When it comes to buying a bike trainer, there are few who would disagree that a fluid bike trainer is generally acknowledged as the best choice when it comes to bicycle trainers. However, for all of the pros to a fluid trainer there is still a big CON and that is that they are very prone to leaking.
For years, the very well known and well respected Cycleops Fluid Trainer has dominated the market despite the real possibility that they might occasionally spring a leak. Cycleops customer service is second to none and they will quickly and cheerfully warranty your trainer for you but that can still be an inconvenience. It doesn't happen often but it still isn't appealing if you like no hassle equipment that just works. Kurt Kinetic Fluid trainers feature a revolutionary design that might just be the answer to your fluid trainer needs. Let's discuss why.
Destined To Fail?
Kurt's outstanding fluid resistance unit assembled on the trainer.
Don't get me wrong, the large majority of fluid trainer owners, be it Cycleops or another brand, are quite happy with those trainers and they don't leak. If you read many reviews or talk to many long term owners of a typical fluid trainer owner though, you will find that it certainly isn't uncommon for them to fail and leak oil out all over the place. The manufacturer may replace or repair the trainer happily and eagerly but who has time for that stuff. Not most of us, that's for sure.
The "new Sheriff" in town is my personal favorite bike trainer of all and that is the Kurt Kinetic fluid trainer. Why is this my favorite? What makes it so great you might ask? Not only does the design not allow this trainer to be able to leak but it's also simply an excellent trainer, quiet and a great feel that closely simulates real road riding.
You can see the seal that the shaft has to penetrate through. Over time, this seal tends to fail due to the heat involved and begins leaking. The kinetic design has no seal to fail.
An ordinary fluid bike trainer generates its resistance by powering an impeller through silicone fluid. This action will of course generate a significant amount of heat and can get as hot as 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where the leakage problem occurs, most fluid trainers use a shaft that drives the impeller which penetrates into the fluid chamber and utilizes a rubber seal to keep the shaft sealed and the fluid from leaking out. Any time you have a moving part and a lot of heat, you will get a failure eventually. It's just bound to happen with this type of design, it happens on cars, trucks, bicycles and bike trainers.
The Kurt Kinetic Fluid Trainer is designed quite differently. The fluid chamber is sealed in glass and the shaft does not penetrate through it. Magnetized wheels connect the impeller to the driveshaft and the shaft never actually penetrates the fluid chamber and there is no seal to leak...ever. This might sound difficult to understand but the easiest way to explain it is to show you. Check out this video discussing the Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll fluid trainer and wait til the end of the video where they show you the internal workings of the Kurt Kinetic Fluid Trainer.
Kurt Kinetic Video Review
If you watch this video all the way through, it really highlights the way the Kurt Kinetic is designed and WHY it is so much better of a design than a typical fluid trainer. The chambered design combined with the magnetic coupling rather than a shaft is simply super cool and ultra dependable.
As you can see in the video, your tire drives the shaft which is connected to one rotating disc that has 6 powerful magnets on the face of it. This disc butts up against another disc that is located inside the fluid chamber. The chamber is sealed completely and the two rotating discs are coupled through the seal and simply will not allow this trainer to leak.
I am a very satisfied owner of a Kurt Kinetic Trainer and can attest that not only will it not leak but the design also affords a very realistic road feel and ride and is simple the best bike trainer on the market in my opinion. The warranty department at Kurt Kinetic will be like the Maytag repair man...nothing to do and plenty of time on their hands.
The Kurt Kinetic comes in a couple of incarnations that while similar, are all somewhat different than the others, so check each of these out and see which Kurt Kinetic trainer would be best for your needs.
Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Trainer
| Kinetic by Kurt Road Machine Indoor Bicycle Trainer |
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| Retail Price: $379.99 |
| Amazon Price: $329.99 |
The Kurt Kinetic Road Machine is the entry level Kurt Kinetic trainer but don't let the term "entry level" fool you. This is a great unit right out of the gate. It has been tested and rated as the best fluid trainer on the market by the Cycling press and is absolutely beloved by riders everywhere, it's no surprise that the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine indoor bike trainer is the official bicycle trainer for the USA Cycling Team. It's quiet, smooth, leak-proof, and offers an ultra-accurate simulation of outdoor riding. Powertap calibrated, the fluid trainer automatically adjusts resistance as you change speed and this closely simulates the way your outdoor bike reacts as well. If you want a great bang for the buck trainer, then the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine is a great buy.
