| Manufacturer | Wahoo Fitness |
| Type | Mains-powered, wheel-off smart trainer |
| Series | KICKR |
| Released | September 2022 |
| Price at launch | £899.99 / $1,049.99 |
| Predecessor | KICKR V5 (2020) |
| Successor | — |
| Weight | 29kg |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Buy: Wahoo KICKR (v6)
Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Features | Further reading
Expert opinion
tfk uses KICKR (v6) as his primary turbo trainer. Of the changes from KICKR V5, only Erg Easy Ramp and 2.4GHz WiFi are significant; the odometer, white status LED and automatic firmware updates are minor by comparison. The Wahoo app is needed only for initial WiFi setup and is rarely touched afterward. The price premium over V5 buys convenience rather than core performance, since power accuracy, maximum grade and maximum power output are unchanged.
What’s new versus KICKR V5
- Erg Easy Ramp, applying resistance progressively over 10 seconds when resuming a stopped workout, rather than snapping straight to target power
- 2.4GHz WiFi connectivity, lowering latency and increasing throughput versus Bluetooth or ANT+ alone
- Odometer, tracking total lifetime distance ridden on the trainer
- White WiFi status LED, replacing the red ANT+ LED
- Automatic firmware updates over WiFi
- Upgraded onboard PCB, adding support for the Zwift protocol
Specifications
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Maximum power output | 2,200W |
| Maximum simulated grade | 20% |
| Minimum simulated grade | -10% |
| Power accuracy | ±1% |
| Calibration | Persistent, automatic |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 29kg / 64lb |
| Drivetrain | Belt drive |
| Movement | KICKR AXIS feet, lateral give only. No fore/aft movement; see KICKR MOVE for that. |
| Maximum rider weight | 113kg / 250lb |
| Bike compatibility | |
| Cassette | 11-speed, 11-28, included. 12-speed adapter available separately. |
| Rear wheel size | Road: 24in, 650C, 700C. MTB: 24in, 26in, 650B, 29in. |
| Hub types | 130/135mm QR, 12×142, 12×148 thru-axle |
| Adapters included | 130/135mm QR adapter and hub spacer, 12×142/148 adapter and hub spacer, 1.8mm cassette spacer |
| Connectivity and compatibility | |
| Wireless | ANT+, ANT+ FE-C, WiFi (2.4GHz), three simultaneous Bluetooth connections |
| Wired | LAN, via a Wahoo Direct Connect adapter sold separately |
| Platforms | Zwift, Wahoo SYSTM and RGT, and other FE-C and FTMS-compatible apps |
| Compatible accessories | KICKR CLIMB, KICKR HEADWIND |
| Operating systems | iOS, Android, Windows |
Features
Full feature detail is covered on the Wahoo hub.
Ride feel and control
- Race Mode increases the frequency of power transmission for more responsive gameplay, available from KICKR V5 onward
- ERG Easy Ramp progressively restores target resistance after a stop
- Optional control by an external ANT+ power meter, at the cost of some responsiveness
Setup and pairing
- Pairs via the Wahoo app for initial WiFi setup; no further app interaction is required under normal use
- Automatic WiFi firmware updates
- Persistent auto-calibration; no manual spindown required after first setup
Further reading
Related
KICKR MOVE is the comfort-focused variant of this trainer, adding fore/aft and side-to-side movement at a premium.
