i'm glad you asked. The Kickr BIKE works perfectly on tarmac, gravel, and even dirt. It's an all-rounder. Don't expect it to move anywhere, but it's solid enough to sit in one spot and win races for sure. 🤣
Hey man, this is an indoor bike, it is not supposed to be roadhitted. Even to try you would have to be good with your wheelies but you would need to install a fat tyre on the back unless you don't mind riding on the rim. My advice would be to just ride this indoors and not experiment outside. Plus I think it would be really confusing outdoors as you have the gradient simulation AND the real gradients.
Your production quality is absolutely top notch (again). Another fantastic review, with multiple camera angles (the crotch camera worked out very well after all and helped really get the point across :D), well structured information, great data well visualized. Good stuff. The 100k sub count is approaching with big steps :) Well deserved too. As for the Kickr Bike. Looks like a fantastic piece of kit. Only thing spoiling it is the price obviously. For the same price you can get a really good road bike AND a Kickr. Sure, if you have the money and can afford it, it's great to have a dedicated trainer/virtual bike just for indoors and not having to deal with getting your road bike/trainer setup everytime you want to ride indoors. For the majority of the people I guess the road bike/trainer combo is just more practical/more affordable, especially if 8-9 months of the year you are riding mostly outdoors anyway.
Shane Miller - GPLama Watching the video I kept looking at the stem and steer-tube wondering how easy it would be to modify things so the bars can swivel for steer-mode. With Zwift steering potentially becoming a big thing, I’d want to know the bike was somewhat future-proof in this regard before spending so much. Wahoo’s gotta be thinking about this, no?
hahah! The best part of that is a very very small amount of their $ goes to me. Peloton are paying ME for videos on competing products. I love this. (just don't be persuaded to go down that route...) ;)
Great review, Shane. One minor addition: The Sufferfest does allow you to change the intensity of the workout with the two buttons on the top of the right control lever (the current version of the app also allows you to toggle between levels 0-9 and ERG mode with the thumb buttons but we'll have to revisit that since users who opt for the Campy mapping wouldn't be able to use that functionality). Excited to hear your thoughts on how it works with The Sufferfest. Wait until you try our TTT workout, Team Scream, on the KICKR Bike. So. Real.
Great video again Shane, really considering this Bike, but my only concern is the long term use and reliability . Having killed 2 Kickr Climbs in less than 18 months , Wahoo just sent me my 3rd Climb ! Yes I do lots of climbing on Zwift having just completed my 199 Alpe du Zwift Climb. Did you try the Kickr Bike up the Alpe or Radio Tower Climb ! Can't fault Wahoo customer support, but it's how good or bad the long time use is going to be of this Bike, thanks again Shane .
Brilliant Video Shane. Have been waiting for this to drop!.....been checking 2-3 times a day and was great to sit back with my coffee this morning and watch. Not for everyone at that price but definitely a consideration for me. Do 4-6 sessions per week indoors and love the idea of no bike on and off, no calibrating, no replacement of chains/cassettes etc, NO GREASE!. Any idea when they will start shipping?
Glenn Sullivan agreed 100%. I was considering buying a cheap “trainer bike” but it may make more sense just to buy this item...only issue is I already own a kickr...wish I could trade it in
Thanks Shane - I love the "it just works" summary. I have one on order but I was just told its going to be delayed around 2 weeks. Can't wait. Thanks for your reviews.
I just got mine last week. Just getting the fit dialed in to match my road bike. So far I really like IT. My initial thoughts are. it's Heavy. It's very quiet. I don't have to lube the chain. It quickly switches between rider settings. It doesn't have to be calibrated (spindown). I wish the shifting had a little more prominent feedback. I can't always tell when I've shifted and sometimes end up shifting two gears when I meant to shift one. It's a little too easy to accidentally press the buttons on the inside of the shfiter. No biggie as they currently aren't used, but if they ever sync those up to steering, I could see myself accidentally turning left or right during a hard sprint. And lastly, WHERE ARE THE LLAMA APPROVED COLORED CHEVRONS???
Hi Shane: great video... would it be possible for you to post measurements of the width of the top tube at say 10, 20, and 30 cm from the seat tube?... I'd like to be able to pad out my bike with cardboard or bubble wrap to see if the rub issue would effect me. (unless the bike comes with an angle grinder) Thanks
Nice review mate! One thing I noticed is that your saddle might be too high? It looks like you are stretching for the bottom of the pedal stroke with your toe down, instead of pulling through it with your heel down. Being able to drop your heel at the bottom of the stroke also engages more of your leg muscles. Could try to drop it half an inch to see if you generate more power.
Great video Shane, you’ve really gone to town on this & I’ve really enjoyed watching the series. Now get back on the Di2 videos! 😂 Bike looks the business but I’d have to sell a kidney to get one & so I guess I’ll be sticking with my road bike, Kickr & Climb.
It took almost 4 seconds for your effort to show up on the screen. Both my kickr core and kickr gen1 reacted a lot quicker. Sync issue with the videos, or very lagged response of the bike?
Noted in the video description - I was using 3 second smoothing on Zwift for watt display, so there's a little lag there. Having said that there is a notable delay in the jump sprints as shown on screen. I'll do more testing in the coming days in regard to 'jump speed' on Zwift with the bike and a real power meter using both ANT+ and Bluetooth.
I've had my Wahoo Kickr Bike V1 for about a year. The biggest thing I noticed on it was sprinting is really hard, there is no momentum even at higher cadence, its like I'm pedaling uphill. Anyone else noticed this? My 20 sec power on this bike is 200w lower than on a previous kickr, or hammer H3. Its like you don't get any momentum from the flywheel, even though I'm going 38-40mph in Zwift. Anyone else noticed this? I should note I do not use ERG mode for workouts, and I'm just talking about a sprint at the end of a race, or for a sprint jersey in Zwift.
