Sunny Health & Fitness Evolution Pro Review | SF-B1714 is Sturdy
The Sunny Health & Fitness Evolution Pro SF-B1714 Indoor Cycling Bike is one of SHF’s mid-level spin bikes and thanks to a recent price drop, delivers better value than ever!
The Sunny Health & Fitness Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike SF-B1714 has a 44-lb flywheel that offers novice and semi-pro level riders decent cardio training for an affordable price while protecting their joints without unnatural jerky pedal strokes.
Although it’s an outdated indoor bike without any electronic technology whatsoever, this Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B1714 offers a very unique durability in its price tag. Plus, it has an integrated tablet holder, adjustable stabilizer feet, and durable 2″ transport wheels.
A major key benefit of this indoor bike is its excellent adjustment possibilities that let you get into a safe and comfortable indoor cycling position without overstretching to reach the handlebars. The handlebars are 4-way which means you can move them horizontally and vertically into that perfect bike fit as long as your inseam is between 28 to 37 inches.
There is a 10-inch adjustment room so everyone in your household should be able to fit this indoor bike and do a safe and proper indoor cycling workout unless they are too tall or too short in which case I think you will need a Keiser M3i.
Its handlebars are also dipped/molded to support multiple grip positions, promoting comfort and allowing you to focus on a variety of muscles in the upper body. Even when you sweat on hot summer days, your hands don’t get slippery because it’s not some cheap foam cover.
Its seat is also not bad especially if you wear padded cycling shorts. But these are just a tiny bit of what this Sunny Health & Fitness 1714 cycle exercise bike offers. What helps the Sunny Evolution SF-b1714 to stand out in the crowd is its silent magnetic resistance and quiet belt drive system.
Sunny Health & Fitness Evolution Pro Magnetic Belt Drive Indoor bike’s resistance is provided with a powerful adjustable magnet and a 44-pound flywheel, which is fairly heavy for its price class and provides a comfortably smooth ride.
Note that Sunny belt drive magnetic indoor cycling bikes also feature a durable frame in their low-price tag that simply isn’t found on other spin bikes. The frame stabilizers are wide to eliminate rocking during high-intensity workouts.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Evolution Pro Indoor Cycling Bike SF-B1714 has an MSRP of $720, but often sells online for as little as $500. When that happens, the Sunny Evolution Pro indoor cycling bike is easily one of the best spin bikes priced under $500.
Purchased directly from Amazon or from Sunny Health and Fitness and it’s shipped with a warranty package including 3-year coverage for the frame, and 90-day on parts. I know its warranty is not impressive but considering the sturdiness and quality, I think Sunny Health and Fitness could offer a better warranty for this Evolution Pro indoor bike.
But unfortunately, this fitness equipment brand plays it too safe and does not provide strong warranty packages which for some people it suggests that Sunny Health and Fitness built these indoor cycling bikes not to last.
Thankfully the Sunny Health & Fitness Evolution Pro SF-B1714 exercise bike has great consumer rating to give you peace of mind and quality assurance. Due to its quality and affordable price, the Sunny Evolution Pro has been seen in pretty much every best spin bike review across the web. Now let’s take a look at how this SHF Evolution Pro spin bike evolved from previous models!
How Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1704 Evolution Pro Was Evolved
Sunny Health and Fitness has made significant improvements and addressed various issues in their indoor cycling bikes, particularly with the introduction of the SF-B1714 model. Unlike its predecessors, such as the SF-B1002, which utilized friction resistance systems, the SF-B1714 incorporates a magnetic resistance system, allowing you to do indoor cycling without annoying noise or needing to frequently change or lube resistance pads.
Another notable enhancement in the SF-B1714 is the addition of horizontal adjustment capabilities. This feature was absent in previous Sunny Health and Fitness exercise bikes, and it greatly enhances the overall user experience because it allows you to adjust the bike horizontally and setup your spin bike for optimal comfort during your indoor cycling sessions. This improvement demonstrates the company’s commitment to addressing user needs and providing a more comfortable workout environment.
However, despite the advancements in the SF-B1714, it does lack electronic fitness tracking technology. To address this limitation and cater to customers seeking more advanced features, Sunny Health and Fitness introduced the SF-B1986 (Evolution Pro II) model. Priced $200 higher than the SF-B1714 at $700, the Evolution Pro II incorporates several notable upgrades. It includes a convenient tablet holder, a cadence reading monitor, and a set of dual-sided pedals to clip in your cycling shoes. These additions significantly enhance the overall functionality and usability of the bike, making it a worthy investment for those seeking a more advanced indoor cycling experience.
