This is the one with the 18lb flywheel. Has anyone used it? I’m currently using a Cycleops Fluid 2 that’s a couple of years old. It has a small flywheel and spins down very quickly and feels like a real grind on the legs. The KK is expensive, but I’m spending so much time on the trainer this winter that if it has a better feel to it, it might be worth it. Would love to hear any comments…
get a magnetic type trainer. they are much more durable and fairly affordable. i’ve had no problems with my minouras.
The Kurt Kinetic Pro is a great trainer. Great rigid frame and a completely leak-proof resistance unit. Best road feel of any fluid trainer I have tried. The big flywheel is great for short power intervals or steady state work. I take the extra flywheel off for longer intervals.
I’ve had a few trainers, magnetic and fluid. I bought the Kurt Kinetic Road last year and it is easily the best of the bunch: very quiet, consistent resistance, smooooth. The little power meter thing is actually quite accurate, but its quality sucks: I’ve had to have it replaced twice now. I don’t even bother with it anymore. I’d have to think that the Pro (one level up from the Road, I believe) has to be at least as good. I’ve been intrigued by the Rock n’ Roll but won’t purchase it yet until I have more room; also, it can’t be easily transported for warmups.
We tried the pro version and found it was not as useful because of the heavier flywheel than the standard version. There is even another version with a *lighter *flywheel sold by Troy Jacobsen to use with his Spinerval DVDs.
The issue with the Pro version is that, although it is harder to initially accelerate the heavier flywheel it becomes *easier *once it is up to speed since the heavier flywheel has more inertia. It is also harder to then decelerate or accelerate to change tempo if you do use the Spinervals DVDs or the “Indoor Bike Workouts in a Binder” book. If you want to do intervals the Pro version is tricky to use, about the time you get your cadence where it needs to be for a shortish interval you have to back off again for the rest interval.
Overall the Pro version felt like the resistance was too low once you did get on top of it and get it accelerated to your steady state speed.
People who have tried the Pro and even the lighter Troy Jacobsen version in our store generally split the difference and settle on the standard Road Machine Kinetic Trainer as the best combination of all performance features: Good resistance, reasonable acceleration and deceleration, accurate road feel (the pro does not feel very “road” like, it is too easy at cruising efforts and too hard to get up to speed) and they are nice and stable. 5 year warranty on the resistance unit, Lifetime warranty on the frame:
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/shop/product.php?productid=16278&cat=272&page=1
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/shop/product.php?productid=16461&cat=256&page=1
Do check the classifieds on this forum also- there may be another trainer deal there of interest that can’t be directly advertised - you have to call us for it.
Mine must be an older version. It has the normal flywheel and the auxiliary heavier wheel fits over it and is fastened with a thumbscrew. Best of both worlds.
I am not certain of this- so please don’t quote me. That design may have been improved on over the old one to maintain better balance of the flywheel. The bolt on flywheel may have made the assembly out of balance if not correctly installed.
“get a magnetic type trainer. they are much more durable and fairly affordable.”
Not sure which trainers you are comparing, but the KK has easily outdistanced every other trainer I’ve ever owned, whether fluid, mag, and even wind.
KK’s fluid is wholly contained. There are no seals to break like with the CycleOps or others. FWIW, I’ve killed no less than 4 mag trainers in my time. I don’t like them at all.
For me, it’s KK or Kreitler rollers.
“KK’s fluid is wholly contained” and “a completely leak-proof resistance unit”
Be advised these unit can and have leaked, but is very rare. Mine did, and so did a few other posters here.
And for the most part the company took great care of it’s customers.
I have used several different types and brands and would recommend the KK’s
I have the road version and have no experience with the pro.
I just got the Road Machine, I really like it. Got a really great deal from a local bike shop.
Of course I was using one of these before.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/bik/489241756.html
I got it when I was 16 years old. Mine doesn’t have the cool tubing though.
jaretj
may i asked how they malfunctioned? it’s always good to know so i know what to look out for.
FWIW i don’t think i put a whole lot of stress on my trainers. i have one that is about 4 years old, and i use it 4-5 days a week year round. But i never do out of the saddle work and confine my max efforts to ~350W. it’s usually in the 200-240W range though.
I just purchased a Pro- and love it. Basically it’s a KK road- with a bigger- sturdier frame- and a 12 pound flywheel attachment that envelopes the 6 pound permanently attached flywheel- so you have the option of going with 6 OR 18 pounds. It attaches easily with a single center screw- and is recommended to be used when doing extended steady state sessions. To do rapid pace change intervals you just remove the 12 pound attachment and go with the remaining 6 pound flywheel. My previous (and first) trainer was a 1upUSA trainer- which was good- but not in the same league as the KK. If you have any specific questions regarding the Pro, feel free to PM me.
We tried the pro version and found it was not as useful because of the heavier flywheel than the standard version. There is even another version with a *lighter *flywheel sold by Troy Jacobsen to use with his Spinerval DVDs.
The issue with the Pro version is that, although it is harder to initially accelerate the heavier flywheel it becomes *easier *once it is up to speed since the heavier flywheel has more inertia. It is also harder to then decelerate or accelerate to change tempo if you do use the Spinervals DVDs or the “Indoor Bike Workouts in a Binder” book. If you want to do intervals the Pro version is tricky to use, about the time you get your cadence where it needs to be for a shortish interval you have to back off again for the rest interval.
Overall the Pro version felt like the resistance was too low once you did get on top of it and get it accelerated to your steady state speed.
People who have tried the Pro and even the lighter Troy Jacobsen version in our store generally split the difference and settle on the standard Road Machine Kinetic Trainer as the best combination of all performance features: Good resistance, reasonable acceleration and deceleration, accurate road feel (the pro does not feel very “road” like, it is too easy at cruising efforts and too hard to get up to speed) and they are nice and stable. 5 year warranty on the resistance unit, Lifetime warranty on the frame:
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/...p;cat=272&page=1
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/...p;cat=256&page=1
Do check the classifieds on this forum also- there may be another trainer deal there of interest that can’t be directly advertised - you have to call us for it.
The larger flywheel may cause tire slippage, I use the 6.25 flywheel, works excellent for trainer intervals.