Hi guys,
Currently riding a Tacx vortex and am looking at upgrading;
In the UK we can get;
Neo 2 @ £899
H2 @ £599
H3 @ £765
Most of the riding I do is on TR although I am using Zwift at the moment through the winter.
A lot of the talk is about the noise but does this really make a huge difference when you have drivetrain & fan noise?
£300 seems like quite a difference between the H2 and Neo 2, is it worth the extra ££?
Cheers
Even the “loudest” H2 will be notably more quite than your Vortex (which is loud and has a high pitched whine, IMHO).
The H2, especially if you ride in the lower gearing (34x17 for instance) is much more quiet than the Vortex.
At those prices, I think the H2 is a great option.
Doesn’t the Vortex also have some of the worst power readings out there?
“Worst” is a strong word, and with trainers like the Elite smart (but not controlled) versions of the past… I hesitate to place any one above another.
But, yes, in general… the Vortex is known to misreport power (when compared to power meters) quite often. I’ve seen examples with it high and low, but high seems to be the most common. Note that it is highly subject to influence from tire choice, roller pressure and their Tacx calibration feature than can be “manipulated” (intentionally and unintentionally) by the user. Not to mention that many people don’t even bother to calibrate in the first place.
To the point, anyone swapping from a Vortex to another smart trainer or power meter better prepare for the likelihood of different power numbers and FTP.
Obviously a higher ftp though right!?
(I wish)
The other option is the Elite Suito which is around the same price as the H2 or Kikr Core for £100 more - I presume the H2 is still the recommendation?
I know Nate uses or at least use to use the Hammer series.
That is an issue only if one is using Vortex as a power source, right? With external power meter the FTP will be correct and only problem might be slower power match, overshooting, etc.
Right, assuming the rider used PowerMatch or manual control with the power meter as the primary data source.
I wouldn’t touch a Suito for another 6 months at best. The initial release is plagued with issues. It sounds like they may be sorted now, but there is enough “bad stock” out there that we are still seeing reports of issues.
The H2 is a known quantity and still my favorite trainer (among the Neo 2 and Kick17 that I also own).
Anyone with the knocking sounds get any updates from Saris? That’s not too concerning since if it does lead to a failure, they will have no choice but to warranty it, so they are only screwing themselves if they don’t address this now.
Also curious about the flywheel speed power issue dillema, but I will be using powermatch this year so that’s not too much of a concern either.
These are the reasons why I hesitate to get H3.
Does anyone know can the Halfords BC discount be used when paying with gift vouchers. I can buy them with a 10% discount through work which would bring the total price down to £688
Mine is going to get used on Saturday first time, I’ll keep ya posted
Do you work at a large motor vehicle company by any chance?
If so I think you could however I have just checked my work App and Halfords isn’t on it anymore
I suspect that they would have a “cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer” stipulation, however, I assume it would just come down to the whim of the sales assistant.
Is it possible to use TR for spindown / zero offset / calibration? I’ve seen comments about having to use Rouvy for calibration, and I’m helping my sister out with getting started on TR with an H2. The DCRainmaker review has screenshot of using TR for calibration.
I have not tested with TR, but I heard that “it works” in TR.
However, I saw comments from several users stating that they had “better luck” and such with Rouvy calibration.
First ride on the H3 today. Zero issues and very quiet aside from my poorly maintained drivetrain…
Set it up, plugged it in, and paired it up on zwift. Cruised around marveling at the magic of smart trainer resistance. Haven’t used it as a power source yet, so can’t speak to accuracy (used my 4iiii PM), but the flywheel feels awesome, the power changes are smooth and it’s quieter than my fans.
Couldn’t help myself, so entered a race to see how sprinting would feel and I managed a nice sprint win. Barring any issues that arise down the road, it’s the best $799 I’ve spent on cycling.
Thanks for the update and info. Congrats on what sounds like a nice upgrade for you and from the H2 in general. 
DId you try it at lower cadences say 60-70? Some have reported noises there
I’ve had mine for about six weeks now and haven’t noticed any problems at 60-70 rpms (other than my knees).
Btw, It’s quieter than my drivetrain so I’m not sure why I’d care if it was any more quiet.