The Rockshox Zeb Ultimate fork is a single-crown fork created for advanced enduro tracks, downhill runs, or anything requiring agility in burly terrain. With its 38mm chassis, it’s also well suited for eMTBs.
The Zeb platform is available in several iterations. The Zeb, Zeb Select, Select+, Ultimate, and Ultimate Flight Attendant. (there are likely OEM variations as well)
Looking to upgrade the suspension on my ebike, I ordered a 2023 Rockshox Zeb with 170mm of travel in its Ultimate trim. Having read about the updated damper, air spring improvements, and the new rubber pucks coined the “butter cups,” I had high hopes.
Features
- 38mm Chassis
- Charger 3 damper with updated internal floating piston design
- Adjustable High speed and low compression, low speed rebound
- DebonAir+ Spring
- Updated bushing design for reduced friction
- Includes bolt on fender
- Low friction wiper seals
- Available in 27.5″ and 29″ iterations
- Available travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm, 180mm, 190mm
- 1.5″ tapered steerer
- 15×110 Boost hub spacing
- E-bike approved
- Listed weight: 2341 grams
Installation and set up of the Zeb
Installation-wise, the Zeb is like any other fork. One thing I did appreciate is the included fender that integrates nicely on the arch, and it looks great. I mounted it before installing the fork and haven’t taken it off since. The only thing I don’t like is the extra second it takes to get the front wheel inserted – I’m not running hubs with the SRAM boost caps, and it takes an extra second or two to line things up.
My setup was pretty stock out of the gate – I run compression a click or two from open, with my rebound on the fast side as I prefer an active feeling fork. I like the feel of the spring rate and haven’t felt the need to change it out of the box; it’s just progressive enough for me where I’m getting full use of the travel without harsh bottom-outs. (I’m 5’10”, 165 lbs, aggressive riding style)
On the trail
The Zeb Ultimate is stacked with features. A Charger 3 damper is paired with the DebonAir+ air spring and ButterCups, resulting in a high-performance, confidence-inspiring front end. It sounds like marketing copy, but it’s an accurate take on the riding experience.
The damper and air spring were redesigned for the 2023 platform. Having switched back and forth between the Fox and RockShox fork platforms on my bikes for over 20 years, I’ve logged rides and spent time on most major fork releases. I’ve been riding on the Zeb platform previously. Still, after hearing initial reports of the plushness of the updated design, I was looking forward to getting out and experiencing the updates for myself.
TLDR: it’s very nice.
I’ve ridden with the Zeb on three different frames now, in order to determine which application I’d appreciate it the most on. I first installed it on my Specialized Stumpjumper EVO trail bike to see what a stiffer, more capable fork would do on the EVO platform. At the time, the Stumpy EVO was my go-to ride, so it made sense to put it on the bike where I’d use it the most. Replacing a 160mm Fox Float 36 Rhythm, the stiffer, more plush Zeb added downhill capacity to the bike and took its descending to a whole new level. The additional 10mm of travel and additional heft took a bit away from the ascending prowess, but that was a welcome trade off when shuttling and at the bike park.
I ended up migrating the Zeb to the front of my medium Norco Sight VLT eMTB, which needed the stiffness and performance. The gray was a perfect match for the bike, and it again leveled up the bike’s all-around performance. With motorized assistance, I tend to charge everywhere on an eMTB, so having dialed suspension and brakes is a priority. The Sight previously was equiiped with a 160mm Yari and adding the 10mm of travel and higher performance fork took the it from riding like a motorized trail bike to a downhill smashing motorized enduro beast.
When I migrated to a large Specialized Turbo Levo, the Zeb was the first component of many I swapped out. As on the Sight VLT, the 170mm travel Zeb leveled up the Turbo Levo. I also upgraded the rear of the bike with an aftermarket Cascade Link, and the bike just charges now. You can read more on that here.
Final thoughts
I’m running a RockShox Pike fork in the Select trim on my Santa Cruz Tallboy trail bike. While the damper is not as sophisticated as the upgraded Ultimate iteration, it rides pretty dang well. Often times the less expensive “comp” or “performance” level iterations of these forks feel lackluster, but I’ve been impressed with the level of performance.
My Pike is set at 140mm of travel though, and having the improved damper controlling the additional fork movement in my 170mm Zeb is a noticable upgrade. The Zeb Ultimate rides like a better downhill fork than the RockShox Boxxers I used to own thanks to the Butter Cups and the Charger 3 damper. Everything from the upgrade lubrication, seals, and bushings culminate in a fork that erases the trail better than anything I’ve ridden before. While the base model Zeb fork can be upgraded, if you’re purchasing an aftermarket fork, spending the additional amount of the fork in its Ultimate trim is a worthwhile investment culminating in a fork that should provide a high level of performance for seasons to come.
Is it worth the dough? I’m still running a Fox Float Rhythm on my Stumpjumper EVO, and I am considering an upgrade to the Lyrk in the Ultimate trim almost every time I’m on the bike.
The RockShox Zeb Ultimate retails for $1160. If you’re shopping for a new fork, consider supporting retail partner https://competitivecyclist.com with our link. (plus you can often get 15%-20% discount codes)