TITAN fan bike vs Nordictrack VR21

This is a comparison between the TITAN fan bike and the Nordictrack VR21 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which conditioning equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack VR21 749 / 999 (UK/US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VR21.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

The Nordictrack VR21 is the little brother of the VR25 in the Nordictrack recumbent bike line up. Its main features are a 5-inch backlit display, 9kg flywheel, and 125kg maximum capacity. The full list of features reads as followed:

5" Backlit Display
iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
Smart BlueTooth (BLE) Chestbelt Compatible
Dual 2-Inch Speakers

Recumbent Frame
Step Thru™ Design
9kg Flywheel
25 Digital Resistance Levels
Onetouch™ Controls
EKG Handgrips
125kg Max User Weight

Lumbar Supported Cushioned Seat
Horizontal Seat Adjustment
Extra-wide Ergonomic Pedals with Adjustable Straps
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan

Front-mounted Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
Integrated Tablet Holder
32 Workouts Apps
Assembled Dimensions - 155L x 59W cm x 132H cm
Product Weight 48kg
Boxed Weight 57kg
Boxed Dimensions - 153L x 65W x 39H cm
Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

The VR21 is the better option for home gym buyers who want to save some money as the 9kg flywheel is more than enough. Commercial buyers might consider this option when they want to buy 5 - 10 units instead of the VR21. Otherwise the VR25 might be the better option.

Pros of the NordicTrack VR21

The pros of the VR21 are:

Price
Meshed seat
Comfortable position

The VR21 is the cheapest recumbent bike that you can get from Nordictrack. If you want one and like the NordicTrack brand, this is the one to go for. Especially if you are a home gym buyer. Commercial buyers might consider this model when they buy in bulk. If you only want to have one or two on the floor, invest in the VR25 and the bigger flywheel as they will clock more miles per unit as a fleet of ten VR21 on the floor.

The meshed seat is a good little design feature to prevent sweating like mad. Other models have hard plastic full seats which can become sticky and unpleasant.

If you only want to moderately exercise and still use the time to go through emails or place some calls, a recumbent bike can be a very good option. They also have the advantage over ellipticals that they are closer to the floor and therefore do not need high ceilings.

Cons of the VR21

The cons of the VR21 are:

9kg flywheel
Space requirements
Low-calorie burn
No touch screen

The 9kg flywheel puts the VR21 at a disadvantage to the VR25 model which has an 11kg flywheel. For home users this will not be as relevant as for commercial users. The trade-off is that you pay less money.

Compared to a traditional bike a recumbent bike takes more space and burns fewer calories per minute. If you want to optimize your floor space for the maximum amount of people burning the maximum amount of calories this is not the model to go for. Keep your clients and space requirements in mind, especially when shopping for recumbent bikes.

Compared to the VR25 the VR21 has no touch screen. If you want to get the full benefit of an easy workout while doing your work or surfing on the internet, the touch screen option will go along way for convenience.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR21

Aöternatives to the Nordictrack VR21 are:

The Nordictrack VR25 is the big brother of the VR21. Personally I think that this is a better option for commercial buyers who only want one or two recumbent bikes on their floor. Otherwise, homebuyers can save some money by getting the VR21. The worse media options can be compensated by just using your own devices on an easy ride.

The NordicTrack C700 is the treadmill alternative from Nordictrack in the same budget range as the VR21. The C700 is a good option for walkers and joggers to get some miles in. If you intend to get your calorie burn in while standing, this might be the better option than the VR21. The C700 is not suited for runners who will take their treadmill through a lot of abuse in speed or distance.

The NordicTrack SE3i elliptical is the cheapest elliptical in the Nordictrack line up. This can be a good compromise for all your clients or the entire family when you think that a recumbent bike does not have enough oomph. Just make sure that you have enough clearance to the ceiling as an elliptical will put you in a higher position than a recumbent bike and is harder to get on and off.

The concept 2 model D is the industry standard for indoor rowing. If you want to row and turn your cardio into a full-body workout, this might be better option than the VR21. A rower can also be hung on the wall after your workout to save some space. The only downside is that the calorie burn per minute is also relatively low compared to treadmills and upright bikes.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for indoor gyms. This is a straight forward machine to make you sweat. No extra bells and whistles, just pure focus on high-intensity interval training. For some this bike might be intimidating, but I love it and it is also reasonably priced. Still, i would not place this one in an old folk's home or rehab center. The VR21 might be a better option in those scenarios.

Summary for the Nordictrack VR21

The Nordictrack VR21 is a good budget option for a recumbent bike from Nordictrack. If you want to relax and still burn some calories, this is the right machine for home use.

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.

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.