MYX Fitness Bike Review

Quick Summary

The MYX Fitness bike is yet another player catering to the interactive training phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing. They call it the Un-Peloton, and though that’s the kind of line that could land a brand in the sights of Peloton’s trigger-happy legal department, the specs of the MYX Fitness bike seem to live up to this bold statement. You get a well built bike, fitted with a 21.5-inch high definition touchscreen display with a sleek interface, and access to a plethora of live and streaming training programs (both on and off the bike).

Though the name might not seem familiar to many, this is by no means a no-name bike. The MYX Fitness bike is built by Star Trac, a brand under the Core Fitness umbrella, who also owns Schwinn. While MYX itself is still a startup, there is some added comfort in knowing that this bike was produced by a well-established manufacturer of fitness equipment. How does it compete with the rest of the market? Let’s have a look.

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!	91.5%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,299
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.	$1,299
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	1-100 variable
Resistance Type The type of resistance shows what kind of flywheel is being used (if any), and its weight if the manufacturer provides it.	Friction
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.
Frame It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.	Welded Steel
Seat The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.	Adjustable horizontally and vertically
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.	MYX Fitness
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.	Wireless
Display Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	21.5" HD Touchscreen
Max. Weight Max. User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that the bike can safely support, which can represent durability.	350 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).	54" x 21" x 47"
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

Our Rating

Starting with the hard facts, the bang-for-buck quotient on the MYX Fitness bike is really solid. As it stands, any of the other players offering this level of equipment are coming in with prices north of $2,000. Echelon touted itself as the most affordable alternative previously, however as it stands their bike (when on sale already) comes in at $1,639.98 before shipping or monthly subscription fees are added. The MYX Fitness Bike on the other hand comes in at $1,299.00 including shipping. If you’re looking to take further advantage of their off bike training, you can also opt for the MYX Plus bundle. This adds three sets of dumbells, a kettlebell, a resistance band, a foam roller, and a stabilizing mat. The weights are available in three different ranges (broken out has light, medium, or heavy). While it wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy these items on your own, they add great value to the package purchasing of the MYX Fitness bike. At $1,499, this is still less expensive than the Echelon Smart Connect EX5S.

The next element of the value proposition at hand is the subscription cost for streaming classes to your MYX Fitness bike. Where competitors like Peloton, NordicTrack, and Echelon all charge $39 per month for their interactive training offerings (in some cases rolled into the cost of the bike for the first year), the subscription for the MYX fitness bike is only $29 per month, saving you $120 annually. Again, it’s not a giant savings, but when you add it all up the savings found in the MYX bike are definitely noteworthy.

Of course the next question at hand is the bike itself. Now, MYX Fitness goes out of their way to point out the similarities and differences between their bike and the Peloton. For example, their monitor swivels and the Peloton doesn’t their pedals can accommodate both clip-in shoes as well as regular running shoes (using toe cages). Their flywheel is heavier too, coming in at 41 pounds compared to 35. This last detail is important, as it adds to the overall feel of riding the bike—the heavier the flywheel, the smoother and more stable the bike will feel. It can even support heavier riders, matching the weight capacity of the NordicTrack S22i at 350 pounds.

On the topic of the flywheel, we need to call out the first key differentiator Peloton and MYX when talking about the bike itself—its resistance system. The MYX bike is a touch more low-tech in that regard, as it uses friction resistance rather than magnetic. While this isn’t something we’re super keen on generally, it does come as a fair trade if streaming training is a priority for riders. Depending on how strong a rider you are, a friction resistance bike isn’t necessarily going to be all that noticeable. These systems show their colors when you’re basically maxing our resistance, and the added heft of the flywheel will help avoid that more choppy feel you can get from a friction resistance bike. MYX also notes that their pads are designed to last between 5 and 10 years, and are easily replaceable when the time comes.

One thing that they don’t seem to call out that we caught immediately is a touch more adjustability in the frame. Unlike its competitors, the MYX Fitness bike has fore and aft adjustment in its handlebar position. This is a great little detail for riders that are shorter in the torso, and one that we suspect other brands avoided for one key reason. Having this adjustment means taking extra precaution with the wiring harness leading to the screen as well as a general increase in manufacturing cost. It’s nice to see an entry-level bike taking the luxe offerings to task like this.

