Kinetic Road Machine Bicycle Trainer Review
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- čas přidán 18. 10. 2018
- WELCOME TO STEVE'S GARAGE ...
Steve Greene takes his first look at the Kinetic Road Machine Fluid Bicycle Trainer, and offers his thoughts as he learns about it. This small bicycle training machine allows for riding indoors during inclement weather, thereby achieving needed cardiovascular benefits regardless of what may be happening outdoors.
Steve's new Kinetic Road Machine trainer is actually a refurbished unit, indistinguishable from a higher priced new unit, but it is still covered by Kinetic with the full lifetime warranty. On the Kinetic website they state: "This unit is certified refurbished and under full warranty. Packaging many be damaged and possible minor scratches or cosmetic issues to product." Steve found no damage or evidence on the trainer of any kind that would lead one to believe it was refurbished, thus it was a choice that allowed him to save a considerable amount of money.
He ordered the Kinetic Road Machine trainer directly from the Kinetic company website, which can be accessed at this link (by the way, Kinetic tossed in the shipping at no cost):
www.kurtkinetic.com/trainers-... - Sport
Hi Steve! Thanks for sharing! You might want to note that the noise that you're hearing from the training is probably mostly from your rear tire tread. If you use a training or smooth road tire, it will be much quieter.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the tip on the noise! That makes sense, as even though there is road tread on my tire, I'm sure it's more than on a training tire, which is probably closer to a slick in design, I imagine. I remember when I used to have a Jeep with off-road tires, and the tire whine on the pavement was quite loud. So this sounds like the same principle. Even with the tread, the noise isn't what I would call annoying or intolerable. I suspect I'll be able to listen to the radio without any problem. If I take to using this indoor trainer, I may get myself a training tire. We'll see.
Steve
Hi Steve, its been awhile. You do find the good things for training. BTW, what bike is that in your video? Looks nice, but you always did have nice stuff for training. Thanks for sharing.
Hey there Glenn! So far, I like this trainer, but will know more in the coming weeks and months when the rains dampen my outdoor riding spirit. That bike is a Specialized Roll Elite, which I bought at the local bike shop back in April as an "all purpose" vehicle (so far, I love it - simple, lightweight, durable, and inexpensive). I did a full 50 minute review of this bike not long ago, which you can watch at the following link:
czcams.com/video/_cNDq_CZKQU/video.html
Thanks for stopping by and watching my stuff! Take care.
Steve
Very helpful video,thank you. I have one question though. Will it work with 20 inch wheels?
Hey, thanks for the question! I just visited the Kinetic website, and here is what is says about wheel size:
"Frame fits 22-inch to 29-inch wheels"
Here is the link where I found the trainer in this video:
www.kurtkinetic.com/trainers-products/road-machine-smart-2
I would recommend visiting the Kinetic website to see if they have one that fits 20" wheels, or better and quicker, call the company and ask them at: 1-877- 226-7824 (they are in Minneapolis, Minnesota).
I would think they have one that would fit a 20" trike wheel, but I don't know for sure.
Here is a website you might find VERY useful, where they have evaluated the five best trainers, with pros and cons for each one, and they compare the group:
bestreviews.com/best-bike-trainers
Good luck with your search!
steve
bike hobo
@@EZSteve thank you for going to such trouble,much appreciated.
@@slicedpage You are more than welcome my friend! Take care and stay safe.
How would a smooth metal roller wear out a tire faster than asphalt and gravel?
I could only speculate as to the answer, but it definitely was quickly wearing down the rubber tread area, noticeably over a few weeks use on the roller. Perhaps it is due to the increased friction and heat of the tire, which is a different dynamic than pedaling on a roadway.
steve
@@EZSteve I just ordered one . I have the exact same bike as you! I love mine. It's not the lightest bike in the world but it's comfortable.
I might run a fan pointed straight at the roller maybe it'll keep it cool! haha We will see.
@@spaceghost8995 I just remembered that they make a special tire that is heat resistant that is just for using the roller, so if you wanted, you could have it mounted on another rim, and swap out the rear wheel when using the roller. The special roller tire is not to be used on the road however.
steve
skip to 1:26 for beginning
Will this work with 120mm spacing?
Hey there again Drew ...
I have a new link for this trainer that is updated:
www.kurtkinetic.com/trainers-products/road-machine-smart-2
This trainer fits wheels from 22 inches to 29 inches. I cannot answer your question about the 120 mm spacing however. I would advise calling Kinetic and asking the experts directly (I'm just a rather ordinary bicycle riding guy, with not a lot of tech knowledge, haha). The current price for a new trainer is $299 on their website page. Here is the telephone number to ask them your 120 mm spacing question:
1-877- 226-7824
steve
Bike Hobo
Will this work with single speed bike?
Yes, I believe it will, but to be safe, I would advise emailing the company and verifying that there is nothing that would prohibit using it with a single speed bike.
steve
Sir; I love your review so much I can't stop watching. Next time, wear a more revealing clothing and focus the camera a bit more to the saddle area. I will appreciate that very much.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I also have a health and fitness channel at:
czcams.com/users/IronVeganvideos
Put a wheel with a proper trainer tire and you're good to go. The trainer will destroy your regular tire.
Does the trainer wear down a regular road tire faster than it would wear down actually on the pavement? Seems like the trainer with its smooth metal running surface would put less wear on a tread than rough pavement with bumps and irregularities.
Trike Hobo It’s the heat that would break down the tire.
@@garvdab8370 Oh, okay Gary ... thanks for that info. I've never had a trainer before, so this is all new territory for me. I prefer actual riding outdoors, and so far have only used the trainer for a single one-hour session in the garage. I try to do my rides between rains, but now it's the middle of December, so I might not remain quite so lucky as the winter intensifies. The trainer is great at making the bike a cardio tool, but it takes the balance and adventure out of the ride. And regarding balance, I don't think I'd do too well at mastering rollers ;-)
@@garvdab8370Wonder if a small fan pointed directly at the wheel/roller contact point would keep it cooled down?
Wow looks like my Specialized Roll bike you have .
My Kinetic trainer broke under two years of moderate usage, terrible customer service, would not recommend Kinetic trainers.
That is good to know. I no longer have my trainer either. It still worked fine, but I found that it seemed to be wearing out my rear tire at an accelerated rate, so I decided to sell it. I realize that Kinetic says not to use normal tires, and to use only their special trainer tire that is made for the trainer because it does not wear like a regular tire, but I did not want to have the hassle of changing out the rear wheel and tire every time I used the trainer (which seemed ridiculous to me - I mean, I would have to have a second bike just set up for the trainer only because on sunny days, I wanted to ride outdoors). Anyway, it's good to know your experience with the company's customer service! Guess I made the best choice for me in getting rid of it. Thanks for your comment.
steve
How do you destroy a piece of metal? The thing would break my foot if I dropped it...