Customer Reviews

Stamina 4825 Magnetic Resistance Recumbent Bike

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(38)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This bike does what it says in the description. It was relatively easy to assemble, but did arrive with some shipping damage. The plastic legs were crushed but Stamina did send a replacement within a week. Regarding performance, it is quiet and stable with enough resistance for most people. The adjustment for the seat distance is not the easiest so I would not recommend if you are not limber enough to hold the base in place with your legs while you try to slide the adjustment forward or backward. The electronics is very simple but not very important to me in terms of different programs. I only use the timer. The main criteria for my purchase of this bike was: Low console to not block view of TV; step through design; and price. This bike fits the bill. If you want a bike that looks & feels expensive then this is not for you. It's just a clean simple bike.

Contrary to some other reviews, my package arrived in great condition. Everything was well-packaged and intact. The instructions were relatively easy, but took a lot of concentration (as I'm not so wonderful at these types of things). As others experienced, 4 screws were already screwed into the bottom of the seat and 4 more into the back of the seat. These had to be unscrewed first, then re-screwed in to attach the parts to their various mounts and brackets.

Although the tools provided are adequate, I switched to my own tools halfway through assembly to lessen my frustration.

I chose free shipping to save myself $50. I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money to get the machine sooner. I was glad I did. It arrived in 7 days and was worth the wait.

I really love that this machine has no arms - the recumbent bikes at the gym all have arms that go back and forth as you pedal and I don't like them. This machine is low to the ground, too, which makes it less obtrusive in the space it's in. I also really love the low computer console - makes for unobstructed viewing of the TV while I work out.

And this things makes no sound whatsoever! I was astonished at how quiet it was.

I should also note that I'm not a small person. This machine has a weight limit of 300lbs and it's quite sturdy. It's not as beefy as one you'd find in a gym, but it's totally adequate for a home gym. I broke my leg a few years back and every physical therapist I saw had me ride one of these bikes during my recovery. If you have ankle flexibility issues like me, it helps a ton.

All in all, this machine greatly exceeded my expectations, given the amount paid for it. I recommend it highly.

The shipping box looked pretty bad upon arrival, but the contents were in perfect shape due to excellent interior protection. Screws I thought might be missing were already in place in the seat and seat back. Put it together in less than 1 hour working alone with my own tools. Tools provided are like survival kit. Would work but would take much longer. Perfect fit & finish on all parts. Very high quality for this price. Very sturdy and stable ride as evidenced by 300 Lb. rating. Large easy to read computer display. Easy to move wheels. Easy seat adjust and tension knob.

I've had this bike for 3 weeks now and I really like it.

Packaging was good; all parts were accounted for and none were broken.

Putting the bike together wasn't difficult for one person. I didn't even break a nail! It would have been nice to have someone there to hold the pieces together while I was attaching them but I managed. I am grateful to another reviewer for mentioning that the screws for attaching the seat pieces were already in the seats. That was extremely helpful.

Since I'm a couch potato and a plus size woman exercising is not something I enjoy. I find it tedious and boring. My main reason for buying this particular bike was that the control console was low and wouldn't block the TV. It is also very quiet. I can watch shows or play video games on my Wii while working out which greatly increases the chance of me actually getting regular exercise. It is also easy to move around my apartment.

The floors of my apartment are somewhat warped. If the bike is not level it makes a clicking noise when in use. It's not loud and moving the bike to a less warped area of the room stops the noise so it's not a big deal but it might be annoying for some.

I was surprised by how well the resistance works. I've owned stationary bikes before and I've always had trouble changing the tension. And sometimes the tension was a joke. But this bike really provides a workout.

I'm glad that I got this bike.

I've lost fifty pounds just through diet, but I have a good way to go yet. I like the recumbent bike because it takes the pressure off my back and keeps me from hurting myself with my own body weight. There's a recumbent bike in the exercise room of my apartment complex, but it is always in use, so I priced gym memberships--they seem to be pricey in my neighborhood. For the cost of four of five months at the gym, I bought a set of resistance bands and this exercise bike.

When it came, I was surprised how small the box was, but it was almost too heavy for me to maneuver into the room where I set it up. Definitely use your own tools if you can (an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver); the wrench is pitiful. By the time I had the bike assembled (which took me about an hour, being careful), the wrench was mostly stripped, and the nuts were getting stripped. Fortunately all seemed pretty stable and fit together properly. The bike was surprisingly compact. I think the low monitor position really helps it not take over the room.

I expected the bike to move or shift as I pedaled, but it held up sturdily. The movement was quiet and smooth. The seat wasn't the most comfortable ever, but it was fine for a 30-minute session. Even though I am not used to exercising, I found a resistance of 5 (on a scale of 1-7) to be comfortable but challenging at the speed I pedaled. The monitor is not difficult to learn, and the two weight-loss programs I tried were reasonable. Everything worked well. I wasn't used to having my pulse checked on a bike, but it worked well too, and seemed accurate.

