Orb Z-Drop£1,799.00Choose options
“No oil” belt drive
The Gates carbon belt replaces the chain. No oil, no grease, and an average lifespan of around 30,000 km.
Orb Z-Drop
£1,799.00
The Zeppo with drop handlebars. A low-maintenance, all-weather bike for the commute and your Sunday ride, built up individually for each rider.
- Drop bars with TRP Hylex hydraulic levers and a Jtek bar-end shifter
- Gates carbon belt drive, no oil and no grease
- Shimano Nexus 8 hub gears with a 307% range
- Droid anti-theft lights and colour-matched mudguards included
- Built to order, please allow 4 to 6 weeks
- Ships from the UK
- Fully user-serviceable, spares available
- 1% of revenue goes to carbon removal
About the Z-Drop
The Zeppo, with drop bars.
The Z-Drop takes the best of the Zeppo and adds drop handlebars, creating a low-maintenance, all-weather bike that is ideal for both the commute and your Sunday ride. Tektro Hylex RS brake levers and a Jtek 8-speed bar-end shifter turn a standard Zeppo v.8 into a drop-bar machine.
Z-Drops are built up individually for each customer and can be modified to suit, so please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.
Everything the Zeppo has
Same bike underneath. Different riding position.
As with the standard Zeppo, the Z-Drop comes with:
- Colour-matched mudguards as standard, keeping your legs dry and your back splatter-free all year
- A Shimano Nexus 8 hub gear, giving you a 307% range so steep hills are no problem
- The Orb Droid light set, providing anti-theft front and rear lights that keep you seen at night
No hill too big? We put this to the test by riding the Zeppo v.8 up Bealach na Ba, the UK’s biggest climb on public roads.
In brief
Quality where it counts.
Every component was chosen to be robust, reliable and low maintenance.
Hub gears and hydraulic discs
Shimano Nexus 8 internal gears with a Jtek bar-end shifter, and Tektro HD-T275 hydraulic discs with TRP Hylex levers for strong braking in all conditions.
Lights and mudguards included
Anti-theft Droid lights front and rear, and colour-matched alloy mudguards to keep your legs dry through the winter.
Light, fast, comfortable
A 6061 alloy frame and fork keep the weight to around 11 kg, on 700c wheels with 32 mm Kenda tyres that suit city and country alike.
Drivetrain
Belt drive. Less maintenance, more riding.
The Gates carbon belt drivetrain means less time spent on maintenance and more time enjoying your new ride. No greasy trousers and no oily calf marks. A splash of water now and then is all the belt needs.
With bike spares often hard to come by, the Gates belt drive will be your best friend. Average lifespans are around 30,000 km, so you won’t have to worry about changing it for many years, if ever.
Gears and brakes
The business end of the bike.
This is the business end of a bike, so we chose proven parts. Shifting is provided by a Shimano Nexus 8 hub paired with a Jtek MKII bar-end shifter: reliable, robust and low maintenance, with nothing to bend or clog.
Meanwhile, front and rear Tektro 275 hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm rotors, paired with TRP Hylex levers, will have you stopping on a sixpence in all weathers.
Lights and mudguards
Dark outside and tipping it down? No problem.
The Z-Drop has you covered. Alloy mudguards keep road spray off you and look right on the bike.
Our Droid anti-theft lights mean you’re always ready for the dark. These be-seen lights are designed to be left on the bike and, with up to 40 hours of battery life, they’ll keep you visible ride after ride.
Specifications
The full spec.
Sizing is simple: two sizes cover everyone from 5’3″ to 6’4″. Pick by height. The Z-Drop is unisex.
Shipping
UK and Northern Ireland: £20 by APC overnight courier once your bike is built. As the Z-Drop has to fit in a box, the front wheel, handlebars and pedals need mounting on arrival. It’s a simple job and we send an instruction manual.
| Handlebars and levers | Drop bars with TRP Hylex hydraulic levers |
|---|---|
| Shifter | Jtek MKII bar-end shifter |
| Frame and fork | 6061 aluminium, with mounts for racks, mudguards and bottle cages |
| Weight | Approx. 11 kg |
| Drivetrain | Gates Carbon CDX 120-tooth belt |
| Gears | Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal hub, 307% range |
| Brakes | Front and rear Tektro HD-T275 hydraulic discs, 160 mm rotors |
| Wheels and tyres | 700c wheels with Kenda Kwicktrax 32 mm tyres. 32 mm Schrader tubes. Clearance for tyres up to 45 mm |
| Included | Droid anti-theft light set, colour-matched alloy mudguards, chainstay-mounted kickstand |
| Size 1 | 160 to 178 cm (5’3″ to 5’10”), standover height 72 cm |
| Size 2 | 178 to 193 cm (5’10” to 6’4″), standover height 80 cm |
| Lead time | Built to order, 4 to 6 weeks |
FAQs
Questions, answered.
Is it ready to ride when delivered?
Almost. As the bike has to fit in a box for delivery, the front wheel, handlebars and pedals need mounting. This is a simple job, and we’ll send an instruction manual.
Is the Z-Drop for men or women?
Both. All bodies are different, so choose your size by height.
Can I fit a bottle cage or drink holder?
Yes, the frame has mounts for a bottle cage. It’s the perfect home for an Orb MKII.
Can I fit a rack?
Yes. There are bosses and mounts for a rack.
What are the widest tyres I can fit?
There is a minimum clearance of 51 mm, so we recommend a 45 mm tyre maximum.
What tyre size and inner tubes does the Z-Drop use?
The tyre size is 700c, with 32 mm Schrader valve tubes.
Are pedals included?
Unlike most new bikes, we include a set of high-quality metal pedals.
How long will my Z-Drop take?
Each Z-Drop is built up individually, so please allow 4 to 6 weeks. If you’d like something changed on the build, tell us when you order.
There’s something I want to ask that’s not on the list
Email us at [email protected] and we’ll get straight back to you.
Guarantee
A guarantee we stand behind.
The frame and fork are guaranteed for 3 years, and Shimano components are guaranteed for 2 years. If it’s broken, and it’s our fault, we’ll fix it, or replace it. It’s as simple as that, and you won’t have any trouble holding us to it.
Just get in touch at [email protected] and we’ll take care of it.
We also spend 1% of our revenue on carbon capture and storage through the Stripe Climate programme. Read about our approach to the climate crisis.
Caring for your Z-Drop
Keep it dry, clean and checked.
The best thing for all bikes is to keep them somewhere warm and dry. Clean your bike regularly, and keep an eye on bolts and components to make sure they are tight and working correctly.
The Z-Drop is designed to be low maintenance. The belt drive does not require oiling, but if it begins to squeak, clean it with water. Wax is also available to buy for belt drives. The internal gears are designed to need minimal intervention, but like everything else on your bike they will last longer if kept maintained. If you think something needs adjustment, take your bike to your local bike shop.
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What riders say about the Z-Drop
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