Renpho AI Upright Exercise Bike Review
Renpho AI Overview
Not a lot of companies are overly innovative when designing upright exercise bikes. They tend to throw on a monitor, get some resistance in and make sure that you have a place to put your rear and hands. Nothing too crazy. As the price rises or falls, these qualities can be better or worse, but they are still generally the same. There are some companies out there, however, that are looking to change the home exercise bike scene entirely. Renpho is one of these companies. They have come out with an “AI-powered stationary bike” that is looking to leave its mark on the market. Considering it is not one of the most expensive kinds that you can find, it might just be able to do that. So we’ve decided to check what all the Renpho AI upright bike offers and give our thoughts on it. So with all of that out of the way, let’s hop into our review of the Renpho AI upright bike!
The first thing that many people look at when searching for one of these exercise bikes is the price that they come with. Budgets are important, so that is why we’re going to start with the pricing of the Renpho AI upright bike. It costs right around $700, although there have been occasions where it has dropped to $600. This actually ranges on the upper-middle range of these types of bikes, so it isn’t actually that expensive of an option. Of course, there are many cheaper options too. Many of these cheaper options also come with better warranties than the Renpho AI cardio bike. You might expect long-lasting guarantees for all the parts and frame, but you only get a 1 year warranty across the board here. For its price range, you typically want to see a larger guarantee, as you don’t want something going wrong and having to pay for it again. The shipping of the bike seems to take quite the long time compared to many other indoor bikes out there. You can expect it 7-9 weeks after purchase according to the Renpho official site. This seems like quite the long wait, but it makes a little bit of sense if they are making these per order rather than just dishing them out on a regular assembly line. Once it does eventually arrive, you should find that the assembly process isn’t one that will take too long or too much effort. This is mostly thanks to the clear manual that comes with the bike, so that even those who aren’t familiar with the process of assembling bikes will have an easier time with it.
One of the major appeals of modern home exercise bikes comes in the form of the monitor and technology attached to the bike. Since the Renpho upright bike is called the “AI-powered” bike, it seems like they might have something to do with this category. Not in the way you think though. Because there is no actual monitor on this bike. Instead, there is a tablet holder where most monitors would be put. The idea here is that you place a tablet or phone on that holder and connect to an app. These apps can come in the form of the free AI GYM app that has 70+ courses, and 5 different training modes. This app also has coached video classes, power training programs and HD video courses to explore as well. Of course, if you already use apps like Zwift, Peloton (iOS only), Kinomap, FulGaz, XERT or others, you can still connect and use those. As for what these apps can actually do besides their normal statistics tracking, training courses or video courses, we’ll get to that in a moment. The general statistics that you can generally expect from these apps include things like your time, RPM, watts, distance, and calories. Many include more advanced and specific measurements, but these are the basic ones that you can expect. These apps should also allow you to switch between metric and English measurements for the stats as well.
Now for the interesting part. The resistance is what allows people to get fit on stationary bikes, and thus is the most important part. The resistance type of the Renpoho AI bike is officially listed as smart motor dampening. They say it is reverse-engineered from electric vehicles that precisely changes the resistance within 90% of accuracy. Where the “AI” in the bike’s name comes from is in how the bike automatically sets the resistance based on the cyclist’s biometrics. Initial goals are set and the bike will adapt to those and automatically adjusts the resistance based on those. It also sets the resistance of the bike based on the video you are watching, which is fascinating. If you are rolling through the hills of Scotland on a particular video, the bike will adjust to what you see on the screen. It’s actually quite impressive how it maneuvers through its 80 levels of digital resistance. The crank of the Renpho AI bike is a 3-piece one, which is quite appealing. It is simply better than the 1-piece crank you find on many cheaper bikes. And we have even better news; THE Q-FACTOR IS FINALLY LISTED! For those who are unaware, the Q-Factor of a bike is the distance between the pedals. If it is too narrow, you risk injury and discomfort. If it is too wide, it can also get uncomfortable. The Q-Factor of the Renpho AI bike sits right at 6.3 inches, which is a good width for everyone. In general, this is a pretty darn impressive resistance system.
Many people also wish to know how big their bike is. The Renpho AI bike measures out to be 49 inches (124.5 cm) long, 20 inches (50.8 cm) wide and 40 inches (101.6 cm) tall. It weighs 77 lbs (35 kg) and can hold a maximum weight of 265 lbs (120 kg). There are small stabilizers on the back of the AI cardio bike, which help limit the rocking the more intense workouts. Admittedly, they are small enough to not matter that much. There are also small transport wheels on the front of the bike, which makes it easier to move around the home. This is always nice.
We’ll finish out with the rest of the physical elements of the Renpho AI upright bike, starting with the handlebars. These can be vertically adjusted, which is a rare feature amongst these exercise bikes. They have a couple of positions to grip onto and are comfortable, but otherwise don’t do anything too crazy. The saddle is adjustable both horizontally and vertically, which is another bonus. The seat is comfortable and helps the Renpho cardio bike fit people between the heights of 5’0” (152 cm) and 6’5” (195 cm). This is a good range and the majority of people will find that it is a comfortable fit. The pedals are pretty barebones, which is a weakness of the bike. They are non-slip with some adjustable straps to keep you in place, but that’s about it. They can be replaced, but that’s if you desperately desire others in their place. As for any other bonus features on the Renpho stationary bike, don’t expect anything. There is a power charger for your devices, but that’s about it. There isn’t even a water bottle holder or anything like that.
Renpho AI Upright Bike Pros:
- Resistance system combines with belt drive to be quiet and smooth
- Resistance system uniquely adapts to your biometrics and app connections
- Handlebars are vertically adjustable
- Seat is vertically and horizontally adjustable
- Seat is pretty comfortable compared to many out there
- Can fit a wide variety of people onboard comfortably
- The Q-Factor of the bike is right in the ideal zone
- Bike is compatible with all types of fitness apps
- Renpho have given their own free exercise app with coaches, videos and stats
- Transport wheels make movement around the home easier
- Solid build makes the bike feel smooth and slick
Renpho AI Upright Bike Cons:
- Pedals are extremely basic
- The warranties are extremely limited
- No tablet/actual monitor comes with the bike
- No bonus features like water bottles or cooling fans
- 265 lb max weight limit isn’t a lot
Final Verdict
The Renpho AI upright bike is actually a fascinating attempt to revolutionize the home exercise game. It forsakes the traditional monitor in favour of advanced connections with all sorts of exercise apps. These apps, in turn, provide the true backbone of this bike. It automatically adjusts to your needs based on your biometrics, leaving you without the need to constantly look up and be a master of cycling. It isn’t perfect, with the pedals being some of the most basic that they could be. The warranties are also not exactly inspiring. However, considering that this bike only falls into the upper middle range of pricing, you’re looking at a pretty good deal. If none of the other traditional bikes on the market stick out to you, perhaps this one will look more appealing.
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.
