{"id":54888,"date":"2023-09-20T17:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=747216"},"modified":"2023-09-20T17:35:30","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:35:30","slug":"bike-of-the-week-we-play-spot-the-difference-with-the-new-cervelo-zfs-5","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/bike-of-the-week-we-play-spot-the-difference-with-the-new-cervelo-zfs-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike of the Week | We play spot the difference with the new Cerv\u00e9lo ZFS-5"},"content":{"rendered":"

How does Cerv\u00e9lo’s first full-suspension MTB compare to the Santa Cruz Blur? <\/p>

By Nick Clark\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 15:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Cerv\u00e9lo\u2019s ZFS-5 was first spotted at the first round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Nov\u00e9 M\u011bsto before being officially launched in August this year.<\/p>\n

This is only Cerv\u00e9lo\u2019s second mountain bike, with the full-suspension ZFS-5 following on from the hardtail ZHT-5<\/a> that was released last year.<\/p>\n

It has now arrived at BikeRadar HQ ready for testing.<\/p>\n

Cerv\u00e9lo says the bike is built for the demands of current XCO courses, with the ZFS-5 available in 100mm and 120mm travel configurations.<\/p>\n

Flex-stay suspension and forgoing for grams<\/h2>\n
\"Cerv\u00e9lo\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Cerv\u00e9lo is better known for its gravel and road bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While the name isn\u2019t the most catchy, the ZFS-5 uses Cerv\u00e9lo\u2019s established naming structure. The \u2018Z\u2019 refers to Cerv\u00e9lo\u2019s mountain bike range, with the \u2018FS\u2019 indicating it is full-suspension and the \u20185\u2019 meaning it sits at the top of the model\u2019s hierarchy.<\/p>\n

As is becoming ever more popular for cross-country bikes, the ZFS-5 is available with 100mm or 120mm of rear suspension to deal with evolving race circuits and more consumer-orientated riding.<\/p>\n

There is no difference in the frame, with the longer-travel option achieved by swapping in a longer stroke shock.<\/p>\n

\"Cerv\u00e9lo\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The ZFS-5 only uses a single pivot, which should reduce maintenance time.<\/span><\/figcaption> Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A single-pivot, flex-stay suspension design is used on the rear of the bike, with a link driving the top-tube mounted shock.<\/p>\n

Flex-stay suspension systems use flex built into the rear triangle to articulate the suspension travel rather than a conventional pivot.<\/p>\n

We are seeing this on many of the best cross-country bikes<\/a>, as well as Pinarello\u2019s unreleased Dogma XC<\/a>. Cerv\u00e9lo says the design allows for greater weight saving, reduced maintenance and increased stiffness.<\/p>\n

For the ZFS-5, Cerv\u00e9lo appears to have borrowed heavily from its sister brand, Santa Cruz. The ZFS-5 shares a similar frameset design with Santa Cruz\u2019s Blur<\/a> mountain bike.<\/p>\n

The ZFS-5 also features shapely seatstays that are more in tune with the design language Cerv\u00e9lo has developed on its road and gravel bikes.<\/p>\n

\"Cerv\u00e9lo\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The headset cups are interchangeable, allowing for mechanical and wireless groupsets.<\/span><\/figcaption> Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Cerv\u00e9lo has followed the trend of running the gear cables and brake hoses internally through the headset cups.<\/p>\n

This makes the front of the bike look impressively clean, but could cause issues for home mechanics.<\/p>\n

In a bid to save every gram, Cerv\u00e9lo says it has forgone carbon sleeves for the internal cable routing, which feature on the Santa Cruz Blur.<\/p>\n

\"Cerv\u00e9lo\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The down tube features a thin layer of rubberised frame protection.<\/span><\/figcaption> Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Home mechanics can rejoice in the fact that the ZFS-5 uses a BSA 73mm threaded bottom bracket<\/a> as well as SRAM\u2019s Universal Derailleur Hanger<\/a>, which should make maintenance and repairs simpler \u2013 and possibly make up for having to deal with internally routed cables.<\/p>\n

Cerv\u00e9lo has given the bike room for two water bottles<\/a>, which will be a welcome sight for marathon racers.<\/p>\n

There is a huge tyre clearance of 29\u00d72.9in the rear triangle.<\/p>\n

Size-specific geometry<\/h2>\n
<\/colgroup> \n
\ufeff<\/th>S<\/th>M<\/th>L<\/th>XL<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Cervelo ZSF-5 100<\/b><\/td> <\/tr>
Seat angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>76.5<\/td>76.3<\/td>76.2<\/td>76<\/td> <\/tr>
Head angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>67.8<\/td>67.8<\/td>67.8<\/td>67.8<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>432<\/td>435<\/td>437<\/td>440<\/td> <\/tr>
front center<\/b> (mm)<\/td>692<\/td>718<\/td>746<\/td>779<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>96<\/td>102<\/td>114<\/td>128<\/td> <\/tr>
Fork offset<\/b> (mm)<\/td>44<\/td>44<\/td>44<\/td>44<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>42<\/td>42<\/td>42<\/td>42<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>338<\/td>338<\/td>338<\/td>338<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>1,120<\/td>1,149<\/td>1,180<\/td>1,215<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover<\/b> (mm)<\/td>746<\/td>744<\/td>744<\/td>744<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>584<\/td>590<\/td>601<\/td>614<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>421<\/td>445<\/td>469<\/td>496<\/td> <\/tr>
Cervelo ZSF-5 120<\/b><\/td> <\/tr>
Seat angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>75.3<\/td>75.1<\/td>75<\/td>74.9<\/td> <\/tr>
Head angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>66.6<\/td>66.6<\/td>66.6<\/td>66.7<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>432<\/td>435<\/td>437<\/td>440<\/td> <\/tr>
Front center<\/b> (mm)<\/td>700<\/td>726<\/td>755<\/td>787<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>96<\/td>102<\/td>114<\/td>128<\/td> <\/tr>
Fork offset<\/b> (mm)<\/td>44<\/td>44<\/td>44<\/td>44<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>42<\/td>42<\/td>42<\/td>42<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>347<\/td>347<\/td>347<\/td>347<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>1,130<\/td>1,159<\/td>1,190<\/td>1,225<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover<\/b> (mm)<\/td>756<\/td>754<\/td>754<\/td>754<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>593<\/td>600<\/td>610<\/td>624<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>