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SR Suntour Zeron 36 suspension fork testHow good is the affordable suspension fork alternative?

Adrian Kaether

 · 22.09.2025

The Zeron 36 can be ridden at higher speeds on rough terrain thanks to its high compression damping. However, light riders might find the fork a little firm.
Photo: Max Fuchs
The Zeron 36 from SR Suntour aims to be a cost-effective alternative to Fox and Rockshox. It is being used more and more on complete bikes. We took the promising all-mountain fork off-road.
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Almost everyone with a keen interest in mountain bikes is familiar with the 36 from Fox, Pike and Lyrik from Rockshox. They are the counterpart to the legendary Shimano XT in the gear range and are synonymous with reliable performance. The problem is that not everyone can or wants to spend half a fortune on a new mountain bike or e-MTB. For bikers who have to pay more attention to the price, manufacturers often have slightly cheaper equipment variants in their programme. Now often represented: The Zeron 36 from SR Suntour. Can you also be happy with it off-road?

>> Cheaper than Pike, Zeb, Lyrik? Rockshox Psylo and Domain at a glance

>> Shimano XT: The new XT Di2 with XTR technology

>> Shimano Cues in the test: What can the all-round gear shift do?

The Zeron 36 has a classic design. Aluminium stanchions with magnesium casting. Rebound at the bottom, compression at the top, air pressure in the left fork leg.Photo: Max FuchsThe Zeron 36 has a classic design. Aluminium stanchions with magnesium casting. Rebound at the bottom, compression at the top, air pressure in the left fork leg.

The SR Suntour Zeron 36 at a glance

  • Suspension travel: 120 - 160 mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 or 29 inch
  • Type: Air spring
  • Cushioning: CR, 2CR, 3CR
  • Material: Aluminium crown and standpipes, magnesium dip tubes
  • Price: n. A., is only sold to manufacturers
  • Weight: n. A., light enough
  • Special features: Also used by Bulls under the "Lytro" label

Air suspension fork with good adjustability

Technically, the SR Suntour Zeron is a pleasantly conventional fork. The bridge is made from forged aluminium, the casting from magnesium. The stanchions are stylish and durable black anodised. The spring stiffness is adjusted via an air chamber. This means that the Suntour can be easily adapted to riders of different weights and comes with the same technology as the more expensive forks from the competition.

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One of our test bikes with the Zeron 36, here with the Bulls label as the Lytro 36 in the Sonic AM 2 ABS.Photo: Max FuchsOne of our test bikes with the Zeron 36, here with the Bulls label as the Lytro 36 in the Sonic AM 2 ABS.

In contrast to the very simple forks à la XCR and XCM from SR Suntour, which are found in heaps on cheap trekking bikes and the simplest mountain bikes, the Zeron has a competitive range of adjustment options. In addition to the spring stiffness via the air pressure, the fork can also be adjusted in the rebound stage/rebound speed and the compression stage/compression speed. We encountered the fork on Bulls and Haibike, among others, in the version with 2-CR damping. Here, the fork can also be completely blocked against bobbing uphill by moving the compression lever.

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SR Suntour Zeron 36: Setup and riding impression

It's a bit of a shame that there is no recommendation printed on the fork for air pressure or even rebound, depending on the rider's weight. So you have to experiment a little with the setting. Other manufacturers do this better. We rode the SR Suntour Zeron at 150 and 140 millimetres with around 110 PSI air pressure at a rider weight of 85 kilos. We left the compression stage relatively open and closed the rebound stage slightly. Small point of criticism: The adjuster for the rebound should be a little clearer for a reproducible setting.

Some of the Suntour forks also come with a mounting interface for ABS, like here on the Sonic AM 2 ABS from Bulls.Photo: Max FuchsSome of the Suntour forks also come with a mounting interface for ABS, like here on the Sonic AM 2 ABS from Bulls.

Like many of the better Suntour forks, the Zeron 36 is rather defined. However, the sensitivity is perfectly acceptable. Thanks to the rather high compression damping ex works, the fork never rushes uncontrollably through its travel but usually still has some reserves for riding errors and hard landings. The other side of the coin: The Zeron is not necessarily a comfort miracle. If necessary, however, you can help by lowering the spring rate with less air pressure.

The Zeron 36 can be ridden at higher speeds on rough terrain thanks to its high compression damping. However, light riders might find the fork a little firm.Photo: Max FuchsThe Zeron 36 can be ridden at higher speeds on rough terrain thanks to its high compression damping. However, light riders might find the fork a little firm.Uphill there is nothing to complain about with the Zeron anyway. If you like, you can lock the fork with a rotary knob on smooth surfaces. However, this is not really necessary because of bobbing.Photo: Georg GrieshaberUphill there is nothing to complain about with the Zeron anyway. If you like, you can lock the fork with a rotary knob on smooth surfaces. However, this is not really necessary because of bobbing.

The adjustment range of the fork is successful. Unlike the Aion 38X, for example, which we recently experienced on a Merida test bike, the Zeron 36 is not over-damped. Even with moderate air pressure, the fork rebounds quickly enough and delivers a solid performance on the trail. In our test bike from Haibike the fork was even surprisingly fluffy and is therefore definitely an exciting alternative for example, the affordable Psylo from Rockshox. Unlike some other forks in the budget segment, the test forks in both test bikes ran cleanly and without play through the bushings. You should therefore be able to count on decent long-term durability.

BIKE summary of the SR Suntour Zeron 36

The SR Suntour Zeron 36 Air, also known as the Bulls Lytro 36 Air, delivers solid performance even on affordable bikes. Not the ultimate in comfort, but absolutely trail-ready, it can be an exciting alternative to the entry-level Rockshox segment or to inexpensive forks from other manufacturers. However, we would advise lighter riders to use other models due to the rather high damping. And the Suntour doesn't immediately outstrip the top dogs Fox 36 or Rockshox Lyrik. - Adrian Kaether, Editor Test & Technology
Adrian Kaether is editor for Test & Technology at BIKE.Photo: Georg GrieshaberAdrian Kaether is editor for Test & Technology at BIKE.

Adrian Kaether

Adrian Kaether's favourite thing to do is ride mountain bikes on bumpy enduro trails. The tech expert and bike tester knows all about Newton metres and watt hours, high and low-speed damping. As test manager at MYBIKE, Adrian also likes to think outside the box and tests cargo bikes and step-through bikes as well as the latest (e-)MTBs.

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