After a few months of this being out…what’s your opinion on the Kickr? Yes, I read DCrainmaker’s review. But it’s always good to have
somewhat long term comments.
I’m loving mine, sold my Jurassic Computrainer for almost what I paid for my Kickr. Their support has been great. I was disappointed that their “cadence calculation by software” didn’t work out, but that’s not a big deal, I bought a sensor. Am happy not to have wires everywhere, and to be able to easily upload data and download workout plans from the web. Sometimes I use the Wahoo app, sometimes I use the iMobileIntervals app, which I really like. Haven’t tried Segments et al yet.
At first I used my Android phone with ipBike and an OTG cable to an ANT+ USB stick, I didn’t try a PC solution before I bought an iPad Mini.
I wrote a few thoughts on my website, a simpler variant on Ray Maker’s writings, with a different slant: http://www.newjerseytriathloncoach.com/tips/indoor-trainers/wahoo-kickr
I just hope my 401k doesn’t have any funds in Racermate.
I just got one. I have a computrainer too, lab model 2 years old. kickr is quiet, smooth, and stable, but the software controling it is weak. i used the wahoo app and found the speed was off, the power was off by 8% compared to my srm’s ( 2 bike’s 2 srm’s… both way off on kickr)
Computrainer is just familiar to me, kickr is good, but if you want precision go with computrainer
I bought one after Lemond decided to not support 11 speed on the Revolution. I think the KICKR SUCKS. It is hard to believe they released it with so many promises like windows support. If it wasn’t for PERF and the awesome team at TrainerRoad you could still not be on a PC. I had to buy about 5 different gadgets because the Mac laptop I was going to use wasn’t the latest and greatest. There is more support for the unit on DC Rainmaker’s site than on Wahoos.The POS sits on the floor in my workout room collecting dust because I figured a way to make the Lemond 11 speed compatible. The Lemond is loud but I just crank the music louder. I think it is the best unit out there. Francois don’t waste your money.
I assume you’ve done a spin down right? I only have my powertap to compare to, so I can’t measure at the same time. For me the weakness is simply in the software. I really don’t want to subscribe to something like trainerroad, but rather buy an app that does what I need outright.
I’ve been using a combo of my edge 500 / iphone / ipad to log my workouts - I really don’t care about the speed being off as I’m training with the power.
I like mine after having real issues with the power beam pro. Kickr with trainerroad has been functional. It is slightly off from my quarq but the two seem to be consistently off so it seems to be precise, if not accurate which is all you can ask for. Typically 12-15 watts difference. I make the FTP adjustment on the kickr so I know what numbers to hit on raceday.
I bought one after Lemond decided to not support 11 speed on the Revolution. I think the KICKR SUCKS. It is hard to believe they released it with so many promises like windows support. If it wasn’t for PERF and the awesome team at TrainerRoad you could still not be on a PC. I had to buy about 5 different gadgets because the Mac laptop I was going to use wasn’t the latest and greatest. There is more support for the unit on DC Rainmaker’s site than on Wahoos.The POS sits on the floor in my workout room collecting dust because I figured a way to make the Lemond 11 speed compatible. The Lemond is loud but I just crank the music louder. I think it is the best unit out there. Francois don’t waste your money.
I’ll take it off your hands.
Also… If u are using iPhone, when u open another app like pandora or Sirius satellite then go back to the wahoo app controlling the kickr you get a sudden increase or loss of resistance for a few seconds. The unit gets very hot too, you could start a fire with it after 3 hours
Glad you asked this. I have a 10 year old computrainer. Still works but it is full of rust. I am trying to decide whether to fix it up or buy something else. Slowman told me he was going to do a review but that was a long time ago.
I’m about to buy one. Bummed that I need the laptop to use it and can’t use it with my Android phone. May think about getting an iPad mini for it (and to have to use, of course). May be word the $450 in order not to have to have the laptop next to it all the time, and I plan to use it a lot.
Wait… you can use it with an iPad 2?? Have to look into that. I own one of those already.
Deb - iPad2 does not have BTLE (aka BT 4.0/Bluetooth Smart) so it won’t work directly with the Kickr over BT but may still work with it if you have the ANT+ dongle for the iPad (would depend on the app and Kickr software).
Disappointed in some of the feedback on the Kickr… was considering replacing my busted up TACX with it this winter.
I actually have my CT for sale but after reading this feedback I think I am going to hold on to it…
KICKR is amazing when paried with TrainerRoad, load up a Sufferfest viedo after you know your FTP and set it on Erg mode and you have one hell of a training lab. I’d buy it again.
KICKR is amazing when paried with TrainerRoad, load up a Sufferfest viedo after you know your FTP and set it on Erg mode and you have one hell of a training lab. I’d buy it again.
sound like CT without the cables lol
Can Windows TrainerRoad fully control the Kickr in erg mode? What does the Kickr feel like when it switches to a higher power level?
My experience. I’m a CT Lab & 2 SRM owner as well as a recent (last 3 weeks) Kickr owner.
1st Kickr would increase the resistance to the point that I could not pedal and power numbers that I did get to compare were off. I think the increasing resistance was due to the kickr reporting falling wattage (I could see the wattage dropping in the software as the resistance kept going up) so the software kept increasing the resistance. Funny thing is I could almost always make this happen by bumping the wattage just over 150 watts. So they sent me a new one. 
