Wahoo Kickr Core 2 smart trainer review: The entry-level direct-drive smart trainer benchmark just got a whole lot better

The original Wahoo Kickr Core remains one of the most popular smart trainers on the market, having built a reputation for its easy setup, accuracy, and durability – with some riders still training on the original unit from 2018. It’s this sense of reliability that has attracted new customers to the brand, and the new Kickr Core 2 aims to build on these fundamentals while setting a new precedent for smart trainers in the entry-level space to follow.

Despite boasting a host of refinements, including mod-cons borrowed from one of the best smart trainers, the venerable Wahoo Kickr V6, the company has retained much of the original Kickr Core DNA to avoid increasing the price, all while ensuring a top-tier indoor riding experience that few of its rivals can match.

While improved in many ways, the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 is not without fault – namely, the lack of a carry handle and portability features such as fully foldaway legs.

Design and aesthetics

Visually, Kickr Core 2 looks strikingly similar to the outgoing model. In fact, it’s basically identical, utilising the same smart trainer body, belt drive assembly and flywheel design – even down to the chevron graphics and “Crank it Up” glossy decals on the flywheel housing. The result, while disappointing to those who wanted to see something completely new, still aligns with Wahoo’s recognisable style and, given the global supply chain issues and the cost-of-living crisis, I believe it represents a prudent move by the company.

Those with a keen eye will notice some structural updates to the unit’s underpinnings. Wahoo claims these will “improve the experience and create a more intuitive assembly process.” These updates include the legs, which feature a new mounting bracket and flat profile with colour-coded stickers for easy setup. The new flat legs were introduced to improve stability over the rounded contouring of before, creating a better support footprint and platform from which to pedal.

Closer inspection also reveals a Wi-Fi logo and multi-colour LED panel. The upper LED indicates the connection status, which can be either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, with flashes denoting the number of connections. The lower LED will display a powered-on unit (green), flywheel movement detection (white), Zwift protocol in use (orange), Virtual Shifting (purple), and any detected errors (red) – the latter helps with diagnostics, making it easy to understand what is going on with the trainer when troubleshooting.

That said, there’s no Ethernet port facility for Direct Connect – this is not a dealbreaker, but something many users of the original Core might have expected.

Another unfortunate omission is a carry handle. The Core 2 is still relatively heavy at 13.7kg (actual weight with no cassette) and might prove difficult to move around for some, especially for those who live in multi-storey houses – but again, the addition of a handle might have driven up the price and added to R&D costs.

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Specifications

The Wahoo Kickr Core 2 can be had in two configurations (three configurations if you opt for a Zwift Ride/Core 2 bundle), optioned from purchase – fitted with a Zwift Cog or 11-speed cassette, the choice of which doesn’t impact the pricing. Why an 11-speed cassette, I hear you ask, given the industry’s move to 12-speed? According to Wahoo, 11-speed is still very popular among users, possibly because most riders are using an older, training bike for their indoor setup.

The overarching key features read as follows: 1,800W maximum power output, 16% gradient simulation, +/-2 per cent accuracy deviation, Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity – these are the same as before. The new features include Wi-Fi, Kickr Bridge (which allows data streams from a heart rate monitor to be transmitted directly to the trainer, and then from the trainer to apps, reducing the number of Bluetooth connections your laptop needs to receive), automatic firmware updates, Race Mode, automatic calibration/spindown, and virtual shifting functionality.

In terms of dimensions, the Core 2 is virtually identical to the outgoing Core at 52cm x 59.7cm x 47cm. It’s a little lighter than before, with a claimed weight of 13.6kg vs the 18kg of the outgoing model. On our scales, the Core 2 registered an actual weight of 14.1kg with the cassette fitted (13.7kg without the cassette).

Like before, the Kickr Core 2 utilises a direct-drive design complete with a belt drive and 5.4kg flywheel that's controlled by an electromagnetic resistance unit. That's smaller than the 7.3kg flywheel weight you'll find on the Kickr V5 and V6, but a similar size to the flywheel on Kickrs from 2016 and 2017. It’s compatible with different wheel sizes but has a fixed height that can't be adjusted.

Setup

Everything you need to set up and assemble the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 comes in the box. This includes the Kickr Core 2 unit, the feet (x2), and the AC power adaptor. Ancillary items include four bolts for the feet assembly, a 6mm Allen key, 1.8mm spacer (included with the cassette version only) and a quick-release skewer.

There are also a slew of axle adaptors in the box, including provision for a quick-release skewer setup and thru-axles for 12x142mm and 12x148mm rear assemblies. As someone who prefers using a road bike on the turbo trainer, the 12x142mm adaptors were necessary to fit my Cannondale SystemSix. While some early smart trainers posed compatibility issues for certain bike brands, the Kickr Core 2 has ample clearance on each side of the belt drive and flywheel, so you don’t need to worry about the rear disc brake caliper knocking against the unit, gravel bikes and mountain bikes included.

Like the outgoing Core, the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 requires some assembly, but nothing too complicated. Wahoo has included handy colour-coded chevron artwork on the feet and mounting brackets to ensure correct alignment and secure bolt placement of the legs. The two-bolt assembly is easy and can be tightened with the included 6mm Allen key.

While the Core 2 can be connected to the best indoor cycling apps and used out of the box, Wahoo suggests connecting the smart trainer to the Wahoo app and Wi-Fi network to ensure it has the latest firmware installed, not to mention allowing for future updates to roll out in the background without worry. It’s very intuitive and something that takes the effort out of future updates – a godsend if you’re a cycling eSports racer who wants reliable data.

