LifeSpan Fitness is a reputable fitness equipment company founded in 2001. Their stationary bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and other products are very well-made overall. LifeSpan’s customer service is excellent in our experience and in the vast majority of customers’ online reviews.
The LifeSpan brand has three styles of residential and commercial exercise bikes: upright bikes for general use; recumbent bikes for general use and rehabilitation; and indoor cycle trainers that best simulate outdoor training and offer the highest challenge levels. Regular prices for LifeSpan exercise bikes are $699 to $2,499. However, online buyers typically pay $499 to $1,999 when purchasing directly from the manufacturer.
LifeSpan Fitness’s indoor cycle trainer, the LifeSpan S2, has the heaviest drive in the lineup. As for their upright and recumbent bikes a special feature is membership in the LifeSpan Club. The club uses a USB or Bluetooth connection to enable advanced online data charting and fitness planning.
Below are some thoughts about choosing the LifeSpan Fitness brand of indoor bikes, feature by feature. This bike review takes all current models into account: the upright C3i and C7000i, the Recumbent R3i and R7000i, and the S2 Indoor Cycle Trainer.
The Great:
- Sturdy Bike Frames: LifeSpan bike frames stand up well in customer reviews. With the exception of the S2 Indoor Cycle Trainer, all have lifetime warranties. The maximum user weight capacity in the collection is 400 pounds.
- Heavy Flywheels: The heavier the flywheel, the more resistance a bike can deliver, and the more accurately it can reproduce the sensation of outdoor biking. LifeSpan Fitness provides 40-pound flywheels on their S2 indoor cycle trainers. LifeSpan’s other bikes have flywheel weights of 18 and 20 pounds. These might not satisfy the most avid outdoor cyclists, but they can support healthy workouts for weight loss, endurance training and general cardiovascular fitness.
- Built-In Programs: The commercial C7000i and R7000i have 21 workout modes. These include 17 preset programs, two routines that are controlled by heart rate, and two programs designed by the user.
- Heart Rate Monitors: Except for the S2, all LifeSpan exercise bikes help trainees track heart rate. Each bike has contact grips. Wireless receivers are included too, but compatible chest straps are sold separately.
- Transport Wheels: Each bike includes wheels for easy transport.
- Adjustable Saddles: The bike saddles differ by model, but all are adjustable. One has 19 vertical options, and others can move both vertically and horizontally. The seat on the S2 can be swapped out too; the stem will accept any standard bicycle seat.
- Adjustable Handlebars: Handlebars on LifeSpan Fitness exercise bikes can be adjusted to fit different riders.
- Audio: Some LifeSpan bikes have sound systems for MP3 players.
- Water Bottle Holder: Some LifeSpan bikes have integrated water bottle holders.
- Self-Generating Power: Save on energy costs by choosing LifeSpan’s commercial bikes! The C7000i and R7000i require no external electricity, plus they can charge your devices.
- Quiet Operation: LifeSpan bikes use magnetic resistance systems for quiet operation.
- Small Footprints: The upright bikes from LifeSpan Fitness have especially small footprints for fitness machines. This lets an owner pack more equipment into a fitness room.
- Warranty: LifeSpan warranties are generally above average. Their typical residential warranty includes lifetime coverage on the bike frame, five years of parts protection, and free labor during the first year of ownership.
The Not-So-Great:
LifeSpan is a very strong brand overall. In our individual LifeSpan bike reviews we’ve noted a few customer complaints such as cheap pedals. Also, not every bike has the nonessential conveniences you might expect, such as a water bottle holder. However, customers overall seem very satisfied with this brand.
Who Should Choose the LifeSpan Fitness Exercise Bike?
The Bottom Line
LifeSpan Fitness offers indoor bikes with a wide range of price levels and features. Their product quality is typically above-average, and LifeSpan bikes are designed for everything from low-impact rehab to prepping for intense bike trips. Robust standard warranties and helpful customer service agents help LifeSpan earn very positive indoor bike reviews.
