Daiwa 21 Zillon SV TW owners

[FrankN209]

Are you happy with your Zillions? I was looking into buying one. Been watching videos and reviews on them. But I also see a lot of used ones for sale and it makes me hesitant.  How have they held up over the past year?

[walleyecrazy]

The 21 Zillion quickly became my favorite reel of all time, and I really have zero complaints with it. I will likely be swapping out some of my other reels with more of the Zillions in the future. 

[FrankN209]

12 minutes ago, walleyecrazy said:

The 21 Zillion quickly became my favorite reel of all time, and I really have zero complaints with it. I will likely be swapping out some of my other reels with more of the Zillions in the future. 

Do you have Japanese version or the US? 

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, FrankN209 said:

I was looking into buying one. Been watching videos and reviews on them. But I also see a lot of used ones for sale and it makes me hesitant. 

Elsewhere in the cyberverse you'll find a 50 page thread dedicated to it authored by the pickiest of the picky. Few complaints about it beyond cosmetic preference stuff. Like any new, highly touted thing its hype may lead some to believe it'll even shine their shoes, and some people just aren't mag-brake types. Who knows why people sell? 3 grams too heavy? I made my mind up already that I'll love it when it gets here. I'm waiting 2 months so far on my backordered model, so my input is only the ranting of some dude shut in by subfreezing temps, so...

[bulldog1935]

couldn't pry mine from my fingers, etc. 

Wow, I fish this reel hard. 

[JustJames]

Wait a bit longer Daiwa come with Zillion HD 1000 (no SV) blackout zillion with brass gear.

As for Zillion SV TW, I can say that I like it more than bantam that I replaced. It smooth all the way especially when retrieving the lure.     It cast well especially in the wind but struggling a little bit in the distance when compare to Shimano, (because of stronger SV brake). It got pretty good smooth drag also.

The think I don’t like, size just a tad too big for my hand, noise from Twing when moving/shaking the rod. 

[RDB]

Most of my reels are Steez but I bought the new Zillion because I was curious.  It is a quality reel and I have no desire to swap out.  

[PhishLI]

14 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Wait a bit longer Daiwa come with Zillion HD 1000

I'm waiting on the USDM brass geared Zillion SV. Hopefully the HD spool is a drop-in option. Pretty sure it is. @bulldog1935 is rockin' a fancy BFS spool in his, so I'll probably grab one of those down the line too.

[walleyecrazy]

2 hours ago, FrankN209 said:

Do you have Japanese version or the US? 

I went with the US version. 

[Columbia Craw]

I don’t know about you Clark, but I sure am enjoyin’ it!!

[Msl819]

I have been very, very pleased with mine.  It is every bit on par with Bantams and Metaniums.   I am not sure which is a direct competitor but they’re all great. Sometimes it nice to not be too brand loyal, so you can enjoy them all!

[JustJames]

8 hours ago, PhishLI said:

I'm waiting on the USDM brass geared Zillion SV. Hopefully the HD spool is a drop-in option.

The zillion HD will utilize 34mm spool and can be swapped with most of the 34mm spool reels (love that from Daiwa). The ZILLION SV spool weight 12+ grams where as Zillion HD is 14+ grams, line capacity seem like HD got more 16-100m compare to 14lb-90m. With MagZ boost (even less brake profile) it is good option for medium size swimbait for sure. I definitely get this spool, too bad mine is JDM so it is aluminum gear.

BTW Zillion JDM weight 6.3oz G-us 6.7oz and this bad boy 7.1oz.

[waymont]

I have one JDM 8 speed, and one USA market version 7 speed.

They feel the same to me, cast the same too.

I caught lots of fish with both, and they are excellent.

Great smooth casting, super solid reels.

I have zero issues with both, and would buy more if I needed any more reels for sure.

[bulldog1935]

6 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

The zillion HD will utilize 34mm spool and can be swapped with most of the 34mm spool reels (love that from Daiwa). The ZILLION SV spool weight 12+ grams where as Zillion HD is 14+ grams, line capacity seem like HD got more 16-100m compare to 14lb-90m. With MagZ boost (even less brake profile) it is good option for medium size swimbait for sure. I definitely get this spool, too bad mine is JDM so it is aluminum gear.

BTW Zillion JDM weight 6.3oz G-us 6.7oz and this bad boy 7.1oz.

I'll never get the CT, Air and pre-package BFS fan club - small diameter spools just mean they have to work harder to get the same lure speed and distance. 

