Is It Worth The Money? // Wattbike Atom Next Generation Review

My full review of the Wattbike Atom Next Generation! I have to say, this has been one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Today we go through everything about the Wattbike Atom next generation - cost, comfort, adjustability, connectivity, noise and practicality. We also go through how easy it is to connect to Zwift, how to update the firmware & what accessories you’ll need to buy with it to start riding. I’ve tried not to miss anything! If you do have any questions do let me know below in the comments!
See my most recent video, replacing the saddle on the Wattbike with a new one: • Finally Replacing My W...
See my previous video unboxing the Wattbike Atom and giving my first impressions: • I Purchased A Wattbike...
Catch you in the next one!
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Zwift: Jonny Kibble
Get £25 off a Wattbike Atom (all codes may have been used by now, if so, sorry!): mention-me.com/m/ol/qu8dk-dfb...
I'm Jonny! A Coach and PT who’s recently gotten into cycling! Follow along as I share my journey to become a better cyclist and hopefully use my coaching knowledge to help you too!
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See you on the road!

[@jinx6493]

Had my Wattbike Atom Next Gen since Oct 20, ridden over 2600 miles on Zwift with no issues at all. It’s been a life changing purchase and probably the best purchase of my life fitness wise anyway, love it!!

[@JonnyKibble]

That's amazing, great work! I agree! Makes such a difference doesn't it to be able to just hop on and get a ride in! Glad you're enjoying yours too :D

[@techqueries3881]

Does it come with a screen?

[@tentaklaus9382]

@@techqueries3881 The Nucleus does (touch screen), the atom doesn't. £100 difference. Though I went for the Atom as also have an electric treadmill for running so bought an ipad to transfer between them. The atom has space for a tablet/device.

[@richardgoodman6071]

Thanks for the review - very helpful. I’m getting one as a 40th treat to myself 😉

[@JonnyKibble]

No worries thanks for watching! Haha love it! Happy birthday to you!!

[@stuey90]

Great review, just came across your vid after purchasing so pleased with the content . Hopefully mine will arrive tomorrow

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks a lot! Ahh amazing hopefully you enjoy yours as much as I’m enjoying mine!

[@msjeal]

I’ve done over 5,000km on my atom v2 since I purchased it back in February, absolutely the best cycling purchase I’ve ever made.

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome! It’s such a good piece of kit isn’t it!

[@silversun111]

Thanks for the video, Jonny. First video I’ve watched of yours, you have good screen presence and are very informative and to the point. All the best.

[@JonnyKibble]

No worries glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the kind words!! Much appreciated!

[@ryanmcdonough9850]

I’d second this - subscribed within 10 seconds 🤙

[@silversun111]

@@JonnyKibble Bought a Wattbike at Christmas. Getting toward 1K miles and loving it. Thanks again for the video!

[@stewie7thst42]

Got my bike 6 months ago and it’s still going strong, You’ll definitely need to purchase a different saddle if anybody is thinking about getting this bike. I also took the silicone covers off the gears because they just got in the way and it was a bit fidgety for my liking. I’d happily recommend this bike to anyone. It’s a solid 8/10 for me.

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome! Glad you’re enjoying it! I still need to get a saddle haha but I like the idea for the gear buttons too!

[@johnellerby5004]

class video Jonny, Cheers for putting it together buddy.

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting 😃 stay tuned for more content coming up 😃

[@sheldonwhite3506]

Great review thank you! Will be purchasing this year ready for winter!

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks a lot Sheldon! Awesome sounds like a plan! I probably purchased mine at the wrong time haha but it will for sure come in handy over the winter months!

[@sheldonwhite3506]

@@JonnyKibble definitely good for winter! Enjoying the Channel to , keep it up

[@user-fk8rb8ue5h]

I've had mine a while on your recommendation. Best thing I ever did. Can't keep off it. Much better than the kicker snap. Thanks for the advice and the discount code.

[@powerbastion1083]

I have the Kicker Snap and am really wanting to upgrade to the Wattbike Atom.

[@JonnyKibble]

Ahhh awesome I’m so glad your enjoying it 😃 it’s so much simpler than having a trainer! Hopefully it’ll towel for you through the winter coming up 😃

[@rikbanter694]

Great no nonsense review thanks

[@davidwatt7270]

Great review, really useful. Thanks!

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks so much glad you found it useful!

