Great, super helpful vid. And speaking of "watching," nice AW. Have you been able to assess whether or not the 6.1 update resolved the HR accuracy issues you (and Des) noted in your Hands-On post? Thanks, as always.
Another cracking review Ray. In my experience the kickr core issues were solved by the time I got mine over last December. Over 5000k and not a thing to complain about.
The Wahoo Kickr Bike looks awesome! If you don’t have a dedicated gym room and have to put your fitness equipment into the bedroom or living room, I think the aesthetics really matter a lot.
Wahoo need to change their cooling fan for the engine to a noctua cooling fan and most of the really annoying sounds would go away. ( I have tested one and gone through it quite thoroughly ). Really impressed with lack of noise from the tacx neo! Time for wattbike to update and get back in the game! Great review!
No one has done a decent review of the next generation atom yet, have they? On a kickr core, which is great. But after something that I can use with the wife. I think the wattbike will be less hassle in the long run, but wahoo bikes are well down in price in UK atm. 2300 vs 2000 for the atom v2. Decisions....
Nice review! Unfortunately none of these models suggests the lateral suspension that simulates the true pedaling movement. Garneau had a model of the kind named Ventoux that is no longer available. If you can find it used it is very nice : Free flywheel, no chain (silent), magnetic résistance and lateral movement.
I am still a proud owner of an early unit neo bike... Well I guess I was until it broke and I had to send it back. Now I should have round two by "mid to late December" hoping that this one lasts longer without any issues.
Great video Sir. As an owner of a Wattbike atom for a year or so now I absolutely love it but look on jealously at the wahoo bike and think that's what I should be getting. Your video shows that in all honesty, all 3 will give me what I want, and for the sake of saving £1000-£1500 staying with the wattbike is what I should be doing. It serves me well and I love it on Zwift. Hoping for advances in firmware/software to kick the atom on over the next couple of years before looking at a v2 bike from one of these guys once the atom dies. Great video and keep up the good work 👍👍
Pleased to read that someone is finding it OK on Zwift - very reassuring because my Atom is on order.... But having ordered it, I've then read a lot of negativity about the Zwift experience. Many of the negative comments are from a while ago, however, so perhaps they have improved it. I can't wait for it to arrive, I just hope I like it, I have 30 days to send it back but I really hope not to....!
eml1909 once the gear changing was improved early on it was a dream. There is an owners group on FB & there are many people who use Zwift on there who rave about it. I’ve tried them all but I prefer the Hub app it comes with.
Hello Ray: I appreciate that you, as well as Shane Miller & Chris Pritchard, are doing a great job in not only giving us users information but also in "prompting" the manufacturers to provide the right features for us users. You mention that the Wahoo bike provides 2 buttons for steering. Is that all? Zwift is now providing Mountain Biking, so let's get on board. I'm a technologist in the environment; the challenges are relatively trivial technologically. It requires "just" the vendors to agree on common standards for steering, braking, standing, drinking, etc that are technologically rather trivial to implement.
Unfortunately, it's not the vendors - it's Zwift. They've been stalling the vendors for a year now on this (well before MTB even released). Totally on them. The smart bike vendors are waiting...
Thanks for the great video Ray. I got my fingers burned last year when I ordered a Wattbike Atom without having tried it first (despite my best efforts). I liked the build but the gear change delay and that step motor made for a terrible Zwift experience. I returned it and got a Tacx Neo2 instead, which I have been delighted with. However that climb function on the Kickr bike and the gears implementation would be enough to persuade me to switch teams. But your #thightrub observations just go to prove that any potential buyer needs to swing their leg over one of these before committing that amount of cash - if and when they become available. Keep up the good work.
Peter Slater Erg mode on the neo is much better than the Atom. I was missing ‘stars’ in Zwift workouts as the Atom was so slow to react and settle into the power. Erg on the neo works flawlessly for me. The only problem with Tacx is they don’t have a Clmb unit!
AlbaTech this is just what I needed to hear. I’m having the exact same issue and it’s driving me mad! Thanks for the response. Bye bye wattbike, hello Tacx!
Really top notch review, as always. Thank you for doing this! I’m pumped to see what the new Woodway Wattbike AtomX has in addition to this one you reviewed.
Thanks for This smart bike review. My current setup is an old 8 speed Eddy Merckx mounted to the Wahoo Kikr smart trainer and Kikr climb. Since I will no longer take the Merckx on the road, it's the perfect system for me using Zwift.
