First Ride: RockShox's New Zeb Fork

Jul 7, 2020
by Mike Kazimer  

Zeb? Yes, that's right, RockShox's new, extra-beefy single crown fork is called the Zeb. That name comes from Zebulon Pike, the explorer who was traipsing around in the mountains near RockShox's present-day Colorado Springs, Colorado, headquarters back in the early 1800s.

Unique name aside, the Zeb is positioned between the Lyrik and the dual-crown Boxxer, and it's designed for use on enduro and e-bikes. Available travel amounts range from 160mm all the way up to 190mm, in 10mm increments, for either 27.5" or 29" wheels.
RockShox Zeb Ultimate Details

• Travel: 160, 170, 180, 190mm
• Wheel size: 27.5" or 29"
• Stanchions: 38mm
• Damper: Charger 2.1 RC2
• Offset: 38mm (27.5"), 44mm (27.5", 29”)
• Optional mud guard
• Actual weight: 2250 grams (170mm 29")
• MSRP: $999 USD
• More info: www.rockshox.com

There are a total of five different models, with the top spot occupied by the Zeb Ultimate that's pictured here. That fork gets all of the bell and whistles, including a Charger 2.1 damper with externally adjustable rebound and high- and low-speed compression. Next comes the Zeb Select+, an option that'll only be available on complete bikes. It too uses the Charger 2.1 damper, but loses the high-speed compression adjustment.

The Zeb Select is the next option down the line, which, like the Select+ has adjustable low-speed compression and rebound, but via a Charger RC damper.

The two least expensive (and least adjustable) options are aimed more at the e-bike crowd. The only adjustments on the Zeb R are air pressure and rebound – it doesn't get much simpler than that. There's also a dual position version of that fork that can be switched from 180mm of travel down to 150mm with the turn of a dial.


photo

photo
There's enough clearance to run a 2.8" tire.
photo
The arch is tilted forward slightly to provide room for frames with oversized head tubes.


Details

Increased stiffness was the driving factor behind Zeb's larger stanchions and new arch design, but within reason – a fork that's too stiff can feel harsh and difficult to handle on long, rough tracks, no matter how good the internals are.

So exactly how much stiffer is the Zeb than a Lyrik? According to RockShox, it's 21.5% stiffer torsionally, 7% stiffer when it comes to side bending, and 2% stiffer fore / aft. Those numbers are comparing a 180mm Lyrik to a 180mm Zeb.

Extra stiffness usually comes with a little more weight, and my 29” 170mm Zeb Ultimate test fork weighed in at 2250 grams. For reference, that's 250 grams more than a Lyik, and 180 grams less than the recently released Fox 38.

photo
No adaptors are required if you're running a 200mm rotor.

The Zeb's arch is tipped slightly forward in order to provide a little more head tube clearance. Extra-girthy head tubes are apparently becoming more common, although it's happening more in the eMTB arena. Speaking of e-bikes, there's a 1.8” tapered steerer option. 1.8” steerers first popped up at Eurobike last year, and at the moment, it still seems like the 1.8” steerer is going to remain in the motorized realm. Of course, when a company as big as RockShox gets behind something it's probably only going to become more common in the coming years.

Other external details include the ability to run a bolt-on fender (finally) using the three holes on the back of the arch, and to run a 200mm rotor without needing any adaptors. No tiny rotors allowed here – 200mm is the smallest you'll be able to go. The Zeb uses a 15mm thru-axle, so 20mm thru-axle fans will need to keep on waiting for that standard to make a comeback in the single crown world.

Side note: I really wish brake manufacturers could settle on either 200 or 203mm rotors. Pick one or the other, please; there's no need for both to exist. It's great that a Code caliper can bolt right onto the Zeb without needing to dig for an adaptor, but riders in the Shimano camp will still need to run two 1.5mm washers to get their brake caliper to align properly.

photo

photo
The Zeb's air spring has a slightly larger negative to positive air volume percentage than a Lyrik.
photo
A bolt-on fender is available for an extra $20.

What's Inside?

Inside of the Zeb Ultimate you'll find a Charger 2.1 damper, which uses the same expanding bladder design that's used in a Lyrik or Pike. They're not cross-compatible, though, because the Zeb's damper has been designed to fit those 38mm stanchions.

The same goes for the DebonAir air spring. It's similar, but not identical to the recently updated spring found in the Lyrik and Pike, which positions the spring on the stanchion dimple that allows air to pass from the negative to the positive chamber, allowing the fork to ride higher in its travel. The Zeb's negative air volume is larger in order to give the fork an even more supple initial portion of its travel.

Thanks to the increased air volume in the Zeb, the recommended air pressures are relatively low. Those lower pressures mean that changing adding or subtracting a pound or two of pressure makes a more noticeable difference than it would on a fork that requires higher pressure.


photo

Ride Impressions

I have about a dozen rides on the Zeb so far, plenty of time to experiment and find the settings that work best for me. At 160 pounds I'm currently running 55 psi and no volume spacers, while in a Lyrik, I'll typically run 1-2 spacers and 80 psi. Even without any volume spacers there's a nice smooth ramp up at the end of the stroke, and despite my best (or worst) efforts I haven't had any nasty bottom outs.

The Zeb's damper and air spring are very similar to the Lyrik, but the two forks do feel different on the trail. The Zeb has a more muted feel than the Lyrik when faced with repeated impacts, as if a thin layer of memory foam was laid over the ground. It's similar to the difference in feel between running a DH casing versus a single-ply, trail casing tire. The Zeb seems to filter out the small vibrations differently than the Lyrik, transmitting a little less trail feedback to the handlebar. There's still a very usable range of high- and low-speed damping, it just that even all the way open the Zeb seems like it takes the edge of sharp hits a little differently than a Lyrik.

I've taken the Zeb on multiple 3,000 ft descents and haven't had any issues with it being too stiff. The extra stiffness is noticeable, although it is worth mentioning that I don't have any complaints about the stiffness or damping performance of a Lyrik. With the Zeb, that extra stoutness can be felt on steep, sharp turns, the type where most of your weight is directly on the fork, and on rough straightaways, when letting off the brakes and blowing through is the best option, or at least the most fun.

How does it compare to the Fox 38? Well, the Zeb is less expensive by $200, and it wins in the weight game, coming in at 2250 grams compared to the Fox at 2430 grams. The 38 does have independently adjustable high-speed rebound damping, plus it's got those nifty air bleed ports on the back of the legs, and a pinch bolt axle system.

I've been very happy with the performance of both forks so far, but since both are brand new options this season it's worth taking an even deeper dive into their handling to see if there are any areas where one really stands above the other. Pinkbike's Dan Roberts has been putting both forks to the test on the steeps of Champéry – look for an in-depth head-to-head comparison later this summer.








Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,715 articles

569 Comments
  • 547 10
 Should have called it Totem
  • 99 16
 You telling me that Zeb Ultimate doesn't just roll off the tongue for you like Super Deluxe Ultimate?

SRAM needs to work on their naming structure for their forks.
  • 147 19
 and it looks like a session...am i doing it right?
  • 110 7
 And test it on a Pole.
  • 14 0
 @drpheta: Super deluxe ultimate sounds good nut is just a bunch of fancy adjectives
  • 57 6
 then it needs to be 39.99 stanchtions
  • 7 0
 @likeittacky: Well I appreciated that gag.
  • 45 9
 Not in this day in age. Shit would get canceled in a second.
  • 109 0
 Unfortunately Zeb always reminds me of Zed. And as we all know, Zed is dead, baby ...
  • 21 4
 If it doesn't piss oil out of the dust seals I'm gonna want my money back.
  • 9 6
 @Noeserd:
Nop no . A 38.99 sir !!!
  • 25 0
 RS was going to name it the Totem, but they let the name expire, and someone else bought the name, and wont give it up.
  • 13 7
 @pistol2ne: my thoughts as well. Cultural appropriation.
  • 7 1
 no should have called it the T2 Jet (Totem2) and offer a throwback colorway.
  • 3 5
 @pistol2ne: oh you're so right.
  • 26 0
 They definitiytely should have called it another name. Totem is ok. Zeb isn't ok for french market.
  • 9 0
 @faul: ok, I really need to know now!
  • 45 48
 Totem would definitely offend some people, and just wait until the woke left finds out who Zeb was.
  • 5 0
 @mountainsofsussex: @mountainsofsussex: +1, inquiring minds want to know!

Edit; lol, just found it....file this in the same file as "Fanny" aka Fanny Pack for you Britts....for him
  • 27 0
 @mountainsofsussex: "zeub" or less common "zeb" is slang for men's jewels.
  • 20 2
 They literally had one job
  • 11 2
 Apparently Zeb is slang for your love truncheon in Arabic...
  • 11 1
 @faul: Sounds like a pretty cool fork name to me
  • 3 2
 Or Domain
  • 3 0
 @lkubica:
thought the same thing...
Actually, Zeb sounds also close to ridiculous in French...
  • 34 5
 @me2menow: (in creepy french accent) "huuhh huuhh huuhh... allo ladiees, would you like to com see ma zeb? It's extra stiff now" ;o)
What's not to like about that?
  • 22 0
 @headshot: Soon to be heard on the trails: "Hey is that a Zeb? Wow, I've never seen one in the flesh before, mind if I take a closer look at it?"


