I’ve been using a Tacx Vortex for the past year and a smidge, and closing in fast on 6000km of virtual tyre wear. Announced just today is a 26% saving on the Tacx Neo at two competing bike shops, dropping the price from around $NZ2500 down to $NZ1850 - about $NZ100 give or take from a Kickr4. This looks like really great value, even though it doesn’t have the faster chipset of the Neo 2, or a cool blue base (or proper cadence and some fancy schmancy pedal stroke diagnostics).
For the current Tacx Neo ONE users out there, are the firmware updates still rolling out? I just have this fear that if I get the ONE, then in very short time Tacx will no longer update or give two hoots about it.
Or TLDR… convince the Scotsman in me to part with some cash…
I’ve upgraded from a KK Road Machine to a Flux (x3) and then a Neo. I’d have a think about what you want it for. If it’s soley for TrainerRoad, then I’d question if it’s really worth the outlay. However, if you want to use it on other platform, then it’s absolutely worth the money. It’s so quiet, the virtual flywheel gives as a realistic road feel as possible. It’s accurate and consistent. GP Lama uses the Neo and P1S pedals as his standard benchmarks. There’s a bit of movement in bike when you’re riding, and the roadfeel feature is great!
I’d recommend if you want a more immersive experience on other platforms, but if it’s just for TR probably not worth the outlay.
Neo for riding in virtual worlds (Zwift etc.) is excelent device - quiet and fast responsing. But for ERG workouts IMVHO virtual flywheel sucks - NEO is too strong and quick, SoD comes to fast. I’m not making ERG with NEO, but just taking flat world in Zwift and riding with plan from TrainerRoad app (Zwift commands resistance, TrainerRoad app is only reading data).
I used to own a Tacx Flux, that was my first trainer ever, and it broke after 2000 km’s. I subsequently sold the replacement Flux I got from Tacx and got the Neo instead.
After riding 1 year on it now I’m more than happy I did the switch. It’s an incredible device and I have to disagree with tadzikpl above with the whole ERG-mode. I run ERG all the time and it’s not a problem with the reaction. On the contrary I think it’s a bit slow to react if there are 15s sprints for example. But I can’t fault the trainer with that because it reacts as fast as it gets it’s signals.
My advice is to buy it. Mine has gone about 3000km’s on Zwift and 2 months on TR. Nothing broke yet and I just replaced the cassette, had one cassette extra and wanted to replace it, and the EDCO-body on the old/er Neo looks great.
I’ve used a number of trainers over the years and currently have a Tacx Neo as my primary trainer and a first gen Kickr as a backup.
The Neo is a beast of a trainer. Well built, very quiet, works extremely well. I use it primarily in ERG mode in TR and it works great. For short sprints and VO2 max work, I’ll sometimes do them in Resistance mode so I’m not limited by TR settings, but rather can ride above or below as needed.
It seems in your question you were wondering if the Neo 2 had enough added features to justify the cost over the discounted Neo. Right now, I’d probably stick with the Neo. However it does sound like there could be additional features added to the Neo 2 in the future.
Yeah, I swapped out my Tacx Vortex for a Tacx Neo 2, which I bought from a friend for a good price. I think it really is one of the best trainers out there. I hesitated between that and a KickR… but that thing has so many issues STILL.
I would by a Tacx Neo 2 again in a heartbeat.
However, I worries me about Garmin being the mother company now. It’s quite ironic: at least here with my friends and at the LBS it’s either the KickR or the Neo. KickR had a lot of quality issues that still are not resolves (google it), but they are very easy to swap your unit for another one. But now you have a Neo that is reliable, until you need warranty (the reverse of Wahoo policy).
This annoys me to no end in the bike industry anyway: high prices, oftentimes poor quality (see bambini on youtube) and poor support. Like bottom brackets (bb30), initial disc brakes, etc.
And then, to top it off, Garmin blatantly lies: “We value all of our customers (…)” (from the post above).
Really annoys me. I mean, here, a Tacx Neo2 costs around 1000-1200 euro’s. That should last at least 5-6 years in my book.
Garmin should take a leaf out of Concept 2’s book, they are renowned for their fantastic support of current and old models, they still sell spares for rowers manufactured 30 years ago!
Garmin seem to be of the opinion that once the warranty is up then you are effectively dead to them, even if they refuse to replace hardware there is obviously a market for spares and so support for older hardware so why just cut the cord and lose future custom ? I could understand for a piece of equipment 10 years plus but just over 4 years old … really Garmin? Pull your finger out!
