Sam Hill describes the range of use of the Rock Shox Zeb: "I immediately felt better in blocked rock gardens. Keep your hands off the brakes and ride over them with the confidence of a monster truck!". The prerequisite for this is a 38 millimeter Single Crown chassis, which is positioned between the Lyrik fork and the Boxxer double bridge fork. The Rock Shox engineers were not interested in achieving maximum stiffness with the Zeb, they were concerned with torsional stiffness. The tests showed that a higher torsional stiffness ensures greater directional stability with easier controllability. All mountain bikers looking for more speed with greater steering precision in demanding terrain should benefit from the Zeb.

The fork crown, which is named after the American officer and explorer Zebulon Pike, stands out in particular. It has a solid design and is also lightweight thanks to the forged aluminum. The mudguard mount is also very fresh, the Zeb allows a mudguard to be installed with three small screws.

The Zeb is available immediately in 27.5 and 29 inch wheel sizes. Anyone interested in the details of the fork should take a look at the FAQs:

FAQ

Why did you develop ZEB?

ZEB bridges the gap between lyrics and BoXXer. Our athletes and also our customers have been asking for a stiffer, more aggressive fork for long-travel applications.

What is the intended use of this fork?

The larger diameter stanchions and stiffer overall chassis are best suited to long-travel enduro bikes (170-190 mm) and also eMTBs. The overall aesthetics of the ZEB mean that the fork is suitable for larger diameter frame tubes such as those found on eMTBs.

Will smaller, lighter riders benefit from ZEB in the same way as heavier and more aggressive riders?

Yes. During the development of the ZEB, we tested the fork with many of our athletes and customers. The overwhelming feedback is that the stiffer chassis and larger diameter stanchions increase the sensitivity and performance of the fork in extreme conditions. This performance upgrade is suitable for both heavier and lighter riders, with the only difference being that the air spring pressure and damping need to be adjusted to suit the rider.

How does the DebonAir air spring in the ZEB differ from Lyrik? Are they interchangeable?

They are not interchangeable. The ZEB and Lyrik air springs differ both in their design and piston diameter, so they are suitable for either a 35 mm chassis for Lyrik or a 38 mm chassis for ZEB. When developing a completely new chassis for the ZEB, we were able to redesign the air spring from scratch.

Are there different air springs for ZEB?

As with all our fork offerings, we will supply different air spring lengths so that riders can change the total fork travel available. For the ZEB, this will range from 160 mm to 190 mm of travel. We will also offer a dual-position air spring option in our eMTB configurations from 150 mm travel upwards.

Can you explain the dish-shaped air spring piston and how it helps with the top-out?

The new shape of the air piston contains the top-out bumper and controls its speed by not allowing it to expand as much as the bumper is compressed at the top-out.

How much stiffer is the ZEB than Lyrik? Is it stiffer than a BoXXer?

The ultimate goal with the ZEB was not simply to develop a stiffer fork. We recognized the opportunity to use similar technology and design features from Lyrik and BoXXer in a single crown fork with larger stanchions, benefiting riders who push the limits of long travel enduro and eMTBs. Overall stiffness is measured in several different ways; it's not just a number. ZEB is stiffer, but that shouldn't be confused with how much stiffness is required for Lyrik. We are very happy with these numbers for the intended purpose. With ZEB, we were able to offer a fork that is between BoXXer and Lyrik.

Have you considered using a 20 mm axle instead of 15 mm?

We thought about 20 mm, but in the end we opted for the 15 mm axis. A properly designed 15 mm axle can be just as stiff or stiffer than a 20 mm axle. Riders can also use torque caps to improve stiffness with a 15 mm axle. This means that more riders can benefit from equipping their bike with ZEB without having to swap out the front wheel for a larger diameter axle.

Why are there different crown sizes and why not just one size?

The market launch of new bicycle models has led to an increase in the head tube diameter of frames. To accommodate this increase in size, we have designed an oversized crown that has created a more optimal interface between the crown and the head tube on these framesets. We have developed a smaller version suitable for models with smaller head tube diameters. There is no change in overall performance or stiffness between the two crown options.

Will all ZEB crown sizes be available in the aftermarket?

As with all of our product offerings, we will ensure that the most common sizes and configurations are offered in the aftermarket channel.

Are there different shaft diameters for ZEB?

ZEB will be offered with both 1.5" and 1.8" tapered barrel options.

Are there new volume spacers to change the air spring characteristics?

ZEB will use the gray volume spacer that you know from all our 35 mm chassis forks.

What brake rotor size is the direct mount brake suitable for? What are the smallest and largest rotors I can use

ZEB is 200mm direct mount. A 20mm post mount adapter is required for a 220mm rotor. 203 rotors can also be used with a corresponding spacer kit.

How does the air spring pressure table differ from Lyrik?

As the total air volume in the upper 38mm tubes of the ZEB is larger than in the 35mm tubes of Lyrik, the required pressure for the rider in the ZEB is lower. Lower pressure means that single-digit PSI changes make a bigger percentage difference in the air spring, so it's a little easier to tune the air spring to the rider's needs.

Why have you added another level to the Signature series range

ZEB is part of the RockShox Signature series and offers the Ultimate, Select+ and Select models with a new base price point: ZEB.

What about the new damper in the ZEB R?

The Charger R damper is a version of our current Charger RC internal floating piston (or IFP) based damper. The R version has a factory set compression and has an easy to set up rebound adjustment. We believe that the ZEB R and this shock will find a perfect home on many eMTBs.

Does a larger diameter stanchion tube create more seal friction?

We have compensated for any increases in friction from the surface of the 38 mm stanchions by paying particular attention to bushing lengths and overlap. This keeps the fork running smoothly regardless of the load

How does the axle-to-crown dimension change between the ZEB and Lyrik, considering they both offer the same travel options?

With the same suspension travel, the ZEB is 5 mm longer than the Lyrik fork.

Have you made any changes to the Charger 2.1 shock for ZEB? Is the shock compatible with my Lyrik Charger 2.1 shock?

The damping characteristics of the Charger 2.1 shock have remained unchanged compared to the Lyrik. However, the damper itself is structurally different, as it has to fit into a 38 mm stanchion fork, so it is not cross-compatible with one of our 35 mm chassis forks.

Do the oil levels in the dip tubes change from Lyrik to ZEB?

We have increased the oil volume in the two dip tubes of the ZEB to 20 ml, which takes into account the larger chassis and the total internal volume of the fork construction.

The look is very aggressive and emphatically architectural - does this design have any performance benefits or are they mainly aesthetic?

We certainly aimed for a more distinctive and aggressive look with the ZEB, and with these design developments come performance benefits. Most importantly, the design and casting of the downtube unit provides stiffness in key areas, but also the necessary flexibility.

The triple clamp looks like it is much further forward. Why?

The design of the downtubes has to take many factors into account - two of them are the clearance for mud guards at full travel and space for the head tube.

Which RockShox rear shock is best suited to the ZEB?

ZEB will work comprehensively with all of our rear shock offerings that provide comparable travel with an existing frameset. This would primarily be our Super Deluxe and Super Deluxe Coil shocks.

What is the largest tire size I can use with ZEB

ZEB will be able to accommodate tires up to 2.8" on both 27.5" and 29" platforms.

Is there a remote option for ZEB?

At the moment, we do not see a need for a mechanical remote option for ZEB.

Is a 2-position ZEB available?

Yes, there will be a Dual Position Air option available for ZEB. This will only be offered in our eMTB configurations.

https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox