The 2027 RockShox Zeb fork and Vivid Air shock are much more than a cosmetic refresh. RockShox has focused on reducing friction, improving support and tunability, and delivering a more consistent ride when the trail gets rough.

For riders considering an enduro, park, or e-MTB suspension upgrade, the changes look genuinely worthwhile.

In this guide, we'll cover everything that's new, explain what those updates mean on the trail, and share the most valuable setup lessons from an early ride impression.

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At a Glance

Best suited to: Enduro riders, bike park riders, aggressive trail riders, and e-MTBs

Key Zeb updates:

• Completely redesigned chassis

• New ButterWagons friction-reduction technology

• Increased lower-leg volume

• Crown-mounted bleed valves

• New midpoint-based damper adjustment system

• Adjustable fork bottom-out control

Key Vivid Air updates:

• Tool-free high-speed compression adjustment

• Refined lockout feel

• Adjustable hydraulic bottom-out

• Adjustable ramp control

Trail impression:

✔ Smooth small-bump sensitivity

✔ Strong mid-stroke support

✔ Confident front-end feel

✔ Excellent composure at speed

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RockShox Zeb & Vivid Air 2027 Specifications

We'll update this section with full official specifications as they become available.

Component	Key Features
RockShox Zeb 2027	Redesigned chassis, ButterCups, ButterWagons, crown bleeders, adjustable bottom-out
RockShox Vivid Air 2027	HSC, LSC, rebound adjustment, hydraulic bottom-out, adjustable ramp

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What Are the 2027 RockShox Zeb and Vivid Air?

The Zeb remains RockShox's flagship long-travel single-crown fork, built for riders who spend their time on steep trails, rough terrain, bike park tracks, and enduro race stages.

The Vivid Air is its matching rear shock, designed to provide excellent support, extensive tuning options, and consistent performance when the riding gets fast and demanding.

For 2027, the Zeb receives the biggest changes, while the Vivid Air focuses on refining an already impressive platform with a handful of practical upgrades.

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Who Are They Designed For?

The Zeb and Vivid Air combination will appeal most to riders looking for:

• More support at higher speeds

• Improved small-bump sensitivity

• Meaningful external adjustments

• A stiffer, more precise front end

• Suspension capable of handling enduro racing, bike parks, and e-MTB demands

If your riding regularly involves roots, rocks, steep descents, repeated braking impacts, and bigger compressions, this setup is aimed squarely at you.

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What's New on the 2027 RockShox Zeb?

Completely Redesigned Chassis

The most significant update is the new lower-leg chassis, which RockShox says is larger, burlier, and significantly stiffer.

A stiffer chassis helps reduce unwanted flex under heavy braking, hard cornering, and rough impacts. In real-world terms, riders should notice more steering precision and better line-holding when the trail gets demanding.

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ButterCups Return

The Zeb continues to use RockShox's ButterCups system, which isolates high-frequency vibrations before they reach the rider.

Rather than making one big impact feel dramatically different, ButterCups work in the background to reduce fatigue over long descents and improve comfort across repeated trail chatter.

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Increased Lower-Leg Volume

A new linear axle extension increases lower-leg volume and helps create a more predictable spring curve.

Benefits include:

• Reduced unwanted ramp-up

• More predictable volume token changes

• Easier spring tuning

This gives riders more control over progression and makes setup adjustments easier to understand.

Related reading: Link to your suspension setup guide

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New ButterWagons Technology

One of the more unusual additions is something RockShox calls ButterWagons.

These small dimples in the stanchions are designed to improve lubrication around the bushings while reducing contact area, helping the fork move more freely.

Expected benefits include:

• Improved sensitivity off the top

• Reduced stiction

• Smoother initial travel

Anything that reduces friction should help improve grip and overall ride quality.

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Crown-Mounted Bleed Valves

The new Zeb now features bleed valves positioned on top of the crown.

These allow riders to release pressure that can build up inside the lower legs over time, helping maintain a more consistent ride feel and reducing unwanted harshness.

This is particularly useful for riders who spend long days in the mountains or regularly experience significant elevation changes.

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A More Intuitive Damper Adjustment System

One of the smartest updates is the revised damper adjustment layout.

Instead of counting clicks from fully open or fully closed, adjustments now start from a central zero position.

From there:

• Negative settings reduce damping

• Positive settings increase damping

It sounds simple, but it makes setup changes much easier to understand and should reduce confusion for less experienced riders.

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Adjustable Bottom-Out Control

The Zeb also gains adjustable bottom-out control.

This system changes when the bottom-out bumper engages during the stroke, allowing riders to fine-tune end-stroke support without relying solely on air pressure or volume spacers.

For riders regularly using full travel, it's another valuable tuning tool.

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What's New on the 2027 RockShox Vivid Air?

The Vivid Air receives fewer headline updates than the Zeb, but the changes focus on making tuning easier and improving everyday usability.

Key Adjustments Include:

• High-speed compression

• Low-speed compression

• Rebound

• Adjustable ramp control

• Adjustable hydraulic bottom-out

Together, these provide a huge tuning range for grip, support, and big-hit control.

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Tool-Free High-Speed Compression Adjustment

A particularly clever feature is the removable rebound adjuster.

It can double as a tool for the high-speed compression circuit, allowing riders to make adjustments on the trail without carrying additional tools.

It's a small detail, but one that makes experimentation far more likely.

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Improved Lockout Feel

The lockout system has also been refined.

When reopening the shock, the lever moves slightly past the detent before settling into place, creating a more positive and reassuring feel.

It's a subtle improvement, but one riders will appreciate when making adjustments with gloves on or in poor weather.

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How Do the 2027 Zeb and Vivid Air Ride?

The standout impression is how well the suspension balances comfort and support.

Many suspension systems excel in one area or the other. The Zeb and Vivid Air appear to deliver both.

On-Trail Characteristics

• Smooth initial stroke

• Excellent small-bump compliance

• Strong mid-stroke support

• Controlled end-stroke progression

• Stable front-end feel

• Confidence at speed

The result is a bike that feels planted and composed without becoming dull or overly soft.

Test riders also described the setup as surprisingly lively, helping the bike maintain speed and generate pop where needed.

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The Biggest Setup Lesson From the Test Ride

One of the most useful takeaways wasn't a new feature—it was a reminder that suspension setup evolves as rider speed and confidence increase.

Initially, the fork was run with relatively open compression settings.

As riding speeds increased and braking forces became more aggressive, the fork began diving further into its travel, causing the bike's geometry to steepen and placing too much weight over the front wheel.

The solution?

More compression damping.

Interestingly, both high-speed and low-speed compression were adjusted together to increase overall support.

It's a great reminder that suspension setup isn't determined solely by rider weight. Trail speed, riding style, bike weight, and terrain all play a major role.

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Why Sag Isn't the Whole Story

One of the most common suspension misconceptions is that correct sag automatically means correct setup.

In reality:

❌ Correct sag does not guarantee enough support

❌ More support doesn't always mean more air pressure

A bike can sit at the perfect sag point while still diving too much under braking or feeling under-supported in rough terrain.

In those situations, riders may benefit from:

• More low-speed compression support

• More high-speed compression control

• A firmer damping tune

This may be particularly relevant for e-MTB riders, where extra weight and speed place greater demands on suspension performance.

Related reading: Link to your sag setup guide

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What Makes This Suspension Easier to Tune?

No single feature transforms the tuning experience.

Instead, several small improvements work together to make adjustments more meaningful and easier to understand.

Highlights

• Midpoint-based damping adjustments

• More predictable volume token tuning

• Adjustable bottom-out control

• Tool-free Vivid Air adjustments

• Crown bleeders for improved consistency

Experienced riders gain more control, while newer riders should find setup less intimidating.

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Potential Drawbacks

While first impressions are overwhelmingly positive, there are still a few considerations worth noting.

Compression Preferences Will Vary

Some aggressive riders may still prefer a firmer compression tune, particularly on heavier bikes and e-MTBs.

Setup Remains Terrain-Specific

As always, there is no universal suspension setting.

What feels perfect on one trail may feel too firm or too soft on another.

Long-Term Durability Still Needs Testing

Initial performance is only part of the story.

Long-term consistency, durability, and service intervals will only become clear after extended testing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the new Zeb designed for comfort or stiffness?

Both. The redesigned chassis improves steering precision, while ButterCups, ButterWagons, and bleed valves help reduce harshness and improve comfort.

Does the new adjustment layout actually help?

Yes. Starting from a central zero point makes it much easier to think about adding or removing support.

What does the adjustable bottom-out feature do?

It changes when the bottom-out bumper engages, helping riders fine-tune end-stroke support and big-hit performance.

Is the Vivid Air completely new?

No. The 2027 version focuses on refinement and usability rather than a complete redesign.

Can a bike have correct sag but still feel under-supported?

Absolutely. Sag determines ride height, while damping controls how the suspension behaves under load.

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Verdict: A Genuine Step Forward

The 2027 RockShox Zeb is clearly the star of the show. The redesigned chassis, lower-friction features, revised damping adjustments, crown-mounted bleeders, and adjustable bottom-out control all add up to a fork that appears significantly more refined than its predecessor.

The Vivid Air complements it perfectly, offering extensive tuning options alongside thoughtful usability improvements that make setup easier both at home and on the trail.

Early ride impressions are extremely positive: smooth off the top, supportive through the middle of the travel, composed under hard impacts, and confidence-inspiring when speeds increase.

While some aggressive riders may still seek a firmer compression tune, the overall package looks like a meaningful evolution rather than a routine yearly update.

For riders searching for a serious long-travel suspension upgrade, the 2027 RockShox Zeb and Vivid Air are shaping up to be some of the most exciting suspension products of the year.