When I first started exercising multiple times a week, I was really cardio focused, and I still consider it a big part of my healthier lifestyle.
I did make one easy mistake though, I headed straight for the treadmill and stayed there for probably a little too long.
While you can get a lot out of a treadmill workout, looking back I wished I’d started with something like the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike instead.
Why a Recumbent Bike?
While all cardio exercise has benefits like improved stamina and teaching your body to better utilize oxygen, stationary bikes in general and recumbent stationary bikes specifically have some great things to offer people of all fitness levels.
The biggest benefit is that cycling is a low impact workout; this means that it puts a lot less wear and tear on your body than a high impact workout like running on a treadmill.
Recumbent bikes have an even bigger advantage since in addition to all the regular benefits of cycling they provide support for your back, making them great for seniors and anyone with lower back or mobility issues.
These machines are also one of the smaller pieces of cardio equipment you can place in your home, so they’re nice if space is a concern.
The way that recumbent bikes allow you to almost lounge as you workout is great for people who want to watch TV or even read as they get in their exercise for the day.
Consider your goals before buying any piece of exercise equipment.
If you’re looking to do strength training, then a home gym or even a simple pull up bar is going to be a better choice for you than a stationary bike.
Stationary bikes target muscles in the legs and abdomen, so if you’re looking to work out your entire body at once without needing resistance bands or other additional equipment, consider an elliptical, air rower, or stationary bike with adjustable handles.
Recumbent Bikes Are Ideal For
- Low-Impact Workouts
- People with Lower Back Pain/Injuries
- Cardio Exercise
- Lower Body Exercise
- Seniors
Recumbent Bikes Are Not Ideal For
- Strength Training
- Upper Body Exercise
- Whole Body Workouts
Presenting the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike
If I had to pick one word for you to remember about this bike, it would be “streamlined”.
No, the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike doesn’t have the kind of fancy features that can make you feel like you’re living in the future, but it has everything you need to get in a great workout and get on with your day.
The XTERRA Fitness SB120 boasts a compact design to save space, a padded seat back for comfort while using, and an adjustable seat and pedals to fit riders up to 6’2 comfortably.
It uses magnetic resistance which provides a quieter ride, a hand pulse sensor to measure your heart rate as you ride, and a simple, easy to understand LCD monitor to display time, distance, speed, pulse and calories.
This is the simplest recumbent bike that XTERRA fitness offers, essentially the ‘baby brother’ of the group.
Going to the XTERRA Fitness SB500, the biggest of these bikes, you’ll find a bigger screen, some preset programs, and more levels of resistance.
The important things, like the heavy-duty steel frame in the “step through” design and the magnetic resistance, carry over.
Pros
- Magnetic Resistance for Quiet Ride
- Simple Display w/Device Holder
- Hand Grip Pulse Sensors
- Step-Through Design
Cons
- Low Tech
- Some Reviewers Mention Seat Wiggling
- Only 250lbs Weight Capacity
XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike Features
Frame
The frame of the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike is made from heavy-duty steel to provide a stable ride and holds up to 250lbs.
The frame has a step through design, which means it’s constructed to be easy to mount and dismount, which is great for anyone with mobility issues and/or is using the bike to rehab a leg injury.
Seat
The seat on the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike has a different shape than the seat for upright bikes, reducing the ‘saddle sore’ feeling many beginning cyclists have to deal with.
The back of the seat is padded so people who buy this bike specifically for the back support get what they want and need.
The seat is adjustable to accommodate riders anywhere from 5’1 to 6’2 comfortably, with a simple crank to make changing where the seat is located a breeze for a house with multiple users.
Pedals
Like the seat, these pedals are adjustable to make sure your feet get exactly where they’re supposed to be and stay there, which is great because a huge percentage of injuries while working out come from incorrect position or use.
The oversized pedals make it easier for riders of any size to use the bike comfortably, and they’re textured for a better grip to avoid your feet slipping.
Display
The display on the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike is very simple.
It displays calories, time, distance, heart rate, and speed.
If you frequently get distracted by modern tech, this bike with its simple display may be perfect to help you focus.
In addition, if you’re using a fitness watch or phone app to monitor your exercise, then you’re not paying for an expensive feature you’re not going to use.
This display also means the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike doesn’t use a ton of electricity.
The bike does not need to be plugged in, just put the two included AA batteries in their proper slot and you’re good to go, making it easy to move the bike when needed or desired.
And if you do want to use a tablet, phone or even a book while you work out, there’s a convenient shelf right on the display as well.
Magnetic Resistance
The XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike uses magnetic resistance, which has several advantages.
Magnetic resistance is much quieter than air resistance, meaning this bike is great if you’re an early bird among night owls or vice versa, or if you just like to have music or TV going while you bike.
Another big advantage is that magnetic resistance is constant no matter how fast you pedal, meaning that you don’t have to imitate the road runner to get to the resistance level you want.
This bike has 8 levels of resistance to choose from, and it’s as easy as a simple twist of a dial to change the intensity of your workout.
Handles
There are two sets of handles on the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike.
One set is directly under the display and can be used to get your upper body more involved in the workout.
The other handles are located on either side of the seat.
