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Tacx Neo 2T Smart Review

Easily the best bike trainer on the market for supercharged workouts in-season and off-season conditioning
tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review
Credit: Tacx
Price:  $1,400 List
Manufacturer:   Tacx
By Ryan Baham ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 13, 2022
85
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 10
  • Connectivity and Power Accuracy - 25% 9.0
  • Road Feel - 25% 9.0
  • Design - 20% 9.0
  • Setup - 20% 8.0
  • Portability - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Tacx Neo 2T Smart is a premium bike trainer to take your indoor cycling workouts to another level. With Garmin's recent acquisition of Tacx, you can expect to continue to see broader support for premium features and deeper integrations with the Tacx line and its high-end releases like the Neo 2T Smart that will benefit most from that development. In fact, the 2T has wider 3rd party support for pedal stroke analysis, so you're not stuck in a software silo. It's also more compatible with its hardware, accommodating more axle sizes than earlier versions. Have we mentioned that riding it feels like butter? And no need to calibrate the machine? It has some minor hiccups here and there, but it's the closest to being out on the road, which is why this bike trainer wins our Editors' Choice Award.
REASONS TO BUY
Does not require calibration
Realistic road-feel
Broad compatibility
Wider support for 3rd party apps
REASONS TO AVOID
Power output/response can lag
Pricey
Heavy
Somewhat of a pain to move around and set up

Looking for more additions to your training at-home experience? We've got you covered.

Editor's Note: The Tacx review was updated on January 15, 2022, and now includes more details on our favorite products and testing results.

Compare to Similar Products

 
tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review
This Product
Tacx Neo 2T Smart
Awards Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award  
Price $1,299 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$800 List
$584.95 at REI
$550 List$350 List
$227.49 at REI
$80 List
$41.89 at Amazon
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Pros Does not require calibration, realistic road-feel, broad compatibility, wider support for 3rd party appsLower price range for a premium trainer, good responsiveness, smooth, high power accuracyAffordable, simple to set up, easy to take on the road, great control for a tire drive trainerQuick setup, easy operation, durable, stable, communicates with training apps, low noiseVery affordable, light, easy to carry, store, and move around
Cons Power output/response can lag, pricey, heavy, somewhat of a pain to move around and set upStill relatively expensive, requires calibration, heavy, slightly aggressive in ERG modeResistance unit is just a bit bulky and heavy, manual drum adjustment, lower responsivenessLimited max resistance, roller can heat up and accelerate tire wear, no power data, no controlLimited resistance, cable shifter, durability and quality issues
Bottom Line Easily the best bike trainer on the market for supercharged workouts in-season and off-season conditioningA more affordable premium direct drive trainer to get you through winter, rain, and turbo-charged training sessionsA tire-drive model with all the awesome performance of a smart trainer at a fraction of the priceA simple, affordable, and highly functional tire drive trainer with the option to use it with training appsIf you can't possibly spend more, this trainer works to get the legs spinning
Rating Categories Tacx Neo 2T Smart Saris H3 Direct Drive Kinetic Road Machin... Saris Fluid 2 FDW Bike Trainer
Connectivity and Power Accuracy (25%)
9.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
1
Road Feel (25%)
9.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
2.0
Design (20%)
9.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
4.0
Setup (20%)
8.0
6.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
Portability (10%)
6.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
9.0
Specs Tacx Neo 2T Smart Saris H3 Direct Drive Kinetic Road Machin... Saris Fluid 2 FDW Bike Trainer
Type Direct drive Direct drive Tire drive Tire drive Tire drive
Weight (lbs) 47 lbs 47 lbs 28 lbs 21 lbs 19 lbs
Compatible Platforms TrainerRoad, Zwift, Tacx Films, Rouvy, Wahoo SYSTM, Kinomap, FulGaz, BKool, and Road Grand Tours. TrainerRoad, Zwift, Rouvy, BKOOL, Kinomap, RGT, and more TrainerRoad, Zwift, Kinetic Fit, Rouvy, Kinomap, Wahoo SYSTM, FulGaz. TrainerRoad, Zwift, Rouvy, Wahoo SYSTM None.
Communication Protocol ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth FTMS ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth FTMS ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth FTMS ANT+ BlueGiga USB None
Dimensions L-H-W (inches) 22.6" x 29.5" x 21.7" 31” x 18.5” x 19.5” 32"x22.4"x16" 28" x 21.5" x 15.7" 23.9 x 20.1 x 7.6
Storage Dimensions LxHxW (inches) 24.4" × 10.2" × 17.3" 8.5” x 18.5” x 19.5” 20.75"x8.25"x21.5" 20.5" x 9" x 20.75" 23.9 x 20.1 x 7.6
Power Comparison 1-3 watts, 1% 1-3 watts, 1% 10 watts, 5% 10 watts, 5% N/A
Decibel @ 230 Watts 57.8 dB 55.3 dB 55.9 dB 64.7 dB 65.2 dB
Roll Out Time @ 200 watts 26 seconds 58 seconds 17 seconds 15 seconds 5 seconds
Flywheel Virtual 20 lbs 12 lbs 3 lbs 5 lbs
Additonal No Cassette included No Cassette included Skewer included Skewer Skewer
Axle compatibility 130mm, 135mm || Adaptors for 142mm and 148mm available through Tacx. 130mm, 135mm compatible || Thru-axle available for 142mm and 148mm through CycleOps. 130mm, 135mm || 142mm and 148mm adaptors available through Kinetic. 120mm, 130mm, 135mm compatible || Thru-axle available for 142mm and 148mm through CycleOps. 130mm and 135mm || May need 3rd party adaptors for 142mm and 148mm

