Wahoo Fitness is not liable for any damage or injury related to improper installation, modification, or misuse of hardware. We tested the Wahoo Kickr V5 as part of a four-up comparison grouptest to find the best smart turbo trainer, the Wahoo Kickr V5 went up alongside the Elite Direto XR-T (opens in new tab), the Saris H3 (opens in new tab) and Tacx Neo 2T (opens in new tab). But at least the numbers don't actually deviate from the other power meters by as much as 10%. He's an avid triathlete and enjoys the outdoors and a good cup of coffee. To be clear, this is not a scientific test of the Kickr's power numbers for that you'd need specialist equipment and a representative sample size, rather than just one single turbo. Submit a support request or get a transcript, Canyon Ultimate with rim brakes [disc brake version still compatible], E-bikes, single speed, track, and/or recumbent bikes. The KICKR Core flywheel is 12 lbs. Heres why you can trust us. The Tacx does offer a more realistic feel, with the surface simulation, inbuilt rocker, and a resistance curve which very accurately mimics riding outdoors and those qualities will be convincing for some people. Get the latest race news, results, commentary, and tech, delivered to your inbox. To continue to check your bike's compatibility, we'll start by taking a look at your wheel size. Its a halfway house that works pretty well for both ends and doesnt result in an annoying number of shifts. This is no longer the case and I can say the CORE and KICKR 2018 are very quiet. Wahoo didnt mess with a good thing; it simply tweaked the trainer to make it even more user-friendly and more pleasant to ride. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Kickr can simulate gradients up to 20 percent, which is the same as the previous edition. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. You have reached an intermediate step of an interactive guide called 'KICKR & KICKR CORE Self-Help Guide' Click here to start over. The ride feel on the new Kickr is a little more lively than the previous edition. ANT+, FE-C, & Bluetooth. The Axis feet are compatible with older Kickr models and can be purchased separately for $80. As usual, a little disclaimer first: Wahoo Fitness sent me this KICKR CORE to use for this review and I will be returning it back to them. Now, hes come full circle and is back out on the trails, although the flat bars have been swapped for the curly ones of a gravel bike. The good news is my Power2Max and KICKR CORE were working ok and I was able to compare data using both powermeters. The ID can be found on the power meter itself or if you pair it to a Garmin device, for example, you should be able to find it in you pair devices menu under more information. But other platforms, namely Zwift, are expected to be compatible with Direct Connect in the near future. KICKR HEADWIND brings innovative climate control to your indoor training experience. Using different end caps, the Wahoo Kickr is compatible with 130mm and 135mm Quick Release, as well as 12x142 and 12x148mm thru axles. This one was done with Zwift and everything looks fine except for the intervals above 300 watts. The KICKR CORE does not include a cassette or wheel block. If you need a cassette plier, the Feedback Sports cassetteplier and Cassette Wrench are one of my favorite and easy to use. Whether you're looking for the accuracy and control of a direct-drive trainer, or the flexibility and convenience of a wheel-on solution, Wahoo KICKR Smart Bike Trainers offer an unparalleled riding experience for indoor training. PLEASE NOTE: Some assembly is required. You can see how all three were aligned almost together. The KICKR CORE flywheel is innovative and proven technology that emulates the power and inertia experienced during outdoor riding. KICKR CORE supports up to three simultaneous Bluetooth connections for a trouble-free start to your workout. These items can be purchased separately. At $1,199.99 / 999.9, the Wahoo Kickr undercuts the Tacx Neo 2T (opens in new tab) ($1,399.99 / 1,199.00) but is more expensive that the Saris H3 (opens in new tab) ($1,099.99 / 899.99). We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Annemiek Van Vleuten wins stage 8 and the overall title at the Tour de France Femmes, Why Annemiek van Vleuten kept switching her yellow bikes mid-race, All yellow: Canyon and other sponsors go big on Annemiek van Vleuten's yellow jersey celebration, Exclusive interviews, fitness tips and product reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Wahoo does recommend calibrating their direct drive trainers every 7 to 10 days or if you move it around.As long as you recalibrate the trainerif you move it around or just after a week or two of use, you should see consistent results. Plug it into a power outlet and pair it to the Wahoo Fitness app which you can download from the Google Play store or iTunes depending on