Replacement ZEB Fork For Rail

[Motoxfreak]

I am looking for the ZEB fork that comes on the 9.8 rail.
Anyone know where I can buy one? These are special as they have an different crown which is much wider than normal. Any help would be appreciated
RockShox ZEB Ultimate, DebonAir spring, Charger 2.1 RC2 damper, e-MTB optimzed crown, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Maxle Stealth, 160mm travel

 

[KeithR]

OEM only, isn't it? If so it won't be available aftermarket.

Rock Shox ZEB aftermarket upgrade, crown size

I want to replace the Lyrik with a ZEB on my Rail 9.8 XT. From what I gather, Rock Shox specs a unique fork crown for the Trek Rail to match the large head tube. I really like the looks of this and want to maintain the clean aesthetic. My LBS has not been able to confirm the availability of the...

www.emtbforums.com

 

[Motoxfreak]

OEM only, isn't it? If so it won't be available aftermarket.

Rock Shox ZEB aftermarket upgrade, crown size

I want to replace the Lyrik with a ZEB on my Rail 9.8 XT. From what I gather, Rock Shox specs a unique fork crown for the Trek Rail to match the large head tube. I really like the looks of this and want to maintain the clean aesthetic. My LBS has not been able to confirm the availability of the...

www.emtbforums.com

So if I want to upgrade my fork on my 9.7 you dont think there is an option for that? If that is the case and that is the way it will be I just bought my first and last Trek two days ago. That is not a good business plan

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Jeez if you're two days into Trek ownership & unhappy with it you've definitely bought the wrong bike.

 

[Motoxfreak]

Jeez if you're two days into Trek ownership & unhappy with it you've definitely bought the wrong bike.

I bought the bike with the SPEC I could update from. Since I knew there was a ZEB available, I did not feel too worried about getting the better fork. I had no intentions on keeping the suspension that the 9.7 comes with. Everyone buys at a certain level as that is what works best with either their budgets, or has most of the SPEC on it that they need, and plan to upgrade. I know very few of my MTB buddies that buy a bike and leave it as it is. I love love love upgrading my bikes and making it mine. I am sure I am not alone as I see many many companies out there that sell after market parts and make a good living at it. So, in closing, I bought the right bike for me to upgrade but not realizing, if its true, that there may be an item on it that cannot be upgraded to the same part that is spec'd on the same bike!

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Looks like your 9.7 came with the same spec as my 7 apart from the sram drivetrain.
When I looked up ZEB for sale they come with a 44mm offset which I think may be the only thing that would matter.

Backcountry is not available

I have updated mine recently to lyrik spec & coil -big difference to the bike.
EDIT - don't know why it shows up as european as I googled US?
Also that one only has the RC charger.

 

[Gary]

I am looking for the ZEB fork that comes on the 9.8 rail.
Anyone know where I can buy one? These are special as they have an different crown which is much wider than normal.

From TREK obviously

So if I want to upgrade my fork on my 9.7 you dont think there is an option for that? If that is the case and that is the way it will be I just bought my first and last Trek two days ago. That is not a good business plan

what are you talking about? Surely you can fit any fork you want.

 

[KeithR]

So if I want to upgrade my fork on my 9.7 you dont think there is an option for that?

Well sure, you can buy any (available) new fork you want - Rockshox will happily sell you a Zeb, just not the exact same model that came with the Rail.

 

[Motoxfreak]

Looks like your 9.7 came with the same spec as my 7 apart from the sram drivetrain.
When I looked up ZEB for sale they come with a 44mm offset which I think may be the only thing that would matter.

Backcountry is not available

I have updated mine recently to lyrik spec & coil -big difference to the bike.
EDIT - don't know why it shows up as european as I googled US?
Also that one only has the RC charger.

that is interesting to me if I cant get the ZEBs for sure. I am going to work a bit more with these forks, but I know I will want something more. I just dont think I will like the look of it if I get a fork with a regular crown. I see some have done it as they do fit, but the frame is wider so it has some overhang which probably only hinders the aesthetics. Thanks for your input.

 

[Motoxfreak]

Well sure, you can buy any (available) new fork you want - Rockshox will happily sell you a Zeb, just not the exact same model that came with the Rail.

but the problem is with the way it looks. I dont need that model, just need that top crown. If ya have a rail, you know what I mean. The bottom of the steer tube is much wider than any other bike I've seen. Know what I mean?

 

[Motoxfreak]

From TREK obviously

what are you talking about? Surely you can fit any fork you want.

Do you have a rail? If ya do, you will see that what Trek is calling an Ebike optimized fork or something like that means that the frame is much wider and they put a fork on it with a really fat crown. its not a standard crown.

 

[bluewater87]

The crown diameter difference between the emtb and non emtb zeb is barely noticeable on the bike.
i didn’t let that turn me off my zeb ultimate purchase. Way stiffer than the lyrik/yari chassis.

 

[Motoxfreak]

The crown diameter difference between the emtb and non emtb zeb is barely noticeable on the bike.
i didn’t let that turn me off my zeb ultimate purchase. Way stiffer than the lyrik/yari chassis.

Thats a good testimony, any way you can take a picture of it??? Thank you!

 

[Gary]

Seriously?

TREK actually sold you the rail with a fork that doesn't have the TREK Zeb Emtb crown. how could you possibly think the bike needs it.

 

[bluewater87]

Thats a good testimony, any way you can take a picture of it??? Thank you!

 

[Motoxfreak]

Seriously?