Our Analysis and Test Results

It's tough to beat the Neo 2T Smart. When you train using a 2T, you get to play with all of the cool features like pedal stroke analysis and feel the road texture in virtual simulations. It gets you closest to a real road experience among all the bike trainers right from your living room or wherever you set it up. We say "pretty close"… We'll spend the rest of this review explaining precisely what that means by examining its performance across the most crucial metrics.

Performance Comparison


tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - the differences between the neo 2 and the neo 2t are difficult to...
The differences between the Neo 2 and the Neo 2T are difficult to discern from the outside, but a new motor and a handful of other revamps make the 2T even better than its predecessor.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Connectivity and Power Accuracy


The Neo 2T uses the same communication protocols as its predecessor: Bluetooth Smart FTMS and ANT+ FE-C. There doesn't appear to have been any degradation in quality here. There are some reports of difficulty connecting to some of the independent training platforms like Zwift and some features not coming through when using ANT+, but that was most likely a platform issue, not a Tacx issue. At any rate, during our testing, we had no such issues. One of the great strengths here is that you can swap over to Bluetooth if you have connectivity issues with ANT+. With the new Bluetooth FTMS protocol that has emerged in the past few years, you shouldn't have too much trouble making the jump.


Aside from the actual protocols, Garmin (acquired Tacx in mid-April 2019) has worked hard to improve integrations with 3rd party apps. If you're a user of Garmin computers, you know that one of the biggest strengths is its crazy compatibility across 3rd party apps. You can do so much with it because there are tons and tons of apps that you can download (or build yourself, of course). It looks like there's potential for that in Tacx's future as the 2T expands its compatibility with some of the features that were previously confined to the Tacx Training App, like Pedal Stroke Analysis.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - the neo 2t smart allows you to see your power balance and stroke...
The Neo 2T Smart allows you to see your power balance and stroke profile using the Tacx training app, but that functionality should be extended to other major training apps soon enough.
Credit: Ryan Baham

One frustrating note here is that Mac users won't have access to this bounty. Tacx generally doesn't support Mac - its use has to be facilitated through 3rd party platforms like Zwift. We hope the Garmin development opens it for Mac users soonish.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - the neo 2t has no problem connecting across platforms and protocols...
The Neo 2T has no problem connecting across platforms and protocols for PC users.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Power data comes through just fine. There's the slightest of lags, which can be annoying in ERG mode if you're doing short sprints and need to hit a highish target for just a few seconds. It's even more annoying if you have a cadence target, but it's doable. As with the earlier versions, the power accuracy is accurate within 1%. We could not disprove that claim and found it to be the most accurate of our bunch - another major contributing factor to it winning our Editors' Choice Award. As with its predecessors, one of the coolest features of the bike trainer is that it retains all of its performance capabilities even when it's not plugged in, so you can still get in a ride if you forget your plug or aren't near an outlet, like roadside. The only thing that you won't get when unplugged is the simulated descent.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - even if you don't have power, the neo 2t still runs at full power...
Even if you don't have power, the Neo 2T still runs at full power (aside from the simulated descents).
Credit: Ryan Baham

Road Feel


This is an area where the Neo 2T really sets itself apart. Its big flywheel goes a long way to creating the inertia needed to simulate a real ride. Just like being out on the bike, when you first get on and start pedaling, you need to put a little effort into it to get the bike rolling. Same thing when you let off the gas for a bit and slow a bit. You need to put energy back into the wheel to get back up to speed. The big flywheel works a treat for that. But there's a little more that goes into it.


