Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hey guys, looking at preparing myself for the winter months ahead as we have already been having a bit of terrible weather.

From all reviews the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine is the way to go in terms of realism and reliability... My main question is what size flywheel is best? Is the standard fine or should i upgrade it? Also anybody know of some good deals for one of these?

Thanks.

Standard road machine is fine.

skip9 wrote:Hey guys, looking at preparing myself for the winter months ahead as we have already been having a bit of terrible weather.

From all reviews the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine is the way to go in terms of realism and reliability... My main question is what size flywheel is best? Is the standard fine or should i upgrade it? Also anybody know of some good deals for one of these?

Thanks.

I don't think there is a lot in it - most people take the Road Machine.

skip9 wrote:Also anybody know of some good deals for one of these?
Thanks.

I got mine (Large Flywheel) from Chain Reaction but they don't sell them now it seems.

Locally, I think cycling-inform did them at the best price when I was looking but there are bound to be a few players in the market now.

if i had my time again, i would buy kurt kinetic ...

standard flywheel is fine. I have had mine for a while and i have noticed a big difference

Love my Kurt Kinetic Machine. The included DVD "Spinervals" was a bit eye-opening, in terms of how it is commercialised, but hey it's the USA.

It's not too noisy but does get hot. Strongly suggest a dedicated trainer tyre (even a wheel if funds allow), and a rubber mat from Clark Rubber on the floor.

How much do these trainers go for roughly, I've had a quick look and it seems about $600 ish? Any good online stockers?

If you'd prefer AU, then $524 to your door.
http://www.cycling-inform.com/store/pro ... ainer.html

About $370 to your door from JensenUSA. c r c aren't selling them at the moment.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ ... ainer.aspx
http://www.bikeman.com/WT1500.html

I got mine as an unloved demo machine. Sitting on the floor at one of the shops and I asked if the dust catcher was for sale. Absolute steal at $380.

Beautiful thanks fellas you beat Google, that's where I got the 600 price tag.

Nobody wrote:If you'd prefer AU, then $524 to your door.
http://www.cycling-inform.com/store/pro ... ainer.html

About $370 to your door from JensenUSA. c r c aren't selling them at the moment.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ ... ainer.aspx
http://www.bikeman.com/WT1500.html

We've sell them for $489 delivered:

http://www.pro-liteoz.com/store/index.p ... oductId=58

There is no-stock in Australia at the moment though - the distributor is supposed to be getting a shipment this month. They've missed a couple of deadlines already so I am not holding my breath but hopefully we'll have stock again soon...

Hopefully not too off topic...

I see the Pro Lite page for this says "Quiet".

I have this Tranzx trainer from Torpedo7, and the page there also says "very quiet". It's the only trainer I've used, but it's not really quiet at all. SWMBO also says the same when I get up for a 5am spin before going to work and complains that the noise filters through the house quite well . Obviously there is tyre noise to take in to account, but it's hard to tell the difference between tyre noise and noises from the guts of the trainer. I do notice that there appears to be a "quiet spot" between 33ish and 40km/h. I have no explanation for that .

The Tranzx is a mag trainer, while the Kurt is a fluid trainer (not that I really know what the difference is). Is the Kurt Kinetic any quieter? Is any trainer type quieter for that matter? SWMBO would be happy with the outlay for a more expensive trainer if it meant she got more sleep!

Cheers,
Simon.

I don't think many of us have sprung for the cost to compare two machines.

My Kurt Kinetic Machine sits on a thick rubber mat I bought from Clark Rubber. Keeps the floor dry but really deadens the sound. The big pedestal fan I have facing me makes more noise!

I saw somewhere in the forums a posting where someone had theirs on a wooden board with an EVA foam sheet underneath to quieten the noise. Might wobble slightly but seems a good idea.

Ah, I hadn't thought of rubber matting. I'll check out Clark Rubber on the weekend.

The pedestal fan I'm using (an IXL Vitesse 46cm fan) is a fairly decent/large/loud-in-the-scheme-of-fans thing and is quieter than the trainer.

Cheers,
Simon.

snark wrote:Hopefully not too off topic...

I see the Pro Lite page for this says "Quiet".