In addition to these specific models, Sunny Health and Fitness also expanded their product line to include the ASUNA Series, featuring the Minotaur indoor cycle and the 6100 Sprinter indoor bike. While the Minotaur offers commercial quality, it lacks a built-in console or Bluetooth connectivity, making its $1000 price tag less justifiable in comparison to other options on the market.
Similarly, the 6100 Sprinter indoor bike, equipped with magnetic resistance and a rear-drive flywheel to prevent sweat from affecting the bike’s drive, falls short in terms of its connectivity capabilities. Without any form of Bluetooth connection for online cycling, it faces strong competition from rivals such as the Schwinn IC4 bike, which offers a more comprehensive feature set.
Overall Sunny Health and Fitness has shown a commitment to improving their indoor cycling bikes by addressing previous limitations and incorporating user feedback. The SF-B1714, with its magnetic resistance system and horizontal adjustment capabilities, provides a more competitive option for users seeking a comfortable and effective indoor cycling experience.
If you are in need of advanced features and fitness tracking technology, the SF-B1986 (Evolution Pro II) offers a worthwhile upgrade. However, while the ASUNA Series showcases commercial-quality bikes, the Minotaur and 6100 Sprinter models lack certain features and connectivity options, making them less appealing compared to other indoor cycling bikes available in the market under $1000.
Other Comparable Indoor Cycling Bikes
This is where I normally come and update the Sunny Evolution Pro review to compare this indoor bike with comparable exercise bikes to let you know if it is still a good value. For 2023, Sunny Health Fitness SF-B1714 is one of the best-value magnetic indoor bikes to buy (at a $490 price tag) as long as you don’t care about the lack of Bluetooth and built-in consoles.
But if you like to have a built-in screen and Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect the bike to Zwift and Peloton app, there are a few really awesome indoor cycling bikes at the same price range that are comparable in terms of quality, plus, they have smart technology.
One of these comparable indoor cycling bikes that I absolutely love and think it’s truly the best-value magnetic spin bike under $500 is the Niceday. It’s from a relatively newer exercise bike brand (Niceday) and I think it gives more value for money than any other indoor bike at its price range.
For start, the Niceday bike has dual-sided pedals which is superior to Evolution Pro’s single-sided pedals because you can clip in your cycling shoes for a safer cycling workout. Then it has a nice tablet holder which is something Evolution Pro doesn’t have. Last but not least, it has a built-in console with Bluetooth technology for Zwift cycling while Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro SFB-1714 doesn’t have any console or Bluetooth at all.
But if you prefer to buy from Sunny Health and Fitness because it’s a more reputable brand, I suggest that you check out the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1805-Smart. It’s a little more expensive but it has a Bluetooth connection, dual-sided pedals, and a built-in screen. It also has a 44-lb flywheel which is a decent weight for indoor cycling with good momentum.
There is also another comparable indoor cycling bike, the Joroto X2 Pro. It’s around $100 less expensive than the Sunny Health and Evolution Pro SF-B1714 and yet it has a 2×3″ built-in console that reads your cadence, speed, heart rate, resistance level, and calories. It also has a Bluetooth transmitter that enables online cycling.
Down below I am leaving the link to these three Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B1714 alternatives that give you good value for your money. My personal choice is the Niceday but if you want to spend less, Joroto X2Pro is the best choice for you.
Amazon.com
SF-B1714 Technical Info:
In order to make it easy for you to navigate through this Sunny Evolution Pro belt drive magnetic indoor cycling bike review, I have created the table of content below.
- Evolution Pro specification
- Computer options
- Pedals and Q-factor
- Evo Pro flywheel
- Evolution Pro resistance
- SF-B1714 Drivetrain
- Handlebars and seat
- Value for money and warranty
- Shipping and assembly
- Sunny Evolution Pro Indoor Cycle Pros
- Sunny Evolution Pro Indoor Cycling Bike Cons
- Important Cycling Clothing and Accessories
Evolution Pro specification:
- Max User Weight: 330 lbs
- Height: 53.5″
- Width: 24″
- Length: 48.5″
- Bike Weight: 136 Pounds
- Shipping Weight: 149 Pounds
- Shipping Dimensions: 47 x 10 x 39 in
- Max User Weight: 330 Pounds
- Inseam Capacity: 28″ to 37″
- Transport Wheels: Yes
- Base Adjustment Levelers: Yes, 4
- Water Bottle Holder: Yes, 1
- Power Requirement: N/A
One of the first thing to say about this Evolution Pro Bike when looking at this bike is that it is a huge and strong bike weighing heavier than 90% spin bikes on the market (136 pounds) that is clearly built to last.
