Rock Shox ZEB Ultimate Charger 2.1 RC2 Fork [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

There used to be a time when picking out your next suspension fork you had to make a decision on which end of the specs you were going to compromise on. Now most modern forks come without many compromises. Our friend Isaac shares his thoughts on the Rock Shox ZEB Ultimate Charger 2.1 RC2 Fork. Check it out! Also, be sure to check out our video review of the Zeb that we did when it was released in 2020.

Overview

The ZEB Ultimate Charger 2.1 RC2 Fork. Big, beefy, beautifully machined, grey goodness. This fork got slapped on the front of an alloy Instinct BC Edition, making the bike even heavier and even grayer. This bike is used for everything from general trail riding, backcountry epics, bike park laps, and good old-fashioned enduro racing.

Initial Setup

This fork replaced the stock Fox 36 Performance with the Grip 1 damper. The ZEB came with two air reducers installed and two more in the box in case you’re really hammering the fork. I used the Rock Shox recommended settings for my weight and riding style, sped up the rebound by two clicks, and went off to the races. So far, the recommended settings feel better than the settings that I had come to after two years of faffing with the Fox.

The main benefits I’ve found over previous forks come from the increased torsional stiffness and the upgraded damper air spring.

Ride Impressions

First off, a disclaimer. Springtime in Montana is a fickle thing and dry trails are hard to come by. Despite the limited selection, I’ve gotten to test the fork on steep loose fall line trails, janky tight tech, and some good wide open (but full of holes) flow trails. As for riding, the Rock Shox ZEB wants to be ridden hard. This fork really rewards a more active riding style and doesn’t want to sit back and relax. The ZEB feels like two different forks depending on how you ride it. If you’re the kind of rider that likes to pin it on every trail and ride aggressively, the ZEB is for you. If you are more inclined to sit back and relax, let the bike cruise over the trails, there may be better options for you. The torsional stiffness really makes the fork come alive when trying to make quick steering inputs or when riding banked flow trails with high G’s. The torsional stiffness makes the front end feel incredibly responsive in these sections and lets you put your front wheel exactly where you want it. The damper air spring on this fork feels great when riding steep trails. The front of the bike stays noticeably higher in the travel, keeping the rider more centered on the bike and giving that overall confidence boost.

Final Thoughts

I like this fork. A lot. However, this fork is great for the riders it's made and won’t be great for those that don’t need this fork. Fork bikes with less than 160mm of travel, or riders that care about their uphill Strava times, this isn’t the right fork. For riders with a more laid-back or relaxed riding style, this isn’t the right fork. For a rider like myself, one who races, will spend some days in the bike park and really only cares about staying close to the ground and carrying as much speed as possible over rough, steep terrain, the ZEB is bomber, plush, easy to set up and confidence-inspiring. I look forward to getting into more trouble with this grey monstrosity strapped to the front of my bike.