Ditching the Dreadmill: My Honest Take on the ThinkRider X2Max Smart Trainer
Let’s face it: Winter is coming. Or, depending on where you live, the summer heat is already trying to melt your tires to the asphalt.
I am a roadie at heart, but I am also a parent with a full-time job. Finding four hours to hit the mountain passes isn’t realistic during the week. For years, I relied on "dumb" trainers—the ones where you bolt your bike on, guess your wattage, and pray the resistance feels realistic. They were noisy, boring, and felt like pedaling through cold peanut butter.
Then, I broke down and started looking at smart trainers. My wallet wasn’t ready for a $1,200+ unit, but my sanity needed one. That’s when I stumbled onto the New ThinkRider X2Max Smart Bike Trainer.
I have spent the last three weeks torturing (and loving) this machine. Here is my 100% human take on whether this "MTB/Road compatible" beast is worth your garage space.
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First Impressions: The Unboxing Heave Let’s get one thing straight: This is not a toy. When the box arrived, my delivery driver gave me a look that said, "What did you order, an anvil?"
The ThinkRider X2Max is a direct-drive smart trainer. That means you remove your rear wheel and clamp your bike’s frame directly onto the cassette of the trainer. The unit is heavy—and that is a good thing. It feels planted. There is no wobble when I’m sprinting out of the saddle at 800 watts. It feels like the bike is glued to the floor.
The build quality is surprising. For the price point (usually landing in the "mid-range" rather than "bank-breaking"), the machining on the legs and the casing looks sharp. It folds up relatively flat, too, which saves space in my cramped apartment.
The Feature List: What You Are Actually Paying For ThinkRider loaded the spec sheet. Let’s break down the noise from the actual utility.
The Built-In Power Meter (This is the big one) Most trainers in this bracket "estimate" power. The X2Max doesn't guess; it measures. It boasts a built-in power meter with claimed +/- 2% accuracy.
The Human Test: I paired it with my Assioma pedals. The variance was consistently between 1.5% and 2%. That is reliable enough for structured training. If you are trying to hit specific FTP (Functional Threshold Power) intervals, you can trust the number on the screen.
MTB & Road Compatibility Most trainers favor road bikes (130mm or 142mm spacing). The X2Max handles Boost spacing (148mm) easily. I threw my hardtail MTB on there to test it. Usually, mountain bike tires are too knobby for wheel-on trainers. Since this is direct drive, my knobbies didn't matter. It felt weird riding a mountain bike indoors, but for a gravel or MTB racer who needs to train in the snow? This is a killer feature.
Max Incline Simulation (Grade) It simulates up to a 15% gradient. Is that Alpe d’Huez? No (that’s 12%). But 15% is "granny gear, standing up, questioning my life choices" steep. Combined with the maximum resistance, it feels realistic. The flywheel is massive (roughly 7.8kg), which gives it that "real road feel" momentum so you don't get that jerky stop-start sensation.
Connectivity (ANT+ & Bluetooth) It works. Period. I connected it to Zwift, TrainerRoad, and MyWhoosh within seconds. It supports FE-C (the standard protocol for trainers), so you don't need a million dongles. It pairs to my Garmin head unit seamlessly for a secondary readout.
Usage Rules: How Not to Break It (Or Yourself) I learned a few hard lessons testing this unit. Here are the unspoken rules of the X2Max:
Rule 1: The Axle Dance Because it fits MTB (Boost) and Road, you have to install the correct adapters. The kit comes with a bag of plastic bits. Read the manual. If you try to force a 148mm axle into a 142mm slot, you will strip the threads. It takes 60 seconds to swap adapters, but rushing this step will ruin your night.
Rule 2: The Cassette Installation (BYOC) Note: The unit does not come with a cassette. You need to take your existing cassette off your rear wheel (or buy a new 8-12 speed Shimano/SRAM compatible one) and install it on the trainer. You will need a chain whip and a lockring tool. If you don't have those, budget
20−30fortoolsor40 for a shop to do it.
Rule 3: Calibration is King The power meter is accurate, but only if you perform a "spindown" (calibration) after the unit warms up. Don't calibrate it cold. Ride for 10 minutes, then hit the calibrate button in your app. If you skip this, your power numbers might read 20 watts high.
Rule 4: ERG Mode Patience When using ERG mode (where the trainer forces you to hold a specific wattage regardless of cadence), don't "mash" the pedals suddenly. The X2Max reacts quickly—sometimes too quickly. If you surge, it will spike the resistance. Smooth pedal strokes are required.
The Real-World Significance: Why This Matters You can buy a Kickr Core or a Zwift Hub. Those are great. So why should you care about the ThinkRider X2Max?
The "Value vs. Battery" Argument. Many high-end trainers now require a 12v wall plug or internal batteries. The X2Max is powered by the bike's motion (electromagnetic resistance). It is plug-and-play. This is significant because batteries die. I have had friends with "battery-powered" smart bikes miss races because their trainer bricked itself at 50% charge. This unit is reliable.
The "Silent Ride" Factor. My wife works nights. She sleeps 10 feet away from my pain cave. The X2Max is whisper quiet. The chain on my drivetrain is louder than the trainer. With a trainer tire (or my road tire), the noise is a low hum. You can watch Netflix at volume level 10 without headphones.
The Weight Limit Reality. It is rated for 120kg (265lbs) rider weight + bike weight. For the heavier sprinters out there (like me), the stabilization legs hold firm. There is zero lateral flex. This feels like a unit built for the "Clydesdale" category, not just featherweight climbers.
The Verdict: Is it a "Buy"? Let’s be blunt.
Buy this if: You are a triathlete, a MTB rider stuck in a cold climate, or a roadie on a budget. You want accurate power data without spending $1,500. You hate battery charging. You need something that folds up and slides under the bed when guests arrive.
Skip this if: You are a pro racer who needs 0.5% power accuracy and a 25% gradient simulation. Or if you hate tinkering (the cassette installation is a must).
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly The Good: Insane value for money. Accurate power meter. Silent operation. Fits road, gravel, and MTB.
The Bad: The setup instructions are poorly translated. You will spend 20 minutes on YouTube figuring out the axle adapters.
The Ugly: The plastic handle used to carry it feels flimsy compared to the heavy metal unit. Carry it by the frame, not the handle.
Final Score: 4.5/5
The ThinkRider X2Max has replaced my gym membership. It has allowed me to log "The Grade" climbs on Zwift without risking my neck on icy roads. If you are looking for a human-task review—not marketing fluff—trust me: this trainer is the real deal. Just bring your own cassette and a little patience for the initial setup.
Happy pedaling, folks.
