To Core or something More

[RobertWhitehead]

My previous version kickr packed up and I think it was the V2 of version 5 or something like that. In modern day terms it was the grandpappy of the new V6. My question is: Do I now go and get me a Core or a V6 to replace my V5? I looked at some comparisons and they're pretty similar on paper. A bit of the type of riding I do: I don't cycle outdoors often, I think the last time I did anything outdoors was last year December. I am very practical like that, I don't see why I should do 100m of elevation for every 10km (In Gauteng) if I can do 1000m of climbing over just 10km on the trainer. So bear in mind that I prefer riding indoors. Any experiences or insight will be helpful, questions like: "Is it still available" or "How Much" will be ignored 😁

[Mamil]

1 hour ago, RobertWhitehead said:

My previous version kickr packed up and I think it was the V2 of version 5 or something like that. In modern day terms it was the grandpappy of the new V6. My question is: Do I now go and get me a Core or a V6 to replace my V5? I looked at some comparisons and they're pretty similar on paper. A bit of the type of riding I do: I don't cycle outdoors often, I think the last time I did anything outdoors was last year December. I am very practical like that, I don't see why I should do 100m of elevation for every 10km (In Gauteng) if I can do 1000m of climbing over just 10km on the trainer. So bear in mind that I prefer riding indoors. Any experiences or insight will be helpful, questions like: "Is it still available" or "How Much" will be ignored 😁

I own a core that has not skipped a beat since 2020 and is ridden at least 3 times a week quite hard - lots of zwift races and structured training.

Never owned the higher end models but hard to imagine what they might add. Interested to hear motivations for the top end models

[thebob]

I upgraded from a Core to a Kickr 6 last year. The overall user experience is 99.9% the same. However, WiFi connection is a big step up on the Kickr 6. Zero drops and super stable. If you are having bluetooth or Ant+ issues, it is worth the upgrade. The auto calibration is nice. Having the lifetime mileage recorded is also useful. For 99.9% of users, the Core is the sensible choice

[HdB]

The Kickr 6 also comes with the squishy feet, so might be a bit more comfortable for longer rides? Then again, you can probably do an el-cheapo tennisball hack on the Core

Other than that, unless the race mode or wifi connection are important to you, I'd just go with the Core.

[Mamil]

Firmware update gave the core auto-calibration last year.

Squishy feet would be nice too

[RobertWhitehead]

Thank you everyone, I also think I'm leaning towards the Core rather than the V6 purely because I am not convinced that squishy feet and stable wifi will be worth the extra outlay, I mean any hot blooded man loves him some squishy feet 😂

[cadenceblur]

35 minutes ago, RobertWhitehead said:

Thank you everyone, I also think I'm leaning towards the Core rather than the V6 purely because I am not convinced that squishy feet and stable wifi will be worth the extra outlay, I mean any hot blooded man loves him some squishy feet 😂

don't discount the comfort derived from a bit of play, I have my kickr 5 on a rocker and the experience is vastly different.

[agilwolf]

Some "cheap" options out there to get your Core to move around a bit ...

 

 

[ChrisF]

7 hours ago, RobertWhitehead said:

My previous version kickr packed up and I think it was the V2 of version 5 or something like that. In modern day terms it was the grandpappy of the new V6. My question is: Do I now go and get me a Core or a V6 to replace my V5? I looked at some comparisons and they're pretty similar on paper. A bit of the type of riding I do: I don't cycle outdoors often, I think the last time I did anything outdoors was last year December. I am very practical like that, I don't see why I should do 100m of elevation for every 10km (In Gauteng) if I can do 1000m of climbing over just 10km on the trainer. So bear in mind that I prefer riding indoors. Any experiences or insight will be helpful, questions like: "Is it still available" or "How Much" will be ignored 😁

 

Robert friends use the TAXC Neo.  The unit is used by both.  One does a lot of her Ironman training indoors.  The gent does another few hundred km per month on the trainer.

 

After many years of use they upgraded to the latest Neo a few months back, and sold the old one in perfect working condition to a friend.

 

 

Certainly a decent quality product.

 

And you can use it during loadshedding from what I hear.

 

 

PS - I had the Kickr Core (no issues), just impressed with the Neo.

 

[TimRusso]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:51 PM, agilwolf said:

Some "cheap" options out there to get your Core to move around a bit ...

 

 

Any idea where one could get these printed and what they might cost?

 

Thanks

Tim

[Dexter-morgan]

45 minutes ago, TimRusso said:

Any idea where one could get these printed and what they might cost?

 

Thanks

Tim

Check on the 3D printing for amateurs' thread, lots of guys doing nice stuff.

[agilwolf]

48 minutes ago, TimRusso said:

Any idea where one could get these printed and what they might cost?

 

Thanks

Tim

I have a friend in CT that might be able to do this ...  I'll ask him.

[shaper]

51 minutes ago, TimRusso said:

Any idea where one could get these printed and what they might cost?

 

Thanks

Tim

You can download the files and take them to a 3d printing place https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6874850

[PhatMyles]

On 6/11/2025 at 10:23 AM, thebob said:

I upgraded from a Core to a Kickr 6 last year. The overall user experience is 99.9% the same. However, WiFi connection is a big step up on the Kickr 6. Zero drops and super stable. If you are having bluetooth or Ant+ issues, it is worth the upgrade. The auto calibration is nice. Having the lifetime mileage recorded is also useful. For 99.9% of users, the Core is the sensible choice

I am interested in how you got the .9%, to make 99.9% of users. I worked it to 99.7%!😁😁

I am here for the reviews. I am looking for a smart trainer.

 

 

[Mongoose!]

On 6/13/2025 at 1:11 PM, TimRusso said:

Any idea where one could get these printed and what they might cost?

 

Thanks

Tim

Temu has. Quite cheap....🤷‍♂️

[Sid the Sloth]

If you haven’t committed yet, the new core also has a zwift cog which is really cool if you’re using zwift and makes inter-trainer compatibility a lot better. 

I recently got one in the UK and it’s a nice upgrade and is silent, as opposed to the clankyness of shifting on the trainer cassette I usually have (I run a 12 speed shimano cassette that I use for my gravel bike and road bike as it kind of works for both)