Reliable power meters

philbar72
philbar72 Posts: 2,229
edited June 2018 in Road buying advice
over the last 4 years I've had a few, all with their own foibles.

Power2 max (gen 1 and Gen 2) both worked fine (why did I sell them!)
Stages gen 2. absolute junk. dropouts, spikes and other issues including the battery one.
Pioneer. not bad but then the crank arm (which isn't their product (shimano)) folded under me and stopped the power meter working.

I'm getting the pioneer warrantied, so thats fine but am looking for a reliable solution. my head says go back to power2max, as they were reliable. does anyone else have any reccomendations?

not really interested in pedals as I use shimano pedals.

Comments

  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Powertap hub works for me.
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    PT Hub or Quarq
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    4iii has been excellent up to now...indoors and outdoors.
    Bought with M30 Praxis crankset , so interchangeable with another bike bottom bracket system if ever required.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,204
    My p2m has never had any problem at all.
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    I have posted this same question numerous times. My lbs told me the cycle product with the highest failure rate is power meters and it really does seem that as power meters have come down in price, so has the reliability.

    I have not tried p2m but heard very few negative comments, so seem possibly the best value for money. However they do have downsides, notably if you use shimano cranks.

    The powertap wheels are supposed to be good, but the p1 pedals are just awful and the vector 3 are very problematic as well. The vector 2 are supposed to be better though, but it seems at the moment the only reliable pedal pm is the favero assioma.

    I was initially impressed with my 4iiii precision crank arms but have had 3 fail in the last year alone.
    I have been waiting for their new podiiiim chainsets but they are constantly being pushed back. God knows when they will be available.

    Stages are...well, Stages. They work until the battery runs out then once you replace you have opened up a whole host of issues.

    I have decided to save up for an srm. They are very expensive but possibly the most reliable. If i didn't want to spend more than 1k though i would pick between the assioma pedals and the power2max.
  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,021
    i've had a PT hub and PT track - both worked perfectly - and i currently have a compact P2M (gen 1 on a Rotor 3D crank) which has been faultless and I also have a standard Dura Ace 7900 SRM - which has hardly been used - but has worked faultlessly when asked.

    I find the P2M hard to beat for reliability and VFM :)
  • imafatman
    imafatman Posts: 351
    Stages and 4iii failed me...

    Currently on a Quarq meter as recommended by the forum and Probikekit were doing a deal at the time.
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    I have a P2M original Type S on Rotor 3D24 cranks and can't fault it. The only other one I'd consider would be a Quarq.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    Quarq for me, literally been a fit and forget component, well till it asked for a new battery.
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    Power2max, fit and forget
  • schlepcycling
    schlepcycling Posts: 1,614
    Power2max for me too, relatively easy to swap between bikes and mine has been totally reliable.
    'Hello to Jason Isaacs'
  • pippi_langsamer-2
    pippi_langsamer-2 Posts: 1,470
    Absolutely no issues with Verve Infocrank either. Not the prettiest or lightest option, but...
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,063
    4iiii 105 here, no issues, but it's only ~3 months old.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • wongataa
    wongataa Posts: 1,001
    My Power2Max has been problem free since I got it. The only issue was when the battery ran out. That was easily fixed!
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    thanks folks. I had 2 Power2maxes and both were great. why on earth di I sell them...
  • harry-s
    harry-s Posts: 295
    Hi Phil, - I've had 4iiii since they came out, after a couple of early glitches they've been fine. I've got one on a 175mm Ultegra crank on my winter bike, - you're welcome to borrow the crank and give it a try.
  • Mapaputsi
    Mapaputsi Posts: 104
    Not one mention of Garmin Vectors yet. To throw my own opinion into the mix I have been using the 2S for about 9 months and have not had a single issue with them. Have had to change the battery twice which is simple.

    The pods are not for everyone though I understand. They don't look the prettiest on your bike.
  • Midlands Grimpeur
    Midlands Grimpeur Posts: 340
    Quarq for me, had it 2 years, just needed a couple of battery changes otherwise it is fit and forget.
  • bigmitch41
    bigmitch41 Posts: 685
    Looking at the Vector 3's myself, looks like they are having an issue replacing battery's and damage to the threads on the removable battery cap/cover? As Garmin haven't released any new stock for a while Im assuming they are working on a solution to this before releasing new stock? (no response from Garmin on new stock yet)
    Which has me considering the Favero Assioma's, anybody any experience with these pedals??
    Paracyclist
    @Bigmitch_racing
    2010 Specialized Tricross (commuter)
    2014 Whyte T129-S
    2016 Specialized Tarmac Ultegra Di2
    Big Mitch - YouTube
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    BigMitch41 wrote:
    Looking at the Vector 3's myself, looks like they are having an issue replacing battery's and damage to the threads on the removable battery cap/cover? As Garmin haven't released any new stock for a while Im assuming they are working on a solution to this before releasing new stock? (no response from Garmin on new stock yet)
    Which has me considering the Favero Assioma's, anybody any experience with these pedals??

    http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/produ ... ems-377853

    There are very few negative comments regarding the Favero's. The inbuilt battery has possibly helped them avoid the issues the v3 have experienced.
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    Anyone here tried the Powerpod? It seems counter intuitive that they produce accurate results without use of strain gauges a la conventional power meters but as far as I am aware all tests and comparisons have been very favourable. DCRainmaker has done a very thorough review and seems impressed.

    https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/03/pow ... eview.html
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    BigMitch41 wrote:
    Looking at the Vector 3's myself, looks like they are having an issue replacing battery's and damage to the threads on the removable battery cap/cover? As Garmin haven't released any new stock for a while Im assuming they are working on a solution to this before releasing new stock? (no response from Garmin on new stock yet)
    Which has me considering the Favero Assioma's, anybody any experience with these pedals??

    I know one guy on the Favero's. no complaints. fits in the Just works box!
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,671
    I've had the Favero BePro for a couple of years. No issues, at all, except the charge cover snapped off. There's a spare in the box but I've never bothered fitting it even though I ride in the rain.
  • scott_w1987
    scott_w1987 Posts: 316
    P2M - I run one on my race bike and my winter/wet/commuter. Not sure why you'd sell them either :lol:
  • norvernrob
    norvernrob Posts: 1,448
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Anyone here tried the Powerpod? It seems counter intuitive that they produce accurate results without use of strain gauges a la conventional power meters but as far as I am aware all tests and comparisons have been very favourable. DCRainmaker has done a very thorough review and seems impressed.

    https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/03/pow ... eview.html

    A friend bought two, one for himself and one for his wife. They sent them both back after having nothing but trouble with them.
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    No one's mentioned the Rotor inpower. I've had mine 18 months and it's been faultless. Dual sided, rechargeable via USB and no need for zero offset before a ride. It's the perfect PM. I had an SRM for a few years which was good, but still had a few data drops which was annoying given the cost. I honestly haven't got a negative thing to say about the Rotor.
  • papajimbo
    papajimbo Posts: 61
    I’ve had to return Vector 1s and 3s under warranty in the past, both with major inconsistencies and other issues. I’ve got a Quarq Dzero now, no issues, consistent and reliable, easy to calibrate and good support from Quarq whenever I’ve asked a query.
  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    APIII wrote:
    No one's mentioned the Rotor inpower. I've had mine 18 months and it's been faultless. Dual sided, rechargeable via USB and no need for zero offset before a ride. It's the perfect PM. I had an SRM for a few years which was good, but still had a few data drops which was annoying given the cost. I honestly haven't got a negative thing to say about the Rotor.
    To be absolutely clear, you need the 2inpower to have dual sided power measurement. The Inpower is left side only.

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