So happy with our bike!
Written: Apr 21 '03 (Updated Apr 21 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent value for price.
Highly adjustable
Very quiet operation
Heavy construction
Cons: Some cheap materials
Break-in required for seat
The Bottom Line: A fantastic bike for the money. Computer control is easy and well thought out. Bike is sturdy and nearly noiseless. Best value in this class.
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| ncastellan's Full Review: ProForm 920 S EKG Stationary Bikes PFEX1791 |
Having spent the past couple years as an on-again/off-again user of industrial LifeCycles at gyms, I was a little dubious when my wife suggested purchasing a budget-level exercise bike for our apartment. We looked at many bikes in the $200-$300 price-range and finally settled on the Proform 920S EKG.
After about a month of use, I'm finally ready to concede that it was a good idea.
The Proform 920 uses a silent magnetic resistance which takes a little getting used to if you're already familiar with the more traditional exercise bikes. But after a few sessions, you realize that the resistance is certainly there, and smooth as the action is, you feel the benefit.
The computer control panel (run off 4 D batteries) is sparse but functional. There are 4 available training patterns for exercise, which take you through pre-programmed alternating levels of resistance, or you can manually set and adjust the levels as you go along. The programs can't be adjusted for difficulty over-all, but you can increase or decrease the level of resistance for each step in the program, as you work through it in real-time. This sounds complicated, but the operation is intuitive and natural. This alone makes the 920 a MUCH better value that the less expensive ProForm SR20. If you're wavering between these two models, the extra $50 for the 920 is a no-brainer.
This is also the heaviest of all the bikes we looked at in this price-range. While there are some lightweight plastic components, much of the bike is metal, and once assembled (assembly is a two-person job, by the way) the bike feels very sturdy. Weight in my opinion is a plus, and the bike has the heft and stability of a much more expensive unit. The seat is adjustable for height and position forwards and backwards. The handlebars adjust up and down as well. The control panel also has an integrated drink holder and magazine holder. Again, nothing elaborate, but it gets the job done.
The one disappointment early on was the seat. The 920 has a wide, flat seat which is fairly solid - certainly not cushy. For the first week, it was actually quite uncomfortable - applying pressure in places that I never really knew I had. But, after 4 or 5 sessions on the bike, the discomfort passed, and I've given up the idea of searching for a gel-pad seat cover because the problem has gone away. It just takes some conditioning, I guess.
The pedal movement is very, very smooth, and with 10 levels of resistance it's easy to find a setting that's just right. The silent nature of the magnetic resistance makes this an excellent bike for small rooms, or for watching television while working out. We have it in a room where several people watch television, and if someone hops on the bike, the noise is not an annoyance or intrusion at all
Overall we're very, very happy. We purchased the bike at a Sears store, and they seem to have an agreement with ProForm to market and maintain the bikes, so be aware that if you purchase at Sears, they'll be providing the maintenance support (not that this is a bad thing - just pointing it out). I did contact ProForm's customer support via e-mail with a simple question and they replied in about 48 hours, so that was a positive sign.
If you're after an inexpensive stationary bike, seriously consider the ProForm 920s
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ncastellan
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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