Product news: The US brand Sram introduced the brand new RockShox ZEB this week. This ranks directly between the RockShox Lyrik and the Boxxer. With its 38mm standpipes, it is primarily intended for use on super enduro bikes/freeriders and long-travel E-MTBs.
Not only thicker stanchions, but also a thicker fork crown, more rigidity and above all an even better performance should be the Americans' latest fork. Due to the ever-increasing demands, not least on long-travel E-MTBs with 29 inch wheels, this niche should now also be optimally served. Just a few months ago, Fox also introduced a completely new one 38 - now RockShox is catching up with the ZEB. We already took a look at the ZEB and are now providing you with the most important information.
The most important facts about the RockShox ZEB
RockShox offers the completely new fork in five different versions with 150-190mm travel and the choice between 27,5″ and 29″. Ultimate, Select+, Select and two different models, especially for e-bikes, are on the agenda here. The main difference between the models lies in the damping unit, because four different units were used here: Charger 2.1 RC2, Charger 2.1 RC, Charger RC and Charger R. The new Charger 2.1 cartridge was adapted to the 38mm chassis and is equipped with an independent Equipped with high and low speed compression adjustment (we reported). Except for one model, the ZEB Dual Position Air for the E-MTB, all models are equipped with an optimized DebonAir air chamber on the air side. The DebonAir air spring now offers a larger negative air chamber for even more downhill feeling - similar to the new Pike and Lyrik models. In addition, the top-out bumper in the air spring has been optimized and, like the 35mm models, gray volume spacers are available to adjust the air chamber. As already known from other models, the spring travel can be changed by replacing the air shaft.
Like the Pike, Lyrik, Boxxer and SID, the ZEB also belongs to the "RockShox Signature Series", which was launched in 2020 and includes the Ultimate and Select model variants. All ZEB models have in common, among other things, the new, striking design, the fork bridge that has moved forward, a more voluminous fork crown, the 15mm thru axle and the PostMount mount for 200mm brake discs, which is even approved for 220mm - so washers are required for 203mm. The fork offset varies between 38mm and 44mm depending on the model - the 51mm option is omitted. The special E-MTB models are only available with an offset of 44mm. On the remaining three models, both offset options are available at 27,5″ and the fork offset is limited to 29mm in the 44″ versions.
The RcokShox ZEB is priced between €759 and €1089, similar to the Lyrik and Pike models. The weight is specified by the manufacturers for the ZEB Ultimate 29″ at 170mm, uncut shaft and including 15mm thru-axle at 2281g. For comparison: The Fox 38 starts at a weight of approx. 2180g and is therefore slightly lighter than the ZEB, but the top version costs €500 more.
Technical details of the RockShox ZEB in a nutshell
- Model variants: ZEB Ultimate, ZEB Select+, ZEB Select, ZEB E-MTB DebonAir, ZEB E-MTB Dual Position Air
- wheel sizes: 27,5 inches and 29 inches
- standpipe diameter: 38 mm
- Suspension travel: 150mm(only E-MTB models), 160mm, 170mm, 180mm and 190mm
- Feather: DebonAir, Dual Position Air
- Damping: Charger 2.1 RC2, Charger RC, Charger R
- Thru Axle: Boost 110x15mm
- offset: 37mm and 44mm(varies by model)
- Weight 2281g (29 inch, 170mm, ZEB Ultimate)
- Price: 759-1089 €
- Accessible: from July 2020
- Website: www.sram.com
[testimonial cite=“Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles)“]I immediately felt more comfortable in the rocky terrain. Stay clean, keep your hands off the brakes, and blast over with the confidence of a monster truck.[/testimonial]
Stiffer, more precise and still more comfortable?
According to RockShox, in a direct laboratory comparison to a Lyrik with 29 inches and 180mm of spring travel, the ZEB should have 21,5% more torsional stiffness, 7% more lateral stiffness and 2% more stiffness in the direction of travel. According to the manufacturer, drivers of all classes benefit from the increase in stability - above all through more directional stability, better controllability and greater steering precision. We will take a close look at the RockShox ZEB in the upcoming practical test and pay particular attention to the stiffness and its weight-to-weight ratio. A comparison between the ZEB and the Fox 38 is also on the agenda, because we are interested in whether so much increase in stiffness isn't too much of a good thing for one or the other biker. Stay tuned!
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