Wait. Is that why the commencal website had photos of meta am with pixelated forks? It was a Zeb, you can't show a photo of a zeb on a bike website.
  • 5 0
 @faul: what about Xpedo pedals lol
  • 27 0
 First thing I'd do is replace the Zeb decals with Totem decals. Problem solved.
  • 4 0
 @Rageingdh: please enlighten, who was Zebulon Pike?
  • 2 0
 @headshot: perhaps Cannondale should have picked that name up for the Lefty - this would be a bit worrying to have a pair...
  • 2 0
 @faul: every day is a school day!
  • 13 0
 @me2menow: At least we know what will be the first question after a crash. Dude, is your zeb ok?
  • 1 0
 Totem was apparently trademarked and that's one reason they didn't call it a Totem.
  • 1 0
 They didn't copyright the Totem name in time. But should've been Totem.
  • 17 8
 They may have decided to stay away from using totem as it might be construed by some as racially insensitive/cultural appropriation. Pure conjecture and not saying I agree but this is something many companies are being more considerate of in 2020
  • 8 0
 "Boing" said..., er no-one apparently, as it's an English TV reference that probably no one gets, except me, maybe.
  • 37 0
 I say we all just start calling it the Totem. Make it the defacto standard. PS, the new Totem looks great!
  • 19 0
 @chacou: some dude who saw Pikes Peak(the very same mountain “America the Beautiful” was inspired by) off in the distance, never made it to the summit and still got the mountain named after him. A true American hero.
  • 10 3
 I'm glad they didn't. The totem is in a class of its own with those 40mm stanchions and single crown. Downsizing to 38mm and still calling it a totem is almost insulting to the old fork. Even if the new one is better.
  • 4 3
 @seismicninja: Totem was insanely ahead of its time for a SC fork, but total shit box. Bushing play, stiction, creaking crowns, air sprung version was linear as shit with zero small bump compliance. I had the 2 step and it was bad, swapped it out for a coil, it was okay at best. Bought a 160mm - 36 float R and never looked back.
  • 21 1
 Zeb Pound
  • 3 0
 @Pol123: or Zef @dieantwood
  • 3 0
 Nah, totem is 40mm no less.
  • 3 0
 @gordonporter: Well tried but totally wrong.

A ZOB is a dick... in arabic, also used in french.

ZEB, in arabic still, is the green thing you can smoke to get high if you see what I mean...
  • 2 0
 @Dogl0rd: That's cool, because they've changed their ways.
  • 15 0
 Diet Boxxer .... Boxxer Zero ..... Boxxer Lite
  • 2 0
 @softsteel: which is where the Beuz comes in
  • 5 0
 @drpheta: They need to add Pro Turbo Advanced over there somewhere...
  • 1 0
 @BoneDog: that's awesome the Jett was my first RS on a trek 4500 I bought way back in the day.
  • 3 0
 @BoneDog: or the T0T3M as in 5010
  • 1 1
 @Pol123: Pike's prick
  • 9 0
 @faul: an now you can have the pleasure to ride a maxxis assguy with your zeub ... it's like they are asking for it !

You'd think that Sram has a big enough Marketing dep. to maybe take two minutes and ask their local branches of the names are usable accross the world, like you know International Marketing 1-o-1 ...
  • 5 0
 Only if it used 20x110 ultramegaboost, and tattoo stantions
  • 1 0
 @faul: hé zeubi !
  • 2 0
 @w0dge: I got it in a (Magic) Roundabout kind of way...
  • 5 0
 I like Zebulon better than Zeb but since I ride a Jeffsy, my opinion on names has no credibility whatsoever.
  • 2 0
 @faul: Great name for a pair of big manly forks then!
  • 2 0
 @gordonporter: Mon zeb....eet is at 30% sag right now you know ;o)
  • 2 0
 @korev: iseewhatyoudidthere Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @chakaping: That's what she said. Or, he, I guess. It is 2020 after all.
  • 5 0
 @w0dge: They're saving the name Zebedee for the coil version.
  • 1 0
 @faul: they suck on the ZEB for that c'est clair!!!
  • 1 0
 @mountainsofsussex: zeb>>Zeub or Zob means Dick in French!
  • 5 1
 @audric: so it's literally not the same spelling and also not a proper name and this is still dudes talking about penises for other reasons.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, for real. "Zeb", over "Totem"!? WTF!?
  • 4 0
 @ceecee: hey, what did penises ever do to you?
  • 1 0
 @BenPea: That's rather personal.
  • 1 0
 @pioterski: I think to be grammatically correct, you would have to ask if your zeb's are OK? Unless you are Lance Armstorng, then is your Zeb OK would be correct.
  • 1 0
 Sorry I'm late to the game, but Vital interviewed them and after a bunch of "freeride is dead, this is full enduro, so needs a different name" nonsense, he admitted that they let the trademark for Totem expire and they couldn't get it back.
  • 205 5
 I Totem to pick a different name.
  • 9 235
flag youknowitsus (Jul 7, 2020 at 8:07) (Below Threshold)
 These types of jokes need to stop.
  • 57 4
 @youknowitsus: People telling other people to stop making punny jokes needs to stop.
  • 8 12
flag defineindecline (Jul 7, 2020 at 8:33) (Below Threshold)
 @rmclarke: I totally get where the guy is coming from. Punny jokes are just like dad jokes. They're so dumb they're funny. Just gotta sip some coffee, grin, and bear it. Edit: realized I could've fit a bear pun in here somehow. I've failed you all.
  • 31 8
 @youknowitsus: I Tomemly disagree.
  • 7 2
 SRAM-RS products just Zeb and Flow
  • 4 1
 @youknowitsus: Ah ta gueule
  • 21 2
 @youknowitsus: I'm rock shocked at this in-sid-eous suggestion. Pink pike readers wax lyrikal about the humble pun. Some may even say: get forked!
  • 7 1
 @jammf: *slow clap*
  • 1 0
 @jammf: Reba-ound adjust only on the cheap model is for Yari- I got nothing to make this pun work.
  • 1 0
 Rockshox let the trademark for Totem expire and they can't get it back.
  • 1 0
 @fruitsd79: you'll have your revelation soon enough
  • 1 0
 @jammf: dammit!
  • 132 5
 Any chance of 200 pound reviewers doing a review on some of these forks. I’ve seen reviews where the reviewer was happy with the stiffness of a pike.
  • 8 0
 This
  • 6 0
 I’m gona price one up when I get to work. I feel like a 180 one would be good for me on the nomad in whis bike park. And I’m a solid 200lb easy
  • 52 6
 6'4, 220...when I saw the reviewer state "160", my thought was.."so it isn't getting pushed very hard".
  • 12 2
 I think component stiffness is something that really depends on who's reviewing it. A 50kg woman might find components too stiff that feel right to the 75kg reviewer and feel like a noodle to a Clydesdale! Having said that, a 75kg rider hammering out laps in champerey every day, probably has similar needs to the average Joe that weighs twice that...
  • 26 1
 Totally agree. Does Pinkbike have a single tester who's anywhere near 200lbs?
  • 14 5
 @GlassGuy: well said im 6'2 - 260 and get sick of the tiny 5ft6 rider saying bikes and wheels are too stiff lol
  • 58 2
 They need to hire a fat out of shape guy to review these things... though I imagine if your job is to ride bikes every day it would be tough to maintain those 40 extra pounds. It would take a real special person with a commitment to junk food to accomplish this.
  • 13 0
 @iantmcg: im up for the challenge lol
  • 9 3
 @GlassGuy: 6'2" 215lbs i miss my old Totem, my fox 36 is flexy and my Lyrik is too. i dont think 38mm stanchion do more than compensate for the length of the fork. I think big guys need DH forks for enduro.
  • 9 2
 @iantmcg: i could ride all day everyday and not lose a pound, i would just be hungrier at the days end. i dont eat much junk food, I am just a cyclist trapped in a basketball players body.
  • 10 2
 @iantmcg: why do they need to be "fat/out of shape"? Weight can be achieved by other "healthier" means, and make a reviewer more reputable if they can actually use the gear without passing out with fatigue or having a heart attack. I'm 6'4, 220...not at all "fat out of shape", and I break parts and frames quite often
  • 3 2
 @RoverDover: wow, I've had three Lyric's and a couple 36 and I don't recall them being noticeably flexy...maybe you have some headset issues, or front wheel is squishy? ha ha...but I feel anything below a 35mm stanchion on a 150 travel is going to be noodle if you're a bigger rider.
My main fork currently is the Marz Z1(simplified 36), and it's been feeling great at 150
  • 2 0
 @iantmcg: Lots of riders have that commitment.
  • 4 2
 Agreed 100%. At 6' 2" I've ripped a couple of carcases off the rubber based on pinkbike banter about low tire pressures and I always have to take the "wandering front end" with a grain of salt...clearly you haven't seen the length of my seatpost. Why do large sized shirts fit me, but when it comes to bikes I need an XL frame and a 200mm dropper?? At least I have those options, the xxl bikers I feel really sorry for. I'll take my payment in free stuff to review.
  • 3 0
 @sickmansick: Jason is prob their biggest guy, so get him to put some weight on it
  • 2 1
 @pinkbike hire me for the 200lb fork tester, I’ll do it! Send me some forks and I’ll be happy to write up reviews! @mikekazimer
  • 1 0
 @gticket: same. fellow 6'2" 200+ er who rides an XL. My mtb bro's that are 6'5"+ are lucky to be on the lighter skinnier side but god help you if you are really tall and 260+. Lebron would look like a circus clown on my XL enduro sled.
  • 4 0
 @iantmcg: totally agree

