Elite Suito vs. Tacx Flux S

[steclark]

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)

Thanks in advance

[alexgold123]

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.

[RecoveryRide]

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!

[steclark]

How long have you had it before it started making noise? And has elite been easy to work with (other than not having replacements in stock?)

[RecoveryRide]

c. 3 months.

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.

[kelseyh]

@steclark

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.

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.