The new Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 is still the best value smart trainer out there

After seven long years, Wahoo has launched the new KICKR CORE 2 smart trainer. The KICKR CORE has long been regarded as a benchmark in the indoor riding and racing world, and the CORE 2 builds on the original CORE’s strong reputation. Wahoo has improved and further refined the trainer.

Indoor training setups can get pricey, and there is an awful lot out there now to choose from. The CORE 2 strikes a beautiful balance between performance and price. Whether you're keen to do some indoor cycling for fitness or to push yourself in a virtual Zwift race, the CORE 2 will take care of business for you.

If you want to maximise the time you have, or train in comfort if the outdoor conditions aren’t great, investing in a quality indoor trainer is a great move. A good, well-set-up trainer can make riding indoors a real pleasure, and the KICKR CORE 2 is a very intuitive and easy unit to use.

The CORE 2 is priced at $549.99 / £499.99 / €549.99, and you're getting a very competitively specced smart trainer that comes with everything you need to start riding straight away for that money.

What's changed?

The original KICKR CORE had been on the market for quite some time, seven years in fact, so what exactly has changed?

Well, to start with, the CORE 2 has been lightened; the new trainer is around 4 kilos lighter than the original CORE but shares pretty much the same dimensions, which is always great news when it comes to transporting or moving the unit. The feet have also been subject to a redesign, and the new flatter legs bolt onto the main body of the trainer using four bolts. A 6mm hex wrench is also supplied to easily install the sturdy legs.

There’s also WiFi connectivity, which means pairing and connectivity are handled using your home internet source, speeding things up and giving your laptop an easier time. It also means firmware updates and trainer calibrations can be carried out automatically, which is great news for the trainer's long-term health and performance.

‘Race mode’ means data is broadcast up to 10 times quicker than the previous unit. This means that if you are using the CORE 2 to race with on Zwift, everything will just be smoother and faster, an important feature when competing online virtually.

The KICKR Bridge feature handles the streaming of data from wearable devices such as heart rate monitors directly through the CORE 2 to your training app, which streamlines device usage and makes for a smoother all-around training experience.

The LED light system on the trainer body itself has also been updated; the new multi-colour lights are easier to see, and provide clearer status updates for things like connectivity, diagnostics, and ride readiness. It’s a smaller detail, but when you are hopping onto the trainer for a quick workout, they make the user experience even easier.

The Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 can also be ordered with the Zwift Cog and Click sprocket pre-installed for no extra charge. If you aren’t familiar, this Cog and Click system pairs a single sprocket on the trainer instead of a cassette. The sprocket is compatible with 8-13 speed drivetrain systems, and a pair of handlebar-mounted controls then let you change virtual gears in Zwift, as well as control menus and navigate in the app to make for a more immersive and downright fun experience.

Trainer specs and details

Those are the changes, but let’s get a little techy for a second and break down the specs of the new KICKR CORE 2.

Everything you need to get ready to ride comes in the box. As mentioned, there’s a 6mm hex key to bolt the trainer together, a cassette spacer for changing to a preferred cassette, and a range of adaptors to suit different frame spacing widths to fit your bike perfectly.

As mentioned, the trainer weighs a touch over 14 kilograms with the included 11-speed cassette installed, a nice weight drop over the outgoing model.

Connectivity-wise, the trainer is equipped to deal with WiFi, ANT+ FEC, ANT+ Power, Bluetooth FTMS, and the Zwift Protocol. Making it bang up to date and ready to deal with all modern electronic and smart systems.

It has a claimed +/-2% power accuracy, with a max resistance of 1800 watts. It’s going to be more than accurate enough for recreational cyclists to serious amateur Zwift racers, and everyone in between.

The unit will handle a maximum virtual gradient of 16%, meaning the feeling and response to any steep virtual climbs will be dependable and lifelike.

The trainer’s freehub compatibility is extensive, and Shimano 9/10/11/12-speed road cassettes, Shimano 12-speed MTB, Campagnolo 9/10/11/12-speed, SRAM NX 12-speed with Shimano body, and SRAM 12-speed (with XD/XDR body) are all covered, meaning pretty much any modern bike will be compatible.

The KICKR CORE 2 has arrived with a bang, and the new features and upgrades mean the best affordable smart trainer on the market just got even better.