[Closed] Kickr or Kickr Core?

The real benefit of the kickr is the auto calibration and better accuracy. If you care about those then go for the kickr. If not the core is still a really good trainer.

Thanks. The auto calibration was mentioned in a video but having not had any sort of indoor trainer before I'm not sure what it is. From what I've seen you have to calibrate your bike to the trainer but I'm not sure when. I'm guessing it's each time you turn the Kickr on? And I believe it takes a couple of minutes? Is this standard for all indoor trainers apart from higher end ones or is not having to do this unique to the Kickr?

I can actually get the Kickr for £849 and the Kickr Core for £594 so it's a difference of £255....

I have just bought the Kickr.

Main reasons I chose it over the core was the ability to fold the legs away so my rig takes up less space. I also like the idea of not having to faff around with calibration and the slight rocker action on the feet.

The blue bits look nice too…

With purchases like this I always work on the basis that I'll not buy another one for 10 years or so, which is exactly how I ended up with a Kickr Bike in the garage! Love it to pieces (as much as you can love something that involves indoor training), and because of the zero faff I reckon in the last 20 odd months I've done hundreds of hours of training that I otherwise wouldn't have.

Massively over budget so not very helpful I expect, sorry OP, but felt compelled to put it out there

You calibrate the trainer not the bike on the trainer. It should be done after the trainer had warmed up. The full fat kickr does it automatically. So far this is only a feature on higher end trainers.

+1 Kickr core, still v. good trainer, & you'll have £255 to spend on other stuff 🙂
like fans, not to be overlooked for your setup

seriousrikk

I have just bought the Kickr

Thanks. What do you think of it? Worth the money? What did it replace?

tonyd

Massively over budget so not very helpful I expect, sorry OP, but felt compelled to put it out there

No. Not helpful… 😂

I agree though. I’ve purchased a few expensive items that have lasted 10 or more years during which time friends have bought cheaper versions several times over and with breakdowns and problems so if the Kickr lasts then great. It’s just the initial outlay and justifying to myself and better half.

Kickr has action feet, not really worth the £60 or whatever I paid for mine let alone the £255 difference to the the Core…but they’re a nice add on and worthy of consideration amongst other things if you’re planning on spending lots of time sat on it.

jonno101

+1 Kickr core, still v. good trainer, & you’ll have £255 to spend on other stuff 🙂
like fans, not to be overlooked for your setup

Thanks. I already have the other bits but £255 is a good chunk of money. I’m not sure if I’ll regret not getting the Kickr with the extra benefits. Like I said, I’m a salesperson’s dream.

Haze

Kickr has action feet, not really worth the £60 or whatever I paid for mine let alone the £255 difference to the the Core…but they’re a nice add on and worthy of consideration amongst other things if you’re planning on spending lots of time sat on it.

It’s a shame you can’t put the action feet on the core. Interesting that you have the Kickr but don’t feel it was worth the extra money. Did you have a Core before?

I've got a Kickr Core, and I'm very happy with it. Calibration takes about a minute at most - get it up to speed, then stop and let it spin down and calibrate. The only issue is remembering to do it, as ideally you'll be doing it after a workout when you're hot and sweaty and probably just want to get off the bike and have a shower. But it really is very simple.

As for accuracy - not sure. My previous smart turbo was a wheel-on model (a BKool) and had terrible accuracy. Standing up would lead to wheel slip, forgetting to check the tyre pressure, tyre wear... Basically it was awful. Compared to that the Kickr Core is close to perfect 🙂 Now I'm sure a Kickr is slightly more accurate than the Core, but am I good enough to actually notice the difference? That I'm not sure about. According to the specs it's only 1%, which is way below the differences I see in wattage while riding in level mode and trying to keep a steady effort. (I'll be trying to hold, say, 200W, but in reality I'll be seeing 190-210 showing, as I'm not perfect...)

TL;DR: I'm very happy with the Core. If you really want to spend the same amount of cash I'd be looking at getting the Core, and a Climber or the fancy fan. Or a rocker plate.

Had a kickr for a couple of months now

Reasons I bought over Core

11 speed cassette included (Shimano 105 11-28)
Higher % gradient climb (think it’s 20%, 16 on core)
Auto calibration - can’t imagine having to do something before just riding)
Small foldable size - really is quite compact

I’ve started using Rouvy - much prefer ‘real world’ riding tk virtual. Did a 2hr 20min session the other night and it didn’t feel long at all where as in the past I’ve only ever managed 1hr tops

Both machines are a lot of money, I don’t have any regrets buying the Kickr, but if I had got the Core I bet I would have always been wondering!

mogrim

TL;DR: I’m very happy with the Core. If you really want to spend the same amount of cash I’d be looking at getting the Core, and a Climber or the fancy fan. Or a rocker plate.

