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Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike vs Nordictrack Elite 10.9i elliptical

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Apr 17, 2021 9:00:00 AM

Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike vs Nordictrack Elite 10.9i elliptical

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9 cycle and the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i $1299

This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons, and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".
 

Overview of the Elite 10.9i

 
The elite 10.9i is the low-cost front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are a 20-pound flywheel, 20% incline, and a 7-inch touchscreen. The full list of features includes: 
 
  • 7” Smart HD Touchscreen
  • 1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
  • Auxiliary Audio Port
  • Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Sensors
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Soft Touch Upper Body Grips
  • Front Drive
  • 20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
  • SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
  • 19” Power-Adjustable Stride
  • 24 Digital Resistance Levels
  • 0-20% Incline
  • One Touch® Controls
  • Integrated Pivoting Tablet Holder
  • Commercial Solid Steel Construction
  • Oversized Levelers
  • 350 Lb. User Capacity
  • Oversized Cushion Pedals
  • Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • 69.5" L x 25" W x 71.5" H Footprint
  • 10-Year Frame Warranty
  • 2-Year Parts Warranty
  • 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is the elliptical to get if you want to maximize your savings while still buying an elliptical from Nordictrack.
 

Pros of the 10.9i 

 
The pros of the 10.9 elliptical are:
 
  • Price
  • 7-inch touch screen
The 10.9 elliptical can not be beaten on price in the NordicTrack line-up and still dons a 7-inch touch screen. If you are considering this model the main criteria for purchase will be price, as otherwise, you are possibly looking at other options from Nordictrack.
 

Cons of the 10.9 elliptical

 
The cons of the 10.9 elliptical are:
 
  • Front-drive 20-pound flywheel
  • Size 
  • Price
If you are a commercial buyer you probably want to look at the 12.9i instead. It is only a small uptick in price but you get a 30 pound instead of a 20-pound flywheel. As commercial buyers should assume heavier usage and more breakage this minimal uptick in price is a good tradeoff for fewer maintenance cases. I am also quite sure that if you buy 10 plus machines in one go you will get the 12.9i for the price of a 10.9i per piece anyway if you ask for it. 
 
A front-drive elliptical is a big machine. Take this into consideration, especially when you are buying for a home gym. More than $1000 for one machine is still a considerable investment in the private realm. If you are already budget-conscious you might as well get a stationary bike for a lower footprint and price to meet your endurance goals.
 

Alternatives to the 10.9 

 
Alternatives to the 10.9 elliptical are:
 
The 12.9i front-drive elliptical is the better option for commercial buyers as it is better value for money. It will not impress any of your clients, but also not look cheap or break the bank. If you want to impress go for the 14.9i instead which has a massive screen included. 
 
The Nordictrack SE7i is a rear-drive elliptical and can be an alternative for home gym owners who still want a high quality elliptical and save some space. The SE7i comes in at the same price as the 10.9i but has the advantage that the rear-drive design makes it foldable. This way it can be folded up and stored against a wall when it is not used. This is not relevant for most commercial gym scenarios, but definitely in smaller home gym environments.
 
The concept 2 rower is a good option for anyone who likes a bit more intensity but does not want to stand while exercising. These rowers can also be conveniently stored on a wall hanger to save space when not in use. The main models are the Model E and Model D. Go for the Model E when you are either big and strong (reads NFL player sized) are have problems with going very low. The Model D version is the standard concept 2 model.
 
The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite when it comes to bang for your buck. It has a high-quality machine that can be used professionally and only costs $700. It is space-efficient and intense.  If you are a home gym owner who means business and does not need any fancy stuff, this is the machine to get. 
 

Summary for the 10.9i

 
The 10.9i is a good option for anyone who loves the idea of an elliptical at home for occasional exercise and has space. For my personal tastes I think you can be more consequent in your thinking for a home gym and push the cost under $1000, but I do not have any medical conditions preventing me from doing that. I am also not a huge fan of ellipticals as I have run three marathons and want a bigger challenge. But that is just for context, I might think very differently in 10 - 20 years time or if I consider everyone in the family for a home gym.

