I've had my core for about 3 weeks and love it. I'm coming from a "dumb" trainer so its a big step up. I can't see anything that could be that much better on a more expensive model. The resistance unit is great. The one thing that had me looking at the Kickr 2018 was its heavier flywheel but after riding the Core, I can't imagine the road feel (great) being noticeably better.

It is very quiet, much quieter than my fan or even my drive train at moderate power levels. While it does make a sound if you listen for it with the fan off if you use a fan, and who doesn't, most of time you won't even hear the trainer. I can watch TV at a normal/non trainer volume level. The Core is as quiet as a trainer needs to be so check quietness off the development list as that task is completed. Quieter fans is where the search for quiet will now go.

The stand does not bother me. I could see it being a "step down" if you have had a Kickr but the Core stand is pretty similar to what I have been training on for the past 20 years so the look does not phase me. It is very stable (rock solid) but at the same time it is narrower than my Road Machine and those few inches actually make a huge difference for me because of a door in my pain cave near the trainer which now can open much wider. I only ride one bike on the trainer and I've had a front wheel block forever so height adjustibility is not an issue for me.

All and all, extremely happy with the purchase.

I have one on my shopping list for the end of next month, so I'm going to keep an eye on this thread. I had wondered about the construction of the base but since I'll be picking it up through MEC I will get their guarantee, so I'm not as concerned if it does break.

Do you still need to use a front wheel block for a TT bike?

I can't speak to the kickr core but when looking I don't think I was concerned with the base. I just assumed it would be fine. I ended up getting the elite direto. I assume the kickr core is quieter than the direto but the direto is plenty quiet and since it's quieter than my fan that's all I need.

Are you using it with Bluetooth or ANT+? Any issues connecting/dropping connection?

I'm using bluetooth to an iphone or macbook pro, works perfect, like my original kickr does.

No, you don't need a block for the front wheel.
The rear wheel mount is the same height as a rear wheel, so the bike is level without a block.

Quiet yes. Works well with the Kickr climb. I had a cadence/speed sensor on the chainstay on my old trainer bike and changing to a crank arm sensor enabled cadence to be picked up by Garmin headunit.

My question; how well does the Wahoo Element bolt headunit works with controlling the Kickr core?

I’m hoping to pick one up this winter. I hopped on the new kicker at a bike shop not realizing it was the new model (I have a dumb trainer now). It was near silent!

Speaking of quiet fans.. How would one of those bladeless fans work for a trainer fan? The ones that are circles/ovals and don’t have visible fan blades. Are they any quieter? Move decent air?

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Team Zoot - Great Lakes

They're pretty quiet but I haven't come across one that I think moves a sufficient amount of air for a trainer ride.

Does that hold true if you have a 650c wheel?

Thanks. I've returned original Kickrs 3 times due to various issues, dropped Bluetooth connection being one of them. After the 3rd one I ended up with a different trainer that uses ANT+, and haven't had any connection issues with it for 3+ years.

Pretty close to giving core a go, might wait and see if there will be any sales on it over the holiday season though, just in case.

I did not set out to do a test but due some changes I have made along with getting the new trainer, I have ended up using both ANT+ and Bluetooth on 3 different devices and had no issues with drop outs or pairing issues.

I've used it with TrainerRoad and Zwift connected to my laptop via ANT+; with Zwift via Bluetooth to an Apple TV and with TrainerRoad via Bluetooth to my iPhone.

I'm using power match with TrainerRoad with my ANT+ Quarq which is also transmitting cadence and I have that connected to my phone with a CABLE Connect thing. i can see some drop outs on that now and then (I know it is the Quarq connection because the cadence drops out) but the Core's connection is rock solid.

Thanks. I don't have any issue with the Core's resistance unit either, pairs up quick and works well with trainerroad. My disappointment with it is with the slightly crooked stand, and what seems to be a possible rear drop out clearance issue with my frame (Felt IA).

If you have connection dropping issues on ANT+, please check out my zwift fixed thread (don't have the link right now). I suffered from that on my Kickr for the last 2 years. Finally figured out the problem. It was a sleep mode on the USB ports on the computer. Linked to the article that fixed it in my thread. Haven't had a drop in last 8-10 workouts of 1-2 hours in length. Very happy that I can race and not lose the draft every 10-15 minutes.

stupid question--is there an on/off?

i cant find it. do people just leave it on all the time?