The flywheel is the primary bit of machinery that facilitates the ride. In addition to that, there's a fair bit of tech and programming to smooth over the rough spots (or simulate rough spots). The 2T uses Dynamic Inertia, which uses some sort of algorithmic space magic to do with weight, speed, and angle of incline to adjust and compensate to simulate real-world physics. This is what allows it to convince you that you just flew down a descent and then sprinted up the next hill when you're doing rollers on a virtual course.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - go ahead and get after it on the neo 2t.
Go ahead and get after it on the Neo 2T.
Credit: Ryan Baham

It's not perfect, but we found it to be the best among our tested trainers. It's close enough to make you forget you're on a trainer for a bit. Another cool bit of finessing from Tacx comes through redesigning their motor and its magnets. It's slightly quieter than the previous version, the Neo 2. The new design reduces movement from vibrations and air displacement, making it a little smoother. In addition to reducing general vibration, the new, more powerful motor shakes and vibrates more intensely when you're going over rough terrain like boards, cobble, and gravel in simulators like Zwift and Tacx. And, of course, there's no change to the simulated descent. Just like in the real world, you can coast down a hill and don't need to pedal to keep your wheels spinning. Remember that this feature won't work if you're not plugged in. With all these sweet attributes, it's tough to have eyes for any other trainer.

Design


In terms of the overall structure of the Neo 2T Smart, it's really one of the better designs. It's pretty simple, straightforward, and very stable, with just enough side-to-side play to allow you to move a little with your bike if you're up out of the saddle. It sways with you as you crank, improving the natural feel and possibly even saving your frame from the stress that would otherwise be going directly into it as you stand and kick.


Its weight isn't ideal, but that's unavoidable in the high-performance bike trainer world for now. The flywheel's inertia determines so much of that machine's performance, and weight is how you get there. The result is that it's the most natural-feeling trainer on the market, in our judgment.

In this third iteration, the overall design remains primarily unchanged but has a few updates. Most notably, it has a new motor, which is more powerful to improve ride feel during sprints and climbs. It improves the smoothing in ERG and allows for greater resistance at lower speeds. This is a welcome change, as the earlier Neo 2 had a bit of weakness in those areas. In side-by-side testing, we were definitely able to feel the difference. It's not dramatic, but discerning riders appreciate the improvement. Almost all trainers struggle with ERG and big, sudden changes in power requirements or output. This is a step in the right direction.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - one of the coolest things about the neo 2t is its ability to...
One of the coolest things about the Neo 2T is its ability to freewheel down a descent. It makes rollers and big climbs all the more real.
Credit: Ryan Baham

As many other major trainer companies have done, Tacx has also decided to expand its axle compatibility for its products. The Neo 2T has made alterations, so you can also fit 142x12 and 148x12 without buying adapters. You'll still need to buy one, however, if you're riding 135x10 or 135x12.

The last few notes on design and compatibility focus on cassettes. This is super important if you don't want to end at least one day super annoyed at your trainer and engineers in general. The Neo 2T comes with a hub body compatible with Shimano and SRAM 8 - 12 speed. We grouped these because Shimano and SRAM basically follow the same design standard for their groupsets, so you can usually ride a Shimano cassette with a drivetrain from SRAM without much hassle.

Campagnolo, on the other hand, is not as easy. If you want to ride with your Campy cassette, you'll need to buy a Campy hub from Tacx. Super important note: For the 2T, buy the T2875.51 CAMPAGNOLO hub. You might only be able to find it on the Tacx site. Don't just type in "Campy hub Tacx" and buy the first thing that pops up because you'll probably end up buying the T2805.51, which will absolutely not fit the 2T…which is a fact we found out to our undying chagrin.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - you'll notice that the shimano hub on the left has a larger diameter...
You'll notice that the Shimano hub on the left has a larger diameter than what turns out to be last year's Campagnolo hub...which doesn't fit the 2T model. You'll need to buy the new Campy hub.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Here's another thing we found out: you can probably get away with riding Campy 11 speed on an 11 speed Shimano cassette. Just be careful and be ready for clicking, cruddy shifting, and maybe a subtle feeling of disappointment. You'll have better luck if you match component speeds (10 speed with 10 speed, 11 speed with 11 speed, etc.).

You'll also need to buy a separate hub body for SRAM XD and XD-R. The T2875.76 SRAM XD-R body works for 11 and 12 speed SRAM XD and SRAM XD-R cassettes. If you're riding Specialized SCS, you're probably out of luck, as no hub will fit that system. No matter what you ride, make sure to check whether you need spacers or not. Unless you run 12 speed, you probably need to use them.

Setup


Among the direct-drive models, the Neo 2T is the easiest trainer to get set up and rolling. We specify that because it can be a bit of a pain to put on the cassette, especially if you need to throw on a new freehub, as we mentioned in the design section. If you have your cassette ready and your lockring and wrench all laid you, you can probably get yourself set up and ready to go within 15 minutes. If you're easily distracted or not much of a mechanic, set aside about an hour.


