I am looking to upgrade from my wheel-on Saris M2 to a direct drive trainer. My budget doesn’t quite allow for one of the top-end trainers, so I believe I’ve narrowed it down to 2: The Elite Suito or the Tacx Flux S. I ride about 5 times a week following a high volume Full Distance Tri plan and plan to keep this up for a while, although possibly switching to some of the cycling specific plans later. I have never ridden zwift but it could become something I do in the future.
The Elite Suito seems to have a few advantages- better hill simulation, more accurate readings, comes with 11sp cassette, and folds nicely and has a handle. This last part is actually quite appealing as I regularly pack the pain cave into my car and relocate for a few weeks. But unfortunately it is on backorder everywhere, expected to arrive at the end of January.
The Tacx flux s seems to do everything I need it to, with the drawbacks being only simulating hills to 10%, not including a cassette, and being less portable. But I could buy it now on Amazon, and could use my credit card cash back and save a bit of money there. Since I am not riding in zwift right now, it seems like the hill simulation is no issue for now. The portability is a drawback, but I am used to lugging a wheel on trainer and spare wheel now, so it may still be an upgrade.
Anybody have recommendations for one over the other? Either company better to work with? Note that I already have a slew of Garmin devices (watch, hr monitoer, edge) so I’d be further selling my soul to them.
Any trainers I am overlooking? Any big thing I’m lacking going for one of these vs. the high end trainers (kickr core, kickr, Saris H3, tacx neo)
Where are you in the world and what’s available are the major factors at the moment. In the UK I narrowed it down (due to the fact they’re the only two in stock anywhere to the Suito and H3. Reading DCR and having had a terrible experience with a so called top end Drivo made me spend the few pounds extra on an H3.
I have a Suito. It was great until it started making a terrible sawing noise.
Elite have agreed to replace it, but guess what? There is no stock availability for a replacement. So I’m running it anyway, hoping desperately it doesn’t die on me!
They haven’t been bad, to be fair. I took it back to the LBS (where I bought it) and on the phone, Elite initially requested it sent to them for inspection. However, when challenged about the amount of time I’d be without a trainer by my LBS (at least 2 months, probably more) they conceded that we could send a video (with sound) instead.
Based on the video, they have agreed a replacement, and I don’t need to send it back until a potential replacement is available - but no definitive timescale on that.
I’ve had a Flux S for ~2 years now and have been happy with it. I don’t use Zwift but my partner does, and he hasn’t complained about the hill simulation yet. I don’t really have to move it often, so portability wasn’t a consideration for me, but when I moved, it wasn’t hard to load it in the car (and I used to live in a third floor condo).
If the Flux S is in stock, and you’d like the trainer sooner, I don’t think it’s a bad way to go. I don’t have any experience with Elite so I’m no help there.
I ended up buying the H3 and ive been riding it for about 2 years. Ive loved it, its worked great, has great feel, and the erg mode is spectacular. There is at least one dedicated thread to the H3 on this forum so I’d recommend reading that for a full discussion.
I have had no issues with the H3 so i haven’t had to work with customer service on this trainer, but my old M2 did have an issue that i needed to file a warranty claim for. Saris was extemely easy to work with, i had phone calls with a real person, and they sent me the part with little queations asked. It would be abit harder in the UK but they are a great company
Tbh I forgot I had one! It under read and was mega slow to react on zwift, so I sent it back and got a kickr core which is still rock solid years later
Mine did that sometime back. I tightened the axle clamp (I’m not sure its proper name) and touchwood its been fine for a couple of years now but I not strong enough to put a massive force through it
I have a Direto and while it’s been ok, it hasn’t been better than previous gen 2 kickr. I think my next will be the tacx neo 2t and trying it out. Pretty smooth
I’ve had a Tacx Flux S for 4 years and it’s been faultless. I’ve just bought a Neo 2T and yes it’s definitely smoother and has a few nice features. The Flux however does everything you need.
Oh wow! Well I’m glad now that yesterday I pulled the trigger on the Kickr Core. I decided that Wahoo’s CS was worth the extra money. Can’t wait for it to arrive now
