Zinn Z Centaur

[CHIZEL010]

Hi,

Having been out of MTB for a long, long time, I finally got my old Zinn Z Centaur out from under the stairs. Bearing in mind that it has not been touched for 15 years, I put the wheels on, pumped up the tyres, and it was as good to ride as when I bought it 20 years ago. The Campagnola groupset needed no adjustments and everything worked perfectly. The only problem was the Manitou 2 forks, which I know that you probably hear this all the time, the elastomers have failed. I have ridden it already on extreme trails, with the forks locked out and the bike took everything I threw at it, it was just a bit jarring on the arms with no suspension.

I have tried all my friends bikes and some in shops and nothing feels like the quality of my Zinn. So a new bike is not an option. So I am either going to get some new forks or repair the old Manitou ones. I would prefer to keep the Manitou forks, just for the Retro look.

Has anyone bought the replacement elastomers from Suspension Fork Parts . com in America, and if so were they any good and what was the delivery time like. Any advice would be great.

See the gallery below for some photos.

Cheers CHIZEL010

 

[NeilM]

Welcome aboard.

As the owner of a Zinn, you're going to be right popular round here.

There is a Zinn appreciation thread somewhere, use the search function and you'll find it. I'm sure Giom6, Sinnerman and a few others would love to see pictures (we do love pictures).

Can't help on the elastomers I'm afraid, but probably worth persevering, I'm sure someone round here will be able to help or offer an opinion.

 

[CHIZEL010]

Thanks for the welcome NeilM.

My Zinn is in pretty much imaculate condition for its age, it was well looked after all those years ago, even though it was ridden hard and a lot. Always cleaned up after every ride and always kept in doors. I will put some photos on ASAP.

 

[NeilM]

Have a search for the Zinn that Giom6 recently got from 'the bay', it is almost unused from new (shame). It's his second Zinn... :shock:

All my bikes get ridden / covered in mud. It is, after all, what they were built for.

 

[CHIZEL010]

Had a look, its the same frame and Campagnola Record OR groupset. It cost me over 2 grand 20 years ago, with the extras that I put on it etc.

It was only ever ridden off road and raced quite a lot in local events back in the day. I would strip it down regularly and maintain it and keep it spotless, sounds sad but I loved that bike. Great days.

This might sound a stupid question, but how do I put the photos on.

 

[NeilM]

You need to host the photos somewhere and then use a link. I use photobucket.

Alternatively, I think you can start a gallery on this site and host pictures there, but I'm not too sure about that as I've always used the bucket.

Any photo host will do, so if you already have an account somewhere just link across.

I was never a great one for keeping bikes immaculate... strange how things change as you get older, as all my recent builds are washed as soon as I get back from a ride and given a good rub down with a rag and some GT85.

I think I'm growing Nerdy with old age

 

[poweredbypies]

Hello and welcome, another zinn owner here. As mentioned there is a zinn thread on here, not sure how many we have on here now 6 or 7 something like that not a lot anyway.

 

[Swede]

I recently dusted off my old bike and found that the elastomers had turned to sludge (must have used lithium grease) but I bought a refreser kit from the US and they now work just fine. Have a look at this

http://www.suspensionforkparts.net/eshop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=26

 

[CHIZEL010]

I recently dusted off my old bike and found that the elastomers had turned to sludge (must have used lithium grease) but I bought a refreser kit from the US and they now work just fine. Have a look at this

http://www.suspensionforkparts.net/eshop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=26

Hi, thanks for the feedback. How long did they take to turn up.

 

[CHIZEL010]

Hello and welcome, another zinn owner here. As mentioned there is a zinn thread on here, not sure how many we have on here now 6 or 7 something like that not a lot anyway.

Hi. Im glad I kept my Zinn for all these years now. Never had the heart to get rid of it. After going up to my local trails and seeing some of the monstrosities that people are riding these days, it made me smile when I was sat on my Zinn.