@@superpliability6130 No issue what so ever, currently on my 35th straight day of using it. I do not think I have been over 700 watts; i know others who race and do more tend to stress their bike.
Hi Ray, in the uk we now have the atom v2, Tacx neo plus and wahoo kickr v2. Are you doing another full mixed review? I’m stuck on which to get In the uk Atom wattbike £2200 Tacx neo plus with discount code £2300 - normally £3000 Wahoo kicker £3,500 Any advice?
Amazing video - thanks. For those who would use one daily and be a proficient cyclist (not me then) - I really can't see the Kickr lasting very long (i hope it has a long warranty), even on those short sprints you did, there was play in the bike everywhere, looked more natural than the Wattbike for sure, but putting that much force through that single pivot point its gonna break. Its almost like we need the design of the Wattbike, with the functionality of the Kickr (gearing, road feel etc)
To be fair, Wahoo says they designed the unit to have motion/movement, so that it didn't feel like riding a pile of bricks. The question we don't know is if that engineering holds up for 5-7 years.
Well done! Great comparison. Especially the noise comparison where you can also see the differences in moving between the bikes. Thanks so much! I will buy the tacx. 🚴
I have my old 2012 Madone 5.2 lashed to my Kickr, it stays there. Having an older/cheaper bike permanently mounted to a trainer seems like the most cost efficient way to go for a single rider. Mine is custom fit to me so no issues with fit but no customizing it to somebody else's fit requirements.
Wahoo kickr needs to add a front support, needs two supports. One from the seat and also in front (where your front wheel would connect) In it's current state it will not last long and if it does well done. It is a engineering marvel.
You mentioned software fixes for the ATOM, could you do a follow up video perhaps? £1600 is much more palatable than the Tacx or Neo! I have to say the ATOM looks like a work of art compared with the other two as well!
So interesting for the intro - I would have thought bikes like these would have been in farther generations, and much more prevalent, by now. I was thinking of looking for one instead of using my existing road bike on a trainer.
Ray Fantastic Video. It looks like it took you days/weeks to do this. I tested out one of the original Wattbikes and always thought the bike was pretty bombproof. The KICKR Bike really doesn't look as stable compared to the others, especially compared to the Wattbike. It will be interesting to see what KICKR Bike issue Wahoo has. IMO though these new indoor bikes are the way to go for indoor cycling.
Ronnie Zimmerman don’t forget that Wattbike have been building bikes aimed at pro cyclists/gyms for many years. I’ve had my WB Atom for 2 years & it’s been bulletproof. I’ve never cleaned it, lives in the garage & takes all the abuse I throw at it.
Having already invested in a Wahoo Kickr 18 there is no way I would be even considering these. Also, so much more to break. I think the trainer will outlast these.
Great video thx. Re manufacturing quality, I think "wait for the first service pack" analogy works well here 😊. Is there any detail on the Atom X? Is that just a ruggedised Atom aimed at public gyms?
Andy Zwift it is aimed at the commercial market. As a result it has a large screen attached, switched out the road style handlebars with bar tape for ones similar to the Pro (will be more durable) & the adjustability is easier with more levers/less hex. It also has a system more similar to the Neo/Kickr in terms of drivetrain. Plus is has a warranty for the gym market, as opposed to the Atom which is for home use only.
I'm a present Kickr Snap + Climb user, albeit on an ancient 2 * 7 speed classic road bike. The Wahoo Bike looks really attractive, but something I note in your video comparison is that the Wahoo Bike is oscillating when you're pushing hard, whereas the Tacx& Wattbike seem quite stable. Any comments on that?
Watching this in 2022 and nope, Wahoo is sticking with a flexible v1. Waiting for a sturdy Wahoo or a better spec'd Wattbike. Until then, super happy with my Caad10 on the Kickr (which folds up to the wall when not in use!)
I just bought the new Wattbike. It doesn't have the party tricks of the other bikes but the ride feel is better with the new version and it has good connectivity with other apps. I also feel as a relative beginner to biking (I'm actually a runner) the Wattbike seems to be a bit more accessible - I don't really understand the gears and I don't want to, I don't own a real bike, this is just for cross training and fitness so the Wattbike is ideal. The Taxc was a tempting option but the extra price and complexity didn't seem worth it.
