Hi, I’d like to ask if anyone has experience with using the Elite Suito-T together with the Zwift Ride Smart Frame. I currently have my bike on an Elite Suito-T, but I’m considering upgrading to the Zwift Ride Smart Frame.
Is it compatible—does it work well?
Welcome to the forums! This is Alejandra from Zwift.
It’s great to hear you’re planning to work with our Zwift Smart Frame and your Elite Suito-T.
Based on our support article, the Suito-T for Elite is currently listed as a supported trainer. You only need to ensure that at the time of ordering, you select the correct model. When you proceed to order on the Zwift Shop, that option will appear. You can see a reference below of how it looks once you have selected it.
The key step is the firmware update. Once the Suito-T is updated via the Elite app, it becomes fully compatible enabling virtual shifting on the Zwift Smart Frame.
I hope this information helps with your questions. You’re always welcome to contact us in case you need assistance.
Have a nice day.
If you’re not already using virtual shifting, and you want some insurance against buying a bike you don’t like, you could get the Cog and Click upgrade kit, update the trainer firmware, use that and see if you like it. If you do, the experience on the Ride will be very similar. If you don’t like it, it’s much cheaper to return a small package than the Ride frame.
Hi Alejandra,
Thank you very much for the detailed reply — I really appreciate it.
I just have one more question: in the future, if I decide to switch trainers (for example to a Wahoo), how would that work with the Zwift Smart Frame?
For now, I plan to purchase it for my current Elite Suito-T. Will it work seamlessly as long as I select the correct option and update the firmware, or would I need to buy a new Zwift Cog if I change trainers later?
Just to clarify, is virtual shifting really that big of a difference compared to normal mechanical shifting? I’m trying to understand how noticeable the change feels in real riding.
Appreciate your insight!
it is instant, much different than mechanical shifting, some people love it, others not so much. YMMV.
Moving to a Wahoo trainer might require some work if they have different styles of free hubs, @Paul_Southworth likely knows the correct answer here.
Yes it’s different. One reason is that the size of the physical gear is fixed, so it relies on flywheel braking to produce more or less resistance, instead of changing the mechanical advantage of the physical gear. Plus you are relying on reliable Bluetooth performance with an additional device paired, and some devices begin to struggle with that after the shifter is paired, or experience delayed shifts. It also depends less on having a well tuned drivetrain because there is no physical shifting. A lot of people really like it, and some do not.
Wahoo trainers have a minimum recommended gear ratio for use with virtual shifting and using the 18 tooth Elite cog would not meet that.
Thanks for the clarification and the link — that helps.
What I’m trying to understand is this: if I buy the Cog now for my Elite Suito-T, will that same Cog work in the future if I switch to a different trainer? From what I’ve read so far, it’s described as universal, but I want to be sure I understand any limitations before buying.
Appreciate your help!
Here is the issue, the Elite COG is different and has more teath
| Additional Specs |
|---|
| All compatible trainers will receive a 14-tooth Cog, except Elite smart trainer users will receive a 18-tooth Cog. |
If you take it off the Elite freehub, it will physically fit any trainer designed for an 11 speed freehub, but if using a Wahoo trainer, they would recommend using a bigger gear ratio. In reality this might be OK, or might not. If you’re using a different trainer like a Tacx Neo 2T then it should be fine. However I can tell you that Zwift support has the option to mail you a new Cog of the correct size for no charge and that does happen.
Thank you — that’s really helpful, I appreciate you taking the time to explain it. It clarifies a lot and makes the decision easier.
Good to know there are options if I switch trainers in the future. Thanks again for your help!
