@E Bandit They were out of stock for several weeks when I ordered so I ended up getting a Drivo II. However, a mate bought the Volt and is VERY happy with it. It's a lot quieter than the Drivo II (neither however could ever be considered loud). In terms of 'road feel' it's a wash - I think acceleration on the Volt feels better, but coasting and spin-down on the Drivo II to me feels better. They also apply resistance differently, not sure if it's response time as such, but the leg-feel of the resistance is subtly different. Again, both great but not the same. Suffice to say, I'd not hesitate to buy either machine. What I would say is that I'd buy both over any of the Wahoo machines - and that's saying something as my computer and all my sensors are Wahoo and I love them all. But terms of trainers both the Drivo II and the Volt, to me as a 100kg, not professional and never going to be a professional rider, feel better :)
I bought this one! Absolutely amazed at the power accuracy (I also have assioma duo on the road) and what`s even more impressive IMO is the noise level of this unit is really lower than I thought!
I had ordered a Neo 2T for xmas then saw this at my local shop and in stock... took a bit of a gamble as there were no reviews at the time, but it feels good and it's a bargain for the $. Glad your review confirms what I thought - great product :)
My LBS in Canada brought this in a week after this video was posted. I jumped on it and picked one up for myself because of this review. The GPLama bump in sales!
I’ve had my volt for nearly two months now and definitely have no complaints about it. I fully agree with what you have to say and the review just gives me more confidence in the product. Apart from the app.. that needs work!
Got one in December 2020. Love it. Great product. I did write the company to let them know that there is a deviation between the manual, the app and the instructions on the website. Thank for mentioning that they are working on the app.
Magnificent review! As an aside, there are MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of "vintage" road bikes still in use. But to my knowledge, there are no direct drive trainers made for these bikes with their typical 126mm dropouts. In fact, the only smart, "controllable" trainer I am aware of that works with these bikes is the wheel-on Kinetic T6400 (which I own). Just my opinion, but this seems like a robust opportunity for a company to have sole possession of this untapped market.
Cheers for the review brother - was struggling to decide which trainer to buy as wahoo's are all sold out and didn't like anything else in that price range. Then saw your review and ordered the VOLT. It should be here in the next couple of days and I'm just a little excited to get stuck in. Appreciate what you do my friend - thank you 🙏🏽👍🏽
So how am I getting on? I was using a spin bike before to ride on zwift so only have that for reference. But that aside - I LOVE It. I'm totally addicted now and on zwift every day. It feels so realistic now, especially when you hit a hill, and that amazing release you get as you come over the brow of a hill and start going downhill. It's so satisfying as you start to wind it up through the gears. Also ifs so quiet. My bike transmission is far noisier. I use it in my office under out bedroom and my misses can't hear it when I have my early morning ride. Top drawer and well happy with my purchase 👍👍👍
Thanks so much for this review! Im new to the cycling world and wanted to get an indoor setup going especially after long hours behind a pc - not wanting to leave the house after...Fathers day around the corner - wife and kids know what will be arriving this weekend :) MTB will get a good workout even after dark :)
I was keen to support an Australian company involved in cycling tech. Unfortunately, my Volt failed after a few months and was not repaired. After a few months of infrequent use the Volt began making a metallic grinding sound and came to a shuddering halt. It was returned via the retailer for repair and returned two weeks later. Within a single peddle stroke it was evident that the trainer had not been repaired properly with a new rubbing noise and a wobbling drive wheel. Exchanged for a Wahoo Kickr. Very disappointed in the product quality and also the after sales service.
Seems like a good alternative to the Elite Suito T or Tackx Flux S I was considering. Only 'downside' to me is that the Jetblack isn't really storage friendly.
They have just released a new trainer firmware with some minor power updates but most importantly an auto calibration feature. I mostly use the trainer for TrainerRoad, it will now essentially do a calibration at the end of every ride.
I contacted Jet Black yesterday about the auto calibration which was introduced- I got a response saying that the firmware update v3.13 has REMOVED this and they "hope" to reintroduce it in a later release (Seems it was crap and/or causing issues) I asked about manual calibration and was advised to do this "once a week after at least 10 minutes warming up the unit"....
I’m a fan of my “Whisper”, works for what I want it to do. That heart rate feature might allow JetBlack to bridge the gap against the mainstream this time.
Trainer feels great and is easy to use. Unfortunately mine had to be sent back under warranty after 2 months due to a loud squeaking noise when riding in low cadence or freewheeling! After a few weeks it had come back after an apparent freehub problem had been repaired. I’ve had the trainer back less than a week and a very similar problem is still happening, it’s coming from the main body/flywheel of the trainer and not the freehub. I’ve not got the wait weeks for it to be sent of and repaired again 😩
I have the same issue as well (loud Squeaking at low cadence). Sent mine back to the LBS for the mechanic to take a look. Only had my Volt Trainer for less than a month now. Keep you updated on what they say.
Sheep jokes, cheap jokes :-) Edit: Seems quite good. Also, I can imagine how much fear you are inducing in trainer R&D teams, forcing them to improve their game, this is *absolutely brilliant* and really makes a difference in general product quality, I
So, Wahoo get your firmware updated for the Kickr18+ / Core. Add HR bridge. We know you want to! And well done JetBlack. Looks promising, and well timed considering the current market forces.
I bought a JB volt as I live in Australia and was happy with it but after only 6 rides the main bearing seems to have failed and the trainer was picked up yesterday by JB for fixing. The email support has been really good so let's see how long it takes to get my trainer back and fingers crossed it doesn't fail again!
@@gplama Already got the trainer back from JB! 2 day turnaround. Lucky I am in Sydney where their warehouse is. Replaced keeper bolt and main bearing. Will test ride soon.