Hello, I recently purchased Kirckbike V2 and compared it with Assioma power meter. In long duration and interval training, there is always a differnce of about 5~6W between them. Both devices have the latest firmware (Kickrbike power is higher than assioma) Interestingly, I used the fifth generation of kickr for 2 years, it was quite accurate, showing only 1% difference. My friends who bought the same product are experiencing the same issue, we all use assoma and kickrbike. In this video, your kickrbike and assioma are quite similar, Are they still the same with the latest firmware update?
Hello Shane, greetings from the States. In Dec. 2019 I became the owner of the new Wahoo Kickr Bike. I have been riding on Zwift everyday for the past year and would like to upgrade my electronics for viewing and running Zwift. I would like to know in detail the hardware components that you use as shown here in your video (monitor?smart tv? motion/refresh rate? apple tv?). I will be "wired" just as you have done. Thank you for all of your rich content as you are my #1 go to source.... and DC of course.
Another great video! Thanks a lot for the informative content. There are only two questions left open for me ... can I share the device and switch sattle quickly? And how does it compare to the Tacx Neo Bike. Please go ahead with the great stuff you are producing - Happy days!
Bigtime delay in that sprint. You were hammering for a good three or four seconds before the power numbers jumped. That happens to me all the time in races. I don't know what's at fault for this -- the trainer, the internet, or Zwift. Regardless ... I definitely want on of these smart bikes!
Wouldn't the kickr climb be more natural since inclines start at the front of your bike and not the center? Not that either would feel completely natural, but do you have a preference?
Outside the rear of the bike is 'behind' you as you ride up a hill, so it sinks down a little. It's not a biggy... just an observation that the more centered tilt was my preference.
But I have to agree to the fact that you make a very nice video. Very nice review at a point where it makes me want one. Man... you could easily be in sales or something related.
Thanks. :) Sales don't typically like what I do... when things go wrong/bad or companies make a shit product. Engineers don't like it when we find edge-cases that expose issues/flaws (sometimes show stopping ones!). I'm in this grey area of being a cyclist who's still fascinated with this new tech and has the energy to keep looking for the 'next best thing'.
For my $ I would rather buy a shiny new bike or set of wheels and stick with my direct drive that doesn't eat up a ton of space. I guess money being no object with a dedicated permanent training space/pain cave...it seems like a great option. Good quality, quiet, accurate, responsive... perhaps like with other tech waiting for version 2 and resisting the urge to be first to market would be a good thought for potential buyers. A new top tube design iteration, some improvements to other elements based on customer feedback as well... my only question is whether this will sell well enough. The profit margin would have to be pretty substantial to offset low sales to a niche market. Will there in fact be a version 2... this one might be a miss... great execution but is the demand there?
Hello, I recently purchased Kirckbike V2 and compared it with Assioma power meter. In long duration and interval training, there is always a differnce of about 5~6W between them. Both devices have the latest firmware (Kickrbike power is higher than assioma) Interetingly, I used the fifth generation of kickr for 2 years, it was quite accurate, showing only 1% difference. My friends who bought the same product are experiencing the same issue, we all use assoma and kickrbike. In this video, your kickrbike and assioma are quite similar, Are they still the same with the latest firmware update?
Refreshing to see a product actually work! Still cost prohibitive at this point but I like where this is heading. Well done Wahoo and thanks putting all the time into these reviews Shane.
One thing I have found is that the plug on Garmin Vector pedals rub on the “chain guard” and you cannot install this type of power meter. A little frustrating that there is tight gap between in inside of the crank arm and the plastic moulded chain guard.
You can install a spacer on the pedals to make this work. The Kickr BIKE power numbers are good enough not to need power pedals... unless you’re looking for L/R data and Cycling Dynamics metrics.
I'm thinking of buying the wahoo bike or wahoo climb and core. What do you recommend? The kickr bike has many problems? And for training, which is better? I will train about 2 hours a day.thank you
From what I've gathered - from coaches, and from riders (in particular one's who have done one of Phil Deeker's Cent Cols Challenges) - there is a definite benefit from doing indoor training with a Kickr Climb for preparing for doing a lot of climbing IRL. I did my first CCC in June, and tho I was sufficiently fit for the endurance, I was not adapted to the climbing position (and suffered for it). I am planning to purchase either a Kickr + Climb (I have a Neo, about which I have only good things to report), or another unit that puts the body and bike in a climbing position - such as the Kickr bike - in order to train for my next Cent Cols Challenge. I mention this in response to Shane's comments that the Kickr bike enhances the experience of riding indoors (and by inference {and perhaps directly stated}, _only_ the experience). I am counting on it to provide a _training_ benefit as well. (I live in a famously hilly area, but where we have innumerable unavoidable hills, we have no climbs. The max elevation gain on any hill is less than 200m.)
I just got one and notice a clear back to front (not from to back) give on the bike…it moves about 0.25 inches whenever you lean forward, with a metal contact sound. It’s very slight, but consistent and a bit annoying. Did you notice this’? Wahoo gave me a canned response “some give is expected to handle all gradients…etc. etc.”
SOLD! ... no but seriously this thing is just ridiculous. As a machine, as a technical invention, it's cool - really cool - and I'm not sure what Wahoo was thinking when they made this thing to begin with. Was it to make something cool or was it to make something that the market has been screaming for? Because the latter is just not the case. It costs as much as a budget ass car, or a decent small boat, or a small cottage. It's nowhere neeeeaaaar the price of the top level road or mountain bikes that's available and it's just, yup, a god damn trainer. Is the target group millionaires? Then what millionaires? Pro race cyclists who's got that amount of cash (the retired ones that is) wouldn't buy a god damn trainer for this much of money - they'd ride their bikes; outdoors. But hey, cool tech man. It's... something I guess.
