Wattbike Atom Next Generation - 3 best things; 3 worst things

Following up from our previous review; we summaries on how indoor training bike performs on the Zwift platform.
We also provide our 3 likes and dislikes.
We have no affiliation with Zwift or Wattbike and therefore, a pretty unique review.

[@johnthebiker300]

Having had a WB for 5 weeks now I think the review a fair one. Personally the top tube and design is not an issue to me. The gear changing is very responsive and connectivity is excellent. To answer another comment, it is definitely noisier than a 2018 Kickr but not significantly so.

[@Titaniumgeek]

Thanks for watching and sharing, John. With the new Atom £45 per month finance deal, it is a compelling buy. We still miss it here. I was talking to someone from one of the major cycling training platforms recently. He has all the major smart bikes and trainers and is loving the Atom.

[@markbarry1977]

My biggest issue by far is how difficult it is to change the saddle. I like the supplied saddle my wife likes the comfort one. Last time I attempted to change it over quickly I ended up with four chunks of metal, two parts of the center bolt and a spring all over the floor. It’s near enough impossible to change the saddle over in a reasonable time. The comfort saddle has a massive brace across it so you can’t get the Allen key in to lock it in fire and aft (unless you undo the saddle, tilt the saddle down this then provides acces to the fore and aft grubb screw to lock it for and aft, you then have to adjust tilt again. This is sold as a multi person easily adjustable smart bike. every thing else is except the saddle It’s just not. I’ve only had mine 20 days and I’m seriously thinking of sending it back under the 30 day guarantee. A £2k sale lost because you can’t swap saddles out quickly. If you could buy the slider part at the top of the saddle that does for and aft movement that would be at least a part solution. But no speaking to Wattbike you can only buy the slider but as part of the whole seat post. Bloody stupid and there design engineers want shooting for that faux par.

[@Titaniumgeek]

Hi Mark, that is something that I completely missed. I must say that when I moved the saddle, it was a pain. I will 100% feed this back to Wattbike.

[@shanew634]

Nice review, definitely not on my Christmas list but a nice bit of kit.👍

[@Titaniumgeek]

Thanks for watching, Shane. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

[@Daimoku1938]

maybe u don't have the cash 2buy it.. that's the problem.

[@jarekkowalczyk2509]

I buy WB Atom few months ago, almost everything is perfect but …. it’s little bit noisy, almost like tumble dryer. Don’t know what to do?

[@danielgazzelloni7258]

How about the noise of the Wattbike Atom? Is it as quiet as the Wahoo Kickr 2018 smart turbo trainer?

[@Titaniumgeek]

Hi and a very happy New Year. We are currently pondering noise stats. Within reason, most devices are within the same range. That is on a dB meter. What we need to investigate is psychoacoustics - the way in which we perceive the noise. We will also use a spectrum analyser. Using the Better Half test - the Atom NG sounded as quiet as anything tested with little risk of drive chain issues.

[@duncabiscuit]

Very noisy at high cadence

[@peatyblinders92]

Worth upgrading if you have the 1st generation Atom?

[@Titaniumgeek]

That's a touch question.... If you have the money spare, yes. If not, be happy and wait for the version after this. I must say, I miss riding it.

[@1972andyb]

erg is fine now

[@Titaniumgeek]

Great news and I need to do an update. Thanks for watching.

[@HTB6493]

Is erg mode not good then?

[@Titaniumgeek]

I just hate ERG mode on anything. I know the history - CompuTrainer and all that and people have continued to use it. I hear that the latest firmware update on the Atom has it sorted and at the same time I haven't tested it. I just don't get ERG - the whole idea is for us to generate the watts and to select the most appropriate gear to generate those watts. Having a turbo trainer straining against you to give you the resistance of those watts just doesn't make sense to me. I have even asked sports scientists to provide the peer reviewed data that proves that ERG has any advantages and I get blank looks - or even 'I agree with you.' :)

[@HTB6493]

@@Titaniumgeek ahh I really enjoy the erg mode on my wattbike atom 😁

[@HTB6493]

@@Titaniumgeek it's still the bike straining against you not in erg as its the gear resistance that does that?

[@Daimoku1938]

the atom next generation as a full indoor bike is the best and cheapest option,there has been several updates on the firmware since this video and gear changes are perfectly smooth nowadays, if u want a proper direct drive trainer buy wahoo kickr v5!!! all otherd are bullshit compared to kickr v5 and by the way not all of Zwifters are racers!!! that's it for your nonsense.

[@petef15]

Wow the erg mode thing is a HUGE negative

[@VeteranFitnessChannel101]

Only if you can't generate your own watts. Check out the Garry Palmer video where a PhD holding sports scientist sees no relevance in ERG mode

[@dtrjones]

Yeah well, I always thought erg mode was for the insane anyway! What happened to a nice ride in the park...

[@1972andyb]

erg is fine

[@dtrjones]

@@1972andyb yep, I have the bike now, I can confirm ERG is fine also. What is a nuasence for me is the software doesn't always connect to the bike properly and I have to reset my iPad but that might be more to do with the iPad that the WattHub/Zwift applications.