I’m looking for a new turbo trainer at the moment and quite like the idea of a smart trainer.
After looking at quite a few different ones I think the Wahoo Kickr looks like it might be the best one to go for. I know it’s a whole heap of cash for a turbo but I can get one with about 20% off so not quite as bad as retail price!

Does anyone on here use a Kickr and if so do you rate it and was it worth the money?

At 20% off retail that’s still 800 quid, which is 200 quid more than you can get a Tacx Flux for. I don’t see why you’d spend the extra cash over a Flux (which is functionaly the same thing.) Kickr is looking old and overpriced in today’s marketplace.

I did look into the Tacx but I’ve been put off somewhat by the reports of poor reliability.

I did look into the Tacx but I’ve been put off somewhat by the reports of poor reliability.

Dad came to the same conclusion when looking for a trainer. So many reports of poor reliability from Tacx he blacklisted them regardless of if the trainer had features he wanted.

I bought a Wahoo Kickr Mk1 in January when I broke my collarbone & was unable to ride out. I can’t compare it to any other smart turbo but it’s a brilliant bit of kit – as supported by DC Rainmakers review of smart turbo trainers. I did however buy a re-conditioned mk1 direct from Wahoo (it did come from somewhere in Europe so no additional import tax) for £600+ ish. The mk2 – is a bit more sophisticated with additional internal sensors to ensure accuracy to overcome some strain gauge issues – but the Mk1 is pretty accurate (+\- 2%?) with updated software. There is a pretty active FB group too which is good for peer advice & support. Zwift is pretty good – particularly on wet days like today…..

Ps – just checked – search the Wahoo site under ‘all products’. The mk1 factory reconditioned Kickr is £649.99 – if your interested.

I have had a Kickr for 2-3 years. Its worked flawlessly during that time with minimal faff factor. This is important to me as the whole point of an indoor trainer is to get it done quickly.

I have run it from iPads, macs, iPhones and an Elemnt.

Mostly use the ergo mode in Trainerroad, but also tried Suffferfest and Zwift without issues.

Previously used a Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll which was a nice fluid trainer. I’d say the Wahoo’s magnetic resistance compares well.

Before that had some Tacx products that were nowhere near as nice, but comparison is unfair as they were much cheaper and it may be 15-20 years ago.

No experience of other options out there now. Was not much else to choose from when I got the Kickr.

I have a flux and have used a mate’s kickr. The kickr does feel better to ride on (can’t put my finger on why), but not loads better.

My flux broke down and it was less than 48 hours between reporting the fault and having a new unit delivered. Apparently tacx have addressed some of the manufacturing issues that were causing failures.

I’ve a mk1 kickr too. Like the other poster, I have no experience of other smart trainers but the kickr is really good and solid, nice heavy flywheel with smooth riding. Recommended here.

Tacx have a terrible reputation for support – that was enough to put me off.

Had a mk 1 kickr for a while now – run it in ergo mode on zwift mostly and sometimes whilst watching netflix and using their app. Been good – recently seems to repond to ergo power changes quicker – when the computer changes the target power required during a training session.

I’ve put some sorbothane padding under the side feet so it is not so rigid and has some very slight movement side to side as rigid feels wrong. the mk2 looks to have a wider centre foot so that might not be so possible.

Glad I bought it. Ergo mode and no rear wheel/brakes/gears needed means you could build up a permanent setup on it quiet cheaply.

On the subject of accuracy being a factor in deciding between different turbo’s…if you have a power meter on your bike, does it really matter how accurate the turbo is?

Yep, another Kickr owner, been using it with Zwift for the last couple of years (Jarvis Island days). Its never missed a beat despite some pretty serious use. I wouldnt touch anything Tacx with a barge pole, even though i love the idea of the Neo, Tacx has a terrible rep for customer support….the Flux launch was a disaster, and the Neo had its fair share of issues too.

Ps – just checked – search the Wahoo site under ‘all products’. The mk1 factory reconditioned Kickr is £649.99 – if your interested.

