Peloton Bike / Peloton Bike+ Review
Peloton Bike / Peloton Bike+ Review With 19 years in the market to date, the Peloton Bike is no newcomer to the exercise bike…
Peloton Bike / Peloton Bike+ Specs
| Rating | 8.2 |
|---|---|
| Type | Indoor Cycle |
| Console display | 21.5 or 23.8" HD Touchscreen |
| Compact storage | no |
| Resistance | 0-100 |
| Seat type | Sport series saddle with ergonomic center channel |
| Programs | Built-in Training |
| Weight capacity | 305 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 59.0" L x 23.0" W x 53.0" H |
Why You Should Trust Our Reviews
With 19 years in the market to date, the Peloton Bike is no newcomer to the exercise bike space, but it did (finally)receive a proper refresh for 2022. Enter the Peloton Bike+, a mildly updated version of the classic Peloton Bike, with a handful of additional features that many of us have been waiting for the tech giant to add to the mix. Quick interfacing with the Apple Watch, automatic resistance adjustment during workouts, and the ability to swivel the screen away from the bike are all a part of the new Bike+, as Peloton has decided to shift gears towards a more total-body training focus.
Although we’re getting a new bike with new features, Peloton has decided to keep overing the standard Peloton Bike (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it) ad a new and more affordable sticker price. The Peloton Bike will retail for $1,445, and the new Bike+ will retail for $2,495.
The Peloton bike has inspired a wildly enthusiastic fan base. Piggybacking off of the spin class craze that continues to dominate the fitness world, the Peloton bike combines high-end spin bike hardware with live instruction. From the comfort of home, riders participate in spin classes broadcast live from Peloton’s NYC studio. Additionally Peloton riders can train with thousands of bike class videos streamed on demand. This business model has made Peloton the talk of the town, and has since forced several other brands in the space to cook up new high spec/high tech bikes in order to compete. For a brief moment Peloton was “king of the hill”, so to speak, but in the last year NordicTrack, Echelon, Horizon, and most recently MYX Fitness have come out swinging with bikes that deliver equivalent experiences for a more approachable sticker price.
The Great
- Happy Customers: Peloton customer reviews tend to be not only positive but exuberant. The bike hardware, classes and customer service consistently earn top ratings.
- Unlimited Exercise Classes: High quality live and on-demand spin classes are key to the Peloton bike experience. Workout sessions of different lengths and intensity levels are broadcast around the clock from Peloton’s boutique gym in New York City’s West Village.
- Large Touchscreen: Peloton bike classes are displayed on a high definition 21.5” or 23.8″ screen with touch technology. Stereo speakers work with the wide view to help create the effect of in-studio training, and an improved 4 speaker system is installed on the Bike+.
- Webcam for Interactive Training: A 5.0 megapixel camera faces the rider to allow for in-class video chat with instructors and classmates. For many Peloton owners, being social is a big part of the Peloton attraction.
- Full-Body Workouts: One of the big advancements with the Peloton Bike+ is the possibility to follow along to strength training, yoga, stretching, and Boot Camp workouts on the Peloton bike.
- Adjustable Seat & Bars: To fit different riders the Peloton saddle has levers for up-down and forward-back adjustment. The handlebars are also adjustable and have no-slip grips.
- Compact Carbon Steel Frame: The Peloton bike frame is 125 pounds of powder-coated carbon steel. It’s welded for stability, and the powder coating helps keep the finish looking new. For easy portability, transport wheels are attached. The bike’s footprint is just 4 feet long x 2 feet wide.
- Clip Pedals: This high-end exercise bike has aluminum Delta pedals. These sport pedals are lightweight and compatible with clip-in cycling shoes.
- Durable Moving Parts: Industrial-grade bearings, forged steel pedal cranks, and other durable moving parts help ensure that the Peloton spin bike serves well for thousands and thousands of miles.
- Peloton App: With the Peloton app for iOS you can quickly sort through class offerings, schedule workout reminders and track your workout history.
The Not-So-Great
- Price: Peloton bikes cost more than traditional indoor cycle trainers with comparable resistance.
- No Built-in Programming: The Peloton bike is only effective if used in conjunction with class subscriptions, and does not have any built-in programming.
- Better Competition for Less: For a brief period the Peloton stood alone in the category. Now NordicTrack, Horizon, Echelon, and others are nipping at the brand’s heels with competing models for less money.
- Brand Longevity?: The more time passes, the more industry analysts question the longevity of the brand. This means that you could wake up one day to no more live programming should the company fold.
- Perpetual Subscription Cost: Even as you grow into a hardcore indoor cyclist, as a Peloton bike owner you will remain relegated to spending monthly on their subscription service. If you love the interactive element of training that’s fine, but having the option to ride solo without a giant screen in your face would be a good one. If you intend to augment your workouts with strength training sessions at the gym, your overall monthly fitness costs will add up quick.
- Warranty: The standard warranty of 12 months for parts and electronics is short for the bike’s price category.
- Requires WiFi: Smooth workout programming for this bike requires a strong wireless connection, and several have complained of drop-outs in connectivity when first getting their bikes up and running.
Who Should Ride the Peloton Bike?
The Peloton bike is best for people seeking high-energy workout sessions. All skill levels are met by its resistance range; Peloton fans include competitive outdoor riders, and also people who haven’t ever been motivated by cycling before. We should also note that with the addition of full body workouts, the Peloton Bike+ opens the brand up to those looking to get more than riding out of their exercise bike. This is a market that NordicTrack had already capitalized on with iFit and the swivelling screen of the S22i.
This fitness machine is useful for weight loss and weight management, cardiovascular health, building endurance and speed, and toning and strengthening your body. The Peloton is also unique for letting you add socialization to spinning, but without the time investment and hassle of commuting to a membership gym.
The Peloton bike is a comfortable fit for adults of all heights, and its forged steel frame has a high weight capacity. It’s also a good match for homes of all sizes; it’s just four feet long and two feet wide, and can easily be rolled to the side of a room after workout time.
If the Peloton fits your workout style, then the only potential drawback is the price. To get the same quality resistance without any extras or the commercial quality, you could spend lots less. A main competitor is the Keiser M3, which is also a club-quality spin bike sold with a home-use warranty. The Keiser has the same $1,995 sale price. It’s long been a bestseller, and now that Peloton is giving the M3 a run for the money, Keiser is bundling it with software to simulate outdoor training. You won’t get the live training and camaraderie, but the overall price is less. Aside from this, the obvious NordicTrack S22i and Stryde Bike are the key competitors to consider here, as is the newly launched Echelon EX5S.
The Bottom Line
Overall, with price corrections to the standard bike and the addition of features to the updated Bike+, Peloton is back to being a bit more competitive in the current market. Their classes are great, and they certainly have a loyal following (hence their rampant growth), but unless you’ve already been drinking the Peloton Kool-Aid, there are better and more affordable alternatives out there from more established brands in the market.
Lower-priced alternatives with similar high-tech studio benefits are featured in the “Indoor Cycle” section of our page Best Exercise Bikes.
Peloton Bike Specs:
| Overall Score: | 9 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Indoor Cycle |
| Resistance: | 0-100 |
| Flywheel: | 19″, aluminum & weighted |
| Weight Capacity: | 305 LBS |
| Dimensions: | 59″ L x 23″ W x 53″ H |
