While I do not think they have a bad product, I think their current price is not as good deal as it was two years ago.
They could do with a dcrainmaker review to gain acceptance (if positive).
Also recently discovered the cracked cover on my Zimanox. Don’t know how long it has been in that condition, but looks like a while from appearance. I have noticed wonky power reporting and connectivity issues over the past couple months. Going to have to send it back to Denmark for repair like others have done. Overall I’d still say that I’ve had a positive experience with the product. I do think its fairly accurate when it is working correctly, based on comparing it to the Kickr Snap. If anything, it may run a bit higher on the numbers. But I agree with @Papuass, that I don’t think its as good of a deal as it was back during the Kickstarter campaign when I got on board with it. I haven’t been super impressed with Team Zwatt customer support thus far either with the couple issues I’ve contacted them about. Will try to post an update after I make through the repair process as far as cost and time. They are making me pay a repair fee of about $25 usd, plus shipping both ways. That puts another zap on the deal compared to having bought a stages or something else.
I must have been lucky as I had mine recalibrated for free (inc. postage) very shortly after I got it. However, when mine developed the cracked cover I decided not to send it back but as I didn’t want to spend money on what was an unwarranted product. All I’ve done with the cover is wrap it with gorilla tape and then to add some more waterproofing I’ve slipped an old inner tube over the crank arm and sealed the edges with electrical tape.
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Some news:
- ZHIMANOX (single sided crank based) has been discontinued. Even no more firmware updates.
- There will be a double sided carbon crank MTB power meter, produced together with Samox (they are manufacturing something for Specialized). It will cost around 600€ (you can get it for 400€ if you sign up till tomorrow). Not much information about this product.
Makes you wonder if they’re not supporting the Zimanox whether I should still have to pay the monthly maintenance fee.
Well, you till have to pay for the reminder of your 2 years or power meter signal will be disabled after a month, leaving you with cadence only. At least that was the deal.
Interesting review from GPLama
In short, results are good but some small differences with cadence and L/R power
Update on my PM - Zwatt took the cover off, checked the electronics and could find no issues. They then did a comparison with a pair of Vectors and the power was spot on. I’ve been using it for the past couple of months and the output feels about right.
It has shifted my focus onto my gen 1 Kickr , erg mode and the power readings. I’ve been experiencing multiple issues over the past few weeks but this is probably one for the power match thread.
Final update email for Zhimanox users. Main points:
- They explain why it is discontinued
- They are getting rid of monthly fee and upload system. You can pay the remaining monthly fees with a discount.
- They urge all users with cracked covers to do the repairs now as they may not have the parts in the future. They offer to do this for free, you just pay for shipping.
- If you stop paying after April 1, it will work for 15 more rides and then disable power meter feature.
- Some stuff about their future products.
Is seems fair and honest from their side, even if it leaves me with product with no service available.
Papuass,
re 2) when you enter the discount code, the amount to pay as a final instalment totals more than the remaining payments for me!
Not by much bet certainly not discounted.
I don’t own a Zhimanox but I’m curious - were they selling them within the last two years and would they therefore be covered by the standard 2 year electronics consumer law for customers in the EU? I’m not a lawyer but I wonder if that might be an avenue to pursue if you have one and it fails after their support period ends.
@rjessop:
I am not sure how being Kickstarter product complicates this.
@foxyscott:
For me the final fee is €14.28
I have made 19 payments of €4.46 and one payment of €2.73 (half a month?)
This means I have 4,5 payments (17,84+1.73=19,57) left.
So discount is like €5 for me.
On a less happy note: just discovered that I have a new crack on plastic cover which was repaired less than a year ago. I think I will go with sending for repairs.
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My discount totals 22 cents! I could hardly contain myself at the thought of such a deal.
I emailed them about that and the apparently the legal situation is that you are not purchasing a product but in effect investing in the company, the reward for which is, in this case, a Power Meter (which may or may not work). There appears therefore, to be no consumer protection for Kickstarter projects.
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Sure, it could be worse:
Hello
Could anyone advise me if the power meter works without subscription?
Someone selling one online which he says has never been fitted and/or activated.
If i was to buy it would i be able to activate it and if so how much could it cost to pay for the remaining subscription (if that makes any sense)?
And last…would you recommend me to get one?
Hi,
They’re supposed to work for a limited number of rides without subscription and then lock out. I’ve never tried it to be sure.
I’d not recommend the Zimanox as the casing has cracked twice. Also I have a weaker left leg and therefore it reads low compared to my Neo.
Gplama has reviewed the zspider on YouTube.
Thanks for the response.
Wonder how they can lock it though. Would they lock your account in the app so you are no longer able to access it!?
I guess the power meter sends ant+ to Garmin regardless right? They can’t lock that…
I think it’s less a lock out and more a timeout without a renewal.
I’ve removed the Zimanox and not used it for months.