Realistically speaking there are only two key shortcomings of the MYX Fitness bike, and one that has helped the brand from becoming a target of Peloton’s aforementioned legal department. They’ve already taken down the upstart Flywheel, whose technology ran a bit too similar for the tech giant’s liking. Where MYX decided to change the equation is by not having speed and resistance fed into the bike’s programming. This means that you’ll get instructors telling you to increase or lower resistance, but not calling you out if you’re not up to speed. Instead MYX Fitness bike trainers focus on heart rate zones, which has proven to be quite effective when optimizing workout performance.

Whether or not this last difference matters will really be a personal choice for many. The hardcore spin class enthusiast will know well enough how much to push themselves when training, and the rookie rider is most likely to be engaged and satisfied enough with the ability to chase along with a streaming trainer that that level of detail won’t really be necessary. Still there will be some who crave ALL the bells and whistles, leaving them options like Peloton, or better yet the NordicTrack Commercial S22i.

Pros:

Most affordable in the category
Additional ergonomic adjustments
Option of clip-in shoes or standard toe cages
Swivelling screen for off-bike workouts
Heart rate monitor included
Independent volume controls for both trainer and music
Inexpensive monthly subscription ($29 instead of $39 from competition)
Engaging professional coaches
41-pound flywheel
350-pound user weight capacity
Transport wheels

Cons:

Short warranty period
Limited interactivity between rider and instructor compared to Peloton

Introduction

MYX Fitness introduced their bike at CES in early 2020, receiving a very warm overall welcome. With Peloton firmly positioned as the ultimate interactive indoor cycle for the elite and well-to-do, the MYX Fitness bike arrived as the interactive bike for the people, offered at a substantially lower sticker price. Between the caliber of the trainers, the build quality of the bike, and the volume of streaming training available (about 500 classes, and 40 being added each week), there’s little surprise that this machine has become the new ‘one to watch’.

Workout Programs

As noted above, the current digital catalog of MYX Fitness runs about 500 programs deep, covering a range of categories. Endurance rides and HIIT (high intensity interval training) rides are a core part of the equation, supplemented by body sculpting, yoga, meditation, cardio dance, and other workouts that alternate off and on the bike. We’ve been in formed by MYX Fitness that approximately 40 programs per week are being added to their online library.

Interestingly, the competition (Peloton et al) love touting the fact that there are thousands of workouts to choose from on their apps, but when you break it down realistically the 500+ offered by MYX fitness is more than enough to ensure you won’t get bored from doing the same old workout over and over. You’re not going to be doing more than one class per day over the course of your first year of ownership, and even if you develop a preference for one or two specific trainers, this size of catalog is more than adequate to keep anyone properly equipped.

MYX Fitness Bike Features

Of course the big home run feature here outside of the access to streaming training is the massive and swivelling 21.5-inch touchscreen display fitted onto the bike. This can only be found on three other bikes in the industry—the Peloton bike, the NordicTrack S22i, and the Echelon Smart Connect EX5S. Screen technology is all pretty even-keel in the space, but we will say that initial reports on how the training app on the screen of the MYX Fitness bike runs have all been very positive.

On the bike itself, the option of using toe cages rather than clip-in shoes is a welcome perk for the less seasoned rider. While you’ll get a more precise push/pull on the pedals using toe clips, consider it something you have the option of growing into as you get used to the bike. Thanks to its hefty flywheel, the MYX Fitness bike delivers a smooth and stable ride, even when riders are up and off the saddle.

The ‘what’s included’ category is also a solid one for the MYX Fitness bike. Opt for the bike itself, and you still get the Polar wireless heart rate monitor included, as well as free delivery and assembly. Opt for the MYX Plus package, and you’ll also get a kettlebell, weights, a stabilizing mat, yoga/workout mat, foam roller, and a resistance band.

Warranty & Guarantee

Unfortunately this one spot where MYX Fitness falls flat. Much like Peloton, there is only a 1-year warranty on the MYX Fitness bike.

Conclusion

All told, we’re very impressed with what MYX is able to offer consumers for such an affordable entry price. The warranty is a bit of a hangup for us, as we’re used to seeing warranties of 5, 7, and 10+ years at least on the frame of the bike at the very least. That said, knowing who builds the bike makes a difference in how much we trust the longevity of the MYX Fitness bike.