BUY ON SCHWINN FITNESS | $ 649

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike Review

The new Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is meant for home use at a price of only $649. Schwinn has been promoting two recumbent bikes since 2017, and the new Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is more advanced than Schwinn 230. It features a 17-pound magnetic resistance system having 25 levels and a reclined seat. Its console supports a wireless heart rate receiver, Bluetooth for data sharing, 29 onboard fitness tests and workout programs, and four user profiles. This recumbent bike is compatible with Ride Social platform, which offers mixed reality workout videos in comfortable recumbent seating.

Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is the perfect exercise bike of 2021 available for a cost lesser than similar bikes of comparable quality. People like that this bike supports up to four user profiles. It can deliver money’s worth in exercise sessions as it is a low-impact cardio trainer with a modern feel. It is a top recommendation for budget shoppers.

In 2017, Schwinn Fitness updated this model by introducing a Bluetooth feature for data tracking. You can automatically send your exercise data to the Schwinn trainer app by pairing your recumbent bike with an iOS or Android mobile device. The free Schwinn trainer app helps you set fitness goals and track them for the long term. This app is compatible with Apple Health and My Fitness Pal to help you create a complete fitness profile by adding your bike workout data.

Workout programs on Schwinn 270 recumbent bike include 29 different preset routines using Ride Social platform. You can choose from diverse preset workout routines, including interval, distance training programs, heart rate controlled workouts, and more. These workout routines are beneficial for your body, but you may not find much on display. Hence, you may decide to entertain yourself during rides by docking a tablet. However, Ride Social workouts also allow for live interactions with other home bike riders and are visually appealing.

The bike has a couple of downsides too. Short or tall riders frequently face sizing problems. Although you can adjust the pedals’ distance from the seat, most people under 5 feet 2 inches can not reach comfortably. Similarly, people with a height of more than six feet may knock their legs into the bike frame. The labor warranty of the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is nothing to brag about at all, which is valid only for 90 days. It implies that the exercise bike may cost you more if trouble arises after 90 days.

Salient Features of Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike

The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is highly durable at the current price point. Lots of customers have given positive reviews. Here are some of the best features.

29 Workout Programs

A variety of workout programs mark the primary strength of the new Schwinn 270 recumbent bike. The console computer has dozens of in-built fitness tests and exercise routines. Up to four users can create their personalized bike routines. Moreover, compatibility with Ride Social is icing on the cake.

You can see preset fitness tests and workout routines on the LCD. The screen displays all the fitness metrics at once, where it prominently shows the Goal data item. You can track your progress in terms of any primary workout objectives, including time and distance. Altogether you will have 29 inbuilt workout routines. It includes nine heart rate control programs, out of which five are advanced, and four are for beginners. Other workout routines include four user-defined programs, three fitness tests for advanced, beginner, and recovery levels, and of course, one quick start manual mode. Finally, you also get 12 profile programs.

Ride Social Advantage

Ride Social is an app for Apple and Android devices. It turns your Schwinn 270 recumbent bike into a magic carpet that can let you virtually tour across the world by riding the bike at home. You can preview and decide to pay to watch mixed reality videos for bike workouts. It paves the way for letting you ride street view in HD format, which you can play on your home entertainment systems or mobile devices in high definition. You can ride past Ireland castle, along Venice beaches, and through Tibetan roads using Ride Social. These three are just some of our favorite ones.

Moreover, some rides feature VR 360 degree technology to let you look around virtually while enjoying your rides. Along your route, avatars of other users will show up to make it a genuinely social app. The best part is that you can also match bike timings with real-life friends for social rides right in the comfort of your drawing-room.

Well Designed Frame

It is a well-designed recumbent bike from the house of Schwinn Fitness. For instance, low seating and walk-through style make it easy for users to get on and off the bike, especially for users with restriction motion. The frame is so sturdy that it can comfortably support users up to 300 pounds.

