Echelon EX-Prime Smart Connect Fitness Bikes

Quick Summary

Echelon’s newest cycle trainer for 2020 has the fitness world spinning with orders for the EX-Prime Smart Connect Fitness Bike. The bike makes for a great match-up against the MYX Fitness Bike and offers many of the same features as the Peloton line-up, at a much lower cost of $500. Minus a display screen, the EX-Prime does have a tablet holder and brings the Echelon Fit App complete with live, interactive training for a holistic exercise experience, in addition to more than 1,500 on-demand rides. A new roll-out, the bike comes with a 30-day free trial, both for the unit itself and the online fitness app. Details are below in our Echelon EX-Prime Smart Connect Fitness Bikes review.

Granted, potential buyers should be advised that shortly after the roll-out announcement, a series of confusing statements were, and continue, to be made concerning an alleged partnership between Echelon and Amazon.com. Statements from Echelon specifically described joint partnership with Amazon.com for the production, marketing, and sale of the unit. Meanwhile, Amazon.com has since disavowed any such agreement and at present, the purchase options for the bike are somewhat unclear. That said, if and when the bike becomes available, we would note that it is indeed a significantly less expensive model than the similar Peloton, and they might be interested.

Specifications

Model
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	86%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$500
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.
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	32
Resistance Type The type of resistance shows what kind of flywheel is being used (if any), and its weight if the manufacturer provides it.	Magnetic
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).	Indoor
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.	Magnetic
Frame It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.	Steel
Seat The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.
Pedals Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.	Toe cages
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	No
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.	No
Display Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	No
Max. Weight Max. User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that the bike can safely support, which can represent durability.	330lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this treadmill will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	45" L x 36" H
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.

Our Rating:

Rating: 86/100. Home exercise bikes are becoming more competitive with each new series, and the EX-Prime is Echelon’s third smart bike, is set to be priced around $500, as it becomes available. Echelon’s previous two bikes featured high-end video screens and sell for $999 and $1,199, making the newest model a low-cost option considering all that’s missing is a screen which it’s built to replace with the user’s own tablet. With a foot print of 45″ L x 36″ H, the bike is light at only 80 pounds. Most comparable models are between 110-145 pounds and we therefore have to question the overall sturdiness of the bike. Given that it’s brand new, we just don’t have any hard data to go off of other than the weight and size relative to its peers. Given the significant price difference between the EX-Prime and it’s competitors like the MYX Fitness Bike, customers should really check out both (read the full review of the MYX Fitness Bike here).

The Analysis

The EX-Prime, or Prime Bike, is a high-quality, low-budget bike built to battle the Peloton series in particular.. If you like the other offerings which can range between $1,900 and $2,500 series, the biggest difference you’ll notice is the lack of a screen. Operated by way of silent magnet resistance, the EX-Prime offers 32 levels of variation for those seeking to earn the burn. Lighter than other models, the unit has an extra-large cushioned seat for comfort and supports up to 330 pounds in weight capacity.

Lacking a screen, users can attach either a phone or tablet and hook into the Echelon Fit App for a subscription fee of $39 per month, very comparable to iFit, Peloton, and others. For those unfamiliar, the Echelon Fit App works with another of that corporate family’s machines and offers users live and on-demand training by way of professionals who coach, motivate, and share your stats with a competitive leader-board full of fitness friends. With a wide variety of music backgrounds and scenery to choose from, users get to log their own workouts for reference in tracking progress. Classes range from beginner to advanced, anywhere from 20 to 75 minutes in duration. All together, subscribers can access well over 1,500 training programs in addition to live workouts.

A smaller unit than its rivals at 45 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 36 inches high, the bike weighs 80 pounds and runs off silent magnetic resistance. Toe cages keep the feet secure while pedaling away while padded handlebars offer a slip-resistance grip. Colored black with a powder-coating to stave off scratches, the Echelon team is offering the bike up with a 30-day free trial for the unit and the fitness app subscription. The Prime Bike comes with a 12-month limited parts and labor warranty.

Pros:

Incredibly low-priced relative to peers at $500
Echelon Fit App which works with any of their machines
30-day free trial for bike and app
32 levels of resistance
Silent magnetic resistance
Competition-style 0.6-inch seat with lever adjustment
Ergonomic handlebars
330-pound user weight capacity
Light weight at 80 pounds for easy transport

Cons:

No screen included
Few bells and whistles
Echelon app carries with it a subscription cost
Lighter weight might translate into less durability
Only 1-year warranty coverage

Warranty & Guarantee

The Echelon EX-Prime Smart Connect Fitness Bikes comes with a one-year limited liability warranty on parts and labor.

Conclusion

Apart from the missing screen, customers of the Echelon EX-Prime Smart Bike’s biggest concern will be the limited warranty atop the lighter weight machine. Aside from that, the difference in price is so start – $500 versus $1,900 – it’s definitely the right move for the customer who has their own tablet and knows how to care for a machine.

Check Price

Other Exercise Bikes

Keiser M3

Echelon EX-Prime Smart Connect Fitness Bikes Review

Rating: 86%