ProForm Indoor Cycling Bike Reviews and Comparisons

Sayed May 2, 2021 1

ProFrom Studio Bike Pro 22, Studio Bike Pro, and Carbon CX Indoor Bikes Overview and Comparison

ProForm is often considered to be one of those brands that is in-active competition with Peloton in regards to their spin bikes. Which makes sense, as they are making the same products. However, what gets compared less often are the ProForm indoor bikes with one another. After all, it would be nice to know just how they hold up against one another and which one represents the best deal for those searching for a way to exercise on an indoor cycling bike at home.

That’s why we are going to do a side-by-side comparison of some of these bikes today. We’re going to look at the individual elements of each bike and see how they stack up against one another before giving our final thoughts at the end of the piece. So, with all of that out of the way, let’s hop right into our ProForm Indoor Cycling Bike Comparison!

Compare ProForm Indoor Cycling Bikes

Compare ProForm Indoor Cycling Bikes With us

Name	Display	Resistance	SmartSwivel	Connectivity	Speakers	Flywheel	Rack	Price
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22	22" HD touchscreen	24-Level Magnetic	Yes	Bluetooth and WiFi	Yes	32-Lb	Without Tablet Rack	$1299
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 10	10" HD touchscreen	22-Level Magnetic	Yes	Bluetooth and WiFi	Yes	32-Lb	Without Tablet Rack	$799
ProForm Carbon CX Bike	Small LCD Monitor	16-Level Magnetic	No	Bluetooth	No	23.5-Lb	With Tablet Rack	$599

Table of content

Technical Information
Drivetrain, Resistance, Flywheel & Pedals
Handlebars and Saddle
Monitors and Audio
Prices and Warranties
What We Think About ProForm Spin Bikes

Technical Information

Up first is our comparison of the technical specs of each of these indoor bikes. Now, because these are all made by the same company, you won’t find an outrageous amount of difference here. For example, every one of them has a listed max user weight of 250 lbs (113 kg). This is actually surprisingly low, as many modern spin bikes from these sorts of price ranges have limits of at least 300 or more.

They also share relatively similar footprints, so none of them will be taking up too many different sizes in your home. The Studio Pro and Studio Pro 22 share the same length and width, with the Pro 22 being only slightly taller. This is almost entirely due to the increasing sizes of monitors on each of the bikes, as the screen at the front progressively gets larger and larger with each model (more on that in a bit).

All three of these ProForm spin bikes share the same width. The weights between the Studio Pro 22 and the Carbon CX are the only spot where it differs massively, as the Pro and Pro 22 weigh 15 and 19 lbs more respectively than the Carbon CX.

In general, there isn’t anything out of the ordinary about the technical information of these three spin bikes outside of maybe the maximum weight. But even then, it’s not as though 250 lbs (113 kg) is a strange number. It’s just out of the ordinary for this price range.

Compare ProForm Indoor Cycling Bikes' Technical Information

Name	Capacity	Inseam	Weight	Width	Length	Height	Materials
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22	250 lbs (113 kg)	User Height: 27″ to 39″ (5'-6'6")	144 lbs (65 kg)	21.9 in (55.6 cm)	56.5 in (143.5 cm)	54 in (137 cm)	Steel (Not Aluminium)
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 10	250 lbs (113 kg)	User Height: 27″ to 39″ (5'-6'6")	140 (63.5 kg)	21.9 in (55.6 cm)	56.5 in (143.5 cm)	54 in (137 cm)	Steel (Not Aluminium)
ProForm Carbon CX Bike	250 lbs (113 kg)	User Height: 27″ to 39″ (5'-6'6")	125 lbs (57 kg)	21.9 in (55.6 cm)	56.5 in (143.5 cm)	54 in (137 cm)	Steel (Not Aluminium)

Drivetrain, Resistance, Flywheel & Pedals

Up next we have some of the more important elements to making an indoor bike actually worthwhile: the drivetrain, resistance, flywheel and pedals. Once again, there aren’t too many variations between these ProForm spin bikes, but there are elements that were concerning as we did our research on them.

The first issue is that there’s not a whole lot of specific information on the bikes themselves. One the “Specs” section of the ProForm website on each of them, the Q-Factor (distance between the pedals) isn’t listed, the gear ratio (how many times different gears in the bike turn) is nowhere to be seen, and the drivetrain is hardly mentioned. This is not a great look on ProForm themselves, as you’d usually expect the company that makes the bikes to tell you what they are made up of. UPDATE! It was confirmed that all these three Proform indoor bikes are built with a 197mm Q-factor which might be considered too wide for elite users.

As for the information that we do have, all 3 of these ProForm bikes are extremely quiet when in use thanks to their combination of a magnetic resistance system and a belt drivetrain. There are different levels of resistance available on each of these spin bikes. The Carbon CX has the lowest amount, with 16 levels. The Studio Pro has 22 levels available, while the Studio Pro 22 has 24 levels. Each of these can provide a challenge, but the more levels, the more you can fine-tune your experience.

