Schwinn Exercise Bike Reviews – Leader in Value Upright & Recumbent Models

Schwinn exercise bikes remain quite popular these days, as they give you plenty of features and capabilities yet are very affordable at the same time.

It is this combination that makes them some of the best selling cardio equipment on the market today, with a wide selection of uprights, recumbents and indoor cycling bikes for your home.

Let's take a closer look to see what Schwinn bikes are all about...

The History of Schwinn Exercise Bikes & Bicycles

Launched in 1895 in Chicago by Ignaz Schwinn and his partner Adolph Arnold, the company name became synonymous with all types of bikes in America, spanning over 100 years and still going strong today.

During the 20th Century, the company introduced many technologies for bikes including the balloon tire, aerodynamic frames, the anti-theft Cyclelock®, the fore-wheel brake, cantilever frame, and the spring fork.

Having established its lead among outdoor bike manufacturers, Schwinn introduced the upright exercise bike for indoor fitness in 1967, and the Airdyne® stationary bike in 1978.

Partnering with fitness guru Johnny Goldberg, the company brought out the trademark Spinner Bike in 1995. In 1998, the company merged with GT bicycles to form the Schwinn/GT Corporation.

By 2001, the outdoor bikes division had been taken over by Pacific Cycle, while the fitness division of Schwinn/GT, including a line of elliptical trainers and treadmills, was acquired by Direct Focus, Inc., a company that was formerly known as Bowflex of America when it was founded in 1986.

Direct Focus has since acquired the Nautilus and StairMaster brands as well as Schwinn.

Today, the company is called Nautilus, Inc., and it manufactures the Bowflex, Nautilus, Schwinn and Universal brands of home exercise equipment.

The Current Schwinn Bike Lineup

Leading the way in their revolutionary technology and quality, Schwinn exercise bikes have claimed the top spot among leading manufacturers of indoor cycling equipment. 

They have managed to combine quality engineering with an economical design in order to deliver an exceptional low impact cardiovascular workout for users who want to get in shape at home.

According to our latest Schwinn exercise bike review, there are a handful of models currently for sale, including Uprights, Recumbents and an Indoor Cycling Bike.

Upright Exercise Bikes

There are two upright models in the series:  the base Schwinn 130 and the up-level Schwinn 170.

Let's take a look at these two to see how they stack up...

Schwinn 130

The Schwinn 130 features 20 resistance levels, 22 diverse workout programs, hand grip heart rate monitoring,  DualTrack LCD display, padded seat, 1 piece pedal cranks and a max user weight of 300 lbs.

Extras include a water bottle holder, 3 speed fan, tablet holder, sound system, USB charger, transport wheels and 2 rear stabilizers for support.

Schwinn 170

The step-up Schwinn 170 gives you all of the features and capabilities of the base Schwinn 130, plus an additional 5 resistance levels, 7 more workouts, wireless heart rate monitoring, an enhanced display with Bluetooth workout tracking, 3 piece pedal cranks and a more comfortable seat.

Schwinn 190

The newest model in the series, potentially replacing the 170, offers access to the company's proprietary JRNY app, giving the user unlimited workout programs to choose from as well as Bowflex Radio, a larger 7" display and a number of comfort upgrades.

Check out the full lineup on special sale now

Recumbent Exercise Bikes

There are two recumbent models in the series:  the base Schwinn 230 and the up-level Schwinn 270, which are essentially identical to their upright counterparts and stack up ion the same way.

Schwinn 230

The Schwinn 230 matches up feature for feature with the 130, except you have a vented contoured seat and it is both heavier and has a larger footprint.

Schwinn 270 (recently replaced by 290)

Similarly, the Schwinn 270 is just like the 230, also with a thicker padde vented seat and larger dimensions.

Schwinn 290

The Schwinn 290 recumbent is very similar to the new 290 upright, with 25 resistance levels, 7" display and the ability to tap into the  Bowflex JRNY program.

Indoor Exercise Bikes

There is also an indoor cycling bike line that includes the IC2, IC3, IC4 plus a high grade model called the AC Performance Plus, which is like a spin bike you find at the gym.

Schwinn IC2

The IC2 gives you a heavy 31-lb. flywheel, infinite resistance levels, basic LCD display, adjustable foot straps and handlebars, 4 levelers and a max weight capacity of 250 lbs, as opposed to 300 lbs. on all of the other Schwinn exercise bikes.

