In April, the entire mountain bike world excitedly followed the official media launch of the highly anticipated RockShox Zeb B1 2027 fork. Like every other rider out there, we were hugely impressed. But while most people were looking at the overall aesthetics and performance, our eyes were locked onto the details. We immediately noticed that RockShox completely redesigned the arch, giving it a radically new geometry. From the very first second, it was clear that our existing models wouldn’t fit, and this beast of a fork needed a brand-new, dedicated fender built from scratch.
Deciphering the New 4-Point Mounting System
RockShox moved away from the traditional three-bolt setup on the arch two years ago when they released BOXXER. Instead, they designed a two-bolt configuration on the arch, but added something entirely new: a single mounting hole on the back of each fork leg. This new four-point foundation is now an industry standard adopted by other brands like Fox and X-Fusion. From day one, we knew we had to utilize these mounting points to their absolute maximum to achieve the stiffest fit possible.
The Factory Solution vs. The VisionVelo Approach
As the internet buzz around the new fork grew, we also closely analyzed the official fender that RockShox released alongside the Zeb B1. While their integration is clean, it comes with clear limitations. First, it only comes in one fixed length – there is no room for personal preference. Second, it completely lacks front protection. The factory fender only protects the area behind the arch toward the frame, leaving the front entirely exposed to flying mud. We knew RockShox made a great product, but we felt we could offer a better alternative to fill these gaps.
Overcoming the Engineering Challenge and Faster Installation
Bringing this project to life wasn’t a walk in the park. The cutting-edge geometry of the 2027 Zeb was completely new territory for us. It took a significant amount of development time to perfect the structure, dial in the aggressive looks, and optimize every technical aspect.
The result? A dedicated fender that utilizes all four factory mounting points. By bolting it directly to both the arch and the fork legs, we achieved a massive level of structural stiffness. Because it is bolted down tightly from both the top and the sides, rattle and vibrations are completely eliminated, providing a sense of total stability even on the roughest downhill tracks. To make sure everyone gets exactly what they need, we are offering this model in four distinct sizes.
Additionally, thanks to the unique shape of the new Zeb arch, we managed to streamline the installation – you no longer need to remove your front wheel to mount our fender. With traditional designs, the entire fender has to be fed from behind the arch, making wheel removal a tedious chore. Our design completely changes that: the front section goes directly in from the front over the tire, while the rear section slides in from the back. The whole operation is incredibly fast and effortless.
Perfect Fit for Both Fork Versions
Finally, it is worth mentioning a very important design detail. The shape of the arch and the internal dimensions around it are identical on both the 29-inch and 27.5-inch versions of the fork. Because of this, our fender fits both RockShox Zeb B1 variants perfectly, no matter which size you own.
ZEB B1 mudguard!
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