Zerode Taniwha Trail Review - 2019 Bible of Bike Tests

[@b-manz]

Zerode have the best suspension not least because physics is on their side (unsprung weight etc). The gearbox makes total sense for weight placement and maintenance. Shifting under load is not an issue because you can shift gear without pedalling and a split second pause in power allows for multiple changes REALLY fast. In my first ride had no issues adapting to grip shift and the bike tracked so well it was as if I was riding a different track. The speed difference and confidence was incredible. If you want to impress your friends on the downhills this is the bike. 29” ( Katipo) and Mullets in the line up now too.

[@StrUspeedy38racer]

Keep this in mind, Zerode is a company of less then 10 people.

[@trailfork7815]

they handmake the bikes or have someone manufacture it?

[@misfits-of-war9970]

@@trailfork7815 same company that makes Santa cruz. It's mainly one guy Rob with a financial backer so I would say 2 guys.

[@trailfork7815]

@@misfits-of-war9970 no wonder the design language of the frame is similar to a santacruz, only the linkage and geometry is different if the rebranded it to a santacruz I doubt anyone would notice a difference apart from the gearbox

[@b-manz]

Ian Wilkinson Santa Cruz? Zerode has nothing to do with them.

[@b-manz]

Very small company, made up of riders that are faster downhill than all of us commenting here... they know their stuff.

[@blakevk]

These guys are doing something the big boys can't even touch!!! Such a great bike!!

[@hiro111]

I feel like the next generation of gearboxes will be fantastic for a trail bike. Reduce the drag, move to an electronic trigger and this is perfect. The result would be a bombproof drivetrain with nothing exposed that offers enormous range, shifts instantly and puts all of the weight low in the center of the frame. Also, suspension kinematics are much easier to dial when you're working with what is effectively a single speed. This is unlikely to be cheap, of course.

[@mtbboy1993]

I can still do all that on any bike, It just takes some getting used , to get the timing and balance point right. this bike will just make it easier, with the gear box in in the centre.

[@shayne131]

Get the electronic shifting sorted and the Pinion gearboxes are the future! I vote derailleurs are dead! Come on Shimano bye Pinion and full send with them!

[@zacka161]

Shayne Monea there’s two issues with pinions. Shifting and drag. Fix the shifting still need to fix the drag

[@axiomic]

@@zacka161 make it an ebike !!

[@TheMoreWeExplore]

I was totally sold on gearboxes on paper... but when I rode it, the drag was just too exhausting.

[@b-manz]

The More We Explore if you are doing cross country stuff and want ultimate speed up old school is likely better. I can’t tell the difference when out for a normal ride.

[@chawkins45ify]

Not more Nickelback shirts!

[@dalelakusta8143]

she did that because of the comments last time. I respect her trolling all of you!

[@flow2tech]

@@dalelakusta8143 fuck Ya! She owned it! 👍

[@MaQuGo119]

She should own a kitchen and make me a sandwich

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

Going with the chain probably saves the price a bit, but such a wasted opportunity

[@chm1701]

I love the idea of this bike, but the shifter is nowhere near to where it needs to be. When they mentioned electronic shifting however, then I thought that would be a revelation. This would be a change that would make it even more appealing to me.

[@b-manz]

Chris Morris have you ridden one?

[@mtbboy1993]

is it possible to sue oval ring? it's a must for me. round rings give knee pain.

[@Bikemagazine]

Yes, the chain tensioner is sprung and has plenty of swing to handle an oval ring.

[@mtbboy1993]

@@Bikemagazine lets hope a better shifter would come, I heard the rumours and claims, but no official statement.

[@Chretze]

@@Bikemagazine +Johannes Nilsen There's NO WAY POSSIBLE to make use of an oval ring on a Pinion gearbox. The reason is that the main ring does not turn at the same rate as you pedal. That's the whole point, the gears are shifted between the pedals so that the ratio between turning the pedals versus turns of the output ring are adjusted. Higher gear means the main ring turns faster than you pedal, lower gear means it turns slower. Oval rings only work one by X drive trains or single speeders, or any other system where the cranks are directly connected to the main ring. That's the only drawback I see on a Pinion gearbox...

[@tristanwwsd]

@@Chretze So I guess then the fix is an oval geared pinion box. Add that to the list of complaints. But I want one.

[@b-manz]

Johannes Nilsen have you tried it? Surprising how well it works.

[@johhnybravo2805]

Those Nickelback shirts take away all credibility SMH!!!

[@flow2tech]

She was trolling yo! I dug it

[@oskarskates]

that manual at the end tells me shes more than capable at riding a bike.

[@slickrock1371]

The question that nobody ever addresses with Pinion 9sp or 12sp: how are the steps from one gear to the next?

[@elliotlandry7409]

12speed is 17% each gear

[@slickrock1371]

@@elliotlandry7409 Thanks. I've seen that number, but how does that relate to derailleur system? Is it like skipping three cogs, or?

[@elliotlandry7409]

@@slickrock1371 depends on the cassette cogs . you can calculate the % in between 2 cogs with simple math. let'S take 10T to 12T : 10/12 = 0.83 , 1 - 0.83 = 17% increase

[@slickrock1371]

@@elliotlandry7409 Thanks for the math help. Skipping from a 10t to a 12t is no big deal, but with the 9sp Pinion having so much gear reduction, I wondered how big the steps were where too big of a jump might not work for a rider's legs. In my view, instead of speaking in terms of percentages, Pinion needs to equate their steps between gears with the steps between cogs in a typical 34/11 system.

[@elliotlandry7409]

@@slickrock1371 well I have myself a box three prime9 that does a jump from 42 to 50 and I don't feel it's too big of a jump

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

I don't understand why effigear can use thumb shift with belt dive and pinion can't

[@smooothyyy]

because they´re build differently. pinion is completly different to effigear

[@garycaruso4883]

What happened to Effigear? looked like a good system, no news in a year or two..??

[@smooothyyy]

Its french... maybe thats why :O

[@herbertzielinski8505]

@@smooothyyy French Vs German? I know who I'm backing...

[@smooothyyy]

@@herbertzielinski8505 yeah pinion is great :)

[@MloVisual]

the guy with the nickleback shirt needs to put on something more appropriate

[@TheBikeRoom]

Would be a Winner in the muddy glupe of the Worst Welsh Winter Weather. Tani Wha?

[@jbonexc1725]

I hear that Butt!

[@marcello8823]

Taniwha 29er is comming? Like megatower...

[@b-manz]

MDCB -001 Katipo!

[@b-manz]

Frame sizing... get a bigger one if you want more reach. Duh.

[@rickc2222]

Doubling down on that nickelback.....lol. PS I love Nine Inch Nails too, those guys are awesome!

[@energ8t]

What’s a “skoash”? 😂

[@linkinpark4life0220]

Good review and great Kiwi accent 😂

[@freddiesanke64]

Seems these two dudes are not drinking anymore

[@RATBURL]

Nice riding shirt 👔😏

[@bugboy152000]

#BIKEMAG grip shift 🤮

[@MaQuGo119]

Gearbocs byk

[@thomasmikkelsen9111]

I can open a mayonnaise jar lol... I bet you can! sorry I know its tasteless but couldn't help it.