Wahoo Kickr Move Review: A More Engaging, Comfortable And Realistic Indoor Ride

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Following Sep 19, 2023, 09:28pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin As the seasons change and weather takes a turn for the worse, many dedicated cyclists struggle to maintain their fitness as outdoor rides become challenging or next-to impossible. Thankfully, I’ve owned an older version of the Wahoo Kickr indoor bike trainer for years, which has emerged as a savior during periods of dreary weather. And yet, while indoor bike trainers are a valuable tool, they’re notoriously uncomfortable when you’re spending hours in the saddle.

I’ve experienced the discomfort and monotony that often accompany extended hours on a trainer too many times to remember. But what if there was a way to make indoor cycling more enjoyable? What if it could replicate the sensation of outdoor riding while allowing you to reap the benefits of a robust workout? Enter the Wahoo Kickr Move : An indoor bike trainer that pairs with an integrated gravi-track system, adding eight inches of horizontal motion and up to 10 degrees of side-to-side motion for a more engaging, comfortable and realistic riding experience. The Wahoo Kickr Move makes indoor training sessions much more comfortable and engaging.

Illustration: Forbes / Photo: REI Asking your traditional bike trainer to sway in such a manner requires rocker plates—platforms positioned beneath the trainer that allow for subtle motion. The only problem with aftermarket rocker plates is that they raise your trainer off the ground, and when that height is combined with movement, it can be difficult to get on and off your bike. They also take up valuable storage space, they cost more and they call for unnatural riding styles should you leave the saddle.

Suffice to say, they’re not very efficient, and they don’t exactly mimic real-world conditions. After riding my Wahoo Kickr v2 for the better part of seven years, I was due for an upgrade. This summer in England saw endless bouts of rain, which gave me plenty of opportunity to test out the new Kickr Move over the past couple of months.

The first thing I noticed is that it’s incredibly quiet compared to my old model (something my downstairs neighbors will appreciate). But more importantly, it felt akin to riding outdoors, and therefore more comfortable and engaging for hours on end. Wahoo Fitness Wahoo Kickr Move MORE FROM FORBES VETTED The Best Face Washes For Acne That Soothe Angry Skin By Adam Hurly Contributor The Best Apple Watch Bands To Wear On Any Occasion By Claire Epting Forbes Staff Wahoo Kickr Move Technical Specifications Price: $1,600 | Drivetrain: Belt drive | Resistance: Electromagnetic, 2,200 watts | Cassette: 11-speed, 11-28 ratio | Simulated grade: -10 to +20% | Max rider weight: 250 pounds | Connectivity: Direct Connect, ANT+, ANT+ FE-C, WiFi, Bluetooth | Unit weight: 64 pounds Best for: Engaging indoor rides Simple, fuss-free setup Multiple connectivity modes Skip if: You don’t need a motion-oriented bike trainer You already own a Wahoo Kickr The Kickr Move is surprisingly easy to setup.

Amy Jurries For Forbes Wahoo Kickr Move Installation: It’s Not Rocket Science Wahoo created a new web-based assembly process to eliminate unwanted headaches, which makes putting together the Kickr Move a cinch. A QR code on the box takes you to a website where a few questions are designed to identify the type of bike you plan to use with the trainer. You’re then presented with detailed videos that explain how to set up the indoor trainer and how to mount your bike.

This new digital-out-of-the-box experience pairs with eco-friendly packaging that’s labeled for your convenience. Upon delivery to my apartment, I only had to slide out the inner container holding the trainer, saving me from the hassle of struggling with a big, heavy box. It took only minutes to set everything up.

Software Installation I’ve been a dedicated Zwift user for years, but Wahoo has their own software subscription service called Wahoo X that includes the SYSTM and RGT cycling apps. Based on the subscription service you choose, SYSTM gives you access to indoor and outdoor workouts designed by coaches, while RGT (Road Grand Tours) lets you experience the world’s most iconic routes with real (not virtual) roads, events and rides, like Mont Ventoux and Cap De Formentor. Despite these options, the training platform I used (Zwift) recognized the Kickr Move in seconds—no further setup was required.

The Kickr Move looks sleek and streamlined in any home or apartment. Amy Jurries For Forbes Wahoo Kickr Move Features: Lots To Love Even though Wahoo only positioned a moveable base beneath a Kickr v6 , there’s a lot more to the brand’s latest trainer than meets the eye. From ergonomics to connectivity modes, here’s everything you need to know.

3D Movement The dual-axis movement built into the Kickr Move allows your bike to travel freely beneath you as you power through your sessions. These movements add a dynamic and realistic feel to your indoor rides, mimicking the subtle motion you’d encounter while cycling outdoors. Above all else, I noticed: Increased Comfort: Normally, I would start to feel discomfort after riding on a trainer for less than an hour, but because the Kickr Move gently tilts and sways, it reduces pressure points and promotes natural movement as you pedal.

The dynamic nature of the ride also helps to reduce strain on joints that might otherwise get sore due to repetitive motion. Muscle Activation: As the bike moves around beneath you, your core muscles instinctively engage to help stabilize your body. This contributes to a more comprehensive full-body workout, strengthening your core while you work your legs.

