In South Africa, the full-suspension 29er mountain bike is still the most in demand bicycle. Zini Bicycles took aim at this segment with the Roam. Did they hit the target? We tested it. Here’s what we think…
First, let’s just set the record straight. Although Gravel racing is growing as a discipline, it’s nowhere near the size of mountain bike racing in South Africa. This country is still the mountain bike stage race and mountain bike marathon race capital of the world. Add to that the abundance of mountain bike trails parks in the country (more than 140) and you can see why the full-suspension 29-inch mountain bike remains the most significant bike in the country.
The Zini Bicycles team wanted to offer a bike that’s ideal for South African riding and racing with solid component spec at a price that’s reasonable. You can read about their quest from idea to final product here.
THE BIKE
The heat treated 6061 aluminium frame has internal cable routing and full-length cable housings. There’s also a UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) and space for two bottles inside the main frame triangle. Aluminium offers a strong frame material that’s durable and well-priced. It’s a heavier than a carbon fibre equivalent, but at sub-R40K there must be some sacrifice.
The Zini Bicycles crew decided to go with major, reliable brands when speccing the Roam. What you often find on bikes priced low is that some components are from small or niche brands with little reputation for reliability. There’s a RockShox Delux rear shock with 120mm of travel and lockout. The suspension fork is Marzocchi Bomber Z2 with 120mm of travel and lockout.
The wheelset comprises WTB’s ST i30 TCS wrapped in WTB 29×2.4 Trail Boss tyres. WTB may not be a popular brand in South Africa, but it is one of the oldest mountain bike brands with over 40 years of credibility. The drivetrain is Shimano’s Deore 1×12 while the brakeset is TRP’s Slate EVO. TRP is the more premium sub-brand from the Tektro stable, which is what you will find on most bikes at this price range. The Roam also comes standard with an EXA dropper seatpost and Fabric Scoop saddle.
There’s currently only one colour – Satin Black and it comes in four sizes, ranging from Small to Extra Large. The Roam undoubtedly looks the business…
THE RIDE
We needed to add a bit more pressure to the RockShox Delux to firm it up just a touch as 25% sag felt too soft on the first rough sections. We rode only Johannesburg trails parks on the Roam, including Delta Park, Cycle Lab Bike Park, Asidlale, Northern Farm, Taroko Trails and St Stithians. Mostly pedally trails with good sections of singletrack as well as some fun features. The kind of trails most buyers of this bike would ride.
Assuming the set-up is dialled, the first few pedal strokes on a new mountain bike can deliver a meaningful impression for the discerning rider. For its price, the Zini Roam is generously specced and you feel that ‘fullness’ immediately. The Shimano Deore drivetrain is smooth and efficient, while the handlebar/stem leverage has you building acceleration pace that feels intuitive.
Because we firmed up the shock, the pedalling efficiency felt really good. No noticeable bob and enough lateral stiffness to power over and through trail obstacles, like rocks, sharp rises and out of tight turns.
From a fast cornering perspective, the Roam feels super planted, which is likely a combination between the geometry, front tyre tread pattern, front tyre pressure, ideal fork settings and rider input. This offers confidence and – over time – speed. The longish wheelbase (1208mm on the Medium) offers good stability, but sacrifices in nimbleness through tight turns.
At 15.70kg (with pedals, cages and sealant), the Roam isn’t considered light, but it does climb efficiently on long ascents. There is a manual lockout on both the front and rear suspension should you need to firm it up even more on smooth or tar climbs. It holds traction well on rough-surfaced climbs and gear shifts – both predictive and panicky – deliver smooth changes.
On descents, the Roam really shines. The suspension never felt inadequate, and, with the slightly gnarly WTB tyres, gave the bike an essential feeling of stability. The 780mm bar is wide enough for bigger riders, but smaller riders may want to trim it a bit. The dual compound Ace Grips were suitably grippy for our testers who prefer riding without gloves.
With 120mm of travel front and rear, the Roam was ready for anything on the trails we tested it on. Bearing in mind these are trails for the masses. We did roll it down the Flow Lines at Asidlale and Delta Park and it dealt with the jumps and gaps with poise.
On more rocky, rough descents, the suspension worked hard and did a good job. The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork definitely inspires more confidence than forks on similar-priced full-sus bikes we have ridden Although not really a big-name component brand, TRP is a prominent brakes brand and we were impressed with both the feel and the performance of the TRP Slate EVOs, which have four pistons.
The flipchip in the rear shock allows you to extend rear travel from 120mm to 130mm. This would be if you wanted to make the Roam into more of a Trail or Enduro bike with 140mm fork. We didn’t try this with our test, but it’s useful that the option is there.
Our longest test rides were four hours in duration and we found the bike to be sufficiently comfortable on those outings. It holds a large bottle on the downtube and a smaller bottle on the seattube, which is fine for most. Is it a marathon bike or is it a trail bike? It can be both. From a spec, geometry and weight perspective, it leans more towards trail bike, but from a comfort and efficiency perspective, it will complete half-marathons, marathons and stage races with ease, but more in the middle of the pack than at the sharp end.
SUMMARY
The Zini Roam adds a fresh option to a fairly wide selection of sub-R45k full-suspension mountain bikes. But at sub R40k, it stands out somewhat with a 1×12 Shimano drivetrain, Marzocchi Z2 fork, TRP four-piston hydraulic disc brakes and WTB wheels. The overall component spec is solid. Zini Bicycles belongs to Omnico Pty Ltd, which is one of South Africa’s most established bicycle distribution companies, so after-sales back-up is good.
If you’re looking for a well-priced, durable, reliable full-suspension 29er that can rip trails and conquer marathons, the Zini Roam is calling…
SIZES: S, M, L, XL
COLOUR: Satin Black
PRICE: R39 995
Full details on the official website here.