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness bike to get?

 

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Overview of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle $699

 
The Horizon IC 7.9 bike is an indoor cycle that follows a classic spinning bike design. It is belt-driven and uses mechanical resistance to simulate a bike ride from the road as best as possible while being in the comfort of your home. The full specifications list runs as following:
 
Frame Type: Indoor Cycle
Adjustable Pedal straps: Yes
Pedal Type: Dual-sided Pedals with Toe cages/clips
Seat Type: Racing style road saddle
Seat adjustment: Horizontal, Vertical
Resistance System: Magnetic
Resistance levels: Resistance lever 0 -100%
Flywheel weight: 35lbs
Extras: Tablet rack, Transport Wheels, Water Bottle Holder
Max User Weight: 300
Weight: 123 lbs.
Assembled dimensions: 53x 24 x48
Home Warranty Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty Parts: 1 year
Home Warranty Labor: 1 year
 
This is a solid option for someone who likes spinning classes and riding hard outdoors but does not want to bring their road bike in a home stance for convenience reasons.
 

Pros of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle

 
The pros of the IC 7.9 indoor cycle are:
 
  • Reinforced frame
  • Mechanical belt
  • Smooth resistance adjustments
 
The frame of this bike is sturdier than if other bike options you can get from Horizon fitness. This seems that bigger athletes can exercise harder on this bike compared to the GR3.
 
A lot of bikes work with magnetic resistance in today’s high technology environment. This bike still works with a belt and a mechanical brake. While this means higher maintenance it also translates to an experience that is closer to biking on the street. Depending on what you are looking for this might be an advantage for you.
 
With the dial to adjust the resistance at the wheel, it is easier to adjust resistance compared to the GR3 indoor cycle. Think of the IC 7.9 as a high-quality spinning bike for commercial use, while the GR3 is more aimed at home users.
 

Cons of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle

 
The cons of the Horizon IC7.9 are:
 
  • Lack of programs
  • Price
 
The included computer of the IC 7.9 is basic and only provides revolutions, distance traveled and other information about how far and fast you are traveling. As it is very similar to a spinning bike you need to set it up near a television or find someplace else for your tablet or phone to rest on. This is not going with the times where peloton and echelon have entire entertainment systems onboard.
 
The price is rather high for something that is essentially not a lot more than a bike on a stance. If you already have a high-end cycle at home you might as well get an indoor stance for it which is cheaper and gets you the real deal at home.
 

Alternatives to the Horizon IC7.9

Alternatives  to the Horizon IC 7.9 are:

 
 
The horizon GR3 is the little brother of the IC 7.9. It has the same basic functions but all the parts are a little less sturdy than with the IC 7.9 which makes the bike cheaper overall. If you are a light home user this bike is the better value for money for you. Commercial buyers should stick with the IC 7.9 instead.
 
The Nordictrack VU19 is the entry-level stationary bike from Nordictrack. It is more aimed at the leisure cyclist and for commercial use. It is bigger and sturdier than the IC 7.9 and the flywheel is under, rather in front of the user. Therefore the target group is a little different but if you are a commercial buyer comparing the Horizon and Nordictrack fleets have a look at the VU19.
 
The Rogue echo bike is in my opinion the best value for money cardio machine in the sub $1000 category. This is the case if you want a sturdy machine with a basic machine that you can go hard at. If you want a smooth ride and sit comfortably other machines might be better. A lower-budget copy cat of the Rogue echo bike is the TITAN fan bike.
 
If you want a low-impact cardio kick on a small footprint the concept 2 skierg might be for you. It takes up minimal space compared to other machines and is also fairly silent. The only downside is that it is not a bike or full-body workout and mainly targets the upper body.
 

Conclusion for the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle

 
If you are looking for a spinning bike this is the best you can get from Horizon fitness. Especially if you want to stay under $1000 and still get something solid the Ic 7.9 is a very good option. There are cheaper bikes on Amazon, but they might have some quality issues. There are other bikes with more multimedia and gamification options, but those will break the $1000 budget wall.

Topics: Cardio, Horizon, BIke