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.
The KICKR CORE does not have DIRCON.
The KICKR v5 has DIRCON.
That adds to memory usage, which probably explains why the KICKR v5 cannot support Zwift’s method of virtual shifting.
So for me it is, because Wahoo just want to sell new devices. I found QZ Fitness App and with this App it is working perfectly and i can use virtual shifting in zwift with my “old” Kickr v5. I am publishing a video today in Youtube just search for “Use Virtual Shifting Zwift Play with older Trainers | Wahoo Kickr V5” in Youtube as i cannot post a link in this forum.
I tried it but, for me it works very slowly. Also my Kicrkr Climb started moving when I change gears using this program. I was riding a flat route and my CLIMB was at 20%.
This is crazy! Before I bought my Zwift Ride, I double checked that my Kickr was compatible. I bought it from Wahoo in 2022, so I assumed it was a v6 based on purchase date. Now, after all kinds of headache and confusion, I finally checked the little serial sticker and see a v5. What a bummer. To make matters worse, it seems that the Zwift Ride controllers can’t connect directly to the app either. So, what’s the point of them? Also… why can’t this all be resolved in the app? It seems that rpm at a specific resistance equal gear ratio. Why not just manipulate that? If the gradient can be changed by the app, why not some version of RPM that simulates shifting.
) 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.