To the editors: I'm the right height to ride the same bikes as the Mikes and I'm just down the road - be happy to put in a few Galby laps to offer the 240lb perspective Smile
  • 2 0
 @GlassGuy: I weigh 240 and I’ve ridden the 38 on normal and ebikes. Thing is amazing and you can definitely feel the stiffness increase over the 36
  • 3 0
 If you are a Clyde and riding RS forks without the torque caps you need them.
  • 1 3
 @clink83: the torque caps are a placebo though...
  • 2 1
 @TheSlayer99:
Only on certain hubs, they added useless rings so people didn’t have a hard time lining up the hub to get the axle in.
The real torque caps make a real difference.
  • 3 0
 Now we have the Lyrics on traill bikes and the Pike on XCs
  • 4 0
 To the flexy fork guys - put a dual crown fork on
  • 1 4
 @bigtard: “real torque caps” sure buddy. Sram’s whole deal is so that people get ease of use over performance, why would the torque caps do anything but be a guide to put the wheels in?
  • 1 0
 @bigtard: I've added torque caps to my wheels as I don't like the way the load path goes on a normal rockshox fork (hopefully the friction between the hub and the fork, but maybe also putting the15mm axle in shear). And I reckon it did make the fork feel a little stiffer, and as I'm quite light, it maybe felt a little harsher. Maybe one day when I'm bored, I'll swap them on and off and repeat a rough section of trail to see if it's real.
  • 1 0
 @simooo: and go 27.5
  • 1 0
 @tigen: I’ve been using hope fortus wheels and been ok with 29
  • 1 0
 @iantmcg: I like where you are going with this.
  • 4 0
 @TheSlayer99:
Hey bud sorry I honestly thought i was being helpful.
Turns out you’re just stupid.
  • 1 0
 @iantmcg: Doesn't have to be fst, just needs to be tall to be heavy. But then he won't get to review any bikes because noone sends out review frames in XXL.
  • 1 0
 @RoverDover: Couldn't agree more, sir! Maybe we could have a silent fork, without those annoying clik..clack, tik...tak...from the crownfork!

35mm, triple clamp, weight around 2300/2400?
  • 2 0
 @bigtard: I think not, I’m not the one who thinks sram makes good products. You’d have to be pretty stupid to believe that.
  • 88 4
 Wicked looking fork. Regardless of the backstory, the name is shit. I'll be after some custom 'Totem' decals if I get one of these
  • 24 1
 Truely a name chosen by a committee
  • 8 1
 Toten jock shox?
  • 25 1
 Its better than you think!

Zebulon Pike mostly bumbled through his explorations getting captured multiple times by Mexico and Native Americans and his whole party was trapped and nearly froze through at least one winter. None-the-less, he failed upward enough to get a 14er named after him that he never summited along with a bunch of "Pikesvilles" throughout the suburban US.
  • 4 0
 @Sardine: don't forget Pike National Forest, he really fell forward until he was killed in the battle of york
  • 9 0
 @Sardine: So is this not for climbing trails? If its named after someone too lazy to climb his own peak...
  • 5 0
 @Sardine: I just checked his Wikipedia entry, and it lists all the things named after him, and, no forks! Rockshox need to get editing...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebulon_Pike
  • 1 0
 @Sardine: he also opined it would be impossible to summit, but now there's a road, and the Pike's Peak Hill Climb probably means it is actually the quickest 14er to summit
  • 5 1
 @mountainsofsussex: also Zeb Pike's middle name was Lyrik - they're just obsessed
  • 3 0
 @Nmullen25: Well they did say it was for Ebikes too
  • 3 0
 @Sardine: if that’s not a story of America then I don’t know what is
  • 3 0
 Funny story, our good friend Zeb was killed trying to invade Canada in 1813.
  • 1 1
 @endurendo: Your FAKE NEWS!
  • 2 1
 @fruitsd79: Yes, the contraction of "you are"
  • 55 1
 Everyone's whining about the name...no mention of 190mm single crown?? Nuts
  • 11 0
 Or spouting rumors of a 38mm Boxxer??
  • 9 0
 Still playing catch-up to the Manitou Travis SC at 200mm in, what, 2007?
  • 3 0
 Been done. See Travis comment..
  • 1 5
flag SintraFreeride (Jul 7, 2020 at 13:10) (Below Threshold)
 @secondtimeuser: They never made a 200mm single crown. There was a 190mm marzocchi Z1 specially for Scott but that is it.
  • 8 1
 @secondtimeuser: True, I forgot about that fork. But, let's be honest, this one surely has a much better damper and chassis than a 2007 Travis. I'm just saying, nobody else is making one that long right now, kinda interesting. Personally I'd rather have a lowered boxxer though.
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: My mistake, it was 203mm in 2006. Hard to find too much contemporary info but there are some specs / photos here: www.rotorburn.com/forums/index.php?threads/2006-manitou-travis-specs.34623
  • 2 0
 @BrigadierBuege: oh undoubtedly. Interesting that RS think there's the demand for SC forks that big again though.
  • 2 1
 Why didn’t they just go all the way to 200mm and be done with it?! There can’t be much difference engineering wise, all the tolerances for 190mm must be bloody close.

Would be a good option for someone wanting more on the front of their 180mm rig. Or (lighter) riders building a park bike with 200 front and back. Bar spins at rampage?
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: there was a Marzocchi 66 VF2 LT with 190mm of travel
  • 2 0
 @Altron5000: I can really only guess, but with most engineering projects you start with a specification sheet outlining what the product should accomplish. It's possible that 200 was outside of a certain target in terms of deflection.
Those extra 10mm might have pushed it over that edge.

Could also be that they didn't want the fork to overlap with the Boxxer. It's not unusual. It creates a psychological limit for the customer in terms of what the fork is capable of.
  • 1 0
 @nhp890: Yes my mistake saying it was a Z1 Wink
  • 1 0
 @ssteve: It already does overlap with the Boxxer. You can run the Boxxer between 180-200mm.
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: Yes. But with a Boxxer you're not riding an "enduro" bike any more. See previously mentioned psychology comment.
  • 1 0
 @ssteve: Only racers ride "Enduro" everyone else trail rides. If you are after performance then a 180mm Boxxer makes more sense. The Zed only makes sense up to 160mm and even then I think a dual crown would be better. Mountainbiking needs to stop obsessing with weight and focus on performance and durability...
  • 63 9
 Sry I'm out. If it only came in a 37.99mm diameter. 38mm is just too much
  • 51 0
 Rockshox ZEB: the new fork from Rockshox
Ma Zeub: French slang for Penis

What will be heard in France once this hits the trail:

