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Schwinn Review

Wednesday, November 29th

2023 Exercise Bike Reviews

Schwinn Review 4.5 Star Rating

Schwinn

4.5 Star Rating
  • Many styles to choose from
  • Some bikes connect to popular fitness apps and workouts
  • All bikes priced under $1000
  • 6-week return policy
  • Free shipping in lower 48 states

Isn't Schwinn synonymous with riding a bike? You bet. Your first ride ever may have even been on a Schwinn! Fortunately, you can capture that feeling again, indoors, with one of their exercise bikes.

Lots of bike styles

Schwinn has four exercise bike styles to choose from: Indoor, Upright, Recumbent, and Airdyne. Amazingly, all of them are priced under $1000 and come with free shipping if you live in the continental United States. Chances are good that you already know the differences among those bike styles, and we can tell you that Schwinn is comparable to and competitive with rival retailers in each design.

Big workouts, little price

If you're looking for a studio-style ride with the ability to follow live workouts, we recommend you look at Schwinn's highest-priced model, the IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike. Priced at $999, it's one of the best values you'll find for a bike that offers integration with fitness apps like Zwift and the Big Name in Home Cycling We Won't Name Here. You get a free 6-month subscription to the JRNY app too. This bike even includes 3-lb dumbbells with cradles that attach to the bike, a Bluetooth-enabled armband monitor, and dual-sided pedals with cages that let you ride with or without clip-in cycling shoes. Out of nearly 3700 customer reviews of this bike, it gets an average of 4.6 stars: impressive when you consider that you'd spend more than twice the money to get the same features (or fewer!) with many equivalent indoor cycles sold by other makers.

Best Exercise Bikes

Equipment overview:

  • Type of exercise bikes: Indoor, upright, air, recumbent
  • Price range: $349 to $999
  • Different models: 9
  • Can stream live/pre-recorded workouts: Yes, on some models
  • Financing available: Yes
  • Weight capacity: Up to 250, 300, or 350 lbs., depending on model
  • Return policy: 6 weeks, minus shipping and handling
  • Warranty: 5-10 years on frame, 1-2 years on electrical/mechanical, 90 days to 6 months on labor
  • Shipping: Free within continental US

Watch out for weight limits

Among the other models Schwinn carries, it's really a matter of preferences and needs. Just keep an eye on the weight capacity, because some of their bikes only go up to a maximum of 250 pounds - and there are plenty of fit individuals who weigh more than that!

Owned by Nautilus

Schwinn's listing with the Better Business Bureau falls under the heading of parent company, Nautilus. The BBB gives Nautilus and all of its related brands a decent "A-" rating. There were about 150 complaints registered there in the year leading up to this review, but bear in mind that they apply to fitness equipment branded as not just Schwinn but also Bowflex and Nautilus itself.

Generous 6-week return policy, average warranty

You'll have six weeks to put your Schwinn bike to the test. If you're not completely satisfied, you can get a full refund of what you paid - minus shipping and handling fees for the return. The warranty on Schwinn bikes is relatively good: not the most generous we've ever seen, but not as short either.

Great feedback from Schwinn owners

Hopefully that won't be a problem since most customer reviews on all Schwinn exercise bikes are 4 or 5 stars. We recommend reading through the buyer comments on the Schwinn site, to get a feel for how each model you like holds up under normal home use. We enjoyed hearing that the ride is smooth and quiet, and that the majority of shoppers would recommend the bike they bought to a friend.

One of the best

It's nice to see that a nostalgic brand like Schwinn (*Cue a bicycle-related song by Queen*) has still got it in today's age of tech features and high shopper expectations. You won't be disappointed with what you find here, and you'll get a bike to ride triumphantly into the sunset - virtually, of course! Schwinn gets one of our highest rankings for exercise bikes.

Where Can You Find the Best Exercise Bikes?

Fitness equipment is more popular now than ever, with so many people working, learning and doing just about everything from home. It can be challenging to find anything in stock near you, with no idea of when your preferred exercise bike will be available to buy.

Naturally, that's where the internet comes in, making it a lot easier to get the type of bike you want most. Looking for live and on-demand fitness classes on a machine that automatically increases and decreases resistance - or that even allows a coach to remotely shift your settings to give you an extra push (or a break!)? Shopping online gives you access to not just one company but several that offer that boutique-style workout experience.

