NordicTrack S22i Indoor Cycle Bike Review
The famous exercise brand NordicTrack’s newest release is this commercial S22i Studio cycle, a bike that promises home friendly yet powerful workouts that complement any fitness junkie or newly initiated home exerciser perfectly. The NordicTrack brand is famous for its indelible mark on the indoor treadmill landscape, but recent years have seen their offerings expand, leaving their latest addition to the world of spin biking. The Commercial S22i studio cycle demonstrates NordicTrack’s commitment to streamlined and high-performing equipment for home and public gyms the world over, made by fitness specialists for fitness enthusiasts. The Commercial S22i Indoor Cycle Bike is a streamlined yet effective indoor cycling bike that offers the trademark benefits of the high-quality NordicTrack brand.
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor exercise bike is perfect for both new and experienced cyclists who want to bring the benefits of cycling into their own home. Lightweight, versatile, and easy to move or rotate, the NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor exercise bike provides heavy-duty workouts at the studio or group-cycle intensity from the comfort of your home or personal workout space. Priced at $1,999, this bike is certainly an investment, but the quality and lifespan of this well-made machine (not to mention the generous warranty) in addition to its multitude of uses make it one of the top commercial-quality indoor bikes and mean you’ll surely be satisfied for years to come.
The graceful appearance and function of the NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor exercise bike are a huge bonus. Built with a sturdy yet lightweight inertia-enhanced flywheel that utilizes power grade incline and decline drive grade systems as well as silent magnetic resistance to generate powerful strides with each push of the pedals, this bike also has an included 22” rotating HD Smart Touchscreen and Watts power readout meter that tracks every detail of your rides for quick integration into your fitness routine. The NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor exercise bike establishes state of the art, technologically integrated experience that will raise your workout from basic and ordinary to life-changing and studio-level quality in mere seconds.
With a sleek and streamlined frame, powerful and smooth flywheel and belt system, and powerfully integrated technological tools, this indoor cycling bike was made to create high-energy, high-intensity cardio and interval workouts that tax you to the fullest in every scenario. The padded race saddle is designed to cushion and protect as you move on and off the bike, while the handlebar unit is height and distance adjustable to accommodate a variety of rider sizes. The bike measures 55.0″ L x 21.9″ W x 56.9” H with a maximum user weight of 350 lbs, measuring fairly compactly for such a sturdy and powerful bike. The one exception is the bulky 22-inch touch screen but we’ll get into that a little later on in this review.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Indoor Cycle Bike Technical Information:
Cycle Specifications:
- Width: 21.9”
- Length: 55.0”
- Height: 56.9”
- Max User Weight: 350 Pounds
- Transportation Wheels and Aluminum Frame
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor bike provides a sleekly aesthetic streamlined performance that will keep you feeling both grounded and free-moving during your workout experience. The sturdy machine and drive system work together, creating a powerful pedaling and drive train experience supported by a state of the art inertia-driven flywheel system. Included transport wheels mean that despite this bike’s stability it’s easy to move this bike wherever you want to work out without needing to huff, puff, and strain yourself trying to haul it. From its sturdy frame to its streamlined yet strong design and performance, the NordicTrack Commercial S22i fitness bike is ideal for a spinner who’s ready to commit to the work from the comfort of home.
22″ Rotating HD Smart Touchscreen:
The included screen and exercise tracker is simply defined by its specs, the 22” rotating HD smart touchscreen. On the screen, the console display runs on electricity, so you’ll need to have your bike located near a plug. The NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor spin bike screen also has an HDMI port so you can connect your TV or computer to follow the spin classes on a larger screen. This bike does feature Bluetooth and WiFi access, so you can connect the bike to the iFit app or heart rate straps.
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor spin bike is iFit enabled, meaning that you can follow along live during an iFit workout. Unfortunately, this means the bike doesn’t have preset workout programs or internal memory capabilities. Unless you spend the money on an iFit membership every year, you won’t be able to truly create or track your exercise workouts or follow any specific workout program unless it’s one you manually attempt to reset every time.
In addition to being compatible with iFIT interactive personal training for cycling, the screen is a complement to other fantastic live training tools and workouts offered by iFit, allowing you to use the screen to complete other workouts, like yoga or cardio, by simply rotating the screen and conducting the workouts on the floor near your bike.
