The evolution of mtb continues unabated. A way of riding a bike that has upset the established rules since the very beginning; with technical solutions that have also been absorbed by the very conservative environment of the street. If we think of slooping frames, elastomers to be more performing in races such as the Paris Roubaix and lately to disc brakes; we understand that we are an always active laboratory of ideas.
Why this introduction to talk about the Lapierre Zesty tr? Because this vehicle is a further demonstration of the continuous evolution of our vehicles and of the way of interpreting the mtb. The Zesty tr is positioned in a segment very close to that of the trail bike; with bikes that climb like an xc but descend like an all mountain. The evolution of modern enduro platforms, combined with the transformation of the routes dedicated to xc, has made possible that combination that until recently seemed difficult.
The bike
But let's come to the model under consideration. The Tr 5.9 is an aluminum MTB, with a balanced set-up that makes it a vehicle suitable for those who interpret off-road as discovery and fun; with a price of 2999 euros it is a product dedicated to those bikers who do not want to faint but are looking for a vehicle that makes them have fun.
Fork and mono are from FOX, with the 34 Rithm and mono LP AF2 Air.
The transmission is entrusted to Sram, with a mix consisting of NX crankset and GX gearbox. The wheels are from Lapierre and the frame is the Lapierre Supreme 5, with Boost predisposition and metric connection for the shock absorber.
From the geometric point of view LA Zesty tr is a model that combines two different philosophies; the downhill one thanks to the 66 ° steering angle; with that from xc thanks to the structure of the rear stay.
Overall a balanced vehicle that allows you to keep the price down to 2999 euros.
The test
I strongly wanted to try this model because the curiosity was high in verifying what was the frame of use of this new range of vehicles. For this reason I have insisted for a few months with Romano of R11 to be able to have it. The reason for so much insistence? Our belief is that the electric has taken a slice of bikers who previously chose the enduro bike as a means of fun, those who remain in the muscular world or are an agonist, or a person who likes great pedaling without disdaining safety and stability on the descent. This is the size of the Zesty under examination and this is the reason for the test.
But how does it work?
I wanted to experience this vehicle almost everywhere, enduro descents, long climbs with an interesting difference in height, rain, mud and a little snow.
The climb
A bike that climbs well; the weight distribution allows excellent pedaling, the support of the shock absorber in lock mode is excellent, as is the choice of the rear tire; a Maxxis Forekaster with a good balance between traction and smoothness. The balance of the weights allows you to maintain an excellent pedaling rhythm when climbing at a constant pace; there is a bit of slowness in the bids; but as said initially, this bike is not born for the nervous tracks, but rather to grind up gradients. A good position is immediately found, the saddle angle allows you to work a lot both on the setback and on the inclination; in this way it is possible to make a precise adjustment which is very important on a bike of this category. As mentioned, the mono adjustments allow a high support, close to a total block, a feature that guarantees an effective distribution of watts during pedaling. Also good going up with the central adjustment, the one that allows you to better absorb shocks when traveling more bumpy journeys. I had the opportunity to manage the wagon some time ago and I must confirm the goodness of the work done by the French technicians.
The downhill
As far as the descent is concerned, I would like to say that there is an excellent partially unexpressed potential. The reasons for this statement concern in particular the fork and the choice of tires. This last aspect can be easily remedied and is dictated by the solutions chosen by the facory. In fact, if you prefer smoothness and the ability to climb, you must necessarily give up other aspects, so more than a real negative point I would say rather than the choice of strategy a privileged element xc rather than gravity ones. The result is a very fast model in the straight, with a wagon that absorbs well but with a tire that lacks side knobs when you have to fold, making the vehicle a little unsafe. As I said, a normal aspect in consideration of the choices made, which highlights a downhill character that with two more structured tires will make the bikers happy.
The other element on which it would be worth making some consideration is the fork. The Rithm has poorly sustained hydraulics, so there is a tendency to sink a lot and lose confidence, both in the steeps and in the setting of the curves, where a little more support would allow you to better load the front. Probably a beginner rider with this fork will be at ease, but those looking for a little more energy will have to think about a finer tuning, or an up grade.
The rear triangle, on the other hand, is very good. I had already had the opportunity to try this shock absorbing scheme on the e-zesty, where I was favorably surprised by the dynamism of the whole. Positive judgments are also confirmed on this model. The shock absorption is optimal and the work of the kinematics allows an excellent feeling, where it is the whole body that manages to work in symbiosis with the wagon, giving a really nice sense of active driving. The bike is responsive and playful. The 66 ° angle allows for a lot of stability ensuring safety even at high speeds. Making this bike a safe vehicle even for heavy use
Conclusions
The new back country or light trail bikes have reached a very high level. Uphill they know how to give satisfaction, guaranteeing an efficient and profitable pedaling, downhill the chassis is able to give a lot. The fork hydraulics need to be reviewed, and it is advisable to have two pairs of tires. The standard ones are excellent for long excursions, while with a slightly more structured couple the Zesty tr does not disdain some enduro tracks.