[@markburton3306]

As a casual and fair weather cyclist I’m looking forward to the recently ordered Atom to be delivered. I’m a bit taller than you and hopefully it’s comfortable enough. Great review by the way

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome I hope you enjoy it! I’m sure it will be plenty comfortable (once you get a better saddle anyway haha)! Thanks for watching my review 😃

[@wing8ian]

@jonny kibble great review. I pushed the button. 👍

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks a lot glad you liked it! Fingers crossed you’re enjoying it right now 😃

[@1972andyb]

Great vid. Love my Atom. Had for a few weeks now. Also had a Tacx flux 2. So easy to connect Wattbike to zwift. I love that you say- for ‘real’ cyclists Wattbike better than peloton 😂. Totally agree, peleton bike £2300+ then tied into £50 subscription for basically online spinning classes. Wattbike Atom £1900 and can use any program, zwift being £13 and so much more with rides, racing, TTs, workouts, expanding worlds, challenges, events etc. I actually find the seat quite comfortable, and the TT bars fit me ok, like you say great for resting your arms over the bars. UCI haven’t banned it on indoor bikes yet 😂. Wattbike also the best looking smart bike❤️. Managed to get £100 nhs discount which was a great bonus. Have got the bibshorts, just waiting on the jersey to be in stock. Best cycling purchase. No more faffing with taking rear wheel off anymore and also no wear and tear on outdoor bike either. Slightly wider Q factor not an issue. Crank length 170 could be an issue with taller riders, however, I just changed my venge to 170 cranks 🙂. did a ramp test last week. 41watt increase (2 years since previous test) love the channel 👍

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks a lot glad your liked it! It’s amazing isn’t it I’m glad you’re enjoying yours too! They’re so great aren’t they! Agree with everything you’ve said there! For sure Wattbikes are for proper cyclists haha! Awesome work on the FTP test! A 41 watt increase is no easy feat! Looking forward to re-testing mine in a few week! Would love an improvement as big as yours!

[@johnthebiker300]

I have had mine for 4 weeks now and I am very happy with it. Slightly noisier than my previous Kickr but nothing too significant.

[@DanBP21]

Hi @john. How would you compare the Wahoo Kickr with the Wattbike Atom ? Besides being noisier. Thanks!

[@johnthebiker300]

@@DanBP21 the Wattbike was slightly noisier but I have loved using it in the last 18 months. A very good piece of kit. If I had a bike suitable to leave on the trainer all the time I would buy another Kickr but the Wattbike saves moving bikes around.

[@DanBP21]

@@johnthebiker300 Thanks for the reply! Did you consider buying the Wahoo Kickr Bike or Tacx NEO instead?

[@daviemetalhead22]

Great review, thank you =-)

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks so much, glad you liked it!

[@jamesastelfox]

Great video... Thanks!

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks for watching, glad you liked it 😃

[@ClassicCyclingCC]

Hello Jonny and thanks for the video. Much appreciated. Would you still recommend the Wattbike 2 years later? Do you still use it and how well has it held up? Thanks and cheers

[@HorusCommunications]

Thanks Jonny, just used your referral code :)

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome! Enjoy and happy cycling 😃

[@scottwatson9479]

Thanks for a great review, I have been thinking of buying a Wattbike Atom so can you give your thought on climb mode with regard to how it works and how realistic the resistence levels are, also are there a wide range of climbs from the Alps, Dolomites or Pyrenees built into this bike?

[@JonnyKibble]

No problem glad you found it useful! The climb mode is great (I have only been using it on Zwift though). It alters the resistance for you top mimic the hills. You then obviously change gear if needed to help you keep your legs turning over! The levels in my opinion are pretty good and mimic being out on the road pretty well :) There are a few climbs built into the wattbike hub app yes but there’s also others build into Zwift, trainer road etc depending on what software you plan on using with the bike :)

[@justinf1343]

I think I am going to pull the plug and order one of these. I currently have a Tacx Neo 2 trainer and it's a pain as my daughter wants to use the Neo and switching bikes is a pain. Plus, I find the Tacx Neo 2 does creak a bit due to the amount of plastic on the unit.

[@JonnyKibble]

Do it! It's definitely a worth while investment! Especially over the winter months!

