The 100mm XC race-ready Mag SL frame is the first product of a new collaboration between component maker Ceetec and Zerouno bikes. While we know the Swiss attention to detail of Ceetec from their presence all over pro cross-country bikes on the World Cup, the made in Italy carbon frames of Zerouno were new to us. Mixing unique carbon construction and elite XC expertise, the unexpected pairing quickly brought together the like-minded owners of both companies to create a premium quality race bike, made by hand in Europe. And it’s expected to be just the first of several more collaborative mountain bikes to come…
Ceetec x Zerouno mountain bike development partnership
Ceetec owner Christian Leuenberger, actually gave us a bit of an exclusive primer on Zerouno to bring us up to speed on the bike maker and the new co-developed bikes. Founded in the states but with Italian ties, Zerouno owner Ronny Zanazzi has been designing carbon bikes made by hand in northern Italy since 2013. But with their greatest expertise and cred on the road, they were looking for more input off-road.
The two started collaborating out of mutual appreciation for each other’s work, as both are active in interdisciplinary groups working to further R&D in new carbon construction technologies in the heart of Europe. Together Zerouno brings experience working with unique carbon frame construction methods like Lunar Honeycomb materials & frame-production capacities, and Ceetec brings an attention to detail in ultralight carbon tubing layups, precision machined alloy components & World Cup race proven insight.
Zerouno Mag SL Ceetec edition – Tech Details
Together the first project has been to refine a carbon full-suspension mountain bike design that Zerouno had already begun, to fine-tune it for XC racing. That bike is now the Zerouno Mag SL, a 1970g carbon frameset fully produced by hand in a workshop in Sant Agata sul Santerno, Italy near the Adriatic coast south on Venice.
The heart of the Mag SL is its Lunar HM Carbon, high modulus construction that uses a honeycomb molded into the frame’s layup to create a lighter, stiffer tube while retaining strength, impact resistance, and the flexibility to mold the frame in complex shapes. It also allows the integration of Kevlar fibers for additional tube resistance. Apparently the Kevlar is only needed in the lo mod, non-SL frames.
Ceetec is quick to point out that as much as they are dyed-in-the-wool weight weenies, everything they develop must be race-ready. Ceetec works closely with Swiss pros like Thomas Litscher & Florian Vogel to race prove every component they make, under some of the most powerful legs in the sport, and bashed through the rocks & drops of racing in packs on the World Cup circuit.
No extra downtube protectors needed when Ceetec works on a bike, they build to withstand the harshest abuse from the strongest, fastest XC racers in the world.
Tech details on the 100mm travel Horst-link 29er XC race bike give it a tapered headtube, pressfit BB92 bottom bracket, Boost spaced rear end, two bottle cage mounts, and internal cable routing. The Mag SL frames also come with a Fox Float DPS Factory shock with remote lockout.
All of the Zerouno bikes (even their lower-spec, non-SL frames) now also get Ceetec’s super light & strong SC C1 carbon seatclamp for consistent seatpost clamping.
The Ceetec edition of the Mag SL comes with a finish called Stealth Gold Mine that pairs matte black with gloss logos & gold detailing. The bike comes in four stock frame sizes (S-XL), with a modern trail-inspired XC race geometry of a 68° headtube, 73.5° seat angle, 436mm chainstays, and long toptubes.
Developed together the Mag SL is actually being sold independently by both brands, with Ceetec managing sales in Europe for 3820 Swiss francs (roughly 3350€ via their office across the border in Germany) for the frameset & Zerouno handling US sales for $3480.
There is also a Ambizione SL carbon hardtail for $2180 / 2380 CHF (~2090€) if that’s what you are looking for. The Italian made frame shares the same Lunar Carbon tech and similar detailing, with a 910g claimed weight.
Zerouno offers a lifetime warranty on the frames – lifetime of the bike, so it even transfers down the line to future owners (not sure when it stops after being passed down as an heirloom, though.)
Complete bikes will also soon be available, including a no-holds-barred Zerouno Mag SL1 Ceetec edition complete for 9488 CHF (~8325€) that will be built up with Ceetec’s ultralight carbon wheels, seatpost, bar, and a premium SRAM XX1 Eagle race-ready groupset, or 7962 CHF (~6985€) for the hardtail.
And new bikes are already in the works for 2020!
