[MinorThreat]

My gut is that the MTB part of the business was probably bigger than the Moto side.

Still, MTB is a niche market compared to moto as we all know, . . . ..

I would say the totality of the Marzocchi venture was a pimple on the ass of an outfit as huge as Tenneco. We're talking an $8.4 BILLION corporation with 29,000 employees. So they have this underperforming little subsidiary with a scant 138 employees that's going to cost them 27 million to shut down and save them 7 million a year to not to operate. They probably lost no sleep wondering what to do with it.

 

[IH8Rice]

Hmm, so losing KTMs business would be a financial blow, but it looks like Marz were only on the most recent KTMs

my friend's KTM was fairly old (before 2001 iirc)

 

[gemini2k]

Anyone else rooting for a Suntour purchase of Marzocchi?

Never happening. They already f8cked up that opportunity years ago.

 

[jonKranked]

Never happening. They already f8cked up that opportunity years ago.

who do you think the highest bidder will be?

 

[slimshady]

who do you think the highest bidder will be?

Spinner?

 

[jonKranked]

Spinner?

Kenda?

 

[jackalope]

While I think it'd be harder to make a "R" shaped lowers arch, my sources tell me Risse is going to acquire them. Because it's difficult for a single component brand to go it alone these days, they're going to form a new triumvirant of power"

Mountain Cycles, Seismic Hubs, and Riss-Zochi

Actually, given that Germany owns a substantial portion of southern yurp's debt, perhaps Magura would pick them up. Not sure it's possible to make a better fork than the Wotan (i.e. the single crown Rux), but maybe they could pull it off.

 

[gemini2k]

who do you think the highest bidder will be?

No idea. Just some Euro buyer I think.

 

[MinorThreat]

The only reason I can think of that any entity would want to purchase it might be for the name and any intellectual property that might have value. Is there any? Does anyone really want to revive the QR20 axle system?

Here's what there is:
http://www.patentgenius.com/assignee/MarzocchiSpA.html

 

[jonKranked]

The only reason I can think of that any entity would want to purchase it might be for the name and any intellectual property that might have value. Is there any? Does anyone really want to revive the QR20 axle system?

Here's what there is:
http://www.patentgenius.com/assignee/MarzocchiSpA.html

are wade simmons and bender still considered part of Marz's IP?

 

[Bikael Molton]

Hey Bender on Marz in an elder statesman role at big mountain events could be kinda cool! He's like the freeride version of Shaun Palmer. I liked Cam McCaul's announcing on Redbull.tv, and it would be sick if Bender were there too.

We see nostalgia around vintage brand names all over in the moto space: Husky, 80s Dakar imagery, Steve McQueen flogging, throwback jerseys, Indian relaunch, that Bultaco relaunch mentioned in the other thread, etc...
Very little of the value of those names/brands/products have anything to do with hardcore IP and patents. IMHO we have entered a much more stable phase in MTB tech development... a patented shim stack or bladder or slam switch isn't what broke Marzo and won't be what revitalizes the brand.

 

[jonKranked]

Hey Bender on Marz in an elder statesman role at big mountain events could be kinda cool! He's like the freeride version of Shaun Palmer. I liked Cam McCaul's announcing on Redbull.tv, and it would be sick if Bender were there too.

We see nostalgia around vintage brand names all over in the moto space: Husky, 80s Dakar imagery, Steve McQueen flogging, throwback jerseys, Indian relaunch, that Bultaco relaunch mentioned in the other thread, etc...
Very little of the value of those names/brands/products have anything to do with hardcore IP and patents. IMHO we have entered a much more stable phase in MTB tech development... a patented shim stack or bladder or slam switch isn't what broke Marzo and won't be what revitalizes the brand.

nostalgia is for sure big these days. 3" tires from a decade ago are back and being marketed as "plus" tires.

 

[gemini2k]

The only reason I can think of that any entity would want to purchase it might be for the name and any intellectual property that might have value. Is there any? Does anyone really want to revive the QR20 axle system?

Here's what there is:
http://www.patentgenius.com/assignee/MarzocchiSpA.html

Might there be patents issued to a U.S. subsidiary? No new patents for 12 years, seems....sad?

 

[sethimus]

nostalgia is for sure big these days. 3" tires from a decade ago are back and being marketed as "plus" tires.

plus tires for the plus sized nation. perfect.

 

[Sandwich]

Eh, I could see the marz name worth keeping around. I'd rather buy a marz than a sun tour, if that makes sense. Even if it's just a rux in disguise, I know that marzocchi has a history of putting out decent products, whereas sun tour is still a big question mark.

I'm not sure how any patents you need for a suspension fork. At least three dials, seals that work, crowns that don't creak, axles that are easy to install...shouldn't be a problem.

 

[slimshady]

Eh, I could see the marz name worth keeping around. I'd rather buy a marz than a sun tour, if that makes sense. Even if it's just a rux in disguise, I know that marzocchi has a history of putting out decent products, whereas sun tour is still a big question mark.

I'm not sure how any patents you need for a suspension fork. At least three dials, seals that work, crowns that don't creak, axles that are easy to install...shouldn't be a problem.

