FIRST LOOK: Lapierre Zesty XM 527

It’s no secret that we’ve developed quite the love affair with Lapierre bikes over the past few years. Ever since the French brand began making its way Down Under, their distinct range of full suspension mountain bikes has consistently floated our collective boats at AMB. Recently tested bikes include the brilliant Zesty TR 529, and the Zesty AM Carbon that we enjoyed as a longterm test bike. While Lapierre has often felt like an exotic option for Australian mountain bikers, it’s the performance of the OST suspension design along with well-sorted geometry that has made them such great performers on the trail. For 2016 however, Lapierre have implemented some changes. And not just subtle refinements either. The 2016 Zesty lineup is all-new, with the 29er Zesty TR having been replaced by the 27.5″ wheeled Zesty XM. That isn’t a move to be taken lightly either, as the Zesty TR is without doubt one of the best handling trail bikes to have come from Dijon. To find out whether Lapierre have been foolish in their decision to scrap one of the best models of bike they’ve ever produced, we recently received one of the new Zesty XM’s to see if it could fill those very big shoes left behind…

“A brand new Zesty! New for the 2016 range, the Zesty XM is a sleek good looker with progressive geometry: long front centre & shorter, wider cockpit. 130mm of travel up front, and 120mm in the rear with OST+ suspension give an unparalleled comfort and pedaling efficiency. A real “do-it-all”, this bike will take you further than you imagined possible!” – Lapierre Bicycles

The Lapierre Zesty XM 527 features:

• Full carbon fibre frameset
• OST+ suspension design w/120mm travel
• RockShox Monarch RL Debonair rear shock
• RockShox Revelation RL fork w/130mm travel
• Shimano Deore XT M8000 2×11 drivetrain
• Shimano Deore XT M8000 hydraulic disc brakes
• RaceFace Aeffect 27.5″ Wheelset
• Maxxis Ardent 2.25″ front & Ardent Race 2.25″ rear tubeless ready tyres
• KS LEV Integra height adjustable seatpost

Compared to the Zesty TR it replaces, the new Zesty XM still employs 120mm of travel out back, but it ups the front end to 130mm courtesy of the long-legged RockShox Revelation. The rear shock is also a RockShox unit, being the Monarch RL model that offers both an open or firm compression adjustment. The Monarch is donned with a Debonair can to help boost suppleness thanks to the enlarged negative air spring.

The Zesty XM still uses a 4-bar suspension linkage that they call OST+. This design uses a Horst-link pivot near the rear dropout which helps to decouple the rear braking from the suspension action. Compared to the outgoing model, the chunky seatstays have been slimmed down for added heel clearance (a known issue on the previous model), but still allow for up to 2.4″ wide rubber. At the shock-end of the sub frame, the rocker link now directly drives the rear shock. Gone is the shock extender of old, which helps to reduce weight and also helps to deliver a little more progression to the rear suspension feel.

Lots of cables on our 2×11 test bike, but they’re neatly managed with internal cable routing. You’ll hear more about this in our upcoming review of the Zesty XM 527, but as is typically the case with internal cable routing, you need patience to work with it. Lots of patience…

Shimano deliver one of the hottest group sets right now; M8000 Deore XT. Lapierre have specced the 2×11 version for the Zesty XM, giving riders a super low gearing range thanks to the that wee granny gear.

Lapierre’s are known for being quirky, but there are lots of fantastic details abound on the new Zesty. An integrated (though removable) sag indicator on the back offers a quick visual reference to let you know if you’re in the right zone, while a carbon fibre spoiler watches over the Deore XT rear derailleur to ward off any potential rock strikes.

Big 180mm rotors front and rear on the Zesty XM offer a glimpse of what Lapierre think this bike is capable of. 142x12mm thru-axle out back ties together those enormous seat stays.

A new wheel set for 2016 is the Aeffect from RaceFace. Sealed cartridge bearings sit inside the CNC machined hub shells, and the rear freehub offers a distinct buzz that sounds quality. Straight pull spokes and nicely wide alloy rims round out the package (zing!), which I’ve successfully setup tubeless for testing.

There’ll be plenty more info and ride impressions of the Zesty XM 527 coming in the new issue of AMB, so keep an eye out or hit the subscription button to save having to deal with that creepy guy down at the newsagent. Until then, Au Revoir!

Advance Traders

Website: www.advancetraders.com.au

Phone: 1300 361 686