Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle vs TITAN fan bike

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness GR3 Indoor cycle and the TITAN fan bike including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the TITAN fan bike

This is an overview of the TITAN fan bike including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

If you want the most up to date news or ask direct questions, then you can follow me on Instagram.

Overview of the TITAN Fan bike

The TITAN fan bike is a clone of the Rogue Echo bike with massive wheels on it. One other major difference is that it is driven by a chain rather than a belt. Price-wise it undercuts the Rogue echo bike. Fanbikes are ideal for interval training to really kick your butt with Tabata training or other forms of interval training. For this, fan bikes are far superior to treadmills or rowing machine. If you want to burn the maximum amount of calories in the shortest amount of time, fan bikes are the best option for the lowest price. The details of the TITAN fan bike are:

Height: 50-in

Seat height: 33 - 42.75 in

Footprint: 50.25-in x 20.375-in

Handle diameter: 38 mm

Wheel diameter: 10-in x 3-in.

Finish: Powder-Coated Black

Material: Heavy-Duty Steel

Weight capacity: 330lb

Product weight: 111lb.

- Fully enclosed metal chain drive

- Removable fan guard

- LCD Console Display with customizable modes

- Bluetooth Heart Rate function pairs with Polar® Bluetooth Heart Rate Transmitters

- Tracks Time, Distance, Heart Rate, RPM, Calories, Watts, Odometer

- High-Intensity Interval Training Programs

- Large ergonomic seat with multi-adjustment options

- Knurled footpegs and rear handle

- Reinforced metal foot pedals

- Sealed cartridge bearings utilized in every pivot

- Turf tires for easy moving over any terrain

- Aluminum Water Bottle Holder

- Phone holder with grippy pad

- Assembly hardware

This is a solid low price fan bike, especially if you want to use it outside. The only downside is the chain which is more likely to break than a belt.

Pros of the TITAN Fan bike

Price
Big wheels

The price of the TITAN fan bike is something to behold and undercuts the Rogue Echo bike even further. The Echo bike already was an attack on the $1000 mark in the Airbike sector and TITAN is taking it one step further by making it even cheaper.

Another bonus are the bigger wheels on the TITAN. This is a smart move on TITAN's behalf to differentiate the TITAN fan bike from the rest of the line up in fan bikes. These big wheels are great for the outdoors or a garage gym with very rough surfaces.

Cons of the TITAN fan bike

The cons of the TITAN fan bike are:

Computer unit
Chain drive
Build

The computer unit and arrangement of the buttons is not as convenient as with other vendors on the market. The computer of the Rogue Echo bike has different programs on speed dial beside the panel and the display is also bigger. The display is also a little removed from you so that your sweat won't drop as easily on it. If you lean forward on the TITAN fan bike on a strenuous session, your sweat will be all over the screen.

Chain drives are cheaper and easier to build but also make for a less smooth transition of force to the flywheel and make the machine more prone to malfunction. This is more of a consideration for very heavy users, as it takes some time to get a chain to break, but still, something to consider, especially in commercial settings.

Overall the TITAN fan bike is one of the air bikes that feels the flimsiest of the different products which are available in the market from bigger vendors. This is TITAN's style of cutting corners where they can to bring you the cheapest possible viable product for a given purpose. If you want to save money, you'll like it.

Alternatives to the TITAN Fan bike

Alternatives to the TITAN fan bike are:

Rogue Echo bike
NordicTrack VU 19
Schwinn Airdyne
Versaclimber

The Rogue Echo bike has been the disruptor in the market of air bikes. It was the first air bike of a reputable brand that undercut the $1000 mark while still being sturdy. This is the gold standard and if you want to be sure what you are getting, opt for the Echo bike. I own one myself and have put it to a lot of abuse. The only downside of this bike is that it does not have a screen for watching movies, but that is the same for the TITAN fan bike.

The Nordictrack VU 19 is one of the cheapest bikes in the collection of Nordictrack. This bike is more focused on long-distance cycling and comfort for the masses. You will get a small screen to watch movies or browse the internet. This is what would work for the entire family without intimidating anyone. The only disadvantage is that this bike is $1000 instead of considerably lower like the Rogue echo bike and TITAN fan bike.

The Schwinn Airdyne fan bike is the original market leader in the industry which has been dethroned by the Rogue Echo bike. If you want to buy from a company that has been around for a long time and focuses majorly on cardio machines then Schwinn is the right bet.

