Horizon fitness Comfort R bike vs Nordictrack S40 treadmill

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness comfort R recumbent bike and the Nordictrack S40 treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. 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 and review of the NordicTrack S40 1599

This is a review of the NordicTrack S40 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in “which NordicTrack treadmill or elliptical to get in the UK”. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the Nordictrack S40

The main features of the Nordictrack S40 are its 3.0 CHP motor, the 12% incline, and the one-touch controls. Unfortunately, the S series is one of the older product ranges of the Nordictrack line up and you might want to look into the C1650 or T7.5 as an alternative. Still, you might make a good grab on the used treadmill market for this model. The full list of features includes:

Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
iFit Integrated
Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers

3.0 CHP Motor
0% - 12% Digital Incline
0 – 22 km/h Speed
Onetouch™ Controls
1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
125kg Max User Weight
EKG Handgrips

FlexSelect™ Cushioning
51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
This Machine Does Not Feature a Workout Fan

SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
Assembled Dimensions - 200L x 90W x 145H cm
Product Weight 84kg
Boxed Weight 105kg
Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 212L x 81W x 28H cm
Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

Have a good look at the market what you can get, but this treadmill might not be an ideal choice for buying something new.

Pros of the Nordictrack S40

the pros of the Nordictrack S40 are:

3.0 CHP motor
One-touch controls

The 3.0 CHP motor makes this a long-lasting treadmill for someone who runs a lot. Especially used this might be a good steal. The one-touch adjustments for speed are also a great feature of Nordictrack treadmills which make them more user friendly as you only need to push one button to get to the right space.

Cons of the Nordictrack S40

Cons of the S40 are:

Price
Age

For the age of this product line, you still pay a pretty high price. This is good for Nordictrack to empty their inventory of old models, but not necessarily for your purse. If you buy new you may want to get for the newer models in the X line or the T line which have followed the C line of Nordictrack models.

Alternatives for the Nordictrack S40

Good alternatives for the S40 are:

The Nordictrack T7,5 is, in my opinion, a better alternative to the S40 unless you manage to get a discount on the S40. The T7.5 is the more modern machine and has almost the same specifications. They also punch in the same budget weight class. So stick with the T7.5 instead of the S40 in the Nordictrack portfolio.

The FS5i is a good alternative for an elliptical for a home gym or commercial gym. It costs roughly the same as the S40 and comes with Free Stride technology. The FreeStride technology puts the flywheel in the middle of the machine. This enables a longer stride and you can also use the elliptical as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper in one. This freedom comes at the price of a more error-prone design and more challenging movement patterns.

If you want to save some money and like rowing, you can go for the Concept 2 Model D rower. This is the flagship model from Concept 2 who has been around for years in the rowing place. You will be hard-pressed to find a major commercial gym without one of these on the floor. They come in under 1000 and might be a get alternative to consider. The only challenge is that they take up as much space as a treadmill, but are easier to move.

The Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite for home gyms as it is compact, sturdy, and burns a lot of calories per minute if used right. This machine can be gotten at the 700 mark and will last for a lifetime. The big disadvantage is that the Echo bike has no onboard entertainment whatsoever. If you need a video or machine to motivate you to get your training in, this is not the one for you. This is a great tool for intrinsically motivated people who want to save money and space.

Summary for the Nordictrack S40

As with the entire S series you might want to opt for something else which is a little more modern and therefore will get more support from the vendor Nordictrack. Always check the US website and compare the portfolio with the Uk website to avoid that you are buying something with is being discontinued. At the time of writing the S series is not available in the US anymore where Nordictrack headquarters is situated.

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness Comfort R bike

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness Comfort R bike 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.

Which Horizon fitness treadmill to get?
Which Horizon fitness bike to get?
Which Horizon fitness elliptical to get?

Which Nordictrack treadmill to get?
Which Nordictrack elliptical to get?
Which Nordictrack bike to get?

Which Cardio Equipment to get from TITAN?
Which conditioning equipment to get from Rogue Fitness?

Overview of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike $779

The comfort R recumbent bike is the one seated bikes from the Horizon line up. This is a good pick if you definitely need lumbar support when working out because you have a problem standing up for prolonged times. The full specifications of this bike are:

Frame Type: Step-Thru Recumbent

Pedal Type: Self Balancing pedals

Seat Type: Extra Large comfort seat with lumbar support

Seat Adjustment: Horizontal

Lumbar Support: Yes

Resistance System: ECB Magnetic Brake

Flywheel weight: 15.4 lbs / 7kg

Extras: Built-in speakers, Energy saver mode, Reading rack, Water bottle holder

Max user weight: 350

Weight: 99lbs

Assembled dimensions: 47 x 22 x 53

Home Warranty - Frame: Lifetime

Home Warranty - Parts: 1 year

Home Warranty - Labor: 1 year

Pros of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The pros of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike are:

Sit while you exercise
Sturdy frame
Good warranty

You can sit while you exercise on this bike with your back being supported. While mainly irrelevant when you do not need it it is a blessing when you are injured or just not able to exercise while standing. If you have a clinic or you had a severe injury to your back, hip, or leg, this might be the right machine for recovery. Sometimes it can also be nice just to be a little lazy and watch the television while keeping active.

HOrizon also offers good warranty options compared to their competitors and especially compared to anything you would buy from a no-name reseller on Amazon.

Cons of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The cons of the Horizon comfort R recumbent bike are:

Bulky
Does not burn a lot of calories

This is a very big machine with very little impact. Recumbent bikes mainly cater to convenience while exercising rather than going hard after it. If you are a healthy athlete, especially creating a home gym, this is not really a great option unless you have your elderly parents living with you in the house. Commercial buyers might get two to four of these for beginners who need to lose weight, rehab clients or to cater to a broader audience.

Alternatives to the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The Horizon comfort U bike is an upright bike that creates a comfortable ride for the user. If you are still able to cycle without lumbar support but do not want to go too crazy then this is the right bike for you. This bike will take up less space in your home while addressing a smooth ride for you.

The Nordictrack VU19 is the entry-level bike from Nordictrack which would form a good comparison model to the Comfort U from Horizon. If Horizon fitness is low on stock or you want to compare similar competitors, give the VU19 a look in your research.

The concept 2 skierg can also be used for moderate exercise while standing. The biggest plus of this machine is that it does not have a big footprint. You can easily fit it against a wall or into a corner in your home. The noise out if this machine is also very low compared to treadmills.

The Nordictrack VR25 is the direct comparison to the Horizon recumbent bike is it provides lumbar support during the ride. If you want to compare apples and apples, but this also on your research list before making a decision to buy.

Conclusion for the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The Horizon R recumbent bike is a solid option for commercial buyers who want to extend their fleet to accommodate a broader audience. This machine will enable to also address rehab or overweight scenarios better than upright bikes. For most home gym users I personally think it is not a great option as it is bike and hard to store. In those scenarios, you might be better off with a walking treadmill that can be stored under the bed or a total gym.