your device. You need to provide your own cassette and cadence sensor. My P1 pedals powermeterwas having its owntemper tantrum and dropping signals. KICKR indoor trainer's large flywheel uses new algorithms to improve responsiveness and better replicate the sensation of riding on the road. However, updated Thru Axle adapters have been produced to resolve compatibility issues for these frames. But good news if you're running cassettes requiring Campagnolo or SRAM XD/XDR freehub bodies, these can be bought separately. Here is a chart from one of the rides where my P1 pedal worked almost the whole way except for that big signal dropout around minute 30. If you arent deep into the virtual racing rabbit hole where the increased accuracy of power measurement is critical, thats a great upgrade to your existing Kickr. This is consistent to what other reviewers have seen such as DC Rainmaker and Shane Miller. I joined the Zwift Innsbruck tour and lasted 3 stages before I pulled my back and had to take a little break from riding. We've had power meters which both claim 1% which when compared against each other, fall outside of each other's ranges. The bike feels planted and solid when standing up to sprint and when riding hard at low cadence, such as up a virtual climb. Here is a closer look at these two intervals. The KICKR CORE is the latest in Wahoo's line of smart indoor bike trainers. Also, for the most secure connection, you need to plug into your router. Published 31 July 22, Canyon and other sponsors went big on the Annemiek van Vleuten yellow jersey celebration with a yellow bikes, wheel decals, bar tape, helmets, socks, head unit wraps. For the V5, Wahoo has added feet to reduce vibrations from the trainer and to add a little sway, as well as increasing the claimed accuracy from 2 per cent to 1 per cent and removing the requirement to manually calibrate the trainer. Also, when enabled, you dont have to perform spin downs to calibrate your Wahoo KICKR/CORE/SNAP. Top level Zwift racing requires 2% or better, everything within that range is of a muchness verifying your particular unit is more important. Wahoo SNAP has a 10.5 lbs flywheel. You just need to remember the front leg is the long leg and the rear leg is the shorter leg. This is no problem when riden erg, but without its not nice! Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 11:00am - 6:00pmWed: ClosedSat: 10:00am - 5:00pmSun: 11:00am - 4:00pm. Mac, iPad, iPhone, PC, Android Tablets & Phones, ELEMNT ROAM & ELEMNT BOLT GPS Bike Computers, Wahoo Fitness, The Sufferfest, TrainerRoad, Zwift, Strava, Kinomap, & Rouvy. Check to see if there is a firmware update and run the calibration. KICKR HEADWIND pairs directly with KICKR, KICKR CORE, or KICKR SNAP in addition to compatible training programs, heart rate monitors and speed sensors to gauge workout intensity and automatically adjusts fan speed based on your efforts. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. The resistance of the KICKR CORE automatically adjusts to simulate climbs up to a 16% incline. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. Once you assemble the legs and install the cassette, you should be on your way. Both my Power2Max powermeter and KICKR CORE averaged 225 watts for the full ride. I think Wahoo nailed it with the KICKR CORE and if you are looking for a smart trainer, you will be very happy with the CORE. Here is a table showing the difference between the KICKR CORE and my powermeter (Power2Max). I just bought the kickr core, one of the reasons why I bought it is to follow my training plan on my MTB. Wahoo KICKR/CORE/SNAP can pair to your ANT+ power meter and allows it to control the KICKR resistance. Thats less than 2% so we are still within range. The newest version is even better than the previous model, which came out in 2018. Helpful? This connection doesnt come without its limitations. To fully ensure compatibility, we recommend visiting a local Wahoo retailer to test your bicycles fit before purchasing. The logo should be on the outside. ANT+ and Bluetooth capabilities allow it to connect to both smartphones and GPS devices simultaneously or separately. While the strongest sprinters may wish for more watts, all riders will appreciate that they no longer need to perform a spin-down to calibrate the trainer. I bought the 11-42 road cassette from sram 1130 with the standard RD hub that fits on the trainer, this works without changing anything to my rear derailleur, it took some time before it felt really good but after a few rides its worked in, have to shift a little more careful under heavyload, but other then that it works fine. Thats one of the advantages of Wahoo Trainers. If it wasnt for the fore/aft stability issue when sprinting, the Kickr would get a full five stars for its excellent erg mode and its great functionality for virtual riding and racing. Sunglass style alert: The 100% Rideley departs