A newer exercise bike that has been often compared to the Peloton Bike as a more affordable option, the Echelon Smart Connect bike EX1 may be the cross-training bike for you. It comes with its own bundled personal training subscription service, but aside from that, it is a fairly stripped down bike when it comes to technology.
As you may have seen, here at Treadmill Reviews, we have reviewed a handful of exercise bikes now, which often come with features like digital resistance levels and touchscreens. These features are not built into the EX1; however, they can be why this bike has a far lower price point for at least the basic package.
What the Echelon EX1 bike does come with is a fully adjustable bike, from the seat positioning to the console height. We found that we could adjust the EX1 to fit everyone ranging from our 5’1” co-worker to our 6’2” reviewer, which is a pretty decent range. The bike is also compact and can be tucked away in the corner of your workout room with no problem.
However, the lack of any kind of display was odd. We have reviewed hundreds of pieces of workout equipment, and at this price point, we would normally expect the EX1 exercise bike to come at least with an LCD screen to allow for basic workout tracking, but it doesn’t. Instead, you have to pair a smartphone or tablet with the bike to receive any exercise feedback and have a subscription to Echelon Fit app. You will need to have iOS 9.0 or a later update or Android 6.0 or a better update to run this app and connect with the bike.
A neat little addition is the two different colors you can order your bike in, which are either the blue displayed above or red. It’s a nice touch of personalization you don’t generally see in workout equipment. This exercise bike is also a lightweight bike, so if you need something you can move in and out of position when you are ready to exercise, the EX1 is a good option.
Echelon EX1 Pricing Package
There are three basic purchasing packages you can choose from when it comes to buying the EX1. The basics are:
- $839.98
- Smart Connect Bike EX1
- Monthly subscription
- (no financing available)
- $1,199.98
- Smart Connect Bike EX1
- Annual subscription
- Free shipping
- (financing available)
- $1,399.98
- Smart Connect Bike EX1
- 2-year subscription
- Free shipping
- (financing available)
There are also a variety of add-ons like shoes, water bottles, mats, and other items also available for you to add onto your purchase.
The Echelon EX1 Is A Great Tool For:
- Cross-training at home
- Low-impact cardio workouts
- Personal trainer subscription workout service
- Lightweight bike
Standout Features:
- Echelon Fit app subscription training
- Purchasing options
- 32 levels of resistance
- Sleek design
Machine Specs:
Footprint – 59″ L x 23″ W x 53″ H Footprint
Weight – 105 lbs
User Experience:
In a funny way, using the Echelon EX1 reminded us of the Peloton Bike. While the EX1 lacks some of the polish and features that the Peloton Bike has, it is considerably less expensive, which may make it more accessible. However, you will have to determine if the trade-off in features and polish is worth it to you.
Bring Your Own Display – As we mentioned above, there is no display that comes with this stationary bike. You will need to use either a smartphone or tablet with iOS 9.0 or later or Android 6.0 or later. Also, you won’t have any workout feedback if you don’t sign up for Echelon Fit and download the app. Once you do these things, you can navigate the training programs available on the Echelon Fit app.
Tablet Holder – There is an adjustable tablet holder where you normally would have a display screen. You can place your tablet or smartphone in the holder and keep it secure, though if you use your phone, you will need to keep it vertically oriented to keep it secure.
Echelon Fit App Subscription – One of the major draws for the EX1 bike is the Echelon Fit app subscription. Not only is this bike more affordable than the Peloton Bike and the more affordable NordicTrack Commercial S15i Studio Cycle, but this exercise bike also offers a wide variety of workout programs through its app. Some of the standout exercise features are the live classes, much like Peloton offers. Also, the Echelon Fit subscription can unlock a fitness library of videos for you to try, ranging from yoga to kickboxing, much like NordicTrack’s iFit Coach.
There are multiple levels of subscription for the Echelon Fit app, which are as follows:
- Unlimited Monthly FitPass Classes ($19.99)
- Unlimited Monthly FitPass + Live Classes ($39.99)
- Unlimited Yearly FitPass Classes ($199.99)
- Unlimited Yearly FitPass + Live Classes ($399.99)
- Unlimited 2-Year FitPass Classes ($399.99)
- Unlimited 2-Year FitPass + Live Classes ($599.99)
We aren’t the biggest fans of unbundling the workout library from the live classes, as both are usually what people want when signing up for a subscription like the Echelon Fit. But it does provide greater flexibility, which is nice.
Power Transmission Belt Drive – Incased inside of the opaque plastic, the EX1 bike has a power transmission belt drive. We do prefer an encased drive chain, as it is less likely that you will have clothing caught or your calf scraped.
32 Resistance Levels – Using the resistance knob located on the console upright frame, you can increase your resistance from 0-32. If you haven’t used a turn knob resistance system before, you may need to play around with it for a couple of workouts before you become comfortable with how the resistance levels work on the EX1 bike.
33 LB Magnetic Resistance System – With a 33-lb flywheel, you can maintain a steady, natural cycling movement. Also contributing to this smooth motion is the magnetic resistance system. With the magnetic system in place, you can have the cycling resistance increased silently and powerfully.
Pedals With Toe Cage – The EX1 pedals that come with a toe cage that you can adjust and tighten to fit your shoe size. If there is more than one user for this bike, it can be a little annoying adjusting the strap to fit different shoes, but the toe cage is effective at helping keep your foot on the pedal as you workout.
Multi-position Handlebars – You have a couple of options when it comes to placing your hands on the handlebars. The EX1 handlebars are designed to allow two positions directly under the console that you can hold onto, and handlebar grips that extend along either side of the console so you can lean forward and cycle.
Weight Capacity – There is a 300 lbs weight limit on the EX1, which is fairly common around this price point for exercise bikes. If you are close to this weight limit and/or are not used to standard road bike seats, you may want to purchase a more cushioned seat, as it isn’t that comfortable for those not used to that type of seat.
Warranty – The standard warranty that comes with the Echelon EX1 is just a one year warranty, which isn’t what we normally like to see when it comes to fitness equipment. You can purchase extended warranties, which are, 1-year extended ($99), or 3-year extended ($199).
USB Port – To keep your smart device charged as you exercise, there is a USB port on the side of the tablet holder. That way, you don’t have to worry about your exercise abruptly stopping due to a dead battery.
Power Requirements – You have easy power requirements on the EX1, with 100V-240V needed to power this bike.
Ease of Use – As a fairly bare bones exercise bike, the EX1 is mostly easy to use. If you have used a bike with a knob that controls your resistance level, there is a slight learning curve when you start using this bike. Also, depending on what smart device you pair with the EX1 bike will affect your experience. If you have a tablet, it is far easier to enjoy the workouts. But on a smartphone, you will likely have a far more cramped experience.
Machine Assembly – The assembly can be a bit difficult according to some customers who say that the parts don’t fit together that well. We were able to assemble the EX1 fairly easily, but then again, we have a lot of experience putting together fitness equipment. So, if you are a handy person, it probably would be fairly easy for you to assemble this bike. If you aren’t as experienced, you may want to give yourself an hour to two hours to put the bike together.
Overall, we feel like the Echelon Smart Connect Bike EX1 is a good value for an exercise bike, especially if you are interested in a subscription personal trainer service. There are more affordable options from NordicTrack and ProForm as well as more high-end ones from these brands and Peloton, so if you aren’t quite satisfied with the EX1 after reading this review, you have plenty of options.