Kinetic says the era of the fluid trainer is officially dead, as they launch the Kinetic RS Power – a power-reporting, semi-smart direct-drive trainer that’s only half the cost of their flagship Rock and Roll model. Pared back to the essentials, the RS Power looks like a great option for riders looking for a more affordable but secure setup for connected online indoor training with popular platforms like Zwift, Rouvy, RGT, and more.
It also looks kinda familiar…
Kinetic RS Power affordable direct drive indoor trainer
c. Kinetic
Kinetic calls their new T2900 RS Power direct-drive indoor cycling trainer a cost-effective solution for the beginner indoor cyclist. It gets the basic features you need to connect to virtual online riding and training platforms, without the extras like full smart control or Kinetic’s signature Rock & Roll features that add a lot to the cost – like on their $700 R1 trainer.
The RS Power isn’t quite smart, it does track & transmit your power output (±3% power accuracy) but does NOT include smart remote resistance control that would allow those platforms to make your ride easier or harder for a more immersive virtual riding experience.
Tech Details
Kinetic RS Power (left), Magene T100 Power (right)
Here’s where our familiarity with the new green Kinetic T2900 RS Power comes in… it looks like Kinetic paired up with Chinese cycling fitness tech company Magene (who also do low-cost power meters) and this is simply a rebranded Magene T100 Power trainer (in white). That’s probably not a bad thing, as Magene has building & selling these for a while, but without much distribution out of Asia.
The Kinetic RS Power features an internal belt-drive to spin a large ~10kg flywheel for a realistic ride feel indoors, while keeping noise to a moderate level of 60dB.
Its onboard power sensor is rated to 700w, and powered by two AA batteries it communicates via ANT+ & Bluetooth for an estimated 360 hours to connect to most smartphones, tablets & laptops. No wires mean it is more portable than many power-enabled indoor trainers, and Kinetic also says it folds to take up a bit less space when not in use.
The RS Power includes endcaps that make it compatible with 130/135mm quick release and 12mm x 142/148mm thru-axles. It comes standard with a Shimano HG cassette body for Shimano & SRAM 8-11 speed drivetrains or new Di2 12sp. An XDR driver for SRAM 12-speed compatibility is available separately (although not yet on their website). Officially no Campy freehubs are available.
Kinetic RS Power – Pricing & availability
The new Kinetic RS Power semi-smart indoor trainer sells for just $349, or just thirty bucks more with an 11-speed cassette already installed. Kinetic says you can connect the new budget direct-drive trainer to FulGaz, Kinomap, Onelap (with free 3-month trial subscription), Rouvy, TrainerRoad, Zwift, their own Kinetic Fit, and many other indoor training software platforms. Get your now, direct from:
It’s not a smart trainer at all. It’s just a power meter attached to a dumb trainer. That’s perfectly fine and is likely a great solution for a lot of riders, but saying it “isn’t quite smart” is a lot like saying that being dead is not quite being alive. That kind of language is misleading.
I’d have rather seen remote resistance control than a power meter (let it piggy back your existing power meter), but I can still see some value here at $349. With a 10kg flywheel, one would presume it has good “road feel.” If so, and if the noise is as low as claimed, it seems like a modern day version of the LeMond Revolution that won’t wake your neighbors when wound up.
Yeah, if you check out the usual suspects (like GP Lama & Smart Bike Trainers) and watch their reviews of the Magene T100, you can see that this trainer had decent road feel, especially for the price. Not sure it rivals the Lemond in the grand scheme, but it sounds like it’s plenty good and usable.
Also, The power data is decent for the price, but has issues as they show. Overall, I think it’s a good option at the price and gets beyond the tire slip issues of typical wheel-on trainers at this price point.
Trainers without virtuality and smart resistance control according angles from virtual trek- looks strange.
Oh how the mighty have fallen, Kinetic used to make the best trainers on the market, now they’re reselling cheap Chinese stuff? Sad.