On mine the rear wheel is about 3/4 of an inch higher than my front wheel on the same surface, so I used a block to level it. It felt like it was going downhill so I checked and it was.

Hopefully by now you've figured out how to unplug it.

thanks, i get that. was wondering if that is what people do or if its better to leave on. most things have a plug and on/off button.

I am on my second Kickr Core and (first one replaced quickly because of what Wahoo called a "known problem").

This second one puts out about 13% more power that what Trainerroad says to put out. I have tested it out on timed intervals at given power levels against my Power 2 max crank based PM which was connected to my Garmin.

The first one I had matched my crank based meter perfectly (before the problem), and now my second one has this power problem.

I emailed Wahoo, hopefully they will cover it as quickly and efficiently as they did on the first one.

I am feeling a little victim to being an early customer on the Core. Wahoos customer service seemed great so hopefully this one will get replaced and I can have a perfectly functioning trainer once and for all....

Yeah, I always unplug mine when not in use. I also try to ride outside as much as possible. Not sure if it's necessary or not but the outlet is easy to access. If it is plugged in somewhere hard to reach and you are using it almost daily, it might not be worth the effort.

I plugged my Core and Climb into a power strip. I just toggle the strip on and off.

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I just leave mine plugged in.

Another vote for the kickr core. I have no issues with the base; it is super strong.

Connectivity has been perfect. AND very oddly...it has improved the reliability of my ANT+ connection to my p2m power meter which used to drop quite often when I used a dumb trainer. (e.g. once every 3 rides in which I would have to at least unplug and plug in the USB again, and often times, restart zwift entirely)

I have the power and cadence coming from my P2M and use the FE-C ANT for the controllable trainer on zwift. (And HR separate, also on ANT+) Never once had a dropped connection in over 25 hours of riding with it.

I have no idea why, but I suspect something with the FE-C means the computer and trainer are always in communication.

Quoting my own post for background. So I am on Kickr Core # 3, and it has the exact same problem as Kickr Core #1. After working perfectly for several rides on Trainerroad, it just stopped providing resistance or registering any speed. It is visible as a device in Trainer Road and also in the Wahoo Utility app, but it does not seem to communicate speed or power between the two. I noticed that #3 had the original firmware when I got it so I am guessing that Wahoo sent me an older one as a replacement for #2. This is the same problem that they said was a "known issue" and took the first one back no more questions asked.

So in about 40 days I will potentially be on my fourth Kickr Core.

Has anyone else had issues? I cant be the only one.

I have been pretty nice so far as they have been responsive, but I may need to give up on the Kickr Core.

I dont have much to add aside from the fact that i have a different trainer, and it is not without the odd issue too. Sounds like they are all a bit wonky now and then.

Talked a non-power user friend into buying a CORE. (nothing like the responsibility of convincing someone else to spend $1000) Had immediate problems - couldn't do required spin down because the brake would self-apply as you sped up. 14-15 MPH maximum achievable. Connection to Zwift was available with proper pairing showing, but after the first couple of short rides, there were no speed, watts, cadence figures and the avatar just sat by the side of the road. Spent several long frustrating days trying to fix/figure it out (Wahoo said it must be outside interference), I found a thread with multiple stories (like yours) of exactly the same problems. My opinion (typical Twitcher offering opinion about something I know nothing about) is that they bought a large number of circuit boards of which a significant number are faulty (and even worse, for them, do not fail until they have been used for an unknown time).
After finding this information, I returned the unit and replaced it with a KICKR. I'm not interested in going through that frustrating CORE experience more than once.

Where was that thread? I would like to read it. I am thinking that the Core may not be ready for prime time and thus I may call it quits now and move on to another trainer.

I will say that their customer service has been great, but that does not help to ease my fears of this continuing to happen.

I certainly understand your frustration. And...Wahoo has not been bulletproof at all with the quality of at least the first batch of both models of kickr 2018. BUT....

Looking at Zwift's data, zwiftalizer, and Eric Min's comments on facebook, a lot of the connection issues in general have to do with the computer and internet connection, not zwift or the trainer. I would even venture to guess that if it is the circuitry in the trainer causing the issue, the core and kickr use the same circuits. (Does anyone know if this is true?)

