Rotor power cranks - any first hand experience?

lef

Has anyone had any experience with Rotor's new powermeter. I'm thinking of replacing my Quarq but conscious of the Rotor being a new product and I've been trying to find some reviews post-release but nothing found as yet.

Duncanandthemachine

Ditto...

ShutUpLegs

"

okgo

Couple of people have had issues, one pro rider for Sigma noteably, his is reading way off.

Grill

Apparently there are only 7 in the UK (last I heard) and you can't even order them again until the end of March. The ones here have had issues, but AFAIK they've been sorted through a software update. I'm quite dubious on them and went Power2Max instead as they've sorted their initial bugs (and they're way cheaper).

amaferanga

SRM gloating

Another here with a Power2max which (after an initial software glitch that was promptly sorted by P2M) has performed flawlessly. ZO is stable (at constant temp), adjusts to big temp changes in <15mins and the new temp compensation stuff seems to be effective. Seems to fair better than all but the SRM in the above linked study as well.

bigpikle

I have the Rotor on order and it has been promised next week after initial delays. Only issue I have read of was some sealant gunk leaking in 1 unit that was blocking the signal to the Garmin and was easily fixed.

There is a Spanish user on Wattage using one and a PT, and reporting absolutely no issues with the unit and power readings. Hopefully I'll have a chance to find out myself in the very near future.

magliaceleste

Seems crazy to me that people are happy to rush in and buy a completely unproven Power Meter.

bigpikle

Unproven by who - a bunch of people on an internet forum or one of the worlds leading crank manufacturers with a reputation for quality product and excellent customer service?

So you think that Rotor, with a major global presence in the crank and aftermarket components sector and use by a large number of pros around the world, will launch an untested product and hope it works? Its not new technology and has been around for years, and the Rotor PM has been in development a long time before being launched.

If it doesnt work properly when it arrives it goes back and a refund arrives anyway. I can validate it against my PT hub and consumer credit laws, buying on credit card and a great relationship with the LBS supplying it means there is no real risk. From what I hear about Rotor's service levels I have no worries anyway.

guyw1lson

I did my first ride with my new Rotor Power Meter yesterday. Admittedly it's only one ride but it performed as expected. I agree with Bigpikle, consumers are well protected these days.

A big thanks to my LBS (www.bikeproracing.net) for doing a great job with my bike!

bigpikle

guyw1lson wrote:

I did my first ride with my new Rotor Power Meter yesterday. Admittedly it's only one ride but it performed as expected. I agree with Bigpikle, consumers are well protected these days.

A big thanks to my LBS (http://www.bikeproracing.net) for doing a great job with my bike!

very envious!

mine have been on order since a long time before Xmas and are expected to land next week, so fingers crossed. Apparently the compact versions are slower to arrive here.

lef

magliaceleste wrote:

Seems crazy to me that people are happy to rush in and buy a completely unproven Power Meter.

If it wasnt for early adopters we may not have access to power meters full stop. I have a Quarq, which should be tried and tested yet after less than a year old it's just broken on me (warranty return no problem) so clearly sh!t happens.

Thanks for all the comments, if I decide I'm 'crazy' enough to get one I'll post my findings.

magliaceleste

No need to get so defensive.

Yes someone needs to test them but why not leave it to the professionals first? e.g. labs, pro-teams, people experienced in PM testing etc and others. The key to a power meter is that it needs to be accurate, repeatable and realiable. Most of the time, first generation power meter products are not one or more of these.

If you've got something to validate it against and are prepared to put up with potential unknown shortcomings, ace go for it.

Bigpikle: As far as I know, Rotor are hardly a major manufacturer in the cycling world.

Grill

Considering how a company the size of Garmin can't even bring it's first PM to market (after what seems like decades), it's reasonable to assume that any first-gen product of this sort of complexity would have teething problems. I seriosuly looked at the Rotor PM, but after reading initial reviews and looking at lead times I didn't feel confident in it nor the Quarq so I went with P2M. TBH even that was a second choice, it's just that I can't afford an SRM at the moment.

ShutUpLegs

magliaceleste wrote:

Bigpikle: As far as I know, Rotor are hardly a major manufacturer in the cycling world.

They are where cranks are concerned.

motd2k

Picked mine up from Sigma a few weeks ago; measure up perfectly with my SRM and no issues with fitting or quality. Haven't really looked at the balance figures in any great detail, but all in all a perfectly good unit.

lef

lef wrote:

magliaceleste wrote:

Seems crazy to me that people are happy to rush in and buy a completely unproven Power Meter.

If it wasnt for early adopters we may not have access to power meters full stop. I have a Quarq, which should be tried and tested yet after less than a year old it's just broken on me (warranty return no problem) so clearly sh!t happens.

Thanks for all the comments, if I decide I'm 'crazy' enough to get one I'll post my findings.

