TA...WOOHOO!

Lower line Marz stuff...I no like so mucho. My 55r sucked. It was nice and slick...though it sucked...the damper allowed it to just keep going up and down...and up and down...up'n'down...just bobbed up and down all the time....suck...bob...suck...bob...

An entertaining fork of course...but not one I'd bring home to meet my Mom.

I've heard great things about the Tora 302 Coil. I've heard very few things at all about lower end Marz. That leads me to believe that there's nothing to write home about with lower end Marz, so I'd go with RS.

Well, retail on the Marz is like 4-500 dollars, which is significantly more than the Tora. That was what led me to believe the Marz might be a better deal. But from what you guys are saying, I think the Tora is going to win out here. Thanks for the info.

I hope I made myself clear when I said that I hadn't heard anything about the Marz you're considering. I don't know that the Tora is any better at all, I just know I've heard many good things about it so if I were in your position, I would go with the cheaper fork with a better reputation. My mom has the Tora Air on her Myka FSR & it feels great. But somone could still come in & correct me with a website full of great review on the Marz, I just don't know much about its reputation. Also, check out blueskycycling.com if you do end up getting the Tora. I'm planning on getting the Tora 302 Coil for my GF Wahoo when I can afford it, & they have better prices than I've found anywhere, even on ebay. ($150 for the Tora 302 Coil).

Not sure if you made any decisions, but I have used both and have some feed back. The Tora 302 and the 2008 (and up) Marzocchi XC600 are on the same playing field. Both utilize the 32mm uppers, mid level dampening, and solid construction. The 302 is a good mid level RS, but would suggest looking for a 318 with motion control. The Marzocchi XC retro series from 06 and 07 are far superior to the newer models. Manufactured in Italy before the sellout and move, these shocks are upper mid level, to top of the line for xc. I have used both the XC 600 from 06 and the XC 600 tst from 08, and they are night and day. HIGHLY recommend looking for a 06 XC 600 or 700. You can probably find a used one online for the same cost as the 08- 09 models. You will not be disappointed!!

I ride with a Tora 318, few years old now. I have no complaints. Can't say if it's better or worse, but you'll be happy with a tora.