Jet Black Victory

They’re picking up my trainer at the same point as dropping off the new one… so if my new one is worse, I’m screwed. =/

Here’s my update for what it’s worth. Previously my only real concerns were possible under-reporting of power, feeling like I could never get on top of the gear (riding in mud feeling) and inconsistent resistance after virtual shifts. I’m now on latest firmware and none of that changed.

Today I replaced the Zwift cog with a cassette and went back to physical shifting … much better after one race. Finally it feels like I am in the race rather than struggling with the resistance. It also feels smoother and more like my old original Kickr. Cadence is now rock solid rather than tracking around trying to lock in on the real number. With physical shifting there has to be much less firmware involvement, and maybe that’s a good thing. Or maybe I just don’t get on with the Zwift cog.

Power might be a little low still, but who doesn’t think that. :slight_smile: I’ll get some comparative data when my 4iiii crank comes back from its warranty repair. But first race of the day was 227W and second race of the day was 256W average, and despite the fatigue for the second race I felt like my effort in the second race was actually lower and I stayed in the lead group for the sprint. So that is subjectively better.

Couple of new things:

  1. With a 10-speed cassette, the 1.8mm spacer is too much and no spacer is too little. It seems like a need a 1mm spacer.
  2. While maintaining 85rpm and 250W on the flats I was spinning in a 53/13 gear (with only 53/12 above that). This is with 25% trainer difficulty. Still that seems ridiculous and gives little headroom for sprinting or descents. The smart trainer doesn’t know what gear you are in so has to calibrate it’s resistance at the start of the ride to try to put you in a reasonable place in the cassette. Evidentally that algorithm could do better. With virtual shifting I was generally in gear 14 under similar conditions - close to middle of the 24 gears. Maybe needs a power cycle after changing from virtual to physical shifting?

Generally happy and hoping for more firmware improvement.

Mark.

Balls, I just realised that I’ve packed my spacer in the box. Oh well, I guess they get a spare spacer and I’ll have to grab another.

I was on preview firmware 04_13_01 and tested entering similar codes for later releases. Looks like the following two are available:

04_13_05
04_13_06

I updated to 04_13_06

I plan to ride in the next hour or two so will report how things go on 04_13_06.

When on 04_13_01 the Wi-Fi disconnects and 1/2 cadence readings were addressed but noticed device remained powered on (no sleep mode) when not in use.

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Unless I misread, the sleep mode was just for the LED, not the actual unit.

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Did a ride this morning on replacement and everything worked well on WiFi aside from the minor vibration when putting power down which I guess is normal since no one is saying otherwise?

Well this is encouraging for how my replacement was handled… FFS

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LED sleep mode back working with preview firmware 04_13_06
My ride (race) also went well without any Wi-Fi or cadence hitches.

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I finally gave up on my Jetblack Victory: It’s on the way back to Jetblack and I purchased a Kickr Core from Zwift instead. Already had a week of riding on the Kickr Core.

While the Kickr Core still exhibits some mild vibrations combined with the Zwift Ride frame, it’s a lot less than what the JBV was showing. But the real difference and the main reason I kept the Kickr Core and returned the JBV: The overall ride feel - including virtual shifting - is so much better and feels more natural with the Kickr Core than the JBV.

I am a bit disappointed about Zwift support though: When I initially experienced the vibrations with the JBV + Zwift Ride frame, I opened a support case asking for help to pinpoint the cause further down. Zwift put the blame 100% on Jetblack. Now after having tried the Zwift Ride frame with a completely different trainer from a different company, the blame is probably 50%/50% on Jetblack and Zwift. So I will need to go back to Zwift and have another chat with them about it. As it turns out other Zwift Ride frame riders - using the Kickr Core - have also complained about these vibrations ( ht tps://www.reddit.com/r/Zwift/comments/1e194yn/zwift_ride_graininess_normal/ and ht tps://forums.zwift.com/t/zwift-ride-improvement-feedback/634363). It appears that this “graininess” of a pedaling feel needs to be considered normal.

Bottomline: Some of the root cause of the JBV vibrations might be attributable to the Zwift Ride frame instead or just fall within of what is expected. Nevertheless, I would recommend anyone considering to use the JBV with the Zwift Ride frame to ditch the JBV and get the Kickr Core instead due to the superior ride feel and also to spare you from being a beta tester.

For anyone sticking with the JBV: Good luck!

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Received mine yesterday and was so excited to set it up. Did so, and then… no power. Appears to be a dead unit. Support answered quickly but only asked me if the LED illuminated which it did not. So extremely disappointed.

I got mine yesterday also. Put it together, went for a test spin of 12 miles and had zero issues with anything. The Virtual shifting works great. All connected just fine. I’m coming from a wheel on Kickr Snap, so if there is any kind of vibration I wouldn’t have noticed it at all. I thought it was a easy set up and ride. 2nd test spin later today coming.

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I came from a wheel on trainer and I most definitely noticed the vibrations. If your unit has them, you probably would have too.

I was part of the first wave but mine didn’t deliver until right before Christmas. Took me a few weeks to get it swapped out with my V5. Initially noticed the vibration and lower wattage compared to effort I typically put out. Came to the forums and noticed others having same issue. Firmware is updated and I have power pedals but have run a comparison yet. Message tech support and they intitally responded quickly noting the issue but have not responded back in a week. I am leaning towards just returning to not have to deal with potentially more issues. Bummed out after waiting so long… Didn’t want to go back to Wahoo after their stunt of not supporting the V5 but might have too.

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Man, can’t believe I’m joining the ranks of folks with issues with the Victory. Just received mine yesterday and set up following all the instructions provided and I’m having power measurement issues. 20-30 watts lower at 100 watts on my crank based PM. Can barely even turn the pedals over at 200 watts ERG. Found this thread and so much of the reports are negative, it makes me sad to have dropped good coin and waited so long to have issues… just a bad feeling. I’ve emailed support and waiting on their reply.

Make sure you calibrate it in the app then force close the JetBlack app before opening anything else.

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Not op but same issue, been calibrating in the JB app and force close the app afterwards. Warm up ride for 10 minutes then auto-calibrate while in the ride. Still the same, JBV reads at least 20 watts lower than my Assioma Duos. I’m on latest fw 4.13.06. Getting really frustrated.

Yup. Same same. Are you part of wave 3 or whatever?

First wave. I’m on my replacement JB Victory.

Just tried for the third time a full warm up and calibration on now the newest pre-release firmware and the numbers are more or less the same as my power meter. I don’t understand. Really, did the same thing twice yesterday and was getting garbage. I’m feeling gaslit but grateful that it seems whatever was happening yesterday isn’t today. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Does anyone else feel like the ERG feels draggy? I’m reading power from my Quarq, so it’s not a power issue per say. I don’t understand how this can feel different from my Kickr Core for the same power. Maybe I’m going insane :rofl:

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