Good point on "if they introduced a cassette style system today if gearbox drivetrains were the norm" I would love a ride on a Zerode to feel the difference.
Thank you so much for your videos, top quality! I really love the way you review this bike. I can't stand it when other Bike-reviewers just spend 75% of the videos talking about the Gearbox and why they don't like it after riding it for 1 Day... it really steals the spotlight off the zherodes. Especially the Katipo with it's modern geometry and innovative company deserves an equally good review. It would be really nice, if you could get your hands on a Belt-driven Katipo and make a video about it. ps: Breaking wheels can partially be prevented by running tire inserts, my favourite: Nukeproof ARD. inexpensive, simple to install and gets the Job done. Plus the tire tends to fold less when running lower pressures or bigger tires (I bet you already know all of this ^.^) +1 subscriber
Tristan Ulreich thx for the kind words bro! Yes, I thought I better separate the gearbox review into another video. Reviewers moaning about how bad they are at shifting is a gripe of mine too. If they jumped on a works motocross bike would they moan about having to shift with their foot? 🤣 stay safe bro.
@@SteveGouldChewy Yeah that is really annoying. I really liked the annology of gearboxes beeing the status quo and derailleurs are the new kid on the block. People would really go ape-shit XD. Gearboxes are the future, It's just a question of when. I hope you crunch out more cool videos, stay safe mate!! :D
Excellent (and humorous) review! I have a Taniwha Mullet coming next week and am stoked to give it a try on a full suspension bike. I have the Pinion and Gates drivetrain on my Pinion 600x hardtail and love the bulletproof performance, low maintenance, quietness and shifting. I think this is the drivetrain of the future (unless some other game changer is invented...) and think your humorous point about this vs. traditional cassette/derailleur system is right on!
This bike is blowing my mind lately. As a pro Enduro rider, I want to just say goodbye the the mainstream brands I always ride and get one of these. If I had play money, I would own one and ride it to the limits. Awesome video very awesome. Thanks!
Collin Timmermans thank you for the kind words. Put it on your wish list. An ideal bike for an Enduro racer. I just put the belt kit on it so ill bang out a review of that once I get some dirt to it.
@@varovae I live 45min from Zerode HQ. I paid what it states on their website. The published full build price gets you top end. Got the bike yesterday. Had a good ride today and had some big smiles sitting behind others grinding through their cassette. The gearbox changes so nice.
Great video, thank you. Can you please tell me the difference between the Enduro editions of both the Taniwha and Katipo? They have both frames listed in their Enduro category :? I was under the impression that Taniwha was their trail bike and Katipo was their Enduro bike, but now they have the Taniwha listed as both. EDIT: Is it just that the Taniwha is a 27.5 bike and the Katipo is a 29er?
Great review Steve! i was after a Taniwha but the geo looks a bit outdated, something that makes me wonder is the sizing of this one. My height is 173cm - 5ft 8", so i'm on the shorter side of the 460 reach one...would you recomend it? PS: Subd to your channel!
Thx pal 👊🏻 I think it depends on your riding style. My buddy is the same height as you and rides a large 29er in both DH and a enduro and he is fine. The bigger bike and wheel for you will be more business than party so if your looking to shralp and flick go the smaller option, if you want speed go the bigger bike 🤘🏻
Hey Steve, how far are these Zerode Progressed from the G2 models? I understand they were sold as frames only and left to people to build. Any chance rrp if these weapons? Great review, cheers
Thanks bro. As far as concept goes, it's fairly similar as it leverages simple physics to improve suspension performance. However, fit and finish on the current models are on parr with any top brand bikes available. You can view the range and pricing on their site zerodebikes.com/ Ride On.
Hey Steve, thanks for the reply. My 12year old son just got the G2 model for his 12th birthday, bit of a spoil moment as it was a complete surprise. He used it for the first time at a downhill park called Boomerang Farm outlook riders on the Gold Coast, one of the first things he said was how quite and steady it is. It is a rare bike and certainly turns few heads. Rob at Zerode was very helpful supplying technical information as well. Love to see you do more about the Zerode as in background etc. thanks again, ride man!
Ahh right! Yes I know the place. I’m from the Gold Coast originally. His feedback of the bike sounds spot on. Best wishes for his birthday. Sounds like an ideal gift to me! Enjoy and Ride On.
Hey Steve just got a Katipo because of you and I absolutely love it. However I just have a few questions about upgrades. - The first thing I did was put on a 2nd hand Storia V3. It came with a 475 spring which is convenient because that's what the calculator recommended at 30% sag however I'm just wondering what spring and sag you settled on. - Also the bike came with a Factory 36. I like the way the fork rides however I just really dislike the look of the Kashima especially when its pair with the Storia. So what would you do: A) Just stick to the 36 B) get a performance Elite 38at 20% off but have to wait till may for it to be back in stock C) Just spend more and get that Beautiful EXT ERA at the moment I'm leaning towards getting the era because I keep hearing comments saying that it's the only fork that can match the performance of the shock.
Hey Leo! That’s great, congratulations. For your reference I’m 75kg and on the 400lbs spring. I tend to use sag as a reference point to compare changes rather than as a setting if that makes any sense. For the fork. I do like the idea of the ERA as it has good initial reviews and EXT front & rear stokes my OCD nicely. Sadly I have not been able to try one so I can’t give you a definitive answer on that one but I’ll throw another option at you which is the Fox 38 at 160mm travel. I’ve tried a bunch of setups and this is by far my favourite.
@@SteveGouldChewy thanks for the reply. The reason I wanted the spring rate you settled on was because I've heard that the EXT spring calculator often recommends springs that are alot lighter than you need. So using your data I was able to work out that I probably need to buy a spring closer to 550lbs. Also do you feel like the 38 is over damped? That's the consensus I've been getting from alot of people and that's why I'll probably go for the ERA.
This bike is on my list. Not sure why I did not see this review before. I test rode one at the 2024 Sea Otter Classic. Instantly fell in love with it. I have an Ibis Ripley now and it is a very good bike. I am wondering if I can spec the Zerode with Fox step cast forks snd some DT Swiss New HyperWheels. I want to get the total weight close to (or less than) my Ripley.
