Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike Review and Comparison
Schwinn has made a name for themselves in the realm of exercise bikes, haven’t they? They are right up there alongside the biggest names in the industry for their reputation of delivering solid products across the board, regardless of what type of bike you are looking for.
They aren’t faultless, however, which makes these sorts of pieces necessary. We’re going to be checking out the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike and see how it stacks up compared to the price that you can find it at. Of course, as an addition, this also means that we’ll inevitably compare it to some of the similarly priced options on the market.
We’ll be looking at elements like the resistance, technology, comfort and general design of the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike before comparing it to the asking price and warranty package. So with all of that out of the way, let’s hop into our review of the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike!
We’ve mentioned price a couple of times now, so it only makes sense that we start with that. The price that you can generally expect the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike to cost you sits between $450 and $680, which is a rather large price range.
Typically it will fall towards the lower side of that range, since it is marketed as one of Schwinn’s cheaper recumbent bikes. Yet, it still has that option to cost a bit more. The warranties that come with the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike include 10 years on the frame, 2 years on parts, 1 year on electronics, and even 90 days on labor.
This is a pretty darn solid warranty package and we should be praising that. Yes, the frame warranty could be longer, but 10 years is still a lot longer than many give their bikes. The shipping process should only take about a week or two to arrive, but this can be affected by outside factors.
Once the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike does arrive, you will find that the assembly process is pretty darn straightforward. Just follow the instructions and use the provided tools to fix it all up. Even someone who isn’t particularly skilled at such a process should find that it won’t take more than an hour.
One of the most focused-on parts of modern recumbent exercise bikes is the technology that comes with them. These electronics can really change a workout into a great time, rather than being a drag. The Schwinn 230 has a pretty good electronic program in place, with the 5.5” LCD screen serving as the hub for all electronic occasions.
There are 22 different items that you can select on this monitor. There’s the classic quick-start option, but there are also 9 profile programs, 2 fitness tests, 8 heart rate programs and 2 user-defined programs. All of this can be done on 2 separate profiles.
The monitor will display statistics during these workouts like your time, RPM, distance, calories and heart rate (via a chest strap or handlebar sensors). Even then, there is more to this bike’s electronics. It has a Bluetooth connection that allows for monitoring your heart rate through a chest strap.
Then there are connections available with fitness apps like Explore the World and Zwift marketed on Schwinn’s site (although you will need separate subscriptions for those that require it).
What it doesn’t make obvious is that you can’t connect to these straight from the monitor, but rather a smart device that can be held on the media shelf. Not cool Schwinn. Still, you’ll find it’s a pretty complete monitor package, especially for this price range. You might be better off looking at monitor packages like the Nautilus R618 though, which is quite a complete package as well.
The next most important part of one of these bikes is the resistance. After all, this is the part that will allow everyone who rides them to get fit! The Schwinn 230 recumbent bike uses magnetic resistance with a belt drive, which allows for a smooth and quiet workout across the board.
The flywheel weighs 13.2 lbs (6 kg), which isn’t very heavy. Some might be disappointed with this, but most won’t really notice a problem, especially with the 20 different levels of resistance available.
The benefit of having so many resistance levels (especially ones that can provide a hefty challenge at the higher levels) is that it allows the users to find just the right region of resistance that they want for that particular workout. The more customization, the better.
The crank system of the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike is a 1-piece one, which is unfortunate. 3-piece cranks are always better due to their ability to offer more independent support to each side of the pedals. We don’t have the specific number for the Q-Factor of the bike, which is unfortunate.
For those who are unaware, the Q-Factor is the distance between the pedals. If the distance is too wide, then you can start to get rather uncomfortable during the workout. If it is too narrow, the same occurs with an additional risk of injury.
However, because there don’t appear to be too many complaints about the Q-Factor from reviews, this shouldn’t be a point of concern for anyone.
Typically people want to know how big of a machine they are getting. There’s no real reason as to why it would be different with the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike. You’ll find that the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike measures out to be 64 inches (162.6 cm) long, 27.7 inches (70.4 cm) wide and 49.9 inches (126.7 cm) tall.
Meanwhile, it weighs a solid 80 lbs (36.3 kg) and can hold a maximum weight of 300 lbs (136 kg). That maximum weight limit is actually better than a lot of bikes at this price range, which can only have limits between 220-250 lbs.
The frame itself is a pretty solid steel one that should hold up for a while. There are floor stabilizers on the rear of the Schwinn 230, allowing for a less shaky experience than you otherwise might get. There are also transportation wheels on the front of the bike in order to have movement around the home be that much easier.
We’ll finish out our examination of the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike by looking at the rest of the physical elements, starting with the handlebars. There are 2 pairs of handlebars, with one being by your side on the seat and the others next to the console. These are similar to many other bikes, like the XTERRA SB2.5r and 3G Elite recumbent bikes.
The handlebars aren’t particularly fancy, but they do the job. They are covered in a nice rubber substance that will keep your hands comfortable, while we’ve already mentioned the heart rate sensors on them. But that’s about it.
One of the big issues with the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike comes in the form of the seat. This is not a very comfortable seat. It is made of a plastic and is not cushioned in the slightest, which can lead some painful workouts. Yes, you can put a pillow or some gel pad, but that ideally wouldn’t be necessary.
The seat can also feel wobbly more often than you would want, with it having to be tightened to keep it in place. Considering the seat is one of the more important parts of recumbent bikes (and bikes in general), it seems odd that Schwinn would drop the ball here.
In a similar vein to the handlebars, the pedals of the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike don’t do anything too spectacular. They have straps in order to keep your feet in place, but that is about all. Nothing too good, nothing too bad either.
Lastly, there are some bonus additions that Schwinn tossed in with the 230 recumbent bike. There is a cooling fan on the console, a water bottle holder beside the seat, both a USB charging port and a MP3 player port, and of course, the media tray that we mentioned earlier. These are certainly nice additions, which are always appreciated.
Sayed Hosseiny
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.
