If youre still running 135x10mm or 135x12mm thru axles, Elite has you covered too. You may want to consider configuring it using the My E-Training app, which can be downloaded to your smartphone. The Drivo was accurate, stable, and nearly flawless. And even if you're not going to use that, it's still good value given the performance. If youve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as 1.99. It was related to software and I needed to reconfigure the trainer. On the whole, the data shows the Elite Direto XR tracks my on-bike power meters very well. Click for detailed specifications, reviews from Zwifters, and more! Alternatively, you can connect to a cycle computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet via ANT+ or ANT+ FE-C, if your device supports those or you have a dongle accessory. The second level involved Testers. Seeing the consumers desire for the product in market sales, Elite decided to update the Direto family. - More power, faster response and more performance, the third generation Direto pushes the limits of what can be expected of a trainer at this pricepoint, - A further refined and upgraded drive unit gives the XR the capacity to faithfully replicate inclines of up to 24% and the ability to produce over 3,600 Watts of resistance at 60 KMPH, - Comes fully assembled with an 11-speed cassette already installed, ready to go out of the box, - Elite's unique and proven OTS (Optical Torque Sensor) technology has allowed precision to a point where Elite can now have the Direto-XR independently certified to a class-leading 1.5% power accuracy, - Oversized gearing wheel increases the 5.1 KG flywheel's RPM's, generating a smoother, more realistic feel, - Compact and easy to carry when folded but super stable once set-up, the Direto's extra wide feet are adjustable to allow rock solid performance on uneven surfaces, - The body of the trainer has been tweaked to make it compatible with the bulkier rear derailleurs often used with 1 x drivetrains, - Compatible with 130 and 135 mm quick release frames as well as 142 x 12 mm thru-axles, adaptors for BOOST 148 x 12 frames are available separately, - Includes a free 12 month subscription to Elite's My E-training App for Windows, iOS and Android and a 1-month free Zwift subscription, - Now comes with a custom front wheel riser block included, - Compatible with 9, 10 and 11-speed Shimano and Sram cassettes (not included), can be adapted for Campagnolo using adaptor TT14233, SRAM XDR with TT14279 or Shimano MICRO SPLINE using TT14315, Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose. It would be ideal if the Direto XR had an auto-calibration function like the Kickr, but my testing nevertheless indicates it should return reliable data without the need for constant calibration. Here are the Directo XR trainer details from Zwift Insiders Smart Trainer Index. Prices - Elite Direto Smart Turbo Trainer: UCI suspends continental team's licence due to doping investigation, Its always the same, the rider who wins the Tour, no one believes it: Christophe Laporte says nothing changes with suspicion in cycling, Tour de France Femmes gravel stage throws up a tyre choice conundrum for team mechanics, Exclusive interviews, fitness tips and product reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Crappy trainer! The legs have fixing bolts with large plastic knobs on them, which need to be screwed and unscrewed by hand in order to release and lock them. It suffers the odd glitch from time to time, as you can see at the end of the trace here. The flywheel isn't as heavy as some, but I don't feel it negatively affects the feel of the ride; if you drop a few gears and open up a sprint you still have to wind the Direto up to speed, and it responds well to sprint efforts. Heres why you can trust us. Of course, not an issue if youre not eRacing, but really quite infuriating if you are. I will explain in greater detail. The overall score is not just I immediately contacted Elite about the issue and within a day, a solution was provided. There's quite a lot in My E-training, and given that you get a year free it's certainly worth exploring a bit. I've already mentioned it gives you access to pedal stroke analysis data, and there's loads more in there too. Finally, with the dropping to zero watts, the Garmin pedals were quickest, generally taking just one or two seconds. When you're riding around in Zwift or My E-training the trainer responds very well to changes in gradient, and is fully capable of making things really difficult on the steep stuff if you set the realism nice and high. |, 7/6/a/2/76a299f64f24aeafd73ed0294fe39035f89a7d55_0171010_Direto_XR_open_1000.png, Good ride feel; accurate power data; quiet; easy to use; cassette and riser block included in the box; legs fold in for storage, Construction feels a little cheap; no quick-release mechanism on the foldable legs. Not the very best in ERG mode, no rocking mechanism. Italy is famed for beautifully-designed buildings and machinery which marry form and function the Coliseum and Ferrari being examples. At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. You must TAKE THE SHOT! Terms of Use/DMCA Copyright Policy My E-Training allows you to ride virtual video courses or use your GPS data, and create training plans and workouts. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The erg mode, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment. Outwardly, its more of the same with the Direto XR. How does that compare to your own feelings about it? The trainers come ready assembled and all you need to do is fold out the legs and secure them into position. Elite also responded to inform me that after investigating the issue, it was related to the motherboard and a small bit of soldiering on one of the contacts caused the issue this reinforces my point about these being complex pieces of technology that can have issues. This is due the resistance technology used and the fact it takes time for a motor to mechanically move a magnet backwards and forwards. Thanks, looking at this or saris model for direct drive as it cheaper than kicker or tacx. When my Direto XR-T arrived and I connected it to Zwift, I noticed some irregularities with the movement of the avatar. Its really nothing to worry about as i already noted, the accuracy is there. This has both positive and negative implications. So which trainer are you referring to? I don't really know, to be honest. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. So both within a few seconds of each other. So this test was a throwback to those days where we were not so consumed by data. I topped out in 7:01 on my Tacx Flux S, and with the XR-T, I completed it in 6:57. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. This site contains affiliate links to Amazon, Wahoo, and other brands. Furthermore, there was no mention that I was from Zwift Insider, so did not receive any preferential treatment. All material FarrellyAtkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Simon also makes regular appearances on the BikeRadar Podcast and BikeRadars YouTube channel. Both models accommodate long cage derailleurs and are compatible with 9/10/11 speed Shimano/SRAM, 9/10/11/12 speed Campagnolo (and can be purchased separately), 12 speed SRAM NX, and 12-speed Shimano Micro Spline cassettes. This essentially means many (if not most) people will have pretty much everything they need to get going straight out of the box (except a bike, of course), which is great. Its not difficult to do by any means, but it is a bit of a chore if you dont have a dedicated space for your indoor cycling, and have to set up and stow the trainer away before and after every session. The third level is testing by the pro cyclists. When I compare the design to its competitors, it would appear that this weight saving has been obtained by using a different style of plastic for the outer casing, which perhaps is not as aesthetically pleasing. On the graph above you'll notice the Direto line is starting to drop below the Rotor line and in a sprint it's a fair chunk below, by about 50W. Its also a little cheaper than the comparable top end offerings from Wahoo, Tacx and Saris. I did a couple of tests to the accuracy of the trainer, one which could be considered old school and another a bit more scientific. Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product? Now, hes come full circle and is back out on the trails, although the flat bars have been swapped for the curly ones of a gravel bike. (You will need to buy a separate freehub for Campagnolo, SRAM 12 speed, and Shimano Micro Spline cassettes, although this is the same for all turbo trainers on the market today.). The technical details of the product are as follows: The Direto XR and XR-T feature the OTS which Elite explains is a power meter based on an optical sensor technology that measures the torsion of the trainer axisand on sophisticated electronics processing. Either is believable. compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price. It might not simulate reality so much, but its a nicer user experience. Faced with competition from the Tacx Neo and Wahoo KICKR, Elite went back to their design studio. First, it helps to get a handle on Elites interactive smart trainer hierarchy. The trainer does respond as you can see from the diagram and the limiting factor in the test was my ability. Which smart trainers are compatible with Zwift, TrainerRoad and The Sufferfest? Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? My second trainer works as expected in terms of applying the right level of resistance. The Direto XRs outer construction is mostly plastic. And works well. The legs do fold in though, which makes it quite compact side to side. can you elaborate on the resistance issue in ERG mode with your first trainer? If youre not a heavy user of erg mode and arent interested in Zwift racing, then you might as well save a bit of money and go for the Elite Direto XR-T for everything other than those two aspects its really quite good - and the power numbers proved to be very reliable. It's not the most stable ERG mode I've tried that's still the Tacx Neo 2 but it's okay. But even then, its not at all uncommon for two power meters both claiming 1% accuracy to spit out two sets of readings which fall outside of each others ranges so make of that what you will. They checked whether the trainer met Elites specific requirements. Best road bikes: how to choose the right one for you. It would be very interesting to compare support help speed and empathy since ive just sent a ticket on Elite support page because my Suito doesnt operate resistance levels for some reason. If you dont want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. If you do need to perform a spin-down calibration and Id recommend performing one after you get the unit out of the box, after moving it, or if your training location has