@@gplama have had to send the trainer back to JB for the second time now. Picked up very quickly but seems like I might have a dud. Will keep you posted
I've started seeing this discounted to v.close to the price that Zwift will be selling this in the UK. Would be a good time to do an update review with the trainer to see how the latest firmware has dealt with the small issues you had over a year ago.
Hope this catches on. I love the BLE bridge via the trainer, fantastic little bit of thinking from the team. Wish that could get reverse engineered into other trainers
Nice review as always Shane, looks like a solid unit. I would personally miss not having adjustable feet, my garage floor is not level, so I have to adjust the Kickr accordingly to get the bike vertical.
@@gplama exactly that. How much extra weight do you think is on the right leg ? using any soft floormat, will cause the entire bike to lean to the right (just slightly). For sure a flaw. Bike should be rested with equal weight on both sides of the front legs, like the tacx neo.
@@gplama and to give you more details. I have the Kickr Core and have been using it for 2 years now. Using the Wahoo floormat too. And it's on a solid floor. I have to shim the right side of the front legs about ½-1 cm to keep the bike "straight". The "lean" if not shim'd, will actually cause pain riding long rides. The lean wasn't bad in the beginning, but it's been "sagging" more and more. So yes, I would still call it flawed. But I just had to give you the details to back it up better ;)
We've got one as well as a Tacx Neo. It fine for someone, who just wants to get fitter on the bike. It is as quiet as the Neo. Though we did have a bit of a problem with putting on 10 speed gears on it. It took a lot of adjusting the gears and indexing before it was working properly. I am actually thinking of putting another 11 speed bike on it instead. Because it does not work all that well with the 10 speed.
Hey Shane, If you still have the JetBlack Volt in your Studio, can you try it out with your Aspero? I just bought the JetBlack Volt based on your review to use with my Aspero. Unfortunately it doesnt work and scratched my non drive-side chainstay below the brake caliper. I followed the directions and reinstalled the cassette and the thru axle adapters twice, but still the same result.. I then tried my 3T Strada also Thru Axle and same result. I think in your video you used a QR bike, if you would be so kind as to try your ASpero and maybe another Thruaxle bike as both of mine did not work with this trainer. Cheers Gio
Great trainer :-) Just for information if it helps... This trainer works just fine with 11 speed CAMPAGNOLO group too even with Shimano cassete mounted! You just need to adjust the tension on a rear derailleur a bit;-)
Sounds like a case of the little Aussie battler 'bounding' into contention with a decent product that's hiding a couple of small but significant features. Hopefully a firmware fix can manage the thermal drift until Volt 2.0 or even an online manufacturing tweak to device cooling that can kick the issue to the curb.
Great content! Looking forward to Thinkrider x7 pro review. Have it for a month now, no issues so far, but I don't have any other power meter source, so would be great to see the device output comparison to actual data.
First off a great review thanks. In the unboxing part of the review you mention a 10 spd spacer is supplied - so I assume you can easily swap out the standard 11 spd cassette with a 10 spd one (or even a 9/8)?
Hi Mark, it's more internal heat around the electronics. Firmware will fix the issue, we just need more data to bring % back. Close to getting it right. We have tested using fans, didn't really do the trick and we cannot expect everyone to have a fan. Best we just get it dialled. Cheers
A small con is that the legs are not collabsable making it more difficult to quickly stove away (for those of us who doesn't have a dedicated pain cave)
Now, this is the review I've been waiting for...... 3 mins in, looking forward to the rest. So, thermal drifting.....forgive the daft laddie question.....would directed cooling help to keep the thermals down ? (Bit like cooling management within a PC - stock can be meh, but additional cooling can make a difference)
I was wondering the exact same thing. Was also wondering if some cooling was sacrificed for silence (on all silent trainers not just this one) - so would cutting some venting in the case assist? Or is this simply a quick firmware fix with no further concerns?
Hi, we looked at putting a fan within the unit, space was and reliabilty was an issue. We decided to use firmware. As you can imagine there are tens of thousand data points to correlate. We are close but need more data around this point Shane tested. More hours on the Jig and riding gathering data. We are only a few % out at this point and expect to bring this back to our standards shortly with firmware updates. Happy training.
@@murrayhealey1903 Really appreciate the transparency and engagement. Personally, and I think most people would agree, my takeaway from Shane's review is that this is a top-notch product. The small thermal drift (if it is that) is so small that it's really not an issue for the vast majority of mere-mortal users. As indicated in my other comments I have my local bike shop ordering this for me when stock is available - so putting my money where my mouth is. Over the moon that an Australian company has put out a product of this quality. All the best to you and your team :)
@@murrayhealey1903 I have to echo Y D's comments and really do appreciate the engagement, thank you. Your commitment to your customers is clear - the ground-up design of The Volt, along with your supporting installation videos and content. I'm not globally "local", however, I'm more than happy to support your company with my purchase. I really look forward to many happy indoor miles here in Scotland. Thank you Shane, too.
A bit late to the comments, but I was wondering what your thoughts are on this trainer compared to the Direto XR? They're both direct drive trainers in the same pricing range, and the main difference now seems to be that the XR isn't available anywhere. Do you reckon me waiting for the XR is worth the (slightly better?) accuracy, or do you think this is negligible and I could just try and find a VOLT?
Thanks for the great review. I am thinking of getting one. Does anyone know if the thread size of your thru axle matters? I just want to be sure my bike will be compatible with this.
The thread type/pitch doesn't matter to the trainer. As long as your thru-axle goes through the trainer (12mm diameter) it then screws into your bike frame like it does with a rear wheel on the bike.
Hey all, What's everyone's fine final verdict on this vs the Kickr Core. I really want to support Volt being Australian made but the amount of reviews and issues surrounding repairs are concerning. Kickr core seems to be a safer product to drop $1k+ on.
