Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike Review

The Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike is equipped with the right features to help you perform outstanding and memorable workouts. Its unique air resistance system is so dynamic that it offers you with a lot more intensity than most indoor exercise bikes out there could.

This is one of the few upright bikes that provide overall body workouts due to its movable handles, except the handlebars do not have multi-position handgrips that offer a variety of workout options like the Schwinn AD7 Exercise Bike.

Nevertheless, the Schwinn AD6 Exercise Bike is a great bike that could allow you to perform high-intensity interval training that is particularly very effective for losing weight and improving physical endurance.

Moreover, you will be able to monitor your workout progress and performance via mid-range LCD monitor including pulse rate as well.

Overall, the Schwinn Airdyne Exercise Bike is simply the smart bike that possesses the dynamic air resistance system that appropriates the right resistance proportion to your workout according to your fitness level or in other words, according to how fast and harder you pedal.

This makes it suitable for beginners, advanced, and folks that are recovering from an injury. Schwinn’s 100 years of manufacturing experience is conspicuously reflected in the overall design of the Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike.

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The Frame

Just like many other of Schwinn’s fitness equipment products, this bike’s frame is made of a heavy-duty steel frame. It supports up to 300 pounds maximum user weight and weighs about 115 pounds of weight which is approximately 52 kg. The weight also adds to its stability and the steel frame construction makes it one of the sturdiest exercise bikes.

The steel parts of the bike are finished with anti-corrosion paint that protects the parts from any sort of rust. That being said, it is important to reiterate that this unit is designed for indoor use only, therefore it must not be exposed to rains or water that could damage some of the functional parts especially the console.

Of course, the bike also consists of plastic parts which are for cosmetic and safety purposes. The plastics parts are durable and would longer.

The Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike features two stabilizer bars, one at the front base while the other at the rear base. The purpose of these bars is to further cement the stability of the machine and guarantee steady and consistent steadfastness during workouts.

There are also adjustable rubber levelers on each end of the bars which are meant to protect the floor and most importantly level up the machine on an uneven floor. Nevertheless, it is recommended to place the bike on a rubberized mat which is often sold together with the unit. This move will perfect the stability of the bike regardless if the floor is uneven or not.

On the front base stabilizer bar, there are two transport wheels integrated to aid in the relocation of the bike from one room to another. One person can move the assembled bike conveniently and easily without the hassle by tilting the bike toward the front base by holding it by the rear base stabilizer bar. You are going to be dealing with only half of the bike’s weight.

The Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike is a compact bike with a footprint of 50 inches long by 26 inches wide which is going to fit in most rooms that are particularly small. Whereas the height of the bike is 51 inches, which is from the floor to the handlebars’ height. A room with at least a ceiling height of 7 feet will just be fine for a safe and comfortable workout.

The Seat and Handlebars

You will agree with us that the seat and the handlebars are always part of the major elements that make an exercise bike to be comfortable and suitable for different sizes of users. If these two elements are designed correctly then users will be able to enjoy workouts.

So, how are the seat and the handlebars presented in this unit? Well, let’s look at the seat first and then the handlebars.

The seat that comes with this machine is similar to the ones that are supplied with most upright bikes. There is nothing special about the design except that it is contoured and padded with a rather thin cushion.

The truth be told, if you wish to enjoy the seat then you should consider using a 12 inches gel seat cover or better still use a padded short or both to convey some level of comfy to the butt.

The seat is 2-way adjustable which means you should be able to adjust it upward/downward. This is very important because it increases the chances of accommodating more users of different heights. However, it could have been better if it had 4-way adjustabilities like the Schwinn AD7 or the LifeCore Fitness Assault Air Bike Trainer.

The seat post has 10 adjustment positions with 2 inches between each locking holes. It Is said to accommodate 5 feet to up to 6 feet 5 inches users.

The handlebars, on the other hand, are simple in design and movable which makes it possible for you to also exercise the upper body. However, it does not have the multi-position grips that allow a user to have a variety of workout options.

The handlebars are coated with a rubber foam that is meant to prevent slippage, blisters on the palms and to provide overall comfortable grips.

They are also connected to the pedals which make them move back and forth each time you pedal and unfortunately they cannot be locked in place so that you can only exercise the lower body in isolation.

Nevertheless, there is a way around that, if you wish to workout with the pedals alone without having to move your arms back and forth then you have to fold your arms across your body or let them be beside you, that way you can work out with the legs alone.