from the brands big, bold look made popular by Peter Sagan and offers a relatively compact and refined square style that does not dominate your face. From this, it was evident that the issues with lag were confined to the erg mode the power numbers from all three units tracked each other quite closely for the duration of the effort. Older thru axles designs such as 10x135mm and 12x135, along with the latest breed of 'super boost' MTB thru axles at 12x157mm, on the other hand, aren't supported. join Outside+. As you see, all three worked very well together. You can find ERG Mode smoothing in the Wahoo Fitness app and its usually turned on by default. Owners of Wahoo Kickr trainers who also own a late-model Trek Madone, Domane or monda, Giant TCR Advanced Pro, or Cervlo S5 with thru-axles to secure wheels now have a timeline to get riding again. Also, this comes in handy in cases where you only use Bluetooth to connect and your power meter only supports ANT+. Made to withstand your most intense training sessions, watt for watt - season after season. After no calibration for about a week and moving it around a few times, Ive seen a bigger drift in power as you see in the workout below. Even touching 2,000w is something the very best track sprinters hit, rather than just mere mortals. If you already have a Kickr and dont want to shell out 1,200 bones for more comfy feet, Wahoo has your back. Wahoo plans to begin shipping a revised Kickr 142 thru-axle adapter to allow owners of these bikes to mount them to direct drive trainers in fewer than six weeks from today. But it is worth noting that turbo technology has really sailed past the point where this should direct your buying choice. A little side-to-side rocking is a huge plus. Canyon Exceed MTB 1x11 32T - 10-42T (sram xd hub) However, in our early test rides, we found the freedom to shift the bike from side to side while riding in place is undeniably more comfortable than being locked in place. Short middle leg reduces fore/aft stability when sprinting. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter for everything swim/bike/run, and good coffee. The 1% accuracy is a nice badge of reassurance, but as always with power meters, there is always some variation from unit to unit. This is another ERG mode workout and you can see the KICKR CORE was reading a little higher this time: As you see below, the KICKR CORE was reading between 2% to 5% higher than my powermeter. For this tester, that meant riding my trainer in the guest room instead of the garage. For the 1 second peak, the Garmin pedals did spike notably high I'd ignore that value but over the 5-second duration, the numbers did settle down and start to align more closely. KICKR measures power, speed, distance and cadence so all the metrics that matter are at a glance whether you are riding with an online platform or ELEMNT GPS Bike Computer. You can still use other applications such as Zwift or TrainerRoad, but for consistency, I always start with using the trainers manufacturer own app to run the initial calibration. But if the gradients your climbing come mostly from Zwift (opens in new tab), the steepest section on the platform tops out at 22% and that's just for a second on the second climb of the Cobbled Climbs Reverse course in the Richmond world. KICKR HEADWIND and KICKER CLIMB are made to work seamlessly with KICKR Smart Trainers to make your indoor training experience feel more realistic than ever. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. You will get enough inertia going down descents to allow you to go into the tuck position in Zwift if its something you like to do. The KICKR CORE features 12x142 and 12x148 thru axle compatibility in addition to standard 130/135mm quick release. Any 11 speed cassette will work. Other than the $300 cheaper price, The CORE uses a lot of the same technology and hardware in the Wahoo KICKR Direct drive trainer but with a smaller flywheel, less max power, and less max grade. Question. Thats pretty good and I went on to prove their claim. The following bikes are NOT COMPATIBLE with any KICKR or KICKR CORE: Additionally, the following bikes are NOT COMPATIBLE with KICKR '17 (the adapters updated in November 2021, described below, are not compatible with KICKR '17): The following bikes are not compatible with the standard adapters included with KICKR v5, KICKR '18, or KICKR CORE. The benefit is clear: A dropped signal, even for a second, can be extremely problematic during a virtual race. For more details on which apps are compatible with the KICKR, download our in-depth KICKR app comparison chart. Other rides looked very similar to this one so I am giving the CORE a pass. On the other hand, although the Saris H3 is a solid unit that's great for hard efforts. In use, the Kickr does feel more stable than the Tacx Neo 2T for hard efforts but less so than the Saris H3 about on par with the Elite Direto