TITAN fan bike vs Nordictrack S10i
This is a comparison between the TITAN fan bike and the Nordictrack S10i 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 S10i 1699 (UK)
This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack S10i.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.
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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:
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10” Smart HD Touchscreen
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Free Ground Floor Installation Included
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Watts Power Readout
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Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
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Auxiliary Music Port
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Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
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Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
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-10% – 20% Incline
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SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
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OneTouch® Controls
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Enhanced Corrosion Resistance
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Large Diameter Adjustable Leveling Feet
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22 Digital Resistance Levels
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150 kg User Capacity
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Commercial Grade Steel Construction
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Dual Water Bottle Holders
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Two 3 Lb. Dumbbells Included
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Compatible with Standard Road Bike Pedals & Seat
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Front-mounted Transport Wheels
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Assembled Dimensions - 140 L x 56 W x 141 H cm
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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.
Pros of the Nordictrack S10i
The pros of the
S10i are:
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Money to incline ratio
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Touch screen
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.
Cons of the S10i
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
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.
Summary for the Nordictrack S10i
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.
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.