I totally agree. I wonder what the margin is on these because sales will be low just based on price and practicality. I see them being great for e-racing competition venues or potential sponsored pros but failing that... the consumer market.... its clearly for people in the upper income echelons... and typically cyclists and triathletes on the whole have a pretty substantial disposable income, but this is still a tough sell value for dollar. A new frame set, top of the line race wheels, a whole damn bike or a trainer that requires a semi-permanent 4' by 3' footprint... hard pass for me. I don't buy that the interest in exclusively indoor cycling is high enough for this... the people who only want to ride inside... I know they exist but do they need this level of precision? Not likely. Maybe I'm out of touch with the i-generation but I can't think of a single person who look at virtual riding as the entry point into cycling what an awful prospect... are we that glued to our screens that people don't connect bikes with outdoors at all? I get when people do most of their training indoors because there are substantial benefits... but they train for OUTDOOR performance. I hope we haven't created a generation of people who want to win the internet on a bike...
wye agreed however I think that's probably a manageable fix. Wahoo from my understanding performs well on their Kickr (I don't personally own one) so they have the tech and know how. Best case firmware update worst case likely some communications or sensor hardware that would need to be upgraded on the "race bikes" we will see I guess. I personally view e racing as a way to train and test your mettle against a worldwide platform that you may never get to meet in person and that is just a cool reality of this generation... but it's not real bike racing in my opinion. No risks, awkward tactics, and limited by algorithms that don't know a riders efficiency, aerodynamics or bike handling. It's all about the power, which is fine, but in real racing, the strongest rider doesn't always win.
Hi Shane, I bought the wahoo bike based on your reviews. Thank you. what is your setup to the tv? I’m having hard time connecting the laptop to my kicker bike via Bluetooth.
I recently had issues with Power Smoothing (from the Wahoo app) and TrainerRoad, where the resistance on the Kickr Bike felt like a pulsating resistance, especially during cadences under 90RPM. The second I turned off Power Smoothing in the Wahoo app, the ERG workouts on TrainerRoad felt significantly more smooth. Maybe something worth revisiting to see what is going on, if you manage to replicate it. I turned Power Smoothing on and off during the TrainerRoad ERG workout and felt the difference immediately. Got the Kickr Bike V1 with latest firmware :)
I bought a Wahoo KICR bundle which incorporated the Wahoo Climb. The Climb work well for a few days then stopped working in Auto mode. It is OK in Manual mode, so what has happened?! Anyone experienced a similar thing with the Climb? If so, any suggestions as to what the issue may be? I haven't contacted Wahoo yet, but I guess I probably will have to if this is not an easy fix.
BEST SPIN BIKES (Ranking by Q factor) 1- Wahoo Kickr Bike (Q Factor is 150mm) 1- Nordictrack S22i (Q Factor is 150mm) 2- Life fitness IC4, Ic5, IC6, IC7 and IC8 (Q Factor is 155mm) 2- Life fitness IC3 (Q Factor is 155mm) 3- StagesBike SB20 Smart Bike (Q Factor is 157mm) 4- Spinner NXT (Q factor is 158mm) 4- Spinner Blade (Q factor is 158mm) 5- Wattbike Atom (Q factor is 160mm) 5- Bodytone MT2 and WT1 (Q Factor is 160mm) 6- Schwinn IC PRO (Q factor is 168mm) 7- Peloton spin bike (Q factor is 170mm) 7- Schwinn AC PERFORMANCE PLUS (Q Factor is 170mm) 7- Schwinn AC SPORT (Q Factor is 170mm) 7- Life Fitness Lifecycle GX (Q Factor is 170mm) 8- Wattbike Pro/Treiner (Q Factor is 173mm) 8- Life fitness IC1 and IC2 (Q Factor is 173mm) 9- SUNNY ASUNA 6100 (Q Factor is 176mm) 10- SUNNY SF-B1805 (Q Factor is 182mm) 11- Diamondback Studio Cycle 1260Sc (Q Factor is 187mm) 12- Schwinn IC4/IC8 (Q factor is 190mm) 13- Keiser M3i (Q factor is 197mm) 14- SUNNY SF-B1709 (Q factor is 203mm) 15- SUNNY Evolution Pro SF-B1714 (Q factor is 216mm) Q Factor: Is the distance between the outside of one crank arm to the outside of the opposite crank arm. Why should you care? I know from experience that the narrower the Q Factor, the closer my feet are to each other, the more comfortable I feel riding a bicycle. This is especially true on a long ride or training. long distance q factor spin bikes can damage your knees
I still have my version 1 kickr from.....about 2015 and it’s been smashed. All still working surprisingly. Paid 600 dollars for a professional fit on my tt bike and I can put my tt bike onto e kickr and off to race. I’d have to pay 600 to get this fitted to get same result on top of the 1700
Hi. I enjoying your smart trainer review. I am just a commuting pro and thats about it. Call me silly but I always wonder in those reviews concerning the offset and pricison of the smart trainers related to bike computers like garmin etc. I myself use my iphone with cyclerider and a giant sense ride. This probable have an offset with a bike computer. But what makes which is “the boss”. Maybe a bike computer is in ofset with cyclometer. What does a bike computer have to be the one to refer to? Thanks
I can see your angle on this... but no. Zwift racing is about producing power. If changing gears faster was that much of an advantage then people would be using straight gear blocks, x1 chainring setups, Di2, etc, etc. It's just not that much of a racing advantage. You still have to produce the watts.
Hi Shane, Looking into getting a Wahoo Kicker Bike. I know you have done a lot of Lama Lab testing. I truly appreciate watching your videos about this unit. Is there anything that you recommend I should look at before I take my next steps?? Look forward to hearing back from you. Have a great day. Thanks for your time. Ted
Almost 12 months later the unit is still in fine form. We've had to oil a few hinges every now and then as they dry and creak... once oiled it's back to normal.
Great review, nothing to do with Shane but version 1 of Wahoo products never great. (Please note I only have Wahoo products Kickr 4 and 3, climb, x2 desk and headwind) Can we take a chance and buy??
