Zerode Bikes Katipo | Belt Driven Pinion Gearbox Mountain Bike

[@squatchbikes]

What do you guys want to see Pat do with his new bike? Specific trails? Maybe extreme water crossings?

[@aweitsphotography]

How many river crossings can Pat do in one ride?

[@jg2wheels]

Submarine Pat 😂

[@DanDan-fu6sd]

If I had the money I'd be all over this bike. This bike is a vision of the future.

[@shredneck94]

The urge to get a Zerode is growing. Silent bike sounds like the dream. That way I can be left with my thoughts and heavy breathing.

[@squatchbikes]

Lol, yes we could all use a little more audible heavy breathing in our rides...good point

[@aweitsphotography]

Such a fun day in the woods 🤙🏼

[@squatchbikes]

🤗

[@jg2wheels]

Pat is a celebrity! 😎 I can imagine the weightlessness of the rear contributes to the climbing ability and provides a very playful rear end.

[@squatchbikes]

The weight is in the right spot on it for sure. You have to feel it to believe it. We're pretty excited about this rig

[@kfivemtb]

nice build! bike looks so good I dream of only hearing my tires on the trail. great video Squatch keep um coming

[@squatchbikes]

Thank you, we will do our best

[@WildWheelsMTB]

This bike looks and sounds so good! Just added to my list for potential upgrades 🤙🏼

[@DM-hw4cr]

A belt drive would be AWESOME for dusty conditions. A constant fight keeping my drivetrain working correctly in the dry dusty stuff.

[@chrisburns460]

I dig this edit 😂

[@calrc123]

Glad to see you making videos again. Where is the owner is he still there at the shop?

[@squatchbikes]

Thank you, excited to be making them again. Owners usually at the shop

[@AL-sd5cs]

I’ve been following Zerode bikes for a while now, they have positioned themselves well with the Pinion system getting more attention now with the MGU and the improvement with the Smart Shift, the question everyone keeps asking is when will we see a Zerode MGU!!? The Nicolai MGU looks built like a train but I’m sure Zerode is going to be a lighter stealthier version based on their existing frames.

[@squatchbikes]

I'm sure we are just at the tip of the iceberg

[@trailshreds]

I own a zerode and i find the climbing performance frustratingly bad, would you describe the climbing performance of yours as such or not? Thanks!

[@tigerbalm666]

Motorcycles has been using belts for over 15 years!

[@squatchbikes]

Sure have

[@joshuaanothereraseddad]

True "motorcycles" have used belts for decades, but you won't find them on offroad bikes. Theres a number of reasons why belt drive is not a reliable option for dirtbikes and other all-terrain wehicles. There's plenty of material on the interweb that discuss them. Now, I'm not saying that there isn't room for a belt drivetrain in the MTB realm just saying it's not viable for dirtbikes and the like.

[@drumandbassob0007]

my next bike will have the pinion gearbox i hate messing around with derailleurs, walking across a stream to save my derailleur tho, thats a alien concept its wet all year round in the UK

[@bullit4x]

Stoked you guys are close to me (I’m on beech mtn). Now I have no excuse to come see you guys about this bike. I WANT ONE!!! But I have questions. I don’t want a grip shift. So do I have to get the smart shift? Or can my trusty old XT shifter work? Smart shift is another 600 bucks. I guess if I’m getting a 7000 dollar frame I shouldn’t cry.

[@squatchbikes]

Yeah you're not to far at all, come on down. We've only built and sold smart shift versions. No an XT shifter will not work.

[@bullit4x]

@@squatchbikes yeah. I did some research. Smart shift it is then.

[@mtbr1963]

😂what you mean, walking across the water. I love riding across water crossings. I'm starting to think harder about the Zerode bike.

[@squatchbikes]

You should, you would love it 😀

[@petedog9581]

One of the biggest issues with a big cassette, chain, and derailleur is that all that weight is weight behind you, instead of under your hips. The only complaint I have heard with Pinion drivetrains is that there is neutral, rather than positive engagement on tech climbs... Like a slight hesitation. Never ridden one, but I have seen plenty of review. Great vid, riding and rig.

[@squatchbikes]

Exactly, the weight is where it needs to be. We've not noticed hesitation, it's a tech eating machine you would love it.

[@petedog9581]

@@squatchbikes I have a 2023 Rocky Mountain Instinct carbon. A trail bike is all I need, but I do notice the rear weight of that 12 speed cassette/derailleur on slower speed bunnyhops and endo turns. I'm pretty damn content all in all, but I want to demo one of these.

[@jeremybub]

Do you have a size large in stock and can you ship to California?

[@PatrickLooney-f9x]

We sure do! Large Katipo in the same tan color you see here, Fox float x2 and the smart shift box ready to go! And of course we will ship to you!

