Wahoo Moves to Ban $599 JetBlack Victory Trainer from US Market

Wahoo Fitness just filed legal papers to block Australian rival JetBlack from selling its budget Victory trainer in the United States—and the move could work within months. If successful, indoor cyclists will lose access to one of the few sub-$600 direct-drive smart trainers on the market, potentially keeping prices higher across the board.

The Atlanta-based company filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in December 2025, targeting JetBlack’s $599 Victory trainer that launched in July 2024. This is the second time Wahoo has gone after JetBlack—the Australian company was previously forced to pull its earlier Volt trainer from US and European markets in 2023.

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What This Means for Cyclists

• The JetBlack Victory ($599) could be banned from US import by mid-2026
• This removes direct competition for Wahoo’s $799 KICKR Core
• If you already own a Victory, warranty and support could be affected
• Fewer budget trainer options = potentially higher prices industry-wide
• JetBlack’s US dealer network may collapse if the ban succeeds

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The Products at Stake: Victory vs KICKR Core

Feature	JetBlack Victory	Wahoo KICKR Core 2
Price	$599 USD	$799 USD
Max Power	2,200W	2,000W
Accuracy	±2%	±1%
Flywheel Weight	5.9kg	5.8kg
Max Gradient	16%	20%
US Availability	At risk – import ban pending	Available now

The Victory undercuts Wahoo’s entry-level offering by $200—a significant margin in the competitive indoor cycling market where Zwift’s own Hub trainer sells for $499.

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How Wahoo’s Legal Strategy Works

Wahoo isn’t filing a traditional lawsuit that could take years. Instead, they’re using what’s called a Section 337 complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission—essentially a fast-track process to stop competing products at US Customs.

What Wahoo is asking for:

1. Limited Exclusion Order (LEO): Stops US Customs from allowing Victory trainers into the country
2. Cease and Desist Orders: Prevents JetBlack from distributing any Victory units already in the US
3. Border enforcement within 12-18 months (much faster than normal patent litigation)

The company claims JetBlack infringes on “several of its patents,” particularly around electromagnetic resistance control—the core technology that governs how a smart trainer creates realistic ride feel and power accuracy.

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The 2022 Patent War: How We Got Here

This isn’t Wahoo’s first legal head-to-head with JetBlack. Here’s the timeline:

October 2022: Wahoo Sues Both Zwift and JetBlack

Wahoo filed separate patent complaints against Zwift (for the new Hub trainer) and JetBlack (for the Volt trainer). Both products competed directly with Wahoo’s KICKR Core at lower price points.

August 2023: Zwift Settles, Gets License

Zwift reached an “amicable settlement” and agreed to pay Wahoo licensing fees. The companies now work together—Wahoo even sells a KICKR Core 2 variant with Zwift’s Cog and Click system included.

2023: JetBlack Withdraws from US/Europe

JetBlack settled on poor terms, agreeing to pull the Volt trainer from the United States and Europe—Wahoo’s most important markets. The Australian company was effectively locked out of major revenue sources.

July 2024: JetBlack Launches “Victory”

After the Volt defeat, JetBlack spent time developing what it hoped was a patent-safe alternative. The Victory trainer launched with different resistance technology, aiming to avoid Wahoo’s patent claims while re-entering the US market.

December 2025: Wahoo Strikes Again

Wahoo files the new ITC complaint, claiming the Victory still infringes its patents. Round two begins.

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Wahoo’s Patent Arsenal

Wahoo maintains an extensive patent portfolio protecting its trainer technology. The most relevant patents in this case:

• U.S. Patent No. 12,343,608 – “Bicycle Trainer” (granted July 1, 2025)
• U.S. Patent No. 12,440,724 – “Indoor Bicycle Adjustment Method and System” (granted October 14, 2025)
• U.S. Patent No. 12,465,811 – “Indoor Bicycle Training Device” (granted November 11, 2025)
• U.S. Patent No. 12,429,921 – “Cover System for Computing Device Ports” (granted September 30, 2025)
• U.S. Patent No. 12,330,036 – “System and Method for Controlling a Bicycle Trainer” (granted June 17, 2025)

Notice the grant dates—these patents were approved in 2025, giving Wahoo fresh ammunition after JetBlack thought it had designed around the earlier patents.

