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Keiser M3 Review

Quick Summary

The Keiser M3 Indoor Bike is a popular choice for membership gym classes and home exercise. Highlights include an ultra-smooth drive with 24 tension levels; commercial-grade pedals; wireless telemetry; dozens of color combinations for the frame and upholstery; and a portable design. For residential customers the M3 costs $1,795 including a competitive parts warranty. Our full Keiser M3 review includes pros and cons for shoppers to consider.

Specifications

Model Keiser M3
Rating

Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!

86.75%
List Price

Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.

$1,795
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.

$1,795
Resistance

The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.

24 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.

Silent 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 Cycle
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.

Poly-V belt drive (elf-tensioning, zero maintenance)
Frame

It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.

Commercial-Grade Steel
Seat

The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.

Four-Way Adjustable
Pedals

Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.

Revolutionary re-designed Keiser Bike Pedal
Programs

Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.

None
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.

yes
Display

Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.

data monitor
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).

51"L x 26"W x 44"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.

Frame: 10 years
Parts: 3 years
Wearable Parts: 6 months

Rating: 86.75%

Our Rating

Rating: 86.75/100. The Keiser M Series is the world’s most widely used fleet of indoor bikes. Each model is commercial quality and sold with a choice of warranties for home or professional use. Of the three spin bike choices in this high-end collection, the portable Keiser M3 is the lowest priced at $1,795 including delivery. It supports the same quality of exercise as the pricier M3i and M3iX, but without their Bluetooth data logging or the latter’s offroad-style handlebars. All three Keiser bikes feature the same impressive drive: a quiet magnetic flywheel system with 24 levels of resistance. It ensures smooth pedaling that feels like real road biking, and the resistance range suits all ability levels.

Other basics of the Keiser M3 include multi-position handlebars; industrial-grade pedals with integrated cages; and a data monitor. With its four-way adjustable saddle and a high weight capacity, the Keiser M3 bike fits just about any shopper too.

Overall the M3 is a favorite choice for exercising with spin bike instruction, and instructors at top gyms have Keiser certifications. The main potential drawback is that unlike some competitors, the M3 lacks built-in training programs or a connection to live studio instruction. Lists of pros and cons are below.

Pros:

  • Feels like a road bike
  • Quiet magnetic resistance
  • 24 resistance levels
  • Adjustable saddle
  • Adjustable handlebars
  • Lightweight pedals with cages
  • Data monitor
  • Compatible with Polar wireless monitors
  • No cord required; console uses batteries
  • Compact and portable
  • Sold in custom colors for paint & upholstery
  • Fair warranty; three years on parts

Cons:

  • No workout programming included
  • No special amenities such as speakers or wireless data logging
  • Above-average price for a home exercise bike

Introduction

The Keiser M3 Indoor Bike is a top-choice spin bike for membership gyms and is reviewed here for home use. Below are details about Keiser M3 features and buyer protections.

Keiser M Series Bike Workout Programs

Workouts aren’t built into Keiser spin bikes. The M Series bikes are especially popular with people who enjoy group exercise at gyms, or who ride self-directed.

The top-scoring alternative to this series is the Peloton bike, which connects with live and on demand spin classes. Two-way audio and video are included for a participatory experience. The Peloton is also cheaper than the Keiser M3i at $1,495.

With the Keiser M3 a data monitor shows gear (1 to 24), cadence, distance, time spent cycling, RPM, heart rate and Watts. The data monitor detects ambient light and automatically adds backlighting when needed, so it’s always easy to see your progress and output.

Keiser M3 Features

The M3 is built from durable stainless steel hardware. Even so, the entire unit weighs just 87 pounds. It’s designed to be transported more easily than indoor bikes of comparable quality.

An excellent eddy current resistance system helps make Keiser bikes high-end. Although the flywheel is lightweight, it’s well-designed to make the most of inertia. The result is effective cross training for any skill level and any intensity of bike workout. You can choose from 24 resistance levels.

Keiser pedals are well-engineered to be lightweight, comfortable and durable. With smart ergonomics they minimize pressure on your feet. Cages are integrated for stability.

The saddle adjusts vertically and horizontally to fit almost any adult.

M3 handlebars are adjustable to accommodate different riding postures.

Warranty & Guarantee

For home use in the USA, the Keiser M3 indoor bike warranty includes:

– Frame: 10 years

– All Inclusive (excl. labor and wearable parts): 3 years

– Wearable Parts: 90 days

This model can be returned for a refund, but only if unused. Returns are accepted within 30 days of receipt.

Conclusion

The Keiser M3 is an easy choice for group training. It’s lightweight for its quality and has transport wheels. This model is a favorite for club use, and being commercial quality it can serve trouble-free for many years as a home exercise bike. We also like how the frame color and upholstery can be customized to match anyone’s decor.

For awhile the M3 (if not the M3i) was “the” obvious buy for serious spinners to use at home. In the past several years though, the Peloton bike has become a formidable competitor! If you’d prefer a ride with on-board instruction anytime, and with a sense of immersion in real studio classes, then the pricier Peloton is our top recommendation. Otherwise the Keiser M3 and M3i remain top choices for shoppers with above-average spin bike budgets.

4 Comments

  • ANNE-MARIE O'DONOVAN April 22, 2019 at 9:46 pm from Westwood leopardstown, dublin
    you forgot to post that the Keiser m3 does NOT have horizontal handlebar adjustment!!!!! It is totally uncomfortable for petite spin members for gyms. It is a flawed design because of this and should be taken off the market because of this. It can cause neck and upper back pain for individuals! your review is rubbish!
    • Courtney Grafton April 26, 2019 at 6:33 am
      Hi Anne-Marie, we are sorry to hear that you are unhappy with this bike. Unfortunately bikes that do not have handlebar adjustments are not for everyone as you are correct it can be more difficult for posture. We hope you are able to find another model that best suits your needs.
    • Margaret October 21, 2020 at 12:56 pm
      Thanks for your input. Ann Marie does M3i have horizontal hand bar adjustment. I am looking to purchase a spin bike. I am 5’1.
      • Scutes January 27, 2021 at 8:16 pm
        Margaret, the M3i does have two way handle bar adjustment, vertical and horizontal. It’s an amazing bike!

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