REASONS TO BUY
Simple setup
Lightweight
11-speed cassette pre-installed
REASONS TO AVOID
Requires calibration
Annoying power drops and slower responsiveness
Unit may wobble slightly
Elite Suito Review
This direct drive trainer stands out for being more portable and easy to set up compared to others in its performance tier
Credit: Amazon
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Our Verdict
The Elite Suito is clearly a high-end direct-drive bike trainer. You get the more realistic feel of a direct-drive unit (and you get to spare your tires), plus you get smart control so you can immerse yourself in virtual training worlds like Zwift, The Sufferfest, TrainerRoad, and the rest. Think of this as the first tier of the top-shelf smart trainer world. It's lighter, and it already has an 11-speed cassette installed, so it's easy to transport and set up, but it has its drawbacks, too. Namely, we experienced power drops, slower responsiveness, and a step behind top models in road feel. However, if the price fits, it could be a potential option to add your at-home gym.
Editor's Note: The Elite review was updated on January 15, 2022, to include more information on what products we would recommend to a friend and why.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Product Update
Elite has changed the Suito trainer slightly since our test cycle. It is now called the Suito-T, and it is identical to the model we tested, although it no longer comes with a cassette pre-installed.
Elite has changed the Suito trainer slightly since our test cycle. It is now called the Suito-T, and it is identical to the model we tested, although it no longer comes with a cassette pre-installed.
Performance Comparison
The Elite Suito is a good entry point into the controllable smart trainer world.
Credit: Ryan Baham
Connectivity and Power Accuracy
This trainer uses ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth FTMS wireless to connect to your device for control and communication. We spend a lot of time on this area because you're paying a premium to get this high-tech functionality specifically, and it's a real bummer when it falls short. For that reason, we were a little grumpy with the Suito. We were frustrated at the power drops and lag in responsiveness.
No problem initially connecting over ANT+ or Bluetooth, but there are occasional drops during rides.
Credit: Ryan Baham
Most of us are data nerds training to the numbers, and seeing frequent drops and spikes in your data can be infuriating. It can also come out in ERG training, where you're required to put out a specific wattage over a timed segment, and drops or spikes can screw that up too. To the point of responsiveness, you notice it in the virtual training programs when terrain shifts or resistance levels quickly change, and the trainer lags behind your output a bit. No, it's not the end of the world, but it could be better.
Road Feel
With the Suito, you get smart control, which is the biggest selling point of the trainer. That automatically bumps it up into the high-immersion world of virtual training. This is what techy indoor trainers are all about. That said, you're not getting the best immersion here. The Suito uses a 7.7-pound flywheel that is best described as serviceable. You're not getting the inertia you get with more robust trainers with heavier flywheels, so letting off the pedals or changing terrain is going to feel a little hollow compared to the road.
Design
What we really like about this trainer is its practicality. It's 10-15 lbs lighter than other direct drive trainers, easy to set up and put away, compatible with all the major training programs, uses both Bluetooth and ANT+, and can even take 1,900 watts and simulate 15% grades. It checks all the important boxes for training. Maybe the only structural issue we found was that the base was a bit wobbly no matter how we adjusted the legs or knobs.
The adjustable legs were smart and compact, but did wobble a bit.
Credit: Ryan Baham
Setup
The Suito is really close to plug and play, and for that reason, it's among our favorites regarding setup. Nothing wins the heart quite like requiring no effort. It comes with an 11-speed Shimano (or equivalent generic) already installed, which will save the most tedious step for many. Here, the caveat is that some folks won't have a drivetrain compatible with an 11-speed Shimano cassette (or don't want to use that). In that case, your specific setup experience will be less convenient.
Make sure you're checking instructions so you get the adapters right for your dropouts and axle.
Credit: Ryan Baham
The rest of the setup is quick and easy. Pull the legs out, lock them in place, yank your wheel out, throw the bike on, tighten the skewer. Then you just need to calibrate the trainer. That's mostly universal across smart trainers. Your training programs will give you an option to calibrate at the beginning of workouts. It's a quick process that typically requires you to ride at 20mph for a few moments and then let the trainer roll out to zero. This is among the easiest direct drive trainers to get rolling.
Check compatibility on your components, but most of us will be fine to jump on the 11-speed cassette they send pre-installed. We were even able to get an older Campy drivetrain to take without too much grousing.
Credit: Ryan Baham
Portability
So far as smart trainers go, this is one of the lightest and easiest to grab and move around. It collapses nice and tight to slip into corners or under beds. The legs are sensible in their breakdown and lock into place. And, of course, the handle is super practical. You really only need to worry about the wheel block and power cord, but they will easily fit into a bag or corner. If you're on the road a lot and need a trainer for your bike, the Suito is your friend.
Compact, light, easy to carry, simple to setup. Those who want to take their direct drive trainer with them frequently will get the most satisfaction out of this model.
Credit: Ryan Baham
Should You Buy the Elite Suito?
The lighter weight of this bike trainer could make it a good option for those who want a travel-ready option but don't want to sacrifice performance or features. For those folks, we think this could be a potential contender that also saves money over the high price options that score higher. This unit has an overall average score sporting an average price compared to the competition. It is portable and has an easy setup, making it desirable to those who want to bike while away from home. However, it also requires calibration and suffers from annoying power drops and slower responsiveness.
What Other Bike Trainer Should You Consider?
If you don't plan to move your trainer with any frequency and travel use is not high in your mind, we think there are better options available in this review for your at-home training needs. You can get a similarly ranked tire-drive option in the Kinetic Road Machine Control for several hundreds of dollars less. If your budget is tighter, then this is a better alternative. If budget is less of a concern, then you will likely want better performance or more features. The Tacx Neo 2T Smart is a higher scoring selection and offered better performance in our tests for all metrics other than portability.
—
Ryan Baham
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