ZEB 160mm vs 170mm

[ribtek]

Hello,

I don't like much the Yari on my 9.7 Rail and I am going to order a ZEB Ultimate in the next few days. I am not sure if I should get a 160 or 170mm. I have read all the threads on the forum and I would tend to the 170mm but my main concern is having the bike too slack. I already have the front end lifting a lot while climbing so with an extra 10mm in the front (+ the ZEB is 5mm longer than the Yari) it's going to be a lot.

For people who tried the ZEB 170mm, did you like it? Do you see a difference with 160mm? Do you see a difference when climbing?

Thanks.

 

[GrandesRoues]

I didn't try at 170mm.
You could lower the bars by 10mm to get the same position as before for climbing. I found that putting the rear shock in firm position helped a lot to prevent front whell lift in steep climbs.

Another option is to put a nice cartrige, like FastSuspension kit, in your yari.

 

[steve_sordy]

Convert your Yari to a Lyrik, much cheaper than a new fork. You could also change the travel at the same time if you believe it necessary, or do it later.

 

[bluewater87]

I swapped the yari out for a zeb and wouldn’t look back. I went with 170, but unless you really need it I recommend 160mm.

 

[GrandesRoues]

Have any of you try a 170mm zeb with the mino link in high position ?

 

[bluewater87]

Have any of you try a 170mm zeb with the mino link in high position ?

That’s the way I’ve been riding mine for the most part. It’s mostly flat where I live so high position is better for less pedal strikes. When I do any enduro or dh I switch to low mino link position.

 

[Slapbassmunky]

Have any of you try a 170mm zeb with the mino link in high position ?

I run zebs at 170 and I've chopped out the 5mm spacer in the thrushaft shock for 160mm rear travel. Because of the 62.5 stroke on the back I have to run the minolink in high for frame/seat stay clearance, this is offset slightly by a lower sag point. Rides just fine, in fact it rides better the faster you go!

 

[GrandesRoues]

Thanks.
Don't you get more than 160mm in the rear ?
Ratio seems to be at 2.4

2.4*5mm = 12mm more travel ?

 

[Slapbassmunky]

Thanks.
Don't you get more than 160mm in the rear ?
Ratio seems to be at 2.4
View attachment 59838
2.4*5mm = 12mm more travel ?

2.35 at 150mm, so 161.75mm travel... But what's 0.25mm of travel between friends? In all seriousness those graphs are calculated using linkage designs from photos of a given bike, so sometimes they're not all that accurate.