Almost splitting hairs. The CORE is more of a known quantity as it has been out for a few years. If you're here in AU then the after sales service and support from both companies should be excellent.
Great review as always Shane. You seems to have a dedicated pc for Zwift, what resolution are you running? I am looking to build a pc to run Zwift in 4K and I imagine many would be curious as to your setup (can’t see you’ve done a video on this) 👍🏻
4K resolution with a HP Omen PC (GPU: GeForce RTX 2060): amzn.to/2XaQwau I spent good $ a year ago so I could just unbox something that works. This hasn't missed a beat.
Hei Shane great video than you. I have a 12-25 10spd SRAM on my Cervelo p3 (2009) which I would like to put on this trainer--if I buy it ;) Quick question: do I have to get an extra 12-25 10 spd cassette to put on the Volt or can I use the one that comes with it? thanks :)
It sounds like a fantastic product.. as good as or better than the kickr core considering the hr connection. Some online reviews have said they’ve had problems connecting? May be an ant+ problem?
I've seen a few mentions of issues with the app, specifically the Android version. Knowing this was being updated in a week or so, I didn't look at it and used the IOS version for firmware check and spindowns.
Hey Shane, Love your work. I have a question on direct drive trainers compatibility with bikes that are fitted with full length mudguards. Not sure if this is even an issue but to my eye, there might be problems fitting such a bike onto direct drive trainers. Any advice will be much appreciated.
Just sold my beloved Kinetic R1 and switched to the JetBlack Volt. Probably the right decision for zwift racing. Is it possible to connect the power meter to the smarttrainer via power meter link? That's probably not so clever for Zwift races, is it? Because you need two DIFFERENT measurements for dual recording, right?
i think after watching so many of your videos lately that i will be investing in this unit, based on price etc - i cannot really afford a Kickr V5 as this was published in January 2021 do you know Shane if they have 1. updated the android app ? and addressed the thermal drift issue yet.- also i would love to know if you would choose this over a Kickr Core ? Your videos are bloody amazing BTW and you have been a massive influence for me in actually pursuing an indoor trainer. keep up the good work
No follow-up on this from JB since this was published, so I'm not sure on the status of their app and the thermal drift. This vs CORE, entirely your call.
I like the look of that trainer, I’m waiting for a kickr v5 to land but I love the colour scheme, it’s a shame they won’t send to the uk, OR WILL THEY?
Is this the first and only version of the Volt? If there are multiple version on the market, would I be able to use the serial number (or another identifier) to check the version I purchased? Thank you.
hi i am new to indoor trainers looking to purchase my first smart trainer the minor glitches you noted with the thermal effect is that something that can be corrected with a firmware upgrade?
HI Simon, yes thermal drift is a challenge but something that can be fixed. We just need more data. (hours of the trainer on the jig) We are close to getting this area right. For us the drift is only at limited flywheel speeds. Thanks
Agreed, my first one went back and its replacement has MASSIVE (10+ second) lag when adjusting to gradients. Really detracts from the experience when the pedals are saying uphill but the screen is showing down
Hi Jordan, we have spent many hours trying to bring the Whisper Drive up to standards. But unfortunaley the limitations of the Self generating system will not allow this. The lack of power to support quick and accurate movements of the system sets the standards. The Whisper Drive is a great unit and i still ride mine. Happy training
@@murrayhealey1903 Hi Murray. I've dealt with you over email. The support you yourself provides is great. The rest of the team that responds seem to be slow and unaware compared to you. Anyways, after fixing my broken unit with new parts I find the unit will still not calibrate properly. Once I was able to get it to calibrate and have close to accurate power readings, but right now it's stuck reporting over 10% higher power than actual no matter how many times I calibrate it.
@@thesupernad we are working on this issue, we will have a more comprehensive calibration firmware out in the near future that will bring out of sync trainers back into line. Other than sending the unit back to the factory for a recalibration we see this a way forward. Chat soon
In the video when the camera was setup directly behind the trainer, I noticed that your bike leaned towards the right. Did you feel the trainer lean during your riding?
Good trainer but I just couldn't get it to sync with the Jetblack app on Android, therefore couldn't do firmware update or calibration. Fortunately, I found a way around this, I used my daughter's iPhone.... worked ok with iPhone but not android.
Awesome review :) Thank you very much! Do you know if its possible to ride a Shimano 12 Speed Cassette on it? A lot of new bikes come with the 2x12 ultegra, but i can only find shimano 11 speed and SRAM XDR 12 Speed :X
I had same issue, couldn't get it to sync with the Jet-black app on Android. Used an iPhone like you, I think they need to look into this, not everyone has the option of both phones.
We have a new version out and has fixed the issue. Unfortunately we were unaware of a recent policy update Android released causing this issue. New App under construction now. Cheers
Hi Shane When I paired JB Volt to my Garmin Edge 830, under the "trainer sensor" menu there were wheel size (default 2096) gear ratio (2.73) as well as bike weight (10kg).. I didn't think this matter as I'm using direct drive trainer but I changed it anyway similar to my bike settings (wheel size 2136mm and bike weight 9kg, gear ratio stayed at 2.73) What I discovered when I tried them with The Sufferfest, the speed and distance reading on my Garmin Edge is different from the Sufferfest (Garmin edge's speed and distance are higher), but the source is the same, speed and power from JB Volt, and cadence from Garmin Cad sensor. Why did that happen? I think there might be certain value of wheel size and gear ratio that I have to set to the Garmin Edge Trainer settings to get the numbers on my edge and 3rd party app the same (or similar)? What would be the correct wheel size and gear ratio? Thank you
One for the Sufferfest support. I'm not across how they calculate their virtual speed/distances. I know that on Zwift the trainer speed isn't used at all. It calculates speed in-game based on power/weight/terrain.