Great review as is the Pinion GB review. I am thinking of the 140 mm trail version and less burly build. Do you think this will change it from a grind up the hills and rip down bike you describe to something more suited to long flowing trails with less frequent steep techy bits? I like long dirt rides and some will be on fire roads but also want the advantages of the GB.
InRose Style Rose Sinnmamon thanks for the kind words bro. Yes I do. My build is about as DH orientated as I can make it as our trails are extremely rough and natural ( as per the little riding clip ). If you are on any sort of groomed or flow trail a 140mm build with trail tires would be a super good option!
I've ridden it set up trail with the 34 and dpx and the 36 and x2 in Rotorua (NZ). Not much weight saved going trail over enduro, I think. Depends on where you ride. I went enduro in the end as it rode up the access roads fine.
@@duncan-mcrae Thanks for the advice. My local trails are definitely not as rough as yours though chunky stuff exists within 100 km of where I live. Basically any XC or light trail bike will work but I am keen to try the Pinion. Can you compare its access rd climbing and long distance rolling terrain performance with better known brands?
@@simonfisher1756 I saw a TH-cam clip of some guy who tours tens of thousands of kms on a pinion and wouldn't do it any other way. I just got my bike today. Amazing. So happy with it. Took it out for a ride with the family; not trails. Some steep road climbs and the gearbox easily let me climb them. The easy gear felt like I could climb a wall; I felt no appreciable drag. I have the C1.9XR gearbox. There is a little more noise on the 9th gear than the rest, but the demo bike I rode didn't run like that so I guess it can be chalked up to being brand new and needing some time wearing in.
Eli Gilfedder that’s a good question bro. I haven’t tried the 9 speed but I think it would suit my riding. If you want an all rounder to do anything the 12 speed is probably the go. If you stay on your local trails then the 9 is prob a nice option.
My post is 185mm drop. Not sure of my inseam but im lanky as. Its about right taking into consideration the frame doesn’t allow me to drop it as fas as id like. My pick for a dropper post at the moment is the OneUp V2. Low stack. Good price. Long travel.
CT Singletrack thanks buddy. Its in a slightly different iteration now it has a Fox 38 on the front and Ive got a belt drive kit on the way so ill work on getting a few laps on that in a variety of conditions/situations and bang out a review. 🤘🏻
It’s not a snappy climber if you are trying to accelerate but if you are grinding up it’s no difference. My build is pretty DH oriented so it could certainly be made to be a better climber if that’s what you are into. Mine weight 37lbs. DH tires, tire inserts, Fox 38, coil shock etc etc.
Trying to decide between this or the Nicolai Geometron with Pinion gearbox... The Zerode will end up being an extra £1000 after import compared to the stated price online, where Nicolai is within the EU. Plus even though it sounds supple, 160mm seems short travel compared to some of the long travel 29ers offering up to 180.
Thanks for review, but what could you say about rear shock position in comparing with other's enduro bikes? I think Zerode has shock position too high them some of the other bike brands, isn't it?
Hello ..I just tried the L Tahniwa....I'm 181cm..great bike. Currently on Nomad 4 Med with extreme v3 best shock ever. I'm selling it and cannot decide between the Tahniwa Katipo and Deviate 27,5 Guide..have you ever tried it..How does it compare? I loved the playfulness of zerode and the lightness of the back wheel..Thank you..you have the best reviews!
Sandra Ržen thanks for your kind words. Nope, haven’t tried the Deviate yet. I’d probably lean toward a Zerode as they have been making bikes for a good while now and I slightly prefer the look of the Zerode too.
Sandra Ržen How tall are you? Zerode has a size chart ( which I personally disagree with ) but it’s worth a look. I always err on the larger sizes if you’re between sizes.
Hi there. Loved the vids. A newbie who lives in Kam Tin and looking for a good 2nd bike for the hk trails and wonder what and where I can get one. Thanks.
@@SteveGouldChewy buzzed him but don’t think he is the importer of Santa Cruz. I am looking for a large tall boy black a kit with dropper. 2nd hand if possible but new can be considered.
Best sales trick ever. " What if I had the market and the existing product tried to come in- what would the people say ?" Good one ,sir. I'll use that one in the future when considering my products- thx More to the point : I love the idea of the Pinion gearbox (made by a Porsche engineer ) Both the Zerode and the Nicolai brands
cracotator Alutech is the brand. Teibon is the model. It’s a 2016. It’s a German brand. I got it slightly used in 2018 on Pinkbike (saved a lot of money). Had it built up over the winter. Put in over 1000km in 2019. Having a lot of fun now in 2020! Love the bike !
Long commercial. The Zerode, is unique. However...What is the average price$ of repairing a gearbox, when it fails? And what are the maintenance issues of such a box?
Anything. Everything. Nothing. Lol, yeah its hard to pick holes in this thing and testing frames is hard as there are an infinite amount of variables that can be fitted to it. I haven’t looked into the warranty experience or the repair / replacement cost convenience of the gearbox which may be a good follow up to this video. Thanks for the suggestion bro.
One rule, if you asking you can’t afford it. service in pinion factory just send it in 199€ full service factory testing +2 year factory warranty. But I like more P series with 5 year warranty and cnc machined body and cranks.
dickachu thx bro. I agree, I also like the P series with the aluminium casing. The gear cable cover is way better and the box is actually quieter too! Thx for chiming in.
@@SteveGouldChewy C series were developed as economy more affordable version. When P series came to market, many customers and manufacturers asking for more affordable cheaper version. So Pinion cut some corners to drop price to keep buyer happy. 1000€ for C line or 1500€ for P series in the end not so big price for higher quality longer warranty and sexy CNC body and cranks in size from 155-160-165-170-175- 180mm. Sold separately for 219-250€ if you doesn’t like stock 175 cranks. 5 years on P series pinion Nicolai with same belt and sprockets. And I hate my other bike just because of chain problems.
On the verge of buying one of these but wonder how it compares to the likes of the new Specialized Enduro or Capra going down. I read in a review this bike does well in bumps but in larger square edge hits others perform better as the Zerodes single pivot means it doesn't have much of a rear axle path. Also looking at the leverage ratios for the Taniwha it doesn't look too progessive only going from 2.7 - 2.2. A Capra for comparison goes from 3.4 - 2.0 and ideal for a coil. Also is 160mm enough these days? So many questions but so few people seem to own one or are active on the forums. It's the rear suspension that is the selling point for me on this bike, if others have now caught up or are more capable it doesn't have much else going for it. A Nicolai Geometron with gearbox would be an interesting comparison, except that would be horst link vs single pivot.