[@censorshipBS]

Where does tbe battery go ? 😂❤

[@PatrickLooney-f9x]

We hid the smart shift battery in the down tube.

[@Hackmo72]

Make a hunting version of this and I'm buying one..

[@squatchbikes]

We can make that happen! There are some belt driven hardtails that would make a great bike to pedal out to hunt!

[@Hackmo72]

@@squatchbikes Needs to be a fat tire though.

[@johnnyweekend]

Let me give you a great hypothetical problem with this bike. You've put 5k miles on the gearbox and has been problem free. You go on a weekly epic ride that puts you 20 miles from the nearest trailhead and you have no cell reception. You're riding along when all of a sudden the gearbox seizes up. Pedals will not turn. It's 3pm and you are officially f*cked. All because you wanted to pedal river crossings without wanting to lube your chain every so often? News flash, river crossings destroy suspension pivot bearings, are you not gonna "re-lube" those? Have you guys ever opened up a pinion gearbox box? Do you know how many moving parts are in there? Do you really think moondust will never find its way in there? Then you obviously have never ridden in moondust, its non existant in Brevard so maybe not. Everything breaks eventually under a hard demanding rider. Its only a matter of when. Sure, if you ride 12 miles in Pisgah twice a week then this bike would probably be great for 3 years. But for riders that ride on real mountains in the middle of nowhere, I'll always choose a chain and derailleur since it can be fixed or at least fixed enough to get you home. Great for the casual but not for me.

[@brentnoisette3819]

this does not happen. I live in a really dusty area and the "moon dust" baby powder does not make it inside. Probably the biggest fear is breaking the belt. I have done it and I still do not carry a spare. Dust does cause the belt to make noises though. I ride the bike hard and do several enduro races and even some DH races on it per year. It is damn near perfect because it does not break. No fear of bashing the derailleur on rocks or logs. So no it is not only for the casual rider.

[@johnnyweekend]

@brentnoisette3819 The biggest fear is that one of the many gears in the box goes bad or seizes. I'm not getting a bike that I can't fix on the trail. Shit breaks. Nothing is foolproof. The only difference is you'll feel like a fool when that belt breaks or the gears fry and you're way out in the mountains with no reception. Aside from that, the drag and noise that they make just aren't worth it for me on that alone. I'm glad you're happy and having fun, though 👍

[@brentnoisette3819]

@@johnnyweekend So I will tell you this. When my belt broke it was on a climb and I was riding with 9 other guys and nobody thought any different of me. But I'm in Mexico and people are different here. I moved to Mexico from Atlanta and used to run the 3rd Coast Enduro Series. Actually promoted a couple of races in Pisgah. Even owned a shop in the Atlanta area. So I know my way around a bike and know how to ride. The gearbox drag issue is non existent. Noise? Yeah, no more than a chain derailleur set up. Durability though is where it is at. I'm not trying to convince you just get you to open your mind a little. Keep on shredding whatever you are riding and do not knock the gearbox just because it is different. I actually ride both every week and still prefer the gearbox.

[@johnnyweekend]

@brentnoisette3819 I ride a Mullet Peacemaker. And have been riding it since 2019, before the UCI changed there rules which led to everyone coming out with a mixed wheel bike and calling it a Mullet. I ride this bike because of the geometry and because I'll never need to replace the bearings. Being one of the first ones to be on a mixed wheel bike before it became a "trend", I consider myself very open minded. I believe a single pivot with a modern shock is superior then the outdated and patent expired suspension linkages that are out there. I'm a minimalist and believe mechanical engineering is easiest and least restrictive way from A to B. I'm not discounting the gearbox because it's different, as stated for what I currently ride. I discount it because when it fails, I won't be able to repair it. It's that simple. The Zerode that I demode felt sluggish, slow, made a crap ton of noise and I felt resistance when pedaling. Maybe it was the gearbox, maybe it wasn't. Regardless, I don't want the added weight, drag, noise and unknowns of when it fails or a belt breaks. I'm in Utah and go on 20-30 mile rides. Having something that can't be fixed on the trail is an immediate disqualifier, and hearing Pat saying he loves it so he can cross creaks is comical to me, which is why I commented in the first place. Atlanta has nothing to ride so you're not impressing me there.. unless you're headed up to Jared's Place every weekend but still, you can't get the 2,500' in climbing that riders like me desire. Anyone can own a bike shop, anyone can start a bike company and put some fancy marketing on it to be successful. I don’t drink the coolaid of gearboxes and I strongly believe simpler is better. Gearboxes are not simple. They're heavy and complex while unable to be repaired when out on the trail. They're super reliable until they aren't. And when that time comes, I don't want to be in the mountains with a bike that won't get me home.