TITAN fan bike vs Versaclimber SM

This is a comparison between the TITAN fan bike and VersaClimber SM including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the VersaClimber SM

The VersaClimber SM comes in at $4995 - $5300. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".

Overview of the VersaClimber SM sport

The Versa Climber Sport model is the high-end product of the Versa range. This machine simulates climbing a mountain and is known for its relentless workouts. This thing will make you sweat. It can be used as a Climber or a stepper. It is hand welded and made from high-quality steel. The specs are:

Weight 150 Lb
Height 7’ 10’’
Climb angle 75 degrees
Footprint 43’’ x 46’’

The Versa Climber is made in the USA and has been around for decades. It is a good alternative for gyms which cannot provide outside space for running or want to offer their athletes something more challenging. Le Bron James is said to use this machine for his routines.

Pros of the VersaClimber SM

These are the pros of the Versa Climber for your use:

Small footprint
Intense workout
An unusual piece of equipment

Compared to most treadmills the Versa Climber has a very small footprint. That means you can fit more people into a smaller space. For a home gym, you might also be able to put it in a corner of your house and just work away. That is usually more of a challenge with heavy treadmills.

The Versa Climber possibly offers the most intense workout you can do for your cardiovascular system in the smallest space possible. This is pure intensity formed into metal.

If you are running a gym and want to attract more customers this is also an unusual piece of equipment. It might attract clients who are willing to pay more for their members to get more than just regular treadmills.

Cons of the VersaClimber

The cons of the Versa Climber are

Price
No relation to most sports
Maintenance

With the price tag of $5000, you are investing a considerable amount of money per machine. For two of these, you can get ten concept 2 rowers, skiergs or rogue Echo bikes. With this, you can run an entire CrossFit or strength class. It all depends on what kind of gym you want to be.

The movement pattern of the Versa Climber has not a lot of carryover to most sports. If you are training athletes all around you will still need to get some type of treadmill despite having the Versa Climber. Whether the Versa Climber is worth the investment if you still need to get other equipment is up to you.

The Versa Climber works with chains. These can break and need to be maintained. Based on the rattling and way this machine is used it is More likely to break down than a treadmill or bike.

Alternatives to the VersaClimber SM

Alternatives to the Versa Climber SM are

The Versa Climber H is a variation on the SM for home use. It only weighs half of the SM so it won’t take as much if a beating than the SM, which is ok for home use as it will not be used as much. Switching from the SM to the H will save you $3000. Be aware that the guarantee is voided if you place the H in a professional gym setting.

The Rogue Echo bike packs a punch on your cardiovascular system for a fraction of the cost. The workout is not as intense as with the Versa Climber as you are seated. But it comes at a considerably lower price and the bike can be moved around more easily.

The concept 2 skierg is an alternative which can be used in tight spaces. it is also an alternative for people with hip or leg injuries to do endurance work indoors. It simulates skiing like you would do it in biathlon. The price tag is considerable than the one of the Versa Climber SM model.

Summary for the VersaClimber SM

The Versa Climber SM model is the one to go for when you want to bring the Versa Climber experience to your gym. Especially when people will use it around the clock. The warranty will help in case of breakage. Compared to other workouts in the endurance sphere, the climber is superior for burned calories per minute. You will be hard pressed to find anything more challenging. For sprinters and athletes who work on the pitch, it might be better to veer towards running and sprinting as this has more overlay with their actual sport.

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.

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

Price
Big wheels

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

The cons of the TITAN fan bike are:

Computer unit
Chain drive
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

Alternatives to the TITAN fan bike are:

Rogue Echo bike
NordicTrack VU 19
Schwinn Airdyne
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.