Dan K good point. Thx bro. The Katipo certainly props up better in the mid stroke than the Taniwha and the overall performance of the kinematics seems to be an entire re-think of how it rides on the trail. The Taniwha is a solid performer and a great all rounder, though I never considered it to be a fast bike whereas the Katipo is fast and stable everywhere. I think if you’re comparing the different suspension designs to one another of a whistler style drop or a single square edge hit then possibly the more complex designs might come out in front but when there is multiple hits proper gnar then having a derailleur and cassette on the back simply cannot compare not matter what the design is.
@@SteveGouldChewy This is interesting to know there is more going on than wheel size between the two. Yes I guess that makes sense, it's the rhythm or speed in which the suspension can prepare for consecutive bumps rather than a single big hit, I guess this bike excels at braking bumps then, I know people mention unsprung weight but I thought it was possibly also due to chain and derailleur clutch tension also so expected good big hit performance also. How would you say the feel of the suspension compares to an actual downhill bike, does it have that same supportive but somehow floaty feeling or am I expecting too much from an enduro bike? I'm 5'8 but trying to squeeze myself onto a Katipo as the geo still comes up smaller than what Geometron recommends for me anyway. The other optikn was a Capra 29 as I have an Elevensix all ready to go on it. It's the same length as the shock on the Katipo and I would put it on there, only thing is PUSH told me there is no demand for a tune for this bike so they probably won't end up having one for it.
Yep, the clutch system on a derailleur detracts from the small bump compliance also. Thats feel you get from a dialed in DH bike is present in the Zerodes for sure. I remember first sending a gnarly section on the Taniwha and thinking it was almost as good as the V10. It had that same stability but in a shorter travel bike. And it blew away the performance of my Nomad.
@@SteveGouldChewy So Chris Porter from Geometron has tried his best to vonvince me gearbox bijes are unreliable, have poor shifting and that his EXT Geometron has better suspension than the Zerode...Still he hadn't convinced me his is the better bike. One thing I am curious of is the Elevensix tune, I have an 11-6 here in 230x65 but PUSH only offer a tune for the Taniwha. Have you tried the PUSH on the Katipo and would you know if a different tune would be needed?
Thats a bit like saying a ferrari towing a caravan has a better engine than a porsche.........well if its towing a caravan then it doesn’t compare. I have only tried the Push VS the EXT on my Nomad. They were similar. Both very good. It seems strange that Push ( a boutique company ) wont tune a shock to the Katipo...... I had to send EXT the kinematics via Rob at Zerode and they came up with the tune for it. I cant comment as to weather it would work or not. I’d say it would be in to ball park but that defeats the purpose of a custom order shock. You may as well use a broad spectrum shock like a fox dhx2 or a DVO. Nicolai are nice and ive always agreed with their geometry and sizing but how a bike shifts vs how the suspension performs is a no brainer decision for me.
this video is for me ! i know all the roadies, not just Lance the Liar ! i love all bikes! i fix them for free where i live, and wash them too. and i teach a clinic on the street outside my house on sundays ! i love bikes !
@@SteveGouldChewy we'll get consumer-friendly pricing one day. I'm sure Shimano must have a frame-mounted gearbox ready to go. They'll launch it the second their Excel doc says they'll make more money than not doing so. I'm more surprised I haven't seen a combination motor and gearbox for eBikes yet.
The way forward for mountain bike drive trains. I though Shimano were working on a gearbox. Seems to have gone a bit quiet. How are these guys doing it but no Shimano?! :-/
Feudal Lord zerode have just launched a gates belt drive system. Its still uses a tensioner ( so does a moto ). Id like to review it to see if any downsides. Ive heard they may have a little more drag as the belt needs a bit more ‘wrap’ around the sprocket and it has a larger contact point and can be squeaky in certain conditions. Otherwise I totally agree, belts are the future 🤘🏻
Yeah that seat tube height is just silly. It's probably just to stop someone running a short seat post with too little insertion and cracking their frame. Maaaybe to keep a thoughtlessly placed saddle out of the back wheel on full compression.
I guess if I had to get one it had to be the 505 XL but my new enduro bike has 515 mm reach, and has 455 chainstay so it's quite a long and big bike but at 181cm it fits me nicely, I am glad I did not go for any second hand bike like Transition Sentinel with 470, that would definitely not be the reach I wanted. So Zerode needs to have more sizes. I just could not find a bike that would be the reach I wanted and have the features I wanted apart from NicolaI/Geometron G1. it had good reputation, so I think I made the right decision but I will see, I will ride it hard, so time will tell.
@@th_js 515 reach fits me nice, I run saddle with tip over BB, I use Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals, with mid foot position, so I sit ore forward on the bike, so I calculated the reach I wanted in a ball park, and it turned out nice. I use 185mm Bike yoke Divine dropper post, 33mm Renthal apex stem. I definitely would not want any shorter reach. Flickr album of the bike: flic.kr/s/aHsmJErnsU
@@th_js seat tube angle is at 78,75° according to TECH SHEET en.nicolai-bicycles.com/frames/g1/ docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vTRjaqKHseps-MRu6fK_ZK7W5MiWtrHsUC3qD3jNJPzluLyCmkWYcnLpRzDeydNhQMZc8tSzODOP9Y6/pubhtml
Mukiza Maximus it may be an option but I guess with materials, R&D etc it would cost 70000 euros 🤣 Plus the weight is only about 300 grams more than a traditional cassette and derailleur and being where it is really isn’t an issue. If anything I prefer a bit more weight around the cranks. It makes for a much more stable bike.
o my lordy ! 35 lbs! i only weigh 120 ! my road bike is 6 kilos. i love the idea of these gearbox based bikes though. i just doubt i could move it. ha ha ! i have chicken wing arms and skinny legs. i am a climber. not sure i could be brave enough to ride where you do ! then again, no traffic, right?
