After I threw out my back, I thought I’d have to give up cardio forever. That meant no more early mornings spent hitting the pavement in my neighborhood.
As you can imagine, my spouse endured a long period of my moping and whining. In one wrong move, I’d lost one of the most important and healthy aspects of my life.
And that’s why she finally caved and purchased me my first recumbent bike.
At first, I was very skeptical: Would it provide me a good workout? Could I use it without further injuring myself?
Turns out, a recumbent bike was just what I needed: It let me optimize my cardiovascular health while not putting too much excess strain on my back.
Below, I’m reviewing one of the most comfortable, high-performing machines on the market – the Nautilus R618 recumbent bike.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Recumbent Bike
While upright exercise bikes mimic standard road bikes, recumbent bikes are designed to provide the most comfortable workout possible.
On a recumbent bike, your upper-body is positioned on a reclined seat while your lower-body does all the work.
With the pedals positioned in front of the body, your body is positioned very comfortably and stably on a recumbent bike.
Recumbent bikes are especially recommended for those that suffer from chronic lower back pain or other upper body injuries that would be worsened by most cardio equipment.
Keep in mind that a recumbent bike doesn’t offer a full-body workout: It’s mostly meant to improve your cardiovascular health and shed weight with a decreased risk of injury.
That’s why many professional athletes use recumbent bikes during periods of muscle recovery.
On a recumbent bike, you can either stay wholly focused on the workout or watch TV, read, and do work.
These bikes can be ridden slowly for a leisurely session or more intensely for a heart-pumping workout.
I recommend supplementing recumbent bike workouts with strength-training to achieve well-rounded body wellness benefits.
When reviewing recumbent bikes, look out for products that feature tons of customized workout programs, a steel-based frame, and a generous customer warranty.
Your bike should feature micro-adjustable resistance levels (preferably through an internal electromagnetic system) for the most effective workout.
Essential Questions to Ask
Before investing in a recumbent bike, you should ask yourself these key questions:
- Are there any upper-body injuries I’m worried about injuring that a recumbent bike would help out with?
- What other equipment can I use to achieve a well-rounded workout, in addition to a recumbent bike?
- Would I prefer the more hands-on experience of an upright bike or other cardio equipment?
- Am I tall enough to use a full-size recumbent bike?
Ultimately, you’ll need to consider your workout goals and how a recumbent bike would help you achieve them.
The Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike
Reader, meet the Nautilus R618 recumbent bike.
Packed with tons of training programs and full seat customizability, the Nautilus R618 is designed to provide the most heart-pumping yet comfortable ride possible.
The Nautilus provides 29 training programs optimized for different aspects of your health. Moreover, the bike offers seamless data pairing to your favorite smartphone workout apps.
This exercise bike is backed by a sturdy, steel frame and high-quality components that are meant to last years of heavy use.
The handlebars and seat are coated with sweat-wicking performance urethane.
Users love the extra details that make the Nautilus R618 a worthwhile purchase: an extra-large device tray, adjustable blue-backlit console, easy incline, and resistance level switching buttons, and the three-piece chrome crank system.
Pros
- Features tons of training programs and user-customizable workout presets
- Provides easy-to-learn user interface options
- Built from sturdy and high-quality internal components that provide a smooth range of motion
Cons
- Very brightly lit display may hurt some users eyes
- Bike lacks on online user manuals for accessing advanced user configuration options
Features and Benefits of the Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike
The Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike recumbent bike is packed with tons of great features that’ll suit most teen and adult readers.
I’ve compiled a list of the most convincing features the bike offers.
Easy-to-Learn Software
No matter your technical proficiency, the Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike is equipped with an easy-to-use central console and excellent smart device pairing capabilities.
The bike features a blue-backlit patented DualTrack screen, which lets the user tilt the console to always keep on eye on workout metrics.
Even when your smart device tray is in use, you still have an unobstructed view of the central console.
Additionally, this exercise bike is packed with 29 training programs that are optimized for heart rate, interval, and weight loss training.
Users can even customize their training options that can be accessed at the touch of a button.
The Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike can be synced with a free Explore the World app, allowing users to simulate rides through tons of real-world locations.
The bike even adjusts incline and resistance automatically to match what’s occurring on-screen.
Sturdy Construction
Not only does the Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike feature all the “bells and whistles”, but it’s also equipped with a heavy-duty internal system.
The Nautilus R618 is powered by a competent drive train system, built for high-inertia and high-speed with a perimeter weighted flywheel.
The bike is easy to start up and stop at any point, all without creating a hint of vibration-based noisiness. This is especially important for quiet shared spaces.
Moreover, the bike features a three-piece chrome crank system with heavily weighted pedals for easier foot placement and more consistent pedaling behavior.
It’s hard to beat the all-steel design of the Nautilus R618.
High Adjustability
The Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike is super adjustable, working for users in a broad range of height and weight categories.
The gel-based, cushioned seat is fully height adjustable.
The seat provides limitless adjustment for the best back and glute-cushioning support, accommodating weights up to 325 pounds.
