The LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike is a great choice for people dealing with limited mobility, back pain, or people who simply want to get in a good workout in a comfortable, safe way.
If you’ve never used one of these before, take a look at our buyer’s guide first before learning more about the LifeSpan R7000i.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Commercial Recumbent Bike
Commercial recumbent bikes are widely used in businesses like rehabilitation and workout facilities, but you can thankfully bring one right into your home.
Before you decide on a purchase, there are a few factors to keep in mind.
Resistant Levels
Being able to adjust the resistance is ideal so that users at different fitness levels can enjoy the recumbent bike all the same.
Also, changing the resistance setting can benefit you when you’re ready to add or take away some intensity.
The number of levels you can adjust depends on the specific commercial recumbent bike, but many have well over 10 settings to give you as much variety as possible.
Durable Design
A commercial recumbent bike isn’t always a budget-friendly option, so the one you choose must have a durable design for longevity’s sake.
Quality equipment features a robust steel frame that will hold up to frequent, rigorous use.
Another component to look at is the drive system.
Beyond offering a relatively quiet and smooth experience, a well-made drive system should be resilient and require minimum maintenance.
Even still, you’ll want a bike that has a good warranty plan.
Many machines offer different warranties based on specific parts, but you’ll want to seek out some that have years attached.
Comfort and Safety
Since this machine is naturally designed user-friendly, an important feature to consider when shopping around is how comfortable it is.
Take a look at how the seat is made. An ergonomic chair can be welcoming as you’ll feel at ease no matter how long you’re exercising.
Some bikes even feature mesh or other similar material in the backrest for greater ventilation. One aspect they should all have, however, is an adjustable range.
This ensures that users of different heights can adapt the machine to suit their needs.
When it comes to the frame, it helps if it’s a step-through design so you can get on and off the machine without assistance.
Also, consider the handlebar design. Typically, a commercial recumbent bike has multiple places for your hands: near the chair and the console.
No matter where you can rest your hands, the area should be easily accessible and not cause any fatigue as you hold on.
This leads to the pedal design. Comfort and safety go together when it comes to the pedals.
They should have a good strap with enough room for you to securely fit inside without risk of slipping out.
Additional Features
Workout programs are another fun way that a recumbent bike boasts versatility.
Exercise routines should never be static if you want to see some improvement, so changing up the program now and then allows for a more well-rounded experience.
Some consoles even have the option for you to sync up with another fitness program.
Speaking of the console, ensure that you can read it well from your seated position so that you’re always aware of your progress.
Another cool extra feature is a media tray. This lets you place a tablet or phone for watching TV or listening to music while you exercise.
Introducing the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike
The LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike is a unique piece of fitness equipment as it is completely eco-friendly since you don’t have to plug it in.
Pedaling generates the energy needed to power up the console.
This is a quality low-impact commercial recumbent bike ideal for users at the beginner and intermediate level in terms of fitness who need a simple and safe means of getting in shape.
With its step-through design and comfortable seat with armrests, it works well for those who perhaps need to use it for rehabilitation purposes.
Pros
- Multiple workout programs and resistance levels
- Long-lasting, stable steel frame
- Ergonomic and breathable adjustable seat
Cons
- Lacks any sort of cooling fan
- Console looks somewhat dated
- Pedals could be of higher quality
Features & Benefits of the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike
If you’re interested in adding the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike to your fitness routine at home, take a closer look at some of its features and the benefits that it may offer you.
Self-Generating Power
A popular feature of the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike is that it self-generates power in an eco-friendly way.
There’s even enough power generated that you can charge any device you plug into the built-in USB port.
Also, since you don’t have anything to plug in, the bike can even save on your electric bill costs since it takes in no outside energy.
Comfortable Design
Comfort is heavily focused on with the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike.
To start, it features an ergonomic seat layout with a molded-foam seat bottom.
The backrest is breathable as well with plenty of ventilation available to aid you in those long or intense workout sessions.
Rather than handles around the seat, there are large armrests built into the machine instead.
These armrests are angled in a way to suit users of different sizes with ease.
Soft in construction, each armrest also has integrated heart sensors so you can keep perfect track of your cardiovascular performance.
More comfort is found in the pedal design.
They are wide enough to better fit a range of users, and the texture combined with the straps secure your feet so you can pedal as fast as you’d like without the risk of slipping off the pedals.
Another aspect of this commercial recumbent bike that plays into comfort is just how well it fits and moves around in your home.
It features quality transportation wheels so you can roll it out of the way as needed.
This is also just as easy to keep in place thanks to its overall compact build that allows it to have a rather small footprint compared to some other similar exercise machines.
Reliable Frame and Drive System
The LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike features a durable steel frame that is meant to last a good deal of time through frequent home use.
This frame is also stable for a safer exercise experience.
