Name: NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro
Brand: NordicTrack

Quick Summary

Here’s a question many people ponder; is it worth buying a budget/entry level exercise bike? At $599, the NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro costs less than half some of the top tier performers in the category, but how good or bad could it possibly be?

We’ve had a look. We’ve examined and compared, and though its not less than half the bike, it certainly has its quirks (as well as a few perks). If you’re the type to invest in equipment and want something long-term that will last for ages, you’re going to want to step up and spend more on things like the NordicTrack Commercial VU19, or the Sole LCB.

Read on for the full NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro bike review, including pros, cons, and more.

Specifications

Model	NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	69.8%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$799
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the current best price. Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.	$599
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	22 Levels
Resistance Type The type of resistance shows what kind of flywheel is being used (if any), and its weight if the manufacturer provides it.	19 lb. Flywheel
Type Type refers to the style of the ride: Recumbent bikes allow you to lay back, while Upright bikes are more like road bikes (lean forward).	Upright
Drive System The bike's drive system is how your pedaling interacts with the rest of the bike (flywheel) to give you a good workout.	Chain
Frame It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.	Upright
Seat The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.	Oversized & Cushioned
Pedals Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.	Extra-Wide Ergonomic
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	28
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	CardioGrip Wireless & Wireless Strap Compatible
Display Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	5" Backlit iFit LCD
Max. Weight Max. User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that the bike can safely support, which can represent durability.	300 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this treadmill will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	60" x 24.8" x 41.25"
Accessory Tray Some bikes include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers
Cooling Fans
Portable? Some exercise bikes can fold up and/or have wheels that make it easy to roll them around for convenience and to save space.
Warranty The warranty is a very important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs by the manufacturer.	Frame: Lifetime Parts: 2 Years Labor: 1 Year

Our Rating

Rating: 69.8/100. Though it has “Pro” in its name, the NordicTrack’s GX 4.4 Pro is definitely an exercise bike for beginners. Its $599 sale price is very affordable–most exercise bikes cost double or more–so what should you expect? There’s a pattern we’ve observed over years of preparing exercise bike reviews. A cheap stationary bike can have some (but not all) of these qualities: a heavy drive for smooth cycling and good resistance, several built-in workouts, flashy features, and a decent warranty. When it comes to the GX 4.4 Pro, NordicTrack wins a few extra brownie points by making compromises in each area without going completely overboard.

Highlights of this upright exercise bike include a respectable drive size, built-in workouts (plus iFit with additional membership fee), and a two-year parts warranty. Here are pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

19-pound drive (Good for beginners)
28 built-in workouts
Enabled for iFit (Shown on a low-tech 5″ screen or your own computer)
Built-in tablet holder
Auxiliary audio input
Built-in speakers
Wireless heart rate receiver (Chest strap sold separately)
OneTouch™ controls (No scrolling to change resistance)
Workout fan
Water bottle holder
Low price ($599 on sale, $799 MSRP)
Two-year parts warranty
Good size for most homes (Footprint is 60″ x 24.8″)

Cons:

iFit-enabled but the display is minimal (best to run on tablet)
In-console tablet holder design is awkward and impractical
Not powerful enough for stronger cyclists
Seat is hard and uncomfortable (Can be covered or replaced)
CardioGrip™ heart rate sensors on handlebars aren’t very accurate
Lower quality parts could break (Plastic flywheel cover, for example)
Handful of negative reviews about build quality, seat, fan noise, etc.

Alternatives

Our review of the NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro continues below, but in case some of the notes above have you thinking of alternatives, we’ve got you covered. Two suggested upright bikes are sale priced at $799. Although they cost more upfront, they are better values in the long run.

– Sole B94 – Noted as the highest rated Upright exercise bike under $800, the B94 comes with a gel seat, 26-pound flywheel, wireless heart rate control, 10 programs, 3-year warranty on parts and electronics.

— Diamondback 510IC – More of a spin-style indoor cycle, the 510IC delivers great value for dollar. 16 resistance levels, 12 workout programs, a thoughtful display console, and much more sturdy construction for the price.

Introduction

The NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro is a bargain basement upright exercise bike that offers good resistance and training programs for less experienced cyclists. One selling point is its 19-pound drive, which is relatively light but fine for beginners. Additionally, a significant plus for the bike is the volume of pre-loaded workouts in its console. Read on for details about the workouts and other features.

Workout Programs

What are your fitness goals? The assortment of training programs built into the GX 4.4 Pro can help you lose weight, build endurance, and improve your performance. There are 28 workouts to choose from. Ten are focused on calorie burn, nine are for performance, and nine are for endurance. These are all displayed on a backlit 5″ LCD.

Unlimited workouts from iFit are available too, should you choose to go that route, though with this bike we wouldn’t recommend it. To properly enjoy the benefits of iFit, you want either a high definition display on the bike, or a better tablet mount. The way your tablet mounts into the GX 4.4 Pro is cumbersome, and not particularly cohesive to any of the cross training options that are available with iFit. Furthermore, because the $39 monthly fee is not included in the bike, your first year of ownership will cost you an additional $468. At a total of just over $1,000, there are better bikes out there that include a year’s membership to iFit, including the sleek NordicTrack Grand Tour.

Stationary Bike Features

Tablets, smartphones, and other devices are all invited along for the ride, as this stationary bike has an auxiliary audio input that connects to a pair of 2″ speakers.

To help you exercise efficiently, this exercise bike is compatible with Bluetooth smart chest straps for wireless heart rate monitoring. Another pulse monitoring option (which we’re not wild about) is the CardioGrip™ heart rate monitor. It’s convenient to use, as your heart rate is read via sensors built into the bike’s grips, but it’s not medically accurate. If anything this feature provides you an approximate benchmark of increase in heart rate from start to peak, rather than an actual valid readout.

Staying hydrated and cool are keys to a good workout experience. To that end, the 4.4 Pro has an integrated water bottle holder as well as a built-in cooling fan. The fan can automatically adjust its strength as you speed up or slow down. As noted above, we have seen some complaints about the noise levels of the built-in fans, however the simple fact that they’re included at all at this price point is a nice surprise.

Warranty & Guarantee

The NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro upright bike warranty includes:

– Frame: Lifetime
– Parts: 2 Years
– Labor: 1 year

NordicTrack also provides a 30-day money back guarantee.

Conclusion

Realistically there are two ways to look at this. If you’re desperately wanting to get into a home fitness routine and $599 is the absolute most you can afford, the NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro is a good option, but know that you’re not getting a piece of pro-grade equipment here. As professionals having dealt in the industry for quite some time now, our advice would be to save a little longer in order to slightly increase your budget. Exercise bikes in the $799 to $1,000 sale price category are more highly recommended, and at the end of the day you’ll get better quality and a longer life span out of your exercise bike in the end.