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Birzman Zacoo Maha Floor Pump Review

Reviewed by: Essex Herts MTB - May 2013

Pumping up tyres is not fun, period. We see how the Zacoo Maha MTB Floor Pump eases the pain of getting big 2.5 dual plys to an accurate pressure.

What Birzman say about the specs and features

• MTB specific high volume track pump design.
• Pump tilts towards the user for comfort.
• Aluminium Alloy base with high polished finish.
• Varnished wooden twin handle.
• CNC'd pump barrel.
• 120 psi max with Presta/Schrader compatibility.
• MTB specific pressure gauge.
• The SNAP-IT valve consists of two threaded bits which clamp the valve on each side preventing blow off under high pressure.
• The Controlled Air discharge (CAD system) is an air pressure release valve. When using a CAD equipped Birzman floor pump to inflate a Presta valve or Schrader valve, pressing the CAD button releases air from the tube to adjust tire pressure.
• Recomended Retail Price: £59.99

Features & Ergonomics reviewed

• A neat feature of the Birzman floor pump is the tilted barrel. It does make the stroke a bit easier when you stand over it. It seems to allow you to exert a bit more force directly down the handle.
• The stroke is smooth and stiction free. It feels like a premium product in the hand.
• The polished finish is very rather nice. The Birzman Zacoo Maha floor pump is largely made out of metal and wood. Its almost looks too nice for the workshop. We were tempted to keep it in the lounge!
• The base is nice and broad, and no matter how wild I got with my strokes, I didn't get any wobble.
• The Birzman Zacoo Maha floor pump handle is easy to grip, although I'm not sure what practical benefit having a wooden handle brings. It looks nice however.
• The SNAP-IT valve is beautiful to fondle and works well. It created a tight seal and was easy to get on. For Schrader you screw it on and Presta you mount then pull back the housing. Its quick and easy to swap between the two types of valves.
• The Birzman Zacoo Maha floor pump dial is easy read. The green on black colour scheme is clear and bold. It's big enough to see while pumping and the segmentations are well spaced.
• The accuracy of the pump was good. It was always within half a psi, of my very reliable digital tyre gauge.
• The high volume barrel proved effective, and it inflated a big meaty DH tyre, 15% faster than other pumps we compared it to.
• When not in use, the hose clips over the barrel, into semicircular cut-outs for easy storage.
• The Controlled Air Discharge is pretty standard for a pump of this calibre but Birzmans implementation works particularly well. It's very tactile and you can either dump a load of air with a firm press, or fiddle and tinker with light squeezes, to trim your PSI to just the right level.

• The Birzman Zacoo Maha hose could be a bit longer. Another 6 inches would offer a bit more flexibility in working on bikes in funny places.
• The first pump we used had an issue with the valve. Birzman sorted this quickly and the replacement worked out of the box.
• I'm not sure why the pump highlights the 40-60psi range. Most MTB tyres for serious use are run at 25psi-40psi.

Test Info

• Tested by - An okish mechanic. Have been wrenching my own bikes for 8 years now.
• Tested on - XC and DH tyres, Specialised, Maxxis, Schwalbe, tubes and tubeless.
• Tested when - Winter & Spring.
• Other similar products tested - Topeak JoeBlow Sport, Park Home Mechanic, Lezyne Tech.