With a max user weight of 333 pounds, this Evolution Pro cycle will help you train like a pro. You can push yourself to the limit with the Evolution Pro cycle exercise bike by Sunny Health and Fitness.
There are four large adjustable easy to use foot levelers to help keep your bike firmly against the floor as you push through intense workouts. The integrated transportation wheels make this indoor bike easy to move while not in use.
Overall this particular model looks really simple, yet stylish and strong, thanks to its exceptionally strong steel frame and more importantly, it barely requires maintenance since there is no bells and whistles.
Lastly, the Sunny Evo Pro 1714 cycle exercise bike featuring 28-inch to 37-inch inseam range allows users of different heights to ride comfortably without extra pressure on their back.
Computer options:
- SF-B1714 Evolution exercise bike comes without a fitness meter.
- But there are affordable options such as cadence sensors to track workouts.
- This specific model also doesn’t have any built-in wireless sensors to connect to apps.
Like the majority of indoor cycling bikes by Sunny Health and Fitness such as this Asuna Lancer, the Evolution Pro cycle does not have a computer. Some riders consider this a good thing because it cuts the maintenance cost and minimizes destruction.
But there are many indoor cycling enthusiasts who prefer a bike computer to see their live progress and track daily workouts. If you are one of them here are your options.
There are several types of spin bike monitors on Amazon that are compatible with the Sunny Evolution Pro belt drive magnetic indoor cycling bike. These bike computers cost as little as $50 allowing you to see the RPM, time, distance, speed, calories, and even heart rate.
The problem is that neither of these computers can save your daily workouts or allow you to join cycling apps such as Zwift. And that’s why I believe one of these Bluetooth-enabled Wahoo sensors is a better option.
You can either buy the cadence sensor alone or buy both the cadence and speed sensors together. You can install the speed sensor to the bike’s flywheel and the cadence to this bike’s crankarm. Then you can install the indoor cycling application of your choice like Zwift or Peloton on your tablet or phone and pair up the application with the sensor via Bluetooth.
If you have a pair of cycling power meter pedals lying around the house, you can install them on the bike and get more accurate and detailed ride data directly from your cycling apps.
Pedals and Q-factor:
- SF-B1714 Q factor is 216 MM
- Evolution Pro SF-B1714 pedals are regular toe cage.
- It has the standard 9/16″ thread size.
Mount this durable and solid exercise bike with confidence as you slip your feet into the secure foot pedals with adjustable straps. They fit pretty much all feet sizes.
The customizable caged pedals with straps ensure your feet are secure in place keeping balance and comfort. While the pedals are not clipless cycling shoes compatible, they feature standard thread size.
Therefore, you can replace them with dual-sided SPD pedals available widely on the market for as little as $40. They allow you to ride with regular gym shoes and with SPD cycling shoes for a safer and more efficient power transfer and weight loss cardio workout.
Unfortunately, the q-factor of the Evolution Pro SF-B1714 spin bike is not impressive. It is relatively wide which is not recommended for individuals with knee injuries or very narrow hips.
The narrow bike’s Q-Factor (distance between the pedals) results in a healthy pedaling motion with zero lateral stress on the knees. And the wide bike q-factors tend to keep the riders’ feet wide-apart and not aligned with the knees and hips.
Evo Pro flywheel:
- Evolution Pro spin bike flywheel weighs 44 pounds for an intense workout.
- The flywheel is chromed for a durable surface that resists wear, impact and corrosion.
- The Sunny Evolution Pro indoor cycling bike flywheel is fixed and bidirectional.
Evolution Pro indoor cycling bike 44-pound flywheel is one of its selling factors. It is designed for maximum stability forces momentum forward in your legs.
The chrome layer provides a hard, durable surface that resists wear, impact, and corrosion. You also get a clean, smooth, attractive surface that is easy to clean.
This Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro exercise bike is fixed-gear bidirectional which allows you to pedal reverse and simulate different leg muscle groups. A disadvantage of a fixed-wheel (fixed-gear) system is that if you have to get off the bike, you will need to wait until the flywheel stops turning.
Overall this bike is capable of providing a really smooth ride because of its heavy flywheel and a maintenance-free long-lasting belt drive that has a smoother and quieter pedal movement than a chain drive.
Note: The flywheel design does not offer protection for the flywheel from outside elements. But it is not a huge issue because the Evolution Pro spin bike is magnetic (no friction pad to get wet) and the flywheel is chromed. So, it is easy to clean and it doesn’t easily rust.
Evolution Pro resistance:
- Sunny Evolution Pro has magnetic resistance to provide a smooth, silent and virtually no maintenance workout.
- It has the emergency push down brake to stop the wheel immediately for safety.
- Resistance is manually adjustable with the knob. It doesn’t do automatic resistance change on apps.
The main selling factor of the Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro is its resistance system. Virtually no maintenance, the magnetic tension system is designed for maximum comfort and stability.
You can experience a smooth and silent ride while you crank up the magnetic resistance for a workout with plenty of resistance adjustment variety. Featuring large magnets, this cycle is capable of providing from easy to a very challenging spinning workout.
Unlike friction resistance bikes such as this BodyCraft SPX bike, you don’t need to worry about changing brake pads or disturbing your partner if she/he is relaxing. Thanks to the non-touch friction-less Eddy Current resistance system.
This bike doesn’t have resistance levels (1-20) like Keiser M3i indoor cycle. But it has a micro-adjustable magnetic resistance knob that keeps your ride smooth while providing increased resistance as your ride strength increases.
In general, this type of bikes with magnetic resistance is designed to increase tension easily with the resistance control knob while staying low maintenance and silent.
SF-B1714 Drivetrain:
- The Sunny Evolution Pro spin bike is belt-driven.
- It has a single belt drive system for a low-maintenance smooth workout.
Evolution Pro SF-B1714 spin bike by Sunny Health and Fitness features the belt drivetrain mechanism. Compared to chain indoor bikes, it is smoother and quieter.
This system also requires very little maintenance since the belt is only one piece unlike chains with hundreds of pieces of locks and rings. Therefore, it lasts longer and doesn’t require lubing as chain drive bikes do.
Overall, smooth feel of the belt drive mechanism paired with its sturdy construction, magnetic resistance, and heavy flywheel create optimal feel with low maintenance performance.
Handlebars and seat:
- Evo Pro Magnetic Cycle seat is 4-way adjustable to provide a proper bike fit.
- The saddle is also padded and comfortable for longer spinning workouts.
- Seat dimensions: 10L X 8W X 2.8H inches
- Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro handlebars are 4-way adjustable to eliminate back injuries and fit all user heights.
- The handlebars have custom sweat-resistant grips built for comfort and to avoid any hand fatigue.
- These ergonomic handlebars allow overhand front grip, extended grip, time trailing grip, and middle grips.
Featuring 4-way adjustable seating allows you the comfort to fit properly on the cycling trainer. The Sunny Health and Fitness spin bike Evo Pro padded seat is completely adjustable for anyone who wants to ride the bike at home!
Evolution Pro by Sunny Health and Fitness is a tank for everyone in your home featuring handlebars that move forward/backward and up/down for custom fit. Short, average or tall, you can ride this spin bike without adding stress on your back.
Thanks to the Evolution Pro magnetic indoor bike’s fully adjustment possibilities, the riders from 28 to 37 inches can fit the bike perfectly for safe and comfortable workout.
Value for money and warranty:
- The Evolution Pro SB B1714 list price is $700.
- But it is usually on offer and available for less than $650.
- Sunny Evolution Pro Magnetic exercise bike warranty includes:
- 3-Year structural frame.
- 180-Days other parts and components.
The Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro spin bike is a good value for the money for this price considering the Sunny stationary bike Evolution Pro delivers a smooth, challenging and responsive workout with minimal noise, and with no jolting or movement whatsoever.
Sometimes it is even on offer and can be purchased for as little as $450. But that does not happen too often. December 2018 was the last time I remember the SF-B1714 was on offer.
As I mentioned before, the Sunny Health and Fitness equipment feature short warranties. But that does not necessarily make them low-quality bikes and the fact that they are some of the highest-rated spin bikes on the market proves that.