experienced a temperature fluctuation doing so is quick and simple, and can be done in-game on Zwift or via Elites My E-Training app for iOS or Android. However, the erg mode does slam on like a brick wall and has a greater tendency to send you into a death spiral of ever lower cadence than other trainers do. (Interestingly, the R in the name, stands for RIZER, which the unit is compatible with. I hooked up the turbo with a Merida Scultura sporting the new Dura Ace power meter crankset and a pair of Garmin Vector 3 pedals (dont worry, these are the updated version which fixed the reliability issues of the original pedals). The main external change versus the outgoing Direto X is the updated stickers. In the future is possible add to the index summery if trainer meets esports rules ? Although these three elements are important particularly so in mid range and entry level turbos its really the ride feel and any other unique selling points which mark the most significant differences between the top end turbos. The Direto XR-T is compatible with most bike frames, particularly those with a130-135 x 5mm quick release or 142 x 12mm thru-axle. Its not a super heavy turbo, but the position of the handle is a little more awkward to hold than the Wahoo Kickr, for instance. A slight drop in my RPM and it would immediately pile on more resistance, which would begin a vicious cycle of another drop in my cadence and progressively more resistance. For the 30s on / 30s easy, the numbers came out as this: Again, the Elite Direto under pitched the efforts, but was still impressively consistent against the other power meters. The Saris H3, which at 849.99 / $999.99 is more closely matched to the Directo XR, only comes with a riser block, and cheaper options such as the Kickr Core dont include any of these accessories. It means the Direto XR, at 15.8kg with a cassette installed, is considerably lighter than something like the Wahoo Kickr (21.9kg), weighing just over 6kg less. A quiet and reliable smart trainer, with great specs and useful included accessories, GBP 824.99 RRP OK, the ERG performance isn't as good as some I've tried, but it's a solid unit with accurate power, and the price is good. We just rode hard and saw if there was a big time gap between the bikes! Elite state that the Direto XR-T is one of the most accurate commercially available home trainers.. All the way up the hierarchy, theres a continual increase in the maximum resistance, maximum simulated gradient and the power accuracy, culminating in the Direto XR (which comes with an 11 speed cassette) and the Direto XR-T which, like the Suito-T, comes without a cassette. Perhaps a touch louder than the Kickr when youre working hard, but all things considered its perfectly acceptable my drivetrain and large fan both make more noise. Overall, though, the Direto XR is a great option for any serious indoor cyclist. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The difference between the Garmin Vector 2S pedals and the trainer was -0.33% in favour of the pedals, but the average power was only +0.08% different. To test the accuracy of the inbuilt power meter, I compared power data from my test rides to my two current benchmark power meters: an Infocrank Classic and a set of Favero Assioma Duo pedals. For this reason, it soon surpassed Elites own Drivo as the go-to trainer offered by Elite. Its whilst sprinting the trainer makes the most noise, reaching 80 decibels (dB), but normally it ranges between 60 and 70 (dB) which translates to noise levels in an office environment.. Elite claims (perhaps inevitably) the Direto XR is more accurate than its predecessor, with an error margin of +/- 1.5%, and that it can generate 2,300W of resistance and simulate a slope up to 24%. There are in excess of 15 Testers at Elite. Likewise, the Direto XRs maximum power is 2,300 watts 100 watts higher than that of the Kickr, 300 watts higher than the Saris H3 and 400 watts higher than the Elite Suito. |, USD $949.99 Always looking for the next challenge, hes Everested in under 12 hours (opens in new tab) and ridden the South Downs Double in sub 20 (opens in new tab). For those interested in eRacing, the Direto XR-T takes a very long time for the watts to drop to zero in order to super tuck. It sounds comparable to my Tacx Flux S trainer. Plug in the trainer and away you go. The replacement trainer I received works without issues. The external build quality doesnt quite live up to some of its peers, but whether this has any bearing on long-term performance for the majority of riders is debatable. In terms of stability, the Elite Direto XR-T performs better than its relatively light weight would suggest there is still some movement when putting in an all-out effort, but the wide legs mean it isnt unacceptable. Simon joined BikeRadar in 2020, but has been riding bikes all his life, and racing road and time trial bikes for over a decade. All are cyclists who understand the technicalities of indoor cycling, and they provided feedback to the Project Team. This community-driven site is maintained by Eric Schlange and a team of Zwift enthusiasts. If you prefer you can ride GPS routes, with a Google Maps satellite view, or even record your own video on a smartphone app to ride at home. On the other hand, this ability to ramp up the resistance super high, super quickly made it a really good match for riding around the virtual roads of Zwift, whether thats the rolling sections of Titans Grove