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Exercise Bike FAQ

There are plenty of reasons that people buy an exercise bike for home use. For people with balance or mobility issues who still want a good cardio workout, bikes are a much better option than a treadmill or elliptical machine. They also take up much less room, are more portable/movable, and easier to maintain than larger pieces of cardio equipment.
That's up to you. Recumbent bikes have a seat like a chair, and the pedals are in front of you; they're the exercise bike of choice for people with joint and back issues. Upright bikes offer more flexibility in your workout: you can ride seated or pedal standing up for a more intense experience.
As with most products, the more features an exercise bike has, the more it will cost. You can get a basic, entry-level model for under $500 - or pay $7,000+ for one that has every bell and whistle imaginable (but it won't do the exercise for you!).
How does "free" sound? Many retailers include delivery in the price of the exercise bike. That definitely beats trying to lug it home from a brick-and-mortar store in your car!
Not necessarily. Most manufacturers have step-by-step instructions and even videos for how to put your bike together. You can also purchase professional installation/set-up from some retailers, either with their in-house team or through a third-party partner.
That depends on the store. Some offer no return policy whatsoever, while others give you 30-60 days to try your bike and decide if you want to keep it. Even then, you may still be responsible for return shipping costs and/or restocking fees.
Most bikes come with warranty coverage, usually with longer protection on the higher-end models. You may have lifetime coverage of the frame and brakes, 1-3 years on parts and electronics, and 90 days to 3 years on associated labor costs - but the specifics vary by manufacturer and bike model. Some retailers offer extended warranty plans as well.
That's one of the hottest trends in the fitness industry, and many bikes come with some kind of workout option with live coaching or on-demand classes. But, even if your bike doesn't, there are plenty of apps you can subscribe to and follow along on your own; you just need to have a way to see your phone, tablet or TV from wherever you position your exercise bike!
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Continued from above...

Or, maybe your doctor has told you that you can't do high-impact exercise anymore, but you still need something to stay healthy. Recumbent bikes to the rescue! There are plenty of models available from internet retailers, from basic models under $500 to high-tech designs with plenty of features for over $2,000.

There are even exercise bikes designed for use under your desk or with a tabletop/desk built in: no more using work as your excuse for not working out! Your coworkers can get in on the fun if you choose a model that has three bikes at the same round table, too.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you start your search for the exercise bike that's right for you. Studio style? Recumbent? Touchscreen or basic console? Fortunately, there are several criteria you can use to narrow down your options and find something that fits:

  • Number of Exercise Bikes. How many models does the retailer sell? The more bikes in their inventory, the more likely it is that one of them will have the features you're looking for - and that it will be in stock when you're ready to buy.
  • Features. Think about what features are most important to you when using your fitness equipment. Is it connectivity with your smartwatch or fitness apps? A weight capacity that accommodates each member of your household? Interactive displays with games and leaderboards to keep you motivated? It's not impossible to get a bike with everything you want, if you know what's on your must-have list.
  • Value. Is the exercise bike you're considering a good value for the money? That's not just a matter of price: some lower-end models actually offer a lot, while some of the most expensive models don't give you nearly what you'd expect.
  • Customer-Friendly Policies. Can you get a free trial with your exercise bike? How long do you have to return it if it's not working out? Is delivery free and/or will it include professional set-up? How about warranty coverage?
  • Reputation. It's a good idea to consider what customers have said about the particular bike you want and the company itself. Can you count on getting fast, friendly help from the customer service department if anything goes wrong? Even the most promising warranties aren't worth much if the retailer doesn't follow through on them.

TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the best online retailers of exercise bikes available today. We're confident that this information will help you get the indoor ride you've been hoping for!

Compare Exercise Bikes

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NordicTrack vs Bowflex NordicTrack vs Schwinn NordicTrack vs ProForm NordicTrack vs Yosuda NordicTrack vs Xterra NordicTrack vs Life Fitness NordicTrack vs CAROL NordicTrack vs Peloton NordicTrack vs LifeSpan Fitness NordicTrack vs Diamondback Fitness NordicTrack vs Precor NordicTrack vs Echelon Bowflex vs Schwinn Bowflex vs ProForm Bowflex vs Yosuda Bowflex vs Xterra Bowflex vs Life Fitness Bowflex vs CAROL Bowflex vs Peloton Bowflex vs LifeSpan Fitness Bowflex vs Diamondback Fitness Bowflex vs Precor Bowflex vs Echelon Schwinn vs ProForm Schwinn vs Yosuda Schwinn vs Xterra Schwinn vs Life Fitness Schwinn vs CAROL Schwinn vs Peloton Schwinn vs LifeSpan Fitness Schwinn vs Diamondback Fitness Schwinn vs Precor Schwinn vs Echelon ProForm vs Yosuda ProForm vs Xterra ProForm vs Life Fitness ProForm vs CAROL ProForm vs Peloton ProForm vs LifeSpan Fitness ProForm vs Diamondback Fitness ProForm vs Precor ProForm vs Echelon Yosuda vs Xterra Yosuda vs Life Fitness Yosuda vs CAROL Yosuda vs Peloton Yosuda vs LifeSpan Fitness Yosuda vs Diamondback Fitness Yosuda vs Precor Yosuda vs Echelon Xterra vs Life Fitness Xterra vs CAROL Xterra vs Peloton Xterra vs LifeSpan Fitness Xterra vs Diamondback Fitness Xterra vs Precor Xterra vs Echelon Life Fitness vs CAROL Life Fitness vs Peloton Life Fitness vs LifeSpan Fitness Life Fitness vs Diamondback Fitness Life Fitness vs Precor Life Fitness vs Echelon CAROL vs Peloton CAROL vs LifeSpan Fitness CAROL vs Diamondback Fitness CAROL vs Precor CAROL vs Echelon Peloton vs LifeSpan Fitness Peloton vs Diamondback Fitness Peloton vs Precor Peloton vs Echelon LifeSpan Fitness vs Diamondback Fitness LifeSpan Fitness vs Precor LifeSpan Fitness vs Echelon Diamondback Fitness vs Precor Diamondback Fitness vs Echelon Precor vs Echelon
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