NordicTrack Commercial R35 Exercise Bike Review

Quick Summary

The NordicTrack Commercial R35 rolls into the top spot of the brand’s recumbent bike lineup, atop the VR25 and VR21, with more features and offerings for the dollar. Designed to offer professional level cycling inside the home, the R35 offers comfort to boot for the price of $1,799.

Equipped with a 14-inch HD Smart Touchscreen, 26 digital resistance levels, 25 lb. inertia-enhanced flywheel, Silent Magnet Resistance, and a 1-year Family Membership in the iFit Coach program valued at $486, the R35 brings the numbers to the game.

For those seeking a recumbent bike for the apartment, home, or perhaps even office, the R35 keeps comfort and style in mind.

Learn more in our full NordicTrack Commercial R35 below…

Specifications

Model	NordicTrack Commercial R35
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	95%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,799
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.	$1799
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	26 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.	Recumbent
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.	25 lb. Flywheel
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.	Oversized, Lumbar Support Seat
Pedals Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.	Ergonomic, Extra Wide Foot Pedals
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	iFit-only
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.	14-inch HD Smart 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).	68.22" x 23.69" x 53.42" Weight: 192 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.	Frame: 10 years Parts: 2 Years Labor: 1 Years (In-Home)

Our Rating

Rating: 95/100. Acknowledged as a top tier recumbent bike, the NordicTrack Commercial R35 is designed for apartments, physical therapy clinics, fitness studios, school weight rooms or home use.

Pros:

Generous 14-inch HD Smart Touchscreen
Comes with 1-year Family Membership iFit Coach
Substantial 25 lb. inertia-enhanced flywheel
Digital resistance levels up to 26
Commercial grade steel frame (max user weight 350 lbs.)
Ergonomic, extra-wide foot pedals provide stability and comfort
AutoBreeze Workout Fan
Solid warranty package

Cons:

No built-in workout programs
iFit subscription must be renewed

Introduction

The R35 recumbent exercise bike sits at the top of the NordicTrack category in terms of comfort and features.

Designed for in-home use, the term “commercial” refers to the grade of steel used in the manufacturing of the bike. That said, with a 14-inch HD Smart Touchscreen, two 2-inch digitally amplified speakers, and Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities, the bike certainly offers the comfort one would expect to find in a professional establishment.

The R35 is backed by a solid 10-year frame warranty, with two years for parts, and one for labor. Considering the $1,799 price less a $486-equivalent iFit Coach package, that’s a very solid offer.

NordicTrack Commercial R35 Programs

One thing we’d note is lacking in the R35 is built-in workout programs. Coming iFit-enabled, the bike is designed to be used with that program, although it can obviously work without it. The iFit Family Membership plan offers up to four user profiles which means multiple members of the household can tailor their workouts to their own needs. In addition to Google Maps Workouts, the iFit program features professional trainers who can control the resistance and speed of the machine from remote. In addition to a virtual library of workouts spanning all ranges of goals, the program also generates new routines every day.

Purchase comes with one year membership included, with a subscription fee assessed after that. The bike can operate without iFit though, and users can always utilize a different program or none at all. Given that the bike is designed for home usage, it can always be partnered with a television.

NordicTrack Commercial R35 Features

The NordicTrack Commercial R35 features an oversized, lumbar support seat with horizontal adjustment. Ergonomic, extra wide foot pedals and an AutoBreeze Workout Fan also augment the comfort level for users.

Measuring 68.22 inches x 23.69 inches x 53.42 inches, the bike has an in-box product weight of 192 lbs. Front-mounted transport wheels ensure ease of movement about the home, and the bike does come equipped with a water bottle holder.

Running off Silent Magnetic Resistance, the bike’s 25 lb inertia-enhanced flywheel generates 26 levels of digital resistance by way of One Touch® Controls. The bike sports a 350 lb user weight capacity to handle nearly all potential riders.

Warranty & Guarantee

The NordicTrack Commercial R35 exercise bike features both a solid warranty and guarantee package:

Frame: 10 years
Parts: 2 Years
Labor: 1 Years

Conclusion

The NordicTrack lineup of recumbent bikes starts with the VR21, followed by the VR25, and ends with the R35. Priced at $999, $1,499, and $1,799 respectively, each comes with a 1-year subscription to iFit Coach. What customers get with each upgrade is a bigger screen, heavier flywheel, and greater number of resistance levels. That said, both the VR21 and VR25 also offer heart rate sensors both in the grips as well as chest strap, while the R35 does not. We still feel that for the money, the R35 represents a terrific buy for the right home.