I purchased the Zwift Ride with Kickr Core V2 last week (in London). Out of the box, the Zwift ride + Kickr Core v2 do not work in all rides and workouts. The resistance drops periodically to zero about every 7 seconds AT ALL TIME. The freewheel or freehub makes loud, frequent clanking or stamping noises whenever the resistance drops to zero. In a nutshell, the Zwift Ride is totally bricked and non-functional.
I contacted the customer service, and they were initially quick to respond with three different staff members in each reply. I sent them videos of the problem and the power graph from my Assioma power meter.
Here is the summary of my failed attempts to resolve the issues:
-Updated the firmware for the Kickr v2.
-Set the wi-fi frequency for the Kickr core v2 and tablet both to 2.4GHz.
-Tried running Zwift app using different devices (tablet, PC and mobile phone) with one App running at a time.
-Eliminated any possibility of Bluetooth interference by switching off all Bluetooth devices at home.
-Ensured the chain is tight and everything is set up according to instructions.
-Tried using an ANT+ dongle to connect to the Kickr V2 instead of Bluetooth.
When the customer service could not help me fix the problem, they said they would contact the ‘Zwift specialists’. After a few days, I have received no reply from them. I have checked Truspilot reviews of Zwift, and they are very negative. This really bothers me, as I have spent over £1000 and another £180 on an annual subscription, and so far, I cannot get a single ride to work out of the box. Yesterday I wrote to customer service asking to have the Kickr V2 and Zwift frame returned and replaced, but I have not received a reply.
I believe the Kickr Core V2 may have a faulty magnetic resistance controller (the controller driver sends a high-frequency PWM signal to a MOSFET that controls the electromagnet current). The periodic drops in resistance indicate a hardware fault. In addition, the frequent loud clanking or stamping from the freewheel may be due to mechanical damage from the failing resistance controller. It would be better if I could return the Zwift Ride frame, in case the freehub/freewheel is damaged as well.
Before all this nightmare, I was very positive, looking forward to owning a Zwift Ride, but I’m questioning myself: should I return everything and get a full refund? I was looking to buy a Wattbike or just be contented sticking with my dumb indoor bike training with a power meter.
