The history of the Lapierre Zesty goes back to 2007, and although it has always been designed as an all-mountain bike, Lapierre is taking this year's new edition as an opportunity to redefine the all-mountain category itself. According to the French, this type of bike should combine the best of the marathon and enduro worlds: light and efficient, like a race bike, fast and powerful, like an enduro bike. Allmountains are not always about the best time of the day. Rather, the new Lapierre Zesty is intended to offer a versatile platform for having a good time on a wide variety of trails. To this end, the developers have taken the much-loved features of its predecessor as a basis and put a lot of work into optimising the suspension and kinematics. Curtain up for the new Lapierre Zesty CF 2025!
Details of the new Lapierre Zesty CF 2025
- Range of use: Allmountain
- Wheel size: 29" / Mullet
- Front / rear suspension travel: 150 or 140 /150 mm
- Frame material: Carbon
- Prices: 4499 - 9299 Euro
- Frame weight: 2470 g (manufacturer's specification, unpainted, excl. shock absorber, incl. linkage)
- Special features: new kinematics, new geometry, flip chip, tool box
Everything new on the all-mountain chassis
Lapierre describes the suspension of the new Zesty CF as the "centrepiece" of the project and refers to all the development work that has gone into redesigning the rear suspension kinematics. The new all-mountain suspension should now react more sensitively at the beginning of the stroke than its predecessor and at the same time be more effective at the end of the travel. The basis for this is a four-link system and a recommended SAG of 30 per cent at 60 millimetres of damper stroke. To ensure that larger air dampers also fit into the frame, significantly more space has been left around the shock absorber. This also allows the new electronic Flight Attendant dampers from Rockshox to be installed. Incidentally, the Lapierre Zesty from 2014 already featured an electronically controlled Rockshox shock.
General overhaul of the geometry of the Lapierre Zesty
Recently, Lapierre has been pushing ahead with the development of the Light-E-MTB version of the Zesty, the manufacturer is now also giving its all-mountain bike without a drive motor an update. The geometry of the new Lapierre Zesty has been significantly rejuvenated. In other words, all aspects of the angle and dimensions have been significantly modernised and adapted to the current standards of all-mountain geometry. For example, the seat angle has been steepened by 3.7 degrees for a better pedalling position on steep terrain. At the same time, the reach has increased by a full 20 millimetres in all frame sizes. The steering angle is 64.5 degrees slacker and the wheel base has increased by a total of 30 millimetres compared to the previous model.
The chainstay length increases with the size of the bike in order to offer riders of different sizes the same riding characteristics. However, it remains on the compact side for agile handling. The head tube has been extended for more control on steep descents. The 29er fully can be converted to a 27.5-inch rear wheel via a flip chip and ridden in a mullet set-up.
Carbon frame with optimised stiffness
When developing the new carbon frame, particular attention was paid to the weight distribution. Compared to its predecessor, the centre of gravity of the new Lapierre Zesty has moved slightly forward and the mass in the centre has been distributed differently. In a terrain where climbs and descents alternate, this should provide an advantage in terms of pedalling efficiency and prevent bouncing on steep ramps.
The changed weight distribution should also mean less effort is required for speed rides through challenging trail sections. The tool box under the down tube, which the Zesty has retained from the old model, also ensures the low positioning of the weight. The storage compartment is accessible from below by means of a rotating mechanism and houses a bag with a repair kit. Now almost standard: On the new all-mountain from Lapierre, the cables run through the headset into the inside of the frame.
When revising the carbon structure of the new Zesty frame, the engineers' declared aim was to simultaneously maintain a low weight and improve stiffness in favour of riding precision. Lapierre has christened the result "UD SLI carbon construction". Lapierre now uses three different types of carbon fibres as well as special PU and PP mandrels to improve the build and processing quality.
Over 500 layers of carbon are put together to form a frame. The adjustment of the layup on the head tube and bottom bracket is intended to increase the stiffness of the main frame. A higher torsional stiffness at the rear should ensure better acceleration and a more dynamic response. The straight chainstays are asymmetrical and leave room for chainrings with up to 36 teeth. Lapierre states a total weight of 2470 grams for the naked frame. However, the French do not publish complete bike weights.
Lapierre Zesty 2025: models and prices
Lapierre will offer the all-mountain Zesty in four model variants. All are based on the same carbon frame. In terms of equipment details, there is something for all bikers. The Zesty CF 9.9 model stands out somewhat, as it follows a lightweight construction concept and is the only variant with a 34 mm fork and only 140 millimetres of travel at the front as well as slightly narrower tyres. In contrast, the dropper post travel is the same everywhere (100 mm size S / 150 mm size M-L / 170 mm size XL). The top model Lapierre Zesty CF SE comes with with an electronic Flight Attendant suspension system from Rockshox. It is also the only bike with Sram components. Unlike many bikes from the competition, the luxury version remains under the 10,000 euro mark. The Lapierre Zesty allows you to enter the world of the latest carbon all-mountain bikes from just 4499 euros.
Lapierre Zesty CF SE
- Price: 9299 Euro
- Front / rear suspension travel: 150 /150 mm
- Suspension: Rockshox Lyrik / Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant
- Drivetrain: Sram X0 Eagle AXS Transmission
- Brakes: Sram Level Silver Stealth 4-piston
- Wheels: Lapierre AM Carbon
Lapierre Zesty CF 9.9
- Price: 7299 Euro
- Front / rear suspension travel : 140 / 150 mm
- Suspension: Fox 34 / Float Factory
- Drivetrain: Shimano XTR / XT / SLX
- Brakes: Shimano XTR 4-piston
- Wheels: DT Swiss XMC1501
Lapierre Zesty CF 8.9
- Price: 7299 Euro
- Front / rear suspension travel: 150 / 150 mm
- Suspension: Fox 36 / Float X Factory
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT / Deore
- Brakes: Shimano XT 4-piston
- Wheels: DT Swiss XM1700
Lapierre Zesty CF 7.9
- Price: 4999 Euro
- Front / rear suspension travel: 150 / 150 mm
- Suspension: Fox 36 / Float X Performance Elite
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT / SLX / Deore
- Brakes: Shimano Deore 4-piston
- Wheels: Shimano TC500 / Rodi Tryp30
Lapierre Zesty CF 6.9
- Price: 4499 Euro
- Front / rear suspension travel: 150 / 150 mm
- Suspension: Fox 36 / Float Rythm
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
- Brakes: Shimano m4100 4-piston
- Wheels: Shimano TC500 / Rodi Tryp30
Jan Timmermann
Editor