I have a Kickr Gen 1 that’s going well. Can we take a chance? Buyers choice. Because if I say ‘yes’ here I get stoned to death the very second someone has a problem. The Internet in 2019 is a rough ride.
It's been a while since someone did an impromptu bike fit for me via a video. Given the camera angles, lenses used, being on camera, etc, etc, etc, it's almost impossible to know what's best.
Hoping you can help me. I have had the kickr bike for a week. While I am cycling there is a rocking back and forward, only a little bit, but it does not feel right. Is this normal for a kickr bike? It is enough for me to want to go back to my kickr core.
Anyone know what the vibration is like from the unit. I live on the second level of a building and my tacx neo vibrates the downstairs. Would this be silent enough to fix that?
@Shane, living in an apartment from the sixties, what do you recommend? Kickr bike or stages? My current kickr 5 doesn't raises complaints, but it feels noisy. I have two rubber mats under it to absorb the vibration. Hope to hear from you!
Hi Shane, Is it possible to configure the buttons within Zwift to make you selection of directions when you come to junctions (a possible good use for the Campy buttons)?
I'm wondering if this bike is 'performance enhancing' in regards to Zwift racing? If there are fractions of seconds difference during gear changes during critical stages of a race between a standard bike/trainer set up and the Kickr bike then this could possibly be an advantage.
This is a fantastic trainer, a little different feel to one thats connected to a bike, but a smoother ride on the whole. My only niggle with this is amount of play between the frame and the tilt unit that causes a small amount of nodding when in high cadence/low resistance. Contacted Wahoo, who said this is normal. Otherwise, its great. I'd be interested if other experience the same.
Noted in the video description - I was using 3 second smoothing on Zwift for watt display, so there's a little lag there. Having said that there is a notable delay in the jump sprints as shown on screen. I'll do more testing in the coming days in regard to 'jump speed' on Zwift with the bike and a real power meter using both ANT+ and Bluetooth.
@@gplama Thank you for your very informative review. I see you've made the comment above a couple of times here, but have not seen any information about any additional testing you did regarding this lag. Am I missing something?
Great video Shane . Let's see $3000 for the kicker bike, $5000 for a new road bike and $50,000 for the divorce. I will stick with my Scwhinn Stingyay.
Couldn’t they’ve made it a little lighter and more aero? Looks ok indoors, but what if you hit the road with this beast?
i'm glad you asked. The Kickr BIKE works perfectly on tarmac, gravel, and even dirt. It's an all-rounder. Don't expect it to move anywhere, but it's solid enough to sit in one spot and win races for sure. 🤣
Shane Miller - GPLama Nicely said 😀
Hey man, this is an indoor bike, it is not supposed to be roadhitted. Even to try you would have to be good with your wheelies but you would need to install a fat tyre on the back unless you don't mind riding on the rim. My advice would be to just ride this indoors and not experiment outside. Plus I think it would be really confusing outdoors as you have the gradient simulation AND the real gradients.
Your production quality is absolutely top notch (again). Another fantastic review, with multiple camera angles (the crotch camera worked out very well after all and helped really get the point across :D), well structured information, great data well visualized. Good stuff. The 100k sub count is approaching with big steps :) Well deserved too.
As for the Kickr Bike. Looks like a fantastic piece of kit. Only thing spoiling it is the price obviously. For the same price you can get a really good road bike AND a Kickr. Sure, if you have the money and can afford it, it's great to have a dedicated trainer/virtual bike just for indoors and not having to deal with getting your road bike/trainer setup everytime you want to ride indoors. For the majority of the people I guess the road bike/trainer combo is just more practical/more affordable, especially if 8-9 months of the year you are riding mostly outdoors anyway.
Three videos and a 23 minute whopper to close it out? The Lama thinks he's Peter Jackson now 😜🤣
As always you've informed and entertained.
Your smile while you were riding was the biggest recommendation.
Where do you put the “Lazy Susan” gizmo for the Zwift steering?
I've located it 'elsewhere' to prototype steering from the saddle.... and now I'm walking funny.
Shane Miller - GPLama Watching the video I kept looking at the stem and steer-tube wondering how easy it would be to modify things so the bars can swivel for steer-mode. With Zwift steering potentially becoming a big thing, I’d want to know the bike was somewhat future-proof in this regard before spending so much. Wahoo’s gotta be thinking about this, no?
While watching this video, I had 4 commercial breaks, 3 for "Peloton". Funny.
hahah! The best part of that is a very very small amount of their $ goes to me. Peloton are paying ME for videos on competing products. I love this. (just don't be persuaded to go down that route...) ;)
Great review, Shane. One minor addition: The Sufferfest does allow you to change the intensity of the workout with the two buttons on the top of the right control lever (the current version of the app also allows you to toggle between levels 0-9 and ERG mode with the thumb buttons but we'll have to revisit that since users who opt for the Campy mapping wouldn't be able to use that functionality). Excited to hear your thoughts on how it works with The Sufferfest. Wait until you try our TTT workout, Team Scream, on the KICKR Bike. So. Real.
Great video again Shane, really considering this Bike, but my only concern is the long term use and reliability . Having killed 2 Kickr Climbs in less than 18 months , Wahoo just sent me my 3rd Climb ! Yes I do lots of climbing on Zwift having just completed my 199 Alpe du Zwift Climb. Did you try the Kickr Bike up the Alpe or Radio Tower Climb ! Can't fault Wahoo customer support, but it's how good or bad the long time use is going to be of this Bike, thanks again Shane .
Brilliant Video Shane. Have been waiting for this to drop!.....been checking 2-3 times a day and was great to sit back with my coffee this morning and watch. Not for everyone at that price but definitely a consideration for me. Do 4-6 sessions per week indoors and love the idea of no bike on and off, no calibrating, no replacement of chains/cassettes etc, NO GREASE!. Any idea when they will start shipping?
