Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike

Intro

Exerpeutic has long been known for its exercise bike, which is quiet and smooth operation together with diverse resistance level for different training purpose. However, one of the most disadvantages of Exerpeutic bike is hard which cause tailbone pain after long hours of biking. When I was looking for a comfortable bike with soft seat, I found several reviews on this Exerpeutic 4000 recumbent bike. Nevertheless, I had tons of questions at the same time: Is it really soft and comfortable as advertised? Will it be hot with cushion seat in a 1-hour of pedaling? Let’s dig deeper.

Design:

Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike is one of Exerpeutic model with most noticable design breakthroughs. First, still the usual recumbent design with seat and backrest one the same level with the pedals, which provides the horizontal-pedaling experience for trainers. The advantage of recumbent design over its another “upright” model is reducing stress on the back and hip while riding. However, there are many complaints for the hard seat, such as in Exerpeutic 400XL Folding model; therefore, the manufacturer made an improvement in the big sized and cushion seat for softer experience, together with 2 elbow rest pad. Exerpeutic’s desire is to concentrate more to people on a recovery treatment or problem with pelvis, tailbone that gives them the most comfortable and relaxed training solution ever.

Secondly, the computer screen in this model has a remarkable enhancement regarding: 12 fixed training programs, 4 individual setups and 24 preset-level which is adjustable all together by the computer. Moreover, it is installed smartphone, tablet holder as well as bottle holder, which is concerned as relatively convenient and should be present in previous models.

However, assembly is a negative point of this Exerpeutic model. It is the hard-to-understand manual that makes me so confused in almost every step. Finally, it is done after half a day struggling with the instruction written. I highly suggest the company to somehow improve the instruction to make it worth reading.

Capacity:

One significant breakthrough in this design is the extended capacity up to 325lbs, over the usual capacity at 300lbs. Compared to Exerpeutic 400XL Folding recumbent bike, this model looks heavier and requires a larger space for operation. Indeed, the frame is much improved to become stronger, which explains for extended capacity by 25lbs. Moreover, the stronger frame also makes it literally sturdy. This can be a side effect to you as if you move it without carefulness, it even hits and breaks your furniture or wall. It’s not bike but your stuff will be damaged to some extend.

Back to its heavier capacity, now it is an ideal training bike for overweight, obese people to ride on every day and start their weight loss process. You can use it as your daily training, no need to register gym membership for hard and heavy equipments. You already have one at home. I have been using it for 2 years now and it has operated quite steadily. Maybe because I don’t train with high tension and speed, just doing several pre-defined programs to keep in shape and avoid drawbacks from too much sitting. But still, so far so good. No intention to change for a new one.

Resistance level:

As capacity feature is extended to 325lbs, enabling more overweight people to cut down fat and start to get in better shape, it is now developed together with wider range of tension up to 24 preset levels. This is a necessary change since people often complain that 8 resistance level is not enough for their workout, as well as the significant difference between level 5 and 6. This 24-preset-level is definately the best response from Exerpeutic to its customers’ demand. With 24 workout level, the range of tension is divided into smaller resistance. It is suitable for those who are on a gradual program: adding resistance without experience from an overload.

Trainers who are gym buffs or just a fitness starter with any purpose, from muscle toning to fat burning can all benefit from this workout machine. For instance, you are building legs muscle, then start the training with some warm-up set at level 2 and increase the resistance in the following set at level 16 or 18. The main purpose of toning is to tear out the present muscle, enabling the new one which is stronger and bigger to be built. The higher the tension, the more muscle will be tightened. Even you are having heart problem, then biking with specified tension is a good way to re-control your pulse rate and prevent from heart attack. As now the bike have 24 different levels, all the adjustment will be done on the computer, with up and down buttons. You can easily set it up in the user defined exercise program.

