Select your product to confirm this information applies to you

Setting up a NEO or NEO 2 Smart Trainer

This FAQ will cover the installation process for setting up your Tacx® NEO Smart or Tacx® NEO 2 Smart trainer, including compatibility questions regarding axles, cassettes, and bicycles. Photos and videos in this article will show a Tacx NEO, however, the same will apply to the NEO 2.

WARNING: Always follow the manual instructions to ensure that the rear axle of your bicycle is properly affixed to the trainer and that your bicycle frame is not touching the trainer housing. Failure to properly attach the bicycle to the trainer may lead to property damage or personal injury. Garmin is not responsible for any property damage or personal injury due to incorrect mounting of your bicycle to the trainer.

Out of Box and Installation

The following video will show you the unboxing process and how to install your cassette, install the axle, mount your bike to the trainer and explain what the different LED lights mean.

NOTE: When installing your cassette make sure that you tighten the lock-ring down to the manufacturer's recommended torque specification. 

Tacx Trainer Setup:


Axle Compatibility

NOTE: Rapid Axle Technology (R.A.T.) systems are not compatible with the NEO and NEO 2 Smart trainers.

Tacx NEO trainers come set up for a standard 5 mm quick release axle (type 1). Tacx NEO 2 come set up for either a standard 5 mm quick release axle or 12 mm thru axle (type 2). To determine if your NEO 2 is a type 1 or 2, refer to Which Type of Axle Do I Have on My Tacx Trainer?. If your bike requires a different axle, we offer the following:

  • Type 1 Trainers: 010-13143-00 Axle Adapter Kit for Tacx FLUX and NEO Trainers

    • The thru-axle adapter kit is for bikes with a 12 mm thru-axle. The axle adapter is required to couple the rear stay with the thru-axle mount on a Tacx NEO type 1 Smart trainer.

  • Type 2 Trainers: T2840 Direct Drive Quick Release With Adapter Set 135 x 10 mm (Included With NEO 2)

    • Suitable for bikes with axle skewer attachment 135 x 10 mm


Type 1

Select your bike's axle size below.


130mm Quick Release

No additional set up needed. The trainer is set up for bikes with 130mm spacing out of the box. After placing your bike on the trainer, use the included Tacx Universal quick release skewer to fasten.

Tacx 130mm quick release skewer with check mark. Thru-axle crossed out.

12 x 142 - 148mm Thru Axle

NOTE: Bikes with a SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) are not compatible with type 1 trainers. Refer to your bike manufacturer to see if your bike uses this component.

The Axle Adapter Kit for Tacx FLUX and NEO (Part# 010-13143-00) is needed for Type 1 trainers for bikes with a 12mm thru-axle. The axle adapter kit is required to couple the rear stay with the thru-axle mount on a Tacx FLUX or NEO Smart trainer.

Axle adapter kit skewer and adapters with letters

  1. Remove both the drive side and non-drive side quick release end caps pre-installed on the trainer.

    Photo of Tacx NEO 2T with arrows pointing to the drive side and non-drive side

  2. Install the 12mm drive side end cap.

    Type 1_12mm DS_end cap

  3. Install the 12mm non-drive side end cap for 12x142mm spacing. For 12x148mm spacing, install the included 5mm spacer on the threaded portion of the end cap.

    Type 1, 12mm, non-drive side end cap

  4. Place the bike frame on the trainer.

  5. Install the non-drive side adapter appropriate for your bike frame. There are two options: Conical and Flat. If you are not sure which to use, compare the two adapters to the thru axle from your bike and choose the one that looks most similar in shape.

    FLUX Type 1, Conical, non-drive side adapter  FLUX Type 1, Flat, non-drive side adapter

  6. Install the appropriate drive side adapter for your bike depending on the thread pattern of your frame's rear drive side drop out. There are three options: 12x1.0, 12x1.5, and 12x1.75. If you are not sure which to use, compare the threads on the adapter to the threads of the thru axle on your bike. They should match perfectly.

    5mm M12x1.5 thread DS adapter. FLUX T1.
  7. Install the included Tacx quick release skewer for thru-axle bikes (the longer of the two quick release skewers) to fasten your bike to the trainer and start training!

    Tacx thru axle skewer with check mark. 130mm QR crossed out.


135mm Thru Axle (Less Common)

NOTE: If your bike features a 12x135mm rear thru axle, it is not compatible with a Type 1 NEO 2 series trainer. It is compatible with a Type 2 NEO 2 series trainer.


10x135mm: If your bike features a 10x135mm rear thru axle, you can purchase the Tacx Direct Drive Quick Release End Cap Set, 135 x 10mm (Part# T2840) through an online retailer.

  1. Remove both the drive side and non-drive side quick release end caps pre-installed on the trainer.

    Photo of Tacx NEO 2T with arrows pointing to the drive side and non-drive side

  2. Install the 10mm drive side end cap.

    Type 1 10mm drive side adapter

  3. Install the 10mm non-drive side end cap.

    Type 1 10mm non-drive side adapter

  4. Place your bike on the trainer.

  5. Install the non-drive side adapter in the non-drive side drop out on your bike frame. This allows the quick release to be installed.

