Marzocchi
Marzocchi is an Italian manufacturer founded in 1949 by the two brothers Stefano and Guglielmo Marzocchi. The company profile includes hydraulic industrial pumps and suspension components for motorcycles and bicycles. In 2008 the company was acquired by American automotive parts manufacturer Tenneco.[1]
Motorcycle suspension
Up until the 1980s, Marzocchi were original equipment manufacturers ('OEM') for a number of Italian motorcycle marques including Moto Morini and Ducati, their oil shock absorbers also being OEM for Triumph Motorcycles in the latter stages of their production at the Meriden plant. Their later 'Strada' model introduced a degree of air suspension to motorcycling and, like the oil shocks, were available as aftermarket fittings for a large number of models. Strada units were OEM for Triumph's T140LE Royal Wedding and TSS models. A big advantage of the Marzocchi shock was its ability to be rebuilt, seal kits and service manuals being readily available. Meriden also experimented with using Marzocchi front forks which were also used on some Italian models. Meriden however closed down before any such forks reached production models.
Marzocchi shocks, albeit of more modern design, are still OEM for a number of manufacturers.
Bicycle suspension
Until 2007, fork production was based in Italy (apart from the entry level OEM parts, which are produced by the Taiwanese SRSunTour in Taiwan). Since 2008, all forks have been made in Taiwan.