It was tongue in cheek. Not intended to come across defensive

danlikesbikes

Bigpikle wrote:

From what I hear about Rotor's service levels I have no worries anyway.

+ 1 for that.

My 3D cranks were out of warranty by 12 months & incurred an unfixable problem as following a design change the part required to fix was not longer available. Rotor spoke to my LBS and confirmed they would replace for free the whole crankset.

First plus service and then some in my eyes, along with my LBS too to helping me out as they even fitted them for free for me.

I know what I am going to be adding to my new TT bike when it arrives and it will be Rotor power cranks for me!

Herbsman

It's normally SRM zealots that come up with all this ballcocks about the newer, cheaper power meters being a poor choice, SRM being better and being more accurate and reliable because they've been around much longer, etc..

I don't know what their problem is. Most people can't afford an SRM. Some of the people who can't afford an SRM can afford the newer, cheaper brands of power meter, so that's what they're gonna buy, obviously. Why does that upset these people so much? Is it jealousy? Or is it just the fact that they're complete knobheads?

danlikesbikes

Probably a bit of both!

TBH when the power2max first came out I read the reviews & though not one for me, but since the updates seems to have fixed the temp/power issues plus owners reviews since they do look like an "affordable" alternative.

Herbsman

Same here, I completely dismissed the P2M after reading Steve Irwin's review about the drift issue. Got one now instead of buying a new bike!

Grill

Love my P2M. Didn't see noticeable drift yesterday even with altitude and temp changes. And the price... bargain!

danlikesbikes

Grill wrote:

Love my P2M. Didn't see noticeable drift yesterday even with altitude and temp changes. And the price... bargain!

See very tempted with all the good reviews between the rotor & p2m - will wait till we get the house move out of the way first I guess

magliaceleste

Herbsman wrote:

It's normally SRM zealots that come up with all this ballcocks about the newer, cheaper power meters being a poor choice, SRM being better and being more accurate and reliable because they've been around much longer, etc..

I don't know what their problem is. Most people can't afford an SRM. Some of the people who can't afford an SRM can afford the newer, cheaper brands of power meter, so that's what they're gonna buy, obviously. Why does that upset these people so much? Is it jealousy? Or is it just the fact that they're complete knobheads?

Sounds like you are the one with a chip on your shoulder?...who or what in this thread are you refering to with this random diatribe?

There are a number of choices other than SRM for proven power measurement and they are much cheaper! Powertap, Power2Max, Quarq...

We'll see how the Rotor Power solution pans out. Hopefully it'll be good and that will be another non-SRM to add to the list.

FWIW I have a Power2max on order (for use with Rotor cranks).

danlikesbikes

Plus who knows when Garmin finally finish testing their Vector based units will be another one to add into the pot.

Herbsman

magliaceleste wrote:

Herbsman wrote:

It's normally SRM zealots that come up with all this ballcocks about the newer, cheaper power meters being a poor choice, SRM being better and being more accurate and reliable because they've been around much longer, etc..

I don't know what their problem is. Most people can't afford an SRM. Some of the people who can't afford an SRM can afford the newer, cheaper brands of power meter, so that's what they're gonna buy, obviously. Why does that upset these people so much? Is it jealousy? Or is it just the fact that they're complete knobheads?

Sounds like you are the one with a chip on your shoulder?...who or what in this thread are you refering to with this random diatribe?

There are a number of choices other than SRM for proven power measurement and they are much cheaper! Powertap, Power2Max, Quarq...

We'll see how the Rotor Power solution pans out. Hopefully it'll be good and that will be another non-SRM to add to the list.

FWIW I have a Power2max on order (for use with Rotor cranks).

No, no chip on my shoulder. It wasn't directed at you or anyone on this thread but there are some evangelical SRM zealots out there who, judging by their posts on their Facebook page and on other forums, seem to be upset that other power meters exist and hell bent on dismissing them as inferior, inaccurate, unproven etc.

magliaceleste

Ah, my bad.

RChung

Bigpikle wrote:

Unproven by who - a bunch of people on an internet forum or one of the worlds leading crank manufacturers with a reputation for quality product and excellent customer service?

So you think that Rotor, with a major global presence in the crank and aftermarket components sector and use by a large number of pros around the world, will launch an untested product and hope it works? Its not new technology and has been around for years, and the Rotor PM has been in development a long time before being launched.

Well, it depends on the internet forum -- but, yeah, every time we've identified a problem or issue with a PM the manufacturer has eventually admitted that we were right. Every time.

Barbarossa

Anyone got their hands on one yet?

creightonv

I am very tempted by one as my Powertap has been...interesting to say the least. Has anyone reviewed them yet?

bigpikle

Mine due next few days after numerous delays since early this year. Only issue now is that ordering now puts you at the back forge order queue and I'd bet on a 4-6 month lead time judging from what I've heard from the importers via my LBS.