Matrix Exercise Bikes - From the Gym to the Home

Matrix exercise bikes have long been a staple of high-end gyms and health clubs across the world.  And now, the company is making them available to the residential market, something experts and consumers alike are very happy about.  Reviews of Matrix treadmills, ellipticals and bikes have always been quite favorable, so that should definitely be the case with their new models as well.

About the Company

Matrix is the high-end brand of Johnson Health & Fitness, one of the largest exercise equipment companies in the world.  You may be familiar with their other brands, Horizon and Vision, both leaders in the entry and mid level markets.

Currently Matrix bikes and other equipment are found in fitness clubs, hotels, universities and sports facilities worldwide, and the company has made a name for themselves as a manufacturer of high quality equipment featuring the latest technological advances.  The motion on all of their machines is smooth, natural and quiet, offering the most ideal workout you can have.

See the entire lineup of exercise bikes at the new Matrix store!

About the Bikes

Currently Matrix is offering 5 exercise bikes for the home market.  You have the R30 and R50 recumbent bikes, the U30 and U50 Upright bikes, and the newest member of the lineup, the Cycle ICR50 Studio Bike.

The recumbent bikes offer DualFrame technology which makes them much more stable than single-post models and makes the machine easily accessible via its step-through design. You also get a ComfortArc seat that provides great support, adjustable seat, heart rate grips and resistance control in the handles.

The R30 and R50 are quite similar, but the R50 has a more advanced (Exact Force) resistance system, 30 resistance levels vs. 20, a step-assist platform and a better parts warranty.

The upright bikes offer all of the same features, with the same differences between the U30 and U50 that the recumbent bikes have.

All four of the traditional Matrix exercise bikes give you the option of 3 different consoles: the XR, XER and XIR.  The base XR is a 8.5" LCD display with 5 built in workouts, ViaFit tracking, Passport HD videos, reading rack and energy saver mode.

Moving up you have the XER, a 10" touchscreen with all of the features of the XR plus 5 additional workouts, Bluetooth technology with console apps, speakers, USB port, Virtual Active videos and a wireless chest strap included for more accurate readings.

Lastly, you have the XIR, a 16" HD touch screen display, with all of the features of the XER plus an additional workout program and better speakers.

Regardless of which console you choose, you get a great exercise bike with tons of adjustability and features, plus a 350 lb. max weight capacity and generous lifetime frame and two year labor warranty.

The Cycle ICR50 offers three console options as well, but it's a bit different than the uprights and recumbents. There's no console, LCD console, or IX display that mirrors your phone or tablet and allows you to stream live and on-demand classes via iFit or other app.

It has a belt drive system, padded seat, SPD pedals and rear aluminum flywheel, the standard for high end studio bikes.

Are They Worth the High Price?

Matrix exercise bikes are very expensive, but as they say, you get what you pay for.  The casual user probably doesn't need such a high-end bike for their home, and would be perfectly fine with one costing hundreds of dollars less.

But if you are looking for the very best, and you have the money to spend, you'll be very happy with a Matrix bike, or any of their other exercise equipment for that matter.

Check out all of their recumbents and uprights and decide if they are the right choice for your home gym.

Get more info, specs and special sale prices on these bikes here