Garmin Tacx Nēra smart trainer launches with built-in motion at £859.99
The new Tacx Nēra brings three-directional movement and built-in Wi-Fi to Garmin's smart trainer range at a price that undercuts the equivalent NEO 2T setup.
By James Oduya · Staff Writer & Home Gym Columnist · Updated October 22, 2026What you need to know
- Garmin announced the Tacx Nēra on 20 October 2026; orders open 23 October at Garmin.com and retailers including Tredz in the UK, priced at £859.99
- Built-in motion pods deliver forward, backward and side-to-side movement as standard — no separate accessory needed
- Two versions available at the same price: one with a preinstalled 11-speed cassette, one Zwift Ready with a preinstalled Zwift Cog and Click
Garmin announced the Tacx Nēra on 20 October 2026, adding a new smart trainer to its indoor cycling range that puts three-directional motion and built-in Wi-Fi into a single unit at £859.99. Orders open on 23 October at Garmin.com and UK retailers including Tredz.
The Nēra is a new name in the Tacx lineup rather than a direct replacement for any existing model. Garmin describes it as an expansion of its smart trainer range, and road.cc reports the company explained the branding directly: "The Tacx 'Nēra' name is a reflection of the new era within the Tacx lineup of indoor smart trainers."
What the Nēra actually does
The headline feature is a set of built-in motion pods that deliver forward, backward and side-to-side movement during a ride. Unlike the Tacx NEO 2T, where equivalent motion requires the separately sold NEO Motion Plates, the movement on the Nēra is integrated — and it is not optional. Garmin says the system provides a more immersive, comfortable and realistic ride experience.
On the numbers, the Nēra is a substantial piece of kit: it weighs 24.7 kg, produces up to 2,200W, delivers a maximum torque of 55 Nm and can simulate gradients of up to 20%. It uses a physical 6.13 kg flywheel — a point of difference from the NEO 2T and NEO 3M, both of which use magnetic systems with a virtual flywheel effect. Power and cadence accuracy is quoted at within 1%.
Connectivity covers ANT+, Bluetooth and built-in Wi-Fi, with Bluetooth bridging available for heart rate sensors. Compatible apps include the Tacx Training app, Garmin Connect, Zwift and ROUVY. A race mode offers faster response to attacks and breakaways in virtual races within select training apps. No calibration is required.
The trainer supports quick-release axles at 130/135 mm and thru-axle at 142/148 × 12 mm, with adapters included. It can be folded for storage and moved using a built-in carry handle, folding to 629 × 408 mm from its open footprint of 629 × 779 mm.
Two versions, one price
Both variants of the Nēra carry the same £859.99 price tag. The standard version comes with a preinstalled Shimano/SRAM 11-speed cassette. The Zwift Ready version ships with a preinstalled Zwift Cog and Zwift Click for seamless virtual shifting in Zwift and ROUVY. Buyers wanting to add more gradient range can pair the Nēra with the separately sold Tacx Alpine gradient simulator, priced at £929.99, which extends climb simulation to 25% and descent simulation to -10%, and adds virtual steering.
It is worth noting that the Nēra must be plugged in to function, whereas the NEO trainers can operate standalone for core features. The Nēra also does not simulate different road surfaces — cobbles, gravel and the like — which is a feature present on the NEO series.
How it sits in the range
The Nēra slots below the Tacx NEO 3M, which Garmin sells at £1,129.99 — £270 more in the UK. The NEO 3M simulates gradients up to 25% and produces a higher peak torque of 88 Nm, but weighs slightly less at 23.6 kg. Its motion system differs too: the NEO 3M uses motion plates that can be toggled on or off via twist buttons, delivering mostly fore-and-aft movement with some lateral travel. On the Nēra, motion is always active. The NEO 3M also lacks built-in Wi-Fi, requiring a separate Tacx smart network adapter.
Against the Wahoo Kickr, the Nēra costs £85 more at £859.99 versus the Kickr's current £774.99. According to Garmin's figures, the Nēra offers three-directional motion — forward, backward and side-to-side — while the Kickr provides side-to-side movement only. Wahoo has discontinued its Kickr Move.
Garmin ecosystem and training plans
Registering the Nēra unlocks 45 days of the premium Tacx Training plan, which includes structured workouts, real-world courses and Garmin Connect badges. Free Garmin Coach plans created in Garmin Connect can be viewed and ridden directly in the Tacx Training app.
"We are excited to expand our indoor smart trainer lineup with the addition of Tacx Nēra. Designed for passionate cyclists who are looking to take their indoor training more seriously, this trainer delivers an unbeatable combination of performance features at an incomparable value with its realistic ride feel, seamless integration with other Garmin products and effortless ease of use." — Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing
The Tacx Nēra was announced alongside Garmin's new flagship Edge 1060 bike computer and two mapping-focused Edge Explore 3 units on 20 October 2026. The trainer goes on sale on 23 October at Garmin.com and via retailers including Tredz in the UK.
Why it matters
For UK buyers eyeing realistic indoor motion, the Nēra makes a compelling case on pure arithmetic: a Tacx NEO 2T with its optional motion plates costs around £1,119.98 combined, versus £859.99 here with motion already built in. The inclusion of Wi-Fi as standard also matters, since the NEO 2T can't add it at all and the pricier NEO 3M requires a separately purchased adapter. The one caveat is that the Wahoo Kickr now sits £85 cheaper at £774.99, though it offers only side-to-side movement rather than the Nēra's three-directional system — a meaningful difference for riders prioritising ride feel.