What to Watch Out for When Buying a Used Indoor Trainer
 

Hi All,
I am in the market for an indoor smart trainer as summer will be here soon and I live in Phoenix.
I am looking at the NEO 2T ($1,400). The LBS doesn't have any and they are back ordered. They do have a used Neo 2 (that they use for fittings and some training stuff).
Also a guy on Craigslist is selling a "new" Neo 2T (with box and all that comes with it) for $950... This seems like a good deal, but I've never bought a ST before and don't know what to look out for if I do buy used.
Do they have many issues? Is the warranty worth $450?

When I was researching smart trainers the Wahoo Kickr Core was the one that kept coming up as the one with problems, so I stayed away from that one. Those original problems may have been addressed now but that product should have never been released. Just do a Google search. The Tacx NEO 2T was getting great reviews so that is the one I purchased. I have never regretted this purchase.

The other deciding factor for me was that Tacx is owned by Garmin and I own a Garmin Edge 820. I liked that there were would be seamless integration between the units. If I owned a Wahoo bike computer I may have chosen one of their other smart trainers. Keeping it in the same family might be easier for some.

The warranty question is trickier. Since the smart trainer has electronics built in, I am less inclined to buy used. On the other hand $450 dollars is a lot of money. I did find some on my local buy and sell but having the warranty was more important to me.

Let others chime in here and see what their experience is.

Thanks. What do you use the bike computer with the Tacx for? I assumed zwift would gather all the data from the Tacx.

Not an expert on trainers, but I know my riding is hard on them and parts wear. It's probably a little like bikes and cars, how many miles are on it? How was it stored? In what conditions was it used? In negative reviews I saw it seemed the bluetooth failed and in the case of my Saris M2 (yes I went cheap) the clutch knob.

I don't use Zwift so no data recording that way. I already owned the Garmin and I wanted to accomplish two things. First, to record my heart rate which Zwift won't do with what I own (Ant+ HR monitor). Second I wanted all the data to be in one place. If I ride outside or inside the data gets recorded to the Garmin Connect and I can see it all.

I didn't want my smart trainer to be a money pit. Subscription software, fans, climbers, stands for the iPad, Apple TV, giant screen tv are all the pathway you could take. I wanted a trainer and I had the computer, so it works well for me.

Ah, understood. Thanks!