If you grew up riding bikes in the late 80s and early 90s, you will remember the handful of local brands offering world-class, yet affordable frames and machines: Du Toit and Lejeune dominated pelotons in the Cape, Hansom and Zini led a thriving hand-made market further north. And then the Far East and its economies-of-scale got stuck into the industry and all-but smothered the profitability of building bikes here.

Cape Town importer Omnico has revived the name, with a range of imported ultra-affordable machines growing, as we type this, alongside the firm’s established Cannondale, GT and Mongoose lines, sharing a nationwide distribution network and decades of cycling knowhow, clever speccing, negotiation skills and sharpened pencils to bring to market a range that will fill any slot in the family’s needs for two wheels.

“Omnico has over 30 year’s experience in the cycling industry. Throughout this journey, the company has developed excellent relationships with many of the world’s top cycling industry manufacturers. When an opportunity presented itself to develop our own bike brand, we didn’t hesitate,” said Mark Nel, Omnico National Marketing Manager.

“While exceptional value is a feature throughout the Zini range, we have placed emphasis on ensuring each bike is specced with category-appropriate, reliable and efficient components. The brand has been in development for two years which has enabled us to be thorough and mindful of the South African consumer’s preferences and challenges.

The all-new range starts with a 20-inch machine that will be as at home following mom or dad on the gnar as on the astro at home. The entry-level (in age, not in quality!) machines have been designed with everything a rider needs to take on single track and hit the trails. Updated with a 6061 aluminium-alloy frame, a suspension fork, 2.4″ knobblies and Kids-Tuned geometry, the Zini 20” range of kids mountain bikes offer everything a young XC ripper could need. Whether they’re just getting into the sport or they’re improving their skills, a lightweight frame, quality components, modern 7-speed gearing and ride-stopping brakes have the kids kitted out and ready to roll, out of the box.

The 20″ is offered in two versions – a disc-braked machine for the serious shredder, and a more affordable v-brake version (our call is find the extra bucks for the former, the increase in confidence disc brakes offer will turn your nipper into an off-road legend. The regular bike will be retailing at R3 600, with a R600 premium for the power and control of  160mm-rotor cable-actuated discs making the R4 200 pricing super-keen.

The second range off the Zini production line will be the Z29 models, which will come in three variants and four different aluminium-framed sizes – S, M, L and XL to ensure the ideal fit. Two of the models  – the Elite and the Comp – have single-chainring Shimano drivetrains for simplified shifting, but with a big enough range for steep or long climbs, while the Sport carries a LTwoo drivetrain; not a common choice in South Africa, but widely used overseas for its affordability and reliability. All the 29ers have Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and hard-wearing alloy Z-Tech wheelsets.

“Zini bikes are available from leading Omnico dealers nationwide. We are excited that the Zini bikes will be on mountain bike trails around South Africa soon. It’s the start of what we anticipate will become a new favourite South African bike brand,” said Nel.

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