Kinetic Road Machine Fluid indoor bike trainer

I used one for long time, it is very good and excellent quality. Probably top of the line fluid trainer. Only replaced because I wanted modern smart trainer.

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none to inspect in my area

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Is there an REI close? They usually have Kurt Kinetic in the store. Also check Performance Bike's website. They are going out of business and there might be huge discounts on trainers. Don't think they carry KK, but they have Cyclops and the Magnus from them is pretty decent as well. Performance used to also carry a trainer called Travel Trac Mag+ that was like $99. It is by no means the best trainer out there, but is considered a very good value. I used one for years. It maxed out at ~350 watts, which isn't very high for HIIT, but I could do 95% of my workouts with no issue.

I did change from a wheel on trainer (bike wheel stays on the bike) to a direct drive (no back wheel and bike mounts to trainer). They are typically more expensive, but if in the budget, it's much more quiet and doesn't wear out your tire. I got tired of having the separate wheel with a dedicated trainer tire on it.


ETA: to address your original question, the KK Road Machine is definitely a good trainer if not the best in that class.

They sell tire with a much tougher rubber that doesn't wear out (but is terrible for riding outdoors), but you basically have to have an extra wheel with that tire on it, or re-mount a tire every time you want to put the bike on a trainer.

I actually have a trainer tire laying around, so if you end up going that route and need one, you can have it if you pay shipping (~$8 shipping, tire is usually ~$35). I hate throwing away good stuff like that, but I have no use for it and it really doesn't have a secondary market. I've got 2 Rubbermaid containers in the garage of that kind of crap .