Drivetrain Compatibility for KICKR, CORE, and MOVE trainers

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

Compatibility Principles

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

tooth+cogcount-300.png

  • your bicycle's drivetrain in:
    1. cassette cog count (how many cogs/gears are on the cassette),
    2. cassette min/max tooth count (how many teeth on the smallest and largest cogs), and
    3. 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.  Due to the similarity in cassette cog spacing within 8, 9, 10, and 11 speed drivetrains across brand (brand A 9 speed with brand B 9 speed, NOT 9 speed with 11 speed), many riders have found that many drivetrains can be used with a different brand cassette with the same number of cogs (brand A 11 speed drivetrain with brand B 11 speed cassette) such that many 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 for acceptable compatibility.

If your bicycle's cassette has a different number of cogs than the stock cassette provided with a KICKR, CORE, or MOVE, your brand of drivetrain is not compatible with a Shimano standard for that cog count, 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, brand, 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

To support the broadest range of modern drivetrain standards, Wahoo offers 3 freehub bodies. These are:

  • 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 11-13 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 MOVE:

  • Shimano 

    • Micro Spline 12 speed mountain or gravel (requires an 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 11-50t cassette (or other 12 speed cassette designed for an HG freehub body, purchased from a third party)*
      • 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
      • Workaround with Zwift Cog.

* the nominal center-to-center spacing of Shimano MicroSpline to SRAM PG cassettes differs by .1mm. Shifting/experience may vary by drivetrain.

  • Campagnolo

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

    • 13 speed drivetrains

Trainer Drivetrain Compatibilities

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

BrandFreehub TypeCassette cog Count1.8mm spacerAlso RequiresNotes
Shimano (HG)HG 117Yes
  • Cassette
  • 4.5mm spacer
 
  8-10Yes
  • Cassette
 
  11No
  • Stock install
Cassette > 32t requires 1.8mm spacer
  12No
  • Cassette
 
SRAM (PG)HG 117Yes
  • Cassette
  • 4.5mm spacer
 
  8-10Yes
  • Cassette
 
  11No
  • Stock install
Cassette > 32t requires 1.8mm spacer
SRAM [PG] SX/NX Eagle 12Yes
  • Cassette
 
SRAM [XD] (Eagle, Eagle AXS, Transmission)XDR11-12Yes
  • Wahoo XDR freehub
  • Cassette
SRAM PG-1130/1210/1230 are compatible with stock freehub. Will lose 10t small cog.
SRAM [XDR](AXS, AXS XPLR)XDR12-13No
  • Wahoo XDR freehub
  • Cassette
 
CampagnoloCampagnolo10No 
CampagnoloHG 11 or Campagnolo11No
  • Stock Install OR
  • Wahoo Campagnolo freehub
Campagnolo drivetrain is compatible with stock cassette on KICKR. If Campagnolo cassette is desired, Wahoo Campagnolo freehub is required.
Campagnolo 12 (NOT Super Record Wireless)No
  • Wahoo Campagnolo freehub
  • Cassette
 
ROTORHG 1112No
  • Cassette
 
FSAHG 1111-12No
  • Cassette
 
MicroshiftHG 118-10Yes
  • Cassette
 
  11No
  • Cassette
 
BOXHG 117-11Yes
  • Cassette
 

Zwift Cog Compatibility [v1 and v2]

The Zwift Cog is compatible with the great majority of 8-12 speed drivetrains.  It is not compatible with belt-driven bikes or internal gear hubs such as Shimano Alfine or Nexus. Bikes equipped with 12 or 13 speed drivetrains using SRAM Flattop chains [Red, Force, Rival, or Apex AXS or Eagle Transmission], may experience slightly accelerated wear than when used with their outdoor wheel.

While a Zwift Cog could be installed on every version/generation of KICKR, Zwift virtual shifting is only compatible with KICKR v6, CORE, and MOVE.

Pre-installed Cassette Compatibilities

The 8 to 12 speed cassettes pre-installed on KICKRs, COREs, or MOVEs sold at WahooFitness.com and Zwift.com use third party cassettes built to Shimano cog spacing standards for their respective cog counts.  8-11 speed cassettes have an 11-28 tooth count range and the 12 speed cassette has an 11-30 tooth count range.

Before purchasing, please confirm -- 

  • that your drivetrain is compatible with Shimano-standard cassettes
    • For 8-10 speed, this means Shimano, SRAM, and Microshift drivetrains
    • For 11 speed, this means Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo, and Microshift drivetrains
    • For 12 speed, this means Shimano, and some SRAM drivetrains
      • This excludes drivetrains using SRAM AXS and Transmission Flattop chains.
  • that your current cassette's lowest/largest cog's tooth count is equal to or larger than the 28 or 30 teeth of the cassette installed on the trainer.  If the tooth count of the largest cog on the trainer is larger than the one on your bicycle, you can damage your drivetrain.

These cassettes are optimized for modern road bikes, which often use a larger cassette than bicycles produced prior to the late 2010s.  They can be used with mountain bikes, but you will not experience the full gear range available with your outside wheel. If you wish to use a cassette (with a larger low cog) that more closely matches your bicycle's current cassette, it will need to be purchased separately from a third party retailer.

If you have a SRAM 12 speed drivetrain, are uncertain about your drivetrain, or have other questions about compatibility, please contact our support team with the make and model of your rear derailleur, cog count, and high/low tooth count of your cassette, and an image of both and we are happy to help.

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