At any rate, it's worth trying to systematically attempt to troubleshoot. Starting with your USB port (which version, is it always powered? etc. For instance, the left side USB on my Macbook air always drops, right side doesn't), the reliability of the internet signal (checked on zwiftalizer?) then the ANT+ dongle and its placement, other ANT+ devices in the vicinity that could be confusing it (garmin watches, though this has never been as issue for me, for some it has, other power meters not in use etc), then TV remotes, electrical wires, fan placement, microwaves.

I hope you get this sorted out...the workout should be the hardest part of indoor training not getting everything to work!

I believe it was this one: https://forums.zwift.com/...-reading-power/14083
(I looked at so many references that my head got a bit clogged)

Look at the DC Rainmaker review comments section for the Kickr Core, lots of issues. It seems to be blowing up right now for Wahoo. At least 10 to 12 others with identical problems in the last week. Ray brought it to the attention of the CEO. Wahoo has told me this is known issue with the core.

I have diagnosed properly. This is not at all the issue, first- I don't use Zwift, I use Trainerroad. It is not a Zwift gremlin.

Second, the trainer is visible but not transmitting any data whether I use my laptop and ANT, Android and Bluetooth, and Mac OS and bluetooth. All were paired and operated independently with the others turned off. The Kickr exibits the same behavior regardless of the platform communicating with it. If you read the user comments feedback on the Wahoo Core Review at DC Rainmaker and also looking at the fact they have admitted this is a known issue, this is not a end user error.

Me and my wife bought one Kickr Core each, received them in November. I start by setting mine up, everything works fine (and has since).

A couple of weeks later I set up my wife’s unit. There is a very loud chafing/scraping noise. I have the unit replaced and received the replacement a few weeks later. I set up the replacement unit, same issue.

I received another replacement unit a week ago and set it up this weekend. Everything seems fine - no noise and installation works properly. My wife downloads the Wahoo fitness app and connects the trainer, performs the spindown and is all set to go. When she shall go for a ride this morning, the unit connects but does not transmit any power data and there is almost no resistance. Seems like the replacement replacement unit has the “motherboard bug”...

I am starting to get a bit fed up.

Just picked up a Core Kicker. Worked for about 2 minutes then stopped reading power or speed. Called Wahoo and the customer service rep said it needs to be replaced. Was hoping to ride it this weekend hopefully the replacement works for longer than 2 minutes!

Back to riding my computrainer for a few more days.

I'm literally a week or two away from buying one of these, but all of the horror story posts are making me consider other options!

Both my dad and I have had ours for a few months and have had no issues at all. I use my Quarq for power readings so those could be off but they weren’t that far off when I got it. Don’t let the bad reviews worry you too much because more people share bad reviews than good ones!

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I had one for a little over 2 months without any issues. Having said that I did replace it with a previously order Tacx Neo 2 that was on back order since November. I’ve had the Neo for a little over a week now and I’ve been real happy with it. I was kinda glad to get rid of the Core as I was starting to get worried that my unit would start having issues.

I’ve had my Core now for about a month, so far its been pretty good. The resistance unit is responsive and I love the ERG mod. the Bluetooth and ant+ connections both work Fine.

A couple of things. The power reading differs from my Stages by about 10 - 20w and seems to decrease over time.." so to keep it the same as the Stages I need to perform 1 spin down after 5-10 mins and another after 30 or so mins.

The other thing is that I can’t seem to work out how to control the power using my Stages PM.... Tried a couple of times and it says it’s doing it but there is no power control (I use ERG mode virtually all the time). Any suggestions on how to get this to work?

I have only used the Core/Quarq combo on Zwift but if that is your issue I have my power source as Quarq then Core as the Controllable Trainer and it matches my Quarq to power and changes resistance based off of that.

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The only suggestion I have is to make sure it's not in ERG mode in Zwift in TRAINING. That really messes around with power and speed.
In fact it seems it won't let you raise the power displayed beyond the power prescribed.
I rode with my garmin showing power of 300+ watts while the display remained below 200.

Thanks, I use Trainerroad, not Zwift. Wahoo is replacing it again. I will see what happens. Isolated problems don't lead to 4 bum trainers in a row. I work in software and consider myself pretty tolerant of issues. Wahoos technical support has been outstanding.

This video just came out regarding the issues, thank you to DC Rainmaker and the Wahoo CEO for encouraging transparent communication on the product and the problems I have experienced.

https://www.youtube.com/...MgromwkTOs&t=95s