Schwinn IC3

A new model in the lineup and an upgrade of the IC2, the IC3 has a heavier 40-lb. flywheel and a 300 lb. max weight capacity.  You also get wireless heart rate monitoring, upgraded features and a stronger warranty.

Schwinn IC4

This is the newest indoor cycling bike in the lineup. The IC4 adds Bluetooth connectivity so you can sync your workouts with your favorite fitness apps like Peloton, Explore the World and Zwift. It also has a built in USB port, a pair of 3 lb. dumbbells and heart rate armband included.

Schwinn AC Performance Plus

This is a commercial-grade model with a 37-lb. flywheel, 6 magnet brakes, 12 degrees of incline, Carbon Blue drive system, and a 350 lb. max weight capacity.

Airdyne Bikes

The company also produces the classic Airdyne, the large air-resistant flywheel exercise bike that hasn’t changed in function or design in decades. It is arguably the best value ever presented in a cardio machine. 

Airdyne AD2

The base AD2 model in the series gives you a high strength fan, unlimited resistance levels, high contrast LCD, padded seat and a max user weight of 250 lbs.

Airdyne AD6

The mid-level AD6 gives you all of the features of the AD2, plus wireless heart rate monitoring, larger, more advanced display, more comfortable seat, a water bottle holder and a higher max weight capacity of 300 lbs.

Airdyne AD7

The top of the line AD7 has everything the AD6 has, plus an even more advanced console, more adjustable seat and the highest max weight at 350 lbs.

Costing around $400 - $900 depending on the model you choose, the Airdynes last for 15 to 20 years or more, with little to no mechanical problems. 

It is still the flagship of Schwinn exercise bikes, which continues to be the top brand of indoor cycling machines in the new century.

There used to be a Schwinn exercise bike called 520 Reclined Elliptical, but it was recently discontinued for some reason.

Which Schwinn Exercise Bike Should You Choose?

With so many types of Schwinn exercise bikes it can be difficult to decide which one to pick.  Here's a quick overview for you to make it a little easier.

First, decide if you want an upright, recumbent, indoor cycle or an Airdyne.  

The upright and the indoor cycle give you more of a road feel, the recumbent will have you seated the whole time and the Airdyne gives you moving arms so you can work the upper body while the cool fan blows on you.

All of the models are good, but here are our expert's favorites:

All Exercise Bikes Favorite Schwinns

Upright: Schwinn 170

Recumbent: Schwinn 270

Indoor Cycle:  IC4 or AC Performance, depending on budget

Airdyne: Schwinn AD6

Why did we pick these? Because the up-level Schwinn exercise bikes give you a lot more features and capabilities than the base models, and they aren't really too much more expensive.

So they are worth the additional few hundred for all that you get.

You can read more in-depth reviews below to find out more about each model in the upright, recumbent, indoor cycling and Airdyne series, including specs, buying tips, news and more...

Schwinn Exercise Bike Model Reviews

Popular Uprights

Schwinn 130 Upright - Base model in the series with 20 resistance levels, 22 workouts and plenty of adjustability.

Schwinn 170 Upright - An upgrade to the 130 model with more workouts, higher resistance levels and wireless heart rate monitoring capability.

Schwinn AD2 Airdyne - The Schwinn AD2 adopts the best features of the original Airdyne wind resistance technology in a quieter, smaller, easier to set up, and less expensive bike.

Schwinn AD6 Airdyne - The most popular wind resistance model with improvements across the board such as the enhanced RevMeter and quieter fan.

Schwinn AD7/Pro Airdyne - A higher grade version of the AD6 with more durable components and 10 built in workouts.

Indoor Cycling Bikes

Schwinn IC2 Indoor Cycle - User reviews on the Schwinn IC2 are very favorable for this beginner’s model costing under $300 on sale.

Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycle - New model with more features and capabilities than the IC2, including a heavier flywheel, wireless heart rate monitoring and a more durable frame.

Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycle - An upgrade to the IC3 with Bluetooth capability, free dumbbells and higher max weight capacity, among other new features.

Schwinn AC Performance Plus - a real winner with Carbon Blue belt drive, lightweight frame and plenty of adjustability including incline.

Popular Recumbents

Schwinn 230 Recumbent - Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in hundreds of reviews written by current owners; has landed on several best buy lists at consumer research websites.

Schwinn 270 Recumbent - An improvement on the 230 with additional workout options and more resistance levels.

Trainers

Schwinn Magnetic Bike Trainer - This trainer gets awesome reviews from avid cyclists who have used a number of trainers and prefer this one because of the durability and low cost. Designed for bikes with a quick release rear wheel.