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General => General Topwater & Jigging Discussion => Topic started by: Peter Heinke on December 24, 2011, 12:47:53 PM
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Anyone had any experience with the new shimano biomaster sw series??
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my mate just got the bigger model few days back ago.the reel is really smooth .not a bad reel i think for the price.same kinda interior engine with stella.but outside body and spool is diffrent.we did test the drag with full spool it handle 10kg with ease .factory rating is 13kg.overall time will tell. :D
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It's an OK mid-priced reel. Shimano do well in that mid-price market with Biomaster, Saragosa, Sustain and Rarenium.
What size are you looking at Peter and for what type of fishing?
Kriss, I am not sure why you think the "interior engine" is kind of the same as a Stella?
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The old or the new Biomaster Mark?
Isn't it the replacement for the TP SW series? As such it has a few of the same buttons sticked as the stella series, although not necessarily the current stella series.
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Nope - Not a replacement for the TP, more of a slight upgrade to the Stradic Range.
Another option close to this, but at $200 AUD is the JD Model - Shimano Aceration 8000.
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Is it Jamie?
I can't for the life of me see how a 6 bearing reel for that money could really be a viable replacement for the truly excellent Twinpower SW series. I think the 6000 and 8000 are about $300?
I remember similar things being said about the last generation of Biomasters (and Saragosa for that matter): "Stella performance for much less money... etc etc".
My local store had one last month which did the rounds of lots of regulars, including a former Shimano technician. Mixed response mostly along the lines of "another mid market Shimano reel".
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Dunno, they seemed to be turning up about the same time TP supplies seemed to be vanishing in Australia, could be a coincidence.
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Ben, I don't think the Aceration is a JD model? It is actually made in Malaysia and I thought targeted more at the export market a la Saragosa, Sustain and Rarenium?
I might be wrong there, although a surefire clue is that they give the line caps for the reel in nylon and lbs rather than PE!
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Ben, I don't think the Aceration is a JD model? It is actually made in Malaysia and I thought targeted more at the export market a la Saragosa, Sustain and Rarenium?
I might be wrong there, although a surefire clue is that they give the line caps for the reel in nylon and lbs rather than PE!
True That!!
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Kriss, I am not sure why you think the "interior engine" is kind of the same as a Stella?
hi mark according to manufacture specs.both stella sw and bio sw have (Dyna-balance ,
HD gear,S A-RB .I am not saying its exact same engine as stella sw.I am saying its "kinda" same.I dont have the gut to open both reel and compare the engine.but i would like to see if someone wana do that. :D
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Kriss, I am not sure why you think the "interior engine" is kind of the same as a Stella?
hi mark according to manufacture specs.both stella sw and bio sw have (Dyna-balance ,
HD gear,S A-RB .I am not saying its exact same engine as stella sw.I am saying its "kinda" same.I dont have the gut to open both reel and compare the engine.but i would like to see if someone wana do that. :D
Their not even close to a Twinpower, let alone a Stella. It's a Mid-Range reel, simple as that.
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Kriss, I am not sure why you think the "interior engine" is kind of the same as a Stella?
hi mark according to manufacture specs.both stella sw and bio sw have (Dyna-balance ,
HD gear,S A-RB .I am not saying its exact same engine as stella sw.I am saying its "kinda" same.I dont have the gut to open both reel and compare the engine.but i would like to see if someone wana do that. :D
Their not even close to a Twinpower, let alone a Stella. It's a Mid-Range reel, simple as that.
ben i am not comparing for the price.I am talking about engine design .but material they use are totally diffrent from sw and twinpower u talking about.my point are base on manufacturer specs.thus all.
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Kriss, I am not sure why you think the "interior engine" is kind of the same as a Stella?
hi mark according to manufacture specs.both stella sw and bio sw have (Dyna-balance ,
HD gear,S A-RB .I am not saying its exact same engine as stella sw.I am saying its "kinda" same.I dont have the gut to open both reel and compare the engine.but i would like to see if someone wana do that. :D
Their not even close to a Twinpower, let alone a Stella. It's a Mid-Range reel, simple as that.
ben i am not comparing for the price.I am talking about engine design .but material they use are totally diffrent from sw and twinpower u talking about.my point are base on manufacturer specs.thus all.
Engine design = Basis for price. Mid range price = Mid range design. They don't give away the 'goods' for nothing.
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It was explained to me when the TP SW's ran out earlier in the year, that as the TP SW price range was so close to a Stella and therefore missing out on sales, the Biomaster was brought out to fill the gap between the Saragosa and the Stella.
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Are the Twinpowers unusually expensive in Australia?
Overseas, the price difference between a Stella SW 10000 and Twinpower SW 12000 (for example) is about 30%. That's always made the Twinpowers seem good value to me!
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They're very close in price, especially in the 5k size.
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tp 10000sw $999, stella 10000sw $1199 here in nz. why wouldnt ya just get the stella? so most peps do.
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Then yep, nobody would buy a Twinpower if the prices are that close, and the Biomaster positioning there makes sense (although it is grossly inferior to a Twinpower).
Just to make sure I was not reading it wrong, just spoke a good friend here at a tackle store and the comparisons are (both export versions, not JDM, best prices after discount):
Stella SW 10000 - Rp 8,300,000
Twinpower SWA 10000 - Rp 6,000,000
38% difference.
You guys down there are getting shafted on the Twinpower prices!
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LOL that makes a change!
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That's correct, the delta between the Stella and TwinPower series wasn't big enough in price to drive sales.