Versaclimber is the tool to get if you want to burn the most calories possible in the shortest amount of time on the smallest footprint. A workout on a Versaclimber is relentless and will get your pulse racing and sweat rolling. To top this of these machines also have a very small footprint and therefore save space in any home gym environment. The disadvantages are that you need a high ceiling and that the price is far beyond $1000. If you only want the best and be fast

Conclusion for the TITAN Fan bike

The TITAN fan bike is everything that TITAN stands for. They take a great product where another company took the lead. Then they try to get a share of that market by becoming the cost leader. This is reflected in the product, its finish, and the subtle little details like the sweat dripping directly on the electronics. The Fan bike will do its job and it will do it well. If you want to be proud of your equipment you might want to look somewhere else. But in the end, it is just fitness equipment.

Overview and review of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness GR3 Indoor cycle including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness bike to get?

For the most up to date information and asking direct questions you can follow me on Instagram.

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Overview of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle $499

The GR3 is the cheapest option to join the Horizon Fitness family. This is a no non-sense spinning bike that provides resistance via a flywheel and mechanical brake system. If you ever have attended a spinning class in your local gym, then this is exactly what you can expect with the GR3. The full specifications are:

Frame Type: Indoor Cycle

Adjustable Pedal straps: Yes

Pedal Type: Pedal Cage with toe strap

Seat Type: Road-Style Saddle

Seat adjustment: Horizontal, Vertical

Resistance System: Friction Brake

Resistance levels: Control knob

Heart Rate: Polar wireless Receiver

Extras: Transport Wheels, Water Bottle Holder

Max User Weight: 286

Weight: 97 lbs.

Assembled dimensions: 49 x 19 x46

Home Warranty Frame: 10 years

Home Warranty Parts: 1 year

Home Warranty Labor: 1 year

Pros of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle

The pros of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle are:

Compact
Price
Quality

This is a compact and light bike for indoor cycling if you want to keep it professional and not put the bike you already own on a stand. It is easy to move around and is not as bulky as other cardio options you might have for the home.

The price is great for professional home equipment or pragmatic commercial equipment. In a commercial setting, $500 is not a big loss on the books even if you have troubles with the warranty. In a home gym scenario you get a robust too you are unlikely to break. This is a very low price bar to step over to take your home training seriously.

This is a good quality bike compared to just getting the cheapest option of Amazon or eBay. Go ahead with this bike if you do not need any fancy digital dials and just want to go after it.

Cons of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle

The cons of the Horizon GR3 indoor cycle are:

Limited online functions
Not suitable for big athletes
Resistance setup

Compared to more modern bikes like the Peloton series, this bike has no fancy internet access and group functions to keep you motivated. So you have to bring that on your own and for a simple spinning bike, you might think it is overpriced. Still stripping things to essentials is often a good thing.

This bike operates at the lower end of the maximum weight of the user as the frame is rather small compared to other machines. If you weigh more than 100kg and go hard at your equipment you might want to choose something with a heavier frame. It will work, but it won’t be fun.

The resistance setup on this machine is completely mechanical which means it is more likely to break. Be prepared that if you use this hard that you will have to swap the flywheel and break at least once in its lifetime. These are not the most expensive items to replace and especially in a commercial setting you just can have a spare bike, but at home, you will have to wait with training until the repair is done.

Alternatives to the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle

Here are some alternatives to the GR3 indoor cycle:

The Horizon IC 7.9 indoor cycle follows a very similar design to the GR3. The big differences are the more convenient resistance lever, the sturdier frame, and the professional pedals with a clip-in mechanism. If you want a spinning bike that feels a little more like a professional racer or if you weigh more than 100kg, then the Horizon IC 7.9 is the better choice.

The Nordictrack VU19 is the entry-level bike from this brand. If you are looking for something a bit smoother and less wild, this is a good alternative. It also might be an option if stock is running low for Horizon Fitness and you need something fast.

The Rogue echo bike is a great alternative to the GR3 Indoor cycle if you want to step your game up a little. It has a sturdier frame and the resistance is regulated by the big fan and the air that circulates through, rather than a brake pedal. This makes it better for interval training and heavier athletes. For me, the Rogue echo bike is the best cardio machine you can get for a home gym in terms of value for money. The only downsides are that you will have to invest more than for the GR3 and that it is considerably heavier.

The TITAN fan bike is a copycat of the Rogue echo bike with bigger wheels for transport at a smaller price tag. It will do the job, but the overall design and finish are not as on point as with the Rogue echo bike. However, you will save some money that you can put against more equipment.

The concept 2 skierg is one of the most compact cardio machines you can find out there. If you have very limited space, but still do not want to take your cardio outside, the concept 2 skierg is a great option that is also ready ably priced.

Conclusion for the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle

I personally like a simple design that focuses on the essentials. That is why I own a Rogue echo bike as I weigh more than 100kg. If I would weigh 80kg, the GR3 would be a serious contender to make it into my garage gym.