The Diamant is actually an absolute classic. Anyone who has been involved with bikes for a long time or even sells them will know this: In the 90s, the predecessors of this test bike were the trekking bikes par excellence. Bread-and-butter goods in the best sense of the word. Anyone who needed an everyday bike was given a Diamant. Intuitive handling, uncomplicated equipment. That actually always fitted the bill.
The new Zing Trip Plus shows that classics can also move with the times. Diamant specifies striking wide tyres for more comfort and even a brake light ex works, but remains strikingly traditional in other respects. The most striking example: the classic battery pack. From a purely technical point of view, this is still the best solution. It makes the frame cheaper and lighter. It is not for nothing that the Diamant undercuts the competition in our comparison test by almost five kilograms in some cases!
The facts about the Diamant Zing Trip Plus
- Bike category: E-Trekking
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX, 85 Nm max. torque
- Battery: 545 Wh (removable, up to 800 Wh possible)
- Display: Bosch Kiox 500
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL (test size greased)
- Frame shapes: Wave, Trapeze, Diamond
- Price: 4099 Euro
- Weight: 23.3 kg (test bike in size L, MYBIKE measurement)
- Permissible total weight: 136 kg
- Guarantee: for life
- Special features: Up to 800 Wh on request (+400 euros), add-on battery, brake light
E-bike motor: Bosch Performance Line CX with up to 800 watt hours
The add-on battery has long been a rarity. Most manufacturers integrate the battery into a voluminous down tube, primarily for aesthetic reasons. Diamant still chooses not to do this. This results in a low overall weight. The flexibility of the battery options also has its roots here. Four different batteries between 400 and 800 watt hours are available, resulting in a price range from 3849 to 4499 euros, with otherwise identical equipment. Incidentally, even with an 800 watt-hour battery, the bike would still be very light for a trekking e-bike at around 24.5 kilos.
With so much wind around the battery, the motor almost gets a little lost. A mistake, because the Zing Trip Plus contains the latest development stage of the popular Bosch CX. More performance is not possible! The new motor is quieter and responds much more sensitively than its predecessor. It also pedals almost without resistance above 25 km/h. This means that the Zing can also be easily pedalled beyond the assistance limit on gentle gradients. The large Kiox 500 display with navigation function is a clear plus for touring riders.
The features of the Zing Trip Plus
Large display, powerful motor: Diamant is going all out when it comes to the e-drive. And the rest of the parts? The traditional East German brand has also chosen good parts without any real weaknesses. The sturdy fork in particular is a noticeable upgrade in terms of quality and responsiveness compared to the cheap forks à la Suntour NCX that are often used in this class. We think so: This is the only way a suspension fork makes any sense at all.
The Cues 6000 mid-range gearstick changes gears reliably and offers a sensible overall gear ratio with ten gears on a cassette with 11 - 48 teeth. The Magura brakes with four pistons deliver high performance. However, our model drew a little air. Deep mudguards, extra wide tyres and ergonomic wing grips offer comfort and weather protection in everyday use. The rear light with brake light function is excellent, the front headlight is not a floodlight. However, the illumination is sufficient for dark country lanes.
- Gear system: Shimano Cues U6000 (10-speed)
- Gear ratio: 40 / 11 - 48 teeth
- Brakes: Magura MDR-C (four-piston)
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Allround, 65 mm
- Lighting system f. / h.: Herrmans Nordic MR9-E / Spanninga Pimento Large
- Luggage carrier: MIK, 25 kg
- Fork: SR Suntour Mobie 34 Air
Practical test: How the new Zing Trip Plus trekking e-bike rides
Due to the short top tube, you sit rather compactly on the Diamant and the handlebars are rather low. This is a little unusual on a trekking bike at first. But the Diamant gives you a lot of control over the control centre. The small 27.5-inch wheels and the short wheelbase make the handling lively. We particularly liked this on winding trails.
On long tours with rough surfaces, the wide tyres and sensitive suspension fork score points and ensure a noticeably high level of comfort, well above the class average. This is one of the Diamant's greatest strengths! The brakes are powerful. At night, the front headlight is not overly bright, but diffuses light well and ensures even illumination. This results in a well-rounded picture overall. The biggest point of criticism: When riding with very heavy luggage, the filigree luggage rack twists a little. The bike also tends to sway slightly. The weight allowance of 136 kilograms limits the bike with some luggage to a rider weight of around 100 kilograms. Many mounting points for accessories and the lifetime warranty are plus points in its favour.
MYBIKE review Diamant Zing Trip Plus
Strengths
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Sophisticated details
- Good equipment
- Battery size according to customer requirements
Weaknesses
- Somewhat economical weight release
- Driving stability with high loads
- Not everyone likes the clip-on battery
MYBIKE verdict on the Diamant Zing Trip Plus
In terms of riding, the lively Diamant is one of our favourites. The super-wide tyres with fine gravel tread combine fast rolling with sensible grip on gravel and dirt tracks. The classically designed frame with partially sanded seams is well made and the equipment is of striking quality. The biggest problem: not for extremely heavy riders. The slim pannier rack is not overly torsion-resistant. - Adrian Kaether, Test Manager MYBIKE
Adrian Kaether
Editor
