Rockshox ZEB Ultimate 2023 short test

EMTB

· 14.09.2022

Photo: Adrian Kaether

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Rockshox has fundamentally revised its ZEB, Pike and Lyrik MTB suspension forks for 2023. We have already tested the new Rockshox ZEB fork on the trail.

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For decades, the suspension giants have managed to improve their suspension forks and shocks for mountain bikes bit by bit. Each individual evolutionary stage usually only differs from its predecessor in details. The major progress can only be recognised when you look further back. But with its Rockshox wants new products for 2023 have taken a particularly big step.

New: High- and low-speed compression stage independent

The MTB suspension forks ZEB, Lyrik and Pike as well as the Deluxe and Super Deluxe shocks have received a whole series of updates. First and foremost is the new Charger 3 damping unit, which is based on a completely new mode of operation. The special thing about it is that the high and low-speed compression stages are designed to work completely independently of each other. With conventional systems, both settings influence each other. A clear
plus for the setup: The compression setting is visible at first glance. Tedious click-counting is therefore a thing of the past. The visible grid makes it easier to play with the setup.

Photo: Adrian KaetherClear: Setting the compression damping on the new Rockshox ZEB Ultimate 2023

Also new: In the Ultimate series models, so-called butter cups are designed to filter out very small impacts and high-frequency vibrations. The air and damping unit are connected to the casting via small elastomers. The DebonAir+ air spring has also been revised.

How the new Rockshox ZEB Ultimate 2023 rides

In our test, the ZEB Ultimate was particularly impressive with its strong support on rough, steep sections. Where cheaper models sag too deeply into the suspension travel, the ZEB holds up well - without passing on hits harshly. The new shocks inherit most of the features from the forks. In addition, the Rockshox shocks, such as the Superdeluxe Ultimate for 2023, have hydraulic bottom-out protection, which is not included in our Specialised Levo-test bike provided a pleasantly increased final progression.