Echelon EX-7s Smart Connect Bike

I love this bike. I started with the 4S, but I wanted a more heavy duty option. This is definitely it - sturdier pedals, better seat and handlebars, bigger screen. Such a great quality bike at a fantastic price point.

I like this bike and the build quality.

Crazy as it sounds, at the price point these are selling at (the EX-7s being discontinued with the new EX-8s being the commercial'ish grade replacement) we bought two of these. So far we are loving them. It was very easy to assemble - took me about 2 hours the first time being very meticulous, following the instructions to a T, etc., and a little over an hour the 2nd time around.

The software setup through the screen in both cases was tricky - if you don't have ethernet, you first specify your wifi info - all good - download the latest firmware for the tablet/screen - all good - then when the screen tries to pair with the bike, the problem starts. The simple solution/workaround is to disconnect the USB cable between the bike and the screen and have the screen pair with the bike via bluetooth. At that point, it'll pair with the bike, allow you to upgrade the firmware on the bike, and then you can reconnect the USB and have wired connectivity between the bike and the screen, which is more stable than bluetooth. Annoying, but only a one-time hassle and it's worked great ever since.

The quality and ruggedness of the bike is amazing - especially at this price point (less than a quarter of the original price when released!). We don't have the P bike or a Nordi or other high end ones, but did spend a lot of time with a BF Velo and I'd say that the build quality is on par with the BF Velo.

The drivetrain is very smooth and quiet and provides plenty of resistance.

The screen is very high quality and very responsive. The speakers are tinny, but we paired it to a bluetooth soundbar so no longer a concern.

We successfully paired this with the Echelon heart rate arm band monitor and it works great showing you your heart rate stats including your calculated zone on the screen during the workouts.

The Echelon subscription content is fantastic. We'll likely continue to pay for it after the free trial period ends shortly.

Our only concern is that they do use a proprietary bike pedal (the diameter threading that attaches to the crank) and while it's very heavy duty, if the pedal ever needs to be replaced, no idea whether Echelon will carry them. Hoping we never need to find out. As for the pedals, they work fine with SPD cleated shoes or regular athletic shoes if you don't want to clip in - we've used both.

Overall we love this bike (again, we bought two of them, we like them that much!). I don't imagine it'll be on sale much longer, but if you can pick one up anywhere close to the price they're currently selling at, you absolutely should. Highly recommended.

I've been using an old friction resistance spin bike for years now, and appreciated it's sturdiness and ease of maintenance at the tradeoff of limited tracking capabilities, but finally opted for one of these as an upgrade. So far, very pleased with the quality construction and functionality. I suspect these models have likely been sitting in a warehouse for some time, so keep in mind you'll have to ensure the firmware on both your bike and display will have to be up to date when you set it up. And at the ~120lbs, it's a robust enough frame that my 6'2 210lb can push it hard without worrying about tipping the thing over (lol), which is something you legitimately have to worry about with some of the cheaper magnetic resistance bikes out there. As a comparison, I had bought a DMASUN magnetic resistance bike back in June, only to soon discover that it's very lightweight construction (barely 60lbs) rendered it quite useless for me. You get what you pay for, and i'd consider this bike model to be on par with a Peloton. We'll see how it holds up after everyday use for the next few months.

Oh, and if the subscription thing is not in the budget for you, the freestyle mode works fine and provides you all of the realtime tracking and resistance control functions, so you can do your own workout and have no problem with this bike.

Edit: I think the low ratings here are mostly a product of people's assessment based on buying the bike at a much higher price. At its sub $400 price currently, it's ridiculously low. Any concerns about the pedals can be resolved by applying a thread locker. I've done so with mine and have experienced no loosening since. It's an excellent bike at its current price and I'm certain you won't find a better equipped one anywhere near this price.

I did a lot of research on stationary bikes and subscriptions before I made this purchase. My wife and I are thrilled with this bike and with the subscription so far. Installation was straight forward and setup was easy. I’m a big guy and the bike feels very sturdy and well built. Echelon also has a great community which offers a lot of support.

I got this at a great price compared other brands. I’d highly recommend doing your own research, but I’m glad we went with Echelon.