I'm not a hardcore mountain biker so this review is probably most valuable for a casual or new cyclist.

Also my only comparison will be with my Raleigh Talus 4.0 because I've never ridden any other bike.

But I have done a lot of research (3 or 4 months worth) and in my opinion this bike definitely has the most bang for your buck. The parts are far superior to any other entry level bike. (I was looking into Trek, Giant, etc.) and for half the price.

After taking it on the trail for a few hours I took note of the all the pros and cons of this bike compared to my hard tail. But please keep in mind that this is without a lot of tweaking to the fork or the back shock.. a lot of the cons might be alleviated once a spend a few more weeks riding.

First off, shifting is fantastic. The sram X9 with X-7 shifters are sick. No more grinding or have to turn several revolutions before a shift change. I love it.
The fork seems fine. Its very squeaky and a little sticky even after putting tons of fork oil on it. But again my bike is still pretty new so I'd bet that goes away after some use.
The brakes are fantastic. Smooth. Of course I'm going from cheaper mech brakes to the Tektro hydraulics so its an obvious step up. But man what a difference.

A few cons.
Corners. I had super thick/wide tires on my hard tail and going from that to the Kenda is kind of rough. I was riding a lot of loose dirt and clay and I was sliding all over the place. I was afraid to take a few corners as fast as I usually do which was a drag. I may shorten the handlebar a little later on as well(its pretty wide stock).

Climbing. Riding over rough terrain was smoother and faster. But my hard tail was more efficient when climbing (especially over thick roots). While my hard tail was bumpy as hell when powering the back end over a thick root, my Elite seems to 'hang up' just a little and I have to give it more juice to clear it. Its not a huge difference, and again I think tweaking my suspension may help.

Weight. I hear with just a few upgrades you can drop a few pounds. But this bike weighs the same as my last bike so it doesn't bother me at all.

Besides the price and excellent stock parts the one thing that I can say that puts Airborne above any other bike company on the market is their INCREDIBLE customer service. They really want you to be satisfied with their product. I had a few issues with shipping of my bike but one phone call and they rectified the problem in a millisecond. Giantnerd also has great customer service (and the best price) so buy it here.

This is my first mountain bike ever. I was searching for an entry level bike and found Giantnerd. Did not know anything about brands or components but a friend helped me out. When he saw the components for Airborne and the price he said that is a great deal, so I ordered the Spectre Sport. There was a little mistake from Airborne and they shipped the Spectre (not the sport). So we had an agreement and I upgraded to the Zeppelin Elite.
Couldn't be more happier!! What a great bike. Excellent components, very nice color.
I took it right away to the mountain, and it is a wonderful piece of engineering. Climbs very fast, and has no problem with big rocks.
I also did not get the pro build since I live outside US and have a pro shop near to my place. Setup took only a couple of hours.
Shifting gears is very nice with the Sram X7/X9, both shocks are awesome (would like to have lock out on the front), brakes are OK but not the best in the market. Overall it is a great entry/mid level bike.
I'm very happy with the support from Giantnerd and Airborne staff.

This is my first full-suspension bike and i couldn't be happier with it. For the price, this is a great bike. The front and rear shocks soak up everything that the trails in my area have to offer. The downside to this bike is it's weight but even when climbing, the weight is not too big of an issue.

I was pumped on getting this bike. When I got the email that it had shipped I was excited and started counting the days. I got the free shipping because time didn't matter. So, when the bike got here in 4 days, I couldn't believe it. I didn't get the Pro Build because I have a bike shop close that is a little cheaper, but if you don't, I highly recommend the Pro Build.

Overall, this bike has exceeded my expectations and for the price, you are getting a top notch bike.

I rode one of these bad boys a while back from a buddy who had just bought one. Now compared to my demo it was a big difference but nonetheless it was still handling like a champ. The air shock is the only downside i would say dont get me wrong great shock but id rather a coil. The x-7 shifters and x-9 derailleur is by far the best part about the bike smooth as can be and thats pretty much what i got on my demo too x-9 shifters and x-9 derailleur.

