MS Racing’s change to a brand new bike provider means their aluminum Zerode G3 would be the subsequent gearbox DH bike to tackle the belt-drive problem on the prime of UCI MTB Downhill racing. Gates simply up to date the standing of their still-open 100K Belted Purse set to award 100,000€ to “the primary elite racer to win a UCI Downhill occasion on a belt-driven bike”, and Zerode is the following bikemaker to step as much as compete.
Gates 100K Belted Purse bonus DH World Cup money prize
We’ve been preserving an eye fixed out for distinctive DH bikes racing on the prime of the game so long as I can keep in mind. And gearboxes have undoubtedly been a pattern for many years. I keep in mind Greg Minnaar racing the Honda RN-01 years earlier than Bikerumor even began geeking out on bikes. However newer refinement of Pinion’s gearboxes and Gates’ centerline belts have boosted gravity bike improvement, giving design engineers the liberty to higher tune weight distribution & suspension efficiency, to not point out eliminating susceptible derailleurs.
For 2025, Gates has formally partnered with 4 elite DH race groups – Aon racing Gamux bikes, Atherton Racing on their very own prototype frames, Intense Manufacturing unit Racing additionally on their very own prototypes, and MS-Racing now on the Zerode beneath.
It’s the largest crop but of groups on the elite stage racing gearbox & belt-drive transmissions, and thus one of the best probability a rider for considered one of these groups to seize that bonus €100k prize from Gates.
The 4 gearbox bikes of the 2025 UCI DH World Cup
Gamux Sego
Since we caught up with the Gates-backed prize purse final spring when it was just about solely the CNC-machined alloy Gamux Sego with bonded-in carbon infill (above) that we noticed on the elite DH circuit.
Atherton A.200.G
However since then, we’ve additionally seen a teaser of Atherton’s new carbon & 3D-printed titanium A.200.G prototype gearbox bike. And now Atherton has additionally give us an in-depth behind-the-scenes have a look at its improvement.
Intense M1 Pinion
And there’s additionally been the prototype Intense M1 Pinion gearbox DH bike that I noticed in Gates’ sales space at Eurobike final summer season.
Zerode G3
MS Racing introduced Intense and Gates collectively to develop that M1 Pinion prototype final yr.
However now with information final week that MS Racing gained’t be racing that new Intense prototype that they helped develop final season, they’ve partnered up with Zerode – who occur to be the primary among the many 4 above to supply a commercially out there gearbox DH bike…
Zerode G3 200mm journey aluminum gearbox downhill race bike
We’ve really been following Zerode’s gearbox DH bike improvement, approaching 13 years.
The primary-gen G1 we noticed from the New Zealand based mostly bike firm was constructed round an Alfine internally geared hub tucked inside its excessive pivot. The second-gen G2 up to date to much less journey & 27.5″ wheels a decade in the past, preserving the geared hub as a gearbox.
Nevertheless it was the appearance of the dependable Pinion gearbox and Gates Carbon Drive belt programs that basically modernized the bike and introduced it to the G3 we see as we speak.
Zerode G3 Tech Particulars
The present Zerode G3 is a high-pivot 6066-T6 aluminum mullet DH bike with 200mm of rear wheel journey and a 6-speed Pinion C1.6 gearbox.
In contrast to most bikes on the DH racing circuit, the G3 has no derailleur to fret about bashing on rocks. As a substitute, wrapping its Gates belt round a excessive loafer pulley and tensioner pulley, the place it has little affect on the suspension.
With out worrying a few cassette both, the Zerode G3 encompasses a narrower 12x142mm rear axle (like in your highway & gravel bikes) to suit a singlespeed cog interface, however a symmetrically dished rear wheel. That sheds just a little little bit of weight, however the huge affect is a a lot stronger wheel.
Like many trendy gravity bikes, the G3 will get a 56mm IS headset that will enable for some headset angle adjustment. There’s additionally some typical old style inner cable routing to get issues out of the way in which merely.
Most definitely, we’d count on the MS Racing staff to equipment their Zerode G3 out with the most recent Good.Shift gearbox. There appears to be plenty of curiosity from the highest DH groups on its means to shift immediately and effortlessly in all situations, and it’s a premium possibility on Zerode’s business fashions.
Zerode G3 – Pricing, choices & availability
The Zerode G3 might be essentially the most out there gearbox DH bike on the market in the meanwhile, with 3 normal sizes and three finishes on provide.
The Origin frameset with body, shock & full drivetrain sells for NZ$6000 (plus tax the place relevant) / 4950€. Add on a fork and the Origin frameset + a Fox 40 Manufacturing unit fork will set you again NZ$7800 / 6775€.
A full “deluxe” race-ready construct like we see right here is NZ$10,300 / 8295€.
One of many normal shade choices is a shiny Pink that wouldn’t look far off from MS Racing’s conventional staff equipment. However perhaps since they parted methods with Intense this yr, they’ll be trying to distance themselves in shade a bit too?
Ele Farina pulled out her first World Cup DH win final season in Les Will get aboard a derailleur-ed Intense for MS Racing. Can she do it once more this season on a belt-drive gearbox Zerode to take the 100k Belted Purse?