As a frequent Zwift user, albeit on a more antiquated Kickr Snap without flywheel drive, I notice that I have recently been able to freewheel downhill, and even accelerate, just like the real world. What changed? And that is probably even more realistic when there is motor drive for the flywheel, as with the Kickr bike?
Hi! From a kinesiology point of view, are there any benefits from riding a bigger, sturdier bike (like the Wattbike Atom or Tacx Neo) compared to the smaller and much wigglier Kickr bike? Will less movement from side to side in indoor riding help prevent long-term wear and tear on the body? I recently got a Kickr bike which was professionally fitted to me, but am increasingly suffering from pretty bad hand and wrist pain, lack of mobility, etc. Do you think a properly-fitted, bigger, sturdier bike for indoor riding could help alleviate these issues? Thanks so much for any insight you may have.
Generally speaking, a bike that moves is far better. There's been various studies over the years, but essentially by allowing movement (including rocker plates and such), you build core strength, because it forces your body to respond. Which is good. That said, hand and wrist pain doesn't sound like anything I would tie to a specific bike, but perhaps something in the bike fit, or the way your handlebar position differs from your normal bike (for example if one handlebars is perfectly level, and the other is more dipped, or if perhaps the width of your bars is different here).
Hi Ray, Thanks for this amazing review of the smart bikes. We’re considering the Wahoo Kickr Bike. We are now using the Tacx Neo trainer with our bikes, but with three users we are changing bikes constantly. As we are using the Tacx Cycling App on our PC mainly, aside the Zwift App we use sometimes, we wanted to ask if you know if the Wahoo Kickr Bike is fully compatible with the Tacx Cycling App? Or if it doesn’t should we go for the Tacx NEO Bike or is there another app similar to the Tacx Cycling App with reallife videos and simulation? With kind regards, Eddie Sprietsma from The Netherlands
Hi DC. Are you aware of any upcoming new bike releases? I want to buy one but am concerned there will be a bunch of new releases coming and I don’t want to be saddled with an out of date model. I checked online and found no rumours. But maybe you know different?
No, I wouldn't expect anything. Given worldwide shortages and significant shipping delays, most companies are just trying to keep their existing units in stock.
First, thank you for all your work! My question for you (or any sport science person) is which of the smart bikes would be best to do testing on. I do VO2Max testing as part of my service and would like to upgrade from my dated Velotron. I need a bike that I could control from either a PC or an app while a client is testing. I need both a programed test and an 'on the fly' testing situation. I test all types of athletes and fit ability so be considered (from 5' to 6'7" ash). Thoughts???
Great videos! Will the Trax & Kickers give you L/R pedal efficiency & balance info? I know the wattbike will, but haven't found any data on any other smart trainers that will. Thanks, Mike
Thanks for the review, you mention no ant+ or ble on the wahoo, does that mean can’t track any data to a garmin? Ie power speed distance to feed in to the training status? Any workaround , if they fix that ticks all the boxes
Hello, thanks for your videos. Do any of the smart trainer bikes enable riding with fixed gear. Either built in options, or easy change over from freewheel to fixed gear riding ? Thank you very much
Buying a second seat post and saddle solved one of the “needs hex key” issues with the atom. The standard saddle isn’t very comfortable for ladies anyway.
Have the bikes and/or software changed much over the last year? Nearly Christmas and time to treat myself so wanted to see if you had had a chance to re-review. Leaning toward wahoo or stages bike . Is the wahoo tilt feature worth the extra $600 in your opinion?
Even if I didn't have my current setup of 2 bikes & smart trainer, I'd give the smart bikes a pass & spend the money on a good 105 or Ultegra level bike & a premium smart trainer instead. If something goes wrong with one or the other, easier to deal with than a very expensive all-in-one type system.
Hi Ray, if you was to recommend 1 trainer, either a static bike or wheel off trainer, what would it be with no budget limit based on your experience? #lovethechannel 👍
I’d go with either KICKR v6 or Tacx NEO 2T. That said, historically speaking buying trainers in mid summer is a bad idea, given many are refreshed in late summer/early fall.
As of June 2021 has anything changed? Will there be new bikes in fall 2021, I assume Covid messed up everyone’s development, assembly and distribution plans
So, it's May 2020 and I've just ordered the Wattbike Atom and it will take 8-10 weeks to arrive, since this review have the firmware updates increased the shifting speed or are there any differences/improvements you're aware of?