It can also help to improve your balance as you adapt to the trainer’s subtle movements over time. Reduced Monotony: Riding on a stationary trainer feels monotonous, especially during longer training sessions. The 3D motion adds a bit of variety and excitement to my indoor rides, making them a bit less dull.

Customizable Experience: A lockout mechanism makes it easy to get on and off the bike, and it helps should you decide to move the trainer around in your home or apartment. You can also choose to lock it during your workout if you simply want access to side-to-side motion without back and forth movements. Multi-Bike Compatibility While bike industry trends are moving towards 1 x 12-speed setups, Wahoo did some research and found that nearly 65% of its users are riding 11-speeds on the trainer.

Many of us (myself included) have yet to upgrade to a fancy new bike, and some riders prefer to pair a trainer with an older bike, but it’s easy enough to swap out the cassette if you have a 10-speed or 12-speed setup. In the box, Wahoo includes all the necessary adapters to fit a variety of bikes, including those with 130/135mm quick-release hubs and 12 x 142 or 12 x 148 thru-axles. This is a huge bonus for multi-bike households, myself included—I had to buy an aftermarket component from the Robert Axle Project to pair my older Kickr model with my gravel bike, but the same accessory wasn’t necessary with the Kickr Move Connectivity The Kickr Move uses WiFi and Direct Connect capabilities on top of Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity.

The addition of WiFi connectivity to smart trainers addresses several key issues: It eliminates connection dropouts, significantly improves data transfer speeds by up to 65%, enhances your avatar’s reaction time for more precise maneuvers (like entering super tuck mode and sprinting) and it ensures seamless background updates with the latest firmware. On the other hand, Wahoo’s Direct Connect feature offers stable connections that are crucial for competitive cyclists, preventing ANT+ or Bluetooth dropouts that can be race-altering. It also reduces unwanted interference issues, allowing Kickr users to connect their trainer directly to a router or computer via an ethernet cable for optimal performance.

ERG Easy Ramp Let’s face it, there are times when you need to hop off the trainer mid-workout for one reason or another. Whether you forgot your water bottle, need to answer the front door or simply want a snack, it happens. Fortunately, the ERG Easy Ramp feature slowly ramps up your cadence to your target wattage over a period of 10 seconds, so you don’t have to jump back on the bike and make a sudden, intense effort to hit your power numbers.

Race Mode The Race Mode feature sends up to 10 power updates per second (updates power on each flywheel revolution) to your virtual world software, which provides a more responsive avatar and makes riding and racing that much more realistic. With Kickr Race Mode activated, you’ll notice a boost in responsiveness to sudden pace changes, allowing you to control and expertly time attacks with precision, and also pace and draft effectively. The Kickr Move’s three-legged base provides a stable platform for almost any bike.

Amy Jurries For Forbes Wahoo Kickr Move Accessories: Refine Your Ride Wahoo offers a variety of accessories to complete your indoor training setup, such as the Headwind smart fan ($300). Truth be told, I haven’t ridden with a fan before, but after doing so while testing this trainer, I now realize just how significantly it regulates body temp so you can push harder without overheating. And because it’s a smart fan, the Headwind pairs with your ANT+ speed sensor, heart rate monitor or smart trainer.

As your speed or heart rate increases, so will the fan speed. And for those who own the Climb indoor gradient simulator ($700), Wahoo released an adapter that works in conjunction with the Kickr Move. Wahoo Kickr Move Drawbacks: It’s A Heavyweight Realistically, the Kickr Move isn’t all that different from the latest Kickr v6, so any pain points you have with the OG trainer will carry over to this one.

That said, the only drawback I couldn’t easily overlook was the trainer’s weight. I don’t have dedicated room for a bike trainer in my apartment, which means I need to move it every time I want to use it. At 64 pounds, I find it very difficult to lift the Move by myself and carry it from room to room (maybe I need to start working on my upper body strength).

Beyond all the bulk, it’s a capable machine with few faults. The 3D motion mechanism on the Kickr Move allows it to move front to back and side to side. Amy Jurries For Forbes Wahoo Kickr Move Verdict: A Worthwhile Upgrade As Wahoo founder Chip Hawkins told me, “The Kickr Move will suit those early adopters of indoor training who want to upgrade and those who like to train long and hard indoors.

Both types of cyclists will be driven by our innovation, realistic ride feel and comfort. ” Truthfully, I couldn’t agree more. Whether we’re ready to accept it or not, winter is coming, and those long indoor training rides call for lots of saddle time that quickly transitions from amusing to uneventful and even uncomfortable.

The Kickr Move’s 3D motion not only makes indoor riding more realistic, it also gives your body an opportunity to work different muscles that might otherwise remain unutilized. It may not be a worthwhile investment if you already own one of Wahoo’s latest Kickr models, but for only $300 more than the Kickr v6, it’s a no-brainer if you’re new to trainers, eager for a more engaging workout or want to upgrade an old model that’s showing its age. Coupons Bear Mattress Link to Coupon Amy Jurries Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.