- Recumbent exercise bike for the home with 16 resistance levels and 20-pound flywheel
- 17 workout programs, including 8 course profiles, target heart rate, 2 user profiles with custom workouts
- Telemetry-enabled, integrated grip heart rate system for easy fitness monitoring
- Seating system with padded ergonomic seat and dual-position lumbar support
- 300-pound maximum user weight; 5-year warranty on frame, 1 year on parts and electronics
Product Description
The Schwinn® 240 recumbent bike delivers a challenging workout in a relaxed position, with dual-position lumbar support. It features BioFit™ comfort with a padded ergonomic seat and an adjustable console. BioDyne™ performance offers a perimeter-weighted flywheel for a true road feel and smooth, consistent workouts, while oversized stabilizers and levelers are built-in for a solid workout platform.Amazon.com Product Description
Save money on monthly gy… More >>
Schwinn 240 Recumbent Exercise Bike
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I’ve been an amazon customer for almost 12 years, and whenever I buy something, I always check amazon first.
No surprise, Amazon had the recumbent bike I was looking for, and nearly $100 cheaper than the local big box sports store where I tested it out.
Shipping is the factor here in the competitive price. Regular shipping was around $70 for this bike through amazon, and if I was paying that, then probably easier to just pick up the bike locally. But free shipping, well then it’s a no-brainer, right? I can wait a couple of weeks for the bike…
So I ordered the bike through amazon on 10/25. Almost a month has passed. According to tracking, the bike arrived in Chicago (local hub) on 11/6. No call from the shipper, no way to contact them (CEVA?). Amazon wants me to wait until tomorrow to either cancel or have them ship another one. Ahh, just in time for the Christmas shipping rush. What are the odds I’ll get it this time? And apparently I just gave a $400 short term loan to amazon if all I do is get a refund.
Bottom line, in this case, amazon free shipping appears to be free because the package never arrives. Maybe not such a good deal. I think I’m going back to the big box.
Rating: 1 / 5
[Reply]
December 24th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Okay, I’ll start with the “one star” dock, and that was about the shipping.
While I appreciate free shipping as much as anyone, unlike others here, I wasn’t called by a shipping company to arrange a delivery time. It was left in my driveway, in a puddle of rainwater. near the garage door, and wasn’t signed for. My neighborhood is infested with trash pickers, so this would have been easy pickins’ for some burly guys with a pickup truck. Fortunately, I was monitoring Fedex and the minute I saw it was delivered I rushed home to bring it inside.
The first thing I noticed was that there were several large holes in the side of the box and the sealing flap was halfway off. If this happens to you, and you’re there when it’s delivered, be sure to have the delivere write “Damaged Box” on their receipt, or call Fedex to make sure this is part of the record. This will help facilitate matters should you need to return it.
On the plus side of the shipping equation, I ordered it on a Monday. Fedex said it would arrive on the following Friday and it actually arrived on the Thursday, a day earlier. I guess it does help to live near one of Amazon’s distribution points.
Fortunately, upon unwrapping, I was relieved to see that nothing was damaged in shipping. The parts were neatly wrapped, and the bolts and connectors were attached a single corrugated sheet and clearly labeled, which is extremely useful. However, some of the parts (including screws) that had been specified in the assembly list were already attached to the frame, so there was a bit of panic at first because it looked like some parts were missing.
In spite of the fact that I am the world’s worst assembler (usually I get three quarters of the way through and discover I put something on backward that requires the whole thing to be dissambled), the assembly instructions were, for the most part, pretty well organized. And Schwinn thoughtfully provided every kind of tool needed. Fortunately, I also had an expert helping me, my 14-year old son, who is very good at these things. We managed to get it all together in two hours with a minimum of shouting. The toughest parts were getting the screws to hold the “monitor/front arms” shaft and feeding the monitor wires through it and making sure they didn’t break.
Once it was all set, time to try it out. Well, this thing is truly the quietest exercise bike I’ve used. The only noise is a slight squeaking of the flywheel Contrast this to my last bike, a Schwinn Airdyne that was so loud that people next door could hear my pedalling all the way in the basement. The frame and adjustable stablizers make it very steady, usually a problem with these bikes (I recommend a rubber equipment mat; I got the one on Amazon for $38). Pedalling is very smooth. Resistance is anything but futile; at 10 or above it can put up a good fight. For basic programs, the monitor is very high-tech looking, quite visible when you’re sitting and the program selection is very good. I did try setting up a user profile and got to the point to pick a program and it didn’t seem to take, so I forgot about it. Will try it later.