"Ma Zeub est trop raide" : My ZEB is too stiff
  • 1 0
 @Mugen This!!!
  • 33 0
 @edfw: wait until it starts failing "some fluid is leaking out of my zeb and it lost sensitivity"
  • 19 0
 Ma zeub est 190mm.
  • 45 1
 Looks like a Totem
  • 33 1
 Should be called "initial compressions" on suspension reviews
  • 29 1
 First squish?
  • 2 0
 @mikekazimer: ohhh yeahhh
  • 2 0
 @mikekazimer: begining boings
  • 37 7
 Why not compare it to the Mezzer from Manitou?
  • 19 3
 Agreed, Manitou forks have come a long way in recent years. I think they could definitely run with the big boys.
  • 9 2
 manitou top!
  • 19 3
 same here. the mezzer was nerfed by a poorly tested review on pinkbike. it really had bushing play, but the new batch of forks has this fixed which essentially makes it perfect. im 100 kg naked and on longer days i take bikepacks up to 10 kg, add my gear to that and we have a lot of weight on the bike and the forks feel flexy af. with this new generation, there are the 38, the mezzer and the zeb to choose from. the 38 is very cool. plus it will match with my fox shock. the mezzer however looks better than both in my opinion. it also has bleed valves added on the new batch. with plenty of adjustability of the airspring it offers perfect setup for someone of my weight. we will see some reviews in the future
  • 70 1
 Let's do a lil rundown. Mezzer is 28% stiffer than the Lyric so 7% stiffer than this Zeb, Weighs in at 2000g so 250g lighter than the zeb, has an integrated fender that you don't need to pay extra for, has IRT instead of volume spacers for more control over the air spring, has Hydraulic bottom out, and when you take it apart to change travel you only need to add or remove spacers below the air spring instead of purchasing a new assembly. And the newest version includes bleeder/seal lubrication ports on the castings. Did it win?
  • 24 0
 Can confirm. I've been testing the Mezzer now for the last 10 months. When I first got it it felt a tad sticky and spiky like Pinkbike mentioned. Took it apart and added the proper amount of bath oil and it felt amazing. I called up the Canadian Manitou service tech asking for some new seals and he checked my serial number and found it was from the early batch that had issues. He swapped out my lowers with the new version in 1 day. During the pandemic. It is now unreal how good it feels. The bleed/lube ports are awesome and it still shocks me (heh) when I weigh my cut steerer fork at 1980 grams.
  • 4 11
flag bigmeatpete420 (Jul 7, 2020 at 7:56) (Below Threshold)
 No cause the dvo onyx is better lol @Tacodip420:
  • 7 0
 @freeridejerk888: Show me the proof! lol. I would like to try that fork, but I can't imagine OTT offers the same customization as IRT.
  • 22 0
 Agreed. Manitou really outdid themselves, not only did they release the big fork first, but they did it cheaper and lighter than the big players.
  • 13 0
 @Tacodip420: you da man. WISE and PRECISE words. at some point single crown has no meaning of existence due to flex at the crown. mezzer is stiffer forward / aft than 38s but weights less , cost less, and has lot's of internal adjustability features, such as going 100ish to 180mm travel with a single air shaft, while others need new internals (=money to spend) . also, IRT is magic, and look at mezzer's crown which is "the beefier" crown of the fork-category. Hands down for da main man N.P. the creator of Manitou's pride. Respect.
  • 7 1
 @Tacodip420: And manitou made sure us home mechanics can service it easily (see NSMB review). After a month on my Mezzer I gotta agree with all the positive reviews out there.
  • 7 1
 Here's another comparison, this thing is ugly AF, maybe even uglier than the Fox 38. My Mezzer looks just as sweet as it rides. Such a good fork.
  • 6 0
 I am currently riding a 29er Mezzer at 160mm and also have a bike with a 2019 Lyrik at 180mm with the Push HC97 and the DSD Runt (second air chamber - similar concept to the IRT).

Where the modified Lyrik is "better" - parking lot feel and some small bump compliance at low to moderate speeds.

Mezzer is more composed at speed, tracks better, handles chunk better. The bottom out with HBO is awesome as well. I love that I can adjust the travel easily as well. I bet 170 or 180 would put the small bump on par with the Lyrik as well.

Oh and it's ~ 2030grams after cutting the steerer for an XL bike.
  • 2 1
 Why not compare it to the Ohlins?

Probably because most bikes come with RS, or Fox. So that is what MOST people can relate to.
  • 4 0
 I really hope those two 38 forks would bring down Mezzer's price even more so I can upgrade my Mattoc Pro!
  • 3 1
 @Uchwmdr:Good to hear the Mezzer is working out. Really wanted one but far too many owners seemed to have QC issues with early batches. Went with a Lyric instead and am very happy. But would still like to try a Mezzer, but just want to be sure all the bugs are finally worked out.
  • 2 0
 @MikerJ: this was a concern of mine too. Manitou has corrected the earlier issues in the latest batch. Older forks were QA/QC'd as well (got mine in May and it was a 8/2019 build that had been checked out). Hard to find them in stock these days though!
  • 2 0
 @Jcmonty: I heard they actually lightened the compression a bit on some of the more recent updates to make the Mezzer a bit more compliant for lighter weight riders over small bumps.
  • 1 4
 @Tacodip420:
The mezzer has larger diameter stanchions than the Lyrik, but weighs about the same. That makes me think that the wall thickness was made thinner to save weight, which would mean it dents more easily.
  • 4 1
 @Aptlynamed: You'd think that...but the Mezzer's damper fits in the 34mm Mattoc, so that means the wall thickness of the stanchions must be thicker.

Manitou claimed that the Reverse arch increased stiffness and decreased weight, so maybe they weren't lying.
  • 6 0
 @Aptlynamed: Stiffness and weight come from many different sources on the fork chassis. People focus on the stanchion diameter but ignore the rest of the fork (lowers, crown, steerer, rods, oil volume, etc), which plays an equal, if not greater, role in both categories.

Regardless, how many times are you dropping or hitting your fork on the stanchion hard enough to dent it, but not hard enough to scratch it and damage it?
  • 1 0
 @PHeller: I emailed Manitou about that, and they said nothing had changed. But I read that too.
  • 2 0
 Has someone actually ridden the DVO Onxy and the Mezzer to give a good opinion. I'm looking for a new fork for my park bike,but I just can't decide.
  • 30 2
 So we totally ignore its shit name and call it a Totem, deal PB?
  • 25 0
 Can't wait to see a shootout between this, the Mezzer, and the 38. @mikekazimer?
  • 3 0
 @mikekazimer Please make it happen!
  • 25 12
 depends if they can workout how to set up the mezzer Razz
  • 12 1
 @mtb-scotland: seriously. Maybe Manitou needs to make a non-IRT model to provide testing groups so it's best feature can't be used against it for being too "fiddly"
  • 11 27
flag mtb-scotland (Jul 7, 2020 at 9:31) (Below Threshold)
 @PHeller: if you can't work out how to add some pressure to an air chamber you shouldn't be doing reviews. took me less than 10 mins to set up a basic pressure in my IRT.
  • 50 8
 @mtb-scotland, please don't start this again. There were no problems with my setup on that fork - it was the excessive bushing play that really prevented it from getting a glowing review. Maybe we'll try again with a current version and see if the issues I experienced have been fixed.
  • 12 26
flag mtb-scotland (Jul 7, 2020 at 9:39) (Below Threshold)
 @mikekazimer: Do Canadians not know how to take a joke?
  • 52 3
 @mtb-scotland, I'm not sure, you'll have to ask one Wink
  • 3 28
flag mtb-scotland (Jul 7, 2020 at 9:51) (Below Threshold)
 @mikekazimer: The emoji next to the comment not a clue as to the sarcastic nature of the comment?
  • 10 0
 @mtb-scotland: Kaz isn't canadian.
  • 6 30
flag mtb-scotland (Jul 7, 2020 at 10:50) (Below Threshold)
 @alexpistachio: that explains his lack of understanding of sarcasm and irony

@mikekazimer apologies for getting your nationality wrong.
  • 23 1
 @mtb-scotland: shoulda just quit while you were ahead buddy
  • 7 12
flag mtb-scotland (Jul 7, 2020 at 10:57) (Below Threshold)
 @blkmrktrider156: was I ever ahead though
  • 19 3
 @mtb-scotland: No, you seem like a pretty well-rounded dummy to me.
  • 11 1
 @mtb-scotland: I find there is a lack of comedic comment understanding between some nationalities here on Pinkbike, which is understandable.
Further though, some jump to incorrect presumption of intent which leads to unnecessary offence, on their own part.
My personal view is Maxwell didn't kill herself.
  • 4 5
 @Ajorda: nah I live on the other side of the pond
  • 3 1
 Add the onxy and onhlins fork In There @mikekazimer:
  • 3 0
 @mikekazimer: I think that would be a great idea.
  • 6 0
 enduro-mtb.com says this in the ZEB article:
We are currently testing both forks as well as many other exciting models as part of our big enduro fork group test – be excited.

