In a nut shell, we don't like them. The pedalling performance of a Zerode is second to none. The "real" pivot design combined with a fixed chain line means it is possible to achieve very stable pedalling through the entire range of suspension travel while independently controlling the suspension rate via a link. With a Horst link or VVP design the virtual pivot races all over the show making it hard to control suspension rate and pedalling independently. You get a compromised design despite what the bike industry's marketing departments tell you.

Even though we were among the first to construct high pivots, we did not opt for them for the trail and enduro models. For these bikes, the design is a compromise between many factors, including pedalling performance, suspension performance, weight and maintenance sensitivity. We strive for a simple and effective design. The use of the gearbox and the associated benefits in terms of suspension performance contribute enormously to this. In our opinion, this, together with the "real" pivot design, provides the perfect platform for all-round use on trail and enduro bikes. On the G3 downhill bike, however, we focused on nothing but the best performance downhill and opted for a high pivot.

There is a huge amount of misinformation online about brake effect. The story goes, "single pivot designs suffer from brake jack or brake lock out". In reality all bikes, even bikes equipped with Horst links have brake effect to some degree. What happens is the traction force at the rear tire tends to rotate the suspension about the pivot, whether real or virtual, causing a suspension compression. It's worth noting the traction force at the rear wheel is usually small and so is the compressive effect and that the suspension is still free to respond to other inputs. Some bikes have more compression than others, in some situations this compression helps performance, in other situations it hinders performance. 

Up to 600%. Imagine a 10-60 cassette. Enough said.

A gearbox drivetrain requires minimal maintanance. Muddy ride? Spray your bike clean with the garden hose, put it in the garage and go enjoy the shower. A 10 minute oil change, once a year, is everything a Pinion gearbox needs. Gear adjustments belong to the past.

Simply because we don't need to. Our frames are 148 mm. The belt guide that sits between the hub and the frame is 6 mm. We ride 142 hubs. Since we can use single speed hubs, the flanges are already further apart and there is a fully symmetrical wheel with equal spoke tension across all spokes, making the wheel stronger than with a cassette hub.