[@garethmatthews3161]

Thank you for the video I know it’s a few year old now but was wondering if you have had to repair the bike at all or is it standing the test of time so to speak ? Cheers

[@1nvol2ver]

Hi mate I watched your video before I bought my wattbike and I've had it for a few days now, but I wanted to ask you if you can feel a slight vibration in your feet on the downstroke? I just cant figure out if it's normal or just mine. It's kind of a grindy chain-like feel. Cheers

[@Si.Spence]

Great review, thanks. I'm just about to press the button to miss the winter rush! rather than connecting to an iPad, I probably want to get a TV in the garage. In having a TV would I still connect via wifi or Bluetooth, or this there an HDMI connector option to hardwire the bike with the TV? just thinking about the TV spec that I'd need. any help is appreciated. thanks

[@JonnyKibble]

Hey! Ahh good work! Yes you’ll need some device to run Zwift on - so an iPad, laptop, PC etc. You’ll then connect that to the screen :) you can’t connect the bike directly to the screen :)

[@grahamhall4176]

Thanks for the great review. I'm currently using the Tacx Neo Smart Bike and love it's functionality, especial riding the Tacx real-life videos. However, I've just returned my third unit, which will be replaced with a fully refurbished unit and I'm getting fed up with the reliability. The first unit had an electrical component failure, on the second and third units, the left crank arm came loose damaging the crankshaft teeth. The replacement unit should arrive next week, but I'm thinking about selling it and moving on to a Wattbike Atom or a Stages SB20. Do you know if the Wattbike is compatible with the Tacx desktop app? Also, can you quantify the Wattbike noise level? Thanks

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome! Oh wow yeah that doesn't sounds like a very reliable machine! I would have thought the wattbike would work with the app but I couldn't be 100% sure! I can't quantify the noise but it's certainly the quietest Turbo I've owned for sure! You wouldn't hear it in the next room :)

[@mikesleight4498]

Thanks for a useful review, considering getting one, but am concerned about the clearance in my room when standing up. How high is the ceiling in your room please? Ta

[@JonnyKibble]

No worries thanks for watching and commenting! Oooh I wouldn’t worry too much unless your room is particularly small! I think that rooms about 7 foot but I’ve moved house now so unfortunately can’t measure for you!

[@christophergarraway2061]

I'm close to purchasing one of these, as to date I have been riding a bike/fluid trainer budget setup on Zwift and want to take the next step. What do you see as the main benefits over a basic setup for somebody primarily using Zwift to stay fit via group rides, with the occasional race?

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome! Sounds like you’re stepping in the right direction! I’d say the main benefits are that it’s all set up ready to go eg. No clipping your bike in and out, the accuracy and ability to have your power (if you don’t have power on your bike already), the changing resistance on Zwift automatically when you hit hills and the fact that you wont have to worry about your back tyre getting worn out on your trainer haha! It was a no brainier for me! There are other cheaper options but I guess it all comes down to personal preference and how much you’re willing to pay for convenience of riding too :)

[@christophergarraway2061]

@@JonnyKibble Thanks for the reply, and the review which was really informative!

[@stephenprice4739]

Hi great review. I am considering the WBA nx gen. Do you still own it and do you have any issues to share. Also have the new firmware that can customise gears and do ergo smoothing. Thanks

[@JonnyKibble]

Hey! Sorry for the late reply, yep still got it and loving it! Haven't updated the firmware recently though so will need to try that!

[@peterburton8723]

Have you done any Zwift races yet on it? I currently use wahoo kickr which is very responsive so wondered how you found it?

[@JonnyKibble]

Yeah I’ve just done the one but it was great. Very quick and responsive so would highly recommend it for that!

[@clivepreston2228]

good review. Any view on the ERG mode? i know this is one area that has been a challenge for Wattbike and its the one area that is putting me off buying.

[@silversun111]

Watch from 13:30, Clive, he touches on the ERG mode.

[@JonnyKibble]

Hi Clive, yes it does work fine! Not as smooth and consistent as my old direct drive but pretty damn good to be fair! I wouldn’t let that put you off in my opinion :)

[@chrisdavis6245]

Great video, thanks for sharing. At 6’3” are you maxed out on the seat height? I’m a little taller and wondering whether this is an option.

[@JonnyKibble]

Thanks! No There’s plenty of space left so I’d say you’ll be fine I think!

[@chrisdavis6245]

@@JonnyKibble That’s great Jonny, looks like you’ve just cost me £2000 😂

[@JonnyKibble]

Hahaha oops!!

[@TheWeightliftingTriathlete]

Great video - I've just looked and the Wattbike Atom is now £2400 which is an insane increase really. It's a shame as it was a much cheaper alternative to the Wahoo Bike but it's now much closer in pricing.

[@JonnyKibble]

Oh wow that's a big increase isn't it!! Very true, inflation isn't doing anyone any favours is it?!

