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Other Resources => Component Deals & Selection => Topic started by: Ludo on July 02, 2025, 02:51:17 PM

Title: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 02, 2025, 02:51:17 PM
As title says, looking at power meter options. It’s a little confusing between all the choices and different standards. It would be mounted on a gravel bike, currently running 24mm spindle in a T47i BB. The interface is the SRAM 3 bolt m, I think.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_ms6HOll

I don’t need anything fancy, just something with reasonable weight that doesn’t break the bank. Accuracy, not my biggest concerns as long as it doesn’t have much variability.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: SillyMochi on July 02, 2025, 03:12:05 PM
If you are running a 24mm spindle, the easiest swap is for a Magene P5015 Base. It's a spider based Powermeter that comes with cranks (24mm spindle). So a super easy swap. Might need new chainrings though as they are BCD 110 4 bolt. It's as precise as they get and for ~250-300 USD depending on sales and local taxes, it's hard to beat on price either.

Since you already have a 3bolt crank, you could also get the standalone Magene P515. That one has a 3 bolt SRAM style mount. Still would need new chainrings and the price isn't much cheaper if at all.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 02, 2025, 03:24:03 PM
Thanks. I’ve seen these and the xcadey as easy/obvious choice.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: SillyMochi on July 02, 2025, 03:44:45 PM
Xcadey is another good spider based Powermeter but has the "Easton" mount style. So you'd definitely need new cranks then. It's also a bit more pricey.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: fhold on July 02, 2025, 03:57:45 PM
Xcadey is another good spider based Powermeter but has the "Easton" mount style. So you'd definitely need new cranks then. It's also a bit more pricey.
There is also a 3 bolt version of the xcadey. I have it the riro carbon cranks.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: kbernstein on July 03, 2025, 01:10:52 AM
Has anyone seen one of the many USB C spider powermeters that have been shown at previous trade shows on aliexpress yet?
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 03, 2025, 01:31:40 AM
Not sure what you are referring to?!
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: SillyMochi on July 03, 2025, 01:35:22 AM
AFAIK most of them were prototypes or pre-production models, so not quite ready to hit the market. Some said they will only sell to the Chinese market first. I bet it'll still be awhile until we see them on AE.

But honestly, not too concerned with charging. Yeah sure USB-C on everything would be nice but my Powermeter is the one gadget I have to charge the least. Maybe twice a year? They don't need much power and battery seemingly lasts forever.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 03, 2025, 09:47:03 AM
With current coupon (17% off) the delivered price is $254 for pes p515. Very tempted.
I am a big fan of pass quest chainring, would that fit (as in clear the meter)? All the offer are for 2x but I am assuming 1x is ok.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPmUihz
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: SillyMochi on July 03, 2025, 04:24:21 PM
If you get a spider PM that offers a BCD 110 4 bolt mounting system, then yes, the PassQuest chainrings would fit. You need to check though what max. chainring clearance your frame supports (esp. on 1x).
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: impmonkey on July 03, 2025, 04:28:18 PM
With current coupon (17% off) the delivered price is $254 for pes p515. Very tempted.
I am a big fan of pass quest chainring, would that fit (as in clear the meter)? All the offer are for 2x but I am assuming 1x is ok.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPmUihz


I'm running this setup now on the 505 PW.
110bcd
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 03, 2025, 04:54:51 PM
If you get a spider PM that offers a BCD 110 4 bolt mounting system, then yes, the PassQuest chainrings would fit. You need to check though what max. chainring clearance your frame supports (esp. on 1x).
Yes, currently running 44t but Houston is so flat that I was thinking going to 46 to move most of my riding to the middle of the cassette (10-50)
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 03, 2025, 04:56:30 PM

I'm running this setup now on the 505 PW.
110bcd
Dang that looks nice, I am almost tempted to go the TEO route but it’s quite a bit more

Maybe the budget option would be riro crankset, P515 and pass quest ring, could be had for less than $400. I have riro on my MTB and plenty happy with it
I can’t find the meter alone though, and I am not exited to have a crankset in a box…
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 05, 2025, 01:41:18 PM
Well I went ahead and order P515 with crankset and pass quest 48T aero chainring, $295 delivered to US with the super coupon from coupon Bot, big thanks to him!
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Lotnik on July 07, 2025, 12:45:10 AM

I'm running this setup now on the 505 PW.
110bcd
The fitting is straight forward or you had to modify something?
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 30, 2025, 06:22:50 PM
Received the powermeter today, as i am decomissionned due to collarbone fracture, a fried will put on his bike to test it out.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: jhearrtot on July 31, 2025, 09:58:57 AM
i'm looking for a spider-based PM as well, but kind of getting confused between PES 505 vs 515 as it seems like the latter is newer but is only offered as a PM+crank set?

If i'm correct, does that mean i need to get the P505 if I only want the spider PM?
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: gbrnole on July 31, 2025, 03:37:30 PM
i'm looking for a spider-based PM as well, but kind of getting confused between PES 505 vs 515 as it seems like the latter is newer but is only offered as a PM+crank set?

If i'm correct, does that mean i need to get the P505 if I only want the spider PM?
the P515 is the newest version, accuracy is about the same but it's a little bit lighter by ~10g. the P515 only fits Magene branded cranks arms. the P505 might still be available as a spider only in some places but it only fits a limited number of cranks. if i recall the P505 spider only fit SRAM 3-bot, SRAM 8-bolt and Rotor crank arms.

the best bang for the buck that has fitment for the most different styles of crank arms is Xcadey. out of the box, the power numbers from Xcadey tend to be off by about 5% (low) but that can be scaled in the Xcadey app and it's fine after that. I have Quarq, 4iiii, Xcadey and Assioma power meters and they all work about as well as each other - 4iiii probably being my least choice since it's just a left arm PM but the result is still minimally different from the others.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: jhearrtot on July 31, 2025, 04:20:14 PM
the P515 is the newest version, accuracy is about the same but it's a little bit lighter by ~10g. the P515 only fits Magene branded cranks arms. the P505 might still be available as a spider only in some places but it only fits a limited number of cranks. if i recall the P505 spider only fit SRAM 3-bot, SRAM 8-bolt and Rotor crank arms.

the best bang for the buck that has fitment for the most different styles of crank arms is Xcadey. out of the box, the power numbers from Xcadey tend to be off by about 5% (low) but that can be scaled in the Xcadey app and it's fine after that. I have Quarq, 4iiii, Xcadey and Assioma power meters and they all work about as well as each other - 4iiii probably being my least choice since it's just a left arm PM but the result is still minimally different from the others.

Thanks for your response.

Yeah i'm using an 8-bolt interface crank, so I guess I'm good with the P505 or xcadey spider PM, whichever is available
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: Ludo on July 31, 2025, 04:20:50 PM
515 benefit from extended battery life.
Title: Re: Best budget power meter option(s)
Post by: xakumazx on August 01, 2025, 07:58:44 PM
Has anyone tried Xcadey's single sided crank based power meter?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007839336792.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.2.6049KsZQKsZQL4&algo_pvid=ffc2fb34-9cdc-43b5-9a61-a3ea292bec55&algo_exp_id=ffc2fb34-9cdc-43b5-9a61-a3ea292bec55-1&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2229%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21AUD%21388.22%21329.99%21%21%211774.31%211508.18%21%402101e9ec17540960696531233efa2b%2112000042432707314%21sea%21AU%212517506028%21X&curPageLogUid=Zx3jRZup5Bdf&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A