Nordictrack 4.5 Recumbent Bike Review – Pros and Cons for Buyers

What’s the Real Deal on the Nordictrack GX 4.5 Recumbent?

 

Please Note: The Nordictrack GX 4.5 has been discontinued. It has been replaced by the Nordictrack VR23 Recumbent bike which you can read about here.

 

If you’re on a budget, one popular bike that probably caught your eye is the Nordictrack GX 4.5 recumbent. At under $500, it’s a very attractive price point – especially when you add up all that you’re getting.

So is it really a good buy? Well there are pros AND cons.

This review will help you sort them out – so you can decide if this is the best choice for you:

 

Basic Facts:

Price: $599 + Free Shipping

22 Resistance Levels

iFit Compatible

iPod Dock

User Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

Warranty: Lifetime Frame, 1 year parts and Labor

 

 

Pros of the Nordic Track GX 4.5:

 

iFit LIVE Compatible

iFit is what sets a lot of Nordictrack bikes apart from the competition. iFit is a software that connects your bike to the Internet. From there you can download new workouts from Jillian Michaels, map out new world trails to cycle using Googlemaps, track your nutrition and fitness activity online, set new goals and more.

It’s a very cool software that can turn a boring workout into a fun, inspiring challenge.

 

15 lb Flywheel for Smoother Ride

Although it’s not the heaviest flywheel out there, the size is still pretty good for this price point. A heavier flywheel helps to give you a smoother ride – especially between the resistance transitions.

 

Step-Thru Design

The GX 4.5 bike has a step-thru design, which makes getting on and off the bike much easier. You don’t have the huge barrier that you usually have to step over in order to get on the bike.

 

24 Workout Apps

There are 12 Calorioe Burning and 12 Performance Workouts built in to the bike (you can also choose to control your workout manually too.) You don’t have to have iFit in order to use these – they come already built in to the console.

 

iPod Dock With Speakers

This is not necessary – but still a nice touch to have. You can plug in your iPod or other mp3 player and play your favorite tunes through the console while you cycle. It can help make your workout go by a lot faster.

 

Padded Adjustable Seat with Back Support

The padded seat adds some comfort to your workout. You can move the seat back and forth to adjust the bike to your leg length.

 

 

Cons of the Nordictrack GX 4.5 Recumbent:

 

iFit LIVE Module Needed

In order to use iFit you need to also purchase the iFit LIVE module to attach to your bike. This costs about $99 – but you also get a free 1 year subscription to iFit, so it may be worth trying either when you buy the bike or sometime in the future.

As stated above however, you don’t have to use the iFit to use this bike – it will work perfectly fine without it (including the 24 built-in workouts, console fan, iPod dock, heart rate monitor, etc.)

 

Smaller Console Window

While the console is backlit and easy to read at all angles, it’s also one of the smallest console windows that Nordictrack makes.

 

 

Bottom Line?

The Nordictrack GX 4.5 Recumbent bike is a starter model that offers some decent value – at a terrific price point. You get a lot of fun workout stuff like iPod docks, built-in workouts and iFit to challenge you. However you also get some decent basics like a padded, adjustable seat lots of resistance levels and heart rate monitor.

Is this a commercial grade bike? No. Frankly, this bike does not have the sleek fit and finish of the higher end Nordic track models. But if you’re on a budget and want a solid name, covered by a good warranty and some fun stuff thrown in, it’s worth considering.

 

How To Save

You can buy the Nordictrack GX 4.5 bike directly from the Manufacturer. You can see the latest user reviews and (as of this writing) get Free Shipping to your home.

 

Click Here to Save on the Nordictrack GX 4.5 recumbent bike.