TITAN fan bike vs Nordictrack VR25
This is a comparison between the TITAN fan bike and the Nordictrack VR25 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 VR25 999 / 1499 (UK/US)
This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VR25.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.
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The
VR25 is part of the recumbent bike series of Nordictrack. In this product line, it is the flagship of Nordictrack. The main features are an 11kg flywheel, a meshed seat, and a 7-inch touch screen. The full feature list covers:
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7" Full Colour Capacitive Touch Display
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iFit Integrated- 1 Years Family Membership Included
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Smart BlueTooth (BLE) Chestbelt Compatible
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iPod Compatible Bluetooth Audio (2 - 2" Speaker)
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Oversized Lumbar Supported Cushion Sea
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Easy Glide Seat Adjustment
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Extra Wide Ergonomic Foot Pedals
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AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
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Front-mounted Transport Wheels
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Water Bottle Holder
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Pivoting Integrated Tablet Holder
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Assembled Dimensions - 94L x 63W cm x 156H cm
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Product Weight 47kg
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Boxed Weight 52kg
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Boxed Dimensions - 109L x 37W x 65H cm
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Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
This is a great choice when you want to be able to burn calories while not being too hard on your joints or work while you are exercising by reading your emails. It might not burn the most calories per minute, but the trade-off is that you can also do some other things while exercising or be easy on yourself after a long day while still burning off some calories.
Pros of the Nordictrack VR25
Pros of the
VR25 include:
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Big flywheel
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Meshed seat
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Ipad holder
The 11kg flywheel will last you for a long time and take care of a smooth ride. The bigger the flywheel the smoother the ride and the longer it will last. This is the recumbent bike with the biggest flywheel in the NordicTrack line up.
The meshed seat will make it easier for you to keep the sweat at bay. Other recumbent bikes have solid plastic seats which can become rather disgusting during use. Especially in a professional set up with a lot of turnover a day, a meshed might be good piece of equipment to get with your recumbent bike.
The last benefit you get is a little holder for tablets of most sizes. This way you can stay up to date or just follow your favorite programs and music on your own gadget rather than going through the browser of the
VR25.
Cons of the Nordictrack Vr 25
The cons of the
VR 25 are:
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Low-calorie burn
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Space requirements
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Ifit subscription
Recumbent bikes have one of the lowest-calorie burns per minute when it comes to exercise equipment. Why invest a good bit of money into a recumbent while a stiff walk almost has the same effect? Still, that is up to you based on your preferences, possibilities to exercise outside, and who your clientele is.
Compared to traditional bikes a recumbent bike will take up more space. Take this into consideration when you are making your measurements. A bonus compared to ellipticals is that a recumbent bike can tolerate a lower ceiling than an elliptical.
The Ifit subscription might not be for everyone. After the free version is used up you will have to pay 10 - 30 bucks a month to get access to the Ifit subscription for the newest content. You will still be able to have access to a free library, but the latest and greatest content will only be available under the subscription.
Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR25
The
Nordictrack VR21 is the small sister of the
VR25. It has a smaller flywheel and no touch screen display. In return for giving these features up you save 250 pounds or 500 USD. This can be an option for the budget-conscious who are interested in obtaining a recumbent bike.
The
Nordictrack C700 treadmill is a great option for joggers and walkers who want to exercise at home rather than outside. If you prefer running over sitting on a recumbent bike, the
C700 might be the better option for you. If you are a serious runner who takes his/her treadmill through a lot of abuse, look a little more upmarket than the
C700.
The
NordicTrack SE5i elliptical is an option for a full-body workout while still being easier on your joints than a treadmill. The
SE5i can be a good compromise for the entire family if some want to get a bit harder on their workouts than a recumbent bike will allow. Just make sure that your ceiling is high enough as a dingy garage might be better off with a recumbent bike in it to save you from unnecessary headaches.
The
Concept 2 model D is the industry standard for indoor rowing machines. You will save some money compared to the
VR25 and still be easy on your joints. Another bonus is that you can hang a rower on the wall after use. The downside is that most
concept 2 rowers don't come with a lot of media options.
My personal favorite for a home gym is the uncompromising
Rogue echo bike. Rogue maximized stability and metal engineering on this machine while minimizing the entertainment factor and produced a true workhorse. If you are into burning as many calories as possible per minute without breaking the bank or giving up too much space in your home, this is for you. The
Echo bike is not for you if you want to be entertained and have it cozy while you burn some calories.
Summary for the VR25
The
Nordictrack VR25 is a great recumbent bike for professional use in a commercial facility to address people who do not want to go all out on their cardio workout or warmup. The bigger flywheel is especially interesting when the machine is heavily used. Home gym owners might want to save a little money by going for the
VR21 instead as they will still get an industry-grade machine for 250 pounds or $500 less. The same goes for commercial facilities that need to buy many recumbent bike units.
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.