XR-T. But considering the performance of each edition, thats no bad thing. Calibrations, although not difficult, can be a time-consuming PIA, requiring at least a few minutes to complete. New Feature! When paired with the KICKR CORE smart trainer, the KICKR CLIMB indoor grade simulator will match ascents up to 20% and descents up to -10% with physical grade changes. For comparison, the KICKR 2017 and previous generations had a 12.5 lbs flywheel. Copyright SmartBikeTrainers 2016 - 2021, TrainerRoad Is Raising Its Subscription For New Users, ErgVideo Turns Into a Subscription Based Model. The CORE is equipped with a 12 lbs flywheel. It provides the most realistic ride feel especially when using virtual riding/training platforms like Zwift, The Sufferfest, and Trainer Road. The EF ProKnit band comes in just one 9.5-in/24cm length. Here is a video comparing the KICKR CORE and KICKR 2018 to KICKR 2017 and Tacx NEO. Generally, thats not the case but I was able to sort of get one ride with all three working in harmony and I was happy with that. Cycling Weekly is supported by its audience. We set out to create a more realistic and comfortable ride feel that makes it easier to ride, even without the momentum you get outdoors, said Tyler Harris, Wahoos indoor cycling product manager. Other areas I found it to be useful is when using Apple TV to run Zwift and you prefer to use your powermeter rather than the KICKR as the power source. The KICKR CORE comes unassembled. Naturally, you need the $99 Wahoo Direct Connect accessory and an ethernet cable to make this happen. Also, for Zwift racing, the Kickr was by far the fastest to read zero watts once having stopped pedaling, boosting your ability to snatch some rest on the descents. The design of the KICKR CORE ensures clearance for flat mount and disk brake equipped bikes. Wahoo doesnt claim that the feet are there to help simulate a natural cycling experience. In the first half of the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes, Annemiek van Vleuten swapped bikes five time. Apple TV can only pair to two Bluetooth devices and when this is enabled, you can just pair the KICKR as the power source and controllable trainer, freeing up another Bluetooth port for your heart rate monitor or cadence sensor. Wahoo Fitness Acquires RGT Cycling and Launches Wahoo Wahoo Rolls Out The All New KICKR ROLLR Smart Trainer, TruTrainer Smart Load Rollers Hands-On Review, Front (longer leg) and Rear Leg Assembly (shorter leg), 1.8mm axle spacer (for use with 10-speed cassettes), Drive side adapter for 130mm and 135mm quick release, Reversible hub spacer for 130mm and 135mm quick release, Drive side adapter for 12x142mm and 12x148mm thru axle, Reversible hub spacer for 12x142mm and 12x148mm thru axle, Open the Wahoo Fitness app and pair it to your Wahoo KICKR/CORE/SNAP, Under saved sensors, tap on your KICKR/CORE/SNAP, Toggle the Control w/ANT+ Power Meter, Under ANT+ Power Device ID, enter your power meter ANT+ ID. A great smart trainer for Zwift racing and general training. Here is a section where I held over 400 watts for over a minute on a climb. Like KICKR, the KICKR SNAP uses your smartphone, tablet, computer of GPS device to control resistance and provide reliable, responsive power measurement (+/-3%), up to 1500 watts, so you can easily monitor and adjust your intensity. But at that time, I had collected enough data to feel comfortable posting my review. Basically, this is what I like to see. Wahoo announced the KICKR CORE at Eurobike last July along with an updated KICKR 2018 and the Headwind. Don't miss a moment from Paris-Roubaix and Unbound Gravel, to the Giro dItalia, Tour de France, Vuelta a Espaa, and everything in between when you Robust steel construction ensures the KICKR CORE stays in place while you crank out the watts and stands up to years of heavy use. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. I have ordered a PG-1130 11-42t it kind looks like the 10-42 gearing I have now. The CORE posted maximum watts of 754 where my Power2Max posted maximum watts of 624. The Kickr forms a pretty compact shape when folded away and, thanks to the horizontally oriented carry handle, it's quite easy to transport for its 22kg weight. It delivers a realistic, accurate, and quiet indoor training experience by using the proven flywheel technology and advanced algorithms of Wahoo's legendary indoor bike trainers. If potential purchasers are unsure whether their bike would be compatible with the updated thru-axle adapter, Wahoo recommends visiting a local Wahoo retailer to test a bicycles fit before purchasing. Always warm up your trainer for about 10-minutes before you start the calibration. Tariq Ali is the founder of SMARTBikeTrainers.com. But we feel that for the most part, the benefits of those features don't justify in the extra spend. What are my options to be able to get to ride trainer road!? Digging into the data, it