or the super steep ramps on Richmonds Cobbled Climbs Reverse. Before any event begins, it is particularly important to have your legs spinning so you are not left behind at the start! Tel 01225 588855. It backs off, then goes back up again before it starts to find a level. This makes swapping between axle adaptors easy (adaptors for standard 130mm/135mm quick release and 142x12mm thru-axles are included in the box), but I can see this part running off and getting lost at some point. The resistance felt consistent the whole time, if my eyes were closed I would have had no complaints and looking at the averages, it seems to have all sorted itself all out but those spikes were quite disconcerting when doing the efforts. The large dropout after 10 minutes is when I stopped to calibrate all of the power meters. Training with heart rate vs training with power | Which is best for you. try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. Yes, Use this box to explain your overall score. You get good tools for viewing your data within the platform, but it's also easy to get it out into Strava, TrainingPeaks or Garmin Connect if you prefer to crunch the numbers there. Other trainers, such as the Tacx Neo 2T and to a lesser extent the Wahoo Kickr V5, offer a more active ride with the bike able to pivot a bit. The trainer was more favourable, by +2.08% than the Garmin Vector 2S pedals. From concept to production 2 years passed. At full price, its not really cheap enough to justify these idiosyncrasies, but when on sale as it often is the performance is very good for the price. Tim is an eight-year cancer survivor who has finally regained and surpassed pre-cancer fitness levels through the intense use of Zwift. This is true of all flywheel-based trainers. As a person of little physical talent, he has a keen interest in any tech which can help him ride faster and is obsessed with the tiniest details. Gonna need something to watch. Everything looks pretty good to me. Adaptors for 148x12mm Boost hubs and 157x12mm Super Boost hubs are available too. Cycling Weekly is supported by its audience. There's no carry handle, but it's easy enough to grab at the top of the flywheel and sling into a cupboard if you can't keep your trainer set up where you train. In the event you need a different cassette, you may need to purchase a freehub separately. And there are plenty to choose from. We don't intentionally I didnt experience any cadence or power dropouts during testing, and it returned consistent data on a day-to-day basis, even before performing routine spin-down calibration tests. In this case, I was impressed with Elites efficiency and resolution. On the one hand thats great for someone, like me, with cyclists arms, who finds moving heavy objects around the house a genuine struggle. This includes changes to the gradient of Zwift, the trainer responds immediately to the onscreen gradient, including when the RIZER is attached. The main thing you want the numbers to be is repeatable, and the Direto XR proves very consistent. I will have to research all that as I dont know about that topic, but considering Elite supply this to the Pros, I imagine it is compliant. Not as refined as other top end turbos but significantly cheaper, with reliable power readings. As usual with smart trainers, its worth periodically checking for new firmware updates because the unit wont automatically update itself. Although dabbling in racing off-road, on-road and virtually (opens in new tab), to date his only significant achievement has been winning the National Single-Speed Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championships in 2019. Quick response to changes in virtual gradients, It can feel a bit of a struggle not to let your cadence drop in erg mode, It takes a very long time for the watts to drop to zero, allowing you to super tuck in Zwift races. What do the manufacturers say about it? A claimed power accuracy of 1.5% isnt, of course, equal to the 1% some other brands claim. The same tendencies showed through when doing some 30 seconds on / 30 seconds off efforts I needed to really spin up a high cadence before the 400w interval started or else itd feel like hitting a brick wall of huge resistance which would make just turning the pedals a struggle. As we go higher (this is 470W for a minute) I'm working at a higher cadence and the line is smoother. On the final effort when I stopped pedalling and stayed stopped, it was around 15 seconds until the Elite finally read zero. Quick release and 12mm through axles are supported through interchangeable end caps, but there's no mechanism to raise or lower the cassette to simulate different wheels sizes. Whether this has any actual effect on long-term durability or performance is hard to say. It cant quite match the pricier Wahoo Kickr and its 7.25kg flywheel, or the Saris H3 and its 9kg flywheel, but in practice the difference isnt likely to affect your indoor cycling experience that much. Just as an FYI and harkening back to my old school test, I completed the Volcano Climb in 7:12 this time, but as you can see, I only really increased the power towards the end and kept it largely steady. At the time, their top trainer was the Drivo. Zwift Insider makes a small commission on purchases made from these links, so please shop through them to support our efforts. But for the most part it does a grand job. Just like with a bike, its when youre really putting the hammer down that you gain the