This is my Favero Assioma DUO pedal power meter review. They are one of the best pedal power meters thanks to their affordable price, reliability, and consistency. My experience, testing, and comparison with other power sources also proved this.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Favero Assioma pedal power meters are one of the best power meters on the market, thanks to their ease of installation, accuracy, and reliability. I use them as my main power source. They are more affordable than most competitors while providing better value.
Their biggest disadvantage is that they are not available for Shimano SPD-SL cleats (unless you use DUO-Shi spindles). Depending on your budget and preference, you can buy Favero Assioma DUO (dual-sided power meter) or Favero Assioma UNO (left-sided power meter). I fully recommend them.
Or, continue reading to learn which ones you should choose and much more.
Who Is Favero Assioma DUO for?
Favero Assioma DUO is ideal for riders who want an easily transferable, reliable, accurate, and consistent dual-sided power meter.
Favero Assioma UNO is a more affordable, single-sided power meter that estimates the power output of your right leg. It does not provide an L/R balance or other advanced metrics.
The biggest disadvantages of Favero Assiomas are that they are prone to damage (as all pedal power meters), have a relatively short battery life of around 50 hrs, and are compatible with LOOK Keo cleats standard (not with Shimano) only.*
*NOTE: There are also Favero Assioma DUO-SHI spindles that convert your Shimano SPD-SL pedals into a pedal power meter. However, have a wider Q-factor of 64-65 mm.
Favero Assioma DUO Summary
Highlights
- Most popular pedal power meters
- Highly accurate and consistent
- Highly reliable
- Advanced features (L/R balance, pedal smoothness, etc.)
- Automatic zero-offset
- 2-year warranty
Technical Specification
- Accuracy: ±1%
- Claimed weight: 299g (set)
- Measured weight: 304g (set)
- Cleat system: LOOK Keo
- Claimed battery life: 50h
- Battery type: Rechargeable
- Spindle length: 54 mm
Favero Assioma DUO Features & Benefits
Favero Assioma power meter pedals are among the most popular on the market. This is mainly thanks to their reliability, affordability, accuracy, and ease of use.
I can’t comment on long-term reliability because I’ve been using them for months. However, I read many forum threads of people sharing their positive, multi-year experiences.
Assioma pedals are also much cheaper than the Garmin Rally series or SRM EXAKT. This makes them also very appealing.
Yes, left-crank power meters like 4iiii Precision, Stages, or INPEAK POWERCRANK are even more affordable, but they are usually less accurate (about 0.5-1%) and not easily transferable between bikes.
They also won’t provide you with advanced metrics like pedal smoothness or L/R balance and often require manual zero-offset. But it’s up to every rider to what extent they will take advantage of them.
Favero’s IAV Cycling Dynamics metrics (like your pedal phase, seated vs. standing, etc.) are pretty cool, but unfortunately, they are available to selected Garmin head units and watches only.
Probably the biggest benefit of Favero Assioma pedals is their ease of use. They literally take a few minutes to set up.
I just updated their firmware using the Assioma app and set the correct crank length.
Then, I replaced the old pedals, paired them with my head unit, and I was good to go. This is something spider power meters can just dream of.
Accuracy Tests
I did multiple accuracy tests of Favero Assioma DUO pedals indoors and outdoors.
Indoor Tests
I recorded Favero Assioma DUO data on my Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM, the Magene P505 data on my ELEMNT BOLT, and Saris H3 on indoor cycling apps (TrainerRoad, Wahoo RGT, Zwift).
Indoor Test #1 (ERG Mode)
The following chart comes from testing an ERG mode of the Saris H3 trainer. I used Favero Assioma DUO as the baseline and P505 to double-check the results. Here is the complete dataset.
All devices, including Favero Assioma DUO pedals, ended well. No spikes or dropouts.
The same applies to cadence.
Indoor Test #2 (Freeride)
I rode the following freeride in the Wahoo RGT app. It’s the Pienza route. Assioma DUO and P505 show similar results. Unfortunately, the H3 had some issues with cadence, so the power is pretty volatile (learn more in my Saris H3 review).
The cadence of Favero Assioma DUO and P505 is almost identical. However, H3 was off by more than 6 %.
Indoor Test #3 (Race)
Here, I have a Zwift race. Unfortunately, the Zwift connection dropped right at the beginning for about 30 seconds. To avoid large deviations in average power due to the lack of data from H3 from the beginning, I cropped the beginning of DUO and P505.
The cadence of all devices was on point.
Let’s now jump to the results of the outdoor tests.
Outdoor Tests
I cross-checked data from Favero Assioma DUO (recorded on Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM) and Magene P505 (recorded on Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT).
Please note that I would need a third power source, which I unfortunately didn’t have, to validate the results.
However, due to the reputation of Assioma pedals, I believe the following results are accurate.
Outdoor Test #1 (Long Group Ride)
The following chart shows results from a group ride. The average power output from both sources was within 1%. The empty spaces are not drops but breaks.
The cadence was also highly similar. I caused the ‘drops’ when I stopped pedaling.
Outdoor Test #2 (Short Solo Ride)
The following chart shows the data from my solo ride. I made multiple 30×30s high/low power efforts. P505 readings were slightly higher than Assioma.
I noticed a drop in Favero Assioma DUO data starting at 1:02:55. I am not sure what caused it, but the pedals reconnected within the 30s.
The data drop is also noticeable in the cadence. The rest of the data seems to be ok.
Favero Assioma Alternatives
The main Favero Assioma pedal power meter alternatives are:
- Garmin Rally pedal power meters are available in 3 options: XC (MTB), RS (Shimano SPD-SL), and RK (LOOK Keo). They are all available as single-sided or dual-sided options and offer the same features, but they are much more expensive. Read this comparison of Garmin Rally and Favero Assioma for more details.
- Wahoo POWRLINK Zero are the only power meter pedals available for the Wahoo Speedplay cleat system. They are also available in a dual-sided or single-sided option but are more expensive.
- Any other crank arm, spider, or other types of power meters.
My Verdict
I had high expectations from Favero Assioma pedals because of their popularity and positive reviews.
My tests confirmed they earned their reputation. They are highly accurate, consistent, easy to use, and reliable.
The only complaint I have is their cleats’ compatibility. I prefer Shimano cleats to LOOK Keo.
The Favero Assioma DUO-SHI (SPD SL cleats compatible) are not suitable for me due to the wider spindle width (incorrectly called Q-factor).
So, if you are not sure if you should buy Favero Assioma pedals, look no further. Whether it’s your first or next power meter, the Favero Assioma is worth it.
