Drivetrain Compatibility for KICKR MOVE, KICKR and CORE

The following article applies to KICKR MOVE, KICKR version 4 (2018) and newer, and the CORE. In order to identify your trainer, please see this trainer identification article.  In order to confirm if your bicycle's frame is compatible with a KICKR or CORE, please see the bicycle frame compatibility article for KICKR, KICKR MOVE or CORE.  

Compatibility Principles

Drivetrain compatibility with a KICKR or CORE requires that a cassette to be installed on the trainer is compatible with:

• your bicycle's drivetrain in:
  • cog count (how many cogs/gears on the rear sprocket),
  • min/max tooth count (how many teeth on the smallest and largest cogs), and
  • in some cases, your drivetrain's brand (as some brand chains/derailleurs will only interface properly within that brand's system).  
• a freehub body (the component of the trainer, or a wheel, onto which the cassette is mounted).

Using a cassette incompatible with your bicycle’s drivetrain can result in damage to the cassette or other parts of your drivetrain.  Most current and recent bicycles have a cassette with between 7 and 13 cogs. For example, the stock cassette provided with a KICKR has 11 cogs, with 11 and 28 teeth on the highest and lowest cogs. 

Due to the similarity in cassette cog spacing in 11 speed systems, many riders have found that most 11 speed drivetrains can be run cross-brand, such that most 11 speed bikes can be used with the stock cassette installed on a KICKR with only minor adjustments to a rear derailleur. For the most precise shifting, please refer to your drivetrain manufacturer's documentation.

If your bicycle's cassette has a different number of cogs (7, 8, 9, 10, or 12), you cannot use the stock cassette provided with the KICKR. In that case, or if you wish to use a wider range cassette (with a larger low cog) that more closely matches your bicycle's current cassette, you will need to:

• purchase another cassette that matches your drivetrain in cog count and min/max tooth count from a third party. 

and may also need to:

• install a 1.8mm cassette low spacer (behind the cassette)
• purchase and install a 4.5mm cassette low spacer (with the 1.8mm spacer behind the cassette) from a 3rd party (7 speed only)
• purchase a different freehub body (some SRAM and any compatible Campagnolo drivetrain -- see below)
  
  

Supported Drivetrain Systems

Wahoo offers freehub bodies to support the majority of drivetrain standards. These include:

• The stock Shimano HyperGlide 11 (HG 11) compatible freehub body is compatible with Shimano HG, SRAM PowerGlide (PG), and other drivetrain cassettes with 7-12 cogs. This is included with KICKRs and CORE.
• A SRAM XDR compatible freehub body, sold separately, for SRAM XG and XS cassettes for Eagle, Eagle AXS, Eagle Transmission, AXS, and AXS XPLR drivetrains with 11-12 cogs.
• A Campagnolo compatible freehub body, sold separately, for most Campagnolo cassettes with 10-12 cogs. See below.
  
  

Known Incompatibilities

The following drivetrains are NOT COMPATIBLE with KICKR or CORE:

• Shimano 

  • Micro Spline 12 speed mountain or gravel (requires unavailable freehub body)
    • Workaround for 12 speed Shimano mountain drivetrains -- Many users have found they can be used with:
      • the stock Shimano HG 11 compatible freehub body and
      • a SRAM PG-1210 or 1230 12-50t cassette purchased from a third party OR
      • the SRAM XDR freehub body, sold separately, and
      • the 1.8mm cassette low spacer included with the KICKR or CORE
    • Workaround for new GRX 12 speed drivetrains, use with:
      • the stock Shimano HG 11 compatible freehub body and 
      • if the cage will support 50 tooth low cog, use the SRAM PG-1210 or 1230 cassette.
      • if it will not, use the 105 12 speed 11-34 (CS-R7101-12) or 11-36  (CS-HG710-12) cassette

• Campagnolo

  • 7-9 speed drivetrains (legacy design not supported by current Campagnolo freehub body design)
  • 10 speed drivetrains with older 8-arm style cassettes
  • 12 speed Super Record Wireless drivetrains (requires unavailable N3W freehub body)
  • 13 speed Ekar drivetrains (requires unavailable N3W freehub body)

• Rotor

  • 13 speed drivetrains
    
    

Compatibilities

The following drivetrains are COMPATIBLE with KICKR or CORE when the conditions noted below are met.