Foldable Bikes Party: Lapierre Zesty AM 827 E:I

Sunday, 18 October 2015

Lapierre Zesty AM 827 E:I

http://ift.tt/1ZORAKR

Lapierre’s Zesty was the trail bike du jour for a number of years, but when it switched to 650b wheels it was left trailing slightly by the competition. This all-new model aims to put the French brand back on top, with numerous tweaks that turn it into a real all-round contender – though it requires deep pockets.

Tip-top tech

While the side profile of the bike may look similar, a lot of work has gone on. The frame has grown longer, with a medium sized bike now having a decently long 610mm top tube, up 5mm from last year. The head angle is also relaxed half a degree to 66.5, while the own-brand Lapierre bar and stem have gone wider and shorter at 760mm and 55mm respectively.

Elsewhere, the spec is decent, if not startling value for the cash. SRAM provides an 11-speed, single ring X1/X01 mix drivetrain while the Guide R brakes with 180mm rotors do a solid enough job of hauling you up sharply on most trails, though if you dabble in big mountains you may want bigger rotors.

Lapierre has improved tyre clearance by 10mm while sorting a previous bugbear of overly wide chainstays that many riders found snatched at their heels. The bike uses a standard 142x12mm rear end rather than a Boost 148, which is no big deal.

We would rather see a Maxle or Shimano-style thru-axle at the back, as the unbranded one is a little bit fiddly to use. That’s far from a dealbreaker though and elsewhere the bike is nicely put together, with some great details such as the derailleur-protecting shark fin.