A_M _B_2015_02_03_

http://www.ambmag.com.au - 89

In October last year we were lucky enough to send
a Lapierre Zesty 827 AM frame and RockShox
Pike fork – equipped with the e:i Auto system – off
to Shimano Australia to be kitted out with the
latest and greatest XTR Shimano M9000 group
set, and PRO Tharsis XC parts. Our initial review
was in Issue 145.

You can see our final review of the 1x11 M9000
group set on page 60 in this issue. Most of those
parts have hung around, save for a couple of
updates that have really let us get more out of
the Zesty AM.

DROPPING IN

The Zesty 827 AM started life with the lovely
RockShox Reverb Stealth installed, using the
neatly designed internal routing. While the PRO
Tharsis XC post was, strong, light and didn’t slip

• to get the most out of this bike we wanted to put
  the Reverb back in.

The Stealth post and ports on the frame are really
neat – and the lever sits neatly underneath the
brake lever. It would be a bit trickier on a 2x or 3x
setup with a shifter, but the cockpit doesn’t feel
crowded at all with the Reverb lever under the
handlebar, and using the post is second nature.

PULLING UP

As is mentioned in the group set review, the
M9000 Race brakes are a great brake for XCO

WORdS: MIke BLeWITT
IMAgeS: MIke BLeWITT And TBS

All MountAin

EssEntiAls

racing, but left me wanting on this all mountain

bike. With a set of XTR Trail (M9020) brakes fitted,

things were a lot better. They have seen a little

refinement from the previous model. The caliper

is finned to help with cooling (and matches the

IceTech pad’s aesthetics) and the pistons are

22mm glass fibre, to help keep weight down, and

heat resistance up.

But to be honest the most noticeable difference is

lever feel, with slight changes to the Servo-Wave

cam. The braking doesn’t start quite as abruptly

at all when comparing them to previous Trail

models, making feathering on loose terrain a lot

easier. There is less chance of an accidental lock

up, so braking feels more precise. And compared

to the Race brakes, the extra power at the end of

the stroke is very reassuring. We fitted a 180mm

rotor to the front at the same time, just for a little

more bite.

THE RIDE

While these two changes seem minor, it makes a

big difference when on the trail. The head angle

on the Zesty is a pretty sedate 67 degrees, but it’s

not until you can readily get way back behind the

seat that you can take advantage of the stability,

and awesome OST+ suspension.

And that’s where the extra modulation and

power of the Trail brakes and larger rotor play

a part too. The Zesty begs to be sent down long,

rough chutes, or onto lines that take a little more

commitment.

The dropper post and more assured braking

really let me get more out of the bike. I’m not

about to go dropping off anything crazy, but taking

sketchier, steeper lines that I otherwise would

have baulked at became par for the course. I

cleaned a line I’d looked at a few times on other

rides the first time on this setup. Sure, maybe I

would have anyway, but I certainly rolled into it a

lot more confidently.

As the range of riding has increased, so has the

use of the e:i Auto system. While the Auto setting

in medium (orange) is really good, using the

sensors on the fork, stem and bottom bracket to

open up or firm up as required, the bottomless

feel of fully open when off the back and hitting

things harder was much more fun. Hitting the

button to make sure the bike would be riding fully

open takes about as much thought as dropping

your seat. That is, you don’t really think about it

after a couple of rides. I do wonder though if a

button mounted near your shifter would be easier.

Lapierre moved away from this with the smaller

system, but it would make it easier, and reduce

the need to take your hands off the bars.

So our all mountain bike with the cross-country

group set has evolved a little. XTR still gets seen

purely as a cross-country group – and the initial

spec of this one matches that. But with the Trail

brakes fitted, it’s a different bike. I didn’t get a

chance to take this to a gravity event over the

first part of summer, but I’m much more inclined

to get to one in the coming weeks with the Trail

brakes on there and the dropper back in.

next up, we’re going to see if you can source

some wide-rimmed wheels and more aggressive

rubber to play to the French beauties alpine

leanings. More grip, more speed.

TESTED

LONG TERMER