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My stages is playing up, with the battery literally draining within 2 hrs without even being used. It's out of warranty and whilst I've sent a mail to the stages guys im not overly hopeful.
Would be happy to get another, but also considering a 4iii which is about 150 quid cheaper for pretty much the same thing. Any reason not to go with the 4iii rather than the stages? Thanks
I’ve read it can be the battery contact that has been pushed flat causing the battery drain. Have a look and see if you can gently prise it up slightly.
I have one stages that seems to have a short battery life. My theory is it is on a bike that lives in the house next to the turbo so I think it tries to contest to stuff and wakes up all the time. It was fine when it used to live in the shed.
Buying now I would probably go for a 4iii as it is cheaper to do the same thing or save a bit more and go for a dual sided system.
On the basis my 4iiii has been trouble free since new for nearly 2 years now, I'd recommend the 4iiii
The battery contact has been prised upward as I thought that may have been the issue but didn't help.
The stages has been a bit temperamental throughout the 4 years I've had it, despite probably only doing 3k on it. It's fine when it works, but sometimes it won't connect, then I leave it and a few days later it will. Not sure if it's getting water in it that takes a few days to dry out.
Good to hear the cheaper 4iii is a decent alternative
I have three Gen3 Stages and they have been faultless. I had a Gen 1 that was upgraded under warranty to Gen 2, bought two more Gen 2s and was plagued with battery drain issues. I eventually got them all upgraded to Gen 3 April 2018 and have probably changed batteries two or three times max in each since then.
I also have a Verve Infocrank and really struggle to tell the difference between data from each.
I cannot comment on the 4iiii system but Gen 3 Stages seem very good (and can be upgraded to dual-side).
I have been using a 4iiii crank for a couple of years. The first one I had failed just out of warranty - I am not sure what the problem was as it transmitted cadence but not power. I contacted 4iiii directly and they were very helpful and suggested sending it back to them via the shop I bought it from and they would fix/replace it. The shop I bought it from were pretty hopeless in their support, and although never admitted it I think they lost it in their mailroom - I am just glad I sent it back with a signed delivery. After a bit of waiting the shop offered me a full refund which I took, and then I bought an identical replacement one from somewhere else for less money.
Accuracy seems pretty good, when I have used the bike on my Neo the two power readings have been within about 5%, with the 4iiii higher than the Neo. Battery life is also very good, I checked mine at the weekend and it was showing 75%, this was the new crank fitted in September and has probably covered around 2k miles.
I've had a stages gen 2 on my road bike for quite a while now (warranty from a gen 1) with absolutely no issues. This bike is kept indoors.
I had a XT stages Gen 2 on my MTB (stored in shed) that got warrantied 5 times before I got a full refund.
I wouldn't mind power on my MTB, but I just don't trust that it will last.
I got a 4iiii recently and chose it over the Stages purely on cost (it was significantly cheaper and the reputation of Stages. It works a treat and though I've not yet clocked up significant miles on it especially in crappy conditions. At the end of the day its a pwoermeter so why spend more on the Stages over the 4iiii when the 4iiii seems to do everything the Stages does, is cheaper and probably more reliable?
Am I right in thinking that weight is the only difference between the 105 and Ultegra 4iiii versions ?
I’d probably try 4iii or something else, anything but Stages all 3 units I’ve had have been nothing but trouble.
Funny, the Gen 1 Stages PM on my road bike has started playing up again - seems totally random. Sometimes lasts weeks (months?) other times it can die in days. Never seems related to how much I use it. Very annoying. Like a gen 3 but maybe the 4iii is the way to go.
Anything but Stages. I’ve broken two and gave up on the third.
If you plan on swapping between bikes and only riding road then I can’t recommend the Assioma UNO enough. It’s Fantastic. Mine has been on three different bikes in the past four days, including one with oval chainrings. I’d buy another, but left pedal swapping is just so easy!
Did Stages eventually fix the issues they were having? The endless stories of failures put me off ever buying one. Went for a 4iiii instead and it's done the job so far, but it's not had a whole lot of use yet. Power output appears to be around about what I'd expect and inline with the output I get from the turbo trainer.
I've recently gone for a 4iiii over Stages on the basis of cost and that 4iiii doesn't appear to have as many battery issues as the Stages can.
So far I've been impressed with the 4iiii but haven't had it long enough to really test it out.
Best price I found was on Sigma (for the one sided meter) and they still seem to be offering at the same discount (24% off on 105 and 30% off Ultegra). https://www.sigmasports.com/search?query=4iiii
Did Stages eventually fix the issues they were having?
My 2nd gens were better than my 1st, but ultimately they had the same failings. I kept the last one for the turbo trainer as they clearly weren't up to being outdoors in winter, eventually I started getting Bluetooth drop outs to my iPad so I sold it and bought a Kickr.
No idea what the 3rd gens are like.