Shiver SC
The real buzz though, from the 2002 line-up, was reserved for the Shiver SC. We have known about this puppy since February's Kona Media Festival in Portugal, but this is the first time we had seen it in the flesh. And visually it certainly lives up to expectations; chubby upper legs and moto-x inspired lower guards should stir the blood in many Bomber fans. Internally, the SC is a shrunken Shiver Dual Crown fork, with springs and dampers in both legs. Seals, bushings and internals are from the Z1, and the Shiver SC also gets Marzocchi's rebound lockout - the ECC (Extension Control Cartridge). For those unfamiliar with the ECC concept, instead of using compression damping (like
RockShox and Manitou) to lock the fork in the extended position, Marzocchi uses rebound damping to restrict the movement at the bottom of the travel. Obviously the fork loses all its ability to absorb bumps, but it means that riders of longer travel forks can steepen the head angle of their machine on smooth, steady climbs. As a result, more weight is put over the front end, and the steering becomes easier to control.
In addition to the ECC cartridge, there's a new HSCV (High Speed Compression Valve) valve in the opposite leg. The new valve uses stepped compression damping circuits controlled by shim stacks to give the fork a more progressive feel towards the end of the stroke, and resist bottoming out on big hits.
Early versions of the Shiver SC had bolted crowns, using three Allen bolts to hold the upper legs. The production forks get bonded Cryofit crowns, forged in the shape of Marzocchi's 'M' logo. 20mm dropouts provide the vital link that ties the whole fork together. Stiffness is always an issue with inverted forks, particularly the single crown models, so travel may be restricted to 120mm, although Marzocchi hasn't made a final decision. The Shiver SC will come with plastic leg guards, to protect the polished finish from flying stones.
SWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
*willhaben*