Lets hope the Mezzer is part of the Test.
  • 23 0
 I feel better my coil converted 36mm stanchion 170mm fork weights the same... oh wait!, I cannot stand that much flex now ! what am I going to do ??
  • 4 4
 Il va falloir prendre sur toi, et subir l'horrible honte de ne pas avoir une fourche en 38mm... ????????????
  • 3 2
 @etga6657:
je pleurerai seul dans la forêt
  • 2 0
 Curious as I’m debating coil converting my 160mm. What kit did you use and do you dig it?
  • 1 0
 @sunringlerider: push acs3 fox 36 2015 rc2, fantastic, then I moved the kit to a fox 36 2017 fit4, superb as well, but not for all people due to narrow adjustability of that damper.. I will test a vorsprung soon... At 180mm,
  • 2 0
 @Lagr1980: cool. I have a 11/6 shock and love it. Was leaning towards the acs3. Thanks
  • 3 0
 @Lagr1980: try the AWK from chickadeehill. Believe me. Real coil feeling with 2 air chambers. Changed my Rc2 2018 for the better. Had one before in my pike and seriously this is considered as the best thing you can do to your air chamber, lighter and cheaper than ACS.
  • 36 15
 considering the lyrik was already way stiffer than a fox 36 and almost as stiff as a fox 38, I can only imagine how beefy this thing is.
  • 17 10
 you sure that the lyrik is that stiff?
  • 11 2
 Do you have a source for that relative Lyrik stiffness info?
  • 7 10
 @bafo: quite certain the lyrik was stiffer than a 36. not sure about the 38 its too new
  • 8 0
 @cedrico: I can't remember where I read that, but I definitely remember seeing some test results similar to what @nyles mentioned here
  • 10 11
 I have all of these forks in my garage right now. The difference from the Lyrik to the 36 is not noticeable at all, 38 blows them both out of the water in terms of stiffness.
  • 6 1
 @salespunk: Thanks for the info based on real-world experience Smile
  • 10 0
 @cedrico: some German magazine did tests with actual measurements. Lyrik came out single digit % stiffer than 36 in fore/aft direction and 20 something % stiffer torsionally. Can't find it right now. If I come across it I'll be happy to reference it.
  • 11 1
 @nhp890: Bottom left of this pic:
www.delius-klasing.de/media/image/5a/64/1c/lib4mr7d540wp3bsytuk9kxkpvps2tun_1.jpg
White is torsional stiffness, grey braking stiffness
  • 12 0
 @salespunk: the Lyrik feels noticeably stiffer than the 36 to me. Enough to be annoying. Especially if you’d just sold the stock Lyrik for a ‘fancy’ 36 before coming to the realisation.
  • 1 0
 @Mondbiker & @JustYourAverageJoey: Thanks for sharing those test results!
  • 2 0
 @Mondbiker: "SUCK IT" lol...silly germans
  • 2 1
 This is emblematic of the fork stiffness testing issue. 6'6" 235lbs here. The Lyrik and the 36 aren't that stiff.

The Helm I got to replace those creaky forks has been sufficiently torsionally and laterally stiff and a year in still isn't creaking. Maybe the Fox 38 will be the first SC Fox fork to not start creaking almost immediately.
  • 3 0
 @alexsin: sad to say that I have talked at least one 38 owner complaining about it creaking. After two weeks :/
  • 3 2
 @salespunk: ride harder. it's very noticeable.
  • 3 1
 @nyles: lol, come ride with me anytime and then we'll see how you feel about that comment
  • 2 0
 @salespunk: here that click?

Triggered.
  • 1 1
 @salespunk: same here. And you’re right
  • 22 0
 Wait, the Pike wasn’t named after a fish?

I am deeply saddened by this news.
  • 22 1
 I wonder if they will make a new DH fork with the 38mm stanchions. The 35mm on the boxxer seems slim to me
  • 3 0
 I'm thinking the same thing. Wonder if the boxxer will go straight to 38mm soon, or there will be two options?
  • 21 0
 Pinkbike commenters, Start your Engines
  • 3 1
 REV UP YOUR ENGINESSS
  • 17 0
 I hope they trickle down that bolt-on fender to the rest of their models. I really like that syncros fender on the Fox 36 and wish I had some option like that on my Lyrik. I can't stand the rattling of the thin plastic fenders, which I can't seem to get rid of.
  • 18 0
 I wish they would make the bolt on fenders to also protect the seals the way a zip tied fender does..
  • 5 0
 @ccrider1: yes to this comment. Instead the way it’s made it almost makes things fling straight to the seals. Just needs a wee bit more coverage
  • 3 0
 @ccrider1: give it 5mins and a decent aftermarket one will be along
  • 12 1
 My DVO Onyx SC and previous Diamond both came with the bolt on fenders no charge. Dame shame RS has the stones to charge for it.
  • 3 0
 @ccrider1: RRP does that
  • 1 1
 The new fox fender on the 2021 fox stuff is much better than the syncros. It protects the seals and is crazy stiff due to 4 mounting points.
  • 4 0
 The syncros fenders are rattling like crazy, especially the new one for the fox 40/49. Some prototype testing before going into massproduction might be an idea worth considering...
  • 3 0
 My suntour xcr lo came with a fender.....
  • 14 0
 “it still seems like the 1.8” steerer is going to remain in the motorized realm. Of course, when a company as big as RockShox gets behind something it's probably only going to become more common in the coming years.”
For Fox sake No! Just No!
  • 2 4
 depends on wither you want a stiffer fork or not.
  • 2 1
 You'd think but companies are still slow to adopt 34.9 seat tubes so who knows.
  • 22 5
 That would be great on the front of the Grim Donut...
  • 4 0
 They've put it on a Privateer, close enough Wink
  • 17 1
 Any other colours other than John Major grey?

(That goes out to my fellow middle aged spitting image loving Brits )
  • 2 0
 Color is bad, isn't it? It only matches those weird Santa Cruz color frames...
  • 16 0
 Looks way better than the arch on a 38
  • 17 5
 Another example of telling and selling people things they don't need to get them to replace the perfectly fine thing they already had. Give it 12 months and Pikes, Lyriks and 36s will now be aimed at trail bikes (and downduro) because you NEED the increased stiffness of the 38s.
  • 18 1
 The pinkbike comment section really is the player haters ball. Nothing pleases you guys.
  • 3 0
 Too late. Trek are already putting 36s on little bikes.
  • 11 0
 In 2 months you will see in a 130mm bike test :
"We vould have liked to see the more rigid ZEB vs the lightweight Lyric that comes specced on the bike"
  • 10 0
 Now the real question.

Try to score a deal on a Lyrik as everyone scrambles for a Zeb, or join the masses and try to scrounge more cash and pony up for a Zeb?

I do like that it’s lighter and cheaper than the 38 though. Good move there.
  • 65 0
 Or go mad and keep the fork you already have?
  • 6 1
 @mashrv1:

I’ve been low key in the market for a fork for a while now. But I totally agree with the sentiment.

Currently rocking a long offset yari with motion control damper and solo air spring.

Looking for a short offset fork with a better damper, and even though I can upgrade the yari, the math tells me it’s a better deal to upgrade to a whole new fork if I can get a good deal on it.

Or put another way.

New CSU + new air spring + new damper ~= new fork - selling the yari.

So a new fork might actually make sense. Just depends on the deals.
  • 22 1
 @ocnlogan, you could always get a Lyrik and make some stickers that say “Zeb SL”.
  • 9 8
 @mashrv1:
OMG...I'm like so offended at that anti-capatalistic, economy killing, commie talk...
Just because you have a product that serves it purpose perfectly well and is working excellently, it doesn't mean you shouldn't buy the latest and more expensive replacement.
If we all went around "keeping the forks you have" what then? Oh so now your brakes are perfectly good, get serviced when needed and could run another 2 seasons...
Well buddy... You and your fellow "make do'ers" are everything that's wrong with this world. I say replace everything just because you can... Buy... Buy... BUY!!!
Together, we can use all unnecessary resources... Together, we can increase obsolescence and reduce longevity... Together, we can ruin this world...

Oh, Son... If you see your mom this weekend... Be sure to tell her...
Satan... Satan... Satan...

Evil
(medical help is being sought)
  • 5 3
 @ocnlogan mezzer is cheaper and lighter than the Zeb
  • 2 0
 @mtb-scotland:

Lighter I see.

But cheaper? Looks like the same $999 price point everywhere I look? They have them cheaper on their site, but its a sale price, and none are in stock in short offset 29'er.
  • 4 0
 @ocnlogan: Based on your explanation....

Save your money and buy from th classifieds. Lots of nice, used forks from people who don't know that the latest and greatest is barely better...
  • 2 0
 @mashrv1: @mashrv1: That is just too brutal to cope with.
  • 2 0
 @mtb-scotland: A class-leading air spring system too.
  • 3 0
 @ocnlogan: paid 690 for my mezzer vs 730 for a lyric ultimate that I also looked at. I expect a street price for the Zeb to be higher than the lyric. I got mine from Germany as the UK had no stock.
  • 1 1
 @mtb-scotland:
"I expect a street price for the Zeb to be higher than the lyric."
A beautiful line. Is that you Irvine?
Jailbreak
  • 12 1
 What !!!! We never seen this coming.
  • 2 13
flag Shafferd912 (Jul 7, 2020 at 8:34) (Below Threshold)
 I cant tell if this is sarcasm or not. If its not, then I wold tell you that Commencal released their new lineup of bikes a couple weeks ago, and several of the rockshox models had blurred out forks. I totally saw it coming.

