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FSA launches Powerbox power meter priced from £629

New Powerbox is one of the most affordable crank-based power meters we've yet seen

FSA has joined the growing power meter market with its new Powerbox, a crank-based power meter that, costing £629, might just be the best value crank power meter we've yet seen. 

The Italian company, following its big launch of its first complete groupset earlier this year (K-Force WE: read about it here), quietly unveiled its first power meter at the Cycle Show last week with very little fanfare. Boardman Bikes proudly told us it’s the first bike brand to be speccing the new power meter as an upgrade on all its race bikes. 

- How to choose a cycling power meter — a buyer's guide to your power training options

FSA Powerbox Alloy.jpg

FSA has worked with German company power2max, using its technology to develop a power meter integrated into its crankset. It measures both left and right leg power output and uses ANT+ to relay data to a compatible cycling computer. There will be a Bluetooth option as an upgrade choice too. 

Simplicity of use is a promise from FSA, with Auto Zero meaning there’s no need to re-zero manually before every ride, the power meter does this task every time you stop pedalling for three-seconds. There’s no need for a cadence magnet, an internal accelerometer takes care of that. The battery lasts for up to 400-hours (12,000km) and the battery can easily be changed by the user, so no need to send it back to the company.

FSA Powerbox Alloy - power meter.jpg

- First ride: FSA K-Force WE semi-wireless electronic groupset

The Powerbox will be available in two versions, one with aluminium crank arms and one with carbon. The FSA Powerbox Alloy features cold forged 6061 T6 aluminium crank arms with an aluminium spindle and chainrings, which are available in regular 53/39, 52/36 and 50/34 ratios, but also a new 48/32 combination which looks ideal for adventure bikes, where lower gears for tackling steep off-road climbs is a good thing. Could also apply to touring bikes as well. It weighs a claimed 751g. 

The use of hollow carbon fibre arms brings the weight down to 585g, with the same aluminium BB386Evo 30mm spindle. Chainrings are similarly aluminium with the same 53/39, 52/36 and 50/34 ratios, and a 46/36 for cyclocross setups. 

FSA Powerbox Alloy - battery compartment.jpg

The aluminium version will cost £629, the carbon one is £1,129. Okay, that's still a lot of money, we realise that, but considering it’s a crank-based system and measures left and right leg power, the aluminium model compares very favourably to similar systems from the likes of SRM (from £1,300), Shimano R9100 (£1,300) and Verve Cycling (£1,410), which are all twice the money.

The Rotor INpower 3D+ (£699) measures power at the bottom bracket but the price doesn’t include chainrings. The new Quarq DZero aluminium power meter costs £693 but like the Rotor, that price doesn’t include chainrings. Considering a set of Shimano Dura-Ace chainrings cost in the region of £160, it’s a considerable consideration and makes the Powerbox look like really good value for money. 

Boardman power - 3.jpg

Availability is schedule for early 2017. More at www.fullspeedahead.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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7 comments

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
2 likes

Say you can get 15% off retail sometime soon, that takes it under £540 for a chainset, and dual sided power meter..

 

*Rubs hands* Just have to hang on to Christmas and treat the missus well. Might have to up her birthday present game a bit beforehand.

 

Need some reviews first come to think of it.. what if it's pants crying

Avatar
gsavill90 (not verified) replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

unconstituted wrote:

Say you can get 15% off retail sometime soon, that takes it under £540 for a chainset, and dual sided power meter..

 

You can get a Quarq Riken R for £575 right now!

 

And it has carbon cranks!

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to gsavill90 | 7 years ago
1 like

gsavill90 wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

Say you can get 15% off retail sometime soon, that takes it under £540 for a chainset, and dual sided power meter..

 

You can get a Quarq Riken R for £575 right now!

 

And it has carbon cranks!

 

Don't forget to add the price of the chainrings...

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to gsavill90 | 7 years ago
0 likes

gsavill90 wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

Say you can get 15% off retail sometime soon, that takes it under £540 for a chainset, and dual sided power meter..

 

You can get a Quarq Riken R for £575 right now!

 

And it has carbon cranks!

Nice, well spotted thanks! See it now on Wiggle and goes down to £561 with a code on ProBikeKit.

 

Looks cool with Dura Ace rings thrown on too..

 

//keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/QUARQ_Elsa_RS_wRings.211207-630x419.jpg)

 

Two options now that are within budget. FSA maybe lighter though overall? 659g for the Quarq cranks alone. Reviews will swing it either way angry

 

Wonder if I could get much for my Dura Ace cranks without the rings on..

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

unconstituted wrote:

Need some reviews first come to think of it.. what if it's pants crying

 

I'd say unlikely as it's effectively a rebadged power2max. Ray Makers power meter guide is just up at dcrainmaker.com so may be worth heading over there.

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to fukawitribe | 7 years ago
0 likes

fukawitribe wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

Need some reviews first come to think of it.. what if it's pants crying

 

I'd say unlikely as it's effectively a rebadged power2max. Ray Makers power meter guide is just up at dcrainmaker.com so may be worth heading over there.

 

That's cool, had a quick look and he does speak highly of power2max. Seems to be pretty much hassle free too. 

 

Just noticed these aren't out until Jan so probably talking Feb/March to get a discount. 

 

Something to look forward to 

Avatar
gsavill90 (not verified) | 7 years ago
1 like

How the hell can they justify a £500 premium for carbon cranks?!!

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