TREK actually sold you the rail with a fork that doesn't have the TREK Zeb Emtb crown. how could you possibly think the bike needs it.

Correct, it does not have the ZEB, but it does have the Rockshox with the same funky crown. Make sense? The frames are the same on the 9.7 to 9.9.

 

[Gary]

but it does have the Rockshox with the same funky crown

So TREK managed to run the SAME "funky crown" on both a 35mm and 38mm stanchion fork?

Make sense?

No

Either way, you don't need a funky crown.
Rockshox' ZEB Emtb fork is actually the worst fork in the ZEB line up so just buy a normal one

 

[Motoxfreak]

View attachment 50037
View attachment 50038

Thats a regular ZEB ultimate, not the one that comes on the Treks? What level is your bike. That color and your bike look sic!

 

[Motoxfreak]

View attachment 50037
View attachment 50038

If thats not the fork that comes on the Trek 9.9, that looks fine. Thanks for going the extra and taking the pics. It looks like it flows pretty good into the frame. thought I had heard others say the frame seemed to overhang the fork crown

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

I have the aftermarket Zeb without the thicker crown. It doesn’t look quite as neat as the one that comes stock but I forgot about it quite quickly.

I contacted RockShox about it already, they mention that it is only aesthetically different, no performance increases on the Trek Zeb specific one.

 

[bluewater87]

Thats a regular ZEB ultimate, not the one that comes on the Treks? What level is your bike. That color and your bike look sic!

Correct, regular zeb ultimate.

 

[Sean1.0]

So TREK managed to run the SAME "funky crown" on both a 35mm and 38mm stanchion fork?

No

Either way, you don't need a funky crown.
Rockshox' ZEB Emtb fork is actually the worst fork in the ZEB line up so just buy a normal one

I think he means it's the same 'funky' crown as in the special wider diameter of the OE Trek crowns around the steerer where it meets the oversized Rail headtube ... so in context it's fair to say it's the same 'funky crown' on the 35mm and 38mm.

I'm pretty sure the 'funky crown' is not found on the worst in the line up Zeb "Emtb" fork that is available after market anyway ... that also doesn't have the funky oversize crown that Trek are using OE.

So to avoid confusion (or add to it if I am wrong) I think there are 3 forks / crowns being referred to ...

1 : The OE Trek specific 'funky' crown... OE only and oversized around the steerer to match the fat Rail headtube.
2: Standard ... standard crown a bit smaller than the OE oversize funky one but fits fine and looks OK.
3: "EMTB version" ... probly on some bikes OE and also available after market... softer tune ? ... maybe slightly thicker crown (maybe not) but not the same oversize around the steerer as the OE Trek one.

I believe that there may be a Trek Specific CSU (the holy funky crown?) available as a part ... but sounds like an expensive faff to buy the whole upper just to get the funk.

 

[Motoxfreak]

I have the aftermarket Zeb without the thicker crown. It doesn’t look quite as neat as the one that comes stock but I forgot about it quite quickly.

I contacted RockShox about it already, they mention that it is only aesthetically different, no performance increases on the Trek Zeb specific one.

Good to know, thanks for clearing that up. I'll be watching your channel to see if you can show the difference. As type "A" as I am about my EMTB, I know its gonna bug me but hopefully not. Again, thats Rob!

 

[Gary]

3: "EMTB version" ... probly on some bikes OE and also available after market... softer tune ? ... maybe slightly thicker crown (maybe not) but not the same oversize around the steerer as the OE Trek one.

Let's not forget the all important "EMTB" decal

*I'm still laughing that Rockshox actually put that as a feature in the fork specs

 

[Sean1.0]

Let's not forget the all important "EMTB" decal

*I'm still laughing that Rockshox actually put that as a feature in the fork specs

I think they come with a spare "emtb" decal and instructions on how to apply it to the middle of your forehead.

 

[Gary]

I think most of the users here already have a branding there from their Mrs thumb

 

[Hamina]

I had to read this 2-3 times, but I'm not so smart in any case. If I would be making an upgrade to my just bought EMTB, I would absolutely look something else than some Trek OEM-specific pseudo-feature for EMTB-bikes.

Get coilfork. Get Öhlins. Get much nicer stickers and colors.

 

[Hob Nob]

but the problem is with the way it looks. I dont need that model, just need that top crown. If ya have a rail, you know what I mean. The bottom of the steer tube is much wider than any other bike I've seen. Know what I mean?

Maybe it’s just me, but I took the stock fork off my Rail & put a different make on, without the weird big stepped crown, and haven’t ever looked at it again.

total non issue.

 

[AME]

Hi amd congratulations on your new bike?

I did some researcg and i think the Zeb-R is n emtb fork with the larger crown. It can be updated with the Ultimate daamper and spring. It is a bit more expensive than an Ultimate to go this route.

Anyway- this is my plan when i will upgrade my Rail 5

 

[Slapbassmunky]

If you really want the additional stiffness of 38mm uppers then your choices are limited. Bear in mind that Zeb's will damage a medium and small rail if the knock block fails as the adjusters foul the frame. You already have a perfectly good Yari chassis, why not throw in a 2021 170mm debonair air rod and the R2C charger 2.1 upgrade? You'll have a set of lyriks for peanuts.

The Zeb on the 9 & 9.8 isn't the 'emtb' model, it's got the charger 2.1 RC damper. It's impossible to have a softer compression tune in a charger 2.1 they're already ridiculously soft.