@@hubby17ification I believe the first generation of the original Tacx Neo had a similar freehub that claimed cross-compatibility. They went to supplying a Shimano/SRAM-only freehub later on.
Hi,i have a question about wahoo kickr power 18. I have to do a factory reset and after that a firmware update to solve my problem. But how do i a factoy reset on a kickr. My kickr power freez on a training in Zwift and after a 1 min. I can pedal again and freez again on 300-350 watts
Hi Shane I’m have big troubles setting up my wahoo kicker . Every time I ride it feels harder and hard to pedal . Is there some way I can contact you for your help please
Could that heart rate feature be added as a firmware update to (say) a Kickr or Kickr Core? If it's bluetooth, is it just another device on the BT bridge?
Since the Volt is almost the same price range as the Kickr Core being the Kickr Core 100 AUD more expensive, which would you pick to buy? Any advantage of one over the other? Like customer support or app features, etc?
@@gplama Ah I see, thanks. Yeah and the Volt does include a cassette in the package. JetBlack has to prove the Volt's longevity since the Kickr Core has been released around 1 year earlier and more people have used it. Although I've seen people complaining about some issues with the Kickr Core after some use. From your experience, can heat/drift issues be fixed via a firmware update or a hardware revision is needed?
Was just about to pull the trigger on a Neo 2T when this dropped - your review + desire to buy local = decision made. Appreciated!
@E Bandit They were out of stock for several weeks when I ordered so I ended up getting a Drivo II. However, a mate bought the Volt and is VERY happy with it. It's a lot quieter than the Drivo II (neither however could ever be considered loud). In terms of 'road feel' it's a wash - I think acceleration on the Volt feels better, but coasting and spin-down on the Drivo II to me feels better. They also apply resistance differently, not sure if it's response time as such, but the leg-feel of the resistance is subtly different. Again, both great but not the same. Suffice to say, I'd not hesitate to buy either machine. What I would say is that I'd buy both over any of the Wahoo machines - and that's saying something as my computer and all my sensors are Wahoo and I love them all. But terms of trainers both the Drivo II and the Volt, to me as a 100kg, not professional and never going to be a professional rider, feel better :)
"When you have multiple trainers and you don't know what to plug in". Shane and DC problems. 🤣
Von getting hit with a spanner and carries on filming, true pro 👍 😆
I bought this one! Absolutely amazed at the power accuracy (I also have assioma duo on the road) and what`s even more impressive IMO is the noise level of this unit is really lower than I thought!
I had ordered a Neo 2T for xmas then saw this at my local shop and in stock... took a bit of a gamble as there were no reviews at the time, but it feels good and it's a bargain for the $. Glad your review confirms what I thought - great product :)
Happy with it ?
Came here after your video about Zwift's version releasing soon! Interested to see if that has been marginally improved.
My LBS in Canada brought this in a week after this video was posted. I jumped on it and picked one up for myself because of this review. The GPLama bump in sales!
I’ve had my volt for nearly two months now and definitely have no complaints about it. I fully agree with what you have to say and the review just gives me more confidence in the product. Apart from the app.. that needs work!
Hi Leon, Sorry clicked the thumbs down instead of reply. New App is under construction. Hopefully out soon.
That’s class! yeah I just use it for zwift anyway and not the app. So when’s there gonna be a JetBlack zwift kit? 😉
@@SecretDiscuise On it's way, just waiting, waiting, waitng for Zwift to upload it.
Got one in December 2020. Love it. Great product. I did write the company to let them know that there is a deviation between the manual, the app and the instructions on the website. Thank for mentioning that they are working on the app.
Magnificent review! As an aside, there are MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of "vintage" road bikes still in use. But to my knowledge, there are no direct drive trainers made for these bikes with their typical 126mm dropouts. In fact, the only smart, "controllable" trainer I am aware of that works with these bikes is the wheel-on Kinetic T6400 (which I own). Just my opinion, but this seems like a robust opportunity for a company to have sole possession of this untapped market.
I get mine yesterday. It’s my first smartrainer and after my first ride I am yery excited.
Sticker on the power supply is a great feature.
It's just a little thing... but very helpful.
Great review, many thanks, I’ve bought one of these and very pleased with it, even more so now with your approval stamp 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Cheers for the review brother - was struggling to decide which trainer to buy as wahoo's are all sold out and didn't like anything else in that price range. Then saw your review and ordered the VOLT. It should be here in the next couple of days and I'm just a little excited to get stuck in. Appreciate what you do my friend - thank you 🙏🏽👍🏽
Let me know how it goes. 👍🏼
So how am I getting on? I was using a spin bike before to ride on zwift so only have that for reference.
But that aside - I LOVE It. I'm totally addicted now and on zwift every day.
It feels so realistic now, especially when you hit a hill, and that amazing release you get as you come over the brow of a hill and start going downhill. It's so satisfying as you start to wind it up through the gears.
Also ifs so quiet. My bike transmission is far noisier. I use it in my office under out bedroom and my misses can't hear it when I have my early morning ride.
Top drawer and well happy with my purchase 👍👍👍
Solid, comprehensive and fair review. Love it.
it's not like I need a new trainer atm, but I still like these videos. not sure why.. ;)
I'm the last person who needs a new trainer too.... but I keep making these videos.... I'm also not sure why. ;)
Watching this makes me happy knowing the zwifthub is about to drop
Thanks so much for this review! Im new to the cycling world and wanted to get an indoor setup going especially after long hours behind a pc - not wanting to leave the house after...Fathers day around the corner - wife and kids know what will be arriving this weekend :) MTB will get a good workout even after dark :)
I was keen to support an Australian company involved in cycling tech. Unfortunately, my Volt failed after a few months and was not repaired. After a few months of infrequent use the Volt began making a metallic grinding sound and came to a shuddering halt. It was returned via the retailer for repair and returned two weeks later. Within a single peddle stroke it was evident that the trainer had not been repaired properly with a new rubbing noise and a wobbling drive wheel. Exchanged for a Wahoo Kickr. Very disappointed in the product quality and also the after sales service.