@@SteveGouldChewy i am not familiar with the term club, but i guess i believe you, sort of. i am guessing it feels light in the sense a huge truck does descending. not light, just a different kind of light, right? i have a TT bike heavier but faster. once moving it blazes like a shark in the water but my Tarmac responds like a jackrabbit ! Horses for courses I guess, but I am far too old for trails now, but i still love watching you kids rip up the trails !
If German forums don’t lie, pinion guys originally from Porsche R&D so I think they know something about intellectual property protection. They officially informed what pinion internals produced on same factory with same standards as Porsche gearboxes I just wondering why not better, machined P series gearbox with machined cranks???? Also you can always update cranks for longer or shorter 165-170-175mm own a pinion Nicolai for 5 years, and now like to get some Zerode.
Grant Ormsby thx buddy, I appreciate that. It’s really a game changing bike. I try to be as objective as possible in my reviews but if you ask me in person it’s a no brainer. Other brands are going to have to ditch the derailleurs before too long to keep up.
Sigue siendo un atraso, el cableado exterior. Lástima, que no tengáis en cuenta ése detalle, para una bicicleta tan buena. Un cero para el ingeniero, que la ha diseñado.
@@SteveGouldChewy, wtf are you talking about? The Katipo is a native NZ spider, and a Taniwha is a water creature of Maori myth and legend. Please do some research if you are doing a review.
Fair play. You got me after a nap so I was cranky. In my defence, I made this review before I had heard a kiwi pronounce Katipo as I was one of the first riders to receive one. And he could have called it ‘The Wellington’ or ‘The Silver Fern’ or something easy for us non natives.
D Kennedy true. I was one of the first to get a Katipo and literally never heard the word said until after the review. I think most people watching are more concerned about how the bike performs rather than how it’s pronounced. A bit like a Husqvarna in America 🤣
Good point on "if they introduced a cassette style system today if gearbox drivetrains were the norm" I would love a ride on a Zerode to feel the difference.
Thanks bro!
@@SteveGouldChewy can you pronounce “Katipo” correctly now?
[Edit]. Aargh and “taniwha” !
@@superyamagucci I’m Australian so probably not 🤣
@@SteveGouldChewy Fair enough ha ha
The nearest I can type it is Cat-a-po and Tanny-far.
@@superyamagucci thx bro. I’ve had it explained to me a few times since this video came out 🤣
Thank you so much for your videos, top quality!
I really love the way you review this bike. I can't stand it when other Bike-reviewers just spend 75% of the videos talking about the Gearbox and why they don't like it after riding it for 1 Day... it really steals the spotlight off the zherodes. Especially the Katipo with it's modern geometry and innovative company deserves an equally good review.
It would be really nice, if you could get your hands on a Belt-driven Katipo and make a video about it.
ps: Breaking wheels can partially be prevented by running tire inserts, my favourite: Nukeproof ARD. inexpensive, simple to install and gets the Job done. Plus the tire tends to fold less when running lower pressures or bigger tires (I bet you already know all of this ^.^) +1 subscriber
Tristan Ulreich thx for the kind words bro! Yes, I thought I better separate the gearbox review into another video. Reviewers moaning about how bad they are at shifting is a gripe of mine too. If they jumped on a works motocross bike would they moan about having to shift with their foot? 🤣 stay safe bro.
@@SteveGouldChewy Yeah that is really annoying. I really liked the annology of gearboxes beeing the status quo and derailleurs are the new kid on the block. People would really go ape-shit XD.
Gearboxes are the future, It's just a question of when.
I hope you crunch out more cool videos, stay safe mate!! :D
Wow, where has this chanel been? Found it when searching for Pinion info. You're a crackup bro.
greengonzonz thanks heaps bro 🤘🏻 Ride On.
Excellent (and humorous) review! I have a Taniwha Mullet coming next week and am stoked to give it a try on a full suspension bike. I have the Pinion and Gates drivetrain on my Pinion 600x hardtail and love the bulletproof performance, low maintenance, quietness and shifting. I think this is the drivetrain of the future (unless some other game changer is invented...) and think your humorous point about this vs. traditional cassette/derailleur system is right on!
Cheers for the kind words Pete 👊🏻
Enjoy the new whip and Ride On 🤘🏻
This bike is blowing my mind lately. As a pro Enduro rider, I want to just say goodbye the the mainstream brands I always ride and get one of these. If I had play money, I would own one and ride it to the limits.
Awesome video very awesome. Thanks!
Collin Timmermans thank you for the kind words. Put it on your wish list. An ideal bike for an Enduro racer. I just put the belt kit on it so ill bang out a review of that once I get some dirt to it.
@@SteveGouldChewy nice! Yeah the Gates Looks a like a huge upgrade.
Rad!
Just bought this is in grey; should have it this week. Can't wait. Went enduro with the fox 36 and x2.
Duncan McRae wicked! Enjoy bro. ( I ordered grey too.........🤣)
Ride On 🤘🏻
Hey Duncan, how much was the unit?
@@varovae zerodebikes.com/
@@varovae I live 45min from Zerode HQ. I paid what it states on their website. The published full build price gets you top end.
Got the bike yesterday. Had a good ride today and had some big smiles sitting behind others grinding through their cassette. The gearbox changes so nice.
Hi Duncan McRae, thank for the reply mate. Enjoy the bike, love to hear back 6 months long term review on this. Ride on man!
Great video, thank you. Can you please tell me the difference between the Enduro editions of both the Taniwha and Katipo? They have both frames listed in their Enduro category :? I was under the impression that Taniwha was their trail bike and Katipo was their Enduro bike, but now they have the Taniwha listed as both.
EDIT: Is it just that the Taniwha is a 27.5 bike and the Katipo is a 29er?
Thx buddy. The Katipo is 29 and the Taniwha is 27.5.
The Enduro model is 160mm travel. The Trail model is 140mm travel.
👍great vid. Nice bike. The first pinion electric mountain bike is gonna corner the market.
Great review Steve! i was after a Taniwha but the geo looks a bit outdated, something that makes me wonder is the sizing of this one. My height is 173cm - 5ft 8", so i'm on the shorter side of the 460 reach one...would you recomend it?
PS: Subd to your channel!
