Road Cycling - Kurt Kinetic Vibration

Just received a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine (09) and was curious as to how vibration-free operation is really supposed to be. I moved up from a cheap performance trainer. When I pedal at about a 60rpm pace, the vibration is subtle but noticeable and I'm concerned because I live on the second floor of an apartment complex where you can hear everything. I can hear the vibration distributing through the floor boards. When I back off the roller from the tire, I can see the resistance unit gyrate very slightly and this is what is causing the vibration. Fit of the bike on the trainer and everything is fine so that's probably not the issue. I'll try a new tire to see if this will help a little.

For the money I spent, am I expecting too much (because perfection is impossible) or should I really expect vibration free operation (aside from the bike itself contributing)?

And if I really am just going to have to deal with it, are there problems with using the trainer outside in the sub freezing temperatures of the Chicago winter? (aka on the deck, as far away from disturbing people as possible)

My Road Machine does not do this. Can you get in touch with customer service and ask? It may be worth it. Especially since you're living in an apartment. This would bother some folk if it's pretty bad.

Oh, and also check your tire. I've had a bad tire do this on a trainer once. But didn't notice the same thing on the road. Just a thought.

I had a similar problem that went away after I tightened the bolt that holds the resistance unit to the frame very tight.

Are you using a road tire? I tried a knobbly cyclocross tire and it was unbearable.

I use mine on the 3rd floor (with a rubber mat) and I've had no complaints.

"I'm concerned because I live on the second floor of an apartment complex where you can hear everything."

I have had several trainers (now use a KK Road Machine after learning my lesson on cheap ones) and none them would be that very quiet on a second floor appt building that wasn't really built to be soundproof. It isn't easy to build a "soundproof" floor and very few landlords are going to spend the money to do it. My treadmill, eliptical machine and my Tacx Fortius trainer wouldn't be any better.

Maybe a thick rubber mat would help some but I think you have a little bit of a problem if the lower neighbors start complaining.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I guess then my concern is whether or not the slight vibration (caused from an obvious imbalance in the resistance unit due to the subtle gyration that can be visually seen) is something I should consider normal or not. If it is then I'll definitely be looking for a rubber mat to use.

It helps to mention that I can feel the vibration throughout the bike when I'm on the trainer (and it's better but only by a small amount as compared to the cheapo performance bike trainer I was using)... so because of this I'm a little disappointed.

As for tightening the bolt, I've tightened it a good amount and made sure that there wasn't any excess play with the resistance unit attached so I don't think that's the problem.

I'll definitely contact customer service to see what they say about it.