Echelon EX3 Bike Review

25/08/201918/09/2019 FitnessEquipmentGuide Echelon, under $1000

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Echelon Smart Connect EX3 – Worth Your Money?

echelon ex3 bike review — Echelon EX3 Bike

The Echelon EX3 exercise bike is the premium bike in the Echelon bike series.

It’s popular because – like the Peloton and the Nordictrack S15i bikes – it gives you the ability take cycling classes in your home.

You can also ride trails all over the world and watch the scenery pass you by in your tablet screen (using the Echelon Fit App).

And it’s about a half the price of the Peloton. So it’s a much more affordable alternative – if you’re looking for live rides and cycling classes

Is the Echelon EX3 bike a good buy for you?

Here’s a review of what to know before you buy:

Basics:

Price: $1099 + Click Here for Free Shipping

Resistance Levels: 32

Product Weight: 105 lbs

Bluetooth Connection: Yes

Footprint: 59″L x 23″ W

Warranty: 1-year Manufacturer Parts Warranty

Echelon EX3 Review – Key Benefits:

Take Live Streaming Fitness Classes From Your Bike

You can use your own tablet (or phone) along with the Echelon Fit App subscription to take live streaming Echelon cycling classes from your bike.

You can take high-energy, live classes with certified cycle instructors and personal trainers – that are streamed directly to your device from the Echelon studios in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This can add a lot more fun and freshness to your workouts.

Don’t want to adjust your schedule?

No problem.

You can also choose from hundreds of pre-recorded, on-demand cycling classes to take as well. So you can ride on your time.

There are over 30 different instructors (plus guest/celebrity instructors) to choose from. So you’re guaranteed to find an instructor that you really like. So you can follow their classes either in real time – or on demand.

Ride World Trails

Another thing you can do with the Echelon Fit App is choose from a variety of world-famous trails to ride.

You can ride the streets of Singapore or the French countryside and watch the scenery pass you by as you ride for some virtual reality-style fun. You don’t currently have this option with the Peloton bike – so it’s a nice feature to have here.

Adjustable Bike Seat

Echelon has recently upgraded this seat to a new, more comfortable style riding seat. You can adjust it forward/back and up/down.

Plus there are also 3 recline options (where you can basically adjust the angle of the seat). Another nice option is that you can also swap out the bike seat for one of your own if you still find it uncomfortable.

There’s also a new handheld rack behind the seat to store your hand weights (not included with the bike).

Console

There isn’t really a “console” on this bike (but there is a Bluetooth connection and charging port).

Instead, you connect with your tablet or phone and use the holder on the front of the bike to hold your tablet in place. Then you can see the Echelon classes and workout stats through that.

The tablet holder is built however so that you can swivel it 180 degrees – which is a nice touch. So you can get off the bike and swivel it if you want to keep watching the tablet off the bike.

Pedals

The aluminum pedals on the Echelon EX3 model are compatible with standard cycling shoes. There are also adjustable toe cages for flexibility.

Echelon EX3 Bike Review – Any Drawbacks?

The Echelon EX3 bike has a lot of things going for it. However there are a few things you should know.

The warranty on this bike is only 1 year on parts – which is not the best. Compare this to the similar Nordictrack S15i bike – which gives you a lot of similar features – but with a much longer warranty, incline and decline with free handweights included – and it does fall short a bit.

Also, in order to get the Echelon classes, world trails etc, you’ll need to buy a monthly subscription to the Echelon Fit app.

It will run you about $39.99 a month (again, similar to the Peloton). You can however save money on the subscription if you buy yearly or a multi-year subscription.

Bottom Line?

If you’re looking for a much cheaper alternative to the Peloton bike, then the Echelon EX3 is one of the better options out there.

You can still take the live classes, plus hundreds of on-demand classes as well. Plus it adds the world trail riding (which Peloton does not have).

While it does fall down a bit in terms of warranty and other training options, for this price point, you can’t really argue. Good, solid value with some pretty cool training options.