Thx pal 👊🏻
I think it depends on your riding style. My buddy is the same height as you and rides a large 29er in both DH and a enduro and he is fine. The bigger bike and wheel for you will be more business than party so if your looking to shralp and flick go the smaller option, if you want speed go the bigger bike 🤘🏻
Hey Steve, how far are these Zerode Progressed from the G2 models? I understand they were sold as frames only and left to people to build. Any chance rrp if these weapons? Great review, cheers
Thanks bro. As far as concept goes, it's fairly similar as it leverages simple physics to improve suspension performance. However, fit and finish on the current models are on parr with any top brand bikes available. You can view the range and pricing on their site zerodebikes.com/
Ride On.
Hey Steve, thanks for the reply. My 12year old son just got the G2 model for his 12th birthday, bit of a spoil moment as it was a complete surprise. He used it for the first time at a downhill park called Boomerang Farm outlook riders on the Gold Coast, one of the first things he said was how quite and steady it is. It is a rare bike and certainly turns few heads. Rob at Zerode was very helpful supplying technical information as well. Love to see you do more about the Zerode as in background etc. thanks again, ride man!
Ahh right! Yes I know the place. I’m from the Gold Coast originally. His feedback of the bike sounds spot on. Best wishes for his birthday. Sounds like an ideal gift to me! Enjoy and Ride On.
Hey Steve just got a Katipo because of you and I absolutely love it. However I just have a few questions about upgrades.
- The first thing I did was put on a 2nd hand Storia V3. It came with a 475 spring which is convenient because that's what the calculator recommended at 30% sag however I'm just wondering what spring and sag you settled on.
- Also the bike came with a Factory 36. I like the way the fork rides however I just really dislike the look of the Kashima especially when its pair with the Storia. So what would you do:
A) Just stick to the 36
B) get a performance Elite 38at 20% off but have to wait till may for it to be back in stock
C) Just spend more and get that Beautiful EXT ERA
at the moment I'm leaning towards getting the era because I keep hearing comments saying that it's the only fork that can match the performance of the shock.
Hey Leo! That’s great, congratulations.
For your reference I’m 75kg and on the 400lbs spring. I tend to use sag as a reference point to compare changes rather than as a setting if that makes any sense.
For the fork. I do like the idea of the ERA as it has good initial reviews and EXT front & rear stokes my OCD nicely. Sadly I have not been able to try one so I can’t give you a definitive answer on that one but I’ll throw another option at you which is the Fox 38 at 160mm travel.
I’ve tried a bunch of setups and this is by far my favourite.
@@SteveGouldChewy thanks for the reply. The reason I wanted the spring rate you settled on was because I've heard that the EXT spring calculator often recommends springs that are alot lighter than you need. So using your data I was able to work out that I probably need to buy a spring closer to 550lbs.
Also do you feel like the 38 is over damped? That's the consensus I've been getting from alot of people and that's why I'll probably go for the ERA.
Nope. I find it very good. I predict those saying it’s over damped may be under springing the fork.
This bike is on my list. Not sure why I did not see this review before. I test rode one at the 2024 Sea Otter Classic. Instantly fell in love with it. I have an Ibis Ripley now and it is a very good bike. I am wondering if I can spec the Zerode with Fox step cast forks snd some DT Swiss New HyperWheels. I want to get the total weight close to (or less than) my Ripley.
Great review as is the Pinion GB review. I am thinking of the 140 mm trail version and less burly build. Do you think this will change it from a grind up the hills and rip down bike you describe to something more suited to long flowing trails with less frequent steep techy bits? I like long dirt rides and some will be on fire roads but also want the advantages of the GB.
InRose Style Rose Sinnmamon thanks for the kind words bro.
Yes I do. My build is about as DH orientated as I can make it as our trails are extremely rough and natural ( as per the little riding clip ). If you are on any sort of groomed or flow trail a 140mm build with trail tires would be a super good option!
I've ridden it set up trail with the 34 and dpx and the 36 and x2 in Rotorua (NZ). Not much weight saved going trail over enduro, I think. Depends on where you ride. I went enduro in the end as it rode up the access roads fine.
@@duncan-mcrae Thanks for the advice. My local trails are definitely not as rough as yours though chunky stuff exists within 100 km of where I live. Basically any XC or light trail bike will work but I am keen to try the Pinion. Can you compare its access rd climbing and long distance rolling terrain performance with better known brands?
@@simonfisher1756 I saw a TH-cam clip of some guy who tours tens of thousands of kms on a pinion and wouldn't do it any other way.
I just got my bike today. Amazing. So happy with it. Took it out for a ride with the family; not trails. Some steep road climbs and the gearbox easily let me climb them. The easy gear felt like I could climb a wall; I felt no appreciable drag. I have the C1.9XR gearbox. There is a little more noise on the 9th gear than the rest, but the demo bike I rode didn't run like that so I guess it can be chalked up to being brand new and needing some time wearing in.
@@duncan-mcrae Its need abbot 500km ride-in to get all gears finally seated/polished and its will became nice and quiet.
just pedal some more km
NeatnZerose review going around. Would you recommend the 12sp or 9sp gearbox?
Eli Gilfedder that’s a good question bro. I haven’t tried the 9 speed but I think it would suit my riding. If you want an all rounder to do anything the 12 speed is probably the go. If you stay on your local trails then the 9 is prob a nice option.
Great review, can you speak to how the engagement is? I like to ratchet the cranks on techy climbs. Thanks
Stuart Horner thanks buddy! All the gearbox info is in this vid th-cam.com/video/7vPmN-ZK-N8/w-d-xo.html
Hello Steve. I realy enjoy Your Reviews. How toll are You that You riding 505 size? Regards!
KowalMTB thx very much. I’m a lanky 6’ tall ( 183cm )
@@SteveGouldChewy interesting! I'm 6'5" and ride an XL stumpjumer which is 475 like the Taniwha XL. Very attracted by the extra 30mm on the Katipo.
Great video! How tall are you and which size are you on? Just demo rode a 475 but at 6’1 not sure if I need to go for the 505. Thanks!
Thanks bro 👊🏻 im a lanky 6’ tall. I would highly recommend the 505. I had the 475 taniwha and ended up with a silly 70mm to stretch it out a bit.
Steve Gould what is the travel of your dropper post and what’s your inseam? Thanks for the info!