Seems like a good alternative to the Elite Suito T or Tackx Flux S I was considering. Only 'downside' to me is that the Jetblack isn't really storage friendly.
1691 watt sprint.. Mate, ya shoulda claimed that one! We wouldn't have known. :-)
Seems solid enough and a decent competitor to the big four. Good luck to them
Who are the big four? Wahoo, Tacx, Elite, and... I have no clue. Help me out?
@@bennyayaya Probably Kurt Kinetic or Saris
@@jwattie144 ahhh, Saris. Forgot about Saris... Has to be them. Thanks
Kudos JetBlack, sounds like you got the thumbs up from the master Llama, great for business hope you can show the man some love. Great review SM :-)
They have just released a new trainer firmware with some minor power updates but most importantly an auto calibration feature. I mostly use the trainer for TrainerRoad, it will now essentially do a calibration at the end of every ride.
Assuming you coast for 5 seconds! :)
@@gplama stopping at the end of a workout should cover it.
I contacted Jet Black yesterday about the auto calibration which was introduced- I got a response saying that the firmware update v3.13 has REMOVED this and they "hope" to reintroduce it in a later release (Seems it was crap and/or causing issues) I asked about manual calibration and was advised to do this "once a week after at least 10 minutes warming up the unit"....
@@ArdGealas in the spin down calibration on the app?
I’m a fan of my “Whisper”, works for what I want it to do.
That heart rate feature might allow JetBlack to bridge the gap against the mainstream this time.
what is the heat rate feature ?
@@TheUltimateULTRA watch the video
Trainer feels great and is easy to use. Unfortunately mine had to be sent back under warranty after 2 months due to a loud squeaking noise when riding in low cadence or freewheeling! After a few weeks it had come back after an apparent freehub problem had been repaired. I’ve had the trainer back less than a week and a very similar problem is still happening, it’s coming from the main body/flywheel of the trainer and not the freehub. I’ve not got the wait weeks for it to be sent of and repaired again 😩
Keep us updated. My two samples have been flawless so far. I'm really impressed with the ERG response.
I have the same issue as well (loud Squeaking at low cadence). Sent mine back to the LBS for the mechanic to take a look. Only had my Volt Trainer for less than a month now. Keep you updated on what they say.
I think it is the included cassette. Mine wasn’t perfectly compatible with Shimano so I asked Jetblack to send me a new cassette.
Sheep jokes, cheap jokes :-) Edit: Seems quite good. Also, I can imagine how much fear you are inducing in trainer R&D teams, forcing them to improve their game, this is *absolutely brilliant* and really makes a difference in general product quality, I
So, Wahoo get your firmware updated for the Kickr18+ / Core. Add HR bridge. We know you want to! And well done JetBlack. Looks promising, and well timed considering the current market forces.
Great review! Thank you. Gonna put them on my radar for my future trainer.
Great work Shane. Sounds like a good trainer, I'll put it on my possible upgrade list. Thanks for another informative video.
thank you for this review great work and appreciate your in-depth analysis and opinion.
I've never tried something like this before, but I'd really like to keep myself in decent biking shape over the winter. Time to look into it, I guess.
Looks like a really solid product! Good to see. Great review Shane. Thanks
I bought a JB volt as I live in Australia and was happy with it but after only 6 rides the main bearing seems to have failed and the trainer was picked up yesterday by JB for fixing. The email support has been really good so let's see how long it takes to get my trainer back and fingers crossed it doesn't fail again!
Damn. Keep me posted. Always good to be across the consumer experience.
@@gplama Already got the trainer back from JB! 2 day turnaround. Lucky I am in Sydney where their warehouse is. Replaced keeper bolt and main bearing. Will test ride soon.
@@gplama have had to send the trainer back to JB for the second time now. Picked up very quickly but seems like I might have a dud. Will keep you posted
I've started seeing this discounted to v.close to the price that Zwift will be selling this in the UK. Would be a good time to do an update review with the trainer to see how the latest firmware has dealt with the small issues you had over a year ago.
Indeed !
Hope this catches on. I love the BLE bridge via the trainer, fantastic little bit of thinking from the team. Wish that could get reverse engineered into other trainers
Nice review as always Shane, looks like a solid unit.
I would personally miss not having adjustable feet, my garage floor is not level, so I have to adjust the Kickr accordingly to get the bike vertical.
looks like an OEM Kickr Core. It even has the "Bike lean to the right", because of the design flaw, the Core has.
Design flaw? The bike is offset to the right and the leg on the front is longer to account for this on the Volt.
@@gplama exactly that. How much extra weight do you think is on the right leg ? using any soft floormat, will cause the entire bike to lean to the right (just slightly). For sure a flaw. Bike should be rested with equal weight on both sides of the front legs, like the tacx neo.
@@gplama and to give you more details. I have the Kickr Core and have been using it for 2 years now. Using the Wahoo floormat too. And it's on a solid floor. I have to shim the right side of the front legs about ½-1 cm to keep the bike "straight". The "lean" if not shim'd, will actually cause pain riding long rides. The lean wasn't bad in the beginning, but it's been "sagging" more and more. So yes, I would still call it flawed. But I just had to give you the details to back it up better ;)
We've got one as well as a Tacx Neo. It fine for someone, who just wants to get fitter on the bike. It is as quiet as the Neo. Though we did have a bit of a problem with putting on 10 speed gears on it. It took a lot of adjusting the gears and indexing before it was working properly. I am actually thinking of putting another 11 speed bike on it instead. Because it does not work all that well with the 10 speed.