2nd Kickr DOA. Didn’t report speed or power. So they sent me a new one.
3rd Kickr. Seems to work much better than the first two. Haven’t had enough time to really test everything but I have been testing the accuracy and precision. What I’m finding is not good IMHO. My SRM on my CT Lab normally reads about 8 watts higher than the CT setting and that’s simply due to drive train losses. Nothing unusual there. In fact they seem to be in very good agreement. In a nutshell I’ve seen up to 28 watts less power from my Kickr than what it was set for. So at 160 watts the Kickr was actually only producing 132 watts.
I want to make it clear that I’m not finished testing, I’ve only performed very limited testing and there is always the possibility that my SRM even though it tracks very well with my CT Lab may be off. I will be attempting to verify the accuracy and precision of my SRM over the next week or so.
In addition to seeing the Kickr under produce (I’ve never seen it over produce) power it also appears to get worse the faster you are going. If speed is low the difference is less. As speed increases the difference get worse. I personally don’t like the feel of the Kickr when I’m in my big chain ring and lowest gear. Speed is typically around 13-14mph. Just feels strange or a little choppy. I don’t feel that at faster speeds. Even on my CT I typically try to ride at 18-20 mph. Should be noted that I very rarely use anything but ERG mode so speed and power should not be related.
DCRainmaker posted his power data and everything looked pretty good. Not sure why mine doesn’t.
I read an article on BikeRumor http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/11/08/tech-breakdown-wahoo-fitness-smartphone-powered-cycling-trainer-computer/ that quotes “they wanted it as accurate as 2-3 watts. Not 2-3% mind you, 2-3 watts.”
I certainly don’t feel like my Kickr is accurate to within 2-3 watts. I certainly expected it to be. I had hopes that they would be accurate and precise because I was looking for something that would make setting up a studio easier and not having to deal with the rear wheel/tire makes things a lot simpler as well as not having to deal with roll down issues. Kickr claims that you do not have to do roll downs very often and from my limited experience I’ve not seen any significant changes to my Kickr Zero Offset. It’s usually on exactly the same number 769-775. I’ve done approximately 20 over the last 6 days.
Support in their last reply basically told me that they are concerned more with precision of the power readings and not so much with the accuracy. That’s fine and dandy if all you ever ride is a Kickr. That doesn’t allow you to compare results across devices or even future Kickrs. Devices have to be both accurate and precise in order to all one to make valid comparisons across devices. How would you race your buddies on a KICKR if they all produced different wattages at the same setting?
“What we strive for, and what I believe you’re seeing from your KICKR, is consistency from ride to ride.”
At this point I certainly don’t think I’m seeing any consistency (precision) or accuracy of the power coming from my KICKR that I expected.
I would really like to know if anyone else has done any comparison test other than DCRainmaker. I’m not sure how he obtained the one he currently has but I think he always buys the one he is keeping just like you or I do. I’m going to guess that his tests were done on a Wahoo supplied demo model and probably not the one he bought himself. Would be awesome if he could comment on this and discuss if he has done any speed vs power output test on the Kickr.
If he still lived in the US I’d consider sending my KICKR to him for a review.
Anyone have any ideas on the best way to verify the accuracy and precision of the KICKR? I’m open to suggestions.
I sure love my Velotrons. They just work. Never a worry about power accuracy or anything. Just jump on and ride those powercranks.
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I haven’t seen any odd variation in the last few months (on the purchased unit) - especially not 30w worth.
I’ve got some other random testing to do this weekend, so I can throw it on the KICKR and see how it tracks against the Quarq Elsa, Vector and Stages PM’s that are on the bike.
I did a ton of rides with both the KICKR and Quarq going at the same time. They were within 1-2% of each other at all times besides my first ride where I didn’t calibrate the KICKR properly.
My chart looked good until I previewed it. So I’m trying a picture of the data. Doesn’t look like the picture worked either. Here is the link.
The difference in power includes the estimated drive train losses of 8 watts and runs from -14 watts up to -28 watts. The above test was done with KICKR set at 160 watts.
I estimated my drive train losses at 8 watts because that’s what I saw a day or so ago while riding my CT to see how closely my SRM & CT were. Any crank based power meter should read higher than anything downstream. So I included the drive train losses in my calculation. As you can see I certainly have a problem.
It’s hard to imagine that my SRM would read differently simply by changing gears. I tried to keep basically the same cadence and switched gears to increase the speed. I was asked by Wahoo support to see if the wattage varied with speed and it certainly appears to. After seeing this data they concluded "what I believe you’re seeing from your KICKR, is consistency from ride to ride. "
I did these 3 minute intervals with just a brief delay between each one. I would basically shift gears and let everything stabilize and then hit the lap button on my SRM. I’ve done so many of these types of intervals that I’m considering shortening them up just to be able to get more data in a shorter amount of time.
Today Wahoo released a new version of their Utility and Fitness app. I don’t think the change log indicated any changes that would affect my power readings but there’s always the possibility they changed something without publishing it.
My plan is tonight to try to do some CT vs SRM testing basically like above but I don’t plan to do as many intervals. I’ll be attempting to see if there is any speed vs power relationship with the CT.
I’d like to hear others thoughts on how I should further test my KICKR or where they might think my problem is at. I’m having a difficult time believing my SRM & CT are off.