Updated September 9, 2025 01:54PM
Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro and Wahoo Kickr Core 2 Details and First Impressions
The Wahoo Core 2 and Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro update existing products with common sense features. We’ve got first impressions and details.
(Photo Wahoo)
Today Wahoo is launching two new products that are likely going to be impactful to the winter trainer landscape. Simply said, you can expect that the brand new Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro and Wahoo Kickr Core 2 are going to shuffle the order in our list of the best smart trainers. Keep reading and we’ve got all the details about why that’s the case plus a little bit of hands on time for some, brief, first impressions.
Wahoo Kickr Core 2
The Wahoo Kickr Core is, arguably, the heart and soul of the indoor trainer market. As this article is being written it sits on our list as the best smart trainer for Zwift but it’s a lot more than that. Now there’s a new version called simply Wahoo Kickr Core 2.
That sounds possibly more momentous than it is. Moving to the second generation of what is likely the best selling product in the Wahoo lineup, after seven years, is no small thing. At the same time, changes are small.
The observation isn’t a slight though. Indoor trainers are reaching a level of maturity that means all changes are small. The big news here is that some of what makes the Wahoo Kickr v6 unique is coming to the less expensive product.
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Before today the basic premise of the Wahoo Kickr Core was that it’s a tier down from the flagship trainers. That makes it less expensive and it also means +/- 2% power accuracy with a max gradient of 16%, no powered flywheels so no descent simulation, and 1800 watts of resistance max.
There’s also a simplification of the design compared to the Wahoo Kickr v6. Instead of folding legs with rocking function and surface leveling feet, what you get are two bars that bolt to the rest of the trainer.
All of this remains but it gets added functionality or refinement. The legs are on the refinement side of that. It’s still a pair of bars that bolt to the top but now there’s better visual cues to show which direction they face and which one is the front vs back. Then, even if you manage to ignore that, there’s only one way they’ll bolt up. Plus, while you are bolting them up, the design gets an update so you can set the trainer on the bars then fully tighten down the bolts. If there’s some issues with the electronics during setup, now there’s a better visual cue with refined LEDs to make it clear what’s happening. Obviously nothing ground breaking here but it’s all just a bit better.
The pieces that come over from the Kickr V6 are wifi connectivity and kickr race mode. Right now the Kickr Core offers both Bluetooth and ANT+ connections but no wifi. The Wahoo Kickr Core 2 adds that last option into the mix. It’s not required but rather just an extra option that might work best for you.
The other thing that the wifi connection allows is race mode. What race mode does is change the power broadcast from once a second to ten times a second. It creates a more realistic connection between the work of your legs and your on screen avatar and it should technically be possible via bluetooth but traditionally Wahoo hasn’t offered that. It’s not super clear if that’s changing for this launch but, either way, the race mode functionality is migrating to the new Wahoo Kickr Core 2.
The last update is Kickr Bridge. Rather than connecting a heart rate monitor, the only sensor this will work with, to software/hardware you can instead pair it to the trainer. Once set up the trainer will send a single consolidated signal that includes cadence, power, and heart rate. It’s a feature that not even the Kickr V6 has.
Wahoo Kickr Core 2 pricing and availability
The Wahoo Kickr Core 2 is available today worldwide with pricing set at $549.99 / £499.99 / €549.99 / AU $899.95 / CA $899.99 but there is an option to consider.
The price is the same for both a version with an 11-speed Shimano freehub or the new Zwift Cog and Click upgrade. If you ride mostly in Zwift then the Zwift ready version lets you use almost any drivetrain, not Campagnolo 13 speed, without need to add a cassette. All the shifting will happen electronically inside of Zwift or you can use ERG mode in any app. On the other hand if you prefer to keep shifting on your bike, and usable in any app, then a Shimano freehub will work for Shimano cassettes with 10-12 gears or you can swap on a SRAM or Campagnolo freehub to use compatible cassettes. Both are functionally the same unit so should you change your mind later you can switch for the price of a freehub and cassette or a cog and click upgrade.
Zwift Ride is also be available from Zwift.com with the latest Wahoo Kickr Core 2.
For more information and purchase visit the Wahoo fitness website.
Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro
For the vast majority of people, the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 is plenty of trainer at a good price. After all, there are only a few places in Zwift that could possibly exceed the max 16% gradient and it’s unlikely you can break the 1800 watt max resistance. Upgrading to the Kickr v6 or Kickr Move does mean a higher max gradient and resistance but realistically the upgrade is for more accurate power along with different levels of movement. Unfortunately all of these options also mean using your bike.
Anyone who has ever had an old trainer bike knows this is a recipe for long term damage unless you are careful. Your outdoor bike isn’t designed to handle the constant drenching of sweat plus it’s difficult to adjust for households with multiple riders or to test fitting. The solution is a dedicated trainer bike and the Wahoo Kickr bike is aiming to be the best option in this category.
As with the Wahoo Kickr Core 2, the Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro has the same basic premise as what was available before. It’s a dedicated trainer bike with +/- 1% power accuracy, a max resistance of 2500W, a max gradient of 20% plus a powered flywheel that can simulate a max descent of 15%, and ANT+, ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth, Direct Connect and WiFi Connectivity. There’s also race mode, an odometer to track use, ERG easy ramp to help you get started with a failed interval, and built in tilt to more closely match the feel or riding a gradient either up or down.
This is also an actual bike and that brings things like fit and controls. You can easily adjust every single fit metric with a flip of a quick release to accommodate either different riders or to experiment with new fits for yourself. At the front of the bike are brake levers and there are controls to shift the belt drive resistance unit electronically.
The front is also a big part of what’s changing. As Zwift has evolved the software has standardized around a specific hardware control setup. The new Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro integrates the same four buttons on both sides as the Zwift controllers. Like before there’s also buttons for steering and shifting and, for those that race on Zwift, you’ll also find that, unlike the Zwift controllers, there’s still a brake lever to help with positioning in the pack.
This new Pro model also brings upgraded touchpoints. Included with the bike is a new Fi’zi:k Aliante R5 Saddle, prewrapped bars using Fi’zi:k Solocush Handlebar Tape, and a new 40 cm (down from 42) handle bar. As before you can still change the bar and saddle just like any other bike.
Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro first impressions
Both the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 and Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro will be getting in-depth reviews as the seasons change and the rain comes to the pacific northwest. For now I’ve only had a brief time to experiment on the Kickr Bike Pro but I do have some thoughts.
For the past few years my indoor trainer of choice has been the Garmin Tacx Neo Bike Plus Smart Trainer. Right away I can say that if you have a smaller space for winter trainer, the Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro is a big upgrade. At least if you also use something other than a tablet.
The reason is that the Tacx bike offers a tablet holder with a pair of fans that sit out front. If you don’t use a tablet you can remove it but there’s still a display and holder that aren’t removable. The phone holder ends up being a sweat collector, so not great for a phone, and the display is really nice but both black airflow from fans and make the whole unit longer. The Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro is much slimmer in the front making it a better pairing for any fan and in particular the Kickr Headwind Bluetooth Fan that sits down low.
Of course there’s also the physical gradient simulation of the Wahoo bike that the Garmin doesn’t have. I’ve always enjoyed using the Kickr Climb and now it’s built in. The trade off being that the Tacx bike feels much more solid and it has road feel simulation.
Things are a little less rosy right off the bat with touchpoints. On the positive side of things I’m always in favor of a narrower handlebar and 40cm feels better than 42cm. I also love the feel of the brakes which are actually buttons that work electronically rather than a physical brake on the flywheel. The Fizik bar tape is another high point but the Wahoo hoods are 1-2mm thick and the edge of the rubber is quite sharp. I’m hoping to solve that before the full review. It’s also likely I’ll change the handlebars to something with more material at the back of the drops for easier holding on a lazy position at the back of the drops. That will almost certainly come with a change to the saddle as I haven’t used a long nose saddle in years and it’s not my favorite choice.
Overall, I’m impressed but it will take a bit of time to get everything dialed and tested.
Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro pricing and availability
As with the Wahoo Kickr Core 2, the Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro is available as of today worldwide. Pricing is set at $3999 / £3,499.99 / €3,999.99 / CA $5,249.99 / AU $6,299.95 / ¥510,000.00
For more information and purchase visit the Wahoo fitness website.