If it was sarcasm, then disregard the comment. Big Grin
  • 19 12
 Massively disappointed with this. I don’t see the point in these massive over built heavy single crown forks. The joint between the steerer and crown will still be the weak point and they’re still going to be loads of unwanted flex. I was really hoping to see a light weight 170 / 180mm duel crown. I struggle to see how they couldn’t make a 170mm 2300 gram boxxer / Lyrik hybrid. At least lyriks will be on offer now though.
  • 6 0
 MRP Bartlett.
  • 2 0
 Or Mojo's MORC
  • 7 1
 @bishopsmike: Problem with throwing a dual crown on a single crown designed bike is that often times the head tubes aren't designed to take the stiffness of a dual crown. A buddy of mine tried out a bartlett on his bike and ended up cracking his head tube due to the stress of it.
  • 3 3
 @Ajorda: Does a 35mm dual crown really put that different a stress on the frame than a 38mm single crown? I'm not sure that hoping the flex in your fork will save your frame is the best idea; probably just a bad frame.
  • 1 2
 2300g DC fork is not realistic, weight difference in lowers is close to 150g, so 2400g would be likely possible. Still lighter than 38 eh?
  • 1 0
 @Ajorda: Let me guess, it was a carbon one
  • 2 2
 @bishopsmike: I'm not saying the flex in the fork saves the frame, a dual crown is harder on head tubes because of where it flexes, now in how stiff or flexible it is. A 160mm travel trail bike is going to be built with a certain amount of flexibility coming from certain areas on the fork, putting a dual crown on the bike changes where that flex and pressure is placed.
  • 2 0
 @Mondbiker: Aluminum SC Hightower. Cracked around the welds on the head tube.
  • 1 0
 @Mondbiker: it should be done. This 190mm single crown is getting a bit silly.
  • 1 1
 @Ajorda: most frames are not designed for 1.8" steerers either.
  • 7 2
 @jaame: basically no difference between the Zeb and lyrik fore and aft which is all that really matters. I hate feeling your fork tuck in underneath you when you hit some square on and the twang of it bouncing back. There’s so much side to side flex in a wheel that making your fork more resistant to twisting is just going to make the wheel flex more, less binding hopefully but they really should have trumped the 38 by releasing a lyrik / boxxer hybrid at the same weight. This is basically a boomer scooter fork.
  • 2 2
 @thenotoriousmic: sometimes when I land from this massive drop up at Ripley I can feel the whole front end/fork/wheel flex like f*ck, but I don't particularly want a stiffer fork or wheel. It's obviously strong enough as is with 35mm legs. Adding the weight that I don't need for the sake of stiffness that I don't need doesn't make sense.
I can see that some people want a stiffer fork, for whom surely a lyrik/boxxer hybrid would be a better proposition. I had a totem and while I loved it, the huge legs and huge seals definitely didn't help the action.
  • 1 0
 @jaame: Absolutely, but nothing stops you from buying DC crown fork that is already out there, pretty much everything can be lowered to whatever you need, if you care about weight DC is perhaps not necessary. Only thing that can be pain in the ass is you may not be able to use the same wheel with boost 20.
  • 5 0
 @jaame: the totem flexed loads at the crown also. A single crown is simply a poor design that they’re trying to engineer their way around. It’s stupid. I have no problem with the stiffness of the lyrik except when it flexes forwards and backwards. How much does a stantion weigh? Extending them 4 inches and running two light weight crowns is definitely better than one massive overbuilt crown and a 1.8 steerer tube that’s only 2% stiffer where it really matters.
  • 1 0
 @thenotoriousmic: best comment on the thread. Spot on.
  • 2 0
 @thenotoriousmic: this is how the Lefty was able to achieve rigidity far higher than most single crown forks, despite only have a single leg. That and the roller bearings that didn't bind or create stiction during high-flex compression.

It makes me wonder - did Cannondale build frames with dual-crown approved construction standards? Like, could you run a dual-crown on a 2017 Jekyl and not have issues with the head-tube splitting? Likewise, would a Lefty void the warranty of a bike not intended for dual crowns?

If Cannondale made a 140-160 Lefty for 29ers that didn't require a special hub (like Adroit developed), I'd be all about it.
  • 11 0
 Well, huck me
  • 8 0
 I guess you could get some custom decals made and have "Zeb" up one leg and "edee" down the other. Oh hang on its a air fork, scrap that idea.
  • 2 0
 underrated comment
  • 8 0
 Finally 200mm direct post mount... Can't wait for 3mm brake rotor adapters to come out soon!
  • 6 0
 you mean 2pcs of regular M6 washers you can get in every hardware store?
  • 7 0
 @Mondbiker: Oh I don't think so. We definitely need a new spacer standard. Bike industry will not disappoint.
  • 5 0
 @Mondbiker: nonononono M6 washers are cheap and not enduro rated. we need adapter and it has to cost more than 20 bucks as otherwise it won't be cool enough to put on a bike.
  • 1 0
 @vemegen: And come in 12 anodized colors.
  • 2 0
 The totem had 200mm DM in 2007. I'm surprised it's taken this long to come back. My guess would be the longer bosses add 20g, an no manufacturer wants to add 20g because weight is more important than performance when selling forks.
  • 1 0
 @jaame: Dude, it´s literally 2cm of 12-15mm dia. magnesium tube with M6 thread drilled through, I would be surprised if weight difference was more than 5g. Way less than your average +20mm adapter that 99% of people have to run on their forks.
  • 1 1
 @Mondbiker: how many fork manufacturers quote weights with an adapter and longer bolts?
  • 10 1
 @mike k so right about 200 and 203 rotors. Why? Just why?
  • 8 0
 Just what we needed, more cowbell.
  • 5 0
 How can increased fork stiffness be a benefit in rough terrain causing less deflection off of a chosen line by a rider but a carbon wheel can be too stiff and casue increased deflection off a chosen line?
  • 6 0
 How does this new Zeb fork stack up compared to the Girven FlexStem? I just gotta know!
  • 3 0
 Crazy it took over 10 years to get back to 180-190mm single crowns. I had a 180 and 200mm Travis and the ultra rare 190mm 66. All great forks and super stiff. Weighed an F ton, though, and that 66 had an A-C higer than the 888...
  • 6 0
 Custom decal companies to roll out Totem decals for this fork. You can have that business idea for free.
  • 7 0
 Do you know what Zeb means in familiar french ? ????
  • 2 0
 Yes sir !
  • 2 0
 Are you going tell us?
  • 7 0
 @Beez177: Slang for penis, so this is a new, extra stiff penis!
  • 2 2
 @Tracefunction: ha, ok definitely will going with the Fox then!
  • 2 1
 @kcy4130: Golden
  • 6 0
 All right well let's take the summer to see how many of these versus the Fox 38 are returned for creaking then we'll decide.
  • 1 0
 Exactly.
  • 4 0
 For everyone from the RADGNAR of BEND, BOULDER and SARNIA ONTARIO or flatbuttistan please insert your "but whyyyyyy" comments here

@leelau thought it was time to put this back into service.
  • 1 1
 Hey now! We have a rock in Bend! I need that 38 mil chassis to shred Galveston on a Friday afternoon to show all the tourists sipping overpriced low quality IPA's at 10 barrel how hard core I am!
  • 3 0
 @alexsin the truth does hurt
  • 8 1
 I miss red forks -_-
  • 26 16
 I miss Waki
  • 26 0
 I miss Paul Aston
  • 2 4
 @hamncheez: yeah haven’t seen a comment from him in ages. Is he corona?
  • 11 2
 @hamncheez: hahaahh, he probably had already prewritten his essay for this release, just ready to copy and paste, and now he is regreting he stepped out.
  • 16 0
 @mahdessi: he rage quit in a comment section awhile back.
  • 5 1
 @mtmc99: I saw that he asked to be blocked/deleted. IDK if he deleted his account or the mods erased him.

Quite the turn, as just a few years ago he was almost a regular pb contributor. Let this be a lesson to us all to not use the internet while drunk.
  • 10 0
 @mtmc99: *got banned
  • 11 14
 @clink83: Really he was banned? Unfortunate bc he kept the comment section interesting.
  • 6 8
 @stumphumper92: I miss him too. If he was banned all pb should give him a minute of silence, like no comments to honor him. Or as it's waki, perhaps a minute of everyone typing hilarious, stream of consciousness, gibberish would be more appropriate.
  • 6 1
 @etga6657: Underrated comment sir. Paul was sacrificed to the advertising gods
  • 10 4
 Is it conspiracy theory day in the comments section? @bman33, Paul left on his own accord - it had nothing to do with any of the reviews he wrote.
  • 11 2
 @mikekazimer: isn't that what a conspirator would say...?
Two-Face
  • 9 7
 @hamncheez: I don't. PB did good by removing him from these pages.
  • 7 0
 I miss Vernon Felton.
  • 7 1
 @NWBasser, I do too.
  • 5 2
 @hamncheez: said no one ever..

brokemywristfallingoffmybike account looks suspect.
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: From his comments he was more likely to be on the 'shrooms instead of the liquor.
  • 3 0
 @kcy4130: Seems like the audience is split on waki based on all the downvotes
  • 5 0
 @stumphumper92: I personally was split on waki. Half his comments started worthwhile conversation, the other half was nonsense or just outright trolling.
  • 2 0
 @iamamodel: if you follow his insta, hes been experimenting with shrooms for a while and grows them himself
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: i dont have an account on the instagram yet... are his posts there worth creating an account?
  • 3 0
 @Narro2: I've never seen it but I'm going to say 'no'. There's nothing more boring than a person who thinks they are interesting because they are on drugs.
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: hahahha, ok.
  • 6 0
 I want to see this tested in a 190mm version on the Grim Donut
  • 6 0
 "zeb's dead baby. zeb's dead."
  • 2 0
 My 180mm 38 27.5 fork with kabolt X axle and 7.75" steerer was 2290g in case anyone was wondering. I am a little baffled by the additional weight of the 29er fork. Maybe the Kabolt X saves that much. Didn't weight the axles to find a difference.
  • 10 4
 Well this is neat! Bet it's stiffer than the 38 too.
  • 4 0
 Finally a rockshox with a bolt on fender!!! and a max travel marker! it took em a while but i think theyre starting to get it boys!!
  • 4 0
 I am sure it's prohibited by damper design but I would be keen on a dual position model with all of the adjustments. 150 on the climbs, 190 on the fun parts. Anyone else?
  • 5 2
 Not me. You'd either have the bb very low for climbing, with pedal strikes and such or have it too high for descending, again not optimal.
  • 5 2
 Travel adjust was *the best thing ever in the world* on old school short and tall bikes. On new school super low BB bikes it just kinda sucks.
  • 2 0
 so next year we will get in zeb spring update making that fork siting upper at the beginning of stroke, and lyrik/pike will get bigger negative air chamber like in zeb...