Hey Shane,
If you still have the JetBlack Volt in your Studio, can you try it out with your Aspero? I just bought the JetBlack Volt based on your review to use with my Aspero. Unfortunately it doesnt work and scratched my non drive-side chainstay below the brake caliper. I followed the directions and reinstalled the cassette and the thru axle adapters twice, but still the same result.. I then tried my 3T Strada also Thru Axle and same result.
I think in your video you used a QR bike, if you would be so kind as to try your ASpero and maybe another Thruaxle bike as both of mine did not work with this trainer.
Cheers
Gio
I have had the same issue with multiple 12x142 thru axle bikes with flat mount calipers.
A Tarmac SL6 disc also does not fit.
Thanks Shane, you are the man...✊🏾👊🏾cheers mate🍻
Well done JetBlack 👍
Phenomenal channel Shane. I appreciate your videos, passion and determination. I just subscribed and look forward to you next videos.
Welcome aboard!
Great trainer :-) Just for information if it helps... This trainer works just fine with 11 speed CAMPAGNOLO group too even with Shimano cassete mounted! You just need to adjust the tension on a rear derailleur a bit;-)
Llama Power meter/Smart trainer reviews all answer the question of what is the rabbit hole of the day?
Awesome review. Thank you. Going to buy one.
Bought one and just set it up. First ride right now. Flawless so far. Very impressed.
Still have an older jet-black whisper drive and still like it.
This is on sale right now for 450€ in Germany. Seems pretty good.
I bought two of them after watching this video...
Nice review....looked very stable as well.....
Sounds like a case of the little Aussie battler 'bounding' into contention with a decent product that's hiding a couple of small but significant features. Hopefully a firmware fix can manage the thermal drift until Volt 2.0 or even an online manufacturing tweak to device cooling that can kick the issue to the curb.
Sounds like adding a temp-sensor could make this thing even better... (and may I suggest them hiring you for proper pre-production testing)
The majority of my testing can be done with a dyno on a bench. That'd me a MUCH cheaper option. :)
Wicked Pissah Cool 😎 Video GPLAMA
Von doesn't think so after being accidentally hit with the 🔧 🤣
@@gplama the 🔧 couldn’t handle the Wattage you were putting down so it flew off🤣🤣
Great content! Looking forward to Thinkrider x7 pro review. Have it for a month now, no issues so far, but I don't have any other power meter source, so would be great to see the device output comparison to actual data.
If I can get a hold of one, I can do the same testing.
First off a great review thanks. In the unboxing part of the review you mention a 10 spd spacer is supplied - so I assume you can easily swap out the standard 11 spd cassette with a 10 spd one (or even a 9/8)?
Yes
Where is the video clip of Von slapping you lol🤣🤣. Great video again
Nice video. Would having a separate fan blowing on the trainer help with the thermal drift
Maybe.... Not something I tested.
Hi Mark, it's more internal heat around the electronics. Firmware will fix the issue, we just need more data to bring % back. Close to getting it right. We have tested using fans, didn't really do the trick and we cannot expect everyone to have a fan. Best we just get it dialled. Cheers
Nice Aussie trainer.👍
A small con is that the legs are not collabsable making it more difficult to quickly stove away (for those of us who doesn't have a dedicated pain cave)
Maybe VOLT 2.0!!
Now, this is the review I've been waiting for...... 3 mins in, looking forward to the rest. So, thermal drifting.....forgive the daft laddie question.....would directed cooling help to keep the thermals down ? (Bit like cooling management within a PC - stock can be meh, but additional cooling can make a difference)
Maybe....
I was wondering the exact same thing. Was also wondering if some cooling was sacrificed for silence (on all silent trainers not just this one) - so would cutting some venting in the case assist? Or is this simply a quick firmware fix with no further concerns?
Hi, we looked at putting a fan within the unit, space was and reliabilty was an issue. We decided to use firmware. As you can imagine there are tens of thousand data points to correlate. We are close but need more data around this point Shane tested. More hours on the Jig and riding gathering data. We are only a few % out at this point and expect to bring this back to our standards shortly with firmware updates. Happy training.
@@murrayhealey1903 Really appreciate the transparency and engagement. Personally, and I think most people would agree, my takeaway from Shane's review is that this is a top-notch product. The small thermal drift (if it is that) is so small that it's really not an issue for the vast majority of mere-mortal users. As indicated in my other comments I have my local bike shop ordering this for me when stock is available - so putting my money where my mouth is. Over the moon that an Australian company has put out a product of this quality. All the best to you and your team :)
@@murrayhealey1903 I have to echo Y D's comments and really do appreciate the engagement, thank you. Your commitment to your customers is clear - the ground-up design of The Volt, along with your supporting installation videos and content. I'm not globally "local", however, I'm more than happy to support your company with my purchase. I really look forward to many happy indoor miles here in Scotland.
Thank you Shane, too.
A bit late to the comments, but I was wondering what your thoughts are on this trainer compared to the Direto XR? They're both direct drive trainers in the same pricing range, and the main difference now seems to be that the XR isn't available anywhere.
Do you reckon me waiting for the XR is worth the (slightly better?) accuracy, or do you think this is negligible and I could just try and find a VOLT?
Availability usually chooses for people at the moment. The DiretoXR is a step above with power accuracy.
Have you heard anything about when the Jetblack trainer suite will be released? I'm a sucker for a matching kit and I really want that table.
Nothing yet. Ping them direct.
Thanks for the great review. I am thinking of getting one. Does anyone know if the thread size of your thru axle matters? I just want to be sure my bike will be compatible with this.