My post is 185mm drop. Not sure of my inseam but im lanky as. Its about right taking into consideration the frame doesn’t allow me to drop it as fas as id like. My pick for a dropper post at the moment is the OneUp V2. Low stack. Good price. Long travel.
Those pink hubs look SO good!
Ryan McLaughlin ha ha thanks buddy. Just wanted something a little different.
Well done. What a beautiful machine. Have you ever ridden one with the belt drive?
CT Singletrack thanks buddy. Its in a slightly different iteration now it has a Fox 38 on the front and Ive got a belt drive kit on the way so ill work on getting a few laps on that in a variety of conditions/situations and bang out a review. 🤘🏻
Awesome. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on that setup.
@@SteveGouldChewy When is it coming?
@@th_js In about a month I should have some time to get the video bro!
@@SteveGouldChewy That's awesome, love your videos!
Great review. I really hope seat tubes don’t get any steaper. Zerode has it spot on
Thx bro. I’m about to throw a 180mm Fox 38 in the front of it so we’ll see!
Don’t think I could ever go back to clink clunk clonk derailleurs! Love my taniwha more every ride.
Absolutely. You only need to ride someone else’s derailleur bike through some bumps to remind yourself of the darker days 🤣
Regarding climbing, is it not great due to the weight? What is the weight? My Ibis is about 30lb.
It’s not a snappy climber if you are trying to accelerate but if you are grinding up it’s no difference. My build is pretty DH oriented so it could certainly be made to be a better climber if that’s what you are into. Mine weight 37lbs. DH tires, tire inserts, Fox 38, coil shock etc etc.
off to the bank to remortgage the house!
Steve Riddle 🤣yeah they ain’t cheap!!
Trying to decide between this or the Nicolai Geometron with Pinion gearbox... The Zerode will end up being an extra £1000 after import compared to the stated price online, where Nicolai is within the EU. Plus even though it sounds supple, 160mm seems short travel compared to some of the long travel 29ers offering up to 180.
Quality video as always! As for the constructive criticism, you could try to control the echo indoors.
Thanks bro. I totally agree. I have all the audio gear but still make mistakes.....I actually filmed this three times.....
Thanks for review, but what could you say about rear shock position in comparing with other's enduro bikes? I think Zerode has shock position too high them some of the other bike brands, isn't it?
I also prefer the lower shock mounting position but It probably only effects the way it looks and not how it performs.
Hello ..I just tried the L Tahniwa....I'm 181cm..great bike. Currently on Nomad 4 Med with extreme v3 best shock ever. I'm selling it and cannot decide between the Tahniwa Katipo and Deviate 27,5 Guide..have you ever tried it..How does it compare? I loved the playfulness of zerode and the lightness of the back wheel..Thank you..you have the best reviews!
Sandra Ržen thanks for your kind words. Nope, haven’t tried the Deviate yet. I’d probably lean toward a Zerode as they have been making bikes for a good while now and I slightly prefer the look of the Zerode too.
Thank you..what about the sizing for my height..Katipo 475 or Taniwha L..is the Katipo similar.. like Taniwha BMX style..Thank you!!
Sandra Ržen How tall are you? Zerode has a size chart ( which I personally disagree with ) but it’s worth a look. I always err on the larger sizes if you’re between sizes.
@@sandrarzen2464 I'm 178 and have the Katipo 475
Just like a professional yt video defo deserves more view
Raheem Din thanks heaps bro!! 🤘🏻
Hi there. Loved the vids. A newbie who lives in Kam Tin and looking for a good 2nd bike for the hk trails and wonder what and where I can get one. Thanks.
Thx buddy. Kenneth Lam is the importer 👌🏻👌🏻
@@SteveGouldChewy cannot seem to find him on google. Would he have any 2nd hand ones? Does he have a shop?
No idea. Give him a call 9329 2780
@@SteveGouldChewy thanks mate.
@@SteveGouldChewy buzzed him but don’t think he is the importer of Santa Cruz. I am looking for a large tall boy black a kit with dropper. 2nd hand if possible but new can be considered.
Thank-you for your viiews. Given your issue with the seat tube How tall are you? Say the name Kā-tip-or ka pai.
Joe Jagusch cheers bro. Im a lanky 6’ ( 183cm )
Best sales trick ever. " What if I had the market and the existing product tried to come in- what would the people say ?" Good one ,sir. I'll use that one in the future when considering my products- thx
More to the point : I love the idea of the Pinion gearbox (made by a Porsche engineer ) Both the Zerode and the Nicolai brands
Thx bud. 👊🏻
nice review., you made great points about the pinion gear box and suspension. but cus I love Oval chainring I can't go for Pinion.
Johannes Nilsen thanks bro.
I liked the oval chainring on my old nomad too but the other zerode benefits swung it for me
I like an oval ring too, but the benefits of a gearbox far outweigh the benefits of just an oval chainring on a derailleur bike
Hi , I am thinking to buy a Katipo frame. At 6'1' what would be a more proper size ...475 or 505 ?
505 all day bro. I find bike industry sizing to be a bit small ( with very few exceptions ) I’m on a 505 ( 6’ even ) and I have a 50mm stem.
Love my enduro pinion Mtb!!!!
Mr Kevin B. The future!
What brand ? Looks like it's not that common Enduro frames with Pinion
cracotator Alutech is the brand. Teibon is the model. It’s a 2016. It’s a German brand. I got it slightly used in 2018 on Pinkbike (saved a lot of money). Had it built up over the winter. Put in over 1000km in 2019. Having a lot of fun now in 2020! Love the bike !
Long commercial. The Zerode, is unique. However...What is the average price$ of repairing a gearbox, when it fails? And what are the maintenance issues of such a box?
Anything. Everything. Nothing. Lol, yeah its hard to pick holes in this thing and testing frames is hard as there are an infinite amount of variables that can be fitted to it. I haven’t looked into the warranty experience or the repair / replacement cost convenience of the gearbox which may be a good follow up to this video. Thanks for the suggestion bro.
One rule, if you asking you can’t afford it.
service in pinion factory just send it in 199€ full service factory testing +2 year factory warranty.
But I like more P series with 5 year warranty and cnc machined body and cranks.
dickachu thx bro. I agree, I also like the P series with the aluminium casing. The gear cable cover is way better and the box is actually quieter too! Thx for chiming in.