Suntour checks all the items on your list. They have upped the game in the last years and their products work as expected. It'll take a lot to shake off their low end market reputation, but for the money their stuff is worth looking.

 

[MinorThreat]

Might there be patents issued to a U.S. subsidiary? No new patents for 12 years, seems....sad?

You are correct; well, it was the Italy side. Neglected to look that up. There may be a few filed under the name Tenneco Marzocchi S.R.L. One appears to be electric fork valving (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP2842854.pdf)

 

[gemini2k]

I'd rather buy a marz than a sun tour, if that makes sense.

You'd probably also have to pay 20x more than zoke to buy suntour (or more). Since they make about 100x as many forks as zoke and probably actually ya know...make a profit.

I know that marzocchi has a history of putting out decent products, whereas sun tour is still a big question mark.

SR suntour made zokes when they were at their highest quality (I think it's gone down since they moved to Hodaka or whatever). Also Suntour makes the diamond and emerald. Which probably are the highest quality forks on the market.

 

[Electric_City]

Shimano will buy Marzocchi to complete the components circle.

Sram/Rockshox/Truvativ

Fox/Raceface/Easton

Shimano/Marzocchi

Manitou/Hayes/Answer

 

[tomasis7]

You'd probably also have to pay 20x more than zoke to buy suntour (or more). Since they make about 100x as many forks as zoke and probably actually ya know...make a profit.



SR suntour made zokes when they were at their highest quality (I think it's gone down since they moved to Hodaka or whatever). Also Suntour makes the diamond and emerald. Which probably are the highest quality forks on the market.

Yep

 

[tomasis7]

Shimano will buy Marzocchi to complete the components circle.

Sram/Rockshox/Truvativ

Fox/Raceface/Easton

Shimano/Marzocchi

Manitou/Hayes/Answer

Sounds weird re Toyota and Lamborghini hmm

 

[Sandro]

Encouraging sight today:

Get those buyer predictions in...

 

[TrumbullHucker]

maybe they are putting up an enormous R.I.P sign in front of the poster

 

[sethimus]

Encouraging sight today:

Get those buyer predictions in...

combined booth with cosmic sports or somewhere else?

 

[Sandro]

combined booth with cosmic sports or somewhere else?

If I recall correctly they were really close to Cosmic but not in the same booth.

 

[toowacky]

Buyer: DVO - Reluctantly acquires the mothership, financed by selling 20 Emeralds at MSRP. Reintroduces the Emerald as Shiver E; releases new posters with scantily clad models posing on a glacier.

 

[Bikael Molton]

What's DVO

 

[kidwoo]

What's DVO

Green marzocchi.

 

[Jm_]

Buyer: DVO - Reluctantly acquires the mothership, financed by selling 20 Emeralds at MSRP. Reintroduces the Emerald as Shiver E; releases new posters with scantily clad models posing on a glacier.

Like this?

 

[daisycutter]

http://www.motorbiketimes.com/news/people/human-interest/all-operations-for-marzocchi-will-cease-by-end-of-2015-$21385728.htm

 

[Trasselkalle]

That's the same stuff Tenneco has been saying all along. The MTB side has been chasing a buyer and sounds like they are still hoping that something shakes loose.

 

[Bikael Molton]

Get that forks out of my view.

 

[toowacky]

Looks like the Espresso Push dropper to be sold by Cosmic, but no other info on ownership:

http://www.bike-magazin.de/eurobike/eurobike_parts_zubehoer_bekleidung_neuheiten/eurobike-2015-federgabel--und-daempfer-neuheiten/a27071/fotostrecke/5587557/5587577.html

"According Marzocchi sales Cosmic Sports to bring despite companies selling espresso push dropper seatpost on the market , the Italian traditional brand . The noble piece moves the saddle by remote control to 125 millimeters in the basement."

Kick it in the basement, yo.

 

[sethimus]

no, the article says that cosmic (the german distributor) said marzocchi is still going to sell the espresso push dropper despite the coming sale of the company

 

[Trasselkalle]

Expect news at Interbike, seems to be the latest call:

http://www.bikerumor.com/2015/08/29/eb15-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-for-marzocchi/

 

[Trasselkalle]

No news at Interbike, after all. Now they seem to be hinting towards things on Instagram and some of the comments seem to know something to become official soon. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Jm_]

Was there a "Marzocchi" at interbike?

 

[kidwoo]

Yeah it's green and they call it DVO

Pics of shiverS just a few posts up.

 

[samdemo]

Well it seems there may be some hope for the moto fork. I heard from my local moto/trials shop that Sachs has bought the rights to produce the motocycle fork design. The fork will appear on the upper end models of the Beta Enduro bikes. No word though if it would have the Marzocchi name on it or Sachs. No word on if they will produce the fork for other brands although they would be crazy not to. Also no word on a possible trials fork( I have the trials fork on my Ossa and its pretty nice as far as trials forks go)

Gasgas was a big user of Marzocchi forks and with Gasgas not having paid their bills to marz in a long time...well it likely didn't help things. Gasgas went down roughly the same time as Marz.