Glenn Sullivan agreed 100%. I was considering buying a cheap “trainer bike” but it may make more sense just to buy this item...only issue is I already own a kickr...wish I could trade it in
Thanks for putting this all together, Shane! I only ride indoors and really appreciate your insight. Ride on!
The question will always be the same. Will the flywheel "hold" after 3 or 4 months of intensive use? Is it well balanced? We'll see.
Thanks Shane - I love the "it just works" summary. I have one on order but I was just told its going to be delayed around 2 weeks. Can't wait. Thanks for your reviews.
Balls! I really didn't want to want one of these. 😩 Great video, as always.
Less excuses after getting one of these Marcus! 😉👍🏻
"Let me introduce you to downstairs..." the Lama's lines [ha ha]
😎
The sleeping baby test!! I love it!
23:15 "Mount from the rear..." xD
That's what she said.... nyuk! nyuj! nyuk!
I just got mine last week. Just getting the fit dialed in to match my road bike. So far I really like IT. My initial thoughts are. it's Heavy. It's very quiet. I don't have to lube the chain. It quickly switches between rider settings. It doesn't have to be calibrated (spindown). I wish the shifting had a little more prominent feedback. I can't always tell when I've shifted and sometimes end up shifting two gears when I meant to shift one. It's a little too easy to accidentally press the buttons on the inside of the shfiter. No biggie as they currently aren't used, but if they ever sync those up to steering, I could see myself accidentally turning left or right during a hard sprint. And lastly, WHERE ARE THE LLAMA APPROVED COLORED CHEVRONS???
Hi Shane: great video... would it be possible for you to post measurements of the width of the top tube at say 10, 20, and 30 cm from the seat tube?... I'd like to be able to pad out my bike with cardboard or bubble wrap to see if the rub issue would effect me. (unless the bike comes with an angle grinder) Thanks
I also want to know about that
Nice review mate! One thing I noticed is that your saddle might be too high? It looks like you are stretching for the bottom of the pedal stroke with your toe down, instead of pulling through it with your heel down. Being able to drop your heel at the bottom of the stroke also engages more of your leg muscles. Could try to drop it half an inch to see if you generate more power.
Nice that you can throw down watt bombs without issue. I’ve bent a front chainring throwing gears in a zwift race.
Great video Shane, you’ve really gone to town on this & I’ve really enjoyed watching the series. Now get back on the Di2 videos! 😂 Bike looks the business but I’d have to sell a kidney to get one & so I guess I’ll be sticking with my road bike, Kickr & Climb.
It took almost 4 seconds for your effort to show up on the screen. Both my kickr core and kickr gen1 reacted a lot quicker. Sync issue with the videos, or very lagged response of the bike?
Noticed that too, weird...
The unit seems laggy, check 7:53 when Shane hits the keyboard, the video is perfectly synced.
Mmm not good for zwift racing!
I have the same problem with the kickr core. I thought this was standard.... I wonder how to fix it.
Noted in the video description - I was using 3 second smoothing on Zwift for watt display, so there's a little lag there. Having said that there is a notable delay in the jump sprints as shown on screen. I'll do more testing in the coming days in regard to 'jump speed' on Zwift with the bike and a real power meter using both ANT+ and Bluetooth.
Best gear review I think I've seen. No bullshit, and thorough.
I've had my Wahoo Kickr Bike V1 for about a year. The biggest thing I noticed on it was sprinting is really hard, there is no momentum even at higher cadence, its like I'm pedaling uphill. Anyone else noticed this? My 20 sec power on this bike is 200w lower than on a previous kickr, or hammer H3. Its like you don't get any momentum from the flywheel, even though I'm going 38-40mph in Zwift. Anyone else noticed this? I should note I do not use ERG mode for workouts, and I'm just talking about a sprint at the end of a race, or for a sprint jersey in Zwift.
Hello, I recently purchased Kirckbike V2 and compared it with Assioma power meter. In long duration and interval training, there is always a differnce of about 5~6W between them. Both devices have the latest firmware (Kickrbike power is higher than assioma)
Interestingly, I used the fifth generation of kickr for 2 years, it was quite accurate, showing only 1% difference. My friends who bought the same product are experiencing the same issue, we all use assoma and kickrbike. In this video, your kickrbike and assioma are quite similar, Are they still the same with the latest firmware update?
Great video. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💪🏽
I going to buy one of this
Hello Shane, greetings from the States. In Dec. 2019 I became the owner of the new Wahoo Kickr Bike. I have been riding on Zwift everyday for the past year and would like to upgrade my electronics for viewing and running Zwift. I would like to know in detail the hardware components that you use as shown here in your video (monitor?smart tv? motion/refresh rate? apple tv?). I will be "wired" just as you have done. Thank you for all of your rich content as you are my #1 go to source.... and DC of course.
Another great video! Thanks a lot for the informative content. There are only two questions left open for me ... can I share the device and switch sattle quickly? And how does it compare to the Tacx Neo Bike.
Please go ahead with the great stuff you are producing - Happy days!
See my video about bike size/fit here: ua-cam.com/video/ob5TJmCWFqY/v-deo.html
Neo Bike Lama Lab Test coming soon.
Great video mate, just curious to know your weight? I imagine the stability would be relative to your size?
Dropping some watt bombs Shane! Great video.
Pew pew! Thanks Jim. I enjoy these ones. Lots of riding, trying to break things, things breaking me. It's all good.
Bigtime delay in that sprint. You were hammering for a good three or four seconds before the power numbers jumped. That happens to me all the time in races. I don't know what's at fault for this -- the trainer, the internet, or Zwift. Regardless ... I definitely want on of these smart bikes!
Wouldn't the kickr climb be more natural since inclines start at the front of your bike and not the center? Not that either would feel completely natural, but do you have a preference?
Outside the rear of the bike is 'behind' you as you ride up a hill, so it sinks down a little. It's not a biggy... just an observation that the more centered tilt was my preference.