transpired that when the effort begins and the resistance is supposed to be 400w, the Wahoo Kickr will immediately start reading that value. Thats $300 cheaper than the KICKR. Get these vital cycling metrics on your indoor ride on the KICKR CORE without connecting any extra sensors. But the need to manually calibrate / zero-offset the unit, a slight power blip when freewheeling, and a body design which doesn't play nicely with thru-axles, do all add up and make it worth while spending a little more to get the Kickr which doesn't have those issues. LED lights provide a visual confirmation that the SNAP is powered, connected and transmitting. Even tho all the info on their site and such say SRAM 11 Speed compatible not this kind of 11 speed then. Wahoo Fitness strongly discourages altering trainers to fit bikes deviating from the following specifications including (but not limited to) grinding-down components, adding washers, or improperly reversing spacers as these may void your warranty and increase inherent risk. Or do I need to buy an 11-42 cassette? As for app compatibility, almost every app is compatible with the KICKR line of trainers. You can order the KICKR CORE Directly from Wahoo website or CleverTraining and get some rewards and free shipping. Once you do it for the first time, there is no need to run it again as long as you dont move the trainer or switch bikes. You can purchase an 11-speed Shimano Ultegra cassette for about $65 or if you are like me and still use a 10-speed cassettethen you can save few dollars and get a 10-speed Shimano Ultegra cassette for about $50. I put the KICKR CORE against my Power2Max power meter and P1 Pedals to see how close they are. Say goodbye to failed connections and hello to a smooth indoor training experience. Too much movement can actually feel unnatural because the bike leans in the opposite direction it would outside; theres no counterbalancing. To calibrate the KICKR CORE, I always prefer to use the Wahoo Fitness app for my first calibration. Wahoo has been working on a fix and you will probably see a new firmware update to address this issue by the time you see this review. Climbing workouts and virtual courses are now more realistic than ever as the KICKR CLIMB recreates the grade changes in real time. Please take note of the Known Incompatible Bikes listed below.While Wahoo has conducted tests on KICKR safety and compatibility with certain bikes, the KICKR end user is ultimately responsible for ensuring that their bike frame is compatible with the KICKR trainers such that damage to the bike frame does not result from using the KICKR trainer. I personally dont like ERG mode smoothing and usually turn it off. The New Kickr Is Wahoos Best Smart Trainer Yet. How we test gear. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Visit Rudy's Cycling and Fitness on FacebookVisit Rudy's Cycling and Fitness on Instagram. So I bought me a new Wahoo Kickr Core, awesome! Everyting was within the +/-2% except for the 90-seconds intervals. After months of waiting I finally decided to buy me a trainer and get started on TrainerRoad. Being able to jump on my bike and know that I can trust the power numbers is essential for me as an athlete. I hope this helps anyone with simular problems. An ANT+ FE-C connection allows the KICKR CORE to be controlled from any FE-C enabled device or application. Robust steel construction ensures our Wahoo KICKR trainer stays in place while you crank out the watts and can withstand years of abuse by the most demanding athletes. KICKR CORE features a 12lb flywheel engineered to provide riders with the precise inertia needed to recreate an outdoor ride feel while training indoors. most reliable and user-friendly trainers available, Axis feet allow up to five degrees of lateral movement, Power data is accurate within one percent, up to 2,200 watts, Trainer automatically calibrates, eliminating the need to do a spin-down, Side to side movement makes the Kickr more comfortable to ride, Not so much movement that you can swing the bike side to side while sprinting. Besides the feet, Wahoo gave this version two other noteworthy updates. KICKR accommodates multiple Bluetooth connections simultaneously for a trouble free start to your workout. ERG mode smoothing was turned off. For those that didnt find it via other methods, here are the answers to the question above: Ok so this is my setup and how I solved my issues. The price, although high, isnt out of line either. Some may even prefer it to trainers that offer more movement. And if your computer has no ethernet port youll also need an adapter for that. Thats 8 months worth of Zwifting, over 1-year of TrainerRoad membership, or an Apple TV 4K if you add a few more dollars to that. What really differentiates trainers is the ride feel for sprinting and long efforts, as well as the erg mode's functionality and any particular design features and flaws.