Workout metrics:

Together with extended resistance level, computer experience and training program are also improved with 12 pre-defined workout program and 4 individual manual settings. First let’s dig deeper to see what is new in the computer. From the outside look, there is a holder to place smartphone or tablet up to 10-inch size. It is quite convenient for those who do not have a TV in front of to entertain, they now can do it with the tablet during exercising. Another feature in this bike is bluetooth connection. There is a Exerpeutic app on App store and Android store, which stores every training data for you to track your program during a period. It also displays the metrics while biking but unnecessary as I already have the screen.

Before starting the training, there will be some set up required, which is quite complex for me without a careful look at the manual. There is a fitness test to see which state your body is at the present. After the test, it will evaluate and show the result from F5 (Very poor) to F1 (Excellent) fitness state. I love this one since it gives me an evaluation of my body status, to know where I am and which program to follow. That’s cool.

After the test, you could input your personal profile, e.g sex, weight, height into one of 4 user mode. The profile range is large, for example there is age range from 10 to 100 years old, or 36 – 84 inches in height, etc. Therefore, it is the tranining machine for almost every one. Starting the workout, there are 12 fixed training programs for you, depending on different training purpose, from low to high tension. Otherwise, the personal modes (U1 to U4) allow you to customize exercises, all tracked in your mobile app.

Second, there are several workout metrics available, including: Speed, Distance, Time, Pulse, Calories. When you are biking, all of them will be showed on the screen in clear and easy-to-read display. These are different metrics that people would need to focus depending on their workout purpose. For example, calories burned is for weight loss program, while people are controlling their heart rate will pay attention to pulse figure. After a training period and you need to reset to switch to a new workout program, there is Reset button to clear your data in User mode, Program mode or even every data tracked so far by pressing and holding the button for 3s. The bike has power saving mode: auto-off after you leaving the bike or do nothing for 4 minutes and restart when you press any button or start pedaling. The computer runs by electricity with a wire to plug in the adapter.

Seat and backrest:

The most favorite features about this Exerpeutic model I can say, are the extremely comfortable cushion seat, its elbow rest pads together with a relaxed backrest. Let’s start with the seat first. It is oversized design with about 17-inch wide, fit to any user with big pelvis. The seat is relatively soft and comfortable with the cushion underneath. It has been a long time to find a biking equipment with such relaxing seat like this. My goal is 1-hour biking every day but it always exceeds for 30 minutes, since it is just like a funiture, very comfortable and cool after long hour of pedaling. It is 3-inch thick, suitable for people experiencing bad knees or tailbone problem without worry about pain.

It is adjustable horizontally, forward or backward to fit leg length by 3 adjusting knobs.

However, they are quite tight and requires much effort to screw out and re-tighten later. I’m not in favour of this one since we have 3 people with different leg length using the bike. So each time I need to adjust the seat in about 5 or 7 minutes. It causes pain sometime, which is not really good for muti-user actually. Moreover, the seat really needs regularly tightening, otherwise it will wobble at high tension and speed while biking. Nevertheless, other features outweight this little thing.

Backrest is another improvement in this model with a contoured mesh design together with elbow rest pads. The backrest have a mesh design, reducing a lot stress on back while riding. It is big and affordable for user with 5 - 6.3-inch height. Although the backrest position can be adjustable with the seat, its angle cannot be adjusted. There are also elbow rest pads with hand pulse sensor system included. Some may come up with great exercises with these two vertical hand grips. For instance, it allow me to "pull myself up", working for upper body simutaneously while biking. Or it is simply my favorable pads to have my elbows rest.

Overall, I am quite happy with these three items, they give me a comfort for upper body that I can only focus on effective below part workout.

Hand pulse sensor:

Together with the convenient vertial hand grips, which allows upper body exercises, it is installed with hand pulse sensor system on the grips. This system will measure the trainer’s heart rate through their hands while biking. There’s no need to turn on this system, the measurement will automatically start when placing both hands on the hand grips. It then will be showed on the screen, together with other metrics.

This mode is necessary for those who are suffering from heart-related problem and on process to re-control their heart rate. During the training, people could read their pulse figure, how fast it is beating and make sure it will not exceed. Although the measurement does not always reflect precisely what is happening inside your body because of sweat, it gives some basic idea of your heart performance and is still helpful prevention from heart attack.