A great reel but simply not sustainable.
Looks like the Biomaster will do well in it's stead!
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here in Singapore, the cheapest I could find was
- the Twinpower SW 12000HG about *S$850,
- the Stella SW 10000 (export model)was about *S$1,260, and
- the 10000 JDM Stella costs a mind-blowing of about *S$1,600..
A Stella, for most if not all anglers, is THE REEL to go to but if the missus and/or the budget doesn't allow, in my personal opinion, the TP is absolutely an able substitute.
*the prices, as I understand, fluctuates, or rather, increases with the ever growing value of the JPY; so the prices now, in accordance with the rise of the JPY, should be either the same or higher now..
Here's wishing all of you a very Merry Xmas!
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oh by the way, the Biomaster 8000PG costs approx S$400.. ;)
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Hey Robin, for a true like-for-like comparison, a "certain" Singapore online store has:
Stella SW 10000 $1260
Twinpower SWA 10000 $800
Both the same size, both export versions.
36% difference. That's the sort of gap there should be I think. It seems in Australia and NZ the gap is smaller and Twinpowers do not sell because of that.
I totally agree with you that TPs are a more than able substitute. I have four of them (5000, 8000, 10000 and 12000) . Indeed I would go as far to say that the Twinpowers are the third best range of spinning reels out there after Stella and Saltiga. Better than Twinspins and Van Staal.
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hey Mark, merry Xmas..
yes, i agree. the price gap between these 2 models is thereabout as you've mentioned although the prices can go southwards more if we're on really good terms with the store/s.
is there a certain tax in Aust and NZ that makes the TP 'unattractive'? is the price gap 'consistent' in most tackle stores? perhaps our friends in Down Under and NZ can confirm this?
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hey Mark, merry Xmas..
yes, i agree. the price gap between these 2 models is thereabout as you've mentioned although the prices can go southwards more if we're on really good terms with the store/s.
is there a certain tax in Aust and NZ that makes the TP 'unattractive'? is the price gap 'consistent' in most tackle stores? perhaps our friends in Down Under and NZ can confirm this?
Hi Robin,
The product is no longer ranged, so it's irrelevant.
Many economic restraints and in particular, volume.
Luke
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Hi Luke, and Merry Xmas.
So Twinpower SW has been categorically withdrawn altogether in Australia? Is that likely to happen elsewhere do you know?
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Hi Luke, and Merry Xmas.
So Twinpower SW has been categorically withdrawn altogether in Australia? Is that likely to happen elsewhere do you know?
Hi Mark,
It's nothing to do with a world initiative or anything. The Australian office would simply prefer to offer a reel that provides similar performance at a better value price point.
This way, there isn't X amount of any reel sitting on shelves gathering dust.
I'm sure the TP will be a mainstay coming out of Shimano Inc in Japan. I've seen quite a few in use in Tokara, i've been impressed with their performance.
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That's good to hear. Would hate to see Twinpower SW disappear.
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pretty sure Luke is bang on point about the volume call, especially for here in NZ anyways. by the look of what turns up on our shelf's also here we only get about 2/3 of the aus stocked items.
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Since the conversation has shifted to Twinpowers, isn't the TP SW - A version inferior to the regular TP SW?
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Since the conversation has shifted to Twinpowers, isn't the TP SW - A version inferior to the regular TP SW?
I don't understand your question? Do you mean JDM version compared to Export version or the TP FC range?
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I read that as Gary asking if the Twinpower SWA (export) is inferior to the Twinpower SW (JDM). If that is the question, then the answer is a resounding no - exactly the same bar the livery.
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There was always confusion where the man in the street thought the TP FC and the TP SW where the same family, they had the same name 'TWINPOWER' but were worlds apart, there is a TP FC 10000 model which added to the confusion to the novice Fisho.
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My mistake, I guess I did mean the FC version, those don't even have aluminum rotors I think
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Still on the twinpowers, when I was looking for a 5000 size reel I found there was a mere 50-80 dollar price difference between the Twinpower sw and the Stella (still advertised at these prices now). Why on earth would the prices be so close?
Anyway I spoke to my local tackle shop and asked if they could get me one and at what price. The price they came up with was in fact 300 dollars cheaper than the Stella. So the TP SW won.
I believe there would be a great market for the Twinpowers if they were that much cheaper than Stella's in Australia, the question is why aren't they?
I guess that the TP and the Biomasters are that mechanically close that they will stock the BM's only as Luke said?
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A close examination of the two sets of schematics would be interesting. Instinctively, having held a new Biomaster and played with it briefly, and seeing it only has 6 bearings, I would be a bit surprised if it bears too much detailed mechanical resemblance to a Twinpower SW. Happy to be very wrong on that though.
A $300 gap is about right internationally Warwick, so well done.
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I haven't seen anywhere that it has the Hyper disc drag of the TP and Stella SW reels. It does have a cold forged drive gear and brass pinion but no mention of the Paladin gear durabilty enhancement of the TP and Stella. No mention of it being waterproof so not sure there (I'm assuming it is) and also no mention of the direct drive type handle like the Stella and TP have (where you have a specific left and right shaft). Also no mention of the Titanium spool lip which the TP and Stella have.
Looks like a great reel, kind of like a rebadged Twinpower FC which I have and love but the Biomaster SW has less bearings than that as well.
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thanks for the good feedback... didnt think it would genertate this much intrest.
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Isn't the TP the old Stella?
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No it isn't.
Twinpower SW has many of the same features as the current Stella.
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cool 8)