Echelon EX-5 Exercise Bike: Pros, Cons, Reputation, and More
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“Riding a stationary bike is a great way to get some exercise and build strength. You can do it from your home, even if it’s cold.”
The Echelon EX-5 is an indoor exercise bike that is good for you.
Since there are so many smart bikes available, it is important to know which features the EX-5 has and how it compares with other popular bikes.
The Echelon EX-5 is reviewed in this article to help you decide if it is the right bike for your fitness goals.
Pros
- There are 32 levels of resistance.
- The bike is less heavy than a Peloton.
- The pedals have toe cages.
- The seat and handlebars are adjusted.
Cons
- If you want to stream classes while you ride, you will need a screen.
- “The bike doesn’t have an automatic resistance control.”
- Some reviewers have had problems with customer service.
- The warranty on smart bikes is more extensive. You can purchase a longer, more extensive warranty for an additional fee.
Echelon Fitness is based in Tennessee. The company is known for producing high quality fitness equipment and often partners with celebrities to promote its products.
Echelon makes exercise bikes. The Echelon EX-5 is a new bike.
The EX-5 has a few more features than the other bike, like water bottle holders, and it has a more flexible body.
The Echelon EX-5 has a maximum recommended user weight of 300 pounds and is 58 x 20 x 55 inches. You can change the magnetic resistance with a resistance knob.
The Echelon bikes are recommended for people with heights ranging from 4 feet 5 inches to 6 feet 8 inches.
The EX-5 can be adjusted in many different ways, depending on your preferences. The elevated, Bullhorn-style handlebars on the EX-5 can move up, down, forward, and backward. The vented competition style seat can be lowered or raised depending on your height. The bike’s pedals have both SPD compatible clips and toe cages.
The bike has two water bottle holders and two dumbbell holders that can hold two-pound dumbbells, but the dumbbell are sold separately.
While it doesn’t have a built-in touchscreen, the Echelon EX-5’s device holder can hold products from 2.5 to 12.9 inches (6.35–32.8 cm) and flips 180 degrees for off-bike workouts. The bike is also Bluetooth enabled.
The Echelon EX-5 retails for over $2,000 and also has payment plans. If you want the bike assembled for you, shipping costs are $198
It’s important to note that an Echelon Premier membership is required to purchase the bike through Echelon’s website. The subscription costs $39.99 per month. It includes up to 5 profiles, more than 40 daily live classes, and thousands of on-demand options for cycling classes and off-bike workouts.
Classes include cycling, HIIT, and yoga workouts, and you can keep track of your progress on the app’s live leaderboards. Echelon’s app offers an extensive library of workout music, and the brand also plans to add Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Samsung streaming options soon.
You will make a payment of $399.99 every year or $699 every 2 years instead of paying each month if you choose a 1-year or 2-year subscription. The annual and biannual memberships are a little cheaper than the month-to-month memberships.
If you want a 1-year or 2-year extended warranty, you will need to pay an extra $109 for 1 year or $169 for 2 years, which is the same price as the limited warranty.
Users give the Echelon EX-5 positive reviews for ease of use and assembly. Reviewers suggest you put together your bike in 30 minutes.
It is easy to move out of the way between workouts because it is 106 pounds. It is lighter and smaller than the NordicTrack S22i.
The EX-5 runs quietly and smoothly. It doesn’t have automatic resistance control, which allows your trainer to adjust the resistance for you, but the easy-to-reach resistance knob allows you to quickly adjust the difficulty of your workout.
The toe cages on the pedals allow you to ride without having to wear special clip-in shoes, and they make it easy for you to mix up your workout with some off-bike exercises. If you prefer, you can use cycling shoes.
Being able to adjust the seat and handlebars in different directions can help you stay comfortable. The high level of adjustability makes the EX-5 a good choice if you want to share the bike with other people.
“The Echelon EX-5 is good for people who like studio-style bikes and virtual training classes but don’t need a screen. The EX-5 is a great option if you don’t want a folding bike but still want to save space.”
If you want to do a lot of riding and are concerned about maintenance issues due to wear and tear, the EX-5 may not be the best option for you.
If you prefer a bike with a built-in touchscreen, you will want to pay more for the Echelon EX-5s or you will choose another brand.
The Echelon Fitness is a popular, more budget-friendly alternative to other brands, like the EX-5 and the Peloton Bike, which are very similar in price.
Echelon has a C+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, which reports over 370 complaints closed with the company in the last 3 years (over 130 in the last year).
Customer complaints about Echelon are usually not good. When customers have experienced issues with their equipment, they have had difficulties getting help.
Wondering how the Echelon EX-5 stacks up against other exercise bike options? Here is a quick run-down.
| Price | Warranty | Training options | Resistance | Other features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echelon EX-5 | $1,499.99 | 12-month limited parts and labor warranty | Echelon membership (purchase required) | 32 levels | • two bottle holders • dumbbell holders • dual-sided pedals (toe cages/SPD clips) • 4-way adjustable seat and handlebars • 180-degree rotating tablet holder |
| Peloton Bike | $1,495 | 12-month limited warranty, 5 years on the bike frame | Peloton membership (30-day free trial included with bike purchase) | 100 levels | • 21.5-in. (54.6-cm) touchscreen • adjustable pedals, handlebars, and screen • dumbbell holders |
| NordicTrack S22i | $1,899 | 10 years frame, 2 years parts, 1 year labor | iFit membership (30-day free trial included with bike purchase) | 24 levels | • 22-in. (55.9-cm) 360-degree rotating touchscreen • 4-way adjustable seat • Automatic Trainer Control • incline/decline from -10 to 20% • dual water bottle holders • 3-lb. (1.4-kg) dumbbells |
| Bowflex C6 | $999 | 10 years frame, 3 years part, 3 years electronics, 1 year labor Optional 5 year extension for parts and labor available for $109 |
• JRNY membership (1-year membership included with purchase) • compatible with Peloton and Zwift apps |
100 levels | • backlit LCD console • media holder • 3-lb. (1.4-kg) dumbbells • Bluetooth heart rate armband monitor |
| ProForm Carbon CX | $599 | 10 years frame, 1 year parts and labor | iFit membership (30-day free trial included with bike purchase) | 16 levels | • tablet holder • adjustable handlebars • Automatic Resistance Control • water bottle holder • 3-lb. (1.4-kg) dumbbells |
Does the Echelon EX-5 come with a screen?
The Echelon does not have a screen. It has a mount that flips 180 degrees for off-bike workouts and is designed to hold a device from 2.5 to 12.9 inches.
What is the difference between the Echelon EX-3 and EX-5?
The Echelon EX-5 has small improvements in its features that are the biggest differences between it and the Echelon EX-3.
The Competition Aero handlebars on the EX-5 can be adjusted in four different directions, and the ergonomics on the EX-3 can be adjusted in four different ways. The tablets and water bottle holders are nicer than the ones on the EX-5.
Is Echelon as good as Peloton?
Both Echelon and Peloton bikes allow you to get a studio-style cycling workout from your own home. To decide which brand is a better fit for you, you’ll want to consider a variety of factors, like:
- budget
- feature preferences
- You enjoy the type of trainers and classes.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, Echelon offers some more affordable bikes. Most Echelon bikes don’t come with a built-in screen for streaming classes though, so if that feature is important to you, you’ll want to consider an Echelon EX-5s or a Peloton.
The Echelon EX-5 is a bike that has a lot of classes, a highly-adjustable design, and is capable of connecting to a phone.
If you want to provide your own device, the price reduction may be worth it.
