Just to clarify, you talking KICKR BIKE, or KICKR Bike SHIFT? The thread was on SHIFT.
While both are made by the same company, the reality is they are ENTIRELY different bikes. Frankly, there’s almost nothing shared between them except for the crappy seatpost, and handlebars.
The drive technology, the crankset, etc… all totally different. As for the KICKR Bike (not SHIFT) making noise, of course. It makes noise when I start walking towards it.
Presumably, it is trembling in fear of your expectations … 
By the way, did you check in with Wahoo about different shifters (flat bar shifters or TT shifters)?
They’ve been talking about secondary shifters/expansions forever, but, hasn’t ever happened. I’ll poke them again on my next volley.
I thought there were competing subthreads on both bikes. I may have misread the flow.
Yes, they would be completely different devices. Not sure of that’s a good thing, but if they use the same Vietnamese engineering and manufacturing companies, I’d expect a mixed bag of reliability…
And a Tacx/Garmin ‘engineer’ promised the new Neo Smart shifters would trickle down to the existing bike owners ‘soon’. And… Nothing to my knowledge yet. The old ones do result on stronger index finger I guess…
For those using the Shift, don’t you find limiting the fact that you’re stuck in one position?
Sometimes I put something under the wheel of my bike (classic turbo setup) just to get different muscles working and I find that it helps in particular in those moments of the year when indoor training is almost or all I can do.
Like almost all other people in the world who are on a trainer without a CLMB?
Except you can’t use clmb or anything of that sort with these bikes. My question was more nuanced than that obviously. Sometimes I just use a thick book as I was alluding above.
If one is investing that much for a dedicated indoor bike I’d assume one uses it quite frequently and potentially for long sessions.
So do these fixed bikes make really sense if you’re just stuck in flat riding position?
This is what is keeping from potentially getting any dedicated bike other than the kickr v1/2 which for me is priced too high also considering the quality concerns around it.
I would not want one that has it. Just one more thing to break that isn’t replaceable
Yes. Just like any bike & trainer combo. Those with the desire can easily block up the front section to alter pitch angle just like a front wheel riser on a split setup. It will be heavier, but totally possible for anyone with the desire.
That aside, IMO pitch is less influential to the ride experience compared to lean angle and fore-aft that can be added to smart bikes and regular setups. This is a comfort improvement for the majority of people who try motion setups, and they are used on smart bikes even with their larger size and base weight.
Main point that I wouldn’t exclude a smart bike from consideration on those grounds. I have other concerns with them that keep me away, but pitch and motion are easily addressed.
Slightly off topic, but the most interesting line in this was “Expect me to add more bikes to this list in the near future, including the Mouv bike that’s been at the DCR Cave for the last few months.” at the end of the Indoor Bike Comparison section. I’m really interested in reading the Mouv Bike review, and other unnamed bikes in the future.
With Stages disappearing, I’m slowly looking at what I will replace my SB20 with. So hoping that more companies introduce better smart bikes, and existing companies further refine their offerings to make them better / more robust.
I have a Kickr V1 and never use the tilt feature. It’s just not something I really desire to think about.
I just got a Kickr Shift that was on sale via Trek. Here is my review as a 74 year old codger.
set up was easy as I simply replicated the measurements of my road bike.
I used an old app, Ergvideo, to validate its accuracy. In that regard, I used Garmin Vector pedals that were known to be accurate. Ergvideo allows you to ride in erg mode and simultaneously track two power sources. essentially the program is designed for multiriders and it thinks your trainer is one bike and a power meter is source two. The program starts and stops the ride at the same exact time for both sources. Thus, you can upload to DC Rainmaker analyzer and precisely compare the two sources. in this “test” the Shift was within a couple of watts of the Garmin pedals during any interval more than around 5 seconds. So accuracy seems good.
Ride feel is fine. Nothing exactly replicates outdoors, but the Shift felt good on both Zwift and Wahoo Sufferfest.
Quite Quiet. No more to say.
Shifting is instantaneous, but gives little feedback. Not a huge deal, but it’s kinda hard to know you shifted save effort level changes in sim mode.
Bars, stem and seat post are standard dimensions so you can easily swap any for whatever you want.
Yea, I like it. Best is accuracy and fitting just like my main road bike.