In addition to the adjustable seating, the Nautilus R618 has adjustable elbow rests and a multi-positioned handlebar with integrated incline and resistance controls.
That makes the bike comfortable for both teens and adults alike.
What Do Buyers Think?
I spent some time perusing the most popular reviews I could find on the Nautilus R618 recumbent bike.
Review #1
“The Nautilus R618 is an excellent bike at this price point. A few features that stand out: the seatback has an adjustable recline, included remote heart rate monitor, Bluetooth connectivity to the trainer app, cumulative workout metric monitoring, and more,” one reviewer stated.
Review #2
“With my balance disorder, it’s quite likely I’ll fall whenever I walk or bike. I used to walk a mile a day – and I can’t do that comfortably anymore. Along those lines, the R618 works perfectly,” another claimed. “The pedals are comfortable and my feet don’t slip off easily. The 29 programs offer a great deal of variety.”
Review #3
“For the price of the Nautilus R618, you are not going to find a better recumbent bike,” another reviewer stated. “It is a very attractive piece of workout equipment and performs excellently under strain.”
All in all, buyers are very pleased with their purchasing, claiming that the bike provides a comfortable yet high-intensity workout without fail.
For its price category, the Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike is rife with quality software and hardware features.
Popular Alternatives to the Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike
Below, I’ve rounded up a few of the most popular recumbent bikes on the market.
Each bike has won the trust of customers through its robust construction, extra features, and smooth pedal action.
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike (ME-709)
Built with a step-through design, the Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike (ME-709) features sturdy construction with 14-gauge steel tubing and powder-coated finish.
This makes it easy to stably mount and dismount, which is especially important for riders with sensitive knees.
The bike features eight resistance levels through a magnetic resistance mechanism. A tension knob controls the difficulty, simulating the terrain of many different environments.
Users appreciate the easy-to-read LCD screen, which acts as an odometer and displays information on time, speed, distance, and calories burned in an extra-large font.
Interested buyers should keep in mind that the Marcy is very bare-bones – it lacks the customizability and workout programs found on bikes like the Nautilus R618.
Unfortunately, the bike is unable to pair with smartphones to synchronize workout data.
That said, it’s hard to beat the price of the Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike (ME-709). Consider if this trade-off is worthwhile for you or if you’d prefer more robust features.
Pros
- Great product at a low price point
- LCD screen uses easy-to-read, large font
- Stable mount and unmount system
Cons
- Lacks smart device pairing and extra features
Vanswe Recumbent Exercise Bike
Fully adjustable and feature-rich, the Vanswe Recumbent Exercise Bike features a digital tracking panel that displays information on heart rate, distance, time, speed, and calories burned.
It can pair through Bluetooth smart tech to any iOS or Android phone, making you better able to track your workouts.
Users appreciate the comfortable padded seat and backrest, which naturally ensures that the rider takes the proper position during pedaling.
This makes the Vanswe ideal for physical rehabilitation purposes.
The Vanswe Recumbent Exercise Bike can support users up to 380 pounds between 5’2″ and 6’1″.
If it doesn’t work for you, rest assured the bike comes with a three-year warranty on the frame and a 90-day parts guarantee.
Pros
- Provides Bluetooth pairing for workout tracking purposes
- Features broad LCD backlit display showing workout metrics
- Offers 16 levels of electromagnetic resistance control
Cons
- Some users state that the bike is better suited for shorter riders
Sunny Health Magnetic Resistance Bike
Once again, the Sunny team has created one of the most popular recumbent bikes marketed online.
Featuring a performance console, the Sunny Health Magnetic Resistance Bike displays all your favorite workout metrics on a full-color LCD screen.
Moreover, the bike comes with a tablet holder so you don’t have to skip out on your favorite workout videos, TV shows, or media.
Users can adjust the resistance with 16 different levels of computer-controlled, magnetic tension. The seat is super comfortable and wide, accommodating users of many different sizes.
When you grip the handles, the bike uses seat-level pulse sensors to gauge your performance. Simply grab the handles to track your heart rate at all times during the workout.
For its price category, the Sunny recumbent bike is a top performer.
Satisfied buyers state the bike has a very smooth downward pedal action, in part thanks to the wide-diameter internal flywheel design.
Of course, the Sunny Health Magnetic Resistance Bike does lack some of the features that can be found in the Nautilus R618 recumbent bike.
For instance, it doesn’t include smart device pairing or any pre-configured workout programs.
Pros
- Users appreciate the smooth, consistent operation of the pedals
- Features broad seat and backrest for comfortable ride
- Great budget bike
Cons
- Lacks some of the software features found in the Nautilus
- No smart device pairing or USB charging offered
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to go wrong with the Nautilus recumbent bike.
Fitted with tons of customizable workout programs and device pairing options, the bike is as much as a piece of “tech” as it is a hardware marvel.
The Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike makes it easy for users of all different physical capabilities, ages, and fitness levels to achieve a good workout.