This is the set that contains the hand pulse sensors, and simply gripping them will allow you to see your heart rate in real time as you pedal.
Monitoring your heart rate right on the machine makes it easy to do heart rate training or make sure you’re hitting your target as you exercise, and the hand grip style pulse sensors means if you have a wireless chest strap that connects to your smartphone or tablet you won’t have any interference from the machine.
Transport Wheels
The XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike weighs 53lbs.
Some people may be able to carry that, but the shape makes me think that it would be an extremely awkward experience.
So instead, the bike comes with two built-in transport wheels.
This is great if you have limited space like an apartment or if your fitness room pulls double duty as your living room, office or bedroom.
You can roll it in front of the tv to exercise while taking in the morning news and roll it away after to keep the walkways clear.
Warranty
For this tier of exercise bikes, the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike has a good warranty.
The frame is under warranty for the first year and the parts are covered for 90 days.
This shows that XTERRA has confidence in their products and that they expect their bike to hold up to a lot of use.
Customer Service
I simply can’t review any XTERRA product and not come across reviews praising their customer service.
The service reps are constantly being described as helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and prompt.
This is more evidence that XTERRA really believes in their products and are focused on good relationships with customers.
To me, this means that I can trust that if I have a problem, I’m not just going to be blown off or passed around a call center until I give up and go away.
It also makes me much more likely to recommend these products because I know people who need help can get it easily.
What Buyers Are Saying
When looking at a product, especially online, reviews are considered absolutely vital in the decision-making process, so I’ve gathered some samples of what people around the internet think of the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike.
Review #1
Nicole talks about what she likes and doesn’t like but ultimately declares that she’s happy with her purchase.
Review #2
David’s review is proudly on the page for this bike on the XTERRA website, where he praises the comfort level of the seat.
Review #3
And finally, Joe C. keeps it short and sweet by mentioning his one issue and saying, “Great Bike.”
Recumbent Bike Alternatives
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike
When compared to the XTERRA SB120, there are many similarities.
Both have 8 levels of magnetic resistance, have a step through frame for ease of use, adjustable seats and pedals, include simple displays that show most of the same information, cost about the same, and are roughly the same size.
There are a few notable differences though.
The Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike will not measure or display your pulse, nor does the console include a space for your tablet.
It does however, have an odometer which the XTERRA Fitness SB120 lacks.
The pedals on the Marcy Recumbent are smaller than the XTERRA Fitness SB120, but the seat is listed as being made from high density foam instead of simply ‘padded’ like the bike from XTERRA.
Lastly, the Mercy Recumbent Bike has a higher weight capacity at 300lbs.
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike vs. XTERRA Fitness SB120
- No Pulse Sensor
- No Tablet Holder
- Step Through Design
- 8 Levels of Magnetic Resistance
- High-Density Foam Seat
- Odometer
- 300lbs Weight Capacity
MaxKare Recumbent Exercise Bike
The MaxKare Recumbent Exercise Bike has a lot of similarities to the XTERRA Fitness SB120 and a few key differences.
What these two bikes have in common include size, price point, levels of magnetic resistance, simple LCD displays with tablet holder included, hand grip pulse sensors, adjustable seat and pedals, and included transport wheels.
The differences tend to lie in the details when comparing these two bikes.
The MaxKare Recumbent Exercise Bike has a higher weight capacity at 300lbs.
It does however lack the oversized pedals of the XTERRA Fitness SB120.
The LCD monitor on theMaxKare Recumbent Exercise Bike is a bit larger and has a few more buttons than the SB120’s singleton.
MaxKare Recumbent Exercise Bike vs. XTERRA Fitness SB120
- Slightly More Complex Display
- 8 Levels of Magnetic Resistance
- Adjustable Seat/Pedals
- 300lbs Weight Capacity
- No Oversize Pedals
ProForm 235 CSX Recumbent Bike
The ProForm 235 CSX Recumbent Bike has several standout features on the list, from the basic addition of a water bottle holder to the whopping 18 levels of magnetic resistance.
This is the bike with the most differences to the XTERRA Fitness SB120, but it does sit at a slightly higher price point than any of the other bikes in this article.
This bike measures all the metrics the XTERRA Fitness SB120 does, and also measures wattage, which some people use to measure their workouts in terms of energy output.
This bike includes preset workouts.
Instead of turning a dial or knob to adjust resistance, there’s a control for the resistance on the console. The display also includes a built in speaker that is iPod compatible.
The ProForm 235 CSX Recumbent Bike has a max weight of 275lbs, and the frame has a 7 year warranty on it.
It is similar to the XTERRA Fitness SB120 in the step through design of the frame, the adjustable seat and pedals, and the inclusion of the hand grip pulse sensors.
ProForm 235 CSX Recumbent Bike vs. XTERRA Fitness SB120
- Preset Programs Included
- Bigger Display That Measures Wattage
- Max Weight 275lbs
- Water Bottle Holder
Conclusion
There’s a lot to love about recumbent bikes, and it’s easy to find a simple one to get started with.
If you have back problems, joint pain or other issues that prevent you from doing treadmill and other high impact cardio, a bike like the XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike may be the answer you’ve been searching for.