Ergonomic Seat

Unlike Schwinn 230 or other competing bikes, Schwinn 270 recumbent bike has a cushioned seat bottom. Secondly, the exercise bike provides lumbar support with a high back. Moreover, the seatback has proper ventilation to keep you cool during the rides. You can also adjust the distance of the seat from the pedals by using slide aluminum rails, making it comfortable for users in the height range of 5 feet 3 inches to 6 feet.

Magnetic Resistance

Schwinn 270 recumbent bike offers 25 levels of resistance with the help of a 17-pound magnetic flywheel system, alternating among different settings with digital controls. Although it is preferred to have a more robust resistance system in a recumbent bike, the existing setup is reasonably good at the current price point. It offers small increments to help you find an appropriate match and level up quickly.

Heart Rate Monitoring

You can monitor your heart rate with a chest strap which you need to buy separately. Alternatively, you may also measure it with built-in contact sensors in your recumbent bike. Customer reviews have common complaints that contact sensor readings are primarily inaccurate, and it is better to use wireless monitoring offered by chest strap not included in the package.

More Features

There is a ledge to keep your magazines, intelligent devices, MP3 players, etc. You get inbuilt stereo speakers and an MP3 player port on the console. Finally, you also get a USB port to keep your devices charged while riding the exercise bike. Besides, you have an accessory tray, water bottle holder, and a three-speed cooling fan as well.

Warranty

The warranty coverage for the new Schwinn 270 recumbent bike includes a ten-year range on the frame, two years on mechanical, one year on electronics, and 90 days on labor.

PROS OF SCHWINN 270 RECUMBENT BIKE
  • Schwinn 270 recumbent bike has digitally controlled magnetic resistance with 25 resistance levels.
  • Ergonomic seats are comfortable with cushioned seat bottom, ventilated seat back, contoured design, and adjustable seat position on sliding aluminum rails.
  • There are 29 inbuilt fitness tests and workout programs to challenge you and achieve fitness goals. You can save data for up to four user profiles.
  • It is compatible with the Ride Social platform, giving an extra edge with an altogether new social feel that can boost your fitness routine.
  • The price is attractive as a budget machine with sufficient value to users at this price point.
  • Bluetooth data export feature helps you manage your fitness metrics by automatically sending the data to fitness apps.
  • The machine frame and size are compact, and transport wheels make it more space-friendly.
  • You get standard features like a cooling fan, water bottle holder, accessory tray, MP3 port, USB port, device shelf, etc.
  • It has inbuilt speakers to enjoy music.
  • The workout computer is easy to use.
CONS OF SCHWINN 270 RECUMBENT BIKE
  • The labor warranty of 90 days is too short.
  • It is too large a machine for users under 5’2” and too small for riders taller than 6′.
  • Contact grip pulse reader gives inaccurate results, and you may have to shell out extra money to buy a wireless chest strap.
  • You cannot adjust the height of the control panel. It implies that you can not watch home TV while riding as it will block your straight-on view.

Machine Specs of Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike

Dimensions (Inches): 13 x 67 x 27; Drive: High inertia perimeter weighted flywheel; Resistance Levels: 25; Resistance Type: Eddy Current Brake; Frame: Walk-through; Bike Type: Recumbent; Seats: Contoured and Ventilated; In-Built Programs: 29; Maximum User Weight Capacity: 300 pounds; HR Monitoring: Integrated Sensors, Chest Strap (not included); Accessory Tray; Speakers; Cooling Fan: 3 speed; Display: dual 2 LCD

Final Words

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is a good bargain at about $600, providing excellent value. Low-budget recumbent bikes break down within one year; not this one as it has a durable frame, build, and design. You get the choice to add a virtual reality experience and wireless heart rate monitoring. Besides, it supports a diverse range of workout programs, several resistance levels, and smooth pedaling.

For users who are particularly short or tall (beyond 5’2”-6′) or who do not require higher resistance, Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is the best low impact machine for them at a budget price.