Enhance us! Bikerumor might earn a small fee from associate hyperlinks on this article. Be told Extra
MS Racing’s transfer to a brand new motorcycle provider method their aluminum Zerode G3 would be the subsequent gearbox DH motorcycle to take at the belt-drive problem on the best of UCI MTB Downhill racing. Gates simply up to date the standing in their still-open 100K Belted Handbag set to award 100,000€ to “the first elite racer to win a UCI Downhill event on a belt-driven bike”, and Zerode is the following bikemaker to step as much as compete.
Gates 100K Belted Handbag bonus DH Global Cup money prize
(Picture/Gamux)
We’ve been retaining an eye fixed out for distinctive DH motorcycles racing on the best of the game so long as I will be able to take into accout. And gearboxes have surely been a development for many years. I take into accout Greg Minnaar racing the Honda RN-01 years prior to Bikerumor even began geeking out on motorcycles. However more moderen refinement of Pinion’s gearboxes and Gates’ centerline belts have boosted gravity motorcycle building, giving design engineers the liberty to raised music weight distribution & suspension efficiency, to not point out getting rid of inclined derailleurs.
For 2025, Gates has formally partnered with 4 elite DH race groups – Aon racing Gamux motorcycles, Atherton Racing on their very own prototype frames, Intense Manufacturing facility Racing additionally on their very own prototypes, and MS-Racing now at the Zerode underneath.
It’s the most important crop but of groups on the elite degree racing gearbox & belt-drive transmissions, and thus the most productive probability a rider for such a groups to snatch that bonus €100k prize from Gates.
The 4 gearbox motorcycles of the 2025 UCI DH Global Cup
Gamux Sego
(Picture Jessie-Would possibly Morgan/Bikerumor)
Since we stuck up with the Gates-backed prize handbag remaining spring when it was once just about handiest the CNC-machined alloy Gamux Sego with bonded-in carbon infill (above) that we noticed at the elite DH circuit.
Atherton A.200.G
(Picture/Atherton Motorcycles)
However since then, we’ve additionally observed a teaser of Atherton’s new carbon & 3-d-printed titanium A.200.G prototype gearbox motorcycle. And now Atherton has additionally give us an in-depth behind-the-scenes have a look at its building.
Intense M1 Pinion
(Bikerumor/Picture Cory Benson)
And there’s additionally been the prototype Intense M1 Pinion gearbox DH motorcycle that I realized in Gates’ sales space at Eurobike remaining summer season.
Zerode G3
(Footage/Zerode)
MS Racing introduced Intense and Gates in combination to expand that M1 Pinion prototype remaining yr.
Zerode G3 200mm shuttle aluminum gearbox downhill race motorcycle
We’ve if truth be told been following Zerode’s gearbox DH motorcycle building, approaching 13 years.
The primary-gen G1 we noticed from the New Zealand based totally motorcycle corporate was once constructed round an Alfine internally geared hub tucked within its excessive pivot. The second one-gen G2 up to date to much less shuttle & 27.5″ wheels a decade in the past, retaining the geared hub as a gearbox.
But it surely was once the arrival of the dependable Pinion gearbox and Gates Carbon Power belt programs that in reality modernized the motorcycle and taken it to the G3 we see these days.
Zerode G3 Tech Main points
The present Zerode G3 is a high-pivot 6066-T6 aluminum mullet DH motorcycle with 200mm of rear wheel shuttle and a 6-speed Pinion C1.6 gearbox.
In contrast to maximum motorcycles at the DH racing circuit, the G3 has no derailleur to fret about bashing on rocks. As an alternative, wrapping its Gates belt round a excessive loafer pulley and tensioner pulley, the place it has little affect at the suspension.
With out being worried a few cassette both, the Zerode G3 includes a narrower 12x142mm rear axle (like in your street & gravel motorcycles) to suit a singlespeed cog interface, however a symmetrically dished rear wheel. That sheds slightly little bit of weight, however the large affect is a miles more potent wheel.
Like many trendy gravity motorcycles, the G3 will get a 56mm IS headset that will permit for some headset perspective adjustment. There’s additionally some typical old skool inner cable routing to get issues out of the way in which merely.
Possibly, we’d be expecting the MS Racing group to package their Zerode G3 out with the newest Sensible.Shift gearbox. There appears to be a large number of passion from the highest DH groups on its talent to shift immediately and without difficulty in all stipulations, and it’s a top class choice on Zerode’s industrial fashions.
Zerode G3 – Pricing, choices & availability
The Zerode G3 is one of the most to be had gearbox DH motorcycle available in the market this present day, with 3 usual sizes and three finishes on be offering.
The Beginning frameset with body, surprise & complete drivetrain sells for NZ$6000 (plus tax the place appropriate) / 4950€. Upload on a fork and the Beginning frameset + a Fox 40 Manufacturing facility fork will set you again NZ$7800 / 6775€.
A complete “deluxe” race-ready construct like we see this is NZ$10,300 / 8295€.
One of the crucial usual colour choices is a vibrant Purple that wouldn’t glance some distance off from MS Racing’s conventional group package. However possibly since they parted tactics with Intense this yr, they’ll be taking a look to distance themselves in colour a bit of too?
Ele Farina pulled out her first Global Cup DH win remaining 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 Handbag?
ZerodeBikes.com or Zerode.ecu
