TITAN fan bike vs Nordictrack GX 4.4
This is a comparison between the TITAN fan bike and the Nordictrack GX 4.4 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 GX 4.4 Pro 649 / 799 (UK / US)
This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack GX 4.4.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.
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The
NordicTrack GX 4.4 is the little brother of the
GX 4.6 which has been stripped of the touchscreen and heart rate monitor. The GX line is only available in the UK and has been replaced with the "
Grand Tour" line in the US undergoing a rebranding. The main features of the
GX 4.4 are its 5-inch Backlit Display, 9kg flywheel, and 125kg max capacity. The full list of features includes:
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Water Bottle Holder
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Product Weight 48kg
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Box Weight 57kg
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Front-mounted Transport Wheels
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30 Workouts Apps
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Assembled Dimensions - 105L x 59W x 161H cm
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Boxed Dimensions - 108L x 65W x 39H cm
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Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
This bike shaves off 350 pounds compared to its bigger brother, the
GX 4.6. This is achieved by swapping the 7-inch touch screen for a 5-inch backlit screen, getting a smaller flywheel, and not shipping a heart rate monitor with the machine. This is the middle of the G series from Nordictrack available in the UK. You are compromising on features and on price.
Pros of the Nordictrack GX 4.4
The
GX 4.4 is the middle of the lower price range of bikes that are available from Nordictrack in the UK. With this, it is the ideal model for someone who does not want to make a decision between saving money and having a lot of features while not spending more than 1000. If this is how you buy, this is the bike for you.
The
GX 4.4 focuses on the essentials and delivers a display for entertainment and a solid bike to crunch some miles. No-fuss made and still not too cheap to make you worry about the quality of the product.
Compared to the cheapest bike in the UK Nordictrack line up, the
GX 4.7, the
GX 4.4 has a bigger flywheel and therefore will last longer. Whether that warrants 200 pounds more at the time of writing is a different matter.
Cons of the Nordictrack GX 4.4
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Too many compromises
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No touchscreen
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Old Nordictrack model
The biggest point for me about the
GX 4.4 is that it makes too many compromises for my tastes. If you are looking into the G series or
Grand tour line up of Nordictrack you have decided to spend around 1000 for your home gym cardio equipment. With this you have already ruled out premium features like big inclines or screens. With the
GX 4.4 you even further compromise on the lower end and neither save a lot of money or have a great experience. Not all brains are as black and white like mine but either go for the
GX 4.6, if you want the ease of use and a great experience for around 1000 or go with the
GX 4.7 and maximize your savings to spend on other equipment or a weekend away.
While you are still spending around 700 pounds on the
GX 4.4 you neither get a timely screen or a very solid bike. Again the
4.4 is over-compromised. Either get a bike you can abuse the heck out of and has not a lot of entertainment or get a bike that entertains but can not take that much of a beating. This all depends on your user profile and what is important to you personally.
The last point about the
GX 4.4 is that it is part of a family of products that is very likely to go end of life and continued under the "
Grand Tour" line of product of Nordictrack. The GX bikes are available for purchase in the UK but no in the US. As the Nordictrack headquarters is in the US you can make some predictions about the distribution of models that will first be available in the US and then stretch to other parts of the globe like Europe.
Alternatives to the Nordictrack GX 4.4
Alternatives to the Nordictrack
GX 4.4 are:
The
GX 4.6 is the big brother of the
GX 4.4. In my opinion, this is the best value for money bike from Nordictrack you can get in the 1000 budget bracket. The main differences to the
GX 4.4 are that the heart rate monitor is included and, a bigger flywheel and a touch screen. As the price is currently 300 pounds higher than for the
GX 4.4 you get a better screen, flywheel, and heart rate monitor for 100 pounds each. I think that is a good deal and will leave you with a more complete experience to maximize the entertainment and training options. If I buy a Nordictrack bike for under 1000 I would always go for the
GX 4.6 over the
GX 4.4 as I don't like to buy twice or disappointments.
The
GX 4.7 is the better option for penny pinchers. I personally hate penny-pinching as it usually annoys me to look long for things and do not enjoy the process of hunting for bargains. But, if you love this and want to save every possible penny you can save, then the
GX 4.7 is the better option than the
GX 4.4. For saving around 200 pounds you get a smaller flywheel and squeezed everything from the G line while still getting a functioning bike.
The
SE3i elliptical is the smallest rear-drive elliptical you can get from Nordictrack. This places it in the same budget bracket as the
GX 4.4. Ellipticals are usually a better option when you want to accommodate the entire family rather than just the cycle enthusiast. Remember that your gym will take up community space in the home and you might want to compromise a little. In a commercial setting, an elliptical can tend to more clients than just people who are interested in biking. Beware of low ceilings with ellipticals.
The
C700 is the smallest treadmill in the Nordictrack line up. This is a great treadmill for anyone who wants to walk indoors and who does not want to spend too much. If you run a retirement home and want to get people to walk more without having them out and about, this can be a good option. Maybe all the families chip in to get two of those. If you are a serious runner who puts more than 1oo miles a week on their machine, stay way clear from the
C700.
The
concept 2 model D rower is a good alternative if you want to take more care of your upper body when you do your cardio
. Concept 2 is the worldwide industry gold standard on rowers and
model D is their best seller. A great option for rowers over bikes is that you can hang them on the wall to save space. This usually does not work that well with bikes. Commercial buyers will appreciate that package deals for buying rowers in bulk from
Concept 2 are easier to obtain than for Nordictrack products.
My personal favorite for home gym deployment is the
Rogue Echo bike. The design focuses on a sturdy frame, cutting out all amenities except a saddle and pedals. This machine is not designed to entertain but make you sweat. For about 700 you get a machine that can take abuse and will last for a lifetime. The downside is that it will not keep you engaged that much. You will have to want to grind for this model.
Summary for the Nordictrack GX 4.4
The
GX 4.4 is one of these products that emerge when the vendor wants to combine a middle option on all features. The flywheel is ok, but not great. The Screen is ok, but not great. Combined with being in the lowest budget bracket that usually does not create a great product. I get the thought process, but if you are already penny-pinching, go all the way to the floor or try to get the most value for each penny you spent. The
GX 4.4 does neither of these.
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.
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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
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
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Computer unit
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Chain drive
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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
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NordicTrack VU 19
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Schwinn Airdyne
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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.