Garmin Tacx NEO 3M In-Depth Review: Worth it!?

Here's full in-depth review of the Tacx NEO 3M, from accuracy to realism, and plenty more!

After a four-year wait, the next generation Tacx NEO series trainer is here - the Tacx NEO 3M. As one will quickly assess, the ‘M’ in 3M stands for ‘motion’, as this trainer isn’t sitting still. Instead, Garmin/Tacx has incorporated the previously released Tacx NEO Motion Plates into the Tacx NEO 3M design, bringing it built-in forward/back motion, alongside increased side-to-side tilting motion. And finally, we get a Tacx trainer that has a darn handle built-in to move it around!

However, the bulk of the changes on the Tacx NEO 3M are actually inside. From a significantly more powerful resistance system that now easily takes the crown as the best ERG-mode smart trainer out there in terms of accuracy and control (not overshooting/undershooting). And beyond that, Garmin has brought WiFi and Ethernet to the trainer, albeit via an accessory adapter. Further, coming next year Garmin is aiming to add a higher-speed data mode, commonly called ‘Race mode’. But we’ll get to all the changes. Down below.I’ve been using the Tacx NEO 3M for the past month or so, putting it through it’s paces in all manner of workouts and suffering.

0:00 Quick Overview
0:42 What's Changed
1:31 The Spec Bumps
1:49 Unboxed Parts
2:48 Setup & Compatibility
3:35 Downhill Forward Drive Explained
4:13 Pairing & WiFi/Ethernet Adapter
5:37 Motion Demonstrated & Explained
8:10 Road Surface Simulation Explained
8:56 Realism and Inertia
9:38 Sound/Noise Levels
10:54 Power Accuracy - Is it better?
12:07 A Geeky Deep-Dive Into ERG Responsiveness
14:25 SIM/Gradient Accuracy
16:12 Final Thoughts & Comparisons

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#TacxNEO3M #Tacx #Garmin #TacxNEO

[KdM_BigRingBubba]

To me, this feels like a $2, 700 CAD slightly moving handle with dual bluetooth. Right now, you can get a 2T for less than half that price, and it's still a very good trainer (albeit without some of the newer incremental features). I can't see a compelling reason to get this at that price point when there are other trainers that largely do the same thing for much cheaper.

[davidmulligan]

I knew this would happen right after my new Tacx Neo 2T was delivered! My 2020 Tacx Neo 2T went up in smoke last week, so I ordered another one, which arrived yesterday. I felt bad until the end of your review where you mentioned the price. $2k vs the $900 I paid for the 2T a few days ago...I'll stick with the 2T :)

[cervelott]

Excellent review as always. Love going down the rabbit hole with you.

[kargi]

I would like to see this unit LamaLab tested.

[ChristoNorman]

Thanks for the review. You and GPLama are my go-to for all things sports tech.

[seanvk]

Nice review! I really like how you translate the features so well in terms of intentions in the feature by Tacx, how it compares, and what the user would experience and under what conditions. Incredibly helpful.

[cvdavis]

Another fantastic review. Best reviewer on the web.

[chriskennedy]

Glad this came so late in the holiday season otherwise I’d be tempted to buy. I’m a big fan of erg mode workouts and great to see they’ve surpassed saris now. Price to features ratio is just off tho. I hope the first big firmware update includes race mode and WiFi -that’s got to be included but just not active, right?!? Plus no Neo climb. Can’t wait for the Kickr/Neo deep dive vid. Great vid as always Ray! 🎉

[lydsrod]

I have been a HUGE fan of how you review. Thank you so much. So intelligently done. Helps me make great decisions on how to spend my money.

[ifitrollsrideit]

Still have my original Tacx Neo and it still works perfectly. Rock solid purchase. I guess I could upgrade but really not sure there 's any benefit.

[Xhadp]

The 2T model that you can get for 900 USD down from 1400 directly from Garmin's site is looking mighty fine right now. Given the features on the 3M version are not worth the extra 1K price tag. Already have the Zwift Hub One so not for me.

