Customer Reviews

Schwinn 203 Recumbent Exercise Bike

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

My Schwinn 203 exercycle (same as 201 but with larger display, more resistance levels, and more pre-programmed workouts)was purchased in Jan. 2005 to supplement my road and mtn. bike rides whenever there were time limitations or inclement weather. It has worked well in maintaining my cardio, leg strength, and overall fitness levels.

This exercycle is HEAVY so I'm glad UPS didn't cause any damage. It was relatively simple to assemble by carefully following the instructions. The base is stable and has small wheels in the back cross bars to provide some mobility for storage. Quality is average but that's expected at this price.

Likes: Comfortable reclined sitting position easy on the lower back and perineal regions. Great for maintaining cardio and leg strength. Watch TV, read a book, chat, etc....during workouts. Exercise anytime at home without the chance of cross contaminations from public/health club equipment.

Dislikes: Heart rate monitor gives erroneous readings occasionally and only works with both hands on the sensors. Flimsy wiring. The magnetic resistance unit developed some thumping noises after repeated uses at high cadences. Speed doesn't correspond with power output, e.g., level one (90watts) at 100rpm ~23mph; level six (260watts) at 100rpm ~23mph. Lower power output (watts) should equal slower speeds. Stock platform pedals not smooth and required bearing adjustments.

Overall: Very useful adjunct to regular outdoors training. I find myself using mostly the manual modes because some of the pre-programmed workouts (intervals of level 10+) can be very tough at ~100rpm (450+ watts). NOT a true ergometer but good for simple evaluations of one's cardio and strength fitness levels. Affordable price but questionable long term durability.

Update: Oct. 2006. My Schwinn 203 still going on strong although the slight clunking sound from the resistance unit (at higher rpms) remains. I found that periodic cleaning of pulse sensors with rubbing alcohol restores more accurate readings.

This bike is incredible. It is extremely quiet, has many different programs, and the electronics are easy to use. There is a place to prop up a book if you want and the lack of noise makes it easy to watch TV. My legs went back to pre-grad school buffness within a few weeks of use. I really love this bike! My mom has back problems and she says it provides her with a great workout while still supporting her back. Even my husband, who is in great shape, gets a good workout from it.

My only warning is that the bike is not designed for short legs. I am 5'4" and can reach the pedals only if the seat is pushed all the way up. If you are two inches or more shorter than I am, find a bike to test ride first to see if you can reach the pedals. Other than that... awesome bike!

I've been recovering from a broken foot the last few months. My physical therapist had me working on a recumbent bike at the rehab center. I thought it would be good to get one for home. You can just ride and ride while reading or watching TV and it's very low impact. I looked around the internet for a reasonably priced unit that had all the features the big unit at the center had including heart rate monitor, multiple resistance settings,full adjustability, and full back support. This one seemed to fit the bill. I bought it sight unseen based on information available on Amazon and other places on the web.

Be prepared for more assembly/setup time than you might like, but once put together, you've got a great unit. (I had to open the box in the driveway and bring the unit in piece by piece since the box weighed about 90 lbs.) It's totally quiet, can be used at the lowest level without being plugged in. The resistance setting is completely adjustable from the handlebar control panel, should give any fitness level a good workout, and the unit is sturdy as a rock. It is pretty compact but it is quite heavy. It moves fairly easily by tipping up the rear and taking advantage of the wheels on the front base support. Moving the unit for some might require an additional person to help. The floor levelers in the rear support make it very stable on any surface.

This is a great unit. I really don't know how it could be better.

BV

The differences between this and the 213 model are minimal, but worth considering. The water bottle holder here is right in front of you, less sightly and unnecessarily, whereas the 213 has two of them, both within easy reach right under the seat. Also, the magazine/book holder is more substantial on the 213. The seat and programming are comparable. But the 213 has also been less expensive when on sale, so is on balance a better option.

I received my 203 via UPS 2 day air, thanks to Amazon prime. Yes, the box was rather beaten up. Only one strap and lots of clear packing tape barely holding it together. I opened it up with trepidation, expecting broken parts. Fortunately, other than some scratches on the main unit body, everything was intact. I heard something rattling in the computer unit, but after assembly, it works fine.
Assembly was quite simple. The parts boards are for both the 103 and 203 models, so you will have a few parts left over. Nothing to worry about. It took me about one hour to assemble (57 year old woman with some mechanical ability). I taped the computer connectors together at each end to prevent disconnection on assembly. I used a flashlight to make sure I didn't pinch the cords when I installed the main support bar. The only "issue" was the soft black hex key, which rounded off rather easily. However, I had a set of my own, and I used those instead. The hardest part was installing the foot pedal straps; I don't have a lot of finger strength and it's very stiff plastic. After I ran really hot water on the ends for a few minutes,they softened up and I was able to easily slip them over the pegs.
The instruction manual gives bare-bones directions for using the computer programs so you may have to play around a little to see all the features, but heck, that's half the fun! The unit is absolutely quiet; not a sound other than my heavy breathing ;-) and I was able to watch streaming tv without increasing the sound on the laptop.
I bought this to help with a bad knee, and I will post back after I have used it for a few months, but I expect no issues with the unit. It seems solid and well-designed.

11/20/10: just thought I would mention this machine is working perfectly still. no noise, no problems.

I ordered the Schwinn 203 just a week ago. It was eligible for free delivery and I took advantage of that offer. It stated that it would take extra time for delivery, however it arrived within a week. Though several have stated it was difficult to put together and took several hours my highly non-mechanical wife and I had it together in about an hour and fifteen minutes. The directions are a bit tricky but knowing that in advance from the other reviews helped. Once we were finished assembling it I got on it and started it up and began peddling. I was sure it was not working correctly becuase there was absolutely no sound at all--mechanical or otherwise. I then reached over and increased the resistance and found out it was working correctly. My wife and I both use it and love it. I am 325 pounds and it works great for me and based on several nights of extreme sweating during my workouts I don't expect to be 325 for long. Super bike!! Very pleased...besides this is what my knee surgeon suggested for rehabilitating a knee I torn up last year and it's doing fine.

I love this bike. The price was reasonable, the operation smooth and remarkably quiet. My only complaint is that the assembly instructions were wrong. I managed to assemble it myself (I'm a mechanically challenged 55 yr old woman with bad knees!) but when I was all done I had parts left over. Not a good thing! I went back over the instructions and one step was completely left out. I would recommend going by the diagram, not so much by the written instructions.

I use this bike every day, I would recommend it.

This is a great bike for the money! It has a variety of programs and resistance levels. The higher resistance levels are quite challenging, so I believe this bike would be great for all fitness levels. This bike is extremely quiet during operation; it is virtually silent.

I read a review on a different site before purchase, and the "expert" stated that if you are going to get a "low end" bike, that Schwinn was the only way to go. Even though you could possibly save $100 and get a cheaper brand, it just isn't worth it. I completely agree with this reviewer. For an extra hundred dollars, you get so much more. I am extremely happy with this purchase!

Assembly was fairly easy and all of the necessary tools were included in the box. I have had the bike for a little over a month, and I have not experienced a single problem with the performance or construction of the bike.

This bike is very sturdy and compact. As I am just under 5 ft, I needed to be sure that I could get the seat closeup enough so my feet would comfortably reach the pedals. It's a great fit for me but also for my nephew who is 6'4". Computerized readout panel is easy to read. This is an excellent product for a most reasonable price.

I've only had the Schwinn 203 recumbent for a couple days now but I absolutely love it. It rates well in my book compared to the lifecycle recumbent/gym model. It's a sturdy, smooth, quiet ride. I'm happy with it.