Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike: Is there a better alternative?
Schwinn has a tendency to make good fitness equipment. It is simply a fact that they are one of those preferred names in the world of personal semi-commercial high-quality exercise bikes. Regardless of what type of exercise bike they are making, it tends to be a quality one. However, they aren’t always perfect, which is why we must look at them.
Specifically, today we are going to be looking at one of the Schwinn recumbent exercise bikes, the Schwinn 270. We’re going to see if this Schwinn stationary exercise bike is worth the cost based on what all it offers to those who are looking to purchase it. These elements involve the electronics on board, the resistance, comfort, and customization all onboard.
Once we get done examining it, we’ll give our final thoughts on whether or not this would be a good purchase. So with all of that out of the way, let’s hop into our review of the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike!
Price, Warranty, and Shipping
We mentioned price a couple of times already, so it only makes sense to start there. You can find the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike for around $650. This certainly isn’t the most expensive out there, but it does cost more than its recumbent bike sibling (the 230).
As for the warranty that comes with the Schwinn 270, you’ll be quite pleased with it. Schwinn are known for not backing down when it comes to these warranties, so that’s always a positive. You will get a 10 year warranty on the frame, 2 year warranty on the mechanical parts, 1 year on the electronic parts and 90 days on the labour.
It’s a better warranty package than many others offer, although we would like to see a lifetime warranty on the frame. The shipping process shouldn’t take more than 1-2 weeks. Once it does arrive, you should find that the assembly process of the bike shouldn’t take long at all. The instructions are straightforward and you get all the tools you need. Even those who aren’t experienced at the task should be able to finish it in under an hour.
Console and Programs
One of the major components of modern recumbent exercise bikes is their electronic capabilities. A good monitor and console can really transform an experience. The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike has one of those good monitors, perhaps even a great one.
There are 2 backlit LCD monitors on the console, with the bottom displaying statistics like time, RPM, speed, distance, calories, heart rate and so on. The top screen will display one of the 25 different workout programs that you can select from along with how you are doing in that workout.
These include programs like Rolling Hills, fitness tests, custom rides and more. It’s a lot of content that you can scroll through and play with. Perhaps the biggest advantage that the Schwinn 270 has over the 230 is that the monitor can use Bluetooth to transfer your workout statistics to apps like MyFitnessPal.
All of this is available to 4 different user profiles on the console, which is great for those households that would have more than 1 user. In general it is a pretty darn full experience available here. Maybe not revolutionary, but it gives plenty of value. Think of it as a similar system (although not quite as good) as the Nautilus R618 recumbent.
Flywheel and Resistance
Perhaps even more crucial to a good recumbent exercise bike is the resistance system that it has. After all, this is what you use in order to get fit. The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike uses a eddy current brake resistance system that combines with a belt drive in order to stay nice and quiet, even on the more intense workout sessions.
This does mean that you have to have the bike plugged into an outlet in order to have the resistance levels changed. You can choose between 25 of these levels, which allows for some great customization during the workouts. You can find just that right spot for each workout every time.
Many people consider a heavier flywheel a better one, but this isn’t always the case. The flywheel here weighs 17 lbs (7.7 kg), which is still a good weight to provide challenges for all.
Crank System and Q-Factor
The type of crank system that you’ll find on the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is a 3-piece one, which is a definite boost to the machine. 3-Piece cranks are always superior to 1-piece ones, which you would find on the Schwinn 230. It offers more durability and independence for each pedal.
We don’t know the exact Q-Factor of the Schwinn 270, which is unfortunate. For those who don’t know, the Q-Factor of the bike is the distance between the pedals. If it is too wide, your ride gets real uncomfortable real quick.
If it is too small, the same happens in addition to some risk of injury. However, because nobody seems to have a problem with the Q-Factor based on user and other official reviews, this shouldn’t be a source of concern for most.
Size and Weight
Most people typically want to know how big of a bike they are getting. Assuming this is the same case with the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike, we shall let you know the size and weight. The Schwinn 270 recumbent exercise 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 86.6 lbs (39.3 kg) and can hold a maximum weight of 300 lbs (136 kg). There are floor stabilizers on the back of the bike to keep everything in place, while the front of the bike has transport wheels for easy movement around the home.
Toss all of this in with a pretty solid (and sturdy) steel frame, and you’ve got a good base for operations. Perhaps the biggest issue here is the build of the bike can alienate those who are under 5’2” (152.6 cm) and above 6’0” (182.8 cm), which is not a particularly wide range compared to other stationary recumbent exercise bikes. They just don’t seem to fit correctly.
Seat, Hand Grips, and Extras
We’ll finish up with the rest of the physical elements on the Schwinn 270 recumbent exercise bike, starting with the handlebars. So there are 2 pairs of handlebars available on this bike: one on the console and one by the seat.