This bike has great shocks. I recommend it for any mountain biker.

I had a chance to demo ride the Zeppelin Elite at Sea Otter before getting one a few weeks ago. Now that I have had a chance to ride it on my home trails I'm ready to give an honest opinion on how it performs.

I'll start with what I like about the bike:

With X.7 shifters and an X.9 derailleur, shifting is spot on and hassle free. In my opinion this combination is a great value on this bike.

While the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes are not the lightest on the market the feel and modulation is actually really good. The fact that you can adjust the reach on the brakes is certainly and added bonus not always found on brakes that out price the Tektros.

After demoing the Zeppelin at Sea Otter I was not that impressed with the Rock Shox Bar 2.1 for a rear shock. Since playing with the settings and dialing it in, I'm changing my tune. While it's not a RP23, it does a fine job of soaking up everything the trail has to offer.

Another thing I was not impressed with in CA while demoing the bike were the tires. After riding them on my local trails again I have to say I am impressed. They are much stickier on dirt than on the hard packed sand of Monterey, CA. The more I ride the Kendas the more confident I feel about pushing the bike into corners.

Don't underestimate the importance of a good seat. After using the WTB Pure V saddle in a 24 hour race I have to say it is the most comfortable saddle I've ever used. I great added bonus on the Zeppelin Elite.

Now what I don't like as much:

Overall the bike is on the heavy side and I think the main culprit is the wheelset. Upon removing the bike from the box, the first thing I noticed was how heavy the rear wheel was. This takes a toll when it comes to climbing and accelerating, however it is something that you grow accustom to after a few rides and don't notice as much. Even though this isn't a surprise at this price point, I still hoped for better.

I'm not excited about the fork on the Zeppelin. It's not that I do not like it's performance, it more that the features are not suited for how and where I ride. Firstly, there is very little adjustability to this fork. The U-turn feature on the Tora is not very helpful for me as I don't often have the opportunity to use the feature. I don't like stopping just to change the travel on my fork and trying to turn the adjusting knob while riding over rough terrain is nearly impossible. This maybe a good feature to have there is sustained uphills and downhills, but since I primarily ride on large deposits left behind by glaciers (Kettles & Moraines), I would be constantly stopping to adjust the travel. The bottom line is for me the u-turn feature is not helpful. Other than that the user of this fork is limited to a rebound adjustment. And of course the Tora be more on the entry level side is also on the heavy side.

Other than that I'm pretty happy with the performance of the bike. I feel like I can really get into a flow on the bike and it just eats up everything the trail has to offer. Overall, in this price range the bike is a solid performer and worth considering.

I am a member of the Airborne Flight Crew and was given the bike to ride and review. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the bike.

Highs
SRAM X9 rear Derailleur
Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Kenda Tires
Rock Shox Suspension Front & Rear

Lows
No QR Seat post clamp
Weight
Narrow Bars
Suspension not very tunable

Airborne Bicycles flies again, and this time around they are building bikes that prove you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a kick-ass ride. And the Zeppelin Elite, which is available for well under a grand, makes their point. Airborne have 6 models in their line-up and all are available exclusively over the internet at GiantNerd.com.

What’s it made for?
The Zeppellin Elite is a heavy-duty machine with 5” of travel. It’s overbuilt frame and Rock Shox Tora fork point toward the trailbike category, while the average width bar and steep 70 degree head angle point toward XC. I rode it as a trail bike, on everything from smooth, flowy singletrack with rooty climbs and technical rock gardens.

Frame
The Zeppelin Elite made from 6061 aluminum and utilizes the proven and efficient single-pivot suspension design cushioned by a simple, Rock Shox Bar air shock. It’s white, pearlescent paint is stunning, and the photos don’t do it justice. The graphics are clear coated, and being grey, they are cool and understated. The top tube is gusseted and tapered from the head tube back, and lets the rider know they are on one seriously sturdy frame. The solid swing arm, which rides above the chain (thereby eliminating dreaded chain suck and slap), is also a sturdy affair featuring a replaceable hangar and a lattice work of flex fighting reinforcements. There is a tube welded from the seat tube to the top tube to allow for a sloping top tube and increased stand over clearance. Nothing proprietary here, just a solid, proven single-pivot design with sealed bearings to get the job done.