[@Si.Spence]

assume watts are measured using the crank arm or some internal jiggerypokery? or do i need power meter pedals?

[@JonnyKibble]

Not actually sure how it measures power but it’s all internal no need for power pedals! I think it does it through the internal cassette!

[@trevdavis9234]

I appreciate this video is a year old but just looking at reviews prior to purchase. So are you still using it and have any of your thoughts changed?

[@JonnyKibble]

Ahh you've most likely made your decision by now but still love it!

[@Cachapeluo]

What material is the frame made of? Aluminum or Steel?

[@JonnyKibble]

Oooh I’m not sure! It should say on their website I imagine though!

[@wing8ian]

Ordered my Atom last Sunday… it arrived on Wednesday. Immediate feedback: 1. Really well packaged with clear instructions and all the bits you need to plug & play 2. Surprisingly manoeuvrable considering it’s weight 3. Footprint is much smaller than old my turbo set up (at least a bike wheel shorter) 4. Connected to Zwift automatically 5. You need to give the Hub app permission to use Bluetooth on your device before it can talk to the bike 6. As noisy as I expected… no louder than my turbo and with a fan and Zwift on it all blends away 7. Initial set up for seat and bars just needs patience & then tweaking as you get a few rides in and get a feel for it 8. Gear changes in Zwift are quick enough (est. 0.5 secs)…you can see the gear on the screen (it’s also displayed in the Hub when you use that) 9. I feel confident in pushing harder on the Wattbike than I did on my old turbo set up 10. If you like ‘data’ there’s a lot to be excited about I was nervous about dropping almost £2k on a bike I can only ride in my home office… so far so good & so I’m listing my Giant TCX and Kickr Snap at the weekend. If it breaks or catches fire I’ll update this post. Edit: You get charged £60 for delivery… I was annoyed at that when I ordered but it arrived 3 days later so I have no complaints. Edit: UK review.

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome little review there thanks for commenting! Second all of your points! Glad you’re happy with your purchase! Happy riding 😃

[@superobsidiandestroyer2892]

Would you say the watt bike atom is better or worse than the Garmen Tacx Neo, if money wasn’t an obstacle?

[@JonnyKibble]

I’ve not used the neo, only the flux so its hard to say. I’d stay the only benefit is not having to hook up your bike every time! I’m sure in terms of everything else they’re pretty similar.

[@bill7984]

Hi mate, good review. I'm thinking of getting one, not really a cyclist but being mid 30s am looking for a good piece of low impact cardio equipment I can use year round (sunny north east england). I'd mainly use it for warming up for gym sessions / cardio sessions and interval training. Do you think it's worth it or possibly overkill and maybe better off with something at a lower entry point ? Cheers

[@oayysz8909]

Im a gym rat too recently setup a pain cave at home if it's just for warming up then i don't think it's necessary a regular stationery bike should get the job done but if your strength training + need specific cardio sessions then this hooked to zwift is a perfect set up imo

[@JonnyKibble]

Yeah I agree with the below comment really. It may be a little overkill just for a few intervals or warming up as it’s really designed for proper bike training but if you have the money and it may lead to a little more cycling then why not!

[@bill7984]

@@oayysz8909 thanks

[@bill7984]

@@JonnyKibble thanks for the response

[@drewa4445]

They don’t have this available for purchase yet in the us

[@JonnyKibble]

Ahh that’s annoying! Hopefully they do soon!

[@dannychart]

struggling to make my mind up between buying stages or the Atom 😫

[@JonnyKibble]

haha the struggle is real! I hope you made the right decision haha :D

[@Ratatosk80]

Been training at home on a crappy spin bike, just started to cycle in the gym instead on a Wattbike. 2 workouts so far and loving it. Was contemplating buying a trainer for my bike but it's nice to get out of the house and the Wattbike is just a high quality piece of machinery. What I have found especially great on the Wattbike is that the display shows how you distribute power. On the first workout I was 60/40 on left/right leg. Never knew before that I had that much imbalance. Second workout was 56/44 when I made an effort to adjust so a bit better. Only issue I have had so far have been the km/h the Wattbike shows. Seems wrong. I did a pretty relaxed long duration session in quick ride mode as my second workout. Used the Wattbike hub app. It said I was doing 37,74 km/h avg speed. The avg Watt was 212. Watt seems correct but there is no way 212 Watt should be that high a speed. Can add that tried two different Wattbikes in the gym. At same cadence both showed identical Watt when mag resistance and fan setting was identical. So that's good. Only checked the km/h speed however on one of them.

