Schwinn Airdyne AD7 Review

Quick Summary

The Airdyne AD7 ($999) is Schwinn Fitness’s best air bike with a home-use warranty. This fitness machine is identical to the Airdyne AD Pro seen in light commercial gyms; only the warranties are different.

Of Schwinn’s three Airdyne models for residential use, the AD7 has superior ergonomics, workout programming and durability. Specs include a powder-coated frame, a 27” fan wheel, moving handlebars, wireless telemetry, and nine workout programs.

See below for a detailed review of the Airdyne AD7 parts, programming and free warranty.

Specifications

Model	Schwinn Airdyne AD7
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	84%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$999
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.	$999
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	Infinite
Resistance Type The type of resistance shows what kind of flywheel is being used (if any), and its weight if the manufacturer provides it.	Air
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).	Upright
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.	Belt 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 Steel
Seat The most important part for comfortability during your workout, the seat should be adjustable and have ample cushioning.	Padded; 4-Way Adjustable
Pedals Pedals are the driving force for an exercise bike, and should be comfortable, adjustable, and easy to control without slipping.	Standard
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	9
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.	LCD
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).	41.6”x 19.7"x 52.1"
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 Electronics: 2 Years Labor: 6 Months

Our Rating

Rating: 84/100. It’s a crowd pleaser! The Airdyne AD7 is Schwinn Fitness’ top-rated air bike for home gyms. This model is a special value, as it’s light commercial quality yet priced only $999.

The AD7 can handle heavy use, adapts for all strengths and workout intensities, and adjusts to let almost anyone train comfortably. It holds up to 350 pounds and adjusts for riders up to 6’ tall. Schwinn also sells this fitness machine for light commercial use under the name Airdyne AD Pro.

Of the three Airdynes for home use, the AD7 is most advanced in various ways. It’s the only model with a powder coated frame, so it can look new for longer. It sports an extra-large fan wheel for smooth air resistance, and it’s the only Airdyne with multi-grip moving handlebars to optimize upper-body exercise. Programming is another example: The AD7 is the only Airdyne with nine workout programs besides manual mode.

Next are lists of pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

Light commercial durability
Compact size
Large fan wheel for unlimited resistance levels
Moving arm bars for upper-body exercise
Multi-grip handles to diversify training
Footrests for upper-body training without pedaling
Vertical and horizontal seat adjustment
Universal seat and pedals
Nine programmable workouts
Wireless heart rate receiver
Large water bottle holder
Transport wheels
Two-year parts & electronics warranty

Cons:

Workout monitor is low-tech for 2018
Small seat is uncomfortable for some; upgrade costs $60
Short labor warranty (Six months)

Introduction

The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 is a high quality fan bike, or air resistance bike, for home use. It has moving handlebars, and you can either rest your legs or pedal while getting an upper-body workout. Below are details about the workout programs, parts and buyer protections.

Workout Programs

The Airdyne AD7 is the only Schwinn home air bike with workout programming beyond manual mode. Its LCD monitor lets you select from nine options that include interval workouts, heart rate zone monitoring, and riding for targets of distance, time and calories.

These programs can’t control the bike’s resistance or speed, but they show feedback to guide your exercise intensity. For example:

“20-10 Interval” prompts you to sprint for 20 seconds, then rest for 10, and repeat for your preset number of cycles.
“Heart Rate Zones” monitors your heart rate to help you monitor your workout intensity. This program can be used alone or with the others.

Data fields vary with your chosen workout program. In general you get the usual cardio workout feedback such as time, distance, calorie burn and heart rate.

Airdyne AD7 Features

The AD7 features the strongest frame in Schwinn’s residential Airdyne lineup. It takes up little space but can support up to 350 pounds.

This model is also the only Schwinn home air bike with powder coating to keep a factory-fresh look for years.

Air bikes are breezy rides by default. Some riders like to feel the fan air, but for those who don’t, the AD7 can be paired with a fan air diverter.

This bike has good adjustability for rider height. You can move the saddle forward, backward, up and down.

With moving handlebars, Airdyne bikes are similar to elliptical trainers. The AD7 has the most advanced handlebars in the series: They support multiple gripping positions to let you diversify exercise and avoid fatigue.

Two pegs are built into the bike frame for resting your feet while using the handlebars.

Pedals on the Schwinn AD7 have foot straps and textured surfaces for your security during intense exercise.

For accurate heart rate monitoring the Schwinn AD7 is compatible with a Polar chest strap (not included).

A large bottle holder attaches to the bike frame.

Airdyne bikes are easy to place in your home. The AD7 is very compact; it has a footprint just under 42” x 20”. No power cord is needed, as the console is powered by two AA batteries. Transport wheels are attached.

Warranty & Guarantee

The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 carries free warranty coverage including:

Frame: 10 years

Parts: 2 years

Electronics: 2 years

Labor: 6 months

Extended warranties are available. Additionally the manufacturer gives a 60-day money-back guarantee. However, refunds exclude shipping and restocking.

Conclusion

For shoppers seeking a durable new Airdyne, the AD7 is your top-rated option. This exercise bike is more comfortable and durable than the cheaper AD2 and AD6 models, and it’s the only Schwinn Fitness air bike with varied workout programs.

It’s rare to find a club-quality trainer like the Airdyne AD7 for under $1,000. Exercise bikes that use air resistance fall into this category, but most other types of fitness machines just can’t deliver the same quality in this price bracket. We recommended checking today’s factory-direct price for the similar Assault Airbike and choosing the best deal of the two.