The V5 has indeed a feature set that is different from the core, it’s more advanced and aligns closer with what the V6 has in store tech and chipwise.
If you can run virtual shifting on the hardware of a kickr core and on the hardware of the kickr V6 you sure as hell can run it on the V5 but that is not in their business interest.
It’s as simple as that!
I’m 99,99% sure that if you could talk to some wahoo employees off the record that this would become clear.
the only thing they really did wrong is float the idea out there that it was coming to the v5 and v4 as a free firmware update in the first place. when i bought my own v5, there wasn’t any mention of virtual shifting out there
my condolences to anyone who bought one on the assumption that they were going to get it though. they might be saltier than myself
I agree it’s not in their interest. However it was also not in their interest to release virtual gears for kick core backwards. I don’t understand why kick core doesn’t have a version and the ‘premium’ model KICK has v1, v2, v3, v4, v5, v6. Core got backward gears and Kick didn’t. It’s obvious it’s an arrangement with ZWIFT.
But I still don’t understand why gear changes can’t be done by the ZWIFT software.
Wahoo, the Llama’s and other dudes put it out there that it was coming soon. Going with the New Jet Black trainer when it comes out and selling the V5.
Free firmware updates are mainly intended to fix bugs or for security reasons. Maybe firmware updates with a price tag can offer a solution. In this way they do not sell new hardware (less junk on the planet ) but still earn money from the development or improvement of the product. In the end it is all about money. If you see what NASA did, and is doing with Pioneers & Voyagers. Don’t tell me an upgrade is impossible.
There is a saying that it’s much more expensive to attract new customers than retain existing ones and getting customers to return is even harder.
I’m deep in the Wahoo ecosystem but aren’t going to upgrade my Kickr v5 just for virtual shifting. I’ll spend that money and more elsewhere, I’m looking for a new bike computer and a Roam has gone from most likely to not in the race. As of today the Click and Cog is available from Wahoo Australia so that’s another $129.95 they aren’t getting from me.
) but still earn money from the development or improvement of the product. In the end it is all about money. If you see what NASA did, and is doing with Pioneers & Voyagers. Don’t tell me an upgrade is impossible.