Echelon GT+ Connect Bike Review

Quick Summary

For fans of indoor exercise bikes, the 2022 lineup just keeps getting better. And the fact that the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike represents the entry-point of its series this year speaks volumes about how far these products have come. Replacing the EX1 Bike, this new model is a little bigger yet lighter, and brings all the top tech features of its peers at a price beginning at $899.99. Build to work with the Echelon Fit app, riders have access to upgraded streaming workouts both live and programmed. Designed for riders to bring their own tablet, those who choose to use other apps can do so at their leisure.

Well-built, the bike body comes in a unique blue color with four choices for flywheel – blue, orange, purple or pink. Colors aside, the 32 levels of Silent Magnetic Resistance (SMR) remain the same, as does the extremely comfortable adjustable seat and handlebars. Whether riding for sprints or for time, the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike is designed to perform at a budget-friendly price. This bike actually compares quite nicely with the Echelon Connect EX5 currently priced at just $999.99.

Specifications

Model	Echelon GT+ Connect Bike
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	85%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$899.99
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.	$899
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 e-Drive
Frame It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.	Powder-coated, welded steel frame
Seat The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.	Padded
Pedals Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.	SPD compatible with fully adjustable toe cages
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	0, only interactive workouts via Echelon Fit app
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.	Integrated tablet-holder
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).	24” W x 54” L
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.	1-Year Limited Parts & Labor

Our Rating

Rating: 85/100.

A good looking bike for sure, the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike comes into the 2022 lineup as an entry-level bike alongside it’s up-line counterpart the Echelon EX-8. Measuring 54″ x 24″ x 57″ with a machine weight of 88 pounds, the bike’s maximum user weight is a solid 300 pounds. The machine itself comes in a sharp color of blue, but customers get the added benefit of being able to choose the color of the flywheel. A cool add to the look of the bike, the spinning wheel can be sky blue, orange, purple, or Susan G. Komen pink for a limited time. Between September 1, 2021 and August 31, 2022, Echelon will donate to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer program 3% of the retail sales price for specially-marked Susan G. Komen Editions. Echelon has agreed to make a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000 to Komen in connection with its Echelon Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

Meanwhile, the bike is built for budget-conscious riders seeking a solid machine. Relatively small and easy to assemble, the package comes in at pricing starting at $899.99. The unit’s pedals offer SPD shoe clips and toe cages, an oversized padded seat for comfort, two water bottle holders, and a dumbbell rack. The adjustable seat moves both up and down, fore and aft, as do the handlebars.

Unlike the pricier models, the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike does not come with an accompanying screen, rather users can use their own tablets or park the bike in front of a smart television. That said, Echelon is presently offering a free Apple iPad with the purchase of a connected bike and a one-year subscription to it’s Echelon Fit app. Frankly, the bike’s price is a big positive and lack of a set screen doesn’t concern us that much given the ability one has to use other screens and apps. One drawback to connected bikes that come with a screen is they typically lock the user into one specific app. This bike brings a little more freedom and a lower price.

Utilizing Silent Magnetic Resistance, the bike features 32 levels of resistance which can be adjusted with the turn of a knob and the motorized e-Drive system. One of the big benefits to SMR is the smooth and near-silent riding experience. Whereas traditional friction-based flywheels tend to make more noise and require a little more maintenance, the SMR is much quieter and easy to maintain.

If one does decide to buy into the Echelon Fit app, they’re in for what we consider to be a solid program. Priced at $34.99 per month, $33.33 per month with a one-year commitment and $29.16 for a two-year, the app provides a leaderboard with fellows from around the world as well as scenic rides. The Echelon Fit community features more than 50 trainers with unique personalities and live music. With more than 40 live daily classes, 3,000 on-demand workouts, 1 million song and artist options, there’s certain to be a workout for everyone. Users can link to Facebook or other social media to share workouts, speed, distance, calories burned, and heart rate information, as well as engage strength, stretching, core, and yoga workouts.

Keep in mind, the Echelon Fit app works on any of their equipment and can be taken on the road by way of other devices. As with most apps incorporating visuals and sound, the bigger screen does help. If immersive workouts are really your thing, consider placing the bike in front of a smart television set instead of relying on the tablet alone. For more information about workout apps, check out our full review of fitness apps here .

