Wahoo Fitness Kickr Move Review

We think the Wahoo Kickr Move provides excellent road feel, even if it isn't the best in our opinion. However, the movement is best in class, and the Kickr has plenty of power and accuracy for serious training or Zwift racing.

Performance Comparison

Connectivity and Power Accuracy

Just like its Kickr v6 sibling, the Kickr Move ships with ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi capability. It's consistent with industry standards, and exactly what we expect on a trainer of this price. Connectivity is simple, and the trainer is easily paired with third-party apps.

The Wahoo app is easy to use and has nice features. Similar to competitors like Garmin, Wahoo offers workouts and training through their own proprietary app. We prefer the Wahoo app to the TacX, and particularly enjoy the Sufferfest integration. For most riders, we doubt that's a significant point of concern. More important is Zwift integration. Using the Kickr Move on Zwift is seamless, and we didn't experience any issues with connectivity or accuracy across connection protocols.

The Kickr Move is very accurate, on par with the (almost identical) Kickr v6. Wahoo claims 1% accuracy, and that's what we experienced. Comparatively, the Kickr is among the best at power accuracy but cannot replicate the extremely impressive performance of its main competitor, the TacX Neo 3M.

In simulation mode, we found that the Move does a good job of maintaining power accuracy, although as most trainers, we experienced some power variation during sprints. In ERG mode, the accuracy is solid, just like on the Kickr v6 (which makes sense, given it's the same unit but on a movement plate).

Road Feel

The Kickr Move offers one of the better road feels in the test. The Kickr MOVE took 56 seconds to stop from 20 mph at 200 watts in our roll-out test, nearly identical to the Kickr v6's 57 seconds. The Kickr uses smooth power ramping to create a realistic virtual riding experience. Resistance changes with the Kickr are smooth but not the smoothest. We think the traditional flywheel is the culprit here, as compared to the NEO series trainers that utilize a virtual magnetic flywheel. To be clear, the difference is pretty marginal. This is an ultra-premium trainer that performs extremely well. Across the board, the Kickr Move feels nearly identical to the Kickr v6, just with movement ability. The movement is nice and makes riding more enjoyable, but we don't think it makes that much of a difference.

Design

This is a trainer designed for heavy usage. It's nice to look at in an industrial sense. It's also very heavy. The ease of setup and adjustment is expected and appreciated. We didn't experience any issues during testing, and the Kickr v6 design that makes up a large portion of the Kickr MOVE is tried and tested. We found the Kickr MOVE to be effectively silent in testing, with the only noticeable noise coming from our drivetrains.

The Kickr Move ships to your door with an 11-speed cassette mounted. If your bike has an 11-speed drivetrain, that's perfect. Otherwise, at this price point, we think Wahoo should give buyers the option to choose what cassette they are most likely to use, rather than only giving a single choice. That said, if you're unfamiliar with changing a cassette, it's easy to do with the right tools. You can also have a bike shop do the swap for you.

The Move is designed to work with 130/135mm quick-releases and ships with hub adapters for 12 x 142 and 12 x 148 axles. Like all trainers in the Kickr lineup, Trek's new Thru-Skew standard will not work. Also, the Move does not ship with a front wheel block.

Setup

The Kickr Move is extremely easy to set up, and scored accordingly. We love how simple unboxing is, and how easy it is to get riding.

The Kickr Move's box is designed to let you pull the trainer out in the position you'll want to set it up in. Then you just need to lift it out and lock the legs. After the trainer is plugged in, use the Wahoo app for a simple setup process and firmware update. Some riders will need to change the cassette. Wahoo provides clear instructions and a bag of adapters to help you set the trainer up for your needs.

We did have a minor issue with pushing firmware to the Move at one point, although it was quickly resolved.

Portability

The Kickr Move is the heaviest trainer we've tested, weighing 64 pounds. It is not a trainer you want to move around. On the bright side, the move does come with a handle to help you lug around all that weight. It does fold down somewhat, but still is not very compact. Once it was set up, we dreaded moving it to test other trainers. If you're looking for portability, this is the worst choice you could make.

Should You Buy the Kickr Move?

The Kickr Move might be for you if you're a serious rider who values a great indoor riding experience. It offers excellent accuracy and road feel. It has a tried and tested design. It's nearly silent and offers movement for a better overall experience. However, it's pricey and not at all portable. If you don't value movement ability very much, there isn't a good reason to buy this trainer on its own. On the other hand, if you want the best possible experience for indoor riding, Wahoo has the best lineup of accessories, such as the Kickr Climb, which can simulate grades and is compatible with the Kickr MOVE thanks to an adapter. We think that makes the MOVE the best option for riders who are looking to spare no expense in setting up a serious indoor training room.

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