[@JonnyKibble]

Hey! Great work! Glad you hear you’re loving cycling in the gym on the Wattbike! Trying to balance out your pedal strokes is great fun too and I was well out of balance when I first started! I’m not sure how Wattbike calculate speed but it is an estimate. Obviously when you’re outside there’s road surface, hills, weather etc to take into consideration along with the power you’re putting out so I’d more concentrate on your power and effort level than speed :) hope that helps! Happy cycling 😃

[@davewaddell3284]

Good video. Thanks. Thinking of getting one. To burn calories (I'm a fat old man) rather than cycle up a virtual Matterhorn

[@JonnyKibble]

Glad you enjoyed it! I’d highly recommend it, bone of the best purchases I’ve made! Haha sounds like a plan!!

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

Is there an outside option for bike trainer (but that does not go anywhere)

[@JonnyKibble]

Hmmmm how do you mean? You could wheel the wattbike outdoors if you wanted? :)

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

@@JonnyKibble I don’t have space in the house ,basically something that I could put in a shed ,but guessing they all need electricity ?

[@oayysz8909]

@@BobBob-uv9fq i have a 30m extension lead to the shed works fine

[@JonnyKibble]

Yeah they do need power but an extension cord would be fine!

[@ChristopherSoden]

Which seat have you gone for? I find the standard one very uncomfortable.

[@JonnyKibble]

I haven't yet haha I still need to purchase one! But you're right as with a lot of bikes the standard seat isn't great! Will for sure be upgrading in the next couple of weeks!

[@ChristopherSoden]

@@JonnyKibble Did you ever find another seat for the WattBike?

[@JonnyKibble]

No I still haven’t upgraded even though I’m on the bike a lot more now the weather and dark is closing in 😂 I will do in the next few months or so though and will put up a video on it when I do! Think I’ll probably go for the same seat that’s on my road bike!

[@ChristopherSoden]

@@JonnyKibble I'd be grateful if you do. I keep looking at them and get lost in the myriad of options and stop looking!

[@JonnyKibble]

@@ChristopherSoden There's so many out there isn't there! I think it comes down to personal preference in the end and what feels comfy for you and your wallet haha!

[@christerjohanzzon]

We live in the age where reviews are nothing more than free advertising for a brand. They even get paid before the advert is produced... Great review though, I wish I could afford a similar thing with a tablet to be able excercise at all.

[@JonnyKibble]

Very true! Plenty of reviews out there now on youtube aren't there! Thanks for watching!

[@freshpootube]

Zwift's lack of support for equipment seems to be growing. Every time I see a new review, it mentions Zwift glitches.

[@JonnyKibble]

Yeah there are few glitches aren’t there! Hopefully the improvements do keep coming!

[@bv3bv334]

👍

[@NigelBunt]

Good review but didn’t mentio me a big downside to this bike, it won’t allow you to use Apple Watch connected to the bike for heart rate monitoring and information straight to Apple Watch and vice versa. They made a terrible work around app and it gets vastly too fiddly I ended up buying a chest strap, then a garmin. I liked my Apple Watch I just can’t believe the world most popular smart watch can’t connect.

[@JonnyKibble]

Ahhh I didn’t even know that so that’s for commenting! Hopefully if anyone else is looking to do that they see this! That is annoying! They obviously need to connect to a specific app or device on an iPad/PC then!

[@Dathumper]

Please, go into detail. 😂😉

[@JonnyKibble]

😂😂😂

[@perro0076]

Beautifully made bike, but way over priced for what you get. Does it even come with a computer? The German Sportstech SX600 is worth a look

[@perro0076]

@D G Hi. You're absolutely right. Thank you. I actually almost did get that SX600, but I ended up getting a Tacx S smart trainer. For yeeeears I had a spinning bike arrangement with friction pads, and I thought switching to a magnetic affair would be the way forward. But a smart trainer was really it.

[@powerbastion1083]

Price seems about right. Wahoo bike is £3,000! Beautiful piece of kit.

[@JonnyKibble]

Awesome glad you found the right trainer! The tacx looks great!

[@ianwilliams3254]

Holy crap that is a noisy bike. The noise alone is directing me towards a Neo Tacx or KICKR.

[@trinitysmate]

That's sounds loud as hell 😳

[@JonnyKibble]

It’s fairly loud but similar to the other trainer I had really :)

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

Wow very expensive

[@JonnyKibble]

It can be compared to some of the other options for sure!