The Marzocchi Bomber 58 is a popular suspension fork designed to provide riders with exceptional control and performance, especially in aggressive riding scenarios. Properly adjusting and maintaining your Bomber 58 suspension fork is crucial for maximizing its potential and ensuring a smooth ride. In this guide, we will walk you through the key adjustments, troubleshooting, and tips for optimizing your Bomber 58’s performance.

Installation of Bomber 58 Fork

Before diving into adjustments, it’s important to ensure the Bomber 58 fork is installed correctly. If you’ve just purchased or are replacing your suspension fork, follow these steps:

1. Remove the old fork: If you’re replacing an existing fork, remove the wheel, brake calipers, and headset components. Then, unbolt the fork from the frame.
2. Install the new Bomber 58: Insert the fork into the headset, ensuring it is properly aligned. Tighten the headset and secure the fork with the necessary bolts and spacers as specified by Marzocchi.
3. Install the wheel and brake system: Reinstall your front wheel and brake components. Ensure that the brake rotor and pads are aligned properly to avoid any rubbing.
4. Check the installation: Before riding, check that the fork moves smoothly through its travel range and that all bolts are torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Tools Required

• Torque wrench [paid link]
• 5mm, 6mm, and 8mm Allen wrenches [paid link]
• Suspension fluid (for maintenance)
• Shock pump
• Oil seal driver (for internal maintenance)
• Small flathead screwdriver (for rebound adjustment)
• Grease (for headset installation)

Adjusting the Bomber 58 for Better Performance

Once your fork is installed, the next step is fine-tuning it to your preferences and riding style. Proper adjustments can significantly improve comfort, control, and overall performance. The Bomber 58 offers several key settings for customization.

1. Air Pressure Adjustment

The Bomber 58 uses an air spring, which means that adjusting the air pressure is critical for optimizing the fork’s responsiveness. Setting the correct air pressure based on your weight and riding style will help with shock absorption and overall ride quality.

• Find your starting point: Begin by adjusting the air pressure according to the recommended settings in the Marzocchi Bomber 58 manual. This is often based on rider weight.
• Use a shock pump: Attach a shock pump to the air valve on the fork and adjust the pressure incrementally.
• Test the suspension: After setting the pressure, test the fork by compressing it and checking the sag (the amount the fork compresses under your body weight). Ideally, aim for around 20-30% of total travel for proper sag.

2. Rebound Adjustment

Rebound control helps manage the speed at which the fork extends after compression. Too slow a rebound can result in sluggishness, while too fast can cause the fork to bounce uncontrollably.

• Locate the rebound dial: On the Bomber 58, the rebound adjustment dial is typically located on the bottom of the right leg.
• Adjust rebound speed: Turn the dial clockwise to slow the rebound or counterclockwise to speed it up. Start with a neutral setting and test the fork’s performance on different terrain.
• Fine-tune for performance: On rough terrain, you may want a slower rebound to maintain control, whereas smoother terrain may benefit from a faster rebound for a livelier ride.

3. Compression Adjustment

The Bomber 58 features low-speed and high-speed compression adjustments that allow riders to fine-tune how the fork reacts to bumps and impacts.

• Locate the compression adjusters: These are typically located on the top of the left fork leg.
• Low-speed compression: This controls the suspension’s response to slow, small impacts (such as hitting rocks or roots). Start by setting the low-speed compression to a mid-range setting and adjust it as needed based on terrain.
• High-speed compression: This controls the fork’s response to faster impacts, such as big drops or hard landings. Set this to a softer setting if you are riding on rough, aggressive terrain to prevent bottoming out.

4. Travel Adjustments

The Bomber 58 offers an adjustable travel feature that lets you customize the amount of suspension travel based on your riding preferences. This can be especially useful if you want to optimize the fork for different types of terrain or riding styles.

• Adjust the travel: Using the included spacer system, you can adjust the travel of the fork by adding or removing spacers. To increase travel, remove spacers; to decrease it, add them back.
• Test the travel: After adjustments, check the fork’s performance by riding on your preferred terrain and ensure the fork feels responsive and stable.

5. Air Chamber Volume Adjustments

For advanced customization, the Bomber 58 allows adjustments to the air chamber volume, which affects the fork’s ramp-up rate toward the end of its travel.

• Install volume spacers: By adding or removing volume spacers in the air chamber, you can control how progressive the suspension feels. More spacers result in a more progressive suspension, while fewer spacers provide a more linear feel.
• Test the adjustment: After modifying the air chamber, ride the bike and test the fork’s response on different trail features. If you feel bottoming out too frequently, you may want to add more spacers.

Troubleshooting Common Set-up Issues

1. Fork Not Moving Smoothly

If your Bomber 58 feels stiff or is not moving through its travel smoothly, the issue may lie in incorrect air pressure, insufficient lubrication, or damaged internal components.

• Check air pressure: Ensure the air pressure is set correctly and within the recommended range.
• Inspect the seals: Examine the fork seals for wear or damage. Replace them if necessary.
• Service the fork: If the fork feels rough, a full service may be required, which involves cleaning, re-lubricating, and replacing the oil.

2. Fork Bottoming Out

If your fork is bottoming out too easily, there may be too little air pressure, or the rebound may be set too fast.

• Increase air pressure: Raise the air pressure to prevent the fork from compressing too much.
• Adjust compression settings: Increase the compression settings to help the fork resist bottoming out under hard impacts.
• Add volume spacers: If the fork still bottoms out, adding volume spacers to the air chamber can reduce bottoming-out by increasing the progressive nature of the fork’s travel.

Customizing the Bomber 58 for Optimal Performance

While the Bomber 58 is already a high-performance suspension fork, customizing it to suit your riding style and terrain preferences will help maximize its performance.

• For downhill riders: Opt for higher air pressure and a more progressive compression setting. This helps the fork handle the large impacts and fast descents typical of downhill riding.
• For trail and enduro riders: Focus on achieving a balanced air pressure and medium rebound settings to strike a balance between comfort and responsiveness on varied terrain.
• For cross-country riders: Lighter air pressure and faster rebound settings can help improve efficiency and reduce fatigue during long rides.

Compatibility with Other Drivetrain Components

The Bomber 58 suspension fork is compatible with most modern mountain bike drivetrains, but it is important to ensure that the fork’s axle system matches your wheel’s hub design. The fork is available in both quick release and thru-axle versions, so check your wheel compatibility before installation.

Additionally, if you’re upgrading your suspension fork, ensure that your frame can accommodate the Bomber 58’s axle-to-crown length and steerer tube diameter.

By following these adjustment and maintenance tips, your Marzocchi Bomber 58 will perform at its best, whether you’re tackling rough descents or enjoying long trail rides.