Thanks. Not sure I want the climber. Seems kind of gimmicky. The fan seems like a good idea. Maybe I can ask wifey to buy for my birthday if I’m making good use of the indoor trainer.

FunkyDunc

if I had got the Core I bet I would have always been wondering!

This is how I feel. It’s a curse! I think I’ll get the Kickr especially now I’ve found it cheaper.

FWIW I think I've calibrated the thing twice since I got it. Probably ought to do it again, but I haven't noticed any major differences between perceived effort and what it's showing on screen. It's definitely not something you need to do before every ride.

That said, if you have the cash just get the better model. Assuming 5 years of 6 months/year the difference is minimal.

I have the Kickr, and mate has just gone from the Kickr Core to the full Kickr. Per mate, feel wise in use there's no noticeable difference, advantages of Kickr are as above plus, has a handle on top, makes it a lot easier to move around the place if you'll be moving frequently, the two fold in legs give a smaller footprint for storing and are better than the core for slightly uneven ground (if that's an issue). Whether that's worth £270 or not ???

I have the reconditioned Kickr core and ridden 9,500 - 10,000km on it. Bought it on an whim right at the start of the first lockdown. I race and train using it. I do the spin down calibration every 2-4 weeks and it matches the power meter to 10W. I’m more of a sprinter so don’t choose too many hilly routes. So far it’s been very reliable. Done 100-160km rides on it.

I keep thinking of getting the Kickr as with sprinting there a little cylindrical pads which are on the ends of the legs and they come off occasionally. But I rarely go above 1000W. I never think or regret buying the Core , it’s an amazing piece of kit, I train in the garage so space is not an issue, it’s worked really well with everything I’ve thrown at it, freezing temps, temps above 25 deg c.

Next time maybe I’ll buy a Kickr but not a foregone conclusion. In fact, as another poster wrote I’d be more likely to buy the Kickr bike. As it has gradient, steering, won’t ruin any other frame.

I’m too busy riding and being pain too wonder which Kickr is best. The training is gains and it’s down to training consistently or hard and trainer accuracy rather than Kickr vs Kickr core. If you are going to do 2500W and need smaller space buy the Kickr.

feed

I have the Kickr

Why did you get the Kickr over the Core and why did your mate upgrade?

It’s a shame you can’t put the action feet on the core. Interesting that you have the Kickr but don’t feel it was worth the extra money. Did you have a Core before?

I had standard Kickr feet but bought the action feet as an upgrade…they’re nice but overpriced for what they are, just wanted to say that the extra comfort is worth some consideration (but couldn’t justify the price difference alone)

You could probably get the same result with a Core and a decent trainer mat?

Get the full fat kickr....

They're probably the same.. but, not, if you get what I mean....

You only end up buying it in 3 years anyway!

DrP

(Has a tacx neo 2t...)

DrP
Get the full fat kickr….

Thanks. Yep, this is now the plan.

Sorting the garage this weekend. Rubber floor arrives Monday. Need to figure out if I can use my old Apple TV to connect to the Kickr/Zwift. Also need to mount TV on rails in the garage so it can slide between treadmill and Kickr. Will probably order Kickr Sunday night giving me a couple of days to make final decision (come to my senses).

So Wahoo recommend recalibrating the Core every couple of weeks or if you move the trainer...would switching bikes also be a reason too?

Thanks. What do you think of it? Worth the money? What did it replace?

@stumpymark I’m impressed but then again I may not be the best judge here as it didn’t replace anything (other than my wet weather gear…). I have ridden on a kickr core before and it feels no different. It’s my first smart trainer and one of the few that looks compact and easy to move. It really is rather small compared to the competition…

@seriousrikk

What made you pick the Kickr over the Core?

The gym I used to use had KIKR's, I've now got a core. I can't tell the difference with my usage. Personally I'd be tempted, if you can afford the kikr, to instead by a core and a rocker plate with the change.

I posted a PSA t'other day that said gym is selling off some used KIKR's, they may still have some available

@richardkennerley

Thanks. I had a look at the rocker plates. Something to consider in the future I think. For the £200 ish difference I’m going to buy the Kickr. As well as the convenience of auto calibration, I’m going to need the height adjustment as I’m on a 29er. I know I’ll regret not getting it over the Core.