The Takeaway: The new Wahoo Kickr keeps everything we love about the trainer, but now it measures power more accurately, is more comfortable to ride, and can connect directly to your computer or router for a more reliable experience.
- 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
Price: $1,200
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The Wahoo Kickr has consistently been one of the most reliable and user-friendly trainers available, earning several Editors’ Choice awards from our test editors. The newest version is even better than the previous model, which came out in 2018. It measures power more accurately (within one percent), allows for some side-to-side movement while riding, and no longer requires manual calibration.
(Some) Freedom to Move
Rubber feet, which the brand calls Axis, can be paired with three sets of plastic cups that fit over the feet and allow some side-to-side movement, providing a more comfortable ride experience. The largest cups completely encapsulate the rubber feet and keep the trainer fixed in place, while the smallest leave the flexible, rubber feet largely exposed and allow the bike five degrees of lateral movement. Wahoo doesn’t claim that the feet are there to help simulate a natural cycling experience. In fact, the five degrees of movement they deliver is far less than the modest movement found on the Tacx Neo 2T, and a world away from the free-flowing feeling of riding a Kinetic R1 or a Saris H3 mounted on the MP1 Nfinity Platform.
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. Some may even prefer it to trainers that offer more movement. Too much movement can actually feel unnatural because the bike leans in the opposite direction it would outside; there’s no counterbalancing. Wahoo seems to be aiming for something else.
“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, Wahoo’s indoor cycling product manager.
That may sound underwhelming, but it works. The five degrees of movement when using the smallest cups, the ones that allow the most freedom, is just enough that riding the latest Kickr feels far more comfortable than being locked in place, but not so much that the bike moves unnaturally. The bike feels planted and solid when standing up to sprint and when riding hard at low cadence, such as up a virtual climb. Pedaling feels as comfortable and natural as one can reasonably hope for without leaving the confines of the garage. There is no awkward side-to-side movement, nor is there the discomfort that comes from the bike being perfectly locked in place. The new Axis feet strike an ideal balance.
More Secure Connection
Wahoo now offers users the ability to connect their trainer directly to either a computer or internet router, eliminating dropouts from finicky Bluetooth and wireless internet signals. Naturally, you need the $99 Wahoo Direct Connect accessory and an ethernet cable to make this happen. And if your computer has no ethernet port you’ll also need an adapter for that. The benefit is clear: A dropped signal, even for a second, can be extremely problematic during a virtual race. Competitions aside, it’s also downright maddening to lose the signal in the middle of a workout.
This connection doesn’t come without its limitations. Right now it’s compatible only with Wahoo’s SUF TrainingSystem, TrainerRoad, FullGaz, and RGT Cycling. But other platforms, namely Zwift, are expected to be compatible with Direct Connect in the near future. Also, for the most secure connection, you need to plug into your router. For this tester, that meant riding my trainer in the guest room instead of the garage. While plugging into a computer doesn’t match the reliability of going straight to the source, I found it far better than counting on the Bluetooth connection between the trainer and the computer.
Update Your Kickr
If you already have a Kickr and don’t want to shell out 1,200 bones for more comfy feet, Wahoo has your back. The Axis feet are compatible with older Kickr models and can be purchased separately for $80. If you aren’t deep into the virtual racing rabbit hole where the increased accuracy of power measurement is critical, that’s a great upgrade to your existing Kickr.
The ride feel on the new Kickr is a little more lively than the previous edition. I’m splitting hairs with that statement, because it’s a very subtle difference in the way the momentum feels when accelerating. Whereas sprinting up to speed on the Kickr used to feel like sprinting on a 2 percent hill paved with chip seal, the newest version feels closer to the resistance you’d expect when doing the real thing on a flat stretch of tarmac.
More Accurate Power Data
Besides the feet, Wahoo gave this version two other noteworthy updates. Power data is accurate within 1 percent up to 2,200 watts, which was also the high limit of the previous version—if you’re somehow cranking out more watts than that (and demanding accurate measuring of them), you’re still out of luck.
No Need to Calibrate
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. Calibrations, although not difficult, can be a time-consuming PIA, requiring at least a few minutes to complete. And you had to do it every ride if you wanted the most accurate data coming from the trainer. I found it refreshing to just jump on a smart trainer and get after it. The more improved power measurements make the Kickr among the most accurate smart trainers available. It’s the one area in which the previous version fell behind other top models. And with the growth of interactive programs like Zwift and the virtual-racing boom, accurate power readings are becoming increasingly important. The Kickr can simulate gradients up to 20 percent, which is the same as the previous edition. And like in the past, this new one comes preinstalled with an 11-speed Shimano/SRAM-compatible cassette and will work with most 8-, 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-speed setups, and it connected easily to Zwift and several other third-party apps in our testing.
Kickr Family
Wahooligans who can’t stomach the hefty price tag of the Kickr can still buy the Kickr Core. It’s smaller, with a lighter flywheel, and sacrifices a smidge of accuracy with power readings (accurate within 2 percent and can only simulate grades up to 16 percent). But it’s one of the best value direct-drive smart trainers currently available. The Kickr Snap, a wheel-on friction trainer that can be yours for $500, also remains in Wahoo’s trainer lineup. Neither of these trainers are new or updated.
Same Great Trainer, More Refined and Comfortable
The big takeaway with the newest Kickr is that it represents a refinement on a product that’s already really great. Wahoo didn’t mess with a good thing; it simply tweaked the trainer to make it even more user-friendly and more pleasant to ride. And that extra 1 percent accuracy certainly falls into the category of marginal gains when it comes to virtual racing.
Pros
- Side to side movement makes the Kickr more comfortable to ride
Cons
- Not so much movement that you can swing the bike side to side while sprinting