Components
Cockpit equipment always stands out as it’s your first connection to the bike. The WTB Speed V saddle is nice to see at this price point, while the other point of contact, the grips, are throw aways. Like many brands, the UNO bar and stem are basic affairs that do their jobs while keeping the bike price down. The tektro brakes are hydraulic, and great to have at this price point. The Quando hubs and Alex rims are also very basic and a bit heavy, but perform without fault. The rear derailluer is the excellent SRAM X9, another nice surprise at this price. And finally, the stiff and strong Rock Shox Tora with 85-130mm coil U-turn and rebound adjust work well and are low maintenance.

Performance
Having the seat level with the bars puts the rider in a sporty trail bike stance. The saddle is soft and wide and comfortable. The bikes seem to run small in sizing, so be sure to get the correct size when you order.

The Zeps rear suspension dips slightly when pedaling, as the basic Rock Shox Bar shock offers no pedal damping (which is usually reserved for far more expensive bikes). The front shock also dips a bit, but honestly, the bike rides so nice that you won’t notice it after long. I was able to keep up with my crew on our weekly group ride, so no problem.

Steering is quick and easy to control, and It climbs rather well. I never had to fight to keep the front end from wandering. The Zep descends well, but I would have preffered a wider bar to help tame the trail when going against gravity. The bike is not light, but if it’s your first full-suspension ride, you’ll forgive it’s heft when the traction digs in and you clear every hill. The rear suspension is stiff and I must admit, I was surprised at how well such a low-end shock performed. Once properly set-up, it rode great and I forgot about it. Nice. The Tora gobbles up everything with aplomb, but it’s not the smoothest of forks. You’d have to spend a lot more money to do much better though, so great fork for the money.

The bike gobbles up the rough stuff and corners well. The tires (also usually throw aways) were surprisingly good, and handled the corners without washing out unexpectedly. The brakes are perfect little stoppers, but be careful, as they are very grabby and don’t offer much modulation.

The shifting was right on. The workhorse SRAM X9 and FSA kit work well together, and the whole enchilada did it’s job very nicely. No issues here.

For a beginner to intermediate rider, the Zeppelin is a score. You can hang with the big boys knowing your components are reliable, the single-pivot design is low maintenance, and the whole thing looks really great. The frame is good enough to be worthy of upgrades if you’re ever so inclined. So then, for under a grand, you get a bike that can tackle challenging obstacles, hammer out lots of climbing, and is a capable descender. This bike is one hell of a gateway drug! I’m amazed at what you get for your money now, especially when full suspension for under $1000 has been a boingy boing no-no. But here we have it then, a good option well under a grand!

FYI: My firm works for Airborne, so I was given the Zep to ride, and I have decided to review it even though I am not obligated to do so. Some back ground on me: I am a former bike shop mechanic, my go-to ride is an XT level (3x more expensive than the Zep) single-pivot trail bike. I’ve been riding for 30+ years primarily on gnarly east coast trails.

One thing is certain: this bike can climb! Despite the fact that it's a little on the hefty side and has 5" of travel, I rocked this up some seriously steep, anaerobic climbs and it definitely came out on top!

The Zeppelin Elite mountain bike is about 4-5 pounds lighter than the Marauder, and also has a geometry that is a little bit more on the cross country racer side of things. The bars still have some rise to them and the head angle is still pretty slack allowing for a comfortable trail/all-mountain feel, but the ****pit definitely isn't as all-mountain/freeride designated as the Maruader's. Also, I personally like the stock suspension setup best on the Zep Elite as compared to all of the other Airborne bicycles I've ridden. And you'll have that, considering it's the most expensive (of the ones I've tested) as well, but still a deal at $949.95 intro, $1,499.00 MSRP. All of things add up to provide a bike that's a pretty rocking climber. Check out this video to see me clean a steep, nasty climb at Sea Otter (of course it's steeper and nastier than the video makes it look):

Component Breakdown

When I test rode this bike, I threw my own seat, seatpost, and SPD pedals on it. There are certain things that a person likes and is used to, so I decided to keep those the same for all of my test rides.