But I have to agree to the fact that you make a very nice video. Very nice review at a point where it makes me want one. Man... you could easily be in sales or something related.
Thanks. :) Sales don't typically like what I do... when things go wrong/bad or companies make a shit product. Engineers don't like it when we find edge-cases that expose issues/flaws (sometimes show stopping ones!). I'm in this grey area of being a cyclist who's still fascinated with this new tech and has the energy to keep looking for the 'next best thing'.
For my $ I would rather buy a shiny new bike or set of wheels and stick with my direct drive that doesn't eat up a ton of space. I guess money being no object with a dedicated permanent training space/pain cave...it seems like a great option. Good quality, quiet, accurate, responsive... perhaps like with other tech waiting for version 2 and resisting the urge to be first to market would be a good thought for potential buyers. A new top tube design iteration, some improvements to other elements based on customer feedback as well... my only question is whether this will sell well enough. The profit margin would have to be pretty substantial to offset low sales to a niche market. Will there in fact be a version 2... this one might be a miss... great execution but is the demand there?
I just did a test ride at a local bike shop. Really liked the trainer but I felt slight rubbing of inner thighs on the top tube.
I know what I want for Christmas.
this Setup is my dream
Well no steerability is a deal-breaker as that is the future.....
Paul Beattie probably possible with some sort of head mounted ant plus gyroscope. Likely easy to install with a firmware update 🤷🏾♂️
The lamas on the other screen during lab test was icing on the cake Shane
hahah! DCRainmaker spotted that first. I'm profiling people who make those observations.. you're all hyper observant. ;)
Shane Miller - GPLama Wait, you’re profiling me!?!? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? 🧐
@Shane Millar Excellent comprehensive review as always. A little worried about rear end mounting though🤣
Hello, I recently purchased Kirckbike V2 and compared it with Assioma power meter. In long duration and interval training, there is always a differnce of about 5~6W between them. Both devices have the latest firmware (Kickrbike power is higher than assioma)
Interetingly, I used the fifth generation of kickr for 2 years, it was quite accurate, showing only 1% difference. My friends who bought the same product are experiencing the same issue, we all use assoma and kickrbike. In this video, your kickrbike and assioma are quite similar, Are they still the same with the latest firmware update?
The Kickr BIKE v1 has left the Lama Lab a while back, so I can't report on the current accuracy sorry.
I would love a pair of those in my basement. Instead that $ will be going for a trip to your beautiful country and NZ. Thanks for the videos.
wanted 1 of these since the first day I laid eyes on one. Hell of a lot of ££'s though
I think it could be space station worthy.
Refreshing to see a product actually work! Still cost prohibitive at this point but I like where this is heading. Well done Wahoo and thanks putting all the time into these reviews Shane.
Pity they couldnt put that knowledge into fixing the kickr
☂️hiding under the shade.... what if they put this technology into the Kickr in the future?
One thing I have found is that the plug on Garmin Vector pedals rub on the “chain guard” and you cannot install this type of power meter. A little frustrating that there is tight gap between in inside of the crank arm and the plastic moulded chain guard.
You can install a spacer on the pedals to make this work. The Kickr BIKE power numbers are good enough not to need power pedals... unless you’re looking for L/R data and Cycling Dynamics metrics.
Any trouble wahoo kickr bike V1 ?
I'm thinking of buying the wahoo bike or wahoo climb and core. What do you recommend? The kickr bike has many problems? And for training, which is better? I will train about 2 hours a day.thank you
Entirely your call. I hope my reviews allow you to make a more informed decision.
Very nice video, thanks. I would really like to know all the components of your setup with their respective prices.
From what I've gathered - from coaches, and from riders (in particular one's who have done one of Phil Deeker's Cent Cols Challenges) - there is a definite benefit from doing indoor training with a Kickr Climb for preparing for doing a lot of climbing IRL. I did my first CCC in June, and tho I was sufficiently fit for the endurance, I was not adapted to the climbing position (and suffered for it). I am planning to purchase either a Kickr + Climb (I have a Neo, about which I have only good things to report), or another unit that puts the body and bike in a climbing position - such as the Kickr bike - in order to train for my next Cent Cols Challenge.
I mention this in response to Shane's comments that the Kickr bike enhances the experience of riding indoors (and by inference {and perhaps directly stated}, _only_ the experience). I am counting on it to provide a _training_ benefit as well.
(I live in a famously hilly area, but where we have innumerable unavoidable hills, we have no climbs. The max elevation gain on any hill is less than 200m.)
Do you think this could withstand multiple uses/day if a gym were to get them for cycle classes?
Maybe. It's still very early days with these units.
Very impressive
baby Max might be used to the bike trainers and consider them as a white noise
Looks great!👌🚵♂️🔥
Play movement in front is normal?
Great video, very informative, thanks.
It would be nice not to use your bike in indoors..just to have a permanent setup inside
Just buy a cheap bike online and same thing is accomplished, for a lot cheaper.
I just got one and notice a clear back to front (not from to back) give on the bike…it moves about 0.25 inches whenever you lean forward, with a metal contact sound. It’s very slight, but consistent and a bit annoying. Did you notice this’? Wahoo gave me a canned response “some give is expected to handle all gradients…etc. etc.”
I’d love to see an option for a MTB setup. Great video as always Shane.
Challenge accepted!
BTW, My legs touch every bike.... Often my calves hit my water bottle... worrying about that stuff it precious IMHO
Just changed my TACX NEO for a WAHOO KICKR. I do not get the road feel. Is it normal?
SOLD!
... no but seriously this thing is just ridiculous. As a machine, as a technical invention, it's cool - really cool - and I'm not sure what Wahoo was thinking when they made this thing to begin with. Was it to make something cool or was it to make something that the market has been screaming for? Because the latter is just not the case. It costs as much as a budget ass car, or a decent small boat, or a small cottage. It's nowhere neeeeaaaar the price of the top level road or mountain bikes that's available and it's just, yup, a god damn trainer. Is the target group millionaires? Then what millionaires? Pro race cyclists who's got that amount of cash (the retired ones that is) wouldn't buy a god damn trainer for this much of money - they'd ride their bikes; outdoors. But hey, cool tech man. It's... something I guess.