No complaints here! So far this is a promising machine. I like using it, so I hope it holds up for daily sessions for a good while.

The surprising absence of negative reviews (meaning no 1 or 2 stars) told me a lot, so I decided to go for it and purchase this item. I agree 100% with everything others have mentioned, so some of this review might be redundant, but I'd like to add additional info too. Ready?

The bike works exactly as advertised, and is great for getting your heart pumping and your sweat flowing. Even though I've been walking 4 miles per-day prior to this purchase, this bike still makes me sweat, which is good of course. Like a Parrot, I agree that a tension level of 5 and programs #1 and #2 are sufficient {though often I PRAY for #2 to end sooner than it does, but after it does, I'm totally satisfied with the workout it put me through. GOOD JOB Stamina programmers!!!}.

Others advised using your own tools, and you MUST NOT DISMISS THIS ADVICE!!! My friend examined the bike after my assembly and was impressed with the sturdiness of it. But, the supplied tools (except for the Allen wrench part) are garbage. Please spend the extra effort and get an adjustable wrench and a good Phillips Head screwdriver...I guarantee you'll thank me for it.

Now, here's two words of caution that nobody else has seemed to mention, and I hope will benefit you:

1. The screws for both seats (back and butt) are already screwed in place, and that's where you'll find them...not in that shrink-wrapped cardboard thingy. But, if the factory only inserts the screws for either piece part-way (meaning the screw is sticking out, say 1/2"), the packing process will force it all the way in and flush. What's the problem? Well, how the heck are you going to get the press-fitted nut (factory inserted from the inside of the seat or back) out? If you remove the screw, it's going to fall out of place, and be gone forever. Are you going to rip apart the padding? Of course not, so I ended up using a flat-head screwdriver to put outward pressure on the head of the screw so that I could tighten it enough to pull it into place. Yea, it worked, but now I have a screwdriver dent in the back of my seat. Not really that noticeable, but damn annoying for something I bought as "new".

2. The left & right covers of the main magnetic drive mechanism are held on by 8 screws:
a) Two 3/4" Phillips-head screws on the left side, on bottom-front of the frame
b) Two 3/4" Phillips-head screws on the right side (bottom-front of the frame), plus four 1" Phillips-head screws along the top curvature of the shell

NOTE: There aren't two screws at the frame level closest to the seat, though there are holes in the covers for such. Disregard these as they are clearly a manufacturer design change.

In my case, one of the mounts for the left-hand cover broke off, so the existing screw was in-place and tight, but holding on a plastic tube connected to *nothing*.

Suggestion: Examine all eight mounting screws carefully upon receipt. Specifically, you need to put some slight outward pressure against both the left & right halves to see if they separate (at each screw mounting point). If it separates, as mine did, then the mount is broken and that half needs to be replaced. On the other hand if the screw is holding the cover firmly in place, then check the rest.

If yours is broken as mine was, promptly register your bike and request a replacement part (or return to Amazon as a defect...though in fairness I would give the manufacturer a chance first). Should you need help identifying which half is broken, I'd probably call the manufacturer for assistance. {Tip: If the broken mount is at the frame level, it's *that* side that is broken. If it's one of the other screws, it could be either side.} For me it was easy to see that it was the left side that was broken (because it was at the frame level) and needed to be replaced. This is my first repair request to them so I can't address how Stamina handle's my claim, but previous feedback shows great results from them.

Bottom line: This is a very good product at a fantastic price. I've already suggested that my friend buy the same, as I'm so impressed with it. If you take anything from this review, please don't attribute shipping damage to the manufacturer, as we cannot know how this (quite heavy) package has been bounced around.

But, on it's use, convenience, size, functionality, and the admirable sturdiness of it's construction, I would highly recommend it for anyone.

DISCLAIMER: I've only been using this product for 7 calendar days. If at some point I feel the need to revise this review, I will do so.

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UPDATE #1: After reviewing the parts breakdown in the manual (and being fairly technical), I was starting to seriously doubt that despite it's claims of being a "Magnetic Resistance" bike, that it was such. In the diagram, it shows the "Magnetic Unit" but nothing more detailed. So, to see if I was getting ripped off or not, I called the company.

Though the representative was very polite and helpful, she (wrongly) claimed that the magnetic resistance was the opposition between the foot-peddle pulley and the "Magnetic Unit". It seemed plausible, but the fact that I didn't feel a repetitive "thumping" of two magnets fighting each-other gave me doubt. So, I took the unit apart.

