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    Hardware/EquipmentTrainers

    Your Picks: the Best Direct-Drive Smart Trainers Under $900

    Eric Schlange
    By Eric Schlange
    September 22, 2020
    8

    Direct-drive smart trainers provide the most enjoyable Zwifting experience since they are quieter and more accurate than wheel-on trainers. Of course, they’re also pricier!

    After several years of trainer development and iterative improvements, the direct-drive trainer market is now broken up into two groups. The budget group is priced below $900USD, with power accuracy in the +-2% range and max wattage around 2000W. The premium group comes with higher prices but increased accuracy, power, and reliability.

    Here are the top picks for budget direct-drive trainers, in no particular order. In our view, none of these trainers is better than the other – they each excel for different reasons. Buy the one that does what you need it to do!

    About Our Selections

    Thanks to almost 1000 reviews in our Smart Trainer Index, we’re able to crunch numbers and share crowdsourced buying advice on smart trainers. The trainers below were selected based on overall ratings, total number of reviews, and several other factors. This list will be continually updated as new trainers are released and Zwifters continue to share their reviews.

    The Proven Platform: Wahoo KICKR Core

    Easily the most popular trainer on this list, Wahoo’s KICKR Core has been around since mid-2018, proving itself in the pain caves of Zwifters everywhere. Similar in feel to Wahoo’s generation 3 (2017) Wahoo KICKR (both have the same 12lb flywheel) but with a smaller footprint, the Core is also compatible with the Climb, which is a big selling point for some.

    It doesn’t ship with a cassette, but if you’re looking for a trainer backed by industry-leading support, Wahoo is the way to go.

    Key Specs

    • MSRP: $899.99 USD
    • Accuracy: +-2%
    • Flywheel: 12lb
    • Max Wattage: 1800 W
    • Max Incline: 16%

    Overall Rating

    (101 reviews)

    Easy setup
    92%
    Accurate power
    73%
    Realistic inertia
    69%
    Well-built
    83%
    Helpful support
    42%
    Portable/storable
    29%
    Quiet
    86%
    Budget-friendly
    45%

    About this chart

    Read all reviews

    Related Posts

    Where to Buy

    Backcountry
    Competitive Cyclist $899.99 In stock
    Wahoo $899.99 In stock
    REI Out of stock

    Looking for more info on the Wahoo KICKR Core?

    Click for detailed specifications, reviews from Zwifters, and more!

    The Affordable Newbie: Zwift Hub

    When Zwift announced their first smart trainer, the Hub, in September 2022, it shook up the indoor training world because it was priced well below the competition. At just $499USD, the Zwift Hub handily beats other mid-range trainers on price, while matching (or nearly matching) them on specs.

    In short, if you’re looking to get your first direct drive trainer without breaking the bank, this is the trainer for you. It’s also the easiest of our three picks to set up, since it ships with a cassette of your choice.

    Key Specs

    • MSRP: $499 USD
    • Accuracy: +-2.5%
    • Flywheel: 4.7kg
    • Max Wattage: 1800 W
    • Max Incline: 16%

    Overall Rating

    (0 reviews)

    Read all reviews

    Related Posts

    Where to Buy

    Zwift $499 In stock

    Looking for more info on the Zwift Hub?

    Click for detailed specifications, reviews from Zwifters, and more!

    The Dark Horse: Tacx Flux 2 Smart

    Judging by inventory availability, the Flux 2 Smart is the least popular of our three picks. But it’s a solid trainer with the beefiest specs of the bunch: the largest flywheel and the highest max wattage.

    While the Flux 2 doesn’t ship with a cassette or fold up for easy storage, it beats the popular KICKR Core on specs while matching it on price. (It’s also a bit noisier, to be fair!)

    Key Specs

    • MSRP: $899.99 USD
    • Accuracy: +-2.5%
    • Flywheel: 16lb
    • Max Wattage: 2000 W
    • Max Incline: 16%

    Overall Rating

    (19 reviews)

    Easy setup
    84%
    Accurate power
    74%
    Realistic inertia
    53%
    Well-built
    79%
    Helpful support
    32%
    Portable/storable
    11%
    Quiet
    84%
    Budget-friendly
    32%

    About this chart

    Read all reviews

    Related Posts

    Where to Buy

    JensonUSA $899.00 In Stock
    Power Meter City In stock
    Garmin
    The Pro’s Closet $999.99 In stock
    REI $900 In stock
    Amazon

    Looking for more info on the Tacx Flux 2?

    Click for detailed specifications, reviews from Zwifters, and more!

    Questions or Comments?

    Got trainer questions? Want to let us know what you think of our choices? Comment below!

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      Eric Schlange
      Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
      Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

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      thisisthematt
      thisisthematt(@thisisthematt)
      2 years ago

      Suito isn’t looking great on the accuracy score, could be interesting if a bunch of people pick them up for racing.

      0
      Reply
      James
      James
      2 years ago
      Reply to  thisisthematt

      Interesting to see the accuracy score quite low. I’ve had my Suito for a year, and it was very slow to respond for the first eight months or so. Then, I realized Elite has a separate app for updating the trainer. Did some updates, and now it’s way more accurate. I wonder if a lot of those people don’t know they can update it to fix the power issue?

      6
      Reply
      leprechaun
      leprechaun
      2 years ago
      Reply to  James

      Exactly, James. I got my Suito a month ago and while it’s indeed a bit slow to respond, the accuracy is pretty good – I got it already updated, probably.

      1
      Reply
      KarstenT
      KarstenT
      2 years ago
      Reply to  thisisthematt

      I would agree on the comments re accuracy of the Suito, it definitely doesn’t feel like 39%. I was initially doubting the accuracy and felt that it showed around 10% lower power than my Assioma Duo power meters, but after I sent in comparison data to Elite they said it’s a match. I am now using power from the Suito directly instead of my power meter pedals. Still feel I am getting a 5-10% discount versus what I had on a Keiser M3i in the gym and what I get on my SRAM power spider when riding outdoors for a… Read more »

      0
      Reply
      Neil coles
      Neil coles
      2 years ago

      Tacx as a dark horse? It’s Garmin…the commercial giant of the bunch. It’s only lower users because they try and price everything higher than specs. Still..a decent trainer despite lousy service

      -1
      Reply
      Andrew Bennett
      Andrew Bennett(@benneaf)
      2 years ago

      What about the Kurt Kinetic R1? They’ve cut the price down to $699. I know it’s not as accurate or as quiet as some, but it’s $699 and you don’t need a rocker platform. Thoughts?

      1
      Reply
      Ruffin
      Ruffin
      1 year ago

      The Suito is easy to set up unless your bike doesn’t have a Shimano® 105 (or equivalent) 11-speed cassette compatible rear wheel. My 20 year-old GT Palomar did not, and now I didn’t just need to track down and install a cassette (and spacers) that worked with my bike, I also needed to remove the preinstalled cassette that was there. Welcome to the world of chain whips, etc. Also note that my single speed frame was too narrow to fit over the hub. Most won’t be using bikes that old or trying to use a single speed, but this is… Read more »

      1
      Reply
      Shaun TheDiver
      Shaun TheDiver
      6 months ago

      Think this article is due a major overhaul.

      3
      Reply
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