best sense of a turbos mettle. I am highlighting this because I think support for your product is important and I want to know that if I have an issue, there will be someone to engage with and resolve the matter. Your subscription will help us to do more. Elites Direto XR-T is a quality trainer with good functionality. An exercise here in driver bullshit played out in court hereif ever I heard one: >800 for a helmet, a pair of shades and some bibs!?!? Already have an account with us? The included power cable is 2.5 metres long, so you shouldnt need an extension lead, and once plugged in the trainer was quickly found by Zwift running on a Macbook Pro using Bluetooth. Picked up mine last week when they went on sale at BikeCloset for $650.00. It was like it was moving in slow motion. So, with the context now out of the way, lets drill into just what the Direto XR-T has to offer. The Direto XR comes fully setup out of the box, with everything you need to get started included. But it is worth noting that even the very best amateur track sprinters dont tend to go much higher than 2,000w, so youre not really going to be gaining anything from this trainers extra capacity. For a start there are standard FTP tests and a wealth of training sessions; you can create a training program for yourself or build your own workouts from scratch. Data can be seen in the diagram (and live here on ZwiftPower), including where I had a rest after my first all-out effort. Yes, Im not a sprinter and I didnt top 800 watts but I tried to push it for the purpose of highlighting what the trainer can do. Very well it's a good quality direct drive trainer. Unboxing the trainer, setting up a bike and connecting it to the PC took less than ten minutes. Simon writes reviews and features on power meters, smart trainers, aerodynamic bikes and kit, and nerdy topics like chain lubricants, tyres and pro bike tech. Once you are moving, the trainer is responsive and you can increase the power by going through the gears. I am still waiting for a Christmas present to be delivered. After thorough testing, the product is approved and moves to mass production. However, at a still significant $949.99 / 829.99, its not that much cheaper than the Saris H3 at $1,099.99 / 899.99. Weve noticed youre using an ad blocker. Interestingly, the Dura-Ace power meter and the Garmin Vector pedals switched places from the 250w effort regarding which one was reading highest. Of course, the Direto XR and XR-Tare compatible with theRIZER, Elitesgradient simulator with built-in steering, which I recently reviewed. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site. Very good smart trainer that's priced well against its competition, If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website, Make and model: Elite Direto XR Direct Drive Interactive Trainer. are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. You may wish to add a trainer mat to catch sweat and dirt or oil from your bike, but thats not essential. It's directly competing with units like the Wahoo Kickr Smart Trainer V5 at 999.99, and the Saris H3 Direct Drive Smart Trainer at 849.99, and it's comparable to either in accuracy, performance and ride feel. Any trainer that can accurately transmit your power is, by definition, a power meter. Priced at 824.99/ 849.99 / $949.99, its a solid performer and also undercuts key competitors like the new Wahoo Kickr though, there are some small trade-offs for this. Which of the two is right? The slightly lower build quality does extend to small parts such as the axle adaptors, though. https://bikecloset.com/product/elite-direto-xr-with-cassette/, Pace Partner Weekly Update: Almost Graduation Day, Top 5 Zwift Videos: ZwiftPower, Hard Races, and Smart Trainer Setup, Ghosted by the Ghost: the 200-Meter Limit to Zwifts Invisibility PowerUp. Its also pleasingly quiet. Campagnolo, SRAM XD/XDR and Shimano Microspline freehubs are available from UK Elite dealers for 39.99, or directly from Elite in Italy for 46.49. They are exactly the same trainer, but the XR comes with a Shimano 11-speed cassette (or equivalent) installed, while the XR-T does not. Looking for more info on the Elite Direto XR? However, if erg mode and Zwift racing constitute a major part of how youll be using the turbo, then you would be much better off spending a bit more on a turbo which does those things better. This can mean you can struggle to output the required power for short/hard intervals in workouts. FWIW, Ive heard they may get more in stock soon For news about good events on Zwift follow him on Instagram and Twitter @GoZwiftTim. I mostly used Bluetooth, because that's what my PC setup seems to prefer, but they both work just fine. Of course, depending on what model you acquired and what bike you are using, you may or may not have to install a cassette. It has excellent specs for the money, and the value proposition is only improved by the inclusion of accessories like the cassette and riser block. This solved the issue, however, upon using the trainer in ERG mode, there were issues with the level of resistance applied by the trainer. You can see that there's very little to choose between the two power traces, and the averages are within half a watt of each other. The RIZER was originally planned to be launched in conjunction with the new Direto XR, but timescales were impacted by the onset of the global pandemic and Elite, like all businesses, had to adjust their timescales accordingly.).