This is pretty standard, and you’ll find similar examples on those like the Nautilus R616 and 3G Cardio Elite recumbent bike. The seat pair of handlebars have heart rate sensors on them, which is a nice addition. You can also connect to a chest strap via the monitor, but one doesn’t come with the bike.
Otherwise, you’ll find the handlebars nice and comfortable, but nothing too spectacular. The seat of the Schwinn 270 definitely outclasses that of the 230, as it most certainly is padded and comfortable. It has good lumbar support and cushioning.
The fact that seat can also be adjusted quickly and easily thanks to the fore/aft aluminum slider seat rail system. A ventilated back only adds to the benefits of the seat. The pedals don’t do anything too spectacular but act in a serviceable manner.
They have straps and that is it. Your feet won’t be flying all over the place and that is all. Then there are the bonus features tossed in. There is a USB charging port onboard, a 3-speed cooling fan, a water bottle holder and speakers to improve the cycling experience that much more.
There is also a media tray available in case you want to watch your phone or tablet while you bike, but it will cover the upper half of the screen.
Schwinn 270 recumbent bike Pros:
- A very solid warranty package awaits you
- Smooth and quiet resistance with 25 different levels to choose from
- Bonus features like a water bottle holder, charging port, cooling fan and speakers
- Monitor offers 29 different programs for the available content
- The monitor can transfer workouts statistics over to third-party apps
- The seat is adjustable, ventilated, and rather comfortable thanks to padding
- Transport wheels make it easy to move around the home
- Floor stabilizers mean you won’t be rocking around too much
- Sturdy frame that can hold up to 300 lbs (136 kg) quite comfortably
Schwinn 270 recumbent bike Cons:
- A lifetime frame warranty would have been preferred.
- The frame of the bike doesn’t allow those under 5’2” and over 6’0” to ride comfortably
- There are complaints about the handlebar heart rate monitor not being too accurate
- Use of the media tray requires covering the top half of the monitor
Conclusion and an alternative recumbent exercise bike
The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is most certainly a quality machine that deserves attention. It offers an improved electrical experience over the Schwinn 230, as well as massively increasing the comfort levels of the seat.
It also offers slight improvements to the resistance and maintains many of the bonus aspects like the water bottle holder and speakers. However, it does have an inherent flaw in the design that limits who might be able to enjoy it. Plus, it has the single-piece crank system which is not as durable as three-piece crank system.
Althought for the cost, you might enjoy this exercise bike, it still seems that a better option could be to go with the Nautilus R618, which offers all of the same benefits, plus many more for the same price.
Some of the superior features of the R618 are the resistance controls on the grips, angle adjustable monitor, and a heavier flywheel.
But if you are a fan of Schwinn and do decide to go for this indoor bike, you will certainly get some quality exercise from it.
Schwinn Fitness Recumbent Exercise Bikes Comparison
Schwinn fitness has 4 recumbent exercise bikes. The most basic model is the Schwinn A20. It’s not as durable and ergonomic as other three Schwinn recumbent exercise bikes but it’s the cheapest model.
The next model in the Schwinn Fitness recumbent stationary bike series is the Schwinn 230 Y20. It’s sturdier than the A20 and a little more expensive but it’s not really impressive in terms of features and comfort.
The third model of exercise recumbent bike by Schwinn is the 230 model. It’s a little more advanced than the 230 Y20. It has more resistance and programs, plus, a better console with USB charger and cooling fan. It’s about $100 more expensive than the older Schwinn Fitness recumbent bike which I think is worth it.
The fourth and the most advanced model of Schwinn recumbent exercise bike is the popular Schwinn Fitness 270 which I tried and reviewed for you in this article.
There are several notable improvements on this Schwinn exercise bike including; more resistance and programs, better screen, breathable seat and backrest for summer rides, Bluetooth, fan, and more importantly a heavier flywheel.
This Schwinn recumbent stationary bike comes with a higher price tag which makes sense considering that it has more features. Here is a comparison table to make the decision easier for you when buying a Schwinn recumbent exercise bikes.
| Image | |  |  |  |
| Name | Schwinn 270 | Schwinn 230 | Schwinn 230 Y20 | Schwinn A20 |
| Price | $649 | $599 | $499 | $399 |
| Resistance | 25 | 20 | 16 | 8 |
| Programs | 29 | 22 | 13 | 7 |
| Monitor | Dual-Screen Backlit | Dual-Screen Dark | Single-Screen Dark | Single-Screen Dark |
| Heart Rate | Straps & Contact | Contact | Contact | Contact |
| USB & fan | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Bottle holder | Yes | No | No | No |
| Flywheel | 17 Pounds | 12.2 Pounds | 12.2 Pounds | 10 Pounds |
| Transport handle | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Adjustment | Easy to reach adjustment | Easy to reach adjustment | Easy to reach adjustment | Difficult to reach adjustment |