+1, this is what i have and it has been excellent.
It was a replacement for a Tacx Vortex that broke 3 times in quick succession, not a direct reflection on how reliable the Flux is but it didn’t fill me with huge confidence in Tacx generally when I was looking at what to replace it with.

I am also a bit anti-Tacx. The new Elite Direto might also be a good option. I’m torn between Direto, Kickr and gambling on a Neo.

The newer Flux’s are a lot better. I have one and it’s fine, reliability wise.

I am also a bit anti-Tacx. The new Elite Direto might also be a good option. I’m torn between Direto, Kickr and gambling on a Neo.

Think with the Flux and Neo, as long as you didn’t get the first batch of products you were fine (LBS has sold a lot of Flux and the only issue they’ve really had is getting hold of stock.) Been impressed with my Neo. The feel is very good and the ability to simulate TT riding noticeably different from Road. I’m also suitably convinced about the accuracy of power measurement to remove the DFPM from my turbo bike (even though with the drive-chain losses it’ll cost me 10 watts on Zwift 😉 )

Kickr, I recall a lot of problems when it first came out too, but then it’s been around a long time now and it’s pretty stable. Believe it’s still reliant on belt tension for accuracy though.

Elite… I’ve not seen test data from the new Elite turbos but the old mag ones had an awful feel to them, like riding though treacle. Don’t know if the new ones are improved.

The Kickr is great, you shouldn’t need to pfaff about looking at the others for two reasons, a) It works b) it keeps it’s residual value better than any others.

I decided to bite the bullet and went for the Kickr.
Picked it up earlier and had a quick go on it this afternoon. Just did a gentle Trainer Road session on it and all I can say is that it felt slightly odd having the resistance adjust itself to the correct target wattage.

It’ll be interesting to see how it gets on with some different interval sessions.

Well I still don’t quite understand the pricing of the kickr, does seem a bit of an outlier when you compare features, and it’s looking a bit dated compared to other trainers in that bracket. Must be selling plenty though as you can’t deny that it’s a popular choice and that there’s a lot of happy owners out there (and 20% off helps too!)

How noisy are these? Can you use them in the living room when your wife is watching telly?

As long as she doesn’t want to hear the Telly.

I’d say no. But my newborn sleeps fine next to it. My mk1 is great btw. Good choice. Support was good the one time I asked a question

hmmm, normally she does

Just before Christmas I jumped on the turbo bandwagon and picked up the super model from Halfords. I wasn’t impressed at all, it never felt rock solid, was overly noisy and I hated having to keep my rear wheel on the bike with a turbo tyre fitted as there was no easy way of then swapping it back. I realise I could of picked up a spare wheel to use but this wasn’t something I particularly felt was necessary especially considering the fact i already wanted to get rid of the Halfords Tacx turbo. Read around a few reviews and being a big believer of the ‘buy once buy right’ theory this time I read all the reviews on the wheel off turbos and decided to pick up a spankers Mk2 Kickr using a voucher I had to get 10 % off at crc. Chucking the bike on the turbo is a one minute job and likewise shoving it back on the normal wheel is a one minute job. It works flawlessly and is super accurate, once in a while I calibrate it and nothing much changes. I can stand and pedal when I”m becoming too stagnant and it always feels rock solid. I can’t compare it to mid range models as I’ve not tried them and even though I know it was really quite expensive. It works and never has any issues and actually is an absolute pleasure. I’ve read about the rubbish Tacx reputation for their models working and staying working and for that basis I didn’t get the Tacx Neo alternative.

Just one minor point: there’s really no need to use a specific tyre on a turbo. Obviously knobblies would be no good, but a normal road bike is fine. I’ve experienced no noticeable difference in noise, slippage or wear. Some people find it’s worth using a trainer tyre, but it’s really not a big deal for most.