When I bought my Steez and Zillion, it was all about 34 mm, and the great aftermarket spools out there. 

[FrankN209]

7 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

The zillion HD will utilize 34mm spool and can be swapped with most of the 34mm spool reels (love that from Daiwa). The ZILLION SV spool weight 12+ grams where as Zillion HD is 14+ grams, line capacity seem like HD got more 16-100m compare to 14lb-90m. With MagZ boost (even less brake profile) it is good option for medium size swimbait for sure. I definitely get this spool, too bad mine is JDM so it is aluminum gear.

BTW Zillion JDM weight 6.3oz G-us 6.7oz and this bad boy 7.1oz.

TT sells the Steez A spool. The 34mm G1 with the MagZ boost. That is what I put in my SV103HL because it holds more line. Works perfect. 

[txchaser]

Bottom line up front: I bought a few of them, and I will be buying more.

 

I have a steez SV (not CT) and a bunch of 2017 tat sv's and the new tat sv's. And then I bought my first (USDM/Brass) zillion... and kept buying them. I couldn't see enough difference between the steez and the zillion to buy another steez. But a huge difference between the tat (sv and elite) and the zillion. Worth the extra $ IMO. 

 

Important note - the new spool in the zillion is the two-stage, and it is definitely different on the beginning and end of the cast vs the tatula sv spool. No idea why, but I'm able to run it on a lower magnetic setting than the tat sv. About the same as the steez. 

[bulldog1935]

There's a 30-g (1 oz) weight difference - it's noteworthy on the Steez with 73-g Yamaga Blanks rod, 

Less noticeable on my 125-g Valleyhill all-range BFS rod, and the Steez makes a sweet combo. 

Insiginficant on my 140-g Omen Green ML, where my Zillion stays and belongs full time.  

 

 

 

[MontclairDave]

On 1/24/2022 at 2:51 AM, waymont said:

I have one JDM 8 speed, and one USA market version 7 speed.

They feel the same to me, cast the same too.

I caught lots of fish with both, and they are excellent.

Great smooth casting, super solid reels.

I have zero issues with both, and would buy more if I needed any more reels for sure.

Is there a big difference between the 7.1 and 8.5 reels? I just got the 8.5 and it hasn’t arrived yet but I’m now having doubts I should have gotten the 7.1 for more versatility? I already have a few 7.1 reels as well as a 6.3 so figured I might as well add a high-speed option. 

[bulldog1935]

The difference between 7.1 gears and 8.5 gears is 6 inches per turn. 

When I bought my Zillion SV TW, 8.5 was the only stock I could find. 

I added a 100 mm Avail handle, which adds cranking torque, and adds lure finesse to your wind. 

My Steez with 6.3 gears keeps a short handle. 

 

[king fisher]

I bought my 2021 Zillion SV  from Japan for $230.  The most money I have ever spent on a fresh water reel.  Worth every penny, by far the best reel I have ever owned.  The only way this reel could be better is if it found the fish for me.

[waymont]

4 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Is there a big difference between the 7.1 and 8.5 reels? I just got the 8.5 and it hasn’t arrived yet but I’m now having doubts I should have gotten the 7.1 for more versatility? I already have a few 7.1 reels as well as a 6.3 so figured I might as well add a high-speed option. 

As far as feel goes, not much difference. The speed is the only difference I see. I love the fast line pickup, I use them for jigs, t rigs, buzzbaits, and shaky heads. I mostly fish in a kayak, so I really like the fast take up for solid hook sets. Kayaks move a little bit on hook sets, so getting in the right position is very important to me. 

[PhishLI]

4 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

I just got the 8.5 and it hasn’t arrived yet but I’m now having doubts

If you're one who has no issue with slowing down when you should, you'll be fine. Isn't a problem for me, but others struggle with modifying their cranking pace.

[warefisher]

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

I added a 100 mm Avail handle, which adds cranking torque, and adds lure finesse to your wind. 

 

 

What’s a good source for that Avail handle?  I have two JDM Zillions traveling east to me right now.

[bulldog1935]

Only Hedgehog Studio and Japan Tackle have the lead on Avail parts. 

Hedgehog has the best deal, with all the parts together in a package. 

Those big knobs are Avail A. 

Really light handle with titanium knob spindles.  Even long and big knobs, it's lighter than the stock Daiwa. 

https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/4883

 

Also nice, you can change the trim colors when it's right. 

[warefisher]

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

Also nice, you can change the trim colors when it's right. 

 

That looks great!  Thanks.