Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Review
The Kurt Kinetic Road Machine has a very good reputation amongst most of the serious cyclists that I know. The same can be said for most of the Kurt Kinetic trainers, but the road machine in particular has become a favorite. There are several reasons for this, and although it isn't perfect, it certainly deserves its reputation. When you first pull it out of the box, you will notice how heavy and substantial it feels. It also has a rather big footprint. Next you will notice how heavy the flywheel is, certainly an asset when it comes to performance.
Overall there is a feeling of heft and solidity, especially when compared to some lesser (and less expensive) models. It sits squarely on the floor and you can ride easy or you can ride hard and it will not shift around on the floor. It's substantial weight and wide footprint are responsible for this. Once you have attached your bike to this trainer I think you will immediately notice the smooth, subltle feel of the ride. Noise is minimal, certainly well below the levels of all wind trainers and most mag trainers. The progressive resistance that a fluid trainer delivers is like a breath of fresh air if you are used to riding a mag trainer with limited, manual controls. Turn on the speed and the resistance will also increase. Unlike many lesser models you really feel as though you can turn on the power and not have to worry about reaching an upper resistance limit. This means that you can train as hard as you want. The silicon fluid used in the resistance mechanism is not affected by heat, so there are no variables at play. A given speed will deliver the same level of resistance every time, which means that you can count on a consistent workout.
Some fluid trainers have had a reputation for leaking their fluids, which is a serious problem. Kurt Kinetic trainers for the most part don't suffer from this problem because of the unique way that their fluid chambers have been designed to be sealed off from the rest of the mechanism. There are no moving parts that interact or penetrate this sealed chamber, so there is no chance for leakage. The end result of the large, hefty flywheel and the clever design of the resistance mechanism is a ride that is not only smooth and quiet, it is also very realistic. Now, this isn't to say that it exactly duplicates the feel of a real ride, because no standard bike trainer is going to simulate the many variables that a real road offers. Many core muscles will not be engaged because you are not trying to maintain balance as you ride. Given these limitations, it is safe to say that the road machine does deliver a superior ride and feel compared to most trainers. Because of the almost limitless resistance curve you can do any kind of training imaginable.
One of the few negatives things about this trainer is its size. This is a wider, bulkier machine than many other trainers. It requires more room to store, and it is certainly not easy to transport to different locations. If those are important to you this isn't the ideal machine. Given the many positives about the road machine, this doesn't seem lke it would be a deal breaker for most cyclists. Because this is a powerful, well-engineered, quiet and dependable machine it is ultimately our top pic. Because it comes with an unconditional lifetime warranty it might just be the last trainer that you actually have to buy. It isn't cheap, but the fact that it is not even Kurt Kinetics's most expensive trainer makes it an even better bargain. Retail cost usually ranges from $300-$400 but sometimes can be found for less than $300, which is an excellent bargain.
What We Like: This trainer delivers a quiet, smooth, realistic ride with plenty of resistance power. The fact that it is the official bike trainer of the U.S. Cycling Team speaks volumes about its dependability and quality.
What We don't like: It is somewhat bulky and has a large foot print, which makes it hard to transport or store in small places.
Do we recommend this trainer? We recommend this trainer to everyone who can afford it. Beginning cyclists will find that it offers almost unlimited growth, and serious cyclists will find that it delivers on every level. Our highest recommendation.
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