Italian suspension manufacturer Marzocchi shutting down

According to recent reports from Italy, Italian suspension manufacturer Marzocchi seems to be closing down after its parent company Tenneco took a call for ceasing operations for the company that was founded in 1949 by two brothers Stefano and Guglielmo Marzocchi. The Italian manufacturer’s 66 year-old Bologna factory in Zola Predosa was initially going to close in 2011, but through labor negotiations, the company laid off 50 employees instead.

This news will affect a number of premium motorcycle brands all over the world including the likes of BMW, Ducati, MV Agusta, Bimota and Aprilia. The motorcycle manufacturers that use Marzocchi as OEM parts have been notified that they will no longer be supplied with the suspension pieces, once the remaining Marzocchi’s stock of forks have been exhausted from supply.

Due to this, the aforementioned motorcycle brands will now have to look elsewhere for their supply of forks for the year 2016. The bikes that will be affected include many renowned names like Hypermotard SP, Diavel, Streetfighter 848 from the Ducati stable and C600 Sport, C650 GT, C Evolution, R1200 R from BMW Motorrad.

The company is planning to bring all its operations to an end by September this year, which results in a very scarce amount of time left for motorcycle manufacturers to find a new supplier of their specific parts and then start the manufacturing process.

One of the main reasons for Tenneco leaving the suspension business altogether is the fact that the market has become increasingly competitive over the past few years due to the introduction of electronically adjustable and semi-active electronic suspensions, which is now becoming standard in most upcoming motorcycles.