Adventure Stories

THE REVOLUTION
IN MOUNTAINBIKING

ZERODE TANIWHA WITH PINION P1.12 STIRS UP THE ENDURO CIRCUS!

At the Eurobike in 2016, the New Zealand bike manufacturer Zerode launched the Taniwha – a Carbon-Fully with Pinion gearbox for Enduro use. The Kiwi underdog caused furore at press representatives, industry experts and in the Enduro scene not least because of its absolutely successful system integration. The pinkbike readers voted the Taniwha to one of the top innovations of the the leading international trade fair Eurobike.

The launch had succeeded in attracting interest. But besides all of them, theoretical data on the paper and the outstanding optics is conclusive, but the decisive factor is how the bike can be used in practice! How does it affect “the weight between the feet”? How does shifting work and how are the proclaimed advantages of the encapsulated gearbox systems actually noticeable?

ZERODE TANIWHA AT THE ENDURO MOUNTAINBIKE MAGAZIN

The guys from the Enduro mountain bike magazine have checked the carbon rocket with our P1.12 gearbox in details and kicked it ruthlessly through the Scottish Highlands. The result was an absolutely readable article. At the beginning of the detailed report, test editor Trevor Worsey asked “Is the Zerode Taniwha the next revolution in mountain biking?” and he objectively proved the facts to be examined.

“IS THE ZERODE TANIWHA THE NEXT REVOLUTION IN MOUNTAIN BIKING?”

“THE LIGHTWEIGHT SWINGARM CHATTERS RAPIDLY AWAY BEHIND YOU, NOISELESSLY MOPPING UP HITS REGARDLESS OF SIZE.”

The experienced editor is impressed by the trail performance of the Taniwha:” Freed from controlling the weight of a monster cassette and derailleur, the rear suspension sticks to the ground like velcro to a blanket. Late-braking, wide-open charges, and flat-out hooligan hucks into rock gardens are where the Taniwha gets down to business. You can hammer into a turn with the balance of a ballet dancer, slam it over, then scream like a child as you are fired out the other side at a ridiculous speed. All in complete silence. Not a rattle or clang… it’s like witchcraft. If a quiet bike is a fast bike, then the Taniwa is operating at warp factor nine. The lightweight swingarm chatters rapidly away behind you, noiselessly mopping up hits regardless of size.

t´s the prevailing opinion that the Pinion gearbox is heavier than conventional drivetrains. Trevor Worsey says: “ Yes, the gearbox is heavier, but removing a 600 g lump of cassette and derailleurs from the rear wheel allows the suspension to react faster and with more control. Moving weight from the unsprung rear axle to instead sit inside the bottom bracket makes perfect engineering sense, putting the centre of mass where it should be and improving balance.”

Compared to existing drivetrains and hub gears, Pinion offers the widest bandwidth on the market, which is also evident in the hard Enduro use and positively noticeable. Rapid downhill runs and steep uphill sections require rapid shifting to the right gear. “ When it comes to range, the 12-speed P1.12 gearbox of the Zerode Taniwha is king: it´s 600% range is enough to leave any 1x drivetrain cowering in the shadows, even the mighty Eagle” says Trevor Worsey.

Two points are an important feature of the pinion gearbox: Toughness and low maintenance. From the Scottish weather, which is well-known for its tendentially wet conditions, and its special requirements for men and machine, the Taniwha showed itself completely unimpressed: “ On muddy trails, however, the fully sealed gearbox really kicks ass, delivering precise shifting and silky smooth operation while conventional derailleurs crunch and grind in protest.

“Changing through the twelve speeds while stationary is nothing short of voodoo: silent and instant, with a mechanical precision that is more Porsche than Volkswagen. Gears can be shifted one at a time, or dumped right through the range using the GripShift shifter!” For Trigger-lovers “at first this feels unfamiliar and requires thought, but after a few rides’ practice, shifting gears becomes instinctive.”

“THE 600% RANGE OF THE P1.12 IS ENOUGH TO LEAVE ANY 1X DRIVETRAIN COWERING IN THE SHADOWS, EVEN THE MIGHTY EAGLE”

THE ULTIMATE TESTING: ENDURO WORLD SERIES 2017

The Zerode Taniwha is a pure-bred Enduro-Bike and built for the hardest use. The aggressive steering angle and the short chain struts coupled with the noble suspension of the Float-Series from Fox and the company carefree-pinion gear shifting are ready for the ultimate challenge of the Enduro World Series 2017, EWS for short.

Sam Shaw from New Zealand mixes up the EWS with his gearbox underdog Zerode Taniwha and is looking out for competitions with the drivetrain reps. The initial start of EWS 2017 was in March in Rotorua, New Zealand. Days of rain turned the already in itself challenging course into an extremely challenging track; Through tough mud and sticky sludge. On the one hand, the driver has to deal with this, on the other hand, the bike. This can mean many sleepless nights for many, not so Sam Shaw who stays relatively calm. He is happy about the successful Pinion system integration on his bike and knows that he can trust on it no matter what comes. “The gearbox simply does work, that is awesome and gives me a good feeling”, so Sam Shaw.

GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER: DIE ZERODE COMMUNITY

In the meantime, it’s hard to imagine the Enduro circus without Zerode bikes. The first Taniwha, a thoroughbred enduro race bike, was joined by the Katipo, a model with 29″ wheels, which is also offered by the manufacturer as a modern Mullet construction. As is typical for Zerode, the frame kits are compatible with both 140 mm and 160 mm suspension forks and shocks, so that in principle all areas of use can be covered, from a trail bike that loves climbing to an enduro racer with a basic frame.

This versatility is appreciated by Zerode fans worldwide! The former exotic with the exceptionally different drive concept from a country on the other side of the world has an ever-growing fan base. Zerode bikes are now in use on all continents. The first step towards revolution has been taken.

all Photocredits: Trevor Worsey

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