Q Factor and SPD-Equipped Pedals:
- Pedals are NOT SPD-compatible but have toe clips and straps
- Q-factor of 150mm
SPD compatibility is a must for serious spinners, and the fact that the NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor bikes don’t offer this powerful technology is a bit disconcerting. Most SPD pedals are double sided – meaning you can clip into either side of the pedal, which makes starting from stationary position simple. These pedals are not double sided, meaning that you will have trouble doing true spinning workouts because of their single-sided capability. These pedals can only be used with regular shoes and or single sided bike cleats that will not allow for maximum training and grip during a cycle or spin class.
The Q-Factor of 150mm is standard for indoor spinners or cyclists. This narrow Q-factor still works to ensure the greatest possible pedal efficiency for riders, allowing maximum drive on the pedal and creating ideal positioning for body limbs that reduce strain on joints and other muscle functions. By positioning the legs to be able to drive straight down without bending inward or setting them too wide apart, the bike creates the perfect drive mechanism for powerful spinning with almost no impact on the body, essential for the types of challenging workouts the Stages team relies on. However, people who have especially long legs or are generally taller than others might struggle with the positioning of the pedals because the narrow Q-factor is generally designed for the average or standard body type. The Q-factor here will likely work best for riders between 4’10” and 6’10” riders.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Flywheel:
- High-inertia, 32 lb flywheel
- Fixed-gear, bidirectional flywheel
- Sleek and quiet magnetic resistance/belt drive network
This bike’s strong and soft magnetic fixed flywheel works to generate powerful performances that push you to work hard without making much noise at all. This flywheel relies on magnetic resistance to maintain the level of challenge for the cyclist. The fixed front flywheel works to generate internal traction that propels the pedals forward as you push, meaning you work hard with every stride to earn a good workout. However, because they’re fixed that means the pedal and wheel will stop at the same time, making emergency breaks or wind downs hard to conduct safely. These flywheels are also easier to move but can be more vulnerable to damage from the environment or swear and daily wear and tear.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Indoor Bike Resistance:
- Magnetic and Adjustable Silent Resistance
- Smart electromagnetic system resistance
- Electronically Adjustable Incline and Decline
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor spin bike features electromagnetic silent magnetic system resistance just like the similar NordicTrack S15i Commercial Studio Cycle. The set amount of resistance levels are controlled virtually via the touch screen instead of via knob like many other exercise bikes. Electromagnetic spin bikes change the resistance level via buttons or by touch, making them more precise. Smart electromagnetic resistance spin bikes change resistance via built-in controls or touch on the screen which also allows workout programs to automatically change the resistance based on the type of workouts and the terrain.
The multi-level and custom workload settings allow indoor cyclists instant control over their workout, as long as they’re iFit enabled, making it perfect for HIIT and interval based workouts that need to add or drop resistance quickly without sacrificing custom micro-adjustments. This refined approach to resistance means that you can tackle intense interval workouts or hustle to simulate specific terrains or issues with ease and grace, an essential for anyone looking to broaden their spin capabilities. This is what makes this indoor cycle one of the best magnetic spin bikes on the market. However, the iFit paywall that prevents users without memberships from accessing these instant adjustments is a bit annoying and requires further spending that some may not want to commit to.
Handlebars and Seat:
- Four-way adjustable handlebars for maximum personal adjustment
- Four-way adjustable padded seat
- Included dumbbells and dumbbell holder
One of the best qualities of the NordicTrack Commercial S22i studio cycle is the personalization available due to the four-way adjustable handlebars and seat options. They have all the possible positions a rider could want, as both riders who normally train indoors and those who ride outdoors can find their preferred arm positions with little to no trouble adjusting and creating a good fit. This flexibility is also helpful for people who will be using their cycle for spin classes or wanting to incorporate weight training into their cycle experience. The included dumbbell holders and three-pound dumbbells help make weight training integrate seamlessly without any further problems.
Because of this adjustability (in all four directions), it allows the spin bike to fit an extremely wide range of users. The seat also fits several different height ranges, so anyone between 4’9” feet and 6’6” feet of height will be able to use this bike effectively and maximize its available frame flexibility and positioning.