On each of the bikes, there are also different options in regards to the pedals. On the Carbon CX, the pedals are caged and that is it. On the Studio Pro, you have the option of implementing those toe cages, but you certainly don’t have to. On the Studio Pro 22 there are toe clips and straps available for use.

Then, finally, there are the flywheel weights. Many people assign great importance to this, as they consider it the measure of how much challenge the indoor bike can provide. This isn’t always true, as we’ve examined in our other piece on flywheel weights. However, heavy flywheels certainly still do the job. The Carbon CX has a flywheel which weighs 23.5 lbs (10.6 kg), while both the Studio Pro and Studio Pro 22 have flywheels that weigh 32 lbs (14.5 kg).

Compare ProForm Indoor Cycling Bikes' Drivetrain

Name	Drivetrain	Pedals	Resistance	Flywheel	Q.Factor	Crank	Interactive
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22	Poly-V Belt	9/16" Toe Caged (no SPD)	24 Levels Electronic Magnetic	32 lbs (14.5 kg)	197mm	170mm - 3-Piece	iFit Instructors can control the resistance
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 10	Poly-V Belt	9/16" Toe Caged (no SPD)	22 Levels Electronic Magnetic	32 lbs (14.5 kg)	197mm	170mm - 3-Piece	iFit Instructors can control the resistance
ProForm Carbon CX Bike	Poly-V Belt	9/16" Toe Caged (no SPD)	16 Levels Electronic Magnetic	23.5 lbs (10.6 kg)	197mm	170mm - 3-Piece	iFit Instructors can control the resistance

Handlebars and Saddle

Now we’re going to look at the elements of the bike that you’ll probably interact the most with because, well, it’s a bike. The handlebars and seats have been pretty important to bikes for a while now, and the same remains true even for indoor cycling bikes.

However, almost all of the handlebars and seats on these ProForm indoor bikes are identical in terms of what they offer. The handlebars on all of these ProForm spin bikes are only adjustable vertically, with 5 different levels available. This is somewhat expected on the Carbon CX, although it would have been nice to see some horizontal adjustments on the Studio Pro and Studio Pro 22 bikes. Regardless, it should work for most people.

Similarly, the seats on all of these ProForm stationary bikes are adjustable in the same manner. Each can be adjusted both horizontally and vertically, as most seats can. There are 10 different settings for the vertical height and 3 for the horizontal. Again, it would be nice to see more options, but it should work for most people. What might not work is the seat itself. One of the most common complaints about all three of these spin bikes is the complaint about the seat comfort. Fortunately, this can be solved by replacing the seat with another, more comfortable option or simply putting a cover over it.

Another common element on many spin bikes these days is to have an extra media tray for any books, tablets or phones. Only the Carbon CX has one of these, as the other Studio Pro bikes rely on their monitors for providing all of the entertainment and functions.

Here we’re just going to go over a couple of elements that didn’t really fit with any of the other categories. Really quickly, all three of these ProForm exercise bikes are identical in regards to these little bonus features. They all come with 2 3-lb dumbbells that will allow for users to get some upper-body workouts alongside all the pedalling that they do. To do all this exercising, they also have water bottle holders available in order to keep you hydrated.

Compare ProForm Indoor Cycling Bikes' Handlebars and Saddle

Name	Handlebars	Saddle	Tray	Dumbbells	Holder
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22	Only Vertically Adjustable (5)	Vertical (10) & Horizontal (3)	Without Media Tray	2 3-lb Dumbbells	Comes with water bottle holder
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 10	Only Vertically Adjustable (5)	Vertical (10) & Horizontal (3)	Without Media Tray	2 3-lb Dumbbells	Comes with water bottle holder
ProForm Carbon CX Bike	Only Vertically Adjustable (5)	Vertical (10) & Horizontal (3)	With Media Tray	2 3-lb Dumbbells	Comes with water bottle holder

Monitors and Audio

We now reach the part that is promoted the most alongside these bikes, perhaps even more so than the physical bike elements themselves. Each of these ProForm indoor cycles comes with a minimum 1-year subscription of iFit membership, allowing users to join live workouts, track their workout statistics and access different exercise programs that have been stored in the program.

The monitor that displays these programs on the Carbon CX is not actually measured in any sort of real size, as it is merely described as a “large LCD display”. This display can track the speed, time, distance and calories burned statistics of your workout. The Carbon CX also comes with a 1-year iFit membership, although you’ll have to pay independently to keep it up afterwards.

Both of the Studio Pro bikes have touchscreen displays, with the Studio Pro having a 10 inch display and the Studio Pro 22 having a 22 inches display. Both of these monitors can track a heck of a lot more statistics than the Carbon CX, as they can track all the stats we mentioned previously and many, many more. You can see (not save) your cycling progress and stats on the free-version of iFit but you can’t save workouts or access spinning classes once your membership runs out. Speaking of, the Studio Pro actually comes with a larger membership than the Studio Pro 22; the former has a 3-year Family Membership compared to the latter’s 1-year membership (it might change by the time you are reading this review).

