Nordictrack VR21 Recumbent Bike Review

22/11/201807/01/2020 FitnessEquipmentGuide nordic track, recumbent, under $600

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Nordictrack VR21 Recumbent – A Good Buy For You?

nordictrack vr21 recumbent bike review — Nordictrack VR21 Recumbent Bike

The Nordictrack VR21 Recumbent Bike is a the most affordable recumbent bike in Nordictrack’s lineup.

It gives some popular features that buyers really appreciate – like the easy, step-thru design and the adjustable, mesh-back seat.

It also gives you a some fun entertainment options like a built-in tablet holder so you can watch your favorite TV shows as you pedal, an iPod dock with speakers and the option to add iFit for online fitness tracking.

So is the Nordictrack VR21 recumbent bike a good option for you? How does it compare?

Here’s a rundown of what you should know before you buy:

Basics:

Price: $799 + Click Here For Free Shipping

Resistance: 25 Levels

Built-In Workouts: 32

User Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

Footprint: 59” L x 22.25” W x 52” H

iFit LIVE Compatible

iPod Dock

Warranty: lifetime frame warranty, a 2-year parts warranty, and a 1-year labor warranty.

Nordictrack VR21 Recumbent Bike Review – Key Benefits:

Easy Step-Thru Design

The Nordictrack VR21 Recumbent gives you an easy step-through design. Unlike with some other recumbent bikes, there’s no large barrier to trip over when you get on the bike. This makes it a lot easier to get on and off the bike without injury

Easily Adjustable Seat With Mesh Back

The seat on the VR21 bike gives you lower lumbar support for a more comfortable ride. It’s molded with extra padding on the bottom.

Also the back is a mesh-style. The benefit of this is that it which lets the air circulate in and around your back to keep you cooler when you’re working out.

It’s also easily adjustable so you can find the right pedal distance for your height.

Bright, Easy-To-Read Console

While the console is much simpler – and slightly smaller – than the Nordictrack VR25 model, it’s still easy to read and bright. It gives you a constant feedback reading of your calories, speed, time, distance and rpm. Plus there’s a handy scrolling message board leading you through your workout.

Heavy 23 Pound Flywheel

A heavier flywheel gives you a smoother ride – especially during the transitions between resistance levels or when slowing down. You don’t get that jumpy start-and-stop motion you sometimes get with cheaper bikes.

The Nordictrack Commercial VR21 recumbent gives you a surprisingly heavy 23 pound flywheel – something you usually don’t find at this price point. So it’s a nice surprise to find on this bike and a huge plus.

Ergonomic Pedals with Adjustable Straps

The pedals are oversized with adjustable straps so you can find the right fit for you. The straps help to keep your feed on the pedals – especially when you pick up the pace.

iFit Coach Compatible

iFit LIVE (now called iFit Coach) is a one-of-a-kind fitness training feature that basically turns your bike into your own personal fitness entertainment studio. It gives you a lot of ways to reach new goals and fight exercise boredom.

iFit basically connects your bike to the Internet. From there you can plot out new paths to cycle using Googlemaps or ride pre-planned routes as well.

So you can bike along the streets of Paris or along the shores of Hawaii and watch the actual scenery pass you by in your tablet screen (tablet not included).

You can also get personalized recommendations on everything from your nutrition to sleep to everyday activity tracking. This can add a whole new dimension to your training and make things a lot more interesting!

Tablet Holder

There’s a built-in media shelf in the console to hold your tablet (or a magazine or a book). So you can watch your favorite shows or movies as you workout. You can also use it to connect to iFit LIVE and watch real-life scenes pass you by as you pedal.

NordictrackbVR21 Recumbent Bike – Any Drawbacks?

If you want to try iFit, you’ll need an online subscription – it’s not included with this bike as it is with some other models. You don’t need iFit to use the bike (there are 32 built-in workouts plus an iPod dock for entertainment).

But if you tend to get bored easily and want more challenges, you may want to try it out to see if you like it.

And while the console is bright and easy-to-read on this bike, it’s a bit on the smaller side.

If you want a multi-color console you may want to upgrade to the Nordictrack VR25 bike (console seen below)

nordictrack VR25 Recumbent Bike Review — Nordictrack VR25 Bike Console

Bottom Line?

If you’re looking for a well-made, stable recumbent bike coming in at a great price – with some fun toys to boot, you may want to consider the Nordictrack VR21 Recumbent Bike.

While it doesn’t carry the fancy console of the VR25 model, it does give you all the basic feedback that you need – and its $300 less.

Plus this is one of the heavier flywheels at this price point and you also get the adjustable padded seat for extra comfort for those longer workouts. Overall a great little buy that’s easy on the wallet.

Where to Buy and Save:

You can get the new Nordictrack Commercial VR21 by going direct through the Manufacturer here. Plus they are also offering Free Shipping which can save you about $150.