rijndael wrote:
Prices being equal, which would you prefer?
I'm leaning towards the Kickr because it has fewer bike compatibility issues (chain stays & disc brake calipers), is more portable, and seems to be a more refined product.
IMHO, they are both equals of awesomeness. As far as refinement, they are equals. So, the decision comes to personal factors. You mentioned portability and compatibility, so I recommend the KICKR based on those two.
I love the NEO's side-to-side movement. So, I would have to give a KICKR 5 a test ride to see how much movement it has. If equal, then I would probably get a KICKR today because it is a little more compact. But, most likely, I would stick with the Neo because the sway comes from movement at the flywheel, not flex in the feet.
The Neo's ability to ride without power is really a non-factor. Kind of like the KICKR's internal PowerMatch. It is highly unlikely that you would use that feature in your training cave, since you already have power for your training app. And, there is no universe where I would ever take a Neo to a race to warm up. It is too much of a beast to move.