@@SteveGouldChewy C series were developed as economy more affordable version. When P series came to market, many customers and manufacturers asking for more affordable cheaper version.
So Pinion cut some corners to drop price to keep buyer happy.
1000€ for C line or 1500€ for P series in the end not so big price for higher quality longer warranty and sexy CNC body and cranks in size from 155-160-165-170-175- 180mm. Sold separately for 219-250€ if you doesn’t like stock 175 cranks.
5 years on P series pinion Nicolai with same belt and sprockets. And I hate my other bike just because of chain problems.
dickachu very interesting. Thx.
Do you run berd spokes? If so what’s your take?
kim00gibson hey bro, nope. I run Sapim CX ray bladed spokes.
On the verge of buying one of these but wonder how it compares to the likes of the new Specialized Enduro or Capra going down. I read in a review this bike does well in bumps but in larger square edge hits others perform better as the Zerodes single pivot means it doesn't have much of a rear axle path. Also looking at the leverage ratios for the Taniwha it doesn't look too progessive only going from 2.7 - 2.2. A Capra for comparison goes from 3.4 - 2.0 and ideal for a coil. Also is 160mm enough these days? So many questions but so few people seem to own one or are active on the forums. It's the rear suspension that is the selling point for me on this bike, if others have now caught up or are more capable it doesn't have much else going for it. A Nicolai Geometron with gearbox would be an interesting comparison, except that would be horst link vs single pivot.
Dan K good point. Thx bro. The Katipo certainly props up better in the mid stroke than the Taniwha and the overall performance of the kinematics seems to be an entire re-think of how it rides on the trail. The Taniwha is a solid performer and a great all rounder, though I never considered it to be a fast bike whereas the Katipo is fast and stable everywhere. I think if you’re comparing the different suspension designs to one another of a whistler style drop or a single square edge hit then possibly the more complex designs might come out in front but when there is multiple hits proper gnar then having a derailleur and cassette on the back simply cannot compare not matter what the design is.
@@SteveGouldChewy This is interesting to know there is more going on than wheel size between the two. Yes I guess that makes sense, it's the rhythm or speed in which the suspension can prepare for consecutive bumps rather than a single big hit, I guess this bike excels at braking bumps then, I know people mention unsprung weight but I thought it was possibly also due to chain and derailleur clutch tension also so expected good big hit performance also. How would you say the feel of the suspension compares to an actual downhill bike, does it have that same supportive but somehow floaty feeling or am I expecting too much from an enduro bike? I'm 5'8 but trying to squeeze myself onto a Katipo as the geo still comes up smaller than what Geometron recommends for me anyway. The other optikn was a Capra 29 as I have an Elevensix all ready to go on it. It's the same length as the shock on the Katipo and I would put it on there, only thing is PUSH told me there is no demand for a tune for this bike so they probably won't end up having one for it.
Yep, the clutch system on a derailleur detracts from the small bump compliance also. Thats feel you get from a dialed in DH bike is present in the Zerodes for sure. I remember first sending a gnarly section on the Taniwha and thinking it was almost as good as the V10. It had that same stability but in a shorter travel bike. And it blew away the performance of my Nomad.
@@SteveGouldChewy So Chris Porter from Geometron has tried his best to vonvince me gearbox bijes are unreliable, have poor shifting and that his EXT Geometron has better suspension than the Zerode...Still he hadn't convinced me his is the better bike. One thing I am curious of is the Elevensix tune, I have an 11-6 here in 230x65 but PUSH only offer a tune for the Taniwha. Have you tried the PUSH on the Katipo and would you know if a different tune would be needed?
Thats a bit like saying a ferrari towing a caravan has a better engine than a porsche.........well if its towing a caravan then it doesn’t compare.
I have only tried the Push VS the EXT on my Nomad. They were similar. Both very good.
It seems strange that Push ( a boutique company ) wont tune a shock to the Katipo...... I had to send EXT the kinematics via Rob at Zerode and they came up with the tune for it.
I cant comment as to weather it would work or not. I’d say it would be in to ball park but that defeats the purpose of a custom order shock. You may as well use a broad spectrum shock like a fox dhx2 or a DVO.
Nicolai are nice and ive always agreed with their geometry and sizing but how a bike shifts vs how the suspension performs is a no brainer decision for me.
Can't wait until pinion or whatever evolution comes next becomes the norm on bikes drivetrain
D gmpdc yeah man for sure. I reckon gearbox e-bikes will own it once they figure it out.
Dream MTB would be one where the pinion gearbox is paired to a Brose motor.
HENK THERON ooooh yeah!!!!! Absolutely!!
this video is for me ! i know all the roadies, not just Lance the Liar ! i love all bikes! i fix them for free where i live, and wash them too. and i teach a clinic on the street outside my house on sundays ! i love bikes !
j en good man. 👌🏻
If only it's cheap :(, we need more competition!
Agree would love it to be cheaper, but get why it’s not. The gearbox is included - it’s not more expensive than a Santa Cruz.
God damn I'd love a gearbox mountain bike. Unfortunately I only have Trance money.
The Alfine on my cargo bike makes hate all of my cassette bikes.
Yeah it’s a pricey jump but certainly worth the commitment in my opinion. 🤘🏻
@@SteveGouldChewy we'll get consumer-friendly pricing one day. I'm sure Shimano must have a frame-mounted gearbox ready to go. They'll launch it the second their Excel doc says they'll make more money than not doing so.
I'm more surprised I haven't seen a combination motor and gearbox for eBikes yet.
The way forward for mountain bike drive trains. I though Shimano were working on a gearbox. Seems to have gone a bit quiet. How are these guys doing it but no Shimano?! :-/
Yes true. Shimano have a patent for some strange internal dual cassette chain shifted thing. Looks strange to me.
I don’t understand engineers, why not have a Gates system (removes the chain) with adjustable dropouts (removes chain tensioner) like a motorcycle?
Feudal Lord zerode have just launched a gates belt drive system. Its still uses a tensioner ( so does a moto ).
Id like to review it to see if any downsides. Ive heard they may have a little more drag as the belt needs a bit more ‘wrap’ around the sprocket and it has a larger contact point and can be squeaky in certain conditions. Otherwise I totally agree, belts are the future 🤘🏻
Yeah that seat tube height is just silly. It's probably just to stop someone running a short seat post with too little insertion and cracking their frame.