Never give everything you got in one package. Sell those innovations partly and you will get bigger profit.
  • 5 0
 "Zeb East" - name for a burly fork pronounced with a french accent
  • 4 0
 Any mountain biker from Colorado Springs, the former home of RockShox, knows which Zeb this is really named after #Iknowzeb
  • 1 0
 Or anybody familiar with Big Tree Bikes
  • 2 0
 Rockshox is currently based in CO Springs, fyi
  • 4 0
 ...Zeb is a common Urdu name, in Arabic it is a slang reference to the male genitals and not used in polite conversation..
  • 6 1
 Pick a name and, quite literally, be a dick?
  • 7 0
 Not to brag, but, I am 190mm long, and 38mm in diameter.
  • 5 1
 Why are people so against running a dual crown fork? 190mm single crown is absurd.
  • 1 0
 Because they think they might learn to bar spin when jibbing one day lol
  • 2 1
 Once again the bike industry confirming my beliefs in the necessity of the “quiver” 150 mm trail bike, 200 mm full dh rig and a jumper . Don’t believe the hype, nothing better than shredding on a dh rig. Stable , stiff, bottomless feel and confidence instilling like no other bike out there. Then of of course you need something you can peddle for all day missions. I see no need for a 190 mm single crown fork. But then what do I know I’m just a consumer of mtn. biking for the last 23 years
  • 1 0
 This is so true. And if you don’t have the money or not enough park day for a DH rig, just get the 150 not some 170 travel pos
  • 3 0
 So my takeaway is that RockShox has had headquarters back in the early 1800s, near Colorado Spring, Colorado. Beat that, Fox.
  • 1 0
 And there was only one Spring back then, apparently.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer when will the review on your new favourite mud ti(y)re that you hinted on in the podcast a few weeks back drop? Need new tyres and the way the Irish summer is going I might as well go straight for the autumn setup...
  • 1 0
 Zeb Ultimate Select Plus - Rockshox using 4 positive adjectives to describe a fork that is running the same charger damper they’ve had for, what, 5 years now? How about a lil innovation rockshox? Haven’t y’all ridden a Grip 2 damper yet and realized how bad the charger sucks?
  • 4 0
 well i guess we will be seeing a new boxxer soon, since 35mm stanchions are no longer wide enough.
  • 3 0
 I'm a fan of 200mm rotors. It means I can use fewer weird adapters. 160 --> 180 --> 200 all just need a 20mm adapter, no 23mm adapter nonsense.
  • 2 1
 "Side note: I really wish brake manufacturers could settle on either 200 or 203mm rotors. Pick one or the other, please; there's no need for both to exist. It's great that a Code caliper can bolt right onto the Zeb without needing to dig for an adaptor, but riders in the Shimano camp will still need to run two 1.5mm washers to get their brake caliper to align properly."
The motivation is in the last sentence. Remember, this is SRAM we're talking about.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer
On factory bikes like the Commencal Clash Ride where there fitting the base model ZEB, how would that do for Freeride? Go a little extra on the air to get the desired feel?
And do you know if the base model has some sort of fixed damping??
  • 1 0
 " It's great that a Code caliper can bolt right onto the Zeb without needing to dig for an adaptor, but riders in the Shimano camp will still need to run two 1.5mm washers to get their brake caliper to align properly."

Thats why they've done it. Knobbers.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer Dan Robert ended up in these settings in his comparison between Fox 38 and Zeb. Pressure: 70psi, Volume Spacers: 0, LSR: 9, HSC: 2, LSC: 9. He is 75 kg with riding gear. You mentioned here that you preferred 55 psi. That is about what RS suggest for your weight. How about your rebound and compression settings? I’d like to know as I’m too about 72 kg/159 lbs and an owner of a brand new 180 mm Zeb Smile
  • 4 1
 So I wonder what's inside the zeb r. Is there a 50cent plastic piece as a compression valve as a 35 r?
  • 3 0
 Why do bolt on fenders have to look so bad? Marshy....can you help us out here?
  • 2 0
 Hey Pinkbike, How about you have a duo-tester "First Ride" for these heftier components? Your traditional buck.50 Mike AND a $2+ shredder... Thanks.
  • 2 0
 This, and the Fox 38, need to come with a Richie Rude face mask so you really can convince yourself you ride hard enough to warrant one over a Lyrik or a 36 ...
  • 4 0
 Can a Zeb get a free fork? Asking for myself, thanks.
  • 3 0
 specialized wants to sue you now
  • 3 0
 "Zeb."

You had cool names there for a while, Rock Shox. You had a good run. "Faak" would've been a good one for this.
  • 5 1
 That's really the name they came up with?
  • 3 0
 Just give us a lowered boxxer with lighter crowns and no steerer tube; it could weight pretty close to the same.
  • 4 0
 38 comments when I got here...
  • 3 0
 Your count was off, it was clearly 37.99 being a Sram post, lol
  • 10 7
 This is just an e-bike fork. Thought I had the "No e-bikes" filter on this site active.
  • 2 0
 Part of the “how do we stop Bubba from breaking the ebike” product line.
  • 4 0
 Nearly the same weight as the lightest 150mm frames. Great.
  • 3 1
 The are making a ebike specific 38s fork.. can you even ride down a trail, that needs such a fork, with an Ebike?? This is getting out of hand....
  • 4 0
 "Zeb's dead baby, Zeb's dead" - Butch
  • 3 3
 So aside from the missed opportunity to bring back the Totem they only made the Zeb 2% stiffer front and back...that was a big mistake! The Lyric/Yari already had excessive slop under braking! Also instead of following Fox they should have come out with a 160-180mm double crown! Yeah I know you can lower a Boxxer down to 180mm but I prefer what Ohlins did with their new DH fork!
  • 2 1
 I'm still rockin' my 2009 Totem to this day -- www.pinkbike.com/photo/18216443

still ROCK solid, still buttery smooth.... have one set of back-up seals if/when I need them


mine's the rare 1.5 steer tube model
  • 2 0
 That steerer-to-crown interface looks awfully flimsy. For a big 190mm fork, I was expecting to see a far beefier joint there.
  • 1 0
 Does the single rebound adjuster on the Ultimate model act as the sole rebound adjustment for the entire rebound circuit...or is impacting the low speed rebound with a different method used to control the high speed rebound?
  • 1 0
 yes
  • 1 1
 ????9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ ??? THIS nonsense is why bikes have become so ludicrously expensive .
These kinds of absurd prices will destroy the sport for the average rider . No one except a pro would benefit from such a fork and even that’s debatable .
The bike industry has gone off the rails and are pushing more potential riders away from the sport .
Some of the most fun i ever had was on my old cimarron MTb . Rim brakes , cro mo frame , no suspension , but fun as hell .and only about four or five hundred bucks.
  • 3 0
 It seems quite well priced at least compared to the factory 38
  • 1 0
 The Fox38 again makes clicking noises and the ZEB doesn't?
I am waiting for the EXT while riding my 36 (luckily doesn't make clicking noises) and my Lyrik.
  • 2 0
 It mentions this feork is meant for Enduro'ing, but not Freeride'ing. Do I have permission to Freeride'ing on this feork?
  • 2 0
 Same thing wanna know.
It's specced on some of the new Clash's ....
But how about the version without damping control. Is that version still gonna be fun and useful for Freeride?
  • 2 0
 Surely actually named after Zebedee? Sorry, he a coil

youtu.be/kZTBDnj0Cgc
  • 1 1
 The Zebedee fork would have Dylan & Dougal Compression settings
  • 1 0
 A fork named Zébulon should obviously be coil-sprung :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=19dI3KKRjiI&feature=youtu.be&t=20
  • 4 3
 As a rider that prefers shorter travel bikes, I'll probably never use it, but it's cool anyways for enduro riders on a budget
  • 4 3
 Remember when the Pike was fine for everything between 140 and 170mm ?
It has bigger stanchions but wil the CSU will still in 6 months
  • 1 0
 Remember when the Pike was fine for everything between 140 and 170mm ?

