Lifecore 960RB Recumbent Bike Review

Quick Summary

The Lifecore 960RB is a $1,499 light commercial recumbent bike designed to help people shed pounds and get cardio workouts while putting minimal pressure on joints.

It has 35 built-in training programs in a variety of goal categories such as fat burn, strength and heart rate.

Other highlights are quiet magnetic braking, 32 resistance levels, three user profiles and wireless heart rate monitoring.

Read on for a full FitRated review of the Lifecore 960RB…

Specifications

Model	Lifecore 960 RB
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	90.25%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,499
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.	$1,499
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	32 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.	Magnetic Resistance & Electronic Control Brake
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).	Recumbent
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.	V-Belt
Frame It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.	Step Through
Seat The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.	Commercial-Grade Mesh
Pedals Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.	Oversized Contoured Pedals w/Quick Release Straps
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	35
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.	Pulse Grips
Display Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	Backlit LCD
Max. Weight Max. User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that the bike can safely support, which can represent durability.	n/a
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this treadmill will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	55.8" x 26.7" x 45.4" Weight: 133.8 lbs
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.	n/a

Our Rating

Rating: 90.25/100. The 960RB is the middle of three Lifecore recumbent bike models. It costs $1,499 and is available with light commercial and residential warranties. The 960RB is a good value, being priced $400 lower than the top-of-the-line 1060RB but having many features in common. For comfort the 960RB has angled pedals, six-way adjustable seating and three-position lumbar support. To streamline training it provides 35 well-designed workouts and can save multiple user profiles (User 1, User 2 and Guest). A beverage holder is within easy reach, there’s a three-speed fan, and the Lifecore 960RB is iPod compatible too. For easy repositioning the bike has a handle and transport wheels. The MSRP of $1,499 includes a four-year parts warranty for residential use and a two-year parts warranty for light commercial use.

Pros:

Pedals slope inward to support natural motion
Six stride settings
Foam padded seat
Ventilated seat back
Three seat back positions
Pedals have quick release straps
35 built-in workouts
Wireless heart rate control
Touch heart rate sensors
iPod-compatible
Workout fan with three speeds
Mesh cup holder
No-slip station for tablet or smartphone
Transport handle and wheels
Competitive warranty

Cons:

Shipping costs extra (Depends on destination)
Not foldable or compact

How does the Lifecore 960RB compare with the 1060RB? The 1060 costs $400 more. It has 12 additional workout programs. Other main upgrades are extra-wide pedals and resistance controls built into the handlebars.

Introduction

The $1,499 Lifecore 960RB is a reliable recumbent exercise bike for light commercial settings and home gyms. This trainer is a good option for weight loss and cardio training that puts minimal stress on sensitive joints. Unlike an upright exercise bike, it lets little body weight press on the rider’s knees when cycling. To help trainees make the most of each session this bike supports three user profiles and has 35 diverse training programs. Read on for details about the 960RB’s program collection and other features.

960RB Programs

To help people train efficiently the Lifecore 960RB has 35 preset programs. These are categorized to help riders quickly choose an option for weight loss, strength training, interval training and other goals. Five of the programs are controlled by heart rate. One program is a fitness test that can be used monthly to assess long-term progress.

The Lifecore bike monitor has an amber readout with two brightness settings and English/metric options. Data shown are resistance level, total time, segment time, watts, heart rate zone, distance, calories, RPM and speed.

Lifecore 960RB Features

The Lifecore 960RB has a recumbent frame to help people avoid strain. It has a step-through design (it is easy to get on and off the machine) and supports motion that’s low impact on the knees, ankles, hips and back.

The bike seat has foam cushioning. Riders can choose from six seat positions to get the right stride length. They can also adjust the seat’s back support; there are three angles.

The bike pedals have a 2º inward slope for comfortable motion. They have quick-release straps for safety and convenience.

The 960RB is iPod compatible. It has an MP3 player port and 3 watt speakers. The port can charge a mobile device.

The console has a three-speed cooling fan.

A beverage holder is attached to the bike stem.

For heart rate monitoring the Lifecore 960RB can be used with a wireless chest strap (sold separately) or touch sensors built into the bike. Heart rate data can be used to control five of the workout programs.

Warranty & Guarantee

The Lifecore 960RB recumbent bike warranty includes:

– Frame: Lifetime
– Parts: 4 years residential, 2 years light commercial
– Labor: 1 year

Conclusion

The Lifecore 960RB is a top recumbent bike under $1,500. It’s solidly built, loaded with workout programming, and makes it easy to add an iPod or tablet computer for extra motivation. This bike can withstand regular use by multiple users. It’s a great choice for an office, a small hotel or a home gym.