Maaaybe to keep a thoughtlessly placed saddle out of the back wheel on full compression.
Yeah I don’t know man. Many of these boutique brands don’t stray too far from what’s considered ‘up to date’ geometry so this is pretty normal.
I want one.
Ride Rate Review *need
I guess if I had to get one it had to be the 505 XL but my new enduro bike has 515 mm reach, and has 455 chainstay so it's quite a long and big bike but at 181cm it fits me nicely, I am glad I did not go for any second hand bike like Transition Sentinel with 470, that would definitely not be the reach I wanted.
So Zerode needs to have more sizes.
I just could not find a bike that would be the reach I wanted and have the features I wanted apart from NicolaI/Geometron G1. it had good reputation, so I think I made the right decision but I will see, I will ride it hard, so time will tell.
@@th_js 515 reach fits me nice, I run saddle with tip over BB, I use Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals, with mid foot position, so I sit ore forward on the bike, so I calculated the reach I wanted in a ball park, and it turned out nice.
I use 185mm Bike yoke Divine dropper post, 33mm Renthal apex stem.
I definitely would not want any shorter reach.
Flickr album of the bike: flic.kr/s/aHsmJErnsU
@@th_js seat tube angle is at 78,75° according to TECH SHEET
en.nicolai-bicycles.com/frames/g1/
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vTRjaqKHseps-MRu6fK_ZK7W5MiWtrHsUC3qD3jNJPzluLyCmkWYcnLpRzDeydNhQMZc8tSzODOP9Y6/pubhtml
@@mtbboy1993 Okay, sounds nice. Oh and by "STA" I mean "Seat Tube Angle".
Where exactly are you riding?
w0bblyd0inkb0ink Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong bro.
Why cant the pinion manufactures bulid the pinion in carbon
Mukiza Maximus it may be an option but I guess with materials, R&D etc it would cost 70000 euros 🤣
Plus the weight is only about 300 grams more than a traditional cassette and derailleur and being where it is really isn’t an issue. If anything I prefer a bit more weight around the cranks. It makes for a much more stable bike.
Great video! The Zerode Katipo is pronounced cat - hippo (minus the h)
Thx buddy. I should have looked into that but I was one of the first to get one so hadn’t heard it pronounced in Kiwi 👌🏻
@@SteveGouldChewy haha no worries, that fork on it looks sick!
I hate drop out misalignment. Pinion gear box is tough!
YEEEWWWWWW 😎
Enduro Shredders thx bro 🤘🏻
2:52 hahahhahah i died there 🤣🤣🤣
🤘🏻🤣
What’s the weight in KG?
17.1kg buddy. Can build them much lighter but light bikes ride horribly in the jank. 🤘🏻
o my lordy ! 35 lbs! i only weigh 120 ! my road bike is 6 kilos. i love the idea of these gearbox based bikes though. i just doubt i could move it. ha ha ! i have chicken wing arms and skinny legs. i am a climber. not sure i could be brave enough to ride where you do ! then again, no traffic, right?
j en it rides light if that makes any sense but you certainly need to carefully select your ‘club’ with so many bike travel options these days.
@@SteveGouldChewy i am not familiar with the term club, but i guess i believe you, sort of. i am guessing it feels light in the sense a huge truck does descending. not light, just a different kind of light, right? i have a TT bike heavier but faster. once moving it blazes like a shark in the water but my Tarmac responds like a jackrabbit !
Horses for courses I guess, but I am far too old for trails now, but i still love watching you kids rip up the trails !
Golf club. You need to choose the right one.
Is the pinion gearbox patented?
I have no idea. There may be some intricacies that me be patented but it’s a conventional gearbox for the most part.
If German forums don’t lie, pinion guys originally from Porsche R&D so I think they know something about intellectual property protection.
They officially informed what pinion internals produced on same factory with same standards as Porsche gearboxes
I just wondering why not better, machined P series gearbox with machined cranks????
Also you can always update cranks for longer or shorter 165-170-175mm
own a pinion Nicolai for 5 years, and now like to get some Zerode.
Katipo pronounced Cat - tip - o. Taniwha is Tan - e - far Good review though mate!
Bruce Thomson 🤣 thanks mate. May need to head to queens town for some laps and to brush up on my Maori 🤙🏻
@@SteveGouldChewy Good excuse!!
Star...... 😄
I don't feel comfortable on that fork😮
KA-TEE-POH. Just saying, if you wanna pronounce it like a Maori.
Grant Ormsby thx buddy. A few locals have pulled me on my pronunciation 🙈
@@SteveGouldChewy Ha ha. Great video by the way. I'm fully sold on the bike design.
Grant Ormsby thx buddy, I appreciate that. It’s really a game changing bike. I try to be as objective as possible in my reviews but if you ask me in person it’s a no brainer. Other brands are going to have to ditch the derailleurs before too long to keep up.
181cm ..
Sandra Ržen yeah 475mm reach should be idea.
Sigue siendo un atraso, el cableado exterior. Lástima, que no tengáis en cuenta ése detalle, para una bicicleta tan buena. Un cero para el ingeniero, que la ha diseñado.
You could have at least found out how to say the bikes names properly, and maybe what the names ment?
roddas26 they are pretend names anyway so the pronunciation doesn’t matter. Katipo means a banana thats nearly too ripe to eat.
@@SteveGouldChewy, wtf are you talking about? The Katipo is a native NZ spider, and a Taniwha is a water creature of Maori myth and legend. Please do some research if you are doing a review.
Coz no one gives a shit what the sticker says. Ask any American that rides a Husqvarna.
@@SteveGouldChewy, wow Steve that seems rather ignorant, imho. Language is one of mankind's greatest gifts, to some.
Fair play. You got me after a nap so I was cranky. In my defence, I made this review before I had heard a kiwi pronounce Katipo as I was one of the first riders to receive one. And he could have called it ‘The Wellington’ or ‘The Silver Fern’ or something easy for us non natives.
Please, Learn how to say the name if you are going to do a review
D Kennedy true. I was one of the first to get a Katipo and literally never heard the word said until after the review. I think most people watching are more concerned about how the bike performs rather than how it’s pronounced. A bit like a Husqvarna in America 🤣