@gray.
It depends a bit on the tyre and the roller. Some combinations are fine, others not so much.
Hard compound training tyres seem just fine (a lot in common with a dedicated trainer tyre).
Soft compound racing tyres on the other hand can be eaten by some rollers and end up spraying tiny rubber fragments over half the room.
I’ve even heard of a gp4000 generating so much heat it burst the inner tube!
And pro4 endurance used on an elite elastogel roller morph into a shiney hard compound that works fine on the turbo, but you’d never want to use outdoors again.

Interesting – might be too much tension, or just way more power than me. I’ve used GP4000 on my Vortex loads with no problems. Well, no tyre problems anyway. I’m still looking to go direct drive, but for me wheel-on would be less hassle.

Burst the inner tube on my Tacx with a turbo tyre! Must have been the powa! Used values of kickr are high for a reason. And to add some balance, my cheap Tacx trainer running with Wahoo bluetooth sensors was fine until the speed sensor stopped giving sensible readings! Their heart rate tickr has been flawless though.

@gray I’d agree depending on the tyre and situation, my tyre was brand new and I didnt want a nice worn flat spot in the centre of it which after only about 4 rides I could already see developing!

Well this thread was just a bit late.. opened up a surprise Tacx Neo the other day that my lovely other half got for my birthday.
Straight out of the box it had the metallic grumbling noise that has been highlighted on t’internet, while waiting for the word back from Tacx as to whether to return to retailer or wait for the tool needed to open it up and fix the apparent manufacturing fault I stumbled on a YouTube comment from someone who had trouble getting his disc braked bike on it.. Hmm thinks me, better check that, so I pulled my winter bike off the wall with it’s 135mm disc rear end and dropped it on the Neo, sure enough, the caliper is jammed hard against the Neo’s casing.
Wife ordered me a KICKR and the Neo is on it’s way back.. 🙄

Out of interest for those with a Kickr, do you run it so it’s controlled during sessions by a power meter or do you just let the Kickr do it’s own thing?
My turbo bike has a power meter fitted but if I’m as well off letting the Kickr do it’s own thing then I’ll stick the power meter onto the road bike instead.

I use a power meter with my Mk1 Kickr. The internal power meter has not been great on mine. Quite a way off my Rotor cranks and seems to be inconsistent.

Other than that I love it. Had it nearly 3 years.

I bought a kickr last winter because I hate riding indoors.

It makes it far more tolerable and now looking forward to using it with a 520 to control it as I believe you can use routes you’ve ridden to control the power resistance.

This is great …I too am looking at buying a smart turbo…and it was a toss up between trax or wahoo..looks like wahoo is the clear winner.
Now it’s a decider between wheel mount or direct drive…anyone??

Does the direct drive take up less space??…as I could have a dedicated set up …

Bear in mind that Eurobike is on soon, which might contain announcements of new turbos, or price changes, or both.

Generally people expect direct drive trainers to be a bit more consistent and accurate than wheel-on ones partly because there are fewer variables, and I guess partly simply because they’re at the more expensive end of the market.

Feel is likely to be different too, though how much that matters is a bit subjective.

Wahoo have announced a new version of the Kickr. Not very different from the 2016 model, seems to be just a bit better compatibility with different rear axle / disc brake arrangements. Also their front wheel attachment for lifting the wheel up and down to simulate hills…!

FWIW I’ve got a BKool and it’s also pretty good. Not compared its power readings to a proper power meter, but it’s not something I’m too concerned about.

And if you do get a wheel driven model, whatever brand, think about getting a spare wheel (budget model is fine!) with a cheap tyre on it.

And if you do get a wheel driven model, whatever brand, think about getting a spare wheel (budget model is fine!) with a cheap tyre on it.

Don’t just think about it, treat it more or less as an essential. Very useful in spring/autumn when bike can be on/off the trainer for indoor/outdoor rides every other day.

Don’t just think about it, treat it more or less as an essential. Very useful in spring/autumn when bike can be on/off the trainer for indoor/outdoor rides every other day.

For exactly that reason I *don’t* use a spare wheel. I don’t want to be swapping wheels all the time, and personally have no issues with using a decent tyre on the turbo.

Can these trainers be linked upto Google Street view & vary resistance with gradient?

If yes – how, what would I need?