In terms of mobility, it’s quite mobile. a very thoughtfully conceived handle on the back lets you lift it up and roll it back and forth. The wheels aren’t that “loose” but I suppose that’s good–don’t want the thing rolling too much.
Slight quibbles:
I wish you could get a pulse reading with just one of the pulse sensors instead of two. A plus here is that if you have one of those “strap on your chest” heart monitors you can connect it with a jack that protrudes from behind the seat.
The front “handlebars” are kind of useless, and you should definitely adjust them to clear your knees before you tighthen them. Or, remove them entirely.
The “create user” settings are a bit hard to understand the directions don’t help that much.
Other than that, this is a great bike, and probably the best value in a recumbent you’re going to find without getting a $1,000+ LifeFitness or other model.
Rating: 4 / 5
[Reply]
December 24th, 2009 at 3:15 am
This is an initial review based on the first week of ownership.
ABF (the shipper) contacted us and asked when we would like it delivered. It came when they said. I live on a farm lane and the driver could not get to my house due to the snow. No problem I am use to that. I drove my ATV to the truck, we loaded it into my trailer. He rode on my ATV with me to my house and we unloaded it in the room I wanted it. Excellent. The box was in great shape, solid.
My 14 year old son put it together in about 1 hour, then I reviewed his work as we spent another 30 minutes going over the nuts and bolts checking for tightness. He had the front cross leg on backward so it wouldn’t roll when we picked up the back, no biggie, we reversed it. It was easy for him to assemble.
Initial rides on it are favorable, make sure you tighten the seat fully after each adjustment. Don’t sit on it when moving the seat. So far the seat is the weak point. We’ll see how it holds up. You have to understand the programming to get the best use of it. I have had other equipment where you had pre-programmed courses to ride on.
There is no on/off button. Just walk away from it and it will shut off. I had to read that somewhere.
The drink holder is mickey mouse and probably won’t be used. I don’t think the basket will be used either.
I have read reviews on older models along the same line as the 240 and people complained about the packaging, shipper, assembly was too hard, instructions were poor. I had no issues with any of these, perhaps I got lucky.
Rating: 5 / 5
[Reply]
December 24th, 2009 at 3:27 am
After reading about the problems some others had with delivery I was concerned but the price with free shipping was good and I’ve not had a problem w/Amazon that they didn’t correct so I went for it. Placed the order on Dec 17 and it was delivered Dec 22 via UPS. Carton was in decent shape, contents were fine. Assembly was a breeze, with two of us it took less than an hour using only the tools that came with it (I had the electric screwdriver out but never used it). Assembly instructions are not great but adequate if you pay close attention to picking the right bolts. I’m tall, 6′4″ w/36″ inseam and it fits me and would even go back another inch or so. My wife is 5′4″ and it adjusts to fit her well, it would be fine for someone several inches shorter. Haven’t used it for any length of time yet so can’t comment on durability but it appears to be well built, it’s very sturdy, operates smoothly and is REALLY quiet. Now it’s up to us….. hopefully it won’t turn into a $449 clothes rack!
Rating: 4 / 5
[Reply]
December 24th, 2009 at 3:50 am
The bike is great. Everything else everyone said positive in their previous reviews is true – easy to assemble (although the electronics connections could have been secured and labeled better), smooth silent operation, comfortable etc. Everyone’s shipping concerns were valid too – neither one I received was in a completely intact box. Why did I get more than one? After receiving and assembling the first one, I found out the resistance motor was inoperable. The part was on a month backorder from Schwinn even before arranging for installation. Was going that route and changed my mind, repacked and returned it and ordered another one. If you need assembly help, I’m really good at it now. Good thing Amazon is tops in customer service, at least for me. But anyway, after 25 years of daily use of a standard exercise bike, I really like this one after my first 3 weeks of use. I don’t need or care for all the electronics, but they’re great if you like that kind of stuff.
Rating: 5 / 5
[Reply]