You missing the point , people who will buy will be individuals who don't ride outside , indoor cycling , they won't own a real bike .
I totally agree. I wonder what the margin is on these because sales will be low just based on price and practicality. I see them being great for e-racing competition venues or potential sponsored pros but failing that... the consumer market.... its clearly for people in the upper income echelons... and typically cyclists and triathletes on the whole have a pretty substantial disposable income, but this is still a tough sell value for dollar. A new frame set, top of the line race wheels, a whole damn bike or a trainer that requires a semi-permanent 4' by 3' footprint... hard pass for me. I don't buy that the interest in exclusively indoor cycling is high enough for this... the people who only want to ride inside... I know they exist but do they need this level of precision? Not likely. Maybe I'm out of touch with the i-generation but I can't think of a single person who look at virtual riding as the entry point into cycling what an awful prospect... are we that glued to our screens that people don't connect bikes with outdoors at all? I get when people do most of their training indoors because there are substantial benefits... but they train for OUTDOOR performance. I hope we haven't created a generation of people who want to win the internet on a bike...
@@EverythingIsPhotogenic If there's the response delays reported (regardless of averaging) then use for high end racing might be in doubt.
wye agreed however I think that's probably a manageable fix. Wahoo from my understanding performs well on their Kickr (I don't personally own one) so they have the tech and know how. Best case firmware update worst case likely some communications or sensor hardware that would need to be upgraded on the "race bikes" we will see I guess. I personally view e racing as a way to train and test your mettle against a worldwide platform that you may never get to meet in person and that is just a cool reality of this generation... but it's not real bike racing in my opinion. No risks, awkward tactics, and limited by algorithms that don't know a riders efficiency, aerodynamics or bike handling. It's all about the power, which is fine, but in real racing, the strongest rider doesn't always win.
Great content on your channel Shane
Great username! :)
Haha 👍🏻
For touching-test take a Track Sprinter.
Hi Shane, I bought the wahoo bike based on your reviews. Thank you. what is your setup to the tv? I’m having hard time connecting the laptop to my kicker bike via Bluetooth.
HOW ABOUT AN UPDATE REVIEW ON THIS BIKE SO WE CAN SEE HOW IT HAS HELD UP AFTER ALL THIS TIME???
Crikey. That was loud. Bike still working as expected.
Needs a cowboy mount vaulting into the saddle from the rear ...
🤠
Thanks again Shane your videos are great
automatic tilt angel on my kickr bike does not work when I ride the Zwift. Are there any settings?
That’s a really great review
For something that costs $6Kau I'd expect it to have something better for movement, like gas struts.
Hi,
I'm 126kg and 165cm would the Wahoo be OK for this big fatty. Ideally I wanna get back into cycling and lose weight
Great content BTW...
One for Wahoo Support.
Awesome review video!
Great review Shane as always 😀
I recently had issues with Power Smoothing (from the Wahoo app) and TrainerRoad, where the resistance on the Kickr Bike felt like a pulsating resistance, especially during cadences under 90RPM. The second I turned off Power Smoothing in the Wahoo app, the ERG workouts on TrainerRoad felt significantly more smooth.
Maybe something worth revisiting to see what is going on, if you manage to replicate it.
I turned Power Smoothing on and off during the TrainerRoad ERG workout and felt the difference immediately. Got the Kickr Bike V1 with latest firmware :)
I saw that post over on the TR forum. Not something I encountered, however I always switch off ERG power smoothing.
I bought a Wahoo KICR bundle which incorporated the Wahoo Climb. The Climb work well for a few days then stopped working in Auto mode. It is OK in Manual mode, so what has happened?! Anyone experienced a similar thing with the Climb? If so, any suggestions as to what the issue may be? I haven't contacted Wahoo yet, but I guess I probably will have to if this is not an easy fix.
Best ping Wahoo on this one.
BEST SPIN BIKES (Ranking by Q factor)
1- Wahoo Kickr Bike (Q Factor is 150mm)
1- Nordictrack S22i (Q Factor is 150mm)
2- Life fitness IC4, Ic5, IC6, IC7 and IC8 (Q Factor is 155mm)
2- Life fitness IC3 (Q Factor is 155mm)
3- StagesBike SB20 Smart Bike (Q Factor is 157mm)
4- Spinner NXT (Q factor is 158mm)
4- Spinner Blade (Q factor is 158mm)
5- Wattbike Atom (Q factor is 160mm)
5- Bodytone MT2 and WT1 (Q Factor is 160mm)
6- Schwinn IC PRO (Q factor is 168mm)
7- Peloton spin bike (Q factor is 170mm)
7- Schwinn AC PERFORMANCE PLUS (Q Factor is 170mm)
7- Schwinn AC SPORT (Q Factor is 170mm)
7- Life Fitness Lifecycle GX (Q Factor is 170mm)
8- Wattbike Pro/Treiner (Q Factor is 173mm)
8- Life fitness IC1 and IC2 (Q Factor is 173mm)
9- SUNNY ASUNA 6100 (Q Factor is 176mm)
10- SUNNY SF-B1805 (Q Factor is 182mm)
11- Diamondback Studio Cycle 1260Sc (Q Factor is 187mm)
12- Schwinn IC4/IC8 (Q factor is 190mm)
13- Keiser M3i (Q factor is 197mm)
14- SUNNY SF-B1709 (Q factor is 203mm)
15- SUNNY Evolution Pro SF-B1714 (Q factor is 216mm)
Q Factor: Is the distance between the outside of one crank arm to the outside of the opposite crank arm.
Why should you care?