The thread type/pitch doesn't matter to the trainer. As long as your thru-axle goes through the trainer (12mm diameter) it then screws into your bike frame like it does with a rear wheel on the bike.
@@gplama thanks 😊
Hey all, What's everyone's fine final verdict on this vs the Kickr Core. I really want to support Volt being Australian made but the amount of reviews and issues surrounding repairs are concerning. Kickr core seems to be a safer product to drop $1k+ on.
Almost splitting hairs. The CORE is more of a known quantity as it has been out for a few years. If you're here in AU then the after sales service and support from both companies should be excellent.
@@gplama beauty, thanks mate really appreciate it.
Great review as always Shane. You seems to have a dedicated pc for Zwift, what resolution are you running? I am looking to build a pc to run Zwift in 4K and I imagine many would be curious as to your setup (can’t see you’ve done a video on this) 👍🏻
4K resolution with a HP Omen PC (GPU: GeForce RTX 2060): amzn.to/2XaQwau I spent good $ a year ago so I could just unbox something that works. This hasn't missed a beat.
@@gplama that’s great, many thanks!
Hei Shane great video than you. I have a 12-25 10spd SRAM on my Cervelo p3 (2009) which I would like to put on this trainer--if I buy it ;) Quick question: do I have to get an extra 12-25 10 spd cassette to put on the Volt or can I use the one that comes with it? thanks :)
Hi Shane, would you mind doing review of your custom upgrades of the wahoo desk? seems you did some awesome upgrade :-)thx Jan
It's on the cards.
It sounds like a fantastic product.. as good as or better than the kickr core considering the hr connection. Some online reviews have said they’ve had problems connecting? May be an ant+ problem?
I've seen a few mentions of issues with the app, specifically the Android version. Knowing this was being updated in a week or so, I didn't look at it and used the IOS version for firmware check and spindowns.
HeY Stomper, Connection was all around the new Android Policy release. Updated and new App version at the store now fixing these connection issues.
Hey Shane, Love your work. I have a question on direct drive trainers compatibility with bikes that are fitted with full length mudguards. Not sure if this is even an issue but to my eye, there might be problems fitting such a bike onto direct drive trainers. Any advice will be much appreciated.
Something I have zero experience with sorry.
Just sold my beloved Kinetic R1 and switched to the JetBlack Volt. Probably the right decision for zwift racing.
Is it possible to connect the power meter to the smarttrainer via power meter link? That's probably not so clever for Zwift races, is it? Because you need two DIFFERENT measurements for dual recording, right?
i think after watching so many of your videos lately that i will be investing in this unit, based on price etc - i cannot really afford a Kickr V5 as this was published in January 2021 do you know Shane if they have 1. updated the android app ? and addressed the thermal drift issue yet.- also i would love to know if you would choose this over a Kickr Core ?
Your videos are bloody amazing BTW and you have been a massive influence for me in actually pursuing an indoor trainer.
keep up the good work
No follow-up on this from JB since this was published, so I'm not sure on the status of their app and the thermal drift. This vs CORE, entirely your call.
ok...thx
I like the look of that trainer, I’m waiting for a kickr v5 to land but I love the colour scheme, it’s a shame they won’t send to the uk, OR WILL THEY?
Hey Brandon. looks like you can by them from TRI UK 👍
Try Evan Cycles, they have 60 shops in the UK and have them in stock for home or shop delivery!
Is this the first and only version of the Volt? If there are multiple version on the market, would I be able to use the serial number (or another identifier) to check the version I purchased? Thank you.
hi i am new to indoor trainers looking to purchase my first smart trainer the minor glitches you noted with the thermal effect is that something that can be corrected with a firmware upgrade?
HI Simon, yes thermal drift is a challenge but something that can be fixed. We just need more data. (hours of the trainer on the jig) We are close to getting this area right. For us the drift is only at limited flywheel speeds. Thanks
how does the volt work out cadence,where does it get its info from?
Would you choose this over the Wahoo Kickr Shane?
I really hope they can update the firmware on the whisper drive to fix a lot of the issues. I'm sure most of it can be fixed with software.
Agreed, my first one went back and its replacement has MASSIVE (10+ second) lag when adjusting to gradients. Really detracts from the experience when the pedals are saying uphill but the screen is showing down
Hi Jordan, we have spent many hours trying to bring the Whisper Drive up to standards. But unfortunaley the limitations of the Self generating system will not allow this. The lack of power to support quick and accurate movements of the system sets the standards. The Whisper Drive is a great unit and i still ride mine. Happy training
@@murrayhealey1903 Hi Murray. I've dealt with you over email. The support you yourself provides is great. The rest of the team that responds seem to be slow and unaware compared to you.
Anyways, after fixing my broken unit with new parts I find the unit will still not calibrate properly. Once I was able to get it to calibrate and have close to accurate power readings, but right now it's stuck reporting over 10% higher power than actual no matter how many times I calibrate it.
@@thesupernad we are working on this issue, we will have a more comprehensive calibration firmware out in the near future that will bring out of sync trainers back into line. Other than sending the unit back to the factory for a recalibration we see this a way forward. Chat soon
In the video when the camera was setup directly behind the trainer, I noticed that your bike leaned towards the right. Did you feel the trainer lean during your riding?
Camera angle only.
I have the same one and I wanted to ask if it is compatible if I put the Zwift Hub One with the same trainer?
No. The single 14T Cog only works with the Zwift Hub trainer at this point. If that changes I’ll publish the details on here.
Good trainer but I just couldn't get it to sync with the Jetblack app on Android, therefore couldn't do firmware update or calibration. Fortunately, I found a way around this, I used my daughter's iPhone.... worked ok with iPhone but not android.
