Overview and review of the Nordictrack S50 1999

This is a review of the NordicTrack S50 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.

 

 

 

The S10i is the oldest bike from Nordictrack in the S line up and is currently only available for purchase in the UK. I would expect that after the available stocks are sold, this model will go end of life. The main features of the S10i are the 10 inch Touch screen, 20% incline, and the free dumbbells which come with the purchase. The full list of features includes:

 

• 10” Smart HD Touchscreen
• Free Ground Floor Installation Included
• Watts Power Readout
• Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
• Auxiliary Music Port
• Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers

• Ergonomic Padded Saddle
• AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
• Non-slip, Multi-position Handlebar
• Vertical & Horizontal Seat Adjustment

• Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
• -10% – 20% Incline
• SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
• OneTouch® Controls
• Enhanced Corrosion Resistance
• Large Diameter Adjustable Leveling Feet
• 22 Digital Resistance Levels
• 150 kg User Capacity
• Commercial Grade Steel Construction

• Dual Water Bottle Holders
• Two 3 Lb. Dumbbells Included
• Compatible with Standard Road Bike Pedals & Seat
• Front-mounted Transport Wheels
• Assembled Dimensions - 140 L x 56 W x 141 H cm
• Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

If you want a bike from Nordictrack with a 20% incline, this is the best value for money you can get as long as you do not mind the smaller screen compared to the rest of the S line. 

 

 

The pros of the S10i are:

 

 

The biggest pro of the S10i is the amount of money you spent on the incline. Currently,  this is the cheapest option in the Nordictrack bike line up to get your hands on a 20% incline. The trade-off is a 10inch touch screen which is the smallest compared to the S line models. 

 

For this price range, it is also good to get a touch screen instead of a backlit or LED screen. Other models in the same price range might not provide a touch screen as the S10i used to be the flagship bike when Nordictrack made the swing from Backlit to touch screen displays. 

 

 

The cons of the S10i are

 

As with the entire S line, the S10i also only has an aux rather than Bluetooth compatibility. This is an oversight of Nordictrack as they did modernize the screens, but did not upgrade the frames for the S series. If engineering had looked for Touch screens with inbuilt Bluetooth they would not have the problem of offering 1000 - 2000 bikes which you can not hook up to your Bluetooth earphones. 

 

If you care about screen real estate than this bike is the worst option in the S line. I also think this is the wrong way of looking at this bike. If you buy it, buy it for the incline, not for the screen. If a big screen is your main concern and you want to save money you can go for the Grand Tour Pro in the US and save some money while still getting a 10inch. 

 

Another downside is that S10i is the oldest model in the S line of bikes from Nordictrack. You can not buy it in the US anymore while it is still available in the UK. If you do not mind fixing things yourself or you are not a heavy user this is no problem. But if you are a gym owner who wants to buy ten of these and use them for 5 years, then you might want to opt for a newer model. 

 

 

Alternatives to the S10i bike are

 

 

The S40 treadmill is part of the older range of treadmills which is still available in the UK. If you want a treadmill which is cheaper now, as it got a bit out of date but was one of the best in its heyday, this is the one to get. 

 

The T7.5 treadmill is currently the best-balanced treadmill of Nordictrack in the lower price range around 1500.  It is also still being sold in the US which makes it a safer investment than the S40 for commercial use. 

 

The 12.9i elliptical from Nordictrack would be a price neutral option if you want to accommodate for more fitness levels in your house. It is usually easier to strike a balance for all users with an elliptical than with a bike. This assumes that you can fit an elliptical in the dedicated space, as they are considerably bigger than the bikes. 

 

The concept 2 model D rower is always a good alternative to safe money when you buy in bulk or can hang it on the wall in a home gym. With the concept 2 model D you can push the cost for your cardio machine under 1000 and own a proven industry standard. Most people think of the concept 2 model D when they think of a rowing machine. Unless they watched too much house of cards. 

 

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for home gym use. This machine is as solid as a tank and has been stripped to the bare necessities to make you sweat. Based on this it comes in at a very competitive price point of around 700. If you are a no-nonsense weekend warrior you can get the Rogue Echo bike and some heavy kettlebells for the price of one S10i bike and get cracking.

 

 

The S10i bike is a great option for someone who does not mind the exercises provided via Ifit too much and already has a screen in their gym. If you are looking for a 20% incline bike of high quality without a lot of entertainment attached to it, this is the machine for you. 10inch used to be the best of the best, but in a time of 32-inch screens latched onto cardio machines the S10i just fell behind.