Stamina X Air Bike Review
When you are looking for pieces of exercise equipment, sometimes you want the best that a company can offer. If you want to look at such a machine from the Stamina air bike line, you shall be looking at the Stamina X Air Bike. This is a bike that is quite expensive, and you would want to see if it has the appropriate amount of features. That’s what we’re here to find out. We’re going to take a look at the Stamina X and see if the price matches up to what it offers. So with all of that out of the way, let’s hop right into our review of the Stamina X Air Bike!
First things first, we’re going to examine the price of the Stamina X. We’ve already mentioned how it is the most expensive of the Stamina air bikes, but by how much? The Stamina X Air Bike should cost in the region of $1300, which is over twice the amount of what its closest companion costs. What you would expect to come with this large price increase is a much larger guarantee of quality. But that is not the case. The warranties for the Stamina air bikes have never really been good at all, but they are especially egregious with such a high price. You get 5 years on the frame (which is decent), but 90 days on the belt and 90 days on the parts (which is awful). There is no labour warranty at all. These are the sorts of warranties you would expect to find on a machine that maybe costs a third of what the Stamina X does. The official shipping policy of Stamina should get the bike to you within 5-10 days, with free shipping inside the continental United States. The assembly process is quite easy, even if you aren’t particularly good at such things. There are clear instructions and you get all the parts and tools to do so within a short amount of time.
Now we’re going to cover one of the more important aspects of modern exercise bikes: the monitor. The monitors of the other Stamina air bikes have been pretty basic, but we’re happy to report a positive change here. The Stamina X monitor actually has the ability to offer preset workouts in the form of interval training, greatly assisting high intensity interval training (HIIT). You have the option of an interval 10/20, interval 20/10 and custom interval. These preset workouts can also include setting targets for your time, distance, calories and heart rate. The monitor can track all of these statistics and has a scan mode that will allow you to scroll through all of them. You can connect to a chest strap in order to find that heart rate, although the Stamina X doesn’t actually come with one of those devices. It isn’t backlit, so you won’t be able to see it in one of those midnight rides in the dark. It also doesn’t have any sort of online connection or the ability to transfer data to a workout app, which is somewhat disappointing. Compared to the other Stamina air bikes, it’s a brilliant improvement and one that you would expect for the price. However, if you were looking for something to connect to your fitness apps and help with longer exercise programs, prepare to be disappointed.
The other element that should be closely examined is the resistance system that comes with the Stamina X. Like many air bikes, the resistance that you’ll find here is a dynamic one. What this means is that the harder and faster that you push on the pedals, the more resistance and challenge that you will face. This is another benefit for those looking for HIIT workouts. The drivetrain of the Stamina X is a belt one, which makes the entire process smooth and quieter than it otherwise might have been with a chain drive. You’ll find what looks like a 3-piece crank holding the pedals of the Stamina X, which is definitely a positive. Each crank is reinforced by a plate that the pedal attaches to. This means that the different elements are independent of one another and doesn’t mean that everything could break all at once. We don’t know what the Q-Factor of the Stamina X is, which is unfortunate. For those who are unaware what that means,the Q-Factor is the distance between the pedals. If it is too narrow, it gets uncomfortable and can even lead to injuries. If it is too wide, that discomfort can happen again. While we don’t know the exact measurements, the fact that it is not mentioned in many written and user reviews probably means that it isn’t an issue.
Another important element for many of air resistance exercise bikes is the amount of space that they take up. While the Stamina X might be the heaviest of the Stamina air bikes, it really isn’t that much larger than the others. It weighs a hefty 145 lbs (65.7 kg), while also being able to hold a maximum weight of 350 lbs (159 kg). Meanwhile, it only measures to be 53 inches (134 cm) long, 22.75 inches (58 cm) wide and 54 inches (137 cm) tall.For those who might be concerned about the mobility of the Stamina X, it does have wheels at the front of the bike to help with that. The floor stabilizers on the back of the Stamina X are actually pretty small, which is a disappointment. It would have been nice to see them be somewhat larger and more… well, stable.
We’re going to finish out by looking at the rest of the physical elements that make up the Stamina X air bike. The handlebars are dual action, meaning that they move with the pedals. By combining this with the footrests that are located on either side of the fan, you can actually use this bike to get some upper body workouts in. The handlebars are also heavily padded and multi-grip, which are both excellent additions. This will just give more options as to where you can put your hands and push. As for the saddle, you do get the option 4-way adjustability. Thus, more customization options are available. More people will be able to fit comfortably and find their own zone. There are 10 levels of vertical adjustment, with a good few inches horizontally. The saddle tube is somewhere in between the optimal thickness and being a poor thin version. It’s OK, but not the best that you’ll find. You will also find that the pedals of the Stamina X are also better than those of the other Stamina air bikes. They have toe cages with adjustable elements to keep your feet in place, which is most certainly nice. Most importantly, they don’t share the same structural weaknesses that the Stamina 876 and Stamina Airgometer pedals have. Finally, as a nice addition, Stamina has put a little media tray up on the console. However, if you decide to use it, it does actually block your sight of the monitor. They also put a water bottle holder for some mid-exercise rehydration.
Stamina X Air Bike Pros:
- Dynamic air resistance allows for nearly unlimited exercise variety
- The monitor offers preset workout programs, including intervals
- The monitor has a wider array of statistics to track, including heart rate
- The seat is 4-way adjustable
- The handlebars are dual action and offer multiple grip positions
- The footrests and handlebar combination can allow for upper body workouts
- The pedals can be replaced, have toe cages and are connected by good cranks
- The belt drivetrain requires less maintenance and makes less noise than a chain
- Transportation wheels make it easier to move around the home
- Water bottle holder allows for some nearby hydration
- An easy assembly process is always good
Stamina X Air Bike Cons:
- No backlight on the monitor, making it hard to see in certain lighting conditions
- The media tray blocks the monitor
- There is no chest strap to track heart rate that comes with the Stamina X
- The bike is much more expensive than other Stamina air bikes
- The warranties that come with this bike are absolutely terrible
Conclusion
The Stamina X Air Bike is a blessing for HIIT enthusiasts. So many elements are designed and implemented to allow for such training that it’s almost ridiculous. In fact, this bike is just generally a pretty good one. It’s customizable, has a good monitor and will provide all sorts of challenges for whoever decides to sit down and start pedalling. The only question is whether or not someone is willing to drop a relatively high amount for an air bike. There are certainly competitors in this price range, like the Schwinn AD7 and Assault Elite. However, if you are looking solely at Stamina air bikes, then it is no contest. This is far and away the best of the lot. If you are determined to go with Stamina, the Stamina X Air Bike is the only real option.
