Schwinn 130 Upright Exercise Bike Review
Schwinn 130 Overview
Schwinn are one of those companies that you can generally rely on to put out quality fitness products. Even their lesser products can look good in comparison to many other pieces of exercise equipment available on the market. The same rings true when looking at their upright bike selection. One of the options that might stand out to people who are looking for a mid-range bike that has the quality Schwinn offers is the Schwinn 130 upright bike. We’re going to look at this bike today and checkout just how well it matches up to that price (or prices) that it comes with. The resistance, technology and overall build will all be under consideration before we give our final verdict. So with all of that out of the way, let’s get into our review of the Schwinn 130 upright bike!
First up are the prices and the guarantees that come with the Schwinn 130 home exercise bike. There is a general price range that you will find the Schwinn 130 cardio bike for, which can make it look a lot more appealing, or a lot less appealing. The upper range of the price sits right around $520, which is only $20 less than the 130’s older sibling, the Schwinn 170. On the other hand, you can also find the Schwinn 130 upright bike for a price as low as $350. This is a much more appealing deal, but we’ll get further into those thoughts at the end of the article. For now, what about the warranties that come with this bike? You’ll be happy to know that the Schwinn 130 comes with a very good frame warranty of 10 years, a decent electronics warranty of 1 year, a fair parts warranty of 2 years, and an OK 90 day warranty on the labour. Considering these are more than you’ll get on a lot of bikes, it is a pretty good warranty package. The shipping process shouldn’t take more than 1-2 weeks. Of course, this can be affected by outside factors like human error, weather and the occasional pandemic. Once it does arrive, you can either have it pre assembled or you can do it yourself. If you choose the latter, it won’t be too hard of a process. Most of the Schwinn 130 is assembled already and you just have to put together what is left while following the guide.
We touched on it in the intro, but the next step to reviewing this bike is to check out the monitor that comes with the Schwinn 130 exercise bike. You’ll be glad to find the monitor of the Schwinn 130 upright bike does a good job of delivering content to the user. There are 13 different programs available for the challenge and to add workout variety to whoever climbs aboard. There is the classic Quick Start (or Manual) mode, as well as interval and challenge modes available. All of these combine to give an excellent amount of challenge and variety to you, regardless of skill level or cycling experience. Then there is the data that the monitor of the Schwinn 130 upright bike displays. You can see the time, speed, RPM, heart rate, distance, and calories all on one screen. If you wish to measure these stats in metric measurements, you have that option, which is always a nice inclusion. A Bluetooth connection is included, which is able to work with apps like Explore the World® and Zwift®, although it requires separate subscriptions for those. It can also connect to a heart rate chest strap, which does not come with the bike. Overall, the monitor of the Schwinn 130 upright bike comes with a lot of features that you wouldn’t expect from a bike that can be found under $500.
Then there is the resistance that you will meet on the Schwinn 130. It has a magnetic resistance system that offers 16 different levels of resistance. This is a pretty good amount, as it allows for both challenging workouts and more customization. You can find those sweet spots for specific workouts. Combine this with the belt drivetrain that the Schwinn 130 cardio bike has and you all of a sudden have an extremely quiet bike that offers plenty of challenge. The flywheel of the Schwinn 130 cardio bike weighs the exact same as the 170; 13 lbs (5.9 kg). This might be a little bit light for some, but it still offers quite an excellent selection of resistance. What is not excellent is the crank that comes with the Schwinn 130. It is only a 1-piece crank instead of the desired 3-piece cranks. 1-piece cranks are basically just a single bar that connects the pedals, making them less durable than the more independent 3-piece cranks. One of the elements about the Schwinn 130 upright bike that we don’t know about is the Q-Factor. For those who are not aware, the Q-Factor is the distance between the pedals of the bike. If it is too narrow, you can get uncomfortable and even run the risk of injury. If it is too wide, that discomfort is sure to return. However, considering that there aren’t really widespread complaints about the Q-Factor, it doesn’t seem to be too big of a concern here.
It is also important to know how much space upright exercise bikes like the Schwinn 130 stationary bike take up. Their weight and mobility could also be a factor in how likely people are to purchase them. Fortunately, the Schwinn 130 upright bike is almost the exact same size as the Schwinn 170 (which is to say not terribly large at all). It measures out to be 41.3 in (105 cm) long, 21.4 in (54 cm) wide and 54.5 in (138.4 cm) tall. It only weighs 58.4 lbs (26.5 kg) and can hold the same 300 lbs (136 kg) as its more advanced sibling. People of many heights can comfortably enjoy this bike, ranging from 5’0” (153 cm) to around 6’5” (196 cm). The adjustable floor stabilizers on the back of the Schwinn 130 should keep just about anyone steady, especially when combined with the professional standard steel frame. There are transport wheels on the front of the bike, but they are extremely small, which seems like it might honestly limit their use somewhat. Still, they should help with any movement around the home.
We’ll finish out the investigation with the rest of the physical elements that make up the rest of the Schwinn 130 upright bike, starting with the handlebars. The handlebars are multi-grip and adjustable, although this latter function only extends to the angles that they take. They are covered by a thick foam padding for comfort, but otherwise there isn’t too much to note about the handlebars. Then there is the saddle. Unlike the Schwinn 170, the saddle of the Schwinn 130 upright bike is not horizontally adjustable. You can only go up and down about 10 levels here, which is unfortunate. You always want to see 4- way adjustable seats, since that allows for more people to find a comfortable spot on the bike. The saddle is more comfortable than the Schwinn 170, which is most certainly a nice factor. If you would prefer a different saddle, the stem is universal to allow for different saddles to fit. The tube of the saddle is a tad thin, which means you might shake on the more intense workouts, but the stabilizers should offset this somewhat. The pedals don’t really do anything to stand out. They are oversized with straps and that is about it. There are a few bonus features you get with the Schwinn 130 as well. You get a water bottle holder under the monitor, a media tray that will cover the monitor screen and MP3 speakers that will allow for some tunes while you workout. A nice little bonus package.
Schwinn 130 Upright Bike Pros:
- A variety of resistance settings available
- Magnetic resistance and belt drivetrain make a quiet workout
- Water bottle holder, media tray and speakers are nice bonuses
- Monitor offers preset workout programs
- Monitor can display stats in metric measurements
- Monitor has Bluetooth connections available
- Good frame that holds many different people
- Good frame, mechanical and electrical parts warranties for the price
Schwinn 130 Upright Bike Cons:
- Seat is only vertically adjustable
- Pedals are underwhelming
- Some might not like the lightweight flywheel
- 1-piece crank is not as good
Final Verdict
There is quite a lot to enjoy about the Schwinn 130 upright bike. It offers quite a lot of features to whoever climbs aboard. The only question is whether or not it is worth that upper price. We’d say that if you are tempted to buy it for that $500 price, it would be better to go for the 170. However, if you can get it for the sub-$400 price that it can be, this is a great pickup. It offers plenty of resistance and features that you would expect on much more expensive bikes. There are negatives like the crank and vertical seat, but they are far outweighed by the positives.
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.