The pulleys are reliable as well thanks to their cast aluminum construction. For support, this commercial recumbent bike is recommended for users weighing up to 400lbs.
When it comes to the drive system, it features a 3-phase resistance generator, a 3-piece crank system, and a Poly-V drive belt.
This design is excellent for offering smoother rides that are also quieter compared to other models.
Furthermore, the drive system construction ensures that minimal maintenance is needed for the longevity of the machine.
Various Adjustments
One of the many good things about the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike is that a multitude of different users can benefit from its uses thanks to how much you can adjust it.
The seat is adjustable within a 14in. range using micro-adjustments so you can easily get the best fit for your needs.
Even the seatback is flexible so you can adjust your position as often as you want.
Another great adjustment is the pedals.
Some may feel they aren’t built with the same quality as the rest of the machine, but thanks to the 3-piece crank system, you can easily exchange those pedals out.
The LifeSpan R7000i is capable of accepting standard road bike pedals or even mountain bike pedals. This lets you better personalize the machine.
Other adjustments come in concerning the resistance.
For varied workouts or users at different skill levels, you can adapt the resistance through 16 different levels.
Some machines indeed offer more, but this number seems reasonable for most low-impact exercises.
Console
The console on this commercial recumbent bike isn’t as updated as some other models, but it still features a bright and easy read-out.
It has a quick-start function and features both standard and metric measurements.
As for what it reads out, it will help you track common elements: resistance level, calories, distance, RPM, speed, heart rate, date and time, and program name.
There’s also a USB port that can charge various mobile devices except for the iPad 1, iPad 2, or iPad 3.
You can utilize the media holder to place your mobile device, tablet, book, or magazine.
This way, you can readily multi-task while exercising or just listen to music or watch your favorite show.
Multiple Workout Programs
There are 19 total programs set into the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike.
It comes with 2 heart rate exercise programs and 17 preset programs. These include the following: 7 sports training, 5 weight management, and 5 healthy living.
Warranty
The LifeSpan R7000i comes with a great warranty that ensures not just long-time use, but also that you remain protected no matter what.
For the frame, you get lifetime warranty support. Meanwhile, the parts come with a 5-year warranty plan, and the labor comes with a 2-year warranty plan.
Alternatives to the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike
Despite our praise for the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike, we know it’s always best to come to a decision when you weigh a few different options.
So, we discovered three other top-rated commercial recumbent bikes we feel hold up well against the LifeSpan R7000i.
Take a look at our brief reviews to see if these may offer a better fit for your home.
Precor RBK 835 Commercial Series Recumbent Exercise Bike
The Precor RBK 835 Commercial Series Recumbent Exercise Bike is a high-end commercial recumbent bike that features a low step-over height and a step-through design for easy entry and exit.
For comfort, it has an “air flex seat” that moves with you and provides optimal ventilation. There are multiple programs and resistance levels to go through for a versatile workout.
Precor RBK 835 vs. LifeSpan R7000i
- 25 resistance levels & 12 workout programs
- 11 seat adjustments | Air Flex Seat
- LED console | Smart Rate heart rate monitoring
- Self-powered
- 350lb weight capacity
3G Cardio Elite RB Recumbent Exercise Bike
The 3G Cardio Elite RB Recumbent Exercise Bike is a comfortable, compact commercial recumbent bike with a seat that conforms to better suit your body.
It has mesh in the back of the seat for a cooler ride, and the pedals are ergonomic for a secure, easy fit.
The console allows you to set up to four user profiles so your whole household can use it.
Elite RB vs. LifeSpan R7000i
- 3-way adjustable ventilated seat
- 350lb weight capacity
- 16-level resistance | 12 pre-set programs
- Lifetime frame warranty | 7-year parts | 1-year labor
- Handheld heart rate sensors
Cybex 750R Recumbent Exercise Bike
The Cybex 750R Recumbent Exercise Bike is a resourceful, high-powered machine. It features double-sided, wide pedals for easier use in addition to the high-back seat.
You can position the handlebars too, and more versatility is found in the various resistance levels and workout programs.
Cybex 750R vs. LifeSpan R7000i
- 21 resistance levels | 21 exercise programs
- Extra-wide double-sided pedals
- 10-year frame warranty | 3-year parts | 1-year labor
- 400lb weight capacity
- LED display with heart rate monitoring
Final Thoughts
Even with our recommendation of different products, we truly believe the LifeSpan R7000i Commercial Recumbent Bike is the best choice for home use.
It offers a reliable build with a high weight capacity for different users to take advantage of. The seat is comfortable and ventilated well, and the armrests are accommodating for everyone.
There’s also a healthy amount of resistance levels and workout programs to explore for a well-rounded low-impact workout routine.
Take a look at the LifeSpan R7000i to discover more about the recumbent bike and decide whether that or our other picks are right for you.