I agree with you, they needed to add something like climb functionality or something like track bike functionality for it to be worth the 2K price point, which is the price of a Wahoo Kickr plus climb simulator for reference. Even if this bike knocks it out of the park with its current functions and is able to be problem-free for the next couple of years the price point is still a major problem when compared to other trainers with it costing sometimes even 1K more than other competitors including its own trainer that its retiring.

What they needed to do is to do a complete refresh on the Tacx Neo bike lineups. The current Flux and Tacx bike trainers are looking okay vs other offerings but the Neo bike(s) are not up to par with less than ideal shifters and whatever is going on with the front console unit and the trainer unit on it is virtually the same as the 2T.

[strouja]

Great job Ray. I think Garmin should come out again w/ a new smart bike as the last refresh they did was not nearly as accurate as this in terms of power meter reading in ERG mode for interval workouts, which GP Lama covered and I think you did as well. Thanks again

[rivingtonandstanton]

Completely agree with Ray's point about Garmin/Tacx perhaps over-focusing on the marginal accuracy improvement gains. This is akin to what happened in the digital camera realm leading up to the iphone/smart phone era. It was a mega-pixel arms race every product cycle, and then the iPhone came out and upended much of the digital imaging paradigm. 'Good' was no longer the thing with 10% more megapixels; it was the thing with greater versatility and good enough image quality for most people. This is what Zwift has done with the Zwift Hub — they are thinking about ecosystem versatility —vs— making absolute hardware.
I own and use the Tacx Neo 1 heavily. My partner owns the Zwift Hub One—which I use as well. While the build and engineering quality isn't even close between the two, the practical day-to-day experience is not worlds apart. Plus, Zwift has been good (lately) at updating features on the platform and with their devices. For many of us who train and race, the services and ecosystem side of the equation is every bit as important as the hardware — and our expectations tend to be set by companies that deliver the most dynamic, versatile experiences at a greater frequency.

[D_Gomez]

Sticking with the discounted 2T
2 stacks for 3m is crazy man

[Witcherworks]

I know this is a trainer but the Sb20 is the same price at least it was during Black Friday. Wouldn’t this be a better buy? I wish you did a recap on these things for us newbies lol. I want to make sure I didn’t obsolete myself getting the Stages. Thanks DC Rainmaker for the work you do for us!

[SonnyDarvish]

High accuracy mostly benefits racers. I use trainer just to have something at home during the winter. As long as it's comfortable and natural (which usually it isn't), I would be happy. Accuracy can be compensated with an external power meter, which I use Assioma anyway.

[mikeprytherch]

Thanks Ray, I'm a big Neo fan, I bought the original one, mainly as it was so quiet, currently running the 2T, but I won't be getting this, the price is stupid

[XaverDu]

Thx for the excellent review (as always…), Actually I was expecting a new neo trainer when they started offering the 2T with some accessories for a good price, but with this new price tag I‘m gonna go for the Elite justo which is sold here in Austria for €809.- including delivery…

[MI_MattHarrell]

I suspect that the addition of the motor and additional magnets for the road feel feature add quite a bit more cost to this trainer than most people are considering. That's some serious hardware (and software) added to this trainer that most (all?) other trainers lack, and most certainly the Wahoo one that was compared to this one in another DC Rainmaker video. For many people, that hardware and those two features may not be worth the extra several hundred dollars, but they are to me, which is why I'm considering replacing my Wahoo KICKR ROLLR with one of these. Anything that can help a God-awful indoor ride feel more like I'm *actually* going for a bike ride will make it more likely that I'll get on the trainer. That downhill simulation is a huge deal to me. I hate that I have to keep pedaling going downhill in the trainer, with my displayed speed shooting through the roof even though I'm just pedaling at a normal pace with standard flat terrain resistance. DRIVES ME NUTS.

[timothychansa]

Great review, can't wait for the comparison video. Wondering where you hid this one during the Openhouse ;-) 😀