Hi, this week we released an update to fix this issue. We found Android released a Policy update we missed. Good to go now. Happy training
you don´t need to install the spacer?
Also did you tried using an android device? I can´t connect mine. (Samsung)
No cassette spacer for 11/12 speed cassettes. I can’t recall if I tried their Android app.
Awesome review :) Thank you very much! Do you know if its possible to ride a Shimano 12 Speed Cassette on it? A lot of new bikes come with the 2x12 ultegra, but i can only find shimano 11 speed and SRAM XDR 12 Speed :X
The freehub will take a Shimano 12spd road cassette.
@@gplama awesome 👌tyvm
Is the thermal drift issue fixed
I’m not sure. Not something I’ve retested.
Love the trainer , just the app is pretty much useless on Android. Cannot perform spindown on it. Works perfectly fine on iOS.
I had same issue, couldn't get it to sync with the Jet-black app on Android. Used an iPhone like you, I think they need to look into this, not everyone has the option of both phones.
We have a new version out and has fixed the issue. Unfortunately we were unaware of a recent policy update Android released causing this issue. New App under construction now. Cheers
Hi Shane
When I paired JB Volt to my Garmin Edge 830, under the "trainer sensor" menu there were wheel size (default 2096) gear ratio (2.73) as well as bike weight (10kg).. I didn't think this matter as I'm using direct drive trainer but I changed it anyway similar to my bike settings (wheel size 2136mm and bike weight 9kg, gear ratio stayed at 2.73)
What I discovered when I tried them with The Sufferfest, the speed and distance reading on my Garmin Edge is different from the Sufferfest (Garmin edge's speed and distance are higher), but the source is the same, speed and power from JB Volt, and cadence from Garmin Cad sensor.
Why did that happen? I think there might be certain value of wheel size and gear ratio that I have to set to the Garmin Edge Trainer settings to get the numbers on my edge and 3rd party app the same (or similar)? What would be the correct wheel size and gear ratio?
Thank you
One for the Sufferfest support. I'm not across how they calculate their virtual speed/distances. I know that on Zwift the trainer speed isn't used at all. It calculates speed in-game based on power/weight/terrain.
@@gplama thanks for the quick reply
Great review, really interesting alternative to the front runners. Can you get a Campag freehub for it?
Ah, just looked at their website and they say the cassette is "Shimano, Sram and Campy compatible". Not seen that before.
A lot of people say the 11spd Shimano will work with 11spd Campag. No hands-on with that setup here.
@@gplama Yes, but I can't remember any trainer manufacturers making that claim though
@@hubby17ification I believe the first generation of the original Tacx Neo had a similar freehub that claimed cross-compatibility. They went to supplying a Shimano/SRAM-only freehub later on.
@@rasherdk It's not the freehub I'm talking about, it's the cassette.
Can Wahoo do some type of firmware update to bridge the HR on theirs too? Seems like they did that with the Cadence?
No idea. It depends on how much headroom they have with the hardware in their trainers.
Hi there. For the bridge feature of the HRM, it must be bluetooth emitter or is enough ant+?
BLE
Hi,i have a question about wahoo kickr power 18.
I have to do a factory reset and after that a firmware update to solve my problem.
But how do i a factoy reset on a kickr.
My kickr power freez on a training in Zwift and after a 1 min. I can pedal again and freez again on 300-350 watts
Best ping Wahoo Support direct for this one.
Hi Shane. I've just bought this trainer. When I'm pedaling downhill and doing 30-40 mph, there is an audible humming from the unit. Is this right?
Hmmm… not sure. If you can get a video of it happening and send it through to JetBlack they’ll be able to diagnose it if it’s an issue.
Hi Shane I’m have big troubles setting up my wahoo kicker . Every time I ride it feels harder and hard to pedal .
Is there some way I can contact you for your help please
Best contact Wahoo and/or Zwift on this one. I'm not setup to do direct troubleshoot support.
So the manufacturer claims a weight limit of 120kg, what do you think, will it be stable if one goes slightly above? Or is the unit already wobbly?
Stable for me at about 78kg, that’s all I can tell you. I suspect it’ll take more than the maximum limit published… but exactly how much, no idea.
Could that heart rate feature be added as a firmware update to (say) a Kickr or Kickr Core? If it's bluetooth, is it just another device on the BT bridge?
Maybe... it depends on how much headroom there is with the current hardware/firmware on those units.
Good review! Remove the stickers and I'd swear it was a Kickr Core ;)
Since the Volt is almost the same price range as the Kickr Core being the Kickr Core 100 AUD more expensive, which would you pick to buy? Any advantage of one over the other? Like customer support or app features, etc?
If they can nail the heat/drift issues and the longevity of the VOLT is good, then it's a better pick. Those are two unknowns at this point though.
@@gplama Ah I see, thanks. Yeah and the Volt does include a cassette in the package. JetBlack has to prove the Volt's longevity since the Kickr Core has been released around 1 year earlier and more people have used it. Although I've seen people complaining about some issues with the Kickr Core after some use.
From your experience, can heat/drift issues be fixed via a firmware update or a hardware revision is needed?
I don't have any answers (or guesses) on the fixes. This is entirely in the hands of the engineers.
How does one download data in Training Peaks or other programs? I think I just found my new trainer !
Downloading workings/training plans is all to do with the software/platform you choose to use. Most of the top choices allow this sync.
Would you recommend this over the elite suito?
Line ball.... both mid-range level trainers.
17:05 😂
It’s a tough job 🥲
I bet 😁
Does the trainer fit to disc brakes bikes?
Yes
What is the power consumption of the trainer ? Or power supply specs
Power Pack Output: 19V, 4.74A = 90.06W. That's max output, so the trainer will be using less than that.