Echelon offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month limited parts and labor warranty with purchase. An extended warranty plan can be purchased separately for up to $149 depending on selections.

Pros:

Price: With a price well under $1,000, the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike is budget-friendly for sure.
SMR: 32 levels of Silent Magnetic Resistance mean riders of any level can achieve a solid workout.
Seat: Large, comfortable padded seat which is adjustable up & down and forward & backwards. It features dumbbell holders so you can add arm workouts while you ride.
Compact: This bike is built for the home or apartment.
Pedals: Allow for clip-in or regular running shoes.
Handlebars: Multi-position handlebars.
Echelon Fit app: Virtual access to real trainers from the comfort of your home.
Solid Weight Max: With a 300-pound user weight max, we’re comfortable most users will be able to ride.

Cons:

No Screen: The bike comes with a tablet-holder so one either has to use their own tablet or some other device.
Warranty: The 1-year limited parts and labor warranty is a little short for our liking.

Introduction

For those about to ride…we salute you! And for those seeking a bike on a budget, the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike leads strong in just under $900 with a whole host of additional features and offers. Built in blue, the magnetic flywheel can come in a matching sky blue, orange, purple, or for a limited time, pink for support of breast cancer research. And yes, it’s a solid indoor bike to boot.

With a built-in tablet holder above the adjustable handlebars, the bike is designed to let those who ride decide which app they want. And if Echelon Fit is the choice, then we can’t find fault with that. Meanwhile, other apps can be used on this bike whereas those units with a built-in screen typically only work with that brand’s programming.

Workout Programs

Echelon Smart Connect bikes use the Echelon Fit app for interactive training and stats tracking. You can monitor your stats such as your speed, distance, calories burned, resistance level, watts, RPM and heart rate by connecting your bike to the app on your tablet or smartphone. A membership will grant you access to a wide variety of live and on-demand classes. The classes range from hip-hop rides to upper and lower body workouts to scenic outdoor landscapes (country, city, beach). With 32 levels of resistance, the bike is challenging enough for most riders.

There are many instructors and live classes available. Be sure to confirm the timing of the live classes in your particular time zone. The live classes become on-demand options once completed, in case you miss out.

Frequently Asked Question

Does the Echelon GT+ work with apps other than Echelon Fit? Yes, a bike with a built-in tablet rack instead of a screen, riders have their choice of entertainment options.
Is assembly of the Echelon GT+ easy? Yes, our experience with Echelon products is that the instructions are quite easy to follow actually.
Can I participate in spin classes on this bike? Yes, the bike is designed to accommodate any number of workout styles and it does come with a dumbbell rack for floor-work as well.

Warranty & Guarantee

The Echelon GT+ Connect Bike is shipped with a one-year limited parts and labor warranty. An extended 1-year warranty for an additional $99 and a 2-year for $149 are also available. Additionally, Echelon gives a 30-day money-back guarantee, but refunds exclude shipping and restocking.

Conclusion

The Echelon Connect EX1 is a good quality spin bike. Its interactive training compatibility which gives you access to live and on-demand workouts is a central part of its appeal. Although the app needs some improvements, it has come a long way since its initial release, so we are confident the user experience is only going to get better as time goes on.

The bike itself is sturdy, and provides enough challenge with its 32 levels of resistance. Its 13 KG flywheel makes for a quiet, comfortable ride. Overall, this is a great option for those looking for an affordable spin bike to use for interactive training at home.

Check Price on Echelon

Trainer’s Tips for the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike

Whether cutting weight for a bodybuilding contest or incorporating cardio into a regular workout, I do like High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) for a number of reasons. One, the HIIT workouts associated with indoor bikes such as the Echelon GT+ Connect Bike offer the opportunity for significant hypertrophy in terms of breaking down muscle fibers for the purpose of rebuilding bigger and stronger. With 32 levels of SMR available on this bike, I’d recommend really testing oneself here and seeing what you can do burn-wise. The reason muscles burn during hard exercise is the oxygen levels get spent and have to begin processing lactic acid. When hitting the spin class, this is a good thing. The second reason to explore HIIT to the max is that by mixing short bursts of high intensity with lower levels, one can trick the metabolism into running at high octane all day. And that’s a great way to keep those calories burning long after the workout itself.