The Zeb has bigger stanchions but the CSU will still creak in 6 months
  • 4 0
 No pssst valves? Pffft
  • 4 4
 "a fork that's too stiff can feel harsh and difficult to handle on long, rough tracks, no matter how good the internals are"

My experience on a Boxer and Pike at the same bike park would suggest otherwise.
  • 6 0
 I don’t think a Boxxer is too stiff either - I’m not sure I understand your point.
  • 3 0
 @mikekazimer: stiffer than Pike right?
  • 2 0
 Named after Zebedee from the magic roundabout? I seem to remember he was coil sprung!
  • 2 0
 This on an alu nomad with the cascade link and im back in my freeride days (scott voltage with 38mm Marzocchi 66)
  • 3 0
 it's all good, but where is the reba with 35 legs
  • 17 0
 It's a fork... You only need 2 legs.
  • 1 0
 That would be the 35 gold
  • 1 0
 @Dropthedebt: DDD i need 35 legs!! DDD
  • 2 0
 Someone at Sram is digging into the archives... I know Zeb ...let's see who else on PB gets that reference
  • 4 2
 Haha Rock Shox. Spend $1000 US and we’ll sell you a fender...for an extra charge. What a joke.
  • 3 1
 Well you can pay 1500 for 38 and buy theirs fender to go with it. For 20 bucks of course.
  • 1 2
 @Mondbiker: that’s also gouging
  • 1 0
 in the UK the distributor appears to be selling these as part of the package. no idea if that's means they've bumped the overall price up though.
  • 3 0
 Cool first look video. Neat to see the internals explained.
  • 1 1
 Hey. Anybody got an idea if the base ZEB without the Damping control will still be good for Freeride? Perhaps going Higher on the air pressure compared to the recommended for rider weight?
  • 1 0
 you can always upgrade later on to ultimate internals for 350 if you not happy with base Zeb model.
  • 2 0
 finally a fork that might survive the grim donuts HTA... now, there is no more reason not to test this ride...
  • 2 0
 Which bikes to use 190mm 29? It looks like they made 190mm just to be bigger than Fox's 180mm.
  • 2 1
 Maybe 1.8 steer tube is a good idea to fix the creaky CSU problems. Anyway it's a lousy name, and whats wrong with 36... 2% stiffer and a lot heavier?
  • 2 0
 Disappointing they didn’t go with 40mm stanchions.
Question is how does it compare to the Mezzer?
  • 1 1
 Zeb's dead baby, Zeb's dead.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Yp2L6c2KM

Full scene:
Who's motorcycle is this?
It's a chopper baby.
Who's chopper is this?
Zeb's
Who's Zeb?
Zeb's dead baby, Zeb's dead.
  • 1 0
 The boXXer is 35mm... it’s been a while since they updated that fork, maybe we’ll see a new iteration of it this year. That’d be cool.
  • 1 0
 @MikeKazimer you give your pressure setting at every test or review. But for how much sag do you go?
I would guess it's around 20..25%?
  • 2 0
 Sag doesn't matter in the end, it's just a starting point. Your sag number only matters for you, because you are the one who has to be consistent in measuring it. Standing, seated, aggressive stance, chill stance: they all can change the sag number without needing to change the air pressure. His sag number only matters for him, and even then only as a starting point. Useful for him for swapping setups because pressures can vary widely between products, but doesn't really matter to us what his number is.

*Caveat: if the sag number is super low, like low-teens or single digit, and you're not Aaron Gwin or Amaury Pierron, then yes tell us, and explain why. Or if it's super high, like 40s or up, also tell and explain.
  • 3 1
 Look it's the 2021.1.99 Debonair Spring
  • 2 0
 Who's Zeb?

Zeb's dead, baby. Zeb's dead.
  • 2 0
 The new "must have" for dentists and wanabee´s.
  • 1 0
 Whys it grey? Like who actually wants to run a grey fork over a black fork??
  • 2 0
 What 38mm??? Who would have thought!
  • 2 0
 Time to go to Pinkbike buysell.......
  • 4 0
 if you look carefully, you will be seeing my lyrik ultimate
  • 2 0
 New wreckoning today too I hope!
  • 2 1
 Is there a place on my bike for this fork??
I'll wait for the coil version with a 20mm axle, the TOTEM
  • 1 0
 15mm alxe, only air available, I think that's why it's doesn't called Totem. There'll never be such a progressive fork as Totem.
  • 1 0
 interesting that the thoughts kinda imply that the most noticeable difference is more volume in the air spring.
  • 1 0
 Why did U stop @ 38 ??
40 40 was the # , 40 why, why ??
Zeb ??
TOTEM !!!!
  • 14 1
 This looks like a Trump tweet
  • 9 2
 @ts1996: It just needs loud sniffing inhales, and sprinkles of racism
  • 1 2
 My guess would be to stop people retrofitting the dampener into the totems with little to no modifying
  • 2 0
 The only thing why not red color? I like the red of Lyric.
  • 2 2
 I am just so "meh" on 38mm stantion forks. I don't need a heavier fork than the Lyrik, and I don't need a lighter flexier fork than the Boxxer.
  • 1 0
 What is a 1 and 1/8 tapered steerer ? Never heard of such a thing. 1/18 straight steer tube maybe?
  • 2 0
 That is not a mud guard and it is deffo not worth $20
  • 2 1
 I wonder if you can take the travel down to 140mm? Maybe I can get this instead of a Marzocchi Bomber Z2.
  • 4 0
 Why are you cross-shopping a $1k usd fork with a $450 usd fork?
  • 2 0
 @Tracefunction: Not the Ultimate Zeb, the way cheaper Select Zeb. It's like $500 vs $699. Maybe save up a little more for a better fork.
  • 2 0
 Oh why oh why did they not call it Zebedee
youtu.be/9rFW97zHjvY
  • 2 0
 No 51mm Offset for the 29" Did I miss something?
  • 2 0
 Yes, bus to the oldschool city just left.
  • 1 1
 Heavier and heavier and heavier ... it does not matter much because in 20 years everybody will be on electric MTB ... but until then ...
  • 1 0
 0.551156 pounds more than a lyrik. Shit. Now I wish I'd just stuck with grams. Or kilograms. or any other system of units.
  • 1 0
 Shit. Now I'm "that guy" aren't I?
  • 1 0
 Wee just need a fork that's not creaking after year or 2 Of riding
  • 1 0
 Lord please let the meta am 29 review drop now i'm dying over here
  • 1 1
 Thanks for the video, including the full tear-down. A very nice addition. Cheers
  • 1 0
 Beefy, just like Zeb Atlas
  • 2 0
 wat a name
  • 1 0
 It's only my seeing the name on the fork:
U
W
N
?
  • 1 0
 Tributo al grandissimo Zeb89. Leeeezzo!
  • 2 1
 "• Offset: 38mm (27.5"), 44mm (27.5","

Little typo, methinks?
  • 2 1
 a couple years from now I’m sure they will be marketing us 37mm forks.
  • 1 0
 the future is now and it has a name: Mezzer
  • 3 2
 They couldn't just throw in the fender? $20 ? alright, I guess...
  • 6 2
 The majority of riders still don't use a fender. It's a waste of materials (primarily plastic) & packaging to send it to every customer in the world.
  • 3 3
 @btjenki: The majority? You mean the minority. I guess DVO was wrong to include one for free....

I use one year round. Ever get poop flung up in your face? No? Lucky you...
  • 3 2
 @btjenki: because that's what RS cares about, waste..
You just shot your argument down, if they included a fender then there would be no additional packaging to those who purchase it separately.!
  • 2 0
 223 rotor legal?
  • 3 4
 My suspension guy here knew about this about 2 months ago. It will be an interesting battle with the Fox 38. Personally, I prefer RS over Fox because it is easier to tune.
  • 1 0
 Probably the most understated fork in the world.
  • 1 0
 I'm going to call it Beelzebub
  • 2 4
 If you want stiffness, get a Lefty. And what the hell happened to Rockshox/Sram's fork lineup? Will the Pike or the Reba go away or why the need for so many overlapping forks and so many different models.
  • 1 0
 Wow the price beats all the competitors
  • 1 0
 But will the CSU begin to creek one month after the warranty expires?
  • 1 0
 Zed is dead baby, Zed’s dead
  • 1 0
 Damn, you beet me to it. I just put that quote up, but with a link to the clip.
  • 1 0
 Same travel as the Session 29 fork. Make a pedalable DH with a dropper
  • 1 0
 The RockShox 38.....
  • 2 3
 15mm axle while trying to make the fork ‘stiffer’..??
f*ck your heavier, more flexy 15mm garbage.
  • 1 0
 Totems little brother.
  • 1 0
 Sram being Sram
  • 1 0
 Needs 100% more Totem.
  • 4 6
 no spring version and no 20mm axle only this useless 15 mm standard.not for me
  • 1 1
 What a sick fork
  • 1 0
 sinner
  • 2 3
 Just go straight to 40mm at that point... What a joke.
  • 1 2
 Finally a rs fork that looks good
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