The drive train on the Zeppelin Elite is a great SRAM setup with X-7 shifters and an X-9 rear derailleur, almost exactly what I have on my Jamis Dakar back home.
The hydraulic brakes bit really well, but to see how they last over the long haul will have to wait until I've had my bike for a while.
The suspension ran pretty well, but I felt like the fork was lacking. It was decent, but not great.
I liked the slight rise in the bars, but I may swap out for an even bigger rise when I get my own rig.
One surprising plus to all of these bikes were the bomber grips they came spec.ed with. I love 'em! Definitely looking forward to those.
The biggest downside to the stock components, while pretty easily rectified, makes a big difference in how a bike rides: the tires. I'll dive into that more below.
Descending

The Zeppelin climbed great, and descended pretty well too. My biggest complaint about the bike are the 2.1" tires that come stock on it. I'm definitely a wider tire sort of guy, and this bike will definitely benefit from having some 2.35's thrown on it. This would help in several areas:

Cornering: the Zep seemed a little squirrely in some of the corners.
Air: the Zeppelin takes flight with ease, and feels more like a fighter jet in the air than a zeppelin! However, landings, again, were a bit washy due to the narrow tires, and the sandy trails where all of the testing took place
Shock absorption: a little fatter tire would help smooth out and eat up some of the small stuff, allowing the rider to focus more on navigating the larger obstacles
While I've listed all of these areas to be improved by a better pair of tires, the Zep. Elite still ripped downhills with phenomenal speed and grace! It's not all about the tires, and without a good bike/frame design, the point is moot.

Finally, as I mentioned above, the fork felt a little under-gunned at times, but that may have been simply due to the fact that I was used to the larger fork on the Marauder. After a half hour or so, I was in tune with the bike and rocking that thing out!

Trail
The Zeppelin Elite exemplifies what I have come to view as the "trail" category of mountain bikes. Over the last few years, as downhill and freeride have gotten progressively gnarlier, so have the all-mountain type riders who pedal their bikes to the top, but huck some serious drops and pin it through some nasty crap on the way back down. As a rider, I personally fall somewhere in the trail/all-mountain category.


What I see the trail category providing is a full suspension mountain bike (about 5" or so of travel) that will climb well, descend well, but has a geometry somewhere between that of a cross country bike and a full-blown all-mountain rig. A trail bike will rock and roll down some gnarly trails, and will be up for pinning through a rock garden, but it may take some finessing to make it float through and over the rough. A trail bike probably won't be up to the task of serious drops, and may feel a bit undergunned in some really, really rough areas. However, as with most bikes, if the rider has enough balls and skills, he'll make it go where he wants it to go. If the same rider had an all-mountain bike, however, he would be able to bash through the same terrain with much more reckless abandon and a lot less finesse.

I view the Zeppelin Elite as sitting about smack-dab in the middle of the trail category.

Full Disclosure
I got to choose a bicycle from any of the bike's in Airborne's line up for free, and as such I liked the Zeppelin Elite so much more than the others that I picked it to be my main bicycle for the foreseeable future! Bottom line: you're going to get the low-down on how this bike runs over the long haul. Stay tuned to hear how to stands up to (or fails) under the use and abuse I'll provide!
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I had the pleasure of taking this bike out for a test ride at Sea Otter this year. Being a member of Airborne's Flight Crew, I had all the information on this bike prior to seeing it person and riding it. And I must say, the ride exceeded my expectations! The bike rode wonderfully. I had flawless shifting with the SRAM drivetrain. Although the bike was a little on the heavy side, I didn't notice it affecting the performance of the bike. Plus, you could easily shave weight on this bike with just a couple of changes. This bike went wherever I pointed it and tracked pretty well. The hydraulic brakes worked well too. I rode a couple of spots a few times that were pretty steep and the brakes held good the whole time. I never really had any noticeable fade. Overall I thought this was a great bike. And at the price its available for now, it can't be beat!