I have this Tranzx trainer from Torpedo7, and the page there also says "very quiet". It's the only trainer I've used, but it's not really quiet at all. SWMBO also says the same when I get up for a 5am spin before going to work and complains that the noise filters through the house quite well . Obviously there is tyre noise to take in to account, but it's hard to tell the difference between tyre noise and noises from the guts of the trainer.

Cheers,
Simon.

I have the same trainer and pulled it apart to try and find out why there was play in the roller shaft and why all the noise. For some reason there is a low part in the roller shaft that is very close to where the bearing on that side is. I can't keep the shaft from locating itself onto that narrow part of the shaft. The resistance unit ends up rubbing on itself because of the play, hence all the noise.








I have recommended these as a good cheap trainer before. After pulling it apart now I reckon they are just a cheap trainer. It will be nice to get a quieter one so I can hear my cycling DVDs without the volume flat out so that the poor tv speakers are nearly leaping out of the set.

snark wrote:Hopefully not too off topic...

I see the Pro Lite page for this says "Quiet".

I have this Tranzx trainer from Torpedo7, and the page there also says "very quiet". It's the only trainer I've used, but it's not really quiet at all. SWMBO also says the same when I get up for a 5am spin before going to work and complains that the noise filters through the house quite well . Obviously there is tyre noise to take in to account, but it's hard to tell the difference between tyre noise and noises from the guts of the trainer. I do notice that there appears to be a "quiet spot" between 33ish and 40km/h. I have no explanation for that .

The Tranzx is a mag trainer, while the Kurt is a fluid trainer (not that I really know what the difference is). Is the Kurt Kinetic any quieter? Is any trainer type quieter for that matter? SWMBO would be happy with the outlay for a more expensive trainer if it meant she got more sleep!

Cheers,
Simon.

The Kurt fluid trainer is SILENT - all you will hear is the chain on your bike and a little noise where the tyre contacts the roller.

I have an Elite Mag trainer as well and its pretty quiet however in comparison it makes a lot more noise than the Kurt.

Interesting pics Parrott. I picked up a square of "non-slip" rubber matting (maybe a cm thick) from Clark Rubber today, and while it does seems a little quieter there's definitely more noise from the guts than was being caused by any (if any!) vibration type noise.

jacks1071 wrote:The Kurt fluid trainer is SILENT - all you will hear is the chain on your bike and a little noise where the tyre contacts the roller.

I have an Elite Mag trainer as well and its pretty quiet however in comparison it makes a lot more noise than the Kurt.

Thanks Jacks, that's the sort of feedback I was looking for. Time to go shopping... again.

Cheers,
Simon.

snark wrote:Interesting pics Parrott. I picked up a square of "non-slip" rubber matting (maybe a cm thick) from Clark Rubber today, and while it does seems a little quieter there's definitely more noise from the guts than was being caused by any (if any!) vibration type noise.

jacks1071 wrote:The Kurt fluid trainer is SILENT - all you will hear is the chain on your bike and a little noise where the tyre contacts the roller.

I have an Elite Mag trainer as well and its pretty quiet however in comparison it makes a lot more noise than the Kurt.

Thanks Jacks, that's the sort of feedback I was looking for. Time to go shopping... again.

Cheers,
Simon.

The Aussie Kurt distributor informs me today that their shipment is "on the water" - I expect we would be shipping them 2nd week of April if anyone wants to back-order from us. I already have a lot of people who've paid deposits but can add to my order.

I have no idea how many they will have spare but they've been out of stock since about November so I would expect their shipment to be just about sold-out with back orders.

snark wrote:Interesting pics Parrott. I picked up a square of "non-slip" rubber matting (maybe a cm thick) from Clark Rubber today, and while it does seems a little quieter there's definitely more noise from the guts than was being caused by any (if any!) vibration type noise.

jacks1071 wrote:The Kurt fluid trainer is SILENT - all you will hear is the chain on your bike and a little noise where the tyre contacts the roller.

I have an Elite Mag trainer as well and its pretty quiet however in comparison it makes a lot more noise than the Kurt.

Thanks Jacks, that's the sort of feedback I was looking for. Time to go shopping... again.

Cheers,
Simon.

The Kurt's are in Australia and we'll be sending out the first stock to those who back-ordered later this week.