If you need to order parts for this or any other Sunny Health and Fitness exercise equipment, you will need to fill the form on the Sunny website. They are helpful and respond promptly, in most cases.
Shipping and assembly:
- Sunny Evo Pro assembly tools are included in the package.
- Evolution Pro manual also comes in the box.
- The Evo Pro SF-B1714 shipping is free when buying from Amazon.
- The shipping weight is 149 pounds.
- Shipping box dimensions: 47″ x 10″ x 39″
Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro comes mostly assembled. All you need to do is to attach the pedals, front and rear stabilizer feet (bases), water bottle holder, seat and handlebars.
Following the instructions, it shouldn’t take more than 40-50 minutes to properly put this bike together. Keep in mind it is a heavy bike so you might need help when you move the bike inside and assemble the front and rear bases.
Sunny Evolution Pro Indoor Cycle Pros:
Best value
Sunny Health & Fitness’s new spin bike, the SF-B1714 Evolution Pro is as affordable as it gets for a fully adjustable, semi-commercial, magnetic, belt-driven spin bike with heavy flywheel. There are a few other indoor cycling bikes for home use in this price class but they don’t have the durability and quality of the Evolution Pro spin bike. And that makes the Evolution pro indoor cycle one of the best value bikes for the money when it is solder under $700.
Durability
Sunny Evolution indoor cycling bike has a heavy-duty steel frame construction that can support users up to 330 pounds without any problems. That plus your weight will help this spin bike to remain completely stable no matter how hard you pedal, thanks to its wide base.
- Solid heavy-duty steel frame construction similar to commercial quality spin bikes
- Sunny Health & Fitness Evolution Pro magnetic belt drive indoor cycling bike has high weight capacity and heavy-duty flywheel – SF-B1714
- Four large adjustable stabilizers/floor levelers on front and rear bases to eliminate any kind of movements and make the bike completely level.
- Durable silicon transport wheels for easy mobility
- 44-Pound chrome flywheel for aggressive inertia and consistent momentum
- Large inseam capacity – can accommodate users between 4’9″ – 6’5″
- Three-piece solid crank assembly to support all kinds of spin workouts
- 4-Way adjustable seat and 4-Way adjustable handlebar
- Sweat resistance multi-grip urethane-dipped handlebar for comfort to avoid any hand fatigue
- Belt drive for a low-maintenance smooth pedaling and silent operation
- Silent and consistent magnetic resistance system with virtually zero wear-and-tear
- It has an emergency press-down brake
- Bottle holder included and its assembly is easy
Sunny Evolution Pro Indoor Cycling Bike Cons:
Q-factor
Unfortunately, Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro indoor cycling bike features a relatively wide q-factor which is not recommended for riders with narrow hips. To understand what q-factor is, read the “pedal and q-factor” section above.
Monitor
Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro indoor cycle does not have a computer. Therefore, you can not track your workouts and progress. That means if you decided to buy the Sunny Health and Fitness Evolution Pro spin bike, you might need to spend another $50-$100 for a monitor. Read the “bike computer” section for more information.
- Sunny Evolution Pro has regular toe cage pedals, not SPD
- There is no device holder to keep your device your device on the bike
- Evolution Pro comes with a relatively short warranty
- The Evolution Pro exercise bike does not have a flywheel sweat protection guard
Indoor Cycling Clothing and Accessories:
Bike Mat
When buying the Sunny Health & Fitness Evolution Pro Magnetic Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike SF-B1714, we suggest you consider an exercise bike mat. It helps minimize bike vibration and protect your floor.
Bike Pedals
If you decided to purchase the Sunny Evolution Pro exercise bike with magnetic resistance and you are committed to workout, I recommend you replace the pedals with SPD dual-sided pedals. They let you ride the bike safely and more efficiently with proper cycling shoes.
Cycling Shoes
Cycling shoes feature hard soles to fully transfer the power that you produce to the pedals. The SPD shoes are also safer than regular athletic shoes because they clip into the pedals so they don’t slip off.
Tablet Holder
While this Sunny Health and Fitness indoor cycling bike doesn’t have a tablet holder, it does have the loop bar that allows you to attach a tablet holder. You can dock your mobile or tablet device on the bike and watch your favorite show or follow spinning workouts on YouTube and Apps.
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.
