It only takes bringing home one lemon of an exercise bike to make you really want to ensure the next one is a good one. Yet, there still needs to be a balance of budget with quality.
With those things in mind, there are two exercise equipment manufacturers that have likely hit your radar—ProForm and Echelon. ProForm is a staple of the home fitness industry, while Echelon is more of an up-and-coming newcomer. Both offer quality exercise bikes, and one of these stationary bikes may be the one you are looking to bring home.
Top Two Bikes: ProForm Studio Bike Pro vs. Echelon EX5S
To help you sort through your options, let’s start with the two top exercise bikes from these manufacturers—the ProForm Studio Bike Pro and the Echelon EX5S. These exercise bikes are of high-quality and are often considered cheaper variants for those who want a Peloton Bike without the Peloton price tag.
Below is a quick comparison of the top features on the Studio Bike Pro and EX5S:
Feature | Studio Bike Pro | EX5S |
---|---|---|
Price | $1,499 with financing | $1,239 (financing available) |
Resistance | 22 digital levels | 32 knob resistance |
Display | 10″ HD touchscreen | None |
Workouts | Free 3-year iFit | $19.99+ Echelon Fit app |
Weight limit | 250 pounds | 300 pound |
Warranty | 10-year frame 2-year parts 1-year labor | 1-year overall coverage |
One of the biggest price variables when it comes to the EX5S bike is the Echelon Fit app. Similar to other personal training programs, you have virtual personal trainers workout with you, as well as a workout library with plenty of programs to choose from. However, the app subscription program is very piecemeal, and paying for a one-year subscription brings the price of the EX5S up to $1,599.
In contrast to that, you get three free years of iFit when you purchase the Studio Bike Pro, which is a far more expanded library and includes more features than the EX5S. Another area where the Studio Bike Pro provides more than the EX5S is when it comes to the display. There is no display included with the EX5S, so you have to supply your own device. But with the Studio Bike Pro, there is a 10″ high-definition touchscreen built into the console.
Echelon EX-1 & EX-3 vs. ProForm E Series Bikes
There aren’t as many Echelon bikes as there are ProForm exercise bikes, so we wanted to compare them in similar price grouping as some of ProForm’s bikes. For instance, the Echelon EX-1 and EX-3 are comparably priced to the ProForm E series stationary bikes. Prices for the E series bikes range from $599-$799, while the Echelon EX-1 and EX-3 start in price at $839.98 and go up from there depending on the purchase package.
An Achilles heel for the Echelon bikes is that none of them come with their own displays. So, if you don’t pair a compatible smart device, you have essentially bought a disabled machine, as there is no other screen on these bikes. In contrast, the E series bikes come with 5″ backlit displays and can use Bluetooth to sync with a smart device if you want.
Neither the Echelon bikes nor E series comes with free training programs. However, for $15 per month, you can have full membership to iFit to use on your ProForm E series bikes. With the EX-1 and EX-3, you will need to pay $39.99 if you want a monthly subscription to the workout library as well as their live classes. If you only want library access to Echelon workouts, it will still run you $19.99 per month.
Budget Hybrid Stationary Bikes From ProForm
A unique offering from ProForm is the ProForm Hybrid stationary bikes. These bikes can act as recumbent bikes, or with some adjustments, you can use this machine as an elliptical! Another bonus in favor of the Hybrid bikes is that they are very affordable, ranging between $399-$599, though that pricing depends on sales.
After you have considered your options, if you have decided on a ProForm exercise bike, you can use our ProForm promo code to help save on your future purchase, making your choice all the sweeter.