Pedals:

One of the best advantage of Exerpeutic recumbent products is great pedaling experience. The comfort comes from its reputated V-belt drive system, which provides not only a smooth biking but also an extremely quiet training. Indeed, when I do biking in the early morning, it almost produce no noise and surely not awaken anybody up. It works well when I watch TV or some Youtube video during exercising.

My tips for a motivational training day is doing it whille watching a 1-hour movie; you can just stop when the movie ends. This pedals go with safety foot straps, holding your foot in order not to slip while biking. You could pedal forward or backward, depending on your exercises. The adjustment is available to fit legs length with seat adjustment knobs mentioned above. Although the product has precision balanced flywheel system to make it steady while pedaling, I still have some feeling of wiggling when increase the resistance. It might come from the seat that needs weekly screwing up. Otherwise it will not be so comfortable.

Transportation

As the Exerpeutic 4000 recumbent bike model is improved with stronger and more sturdy frame for extended capacity, it now become slightly heavier: 71lbs in weight. However, weight is not big deal with transportation since it has supportive two wheels. After finishing, you lift one side and easily move the bike for storage. The wheels is friendly with several kinds of floor, including hardwood, tile, berber, flat surfaces; there will be a slight dragging with carpet. Therefore, make sure you have enough training space of out carpet since you would not be happy to move a 71lbs bike on carpet after exercising. Nevertheless, easy transportation is still an advantage of this model for all people to move.

Maintenance (M) and storage

This Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike needs a regular cleaning and maintenance to notice. After every training, take a soft cloth and clean the bike with mild detergent to get rid of some dust and sweat leaved. As wobbling seat is a disadvantage of this model, it requires weekly inspection of assembly bolts in order to make it sturdy. All the maintenance and troubleshooting instruction is included quite detailed in the manual.

The bike has 1-year warranty; however, it may vary in different kinds of defect. For example, the warranty term for manufacture defects is 5 years, other normal defects such as shipman can receive a 90-day replacement free of charge. If users accidentally break any part of the bike, they can re-oder it from the company. Customer service is good so they could inform you the price for specific replacement.

Dimension: 58 inch L x30 inch W x 41 inch H.

Pros

• Large, soft and cool cushion seat

• Comfortable backrest and elbow rest pads.

• Multi-function computer screen

• Vertical hand grips allowing upper body exercises.

• Holders work well for 10, 8 and 7-inch tablets.

• Good customer service

• Suitable for bad knees and broken tailbone

• Cons

• Some assembly required with hard-to-follow instruction

• Painful when adjust seat, 3 knobs needed. Inconvenient for multi-user using

• Seat needs to be tightened regularly. Otherwise it will wobble at high speed.

• Consumer rating: 3.9/5

Over 215 customer reviews on Amazon with average score at 3.9/5 stars. Most positive reviews are about large and comfortable cushion seat, together with mesh backrest and elbow rest pads. Many of them said that these are the reason urging them to purchase this bike, since it gives them the most comfort while training. Several are happy with the multi-function computer, with diverse workout programs as well as more preset-level improved. However, 3.9 is not a high score since it has some limitation on the seat. There will be some wiggling experience with the seat at high tension and speed. Although it can be fixed with some inspection but still, cause some inconvenience during exercising. Difficulty in seat position adjustment makes it not a perfect workout machine for multi-users.

Price:

$520 for the high-end comfortable exercising bike is not a relatively affordable price for every one to purchase. Nevertheless, regarding the convenience and comfort this product has, it is considered a worth investment for long-term family use.

Summary

In general, Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike is a model with several improvement, including larger and softer cushion seat, mesh contoured design backrest and added elbow rest pads, which gives a more comfortable training experience. Capacity is extended up to 325lbs, more suitable for obese and overweight people to fit in. In addition, more workout programs and preset-level are improved, enabling specified training purposes. However, the seat adjustment is quite difficult and painful that is not unsuitable for multi-users. Finally, price at about $520 is still a problem to the majority of people although it is a worthy investment for long-term training.