I know from experience that the narrower the Q Factor, the closer my feet are to each other, the more comfortable I feel riding a bicycle.
This is especially true on a long ride or training.
long distance q factor spin bikes can damage your knees
You posted this here the other day.
@@gplama On this video? nahhhhhhhhh
I didn't know you could get over 1000 watts! Now I have some goals to set up!
I still have my version 1 kickr from.....about 2015 and it’s been smashed. All still working surprisingly. Paid 600 dollars for a professional fit on my tt bike and I can put my tt bike onto e kickr and off to race. I’d have to pay 600 to get this fitted to get same result on top of the 1700
Why couldn’t you just apply your fit measurements to this bike?
I couldnt find watopia hilly? Could it be under another name?
Hi. I enjoying your smart trainer review. I am just a commuting pro and thats about it. Call me silly but I always wonder in those reviews concerning the offset and pricison of the smart trainers related to bike computers like garmin etc. I myself use my iphone with cyclerider and a giant sense ride. This probable have an offset with a bike computer. But what makes which is “the boss”. Maybe a bike computer is in ofset with cyclometer. What does a bike computer have to be the one to refer to?
Thanks
I don’t understand the question sorry. Offset of what?
If you can slam it quickly through the gears, doesn't that make it unfair when competing on Zwift?
I can see your angle on this... but no. Zwift racing is about producing power. If changing gears faster was that much of an advantage then people would be using straight gear blocks, x1 chainring setups, Di2, etc, etc. It's just not that much of a racing advantage. You still have to produce the watts.
Knee hitting frame is a symptom of saddle height. Too high and leg wants to pull in often. Cleat position can be a cause too.
How wide are the back legs? Got limited space and wondering if fits. Great review!
Nice one Shane!
Hi Shane,
Looking into getting a Wahoo Kicker Bike. I know you have done a lot of Lama Lab testing. I truly appreciate watching your videos about this unit. Is there anything that you recommend I should look at before I take my next steps??
Look forward to hearing back from you.
Have a great day.
Thanks for your time.
Ted
Almost 12 months later the unit is still in fine form. We've had to oil a few hinges every now and then as they dry and creak... once oiled it's back to normal.
Great review, nothing to do with Shane but version 1 of Wahoo products never great. (Please note I only have Wahoo products Kickr 4 and 3, climb, x2 desk and headwind) Can we take a chance and buy??
I have a Kickr Gen 1 that’s going well. Can we take a chance? Buyers choice. Because if I say ‘yes’ here I get stoned to death the very second someone has a problem. The Internet in 2019 is a rough ride.
How is your posture on bike. Looks a bit hunched. Stem looks a bit too low. Back could be straighter?
It's been a while since someone did an impromptu bike fit for me via a video. Given the camera angles, lenses used, being on camera, etc, etc, etc, it's almost impossible to know what's best.
Hoping you can help me. I have had the kickr bike for a week. While I am cycling there is a rocking back and forward, only a little bit, but it does not feel right. Is this normal for a kickr bike? It is enough for me to want to go back to my kickr core.
Best take a video of that and send it to Wahoo Support to see what they say.
Would you recommend the best Shimano or similar road pedal? My KICKR bike is shipping now and I need to get pedals ASAP :)
I'm a fan of Shimano SPD-SL road pedals.
Shane. How easy is it to move the KICKR Bike around? I don't have a man cave and might need to move the bike around in order to use (and store) it.
It has little wheels to roll it around on. Drop into a bike shop that has one on the floor to demo and give it a roll :)
Anyone know what the vibration is like from the unit. I live on the second level of a building and my tacx neo vibrates the downstairs. Would this be silent enough to fix that?
@Shane, living in an apartment from the sixties, what do you recommend? Kickr bike or stages? My current kickr 5 doesn't raises complaints, but it feels noisy. I have two rubber mats under it to absorb the vibration. Hope to hear from you!
Hi Shane, Is it possible to configure the buttons within Zwift to make you selection of directions when you come to junctions (a possible good use for the Campy buttons)?
There's no support within Zwift for the additional buttons on the Kickr Bike. It's up to Zwift to work with Wahoo to implement this functionality.
it is necessary to calibrate the kickr bike? I want to do the Lama Lap Test with Garmin Vector 3 and Kickr bike...
No, there's no calibration of the bike required.
I don't like the bounce and flex...
I'm wondering if this bike is 'performance enhancing' in regards to Zwift racing? If there are fractions of seconds difference during gear changes during critical stages of a race between a standard bike/trainer set up and the Kickr bike then this could possibly be an advantage.
Zwift is all about power. This thing is accurate, so it's only a matter of lag/delay that occurs over ANT+ and/or BLE (1Hz updates can be laggy).
This is a fantastic trainer, a little different feel to one thats connected to a bike, but a smoother ride on the whole. My only niggle with this is amount of play between the frame and the tilt unit that causes a small amount of nodding when in high cadence/low resistance. Contacted Wahoo, who said this is normal. Otherwise, its great. I'd be interested if other experience the same.
I train with music a lot would love to get that as a pass through to control spotify eg. Quick press play / pause , left back , right forward
On your sprints, there's quite a bit of lag...? Is that video technical or is it real?
Thomas Riemer it seems its real, check it when he hits the keyboard to do a U turn, the video is perfectly synced. A real dealbreaker for me...
@@roligbarn Hmmm - I'm sure it can be fixed via firmware. But that does look suspisous...
Thomas Riemer yes lets hope so. It looks exactly like famous 3s neo 1 lag
Noted in the video description - I was using 3 second smoothing on Zwift for watt display, so there's a little lag there. Having said that there is a notable delay in the jump sprints as shown on screen. I'll do more testing in the coming days in regard to 'jump speed' on Zwift with the bike and a real power meter using both ANT+ and Bluetooth.
@@gplama Thank you for your very informative review. I see you've made the comment above a couple of times here, but have not seen any information about any additional testing you did regarding this lag. Am I missing something?