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Why This Matters Beyond One Product

The Budget Trainer Market Is Shrinking

Indoor cyclists seeking quality direct-drive trainers under $700 now have limited options:

• Zwift Hub: $499 (but basic features, single-speed flywheel)
• JetBlack Victory: $599 (if it survives this legal challenge)
• Wahoo KICKR Core: $799 (the market leader)
• Elite Suito: ~$600 (limited US availability)

If Victory disappears, the gap between the $499 Zwift Hub and $799 KICKR Core becomes a canyon. Wahoo faces less pricing pressure to lower the Core’s price.

The Innovation Question

Wahoo argues this is about protecting innovation: “Without patent protection, companies will be less likely to invest in R&D that ultimately gives us better products.”

Critics counter that aggressive patent enforcement can stifle competition and keep prices artificially high, primarily when the patents cover fundamental trainer operation rather than novel inventions.

What Happens to Existing Victory Owners?

If Wahoo wins the import ban:

• Warranty claims become complicated (no new units for replacements)
• Software updates may continue (doesn’t require physical imports)
• Spare parts could become unavailable
• Resale value will likely tank

JetBlack’s US dealer network would likely collapse, leaving Victory owners without local support.

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What Happens Next: Timeline

Q1 2025 (Now): ITC reviews Wahoo’s complaint, decides whether to investigate

Q2-Q3 2025: If the investigation proceeds, ITC collects evidence and holds hearings

Q4 2025 – Q1 2026: ITC makes initial determination on patent infringement

Mid-2026: Final determination and potential issuance of import ban

Throughout: JetBlack can negotiate a settlement or licensing deal to avoid a ban

This process moves far faster than traditional patent litigation, which can drag on for 3-5 years. That’s precisely why Wahoo chose this route.

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The Bigger Picture: Wahoo’s Market Position

This case isn’t really about patents—it’s about market control at the entry-level price point.

Wahoo already has a problem: its partner Zwift sells the Hub trainer for $200 less than the KICKR Core. Now JetBlack wants to slot in at $599, creating even more pricing pressure.

Wahoo’s calculation: Better to spend money on lawyers now than compete on price later. The company has the resources for extended legal battles; smaller competitors like JetBlack typically don’t.

The result: Wahoo protects its 40%+ profit margins on the KICKR line while maintaining the appearance of defending legitimate patent rights. Both can be true simultaneously.

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Should You Buy a Victory Trainer Right Now?

Short answer: Risky.

If you’re considering a Victory:

• Current owners report good performance and accuracy
• At $599, it’s legitimately good value if support continues

But…

• Import ban could happen within 12 months
• Warranty support could evaporate overnight
• Resale value is now uncertain

Better bet: Wait to see how the ITC case develops (check back in Q2 2025), or spend the extra $200 for the KICKR Core’s security and established support network.

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Take Out

So no, Wahoo is not taking a play out of the Strava legal playbook.

This case is all about Wahoo protecting its position at the lower end of the market. It already has enough of a problem with hardware price competition from its partner, Zwift; it certainly doesn’t want JetBlack forcing it to lower prices and margins any further. Sure, Wahoo could handle that financially, but it just doesn’t want to. Fair enough.

Plus, of course, the company is seeking to protect its inventions; without protection, companies will be less likely to invest in innovation (R&D) that ultimately gives us better products.

What do you think? Should budget smart trainers be allowed to compete with established brands like Wahoo, even if they use similar technology? Let me know in the comments below.

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Update Schedule: I’ll update this article as the ITC case progresses. Bookmark this page or subscribe to the newsletter for alerts when major developments happen.

Last updated: December 13, 2025

 

Last Updated on 30 January 2026 by the5krunner