Garmin TACX NEO Bike Plus // Updated Smart Bike Review

The Garmin TACX NEO Bike Plus "Smart Bike" has landed and with this release Garmin have addressed a number of issues from their first generation smart bike from 2019. Although the new brakes/gear levers are best-in-class, unfortunately the performance of the bike as tested in the Lama Lab is not to any acceptable level. Failing in sprint power reporting, issues with ERG mode, and I still encounter leg rub issues with the frame. Also noteworthy - The NEO Bike Plus has a price increase of US$800 over the previous model. 🤔

Links:

Video Index:
0:00 Intro
0:21 What's New
0:17 What's The Same (As the NEO Bike V1)
2:22 On Bike Ride Experience
3:12 New Levers
3:43 No Satellite Shifters
3:50 Handlebars
4:22 Saddle
5:00 Leg Rub on the Frame
5:47 Sound Test
6:08 Out-Front Display
6:48 Bike Stability
7:13 Ride Feel
7:50 Road Feel
8:06 Third Party Software Integration
8:30 Data Review / Bike Performance
12:53 Sprints
12:59 Data Review / Bike Performance Cont.
20:26 Summary / Conclusions
21:59 Wrap Up

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#Garmin #SmartBike #Cycling

[seanvk]

Always enjoy your frank and unvarnished reviews. No softballs here but speaking to the data. Well done! This was exactly what I was looking for.

[toxicexplorer]

I had this one already in the shopping cart. Not anymore. Glad I watched this! Thanks.

[chbrosz]

For another perspective...I have the previous version of this and ABSOLUTELY LOVE it. I bought it mid-pandemic and have used it so much. Power numbers are bang on vs. my road & mtb meters, and the road feel gimmick - it is so cool. It works flawlessly within Zwift - every time you go over a virtual wooden bridge, or a cobbled or gravel sector, the road feel changes accordingly and it is surprisingly immersive and very impressive. I have muscular thighs, and I can make them touch the seat post, but my normal cadence motion doesn't get anywhere near, so it's a non issue for me. The shifters are buttons, but you quickly get used to them and are another non issue. It's also incredibly reliable, with no drop outs, never needing calibration... it is just there, ready to spin when you are. Can't recommend enough.

[KeatB]

Sounds like they’ve truly missed the mark for a multi-thousand dollar premium product. I love my Neo OG but would switch to kickr bike if I ever went down that route. Thanks for the honest review

[patrickj]

I can visualize the meeting after head of development sees Lama's review. "Yeah, but we nailed the cadence!"

[ATG]

This is a hard pass. Even if you were in the market, spending this amount for an indoor trainer is a no go.
I ride the wahoo kickr bike v1, ands it’s been great

[Savonge]

14:40 kinda sums up the whole review. thanks for being so thorough shane so we'll know exactly what not to buy :)

[mattpage]

Nvidia: Check out our new graphics card, you won't believe how much more expensive it is than the last one!
Garmin: Hold my beer.

[stephenprice]

Great review. Can’t believe how it performed with resources Garmin have. Shifters look great but glad I got a Stages SB20. Much better value for money.

[Chader]

Thanks again for doing so much work to find the flaws in these products. Just a bit crazy to see a 2nd gen fail on so many levels.

[kurastyles]

I had a very disappointing experience with mine. Did just over 8000km and they had no history or stock at the time for replacing the belt. They said they would have to replace the whole unit. However, they had no stock. So had to box it all up again and send back. Fans were cheap junk and wouldn't even put them on a shitty pc. Any chance you could be please report back to me/us about replacement belts for this and is the previous issue been sorted (stock etc world wide). Thanks Lama. Ps: Belt issue was it shredded into 3 pieces with small pieces being scattered through the pulleys and tensioner.

[mlegrand]

It's really fun for us the audience to watch you get frustrated with these sprints. Sorry to be laughing at your expense there. 😆

[RichardWait]

Ouch - with Stages almost giving the SB20 away at $1699 - this is a hard sell now...

[retoreto]

What about the big problem with the loose left crank? Are the same screw and bolts installed?

[MrDaljoh]

I was really surprised that the original saddle fitted me suprisingly well. I have been using the new NEO bike for a week as well and so far I'm happy with it. Now I can finally set up the SRAM shifting as well :D. So far I haven't seen the "tire-skip" that you are talking about. Let's hope that all these issues can be solved with softwear update.

[michaelk.]

Thank you so much for this eye-opening and honest review. I am in the market for a second generation smart-bike, while trying to prevent my old Canyon bike on a NEO OG from total disintegration since quite a while. My wife already owns a SB20, which we bought 2 years ago after watching your reviews. Unfortunately, after perceiving severe inconsistencies between left and right Powermeter and many unsatisfying communications with their customer service, we had to go for a set of Assioma DUO to finally solve the power issue. Now, as Tacx/Garmin and Wahoo came forward with more than disappointing "Plus" versions of their products, that did not really adress the issues of the first generation bike, the door is open for Stages to introduce a second generation SB20. Will they take this opportunity?

[quantumdecoherence]

Thanks for verifying what a great value the Stages bike is. Glad I got it at less than $2k USD. Great review of this failed product and please, more F-bombs!

[galenkehler]

That clinches it. I'm going to have to build my own smart bike if the big brands can't do it right.

[radargillett]

Hi sane, thanks for your review that I watched in Jan 23. Do you kno if garmin or Wahoo are selling certified reconditioned bikes in Australia? Given your disappointment with the neo bike, how do you rate the Wahoo Nike?

[Tim-rr]

Thx for the vid. Awesome as always 😊. Is there any alternative to the tacx neo bike (except wahoo, SB20 and Wattbike) and which you can find in a commercial fitness studio? Would by nice to Zwift there, too…