Schwinn 231 Recumbent Exercise Bike Review

I noticed quite few reviewers wondering if the 231 is worth the extra $100 above the 230. My answer is yes. (With or without the current $100+$100 promotion, the 231 is no doubt the best choice.)

First, I was planning to buy a recumbent bike and I have been doing a lot of research about these two bikes. I went to every sport store to try and ride both. I searched all the details from the Schwinn site in addition to reading the labels from the actual bikes. I can claim that I spent total of more than two hours actually riding the two bikes and testing the consoles. Of course I already ordered the 231 and should receive it in 10 days.

So, what is the difference between them? You ask.

The flywheel:
In 230, it is it 20 lb flywheel.
In the 231, it is 22 lb flywheel. The two extra pounds give more realistic ride with no skipping especially for taller people or people with stronger legs.
Big + for 231. (Not true anymore .... See update below)

Heart Rate Controlled programs:
The 230 lacks this important feature. This feature can keep you in your target heart rate area which will lead to better weight loss or endurance level.
The 231 include 3 programs with this feature.
Big + for 231.

Total Programs:
12 for 230 and 23 for the 231. The 231 includes 3 Heart Rate, 2 Custom, 4 Profile, Time Trial w/pacer, Fitness Test. All this in addition to whatever is in the 230.

Seat:
231: BioFit® Comfort seat with micro adjustable lumbar support positioning. You have a knob in the back of the seat to adjust the lumbar support.
230: No adjustment.
Also, in 231, the back of the seat includes a magazine rack.

Pedals:
231: Wide Comfort Schwinn pedals. Nice and fits shoes easily.
230: Narrow ones that are useless with the straps attached.


Console viewing angle:
231: 3 position console viewing angle adjustment. This helps you to see the console much better. You can also lower it to view TV or raise it to read your emails from you laptop. It is really not that helpful other than for easier viewing of the console.
230: Fixed.

Console:
231: Blue back light. Easier to read and more futuristic look.
230: Regular black LCD on gray. Really hard to read.

Fan:
231: has a nice integrated fan
230: No fan.

Frame:
231 106 lbs. More stable. The frame is 4 inches longer than the 230 which may be annoying to an already big home bike. These four inches will allow for even taller riders on the expense of stability.
230: 101 lbs. Still pretty stable (more stable than 231 on thick carpets or thick mats).

Those are what I managed to find so far. I will update the review if I find more

So, do you still think that the $100 is un-justified???


UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE 3/15/08

Well, I received my bike two weeks ago. Assembly was relatively easy and straight forward. The bike looks much bigger in my living room than when I saw it in display rooms at local sports stores. It still looks fabulous though.

First impression is great. I will not talk about how great this bike is as most other reports already said so.

I will just let you know what to expect on the other side.

1- First thing I noticed is that the fan is not working. I connected it directly to the power adapter and it worked fine hence the problem is in the console. I called customer service and they were the best. They first refused to send me a new console till I try a new fan that I got within two days from my phone call. Of course it didn't work and I am waiting now for a new console which is in backorder for the next 3 weeks. No big deal as I don't really need the fan in Massachusetts's winter anyway.

2- I noticed that that bike was wobbly. I know the reason, it is the thick mat that I have over the thick carpel in my room. I simply placed a nice 2x5 foot piece of solid pine wood under the bike and over the black mat. That was the best think I did as the bike got really stable while the carpet is still protected with the thick mat. It also reduced the black color from the mat and lightened the room a lot. I got the wood from Lowe's store.

3- This is got me REALLY UPSIT. As one commenter on this review pointed out that he ordered the bike and found a sticker saying the flywheel is only 20LBs instead of the 22LBs I mentioned on my review above. I found that the sticker on my bike says the same. I felt tricked. I called Schwinn customer services to see what is going on... Again they were super nice and professional. They started to search for the problem and contacted their bike experts. Few days later, they got back to me and said that the 22LBs in Schwinn's home page is only a TYPOgraphical error. They claim that all Shwinn's products use 20 Lbs. flywheels. They didn't explain the bike I saw at Sears with sticker of 22LBs. I went back to Sears to get a picture of the bike but the bike was gone. I assume they should fix their home page soon.


I really love this bike and would give it five starts if I can again. The flywheel incident did upset me a bit but now I got used to it. I don't think it is a big deal anyway. The Heart beat controlled programs, adjustable ergo seat with shelf, bigger paddles and blue backlit console still makes it much better than the 230. I personally benifited from the longer body as I needed to move the seat extra two more inches than the 230 can give.


MORE COMMENTS and replies for other reviews:


- Paddles are wide and easy to adjust. Adjustment is to be done from the inner side of the paddle. It is easy to remove the strap from the inside for adjustments. If you try it from outside, then you will see all troubles other reviewers are seeing.

- If seat is squeaky then tighten screws underneath it.You also may want to add a drop of lubricant or oil between the metal vertical rod (that carries the Chrome bar) and the black plastic shell. This will eleminate noises from under the seat.

- If you cleaned the chrome bar that holds the seat, you may need to add a drop of silicon lubricant on the top of it. This will make it move easier and eliminate any minor noises.

- Remember to write the serial number on a piece of paper before you assemble the rear stabilizer rod. It will really help you as reading this number is really tough once the bike is assembled. Thanks for other reviewer who mentioned this as it really helped me :-)
Get more detail about Schwinn 231 Recumbent Exercise Bike.