    FLUX Type 1, Flat, non-drive side adapter

  6. Install the drive side adapter and the quick release.

    Tacx Direct Drive Quick Release 135 x 10mm

  7. Fasten the quick release and then start training!


135mm Quick Release

  1. Remove the non-drive side (NDS) axle end cap.

    Photo of Tacx NEO 2T with arrows pointing to the drive side and non-drive side

  2. Place the included 5mm spacer on the end cap.

  3. Replace the adapter on the trainer axle.

    FLUX_5mm spacer install_ step 1

    FLUX_5mm spacer install_ step 2

  4. Place your bike on your trainer and install the Tacx Universal quick release skewer to fasten and start training!

    Tacx Universal quick release skewer



Type 2

Select your bike's axle size below.

130mm Quick Release

No additional set up needed. The trainer is set up for bikes with 130mm spacing out of the box. After placing your bike on the trainer, use the included Tacx Universal quick release to fasten and start training!

Tacx Universal quick release skewer


12 x 142 - 148mm Thru Axle

The Type 2 NEO 2 trainers can fit a 12mm thru axle because they have a larger axle opening than the Type 1 NEO series trainers.

  1. Remove both the drive side and non-drive side quick release end caps pre-installed on the trainer.

    Photo of Tacx NEO 2T with arrows pointing to the drive side and non-drive side

  2. Install the 12mm drive side (12 DS) end cap on the drive side of the trainer axle.

    Type 2_12 DS adapter

  3. Install the 12x142 or 12x148 non-drive side end cap, depending on your bike's rear spacing, on the non-drive side of the trainer axle.

    Type 2 non drive side adpaters for 12x142 and 12x148

  4. Place your bike on the trainer and install your bike's rear thru axle to fasten and start training!

135mm Thru Axle (Less Common)

The Type 2 NEO 2 trainers can fit a 12mm thru axle because they have a larger axle opening than the Type 1 NEO series trainers. If your bike features a 10x135mm or 12x135mm rear thru axle, you can purchase this end cap set to make your bike compatible with your Type 2 NEO 2 series trainer: Thru Axle End Cap Set, 10x135 and 12x135
  1. Remove both the drive side and non-drive side quick release end caps pre-installed on the trainer.

    Photo of Tacx NEO 2T with arrows pointing to the drive side and non-drive side

  2. Install the 10mm drive side end cap (10 x 135 DS) or the 12mm drive side (12 DS) end cap (included with your trainer) depending on your bike's rear axle diameter.

    Type 2 thru axle 10x135 drive side adapter Type 2 12mm drive side adapter

  3. Install the 10x135 or 12x135 non-drive side end cap depending on your bike's rear axle diameter.

    Type 2 thru axle 10x135 and 12x135 NDS adapters

  4. Place your bike on the trainer and install your bike's rear thru axle to fasten and start training!

135mm Quick Release

If your bike features a 135mm rear quick release axle, use the included 135mm quick release end cap (QR x 135 NDS pictured below).

QR x 135mm non-drive side for Type 2 trainer

  1. Remove the QR x 130 NDS (non-drive side) end cap pre-installed on your FLUX trainer. Do not remove the DS (Drive Side) end cap.

    QR x 130mm non-drive side for Type 2 trainer Photo of Tacx NEO 2T with arrows pointing to the drive side and non-drive side

  2. Replace the QR x130 NDS end cap with the QR x 135 NDS end cap.

    QR x 135mm non-drive side for Type 2 trainer

  3. Place your bike on your trainer and install the Tacx Universal quick release skewer to fasten and start training!

    Tacx Universal quick release skewer


How to Install an Adapter Set on Your NEO or NEO 2 Type 1 Trainer: 

How to Install a Thru Axle Bike on a NEO 2 Type 2 Trainer: 


Cassette Compatibility

Bike cassettes are not included with the NEO Smart trainers and must be purchased separately. We recommend a new cassette and preferably a new chain to reduce noise levels, ensure good shifting, and improve your cycling experience.

NEO Smart Trainers Come Equipped With One of Two Different Cassette Bodies:

  • Shimano/SRAM Cassette Body (2018 trainers and newer)

    • This is a standard Shimano/SRAM cassette body. Any 8 to 11 speed Shimano or SRAM cassette can be placed on this cassette body.

      • Additionally, a standard lockring can be used in combination with this Shimano/SRAM cassette body.

    • Trainers manufactured after January 2018 will have a reference on the packaging placed just above the barcode, saying: "2018".

    • A reference could also have been placed on the front that says: "Shimano/SRAM body".

Neo Barcode-2018 SHIMANO-SRAM 8-11 Speed

  • EDCO Mutisys Cassette Body (2017 trainers and older)

    • The EDCO multisys cassette body is compatible with all Shimano and SRAM cassettes from 9 to 11 speed.

    • Most Campagnolo cassettes will fit, however, there are a few exceptions: Centaur 9,10, and 11 speed (2009-2011) and Veloce 10 speed.

    • Trainers manufactured after June 2016 will have a reference on the packaging placed next to the decal with the serial code, saying: "W2017".

      Neo Barcode-2017

What if I Need a Different Cassette Body?

Additional bodies can be purchased through Garmin:


The Disc Brake Caliper on My Bike Is Making Contact With the Trainer

The 2.7mm axle spacer provided in the NEO 2 assembly kit will eliminate contact between the disc brake caliper of your bike and trainer. This spacer fits over the threaded portion of the non-drive side (NDS) end cap before it is secured onto the trainer axle.

tacx disc brake spacer


Bicycle Compatibility

The NEO Series Smart trainers are compatible with most bike frames. 

NOTE: The Campagnolo Potenza disc brake calipers do not fit the NEO series trainers. It will hit the NEO on the non-drive side. The only solution is to remove the Campagnolo Potenza disc brake caliper from the bicycle.


Related