Introduction
The Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike has long been one of the top-selling exercise bikes because this is a good quality entry-level bike that has 8 resistance levels and a large weight capacity of 300 pounds, and can be folded away when it is not being used.
However you may be interested to know that there is a brand new model for 2015 – the Exerpeutic 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike – that is said to be even stronger because this one has an increased weight capacity of 400 pounds.
So let’s examine this bike in more detail and see what this bike has to offer.
Features And Benefits
- 8 magnetic resistance levels
- durable steel frame construction
- smooth and quiet in operation
- easy to read LCD display
- track time, speed, distance, calories, pulse and odometer
- built-in pulse sensors
- large cushioned seat
- oversized foot pedals with safety straps
- can be folded to half its usual size
- can be used by anyone between 5’1 and 6’5
- suitable for men and women up to 400 pounds
Product Dimensions
This new Exerpeutic 500 XLS bike has dimensions (in inches) of 39 (L) x 26.4 (W) x 48.4 (H) when it is fully assembled, but it can easily be folded away to approximately half its usual size if space is at a premium in your home.
Positives
The main reason why you should consider buying this new Exerpeutic 500 XLS Indoor Bike instead of the slightly older model is because this one is made from 20% more steel, and therefore has a much larger weight capacity than its predecessor (400 lbs v 300 lbs).
It can also be adjusted to accommodate anyone between 5’1 and 6’5, whereas the old model was only suitable for people between 5’3 and 6’1.
In addition to this, you should find that this bike has a lot of positive features that give it an edge over many of the other entry-level bikes in the same price bracket.
For example, it is said to be exceptionally smooth and quiet in operation, which cannot be said about many of the other low-cost bikes, and has a decent sized LCD display that is easy to read and displays lots of useful data, such as time, speed, distance, calories burned and pulse rate.
The pulse rate data is obtained from the pulse monitors that are built into the handlebars, and if you want to adjust the resistance, the lever is conveniently placed just above the LCD display.
Talking of which, there are 8 levels of magnetic resistance should you wish to vary the intensity of your workouts, and the workout itself is designed to be as comfortable as possible because it includes a large cushioned seat, padded multi-grip handlebars and some oversized foot pedals with straps to keep your feet firmly in place.
Plus the pedal action is said to be smooth and flawless, and the V-belt drive makes hardly any noise at all, which means that you can easily listen to music or watch TV at the same time.
So it is easy to see why this new Exerpeutic 500 XLS Folding Magnetic Bike is already one of the top-selling indoor exercise bikes, despite only being on sale for a short period of time.
Negatives
The only real problem I have with this bike is the actual design because the brown finish makes it look a little old-fashioned, and I’m not too keen on the gold strip on the back of the seat either.
A silver finish, like the original Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike, would instantly make it more attractive, but I guess they wanted to distinguish it from the previous model by using a different color.
Anyway this is just my personal opinion, and at the end of the day it’s not really that important because it’s the build quality and the quality of the workout that really matters, and in that respect this bike scores very highly indeed.
Final Thoughts
Of course it has to be pointed out that this new Exerpeutic 500 XLS Bike doesn’t have lots of resistance levels and workout programs like some of the more expensive models do, and it certainly doesn’t have lots of extra features, but it does still provide you with everything you need from an entry-level bike.
That’s because it delivers a smooth, comfortable and quiet workout experience and is very strong and sturdy. Plus you can simply fold it away after every workout if you don’t want it taking up valuable space in your home.
→ Click here to buy the Exerpeutic 500 XLS Bike