As a bonus, there are also auxiliary audio ports available on both of the Studio Pro bikes, allowing you to plug into a better sound system if you wish. This could be particularly helpful if you have a hard time hearing the cues during the workouts on the monitors. Overall, the monitors might not be the best of all time thanks to their reliance on iFit memberships, but they should certainly do the job for most. Note. ProForm indoor cycling bikes are designed to exclusively work with the iFit application therefore, you can’t install any other application these monitors. I know it sucks! But that’s how many companies including Peloton are built so you can only buy their app if you want to get access to classes.

Compare ProForm Indoor Cycling Bikes' Monitors

Name	Screen	Statistics	iFit	Audio	Speakers	Fan
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22	22 in (56 cm) Smart Touchscreen Display	Resistance, Watt, RPM, Speed, Time, Distance, and Calories Burned + at least 8 more	1-Year Family Membership Included	Audio Auxiliary Port	Yes	No Cooling Fan
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 10	10 in (25.4 cm) Smart Touchscreen Display	Resistance, Watt, RPM, Speed, Time, Distance, and Calories Burned + at least 8 more	1-Year Family Membership Included	Audio Auxiliary Port	Yes	No Cooling Fan
ProForm Carbon CX Bike	“Small” LCD Display	Resistance, RPM, Time, Distance, and Calories Burned	1-Year Family Membership Included	None	No	No Cooling Fan

Prices and Warranties

Now we come to the price and warranties, where many people will make the decision on whether these bikes are worth it. Starting with the Carbon CX, this is a $600 bike with a 10 year warranty on the frame and 1 year on the parts and warranty. It’s the cheapest of the lot by far, and is for those who are mostly going to test the waters with one of these machines.

The Studio Pro costs $1403, with a 10 year warranty on the frame, 2 years on the parts and 1 year on the labour. This is more than double the cost of the Carbon CX, and it certainly has some more features. The 3 year iFit subscription is definitely a bonus compared to the 1 year ones of the other 2. The only part that you’d be getting less of is the size of the touchscreen display.

The Studio Pro 22 costs nearly $100 more than the Studio Pro, and nearly all of that goes towards the larger display. It has the same warranties, same parts, same everything pretty much. However, you’d also be paying $100 more for 2 years less of an iFit membership and a bigger screen.

Compare ProForm Indoor Cycling Bikes' Prices and Warranties

Name	Price	Warranty	Labor	Tools	preassembled	Box
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22	$1500 - Free Shipping	Frame 10-Year, Parts 2-Year	1 Year	Assembly Tolls Included	Flywheel, Belt, & Cranks	Single Box 155-Lb
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 10	$1200 - Free Shipping	Frame 10-Year, Parts 2-Year	1 Year	Assembly Tolls Included	Flywheel, Belt, & Cranks	Single Box 150-Lb
ProForm Carbon CX Bike	$600 - Free Shipping	Frame 10-Year, Parts 1-Year	1 Year	Assembly Tolls Included	Flywheel, Belt, & Cranks	Single Box 140-Lb

What We Think About ProForm Spin Bikes

Rather surprisingly, the bike that seems to offer the least for the cost is the ProForm Studio Pro 22. While it is a quality spin bike, the fact that you can get a nearly identical bike for $300 less with an even longer iFit membership already paid for just means that it looks like a bad idea to invest in it (unless you prefer the whooping 22″ monitor).

Instead, both the Studio Pro and the Carbon CX offer quality deals for their price ranges and what they offer. The Carbon CX is one for those who are looking for a cheaper bike that can still offer plenty of challenge and a good build, while the Studio Pro offers a quality experience with plenty of adjustability and challenge. Therefore, we would recommend either the Carbon CX or the Studio Pro spin bikes depending on what sort of price range you had in mind.

That concludes our ProForm Indoor Cycling Bike comparison. As always, these are suggestions rather than rules, and we recommend you do some of your own research in order to make sure you pick out the best bike for yourself. Now get out there and get cycling!

Sayed

Hi there, I'm Sayed Hamed Hosseiny, the founder and one of the authors at yourexercisebike.com (YEB). I am a former indoor cycling instructor and personal trainer with nearly 20 years of experience. With a passion for indoor cycling, I have spent years designing cycling parts, repairing, and importing exercise bikes. All the articles, tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on YourExerciseBike.com (YEB) reflect my personal opinion and expertise in the field. I'm excited to share my knowledge with fellow exercise bike enthusiasts and help people find reliable indoor cycling information and the best exercise bike for their needs. If you have any questions or suggestion, you can contact me at sayed@yourexercisebike.com.