Introduction
Sunny Health & Fitness continue to produce a number of affordable indoor cycling bikes for home users, and the latest Evolution Pro model appears to be just as impressive as previous models, and in some respects, even better.
The SF-B1714 Evolution Pro Indoor Cycling Bike is a new model for 2018 that is exceptionally strong and stable with a weight capacity of 330 lbs, and delivers a smooth and consistent workout experience thanks to its magnetic resistance belt drive system that is practically silent in operation.
Crucially, it also has a very narrow Q-factor similar to many road bikes to ensure that it is easy on your knees and provides a very comfortable ride.
Features And Benefits
- 44-pound chrome flywheel
- smooth and silent belt drive mechanism
- consistent magnetic resistance system
- 4-way adjustable padded seat
- 4-way adjustable handlebars
- caged toe pedals with adjustable straps
- emergency push down brake
- narrow Q-factor
- water bottle holder
- transport wheels
- adjustable floor levelers
- solid heavy-duty steel frame construction
- accommodates users up to 330 pounds
Product Dimensions / Weight
The exact dimensions of this Evolution Pro Indoor Cycling Bike (in inches) are 48.5 (L) x 24 (W) x 53.5 (H), and it has a total weight of 136 pounds when it is fully assembled. The seat that comes with this machine is 10 (L) x 8 (W) x 2.8 (H).
Positives
The first thing to say about this Evolution Pro Bike is that it is a seriously strong machine that is clearly built to last.
The heavy-duty steel frame construction can support any users up to 330 pounds without any problems and will remain completely stable no matter how hard you pedal because of its overall weight.
If there is any kind of movement, you can simply adjust one of the floor levelers to ensure that it is completely level.
This machine also provides a really smooth ride because it has a heavy 44-pound flywheel and a maintenance-free long-lasting belt drive that has a smoother and quieter pedal movement than a chain drive.
In addition, it also has a consistent no-step magnetic resistance system that has seamless changes in resistance whenever you adjust the dial. There are no fixed levels of resistance as such, but you can still get a really intense workout by turning the dial to the right as far as it will go.
You will also find that this Evolution Pro exercise bike is comfortable to use no matter how tall or short you are because the seat is large and padded and can be adjusted forwards, backwards, upwards and downwards to help you find the most comfortable riding position.
Plus you can also adjust the handlebars in four directions, and experiment with different hand grip positions to help you find the best position as well.
The pedals on this machine are fairly basic because they are not compatible with clip-on cycling shoes, but they are still really secure because the caged pedals have adjustable straps that you can tighten to keep your feet firmly in place when you are cycling at high intensity.
Another key benefit that is worth mentioning is the Q-factor because this is something that is often overlooked when people are looking to buy a home exercise bike.
If the distance between the pedals is too wide, you will find that the workout doesn’t feel comfortable or natural, but a narrow Q-factor ensures that your legs will move in a natural rotation similar to a road bike and will feel a lot better, and the good news is that this SF-B1714 bike has a narrow Q-factor of just 121.92 mm, which is just about ideal.
Finally, it is also worth mentioning that this machine comes equipped with a water bottle holder, transport wheels and an emergency push down brake, but it is the strength and smoothness of this bike that are the key selling points of this particular Sunny Health & Fitness bike.
Negatives
As with many of the low-cost bicycles that are available from Sunny Health & Fitness, you will see that this machine doesn’t come with an LCD display. Therefore you won’t be able to analyze your performance stats like you can on an upright bike, for example.
This isn’t exactly a deal-breaker because you don’t really need one on an indoor cycling bike, and if you do want to view your performance stats, there are apps and consoles available that you can buy separately that will display this data.
Another slight issue is that you cannot use clip-on cycling shoes with this bike unless you replace the pedals, which is something to bear in mind if you are a serious cyclist who is used to using cycling shoes when training indoors.
Finally, it is worth mentioning once again that this is a really heavy machine (136 pounds), and so although it is easy enough to move around using the transport wheels, it may leave indentations on your floor or carpet if you don’t use a floor mat.
Final Thoughts
Although it doesn’t come with a performance monitor, it is fair to say that Sunny Health & Fitness have produced another top quality indoor cycling bike for home users with the Evolution Pro.
This particular model looks really stylish and has an exceptionally strong steel frame, and more importantly, it delivers a smooth, challenging and responsive workout with minimal noise, and with no jolting or movement whatsoever.
So you are basically getting a commercial-grade machine at a fraction of the price of the Keiser M3i bike or the Schwinn AC Performance Plus Bike, for instance, and because it has multiple adjustments on both the seat and the handlebars and places no stress on the knees thanks to its narrow Q-factor, it is one that the whole family can use comfortably and safely.
→ Click here to buy the SF-B1714 Evolution Pro Indoor Cycling Bike