Customer Reviews

Stamina 15-0200 InTone Folding Recumbent Bike

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(50)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

My wife and I have been looking for an exercise bike that is comfortable for our backs and seats. Recumbents are good but the costs and space requirements have discouraged us up to now. The Stamina is economical, well made, silent, comfortable, and takes up very little room. It even folds if you want to gain even more space. I was a bit concerned about the bike because when it arrived the packaging was severely gouged (by a forklift?)but the inner packing is well designed and there was no damage. Assembly was easy and took approx. 30 minutes. There is a tool included that will fit all the screws and nuts used.
I have no way to tell how accurate the mileage, caloric, etc. readouts are but I don't find that a problem because I exercise by time and I can pace myself by the various levels indicated. It is quiet so it is easy to exercise while watching TV. We are very satisfied with this product.

As has been stated in other reviews, this has a weight limit of 250 lbs (I'm at 215) and people much taller than I am (5'10") may find the bike too short unless they drill a new hole to further raise the seat. However, it fits me, is stable and doesn't "moan". In fact the mechanism is very, very quiet.

I had a small Tunturi upright bike nearly 30 years ago but now felt that the semi-recumbent form of the Stamina In-Tone would suit me better at this age, and it does. Yes this is a "semi-recumbent" and fits about halfway between an upright and a full recumbent. I like this aspect of the design very much.

The unit is well built (better than I expected) goes together easily in a half hour ("tools" included) and while the seat is harder than I'd like, I just throw a towel over it and it's fine.

A terrific value and a great alternative to big, expensive recumbent bikes.

UPDATE July 2008, I moved up to a much larger, more expensive, heavier-duty Ironman Charger (hey it was in the Gold Box!)

The Stamina is fine, but it is best if you really need the space savings or dollar savings. HTH

I really, really wanted to give this bike 4 to 5 stars because the flaws it has are relatively minor, but they would have been so easy to fix by the manufacturer that it galls me more than it should to see the product crippled the way it is by them.

First the good:
- Its easy to move, deploy and store.
- Small footprint, both folded and unfolded
- Has the Bells & Whistles of more expensive models

Now the stuff that will annoy you:
- Terrible instructions, perhaps I'm spoiled on IKEA but the assembly instructions are poorly laid out and mislabeled
- Mediocre machining of key parts; the frame fits together roughly instead of snuggly.
- Washers, bolts and nuts are generic sized instead of fitted to their specific purpose on the bike.

These problems come to their apex with the backrest. The concept is solid, but it fits together so poorly that there is no way to configure it so that it won't wobble, shake and possibly detach when in use. After closer examination this problem comes down to a single badly fitted bolt and two slot-and-pin fittings that simply do not fit together. Both of these could have been fixed with a few millimeters of machining and pennies for the proper nuts and bolts. In fact, once I do this myself, I suspect the bike will be worth of 4 to 4.5 stars, but the customer really shouldn't have to "hack" the product like this to make it safe and satisfactory. If you're reading this Stamina, take note and give this product the tiny tweak it needs to be a respectable addition to your product line and our home gyms.

I was pleased with my purchase. The price was right and it was just what I wanted for my knee's rehab. After two weeks I started getting a grinding sound in the area of the flywheel, and the tension increased to the point I couldn't pedal. I called Stamina Products but couldn't get through to a customer rep. I've sent them two detailed emails and gotten no response. Today I left a voice mail message. We shall see if I get anywhere. The unit works great when it works, but so far I've had less than two weeks of use. If I get a response from Stamina I will update this message.

I like the price, am very happy with how compactly it stores, and believe it is a good bargain for what you get, but I have two criticisms:

1. It wobbles a bit from side to side when you really get going (the pivot joint could have been more beefy). Fortunatley this is more of a distraction than a serious problem.

2. It is not made for people over 6' tall (I am 6'-4"). The seat does not extend far enough for my legs to pedal without closing to an acute angle (less than 90 degrees). To compensate, I drilled a new hole further down the shaft. I probably voided the warranty doing so, but it is a much better fit for my long legs.

Yes, I said junk. Yes, I still rated it 3 stars. I lost all tension after one month of use (35-50 minutes/day, 5-7 days/week). I took the unit apart (even a fiscal conservative like me knows enough not to bother with customer service at a company with three different warranties- not for $150...) The "tensioner" knob does nothing. There is a stop screw inside that prevents the "tensioner" from doing anything except at the tightest level. Even then its effects are minimal. The actual tension comes from a spring (not adjustable) that tensions the drive belt. The drive belt runs poorly across two guiding rollers. After a month, the spring popped loose when I was folding the bike. When I took the covers off, I found that the belt is slowly rubbing away due to poor routing through the rollers. (Belt part # Fengshou Sanmen Tingpang 270J 005 3F). I was able to fix this in 25 minutes.

All that being said, the bike has a tiny footprint, is comfortable, silent, folds up very small for storage, and it's CHEAP! How's that for mixed signals??

To begin with, the bike took only about 10 minutes to put together. It was very easy and required no tools apart from the screw driver/wrench which came in the box.

After it was assembled I hopped on, expecting a lot of noise from something that was so cheap. Nope, this is quiet. I like this bike! Yes, the seat does have a wobble when you peddle faster; it is not as sturdy as one of those big monsters that cost hundreds of dollars. But the pedal action is smooth, and the electronics work even when you pedal backward.

I bought this specifically for my game room. I wanted something to sit on while watching television in the evenings instead of just vegging. This bike fits the bill perfectly. When I'm done it folds up compactly and securely - there is a pin which you insert to hold it folded (unlike my beloved Gazelle, which pinches my fingers every time) - then rolls into the closet.

You could get a better recumbent bike - no question. But you're not going to touch one for only $139.00. This is a great deal.

I really like this bike. It is comfortable, compact, and extremely quiet. Unlike another recumbent bike I have, it does not hurt my knees or my back or take up too much room in a small apartment. It enables me to get a good workout in spite of rheumatoid arthritis, which somewhat limits my exercise options. It is easy to move and put in storage if need be. I was planning to fold it up and put it away between sessions, but it is so small I can just leave it out all the time. It was pretty easy to assemble; I did it myself in about an hour. The directions were clear and everything fit where it was supposed to go.
All in all, I would highly recommend this to anyone who needs a pleasant, convenient, and effective form of exercise.

Between running and using the elliptical, I was looking for something different to add to my workout but didnt want to spend the money or space for another large machine. The elliptical was over $700 bucks. After reading the reviews (Amazon reviewers are awesome.) I figure I can give it a try.

Pros: Price
Very easy to set up, a few bolts for the legs, seat/seatback, and handle, and pedals and thats it. The unit pretty much comes almost completely assembled.
Very quites and smooth - I don't think its a magnetic drive since you turn a knob for resistance. The Conosole shows the typical miles, time, RPM, etc and does not adjust resistance with it.
Easy to fold up. Takes up very little space.

Cons: Yes, the seat post does wobble a bit if you ride hard.
The pedal are smaler than the typical bicycle pedals.
The seat post is a pain to adjust (will need silicone lube like other reviewer says)

I've been on it for 40 minutes each night since I got it this week and have build up a sweat during the workout each night.

Even with the cons, I would still recommend getting it for the value/price. Can't be beat. Think of it as 3-4 month gym membership.

I like this bike and am glad I purchased it. It is a well-made machine with a great price. Very comfortable, easy to assemble, and easy to use. I was hoping that it would be lighter weight and that the folding aspect would be more substantial, thus making it easier to move and store. However, I suppose moving the thing should be counted as a "bonus workout." All in all, a good purchase.