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Kurt Kinetic Pro Model Trainer
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Overall Rating: |
| Retail Price: Varies based on product options |
| Amazon Price: View Sale Price |
The Kurt Kinetic Pro Model Bike Trainer is an upgrade to the standard Road machine, not because it is any better but simply because it includes a few extra parts. Specifically the Pro model Kurt Kinetic is equipped with the standard 6lb flywheel that the normal Road Machine features but also includes an extra 12lb. flywheel that is designed for endurance workouts like tempo and base building Long Slow Distance rides. Packaged with a rock solid and stable 540 square inch base, the Kurt Kinetic Pro model trainer will keep you very stable and focused on the trainer, allowing you to concentrate on the task at hand. An excellent choice and more versatility than the Road Machine IF you are into specific types of training. If you are just looking to stay in shape, then the Road Machine will work fine.
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Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll Trainer
| Kinetic by Kurt Rock and Roll Indoor Bicycle Trainer (Green) |
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Overall Rating: |
| Retail Price: $569.99 |
| Amazon Price: $499.99 |
The Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll trainer redefines what "realism" means when talking about your workout as it is the ONLY bike trainer on the market that delivers a very natural side-to-side (rocking) motion that emulates real road riding. This unique lateral motion simulates the out of the saddle grinds and will engage core muscles that maintain balance and don't typically get engaged on a normal stationary cycling workout. What this means is that you can now work on both your riding technique and your power for those out of the saddle intervals. The Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll Bicycle trainer will redefine what your expectations are of an indoor bike trainer and is the closest thing you can get to a real bike feel without transitioning to rollers. If you are used to having the best equipment around, then the Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll Bike trainer is right there. An excellent indoor bike trainer.
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Kurt Kinetic Bike Trainer Summary
As you can see, I am a big fan of the Kurt Kinetic bike trainers. I've been fortunate enough to be able to experiment with and try a LOT of different bike trainers and the one that I would buy myself is the Kurt Kinetic. I am attracted to the design and durability plus they simply feel good to ride. A high quality fluid trainer will serve your needs well. It's quiet and works you out very well and best of all it does as good a job as it can to emulate real world road riding.
If you're still searching for the right bike trainer for you, skip the cheap junk and head right to the Made in the USA Kurt Kinetic bike trainers. Check out more Kurt Kinetic Trainer Reviews here.
I have an old Kinetic Road Machine that is made in the USA that is great. I just purchased a Rock and Roll Fluid Trainer. It turns out that it is made in China. Several key welds are out of alignment which prevents the two main bolts that hold the upper arms and resistance unit to the base to from engaging the threaded attachment points on the base. The upper axle support arms were not welded perpendicular to the resistance unit attachment point so the bike rear tire does not hit perpendicular to the roller of the resistance unit. The DVD that came with the unit freezes up when I try to play it. I have no problems with the other Spinervals DVD’s that I own. The rubber support feet for the turntable front wheel support started falling off the second day of use. My advice is to stick with the Road machine and a solid front wheel support.
@Mitch….Ouch that’s tough to hear. I am a huge fan of the Kurt Kinetic trainers but I have the Road Machine. It’s solid as a rock and has taken a beating over the last couple of years.
Sorry to hear about your trouble….anyone else have any reviews on the Rock and Roll version of the Kurt Kinetic?
HI,
This review helped me decide on the Kurt Kinetic, ordered one today, like the idea of the sealed
fluid system, without the worry of leaks due to seal failure.
Lets face it wear and tear on the trainer and potential for heat from friction will cause problems for any weight bearing system. It makes sense most belt driven items in cars fail at the bearing.
Thanks
Doug
I just purchased the Kinetic Road Machine, mainly because it seemed so quiet and a bit more “beefy” that the Cycleops. I have to commend this website because it is an honest and unbiased forum for everything trainers. Spending $300+ on something is not always easy, but having the ability to continue cycling in a Minnesota winter is priceless. I can’t yet comment on the actual performance of the Road Machine, but will post my review once I get used to a trainer.