Smooth Belt Drive System and Gear Ratio:
The smooth NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor spin bike belt drive system is high-quality, high-performing, and low maintenance for every user. Belt systems in general require significantly less effort to maintain than chain drives, which is already an advantage. No lubrication, maintenance, or replacement costs are required, upstaging both drive chains and poly-v drives.
The low-noise component of these functional belt drives is also a highlight: they ride softly and silently, meaning you can ride this bike anywhere, anytime without worrying about creating a racket or waking up your household. The fixed drive train gear ratio lets you push yourself on a broad range of intensity by ramping up your pedaling output, but the combination of the silent belt along with the inertia-driven flywheel emphasizes soft and smooth performance.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Price and Warranty:
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i bike is currently priced at $1,999
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i bike’s warranty includes ten years on the frame, three years on mechanical parts, and one year on labor and installation
For warranty questions or parts replacement, you can contact the NordicTrack manufacturers through their website form here: https://www.nordictrack.com/service-plans#:~:text=Claims%20can%20be%20made%20anytime,be%20shipped%20directly%20from%20NordicTrack
The price of this bike is certainly up more than average, but when you measure up all of its benefits it seems fair considering the additional bonuses. These are quality bikes that provide an elevated and integrated performance that are also guaranteed to last you at least ten years, which means you can save that much in gym and studio spin fees over time easily.
Assembly and Shipping:
- NordicTrack S22i assembly tools and clear assembly instructions are included.
- NordicTrack S22i bike has free shipping if bought in the U.S.
- This cycle comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee (you can return it for replacement or refund)
Following the NordicTrack indoor cycling bike manual/instruction, the assembly shouldn’t take more than 60-80 minutes. All the needed tools are also included except for a screwdriver.
The provided video guide demonstrates that assembly is a clear process but if you are not sure you can do it or it seems too heavy or complex, hiring a labor and assembly team to put the bike together for you will save you a lot of unnecessary time and stress in your day.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Indoor Cycle Pros:
Phenomenal Technology:
The high-tech 22″ Bluetooth and iFit enabled HD screen is one of the best technological monitors available for spin bikes on the market. This touchscreen display allows you to save your workouts and follow along with your iFit programming, which is another huge bonus. The iFit membership offers access to over ten thousand spin workouts as well as many other areas of fitness, also including guidance, personalized training, and workout tracking all included for a year in your original purchase price.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Indoor Cycle Cons:
Single-sided Non-SPD Pedals:
The lack of SPD pedals on this bike is pretty disappointing, especially as it bills itself as a top spin bike for a reason. The single-sided pedals are not completely compatible with every type of cycling shoe or cleat, and serious cyclists might find themselves frustrated by the lack of sophisticated cycling technology available. You can always replace the pedals with double-sided SPD compatible options, but sparing that extra expense would be a nice bonus especially considering the overall price of the bike.
Expensive, especially with the iFit membership:
The major con for this bike is its price tag. The bike offers great value for all of its functionality, but it does come at the cost of about $2,600. There’s also the matter of add-ons. The bike loses a lot of functionality without the benefit of the iFit membership, which will run you upwards of $400 a year after your trial ends. Not having any of those tools makes using the bike much harder, so you almost have to invest in the membership in order to get the most use out of the bike, which only further drives up the price tag.
Last Word on the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Indoor Bike:
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i indoor spin bike is a decent investment if you’re into high-tech exercise equipment that’s fully outfitted but pricier than normal. The functional and dynamic flywheel and belt system plus the silent and electronic adjustment system make for an easy to use and challenging workout design that you can build to your exact needs, but only if you have iFit technology-enabled.
Overall, the NordicTrack Commercial S22i spin bike is an intermediate level bike whose crowning glory (and ultimate demise) lies in its technological power. Its powerful drive system, front-mounted flywheel, and precise resistance system work in tandem to create a hardworking workout that will challenge even the most veteran of spinners, but the fact that its functionality is so handicapped by the iFit membership really sets it back in our opinion. If you’re able to commit to spending the cash on an annual iFit membership this bike is a solid investment, but if you’re not you may want to rethink your choice.
