Wahoo Kickr Core 2 smart trainer

A modest upgrade but still excellent bang for your buck

- Simon von Bromley

The Kickr Core 2 is an evolution of the Kickr Core Zwift One, rather than a reinvention of it. That’s no bad thing, though. The key specs remain competitive, and Wahoo's impressive build quality and usability shine through at every stage. The only chink in its armour is its £499.99 price tag, which makes it £100 more expensive than the class-leading JetBlack Victory at £399.

Sticking to a formula

Beyond a few added features, the basic specification of the Kickr Core 2 is practically identical to the previous model's. Its 1,800W maximum power output, +/- 2% power accuracy and 16% maximum gradient are all the same as before. The 5.4kg flywheel - among the heaviest in its price bracket - hasn't changed either. You still have the option of an 11-speed cassette or a Zwift Cog and Click bundle - although you now get the updated versions of both Zwift parts, with their improved functionality.

Setting up the Wahoo trainer has become even easier, though. As before, it simply involves bolting on the two legs and selecting the correct axle adaptors. But, in an innovation borrowed from the discontinued Zwift Hub, the updated legs are flat, colour-coded and have chevrons to help you fit them correctly. And, instead of arriving jumbled up in a bag, the axle adaptors now come attached to a diagram, to help you work out what you need and where it goes.

Once that’s done, you can plug it in, turn it on and use the Wahoo iOS/Android app to guide you through the rest of the setup. The most important thing to do at this step is to connect it to a WiFi network, if one is available.