I’ve always loved biking but for whatever reason I don’t do as much as I’d like. The thing I like about biking is it seems to really strengthen my core muscles and with my historically bad back this is a godsend. I’ve started a really awesome training and nutrition program but want to add a mix of cardio to my treadmill walking that I do now. I’ve never used a bike trainer before and a friend of mine suggested a bicycle trainer…so I’ve decided to start researching them. I’m not afraid of spending some coin to get quality. The two trainers that I’ve narrowed my search down to are the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and the Lemond Revolution. Does anybody have any input on the Lemond Revolution compared to the Road Machine?
Jeff….no personal experience with the Lemond but I haven’t heard anything good about it. I’ve heard nothing but praise for the Kurt Kinetic and it’s my own personal trainer selection if that counts for anyhting. I’d definitely go with the Road Machine without question. Best dollar for dollar trainer on the market in my opinion.
Do you guys know if the kinetic road machine will work with a single speed like a specialized langster? The bike has a bolted axel, I have heard both it does and does not. Unfortunately I am in a remote location and cant see one for myself. Any help would be great.
What negative things have you heard about the Lemond Revolution? I’m in the market for a trainer and am leaning towards the KK, but all the reviews I have seen about the Revo are all positive…except for the price that is…
Rob…I chose my words poorly on the LeMond….I said I hadn’t heard anything good about it, which apparently implied to you that I had heard negative things about it. That isn’t the case, I haven’t really heard much about it at all.
FWIW I just rode both the KK and the Lemond Revo today. The caveat is that I’m recovering form a bulged disc and in very poor shape after a couple of months of doing nothing and can’t manage much time in the saddle yet. 20 minutes on a borrowed KK and then 5 minutes on the Revo in a local shop. The Revo is smoother and noisier. Smoother isn’t really the word I want to use but it will have to do. If I was just buying for myself it would be the Revo no question even though the price up here (Canada) is crazy. The wind noise reminds me of my old Concept 2 Model B erg. But my wife wants to use it too and her mountain bike tips the scale in favour of the KK. Just too much trouble changing the Revo cassette for her bike to fit.
So I’m off to the buy the Kurt.
So today I went to the LBS where the KK I’m testing was purchased two years ago. They don’t sell Kinetics anymore only Cycleops. The salesperson who was quite knowledgeable about the trainers said that one of his friends with the KK had 4 failures of the fluid unit on the same KK unit. He didn’t really say why they stopped selling Kinetics but had a very good spiel for the Cycleops so I’m back here to read more reviews. decisions, decisions….sigh.
No offense to that salesperson but he’s wrong. The Kurt Kinetic design simply does not fail. There is no seal TO fail. I suspect these failures are more a result that they don’t have a Kurt Kinetic to sell you than there actually being any failures. Cycleops is a good trainer too….you won’t really go wrong with either but it irks me when people diss one product in order to sell another. It doesn’t take your needs into account, only theirs.
So Cycleops has a resistance remote, and sounds as equally as great as Kinect…. Cycleops Wins.
Very difficult to decide now between KK and CycleOps. I am just to poor for risk my money. I was decided to buy a CycleOps Jet Fluid Pro. By the way, which is the difference between this and the Fluid 2? Because I found both on http://www.chainreactioncycles with a high price difference (Wiggle are not able to ship trainers to Romania and I need it in Romania).
I have sent to you a message last week, but nobody replied to me, I hope to do it this time.
Thanks.
Hi All – Just bought the KK rock and roll after considering the purchase options for a year. Living in the NW means there is an extended indoor riding season of poor weather. I have about 20 miles on it and it has been great. The smooth power curve of the resistance unit provides for a smooth roadlike feel. I really like the lateral sway of the unit that force you to pay attention to your balance and technique as you ride. Also there is a modest amount of vertical ‘bounce’ provided by the trainer which provides a bit more forgiving feel in the saddle which I expect will improve ride comfort during long winter trainer rides vs. a standard stationary trainer. Thanks for the unbiased review articles leading me to this purchase.