After unboxing, assuming you ride Shimano or SRAM, you can put the cassette on the Shimano hub body that comes with the trainer. If you ride Campy, SRAM XD, or XD-R, you'll need to have already purchased a hub body specific to that cassette, and you'll need a hex key/Allen wrench to unbolt the hub that's on there and install the new hub.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - your default setup friends for direct drive trainers like the tacx...
Your default setup friends for direct drive trainers like the Tacx Neo 2T.
Credit: Ryan Baham

If you run a 12-speed groupset, you likely won't need to use the spacers, but anything lower, and you'll want to use the spacers that Tacx includes in the goody bag.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - the contents of the tacx goody bag (plus a sweet wheel stand).
The contents of the Tacx goody bag (plus a sweet wheel stand).
Credit: Ryan Baham

Once you've lined up all your splines and have your lockring tightened down, you're ready to go. Grab your bike, shift into your smallest cog, and pedal it through with your hand to get the chain down there, remove your rear wheel, and line it up over the trainer, throw in either your skewer or the skewer Tacx provides (we didn't notice a difference). Plug it in. Now you're broadcasting Bluetooth so your phone, tablet, or computer can pick it up. If you want to use the ANT+, you'll need a device that can read it, which requires a dongle in your computer's USB port in the PC world.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - our reviewer transferring cassettes between the neo 2 and 2t. be...
Our reviewer transferring cassettes between the Neo 2 and 2T. Be sure to look into sizes and have the right wrench, locking tool, and chain whip if you don't already have them on-hand.
Credit: Ryan Baham

One of the biggest day-to-day strengths of the Neo 2T is that you never have to calibrate it. You don't need to spend 10 minutes warming the machine up then doing a roll-down before you can rely on your data…until the temperature changes or the next 30 days go by. It's good to go straight away.

In terms of the ongoing maintenance and setup, it's tough to beat the 2T. The biggest pain is removing your rear wheel or swapping out cassettes and/or hubs. That's true for any direct-drive trainer. The significant advantage here is that you never have to worry about wearing down your tires and replacing them every couple hundred miles as with tire-drive models.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - pulling off the wheel and getting the derailleur aligned is the...
Pulling off the wheel and getting the derailleur aligned is the extent of your on-going troubles with the Neo 2T. All said, maybe 3-5 minutes of setup if your trainer is put away and your wheel's still on the bike.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Portability


Portability has a few factors that go into it. We primarily look at the effort that goes into moving the machine around, the breakdown of the trainer, and the practicality of taking it somewhere. Scores are a triangulation of those factors with a bit of real-world judgment.


So…the Neo 2T is quite heavy. It's one of the heaviest out there at 47 pounds. You won't be comfortable taking this machine with you on road trips or stuffing it in a suitcase. Furthermore, if you do choose to run around with it, the legs fold up to give you the illusion that it's easy to carry, only to find that the fingers gripping on the drivetrain side will get slashed and greased by the cassette if you grab the natural spot for your hands. It's not ideal…

On the plus side, though, it folds up quite compactly for storage when it's not in use. And as we mentioned before, it does have that sweet capacity to run on your power if you're far away from a plug. So long as you're pedaling, you'll get all the premium performance you'd get otherwise, except for the downhill simulation.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - after being lucky enough to ride the tacx neo 2t, it's hard to...
After being lucky enough to ride the Tacx Neo 2T, it's hard to imagine settling for anything else.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Should You Buy the Neo 2T?


Absolutely; we think you'd be hard-pressed to find a better bike trainer on the market. This option is a high-end powerhouse suitable for off-season and in-season indoor conditioning to keep you road-ready no matter the weather or situation. This trainer doesn't require calibration, provides a very realistic road feel, exceptional compatibility, and impressive support for 3rd party training applications. No matter your riding goals, we think this is the best if your budget allows.

tacx neo 2t smart bike trainer review - did we mention the 2t's cool running lights for those of us who ride...
Did we mention the 2T's cool running lights for those of us who ride in the dark?
Credit: Ryan Baham

What Other Bike Trainer Should You Consider?


If you can afford this trainer, we say why look elsewhere when building your indoor conditioning space? However, depending on your needs, goals, and wallet, other trainers could be a better or more comfortable fit. For instance, if you hope to take it on travel, the Saris H3 Direct Drive is significantly more portable with only a slight drop in performance many might not even notice. It is also less expensive. If your budget is tighter still, then the Kinetic Road Machine Control could be the one for you as it offers a nice balance between overall performance and reasonable price.

We've also performed tests for our best budget exercise bikes review if you want an economical stand-alone bike.

Ryan Baham
 
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