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Performance and accuracy

The Kickr Core 2 feels smooth and fluidic, and performs as expected. It’s a polished offering that matches its predecessor for refinement – and is much like what we have come to expect from Wahoo smart trainers. The flywheel provides impressive realism and road feel, reacting instantly to gradient changes on Zwift and MyWhoosh, but lacks feedback and inertia – this is no surprise given its 5.4kg weight. That said, Wahoo has done a good job to ensure the Core 2 feels in line with the outgoing model and Kickr V6 sibling.

It performs well in ERG mode, and it successfully enables consistent power output without unnecessary swings over and under your target. While there's no ERG Easy Mode like you get on the Kickr V6, there is an ERG Easy Ramp feature, which slowly increases resistance if you return from a break or distraction. Alternatively, you can reduce the target wattage in the workout to a more manageable level.

The new built-in Wi-Fi, according to Wahoo, “will solve drop-out issues and deliver on-screen stats over 65% faster than previous models using only Bluetooth or ANT+." Having used this feature on the Kickr V6, I can confirm it works as advertised on the Core 2, with no drop-outs experienced during the entire test duration. Another great addition is the spindown feature, which automatically calibrates the trainer whenever you freewheel, correcting for any swings in temperature – but this shouldn’t be taken as a given. I suggest doing a manual calibration in the app after your first ride, or after 30-40 minutes of riding, or whenever you feel it’s over- or under-reading. This can be checked by using a secondary power meter connected to a cycling computer.

While the Core 2 doesn't meet the accuracy requirement (1% maximum deviation) for elite cycling eSports events and racing, it’s still an impressively reliable unit. Wahoo claims a maximum accuracy deviation of 2%, which is considered an acceptable value among entry-level, direct-drive smart trainers. To test the accuracy of the Core 2, I dual-recorded several sessions using a secondary power meter, the Favero Assioma Duo pedals. My testing protocol for benchmarking accuracy always involves a thorough mix of steady-state riding, sprints, and interval work with varying power outputs – all carried out in simulation mode on Zwift to keep things realistic and natural.

Looking at the numbers, the Core 2 tracked within the claimed +/-2% deviation, sometimes a little more. This was particularly noticeable over the 30-second and 1-minute intervals, where the deviation was closer to 4%. This, however, is still in line with the claimed +/-2% figure as the Favero Assioma Duo pedals I tested against might have been overreading +/-2% in the other direction, bringing the total accuracy deviation to 4%. It’s worth mentioning that for the majority of the power curve, the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 was reading lower than the secondary power meter, but this is to be expected as a smart trainer is further down the power chain, after losses such as friction in the drivetrain have occurred.

Over longer intervals, the power tracked well within the claimed accuracy levels. From five minutes through to 20 minutes, the difference between the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 and Favero Assioma Duo pedals was around 2.5% on average. The 60-minute comparison was 220W (Kickr Core 2) vs 225W (Favero Assioma Duo), just a five-watt difference.

The sprint results were excellent, with the 1-second and 5-second intervals coming in at a deviation of 0.5% and 1%, respectively. At 61/62kg, I’m not what you’d describe as the archetypal sprinter, so I can’t comment on accuracy once the wattage surpasses 1,000W, but the peak 768W achieved during testing matched up well with the Assioma Duo’s 764W.

I didn't focus too much of my testing on cadence accuracy, but there was nothing alarming to report when looking at the recorded figures. While the Wahoo Kickr platform, including the V5, V6, Core 1, and Core 2, utilises clever software and algorithms to calculate cadence – without the need for an external sensor – the company claims its measurement falls within 1% of an external cadence sensor. Looking at the figures recorded by the Core 2 versus the secondary power meter, the deviation was pegged at 0.47%, so pretty decent overall.

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Value

Quality direct-drive smart trainers are not cheap, and before getting into the value of the Kickr Core 2, we need to address this point. Athletes who spend a significant amount of time training indoors are aware that the experience is not always pleasant, and the need for enhanced comfort, reliability, and durability is high on their list of must-haves. While the Wahoo Kickr Core 2's asking price of £499.99 / $549.99 / €549.99 is still a significant amount of money, it’s impressively priced given it matches the outgoing model's retail price. In fact, at one point, the outgoing Kickr Core had a list price of £699, so the price has come down considerably over the years.

Looking at the competition, the Elite Direto XR-T is the biggest challenger coming in with a sticker price of £599.99, £100 dearer than the Core 2. It gets a better featureset which includes a maximum accuracy deviation of +/-1.5%, maximum slope simulation of 24% and a grab handle. The Direto XR-T, however, is lacking a factory-fitted cassette, Wi-Fi, and Race Mode functionality, as well as auto spindown calibration, and doesn’t quite match the Kickr Core 2 in terms of refinement and build quality. There’s a lot of flimsy plastic in the structure, and the flywheel shape and design pattern make keeping things clean a bit of a challenge.

Elite has also just announced the launch of its new entry-level direct-drive smart trainer, the Rivo. While it also gets Wi-Fi and firmware updates, it lacks automatic calibration functionality and can't compete with the Core 2's +/-2% accuracy claims, coming in at a rated +/-2.5%. It is available in Zwift Cog and Click configuration only in the UK, with the same £499.99 sticker price as the Core 2.

Looking at pricing and compatibility alone, the new Wahoo Kickr Core 2 is a no-brainer. It represents a viable option for new adopters of indoor training or current users looking to upgrade from wheel-on trainers to direct-drive functionality. Factor in the latest improvements – Wi-Fi connectivity, auto firmware updates, Race Mode (for Zwift users) and automatic spindown – and it makes a compelling case, with few other entry-level smart trainers currently able to match it on price.

Alternatively, if the new Kickr Core 2 is out of your budget, there are many incredible deals available on the outgoing Wahoo Kickr Core.