1970, a meaningful milestone in Marzocchi evolution
After two crises the company move on to the production of heavy and off-road motorcycles
After two serious economic crises were overcome, at the beginning of 1970’s the upturn of the Marzocchi Company coincided with that of the heavyweight and off road motorcycle manufacturers.
In 1971, Ducati requested the development of a special front fork with disc brakes for heavyweight motorcycles.
The Marzocchi brothers and their colleagues designed a new fork with a front axle, which was revolutionary for that time.
The PA forks land at 200 Miles circuit of Imola
The forks with the front axle would be renowned as PA (Perno Avanzato – Advanced Axle), mainly thanks to Ducati’s exceptional victories in the 500 cc. and 750 cc. class races in 200 Miles circuit of Imola at the 1972 World Championships.
Motore | Bicilindrico 4 tempi a V longitudinale di 90° |
Cilindrata | 747,95 cc |
Distribuzione | Desmodromica monoalbero, comandata da albero e coppie coniche |
Raffreddamento | Ad aria |
Carburatore | Due carburatori Dellorto PHF 40 con pompa di ripresa |
Potenza massima | 82 CV a 9.000 giri |
Velocità massima | circa 250 km/h |
Cambio | 5 marce |
Frizione | Multidisco a bagno d'olio |
Telaio | A doppia culla aperta in tubi d'accaio |
Sospensione anteriore | Forcella teleidraulica Marzocchi a perno avanzato |
Sospensione posteriore | Forcellone oscillante a due ammortizzatori Ceriani da 310 mm |
Freno anteriore | A doppio disco 280 mm con pinze Lockheed |
Freno posteriore | A doppio disco 229 mm con pinza Lockheed |
Research leads to new solutions
In the 70s the motorcycle market has grown steadily and the factory, moved to a larger site in Zola Predosa, is able to meet its needs. Research has become the central pivot around which the manufacturing is developed.
New models and new materials were carefully studied and used to provide and develop the best possible product features: for instance, a front fork for Enduro with central axle and seagull-like lower crown with a maximum travel of 250 mm was produced.
Its testing was done with the help of the Russian rider Ghennadi Moiseev, who won the 1974, 1977 and 1978 250cc World Championships on his KTM motorbike.