The representative was unfortunately wrong, but the claim of it being a "Magnetic Resistance" bike is 100% accurate and is certainly legitimate in it's ability to provide resistance to one's peddling efforts. So, in fairness of my skepticism of STAMINA, their description of this product is quite true.

What really provides the resistance you feel (and what varies as you adjust the "tension") is the rather intricate details of the "Magnetic Unit".

You can think of it as a large donut with magnets embedded in it, but within this larger donut is a smaller donut (we can call it the "donut hole", though more factually it's also a donut shape...just smaller).

The inner donut contains 4 sets of opposing magnets that provide resistance against the outer (fixed) donut, creating the resistance that very closely mimics that of a real bicycle. As you adjust the "tension", you are actually adjusting the distance between the inner donut and the outer magnetic assembly. The closer the distance, the more resistance you feel. The lower the number (like a tension level of "1"), the more the inner magnets retract away from the outer (fixed) magnetic donut.

OK, this may be too much for the average reader, but I wanted to be sure that I wasn't buying an old belt-drag unit when advertised otherwise, and I found that I was *not* misled.

Other than the company representatives being updated on the actual workings of the bike (or being able to transfer to someone who can), this bike is internally exactly as it is described.

Kudos Stamina!

UPDATE #2: Well, even those with the best intentions make mistakes. When I took the covers off of the front yesterday, I forgot about the rubber O-Ring under the computer unit (and it had slid down, rubbing against the pulley). No big deal to take apart, but I found another "issue".

While it was apart I noticed that the tension adjustment knob assembly was loose, and to make matters worse, the Phillips-head screw holding it tight was butted right up to the magnetic wheel assembly. This required removing the two hex bolts holding the tension knob assembly, tightening the screw that holds it into place, and then re-assembling everything...obviously.

This has be bothered, as this is now the second "loose screw" (the seat back being the first, and this being the second) that I've found. What if I weren't so observant? What would others do when suddenly their tension knob came completely loose?

I'm NOT going to change my opinion of the product, but the QC department needs a whack upside the head, and I'm going to call them today (10/7/2010) and tell them such.

A special thanks to Amazon for letting me rant this much. ;-)

I received the bike in about a week. It arrived in perfect condition, with no parts missing. It was pretty simple to assemble, and is easy to move around, in case you plan on using it in more than one room. The bike operates very quietly and smooth, so it's not a problem listening to music, or watching tv, without having to crank up the volume. The various resistance settings range from extremely easy to a good solid workout. Being a skier, I've always worked out my thighs to stay in shape, but the last few years it seems as though every thing I tried to strengthen the thighs has ended up hurting my lower back and knees. No such problem with the recumbent bike. I researched quite a few different makes and models of bikes online, and this sounded like the best one, without spending a lot of money. I can't judge the bikes I didn't go with, but I have no regrets at all that I selected this one. It was well worth the $200.00. It's solid, and seems like it will last a long time.

This unit has 6 programs that keeps me motivated to continue riding. I only use the first two programs as the other 4 are much too fast for me. I cannot even pedal 26mph, but visitors may want to use them someday. This is an excellent value, It's comfortable and the computer is easy to read and set. I have been on much more expensive units at the gym, but this unit compares to them in every way. A really good buy, I recommend it to everyone who wants exercise when the wind is blowing or rain is making the real bike riding undesireable. Actually it more comfortable than the mountain bike, but the sceenery isn't the same!!!

My seat did not sit in the same position as this picture on Amazon. The seat actually sat 4" from the back-rest, making it impossible to ride the bike while sitting properly. I contacted customer service and they sent me a replacement seat. The seat was the same. That's when I realized that they welded the base of the bike improperly and that the fault was not in the seat itself. Customer service sent me another replacement seat that was not made for this bike. It works, but it's not as nice. I'm guessing this was a one in a million problem because I see that no one else is complaining. OTHER THAN THAT...
The bike may as well not have tensions 1-3. I don't notice a difference between them. I am a woman who only does moderate workouts every now and then. And I start-out on tension 5 and work up to 7. Something I hate about this bike is that at my height (5'7") I can't see the bottom of the display, so I have to keep leaning really far forward in the middle of my workout to be able to read it. Had I known this before I bought it, I probably would've gotten a bike with a display that tilts, or is tilted forward more. I've only ridden the bike a few times, so I can't say much for it's longevity. But for now, it does the job. It is pretty quiet and is a smooth ride. But I am still severely disappointed about the seat.

This is a nice, sturdy, reliable basic recumbent bike. It's quiet and easy to use. Amazon.com delivered 2 days before I expected it, which was great. The box was torn a bit, but none of the parts were damaged or missing.

One tip- the screws for the seat and console are already in those parts, not in the equipment bag with the other bolts and such. I was a dope and didn't find them, so I emailed Stamina customer service through their website. They replied promptly and graciously, and I was able to assemble with no further problems.