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Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike vs Nordictrack SE9i elliptical

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Apr 18, 2021 4:00:00 PM

Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike vs Nordictrack SE9i elliptical

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9 cycle and the Nordictrack SE9i elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Nordictrack SE9i $1799

This is a review of the Nordictrack SE9i 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".

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Overview of the SE9i elliptical

 
The SE9i elliptical is the flagship rear-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are a 7-inch touch screen, 18-flywheel, and 10% incline. The full list of features includes: 
 
  • 7” Smart HD Touchscreen
  • Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
  • Integrated Tablet Holder
  • 0 - 10° Power Adjustable Incline
  • Auxiliary Music Port
  • Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
  • Integrated, QuickTouch™ Handle Controls
  • Adjustable, Oversized Cushion Pedals
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
  • Rear Drive
  • 18 Lb. Effective Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
  • SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
  • 24 Digital Resistance Levels
  • 10% Power Adjustable Incline
  • One Touch® Controls
  • Commercial Solid Steel Construction
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
  • iFit Bluetooth® Smart Chest Strap Included
  • 325 Lb. User Weight Capacity
  • 30 Preset Workout Apps
  • Integrated Handle Controls for Ramp and Resistance
  • Out-of-the-Box Easy Assembly
  • Rear-mounted Transport Wheels
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • Vertical SpaceSaver® Design
  • 78.7" L x 31.9" W x 66.4" H Footprint
  • 10-Year Frame Warranty
  • 2-Year Parts Warranty
  • 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is the fancy version of the two rear-drive Nordictrack ellipticals with a touch screen. If you do not need a touch screen you can go for the SE7i instead.
 

Pros of the SE9i

 
The pros of the SE9i are:
 
  • Price 
  • Touch screen
 
Compared to the rest of the Nordictrack portfolio the SE9i is relatively cheap, even though it is the most expensive rear-drive elliptical in stock.  Compared to the lower cost SE7i it has the advantage of the 7-inch touch screen.
 

Cons of the SE9i elliptical

 
The cons of the Se9i elliptical are:
 
  • 18-pound flywheel
  • Size
  • Price
For buying something rather low tier from a vendor the price is still pretty high. If you want to save money, go all the way and get a machine that has been stripped of most things and focuses on the essentials. Otherwise, go for a different vendor or fitness machine where you can acquire the top tier products for $2000. 
 

Alternatives to the Se9i elliptical

 
The alternatives to the SE9i elliptical are:
 
 
The Nordictrack SE7i saves you an additional $600 by cutting out the touch screen in exchange for a backlit display. This will help you to save further money.
 
The concept 2 rower is a great alternative for someone who wants to go hard but has problems standing for along time. You have two different models you can choose from, the Model E and model D. 
 
The Rogue echo bike at $700 is, in my opinion, one of the strongest contestants for the best home gym workout machine. It is compact, affordable and packs a punch.
 

Summary for the SE9i elliptical

 
All in all, the Se9i is a rear-drive elliptical with a touch screen that has seen its best days. Newer designs have taken over and offer better value for money from Nordictrack. The only thing which would tempt me to go for a rear-drive is the folding option and if I was 20 years older.
 

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.
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