Super73 Z1 Upgrade: Air Suspension Fork + Shimano Hydraulic Brakes First Ride
July 11, 2020
If you’ve spent any time on a Super73 Z1, you already know the bike is ridiculously fun…but it also makes the case for two upgrades pretty quickly: better front-end comfort and more confidence in the brakes.
I installed the Super73 air suspension fork and a Shimano hydraulic brake setup on my Z1 and went out for a first ride to see what changed in normal, real-world riding.
Air Fork Install: Straightforward, But Don’t Do It Solo
The air fork showed up with the basics I needed, including a spacer and a small bracket/bolt setup.
The install itself wasn’t complicated, but I definitely recommend having a second person at least at the beginning. Holding things in place while you get everything lined up makes the whole process smoother and reduces the “did I cross-thread something?” anxiety.
Weight-wise, the front end felt different right away. The stock fork felt heavier to me during the swap, though it’s subtle.
Dialing In the Air Pressure
After I got everything mounted, I pumped the fork to 60 PSI. I’m around 130–135 lbs, and that pressure immediately felt usable on the first ride.
What I was looking for was a noticeable compression when I sit on the bike—enough that the fork is “in its travel” and ready to absorb bumps, not topped out and stiff.
First Ride Feel: The Z1 Finally Calms Down Up Front
The first thing I noticed was how much smoother the bike felt over the little stuff.
Cracks, chatter, small uneven pavement—those are the things that normally come through the Z1’s front end and into your hands. With the air fork, that constant buzz got turned down.
I still felt bigger bumps (as you would expect), but the front wheel wasn’t pinging off imperfections the same way. It gave the bike a calmer, more planted front end.
One thing that became very obvious, though: the rear of the Z1 is still rigid. When the front starts smoothing out the ride, you notice even more that the back of the bike is still taking the hits. Anything absorbed in the front can still transfer to the rear, especially on sharper impacts.
Shimano Hydraulic Brakes: Stronger Than I Expected
I went with Shimano hydraulic brakes as a practical upgrade path for the Z1. I ordered the set without rotors since the Z1 can already come with rotors, and that kept the cost down.
I set it up in a more traditional bike layout:
Left lever controls the front brake
Right lever controls the rear brake
Lever feel was the first win. Pulling the lever felt smoother with less resistance than what I’m used to with mechanical brakes.
Hydraulic vs Mechanical: The Real Difference in Daily Use
The big day-to-day difference is how consistent hydraulic braking feels. With mechanical brakes, you’re relying on cable tension, and over time it’s normal to adjust that tension as things stretch and settle.
With hydraulics, the system uses fluid to do the work of pushing braking force where it needs to go, and the feel at the lever comes across as more direct and more controllable.
Hard Stop Test: Big Power, Better Control
I did a quick stop test, and the stopping power surprised me. It was more power than I expected on the first grab.
What got interesting was how the air fork and hydraulic brakes worked together: under hard braking, when my weight shifted forward, the fork compressed and helped absorb some of that forward energy. That compression made the braking event feel less harsh and more controlled.
It also made me think this combo makes a lot of sense together. Stronger brakes can pitch you forward harder, and having suspension up front helps manage that weight transfer so the bike feels less sketchy when you really need to stop.
The other big win was modulation. Instead of fighting cable tension feel, I could feed in braking force more smoothly and predictably.
Brake Sensors: I Rode Without Them
On my setup, I disabled the brake sensors. There wasn’t a clean place to mount them on these Shimano levers, and in my riding I didn’t notice a major difference from losing the brake cut-off.
(If brake cut-off behavior is a must-have for your use case, keep that in mind before you commit.)
What We Like
Noticeably smoother front-end ride, especially over small bumps and rough pavement
Front wheel feels calmer and less “chattery”
Hydraulic lever feel is smoother with less resistance
Strong stopping power with better modulation than I expected
The fork helps absorb weight transfer under hard braking, making stops feel more controlled
Things To Consider
The rear of the Z1 is still rigid, so you’ll feel that contrast more once the front gets smoother
The air fork install is easier with two people (especially at the start)
Brake sensors weren’t an easy fit with this lever setup, and I ended up disabling them
The braking power jump is real—expect a different feel and give yourself a little time to recalibrate
Final Thoughts
If you ride a Super73 Z1 and want upgrades you can actually feel every single ride, this is a very practical combo.
The air fork makes the bike more comfortable and composed up front, and the Shimano hydraulics add confidence with smoother lever feel and stronger stopping power. Together, they make the Z1 feel more controlled—especially when braking hard—without changing what makes the bike fun in the first place.
Links
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