I bought my Neo half a year before the new one arrived. By that time I was so happy with my purchase that it didn’t even sting… well, maybe a little
I can’t say what new features might come to the Neo 2 in the future, but tbh I don’t think I will miss them a lot in case my device may not get them. The Neo is an excellent device for what it does, and it will probably stay with me for a long time.
And thanks to the big installed base (and longevity) I don’t expect any training platforms to drop support for the Neo.
Just my thoughts.
EDIT: And not getting new software from garmin sounds like an added benefit to my ears
Whilst my TACX experience isn’t directly related to the NEO model(s), I have had the ‘pleasure’ of dealing with the TACX/Garmin Customer Service department.
They seemed to be very thorough, initially. I was asked to provide quite a lot of information, pictures and workout files over a period of weeks. Once it was clear the issue(s) I had been experiencing were not user error and something was wrong with product, everything went quiet.
Ultimately I decided that I wasn’t going to go away so I found the Head of Garmin Customer service via LinkedIn and contacted that person. It’s amazing how quickly things do get resolved once you knock the right door but I don’t think you should have to resort to such action. Neither did the Head of Garmin Customer service. Their profile now stops you from contacting them directly, unless you’re already known.
IF the issue is bricking a Neo via firmware update that is otherwise mechanically working well, Garmin needs to take responsibility. The firmware would be something that Garmin pushed out and their app would suggest installing. It shouldn’t be on the end user to have to buy a new trainer after it gets bricked by a firmware update.
If the problems with the older trainers are parts wearing out, etc, then it would be more of a grey zone. Obviously Garmin supporting their products would be best, but I could see them dropping support for legacy devices at some point.
Mmm, well timed. I was just thinking a few days I hadn’t checked for a firmware update in a while. Sometimes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is the best policy – if only you knew ahead of time when that was the case.
Going to throw my hat into the “Tacx Neo 1 is super-solid and totally worth it” ring.
It’s built like a frigging tank, has never given me a single problem, is responsive enough (though it really could be more responsive for 15 second microbursts, as I have to sort of trick it, now, using cadence) and it’s absolutely been worth it.
That being said, Garmin has always been a sh-tty company and I occasionally want to throw my Edge 820 off of a mountain; their products are overpriced, their UI is garbage, and when they fail they fail badly. I do not forsee good things for the Tacx product line, in the future, and their whole “Legacy product? lol get bent” response is right up their alley.
So, on balance, it’s kind of a toss up. If the price you are seeing undercuts the competition (Cyclops, Elite, Wahoo, etc) by quite a lot, it’s probably worth it. Just don’t upgrade the firmware (I haven’t and have had no problems) and be aware that Garmin has yet to solidify its position on supporting Neo 1s – they could very well say “Yeah, we thought about it and you can all get fscked lol here’s a pitiful discount off a more expensive trainer”
Road.cc really are the Daily Mail of cycling journalism. Guy in the article had his Neo in a box never used for 2 years (because he just happened to have a wattbike atom lying around ) then tried to update and bricked it. Don’t think there have been any firmware updates for the Neo released for a while so wouldn’t worry too much.
Went from a kickr snap to a tacx neo about 5 months ago.
It cost a fortune (says the scotsman in me😉) but I reckon its worth it and I only use trainerroad so the extra features like road-feel mean nothing to me.
I wanted something I could trust to deliver accurate and consistent power readings that my kickr snap just wasn’t providing. The fact it’s much quite than the snap is nice too.
There’s also a part of me that feels if you are pouring your blood sweat and tears (and time) into a hobby you owe it to yourself to use the best gear you can afford while doing so.
I never update anything unless the thing in question provides security (windows for example) or it’s currently not operating optimally, or the update provides improved functionality (but depending on how much I want whatever is being added, I might wait a while for the update so as to find out if other users have a problem).
With my kickr bike I check everyday for a new firmware update because the firmware currently sucks. With my tacx neo, I applied one update and it was to get road feel.
Do any of the high end trainer companies offer solid repair service and parts for these expensive trainers? It just seems a bit ridiculous that you cannot send in or buy parts for out of warranty trainers.
If you had bought a $2000 Nordic Trak treadmill or bike 5 years ago, you can get a manual, exploded parts diagrams, and replacement parts available.
The fitness industry has this way better sorted out that the bike industry.
Hence all the threads and youtubes on how to fix this, that or that. The epoxy drill-and-inject to fix the Tacx trainer roller delamination, for example.
In reality, these ain’t iPhones - you can take them apart, replace broken parts, etc. Except nobody sells replacement parts. Sad panda.
) then tried to update and bricked it. Don’t think there have been any firmware updates for the Neo released for a while so wouldn’t worry too much.
