Topeak’s Zi:RAK is a new minimalist bike rack from Topeak that is designed for versatility and flexibility. It’s actually part of a family of products with various mounting options and accessories that work with new rack mounts and Topeak’s existing Quick Track MTX 2.0 bags. For this review we have the Zi:RAK original which is $139.95 while the ZiRAK with the MTX adapter is $154.95. The rack has a simple aluminum construction with quick release seatpost mount and eyelet, thru-axle and strap options for the base. Topeak includes pannier mounts for both sides and offers a number of accessories such as lights or a U-Shell tray for dry bags.
The Topeak Zi:RAK is a minimalist bike rear rack that has a premium finish and clever quick release accessory mount design.
| Retail Price | $139.95 (eyelet mounting) |
| Rating | 8.8 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 669 |
| Likes | + Lightweight design with premium finish + Quick release seatpost mount and optional bottom strap option + Clever accessory attachment design with spring loaded release knob |
| Dislikes | – Proprietary top mount requires Topeak accessories to use the top of the rack – Eyelet mount lacks a quick release tab like competitor racks on the market |
| Where to Buy (US) | Topeak |
MOUNTING
To attach the rack to the mount are two contact points, the seatpost and the bottom of the arch. The seatpost position uses a quick release Velcro strap that is easy to install or remove from the bike. For the arch attachment there are a couple of options, the bolt-on eyelet setup provides the most weight capacity and it is the most stable option. There is also an optional quick-release adapter that goes on the seat stays of non-carbon bikes as well as a special thru-axle option that has bolt-on end pieces. To our knowledge, Tailfin owns the patent for a thru-axle quick release, so the thru-axle option is also a bolt on attachment.
Topeak has designed the rack with a variable length arch attachment to accommodate different bike geometries. You just need to remove a bolt and adjust the position according to the type of mount you have and your bike setup to get the top bar parallel with the ground. Additionally, the seatpost attachment can be installed with either a flat or angled attachment piece that can be flipped upward or downward. The bars attach to the top support piece and have a telescoping design with a clamp to lock its position that provides an additional adjustment point for the installation.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Topeak Zi:RAK is a minimalist rack that consists of a rear wheel arch and a connector bar to the seatpost. It’s as simple as it gets with a quick release seatpost strap and multiple options to attach to either the thruaxle, eyelets or a quick-release strap for non-carbon bikes. The Zi:RAK Essential that we have in this review is designed for the eyelet mount version but you can purchase different rack versions or the adapters separately. It’s a simple setup compared to traditional racks that results in a lighter rack that should be easier to install and remove from the bike. The rack is constructed from aluminum with nylon straps and a few plastic attachments. It’s a stylish rack with a black glossy finish and bronze accents that match other Topeak products and gives it a premium look.
Topeak has incorporated multiple attachment points with removable bolts to the arch which can be removed to install water bottle cages or other accessories. Even the pannier rods have a simple bolt on design which means you can leave them off the rack if desired, or only install them on one side. To make the most of the rack you’ll need to add accessories as the top of the rack is just a minimalist rod to attach it to the seat post. At the time of this review, there is only a single U-Shell accessory available which is a rounded plastic tray that is designed to work with dry bags. To attach the U-Shell there is a slot on the front of the rack which matches the a rod on the U-Shell while the rear of the accessory slides into a locking slot. It is a clever design that has a spring loaded release tab that also has a knurled end that can be threaded to lock accessories in place. The design is compact and easy to use once you understand the design.
ON THE ROAD
We installed the Topeak Zi:RAK onto our Decathlon Triban RC520 using the bolt-on eyelet mounting design. ALthough it lacks the clever quick-release tabs of the similar Ortlieb Quick Rack, the rack can be installed and removed in a few minutes by removing the Velcro strap from the seatpost and removing the bolts from the eyelets. Once installed, the rack has a premium look thanks to the simple arch and connecting rod compared to other racks that have multi-triangle setups. At first glance, the Topeak Zi:RAK is quite similar to the Tailfin rack, with the separate piece and connecting rod design but it lacks the accessories and customization offered by Tailfin. Instead, the Zi:RAK offers plenty of mounting options on the side of the arches for bottle cages or other accessories while the included pannier mounts work well and can be easily removed as needed.
We attached the Topeak Pannier Drybag to the rack using the pannier rods and the bottom hook wedged against the arch to prevent side-to-side swaying. Note, some pannier bags with wider handles like the Topeak will require the pannier attachment bars to be angled outward to clear the arch – this was something we had to flip after installation as the slightly angled shape of the bars is easy to miss during installation. We also attached the U-Shell to the top of the rack to take advantage of the top surface with bags or even mailing boxes for around-town errands. It’s a very clever mounting design that has a spring loaded rear release that lets you pull the attachment off in seconds. The big downside of this rack is that this design requires proprietary Topeak accessories to use the top surface. There isn’t a flat top attachment available as a separate accessory currently, but you can purchase the MDX version of the Zi:RAK which has a flat attachment.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Topeak Zi:RAK to be a well designed and versatile bike rack. Topeak has created a minimalist rack that conissts only of a rear arch and a supporting rod to connect it to the seatpost. As with other Topeak products, the rack has a premium finish with glossyblack paint and bronze accents. The rack has pannier attachment rods and various mounting spots for water bottles or other accessories. We were impressed with the clever quick-release attachment design that uses a spring loaded tab to lock accessories to the top bar . The main downside of the rack is that it requires proprietary Topeak accessories and the fact that it bolts onto the eyelet with no quick release mechanism. That said, the Topeak Zi:RAK Essential is a simple and clean bike rack for cyclists looking to carry gear on their bike.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Topeak. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.