The Resistance

The Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike has air or wind resistance system that is known for its dynamic effects as regards to challenging or difficult workout. This type of resistance system does not have any sort of resistance adjustment knob because there is no need for that for it is infinite.

It is infinite in the sense that its resistance is inexhaustible. In other words, if you pedal faster or harder during a workout the resistance becomes harder and when you slow down it gets less difficult.

Most users have decided to purchase this bike because of its resistance system.

Some users have described it as the **s kicker that could turn you inside out.

Very useful for HIIT, high-intensity interval training exercises that expedite weight loss and improve physical and strength endurance.

Moreover, it is important to note that it is suitable for users of all fitness levels, including those that are recovering from injuring.

Speaking of the noise level that emanates from this bike, it is quite noisy when compared to indoor upright bikes that use a magnetic resistance system because ordinarily, a bike with wind or air resistance system generally makes noise due to the fan.

That being said, users think that this bike’s noise is relatively quiet when compared to other bikes that feature an air resistance system. However, the faster you pedal the noisier it becomes just like the typical industrial fan does.

But it is suitable for home use because it won’t bother the family or the neighbors with the noise.

The Drive

The Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike has a belt drive system that consists of two belts and two pulleys. This is what drives the pedals to propel the fan to rotate.

The crank arms are durable and very similar to that of road bikes. You can perform the stand up pedaling exercise option but it may not be convenient because you could get the handles to hit you in the ribs.

If you must do the stand up pedaling, then you must be careful and besides, if you think you are too heavy you better not engage in that at all.

The pedals that come with this unit are weighted pedals with adjustable straps that are made of durable nylon materials.

Take note that this unit does not feature the standard 9/16 threads but ½ threads. This is important to know because if you choose to replace the pedals you should make sure you get the right ones.

The crankset is a fixed type and the implication of this is that you cannot coast as you could with the road bikes but you can pedal in both directions.

As aforementioned that you cannot pedal in isolation without having the handlebars move so also you cannot use the handlebars without the pedals move. So, in case you wish to work the upper body alone without pedaling you can rest your feet on the footpegs under each of the handlebars

The Console/Monitor

The Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike features a medium level console that is not so basic or advanced. There are no preset programs on it like the one on Schwinn AD7.

However, the console is telemetry enabled which enables you to track your heart rate with an HR chest strap which is unfortunately not included (you have to purchase it separately).

You will be able to track your workout progress by viewing metrics such as the time, speed, RPM, watts, calories burned, and the pulse.  These metrics can be viewed simultaneously and the speed can be displayed in km/h or mph, while the distance can be displayed in miles or km.

The HR chest strap is the only way the machine can read your heart rate because it doesn’t have the handgrip sensors.

There are three buttons available for the operation of the console and they are really easy to use. The buttons are Up, Down, and the Start/Stop keys.

The start/Stop button is obviously for turning the unit on/off, and resetting values, while the Up and Down buttons are used to navigate or add values to the time goals.

The console is only powered by 2 AA batteries, no electricity required.

Approval Rating

The approval rating provides the popularity oversight of a given product; hence we consider this aspect in our reviews which also impact our views regarding the product and should impact yours as well.

The approval rating is often derived from the overall users’ feedback that is summed up according to the percentage of the positive and negative feedback.

Therefore, the Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike has very good and positive feedback and approval rating.  The majority of its users have a positive view of the bike.

Accessories

The only free accessory that comes with the Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike is the water bottle holder that is situated somewhere at the front of the console.

There are other optional accessories such as the HR chest strap and the reading rack that could fit books, magazines, tablets, or newspapers.

Pros/Features Overview

• It is well constructed with a steel frame
• It is sturdy and supports up to 300 pounds maximum user weight capacity
• It has movable handlebars that make it possible for upper body workouts
• Padded and contoured seat
• Wind/Air resistance system that is so dynamic
• Suitable for users of all fitness levels, and those that are recovering from injury
• Has great stability due to its stabilizers and levelers
• The console is telemetry enabled but not included
• It does not require electricity to power but only 2x AA batteries
• The LCD monitor enables the user to track workout metrics such as the time, distance, RPM, pulse, watts, and calories
• Self-balancing pedals with adjustable straps
• Belt drive system
• Transport wheels for easy relocation
• Water bottle holder for hydration purpose
• Require minimum maintenance
• Impressive warranty

Cons

• The handlebars lack multi-position grips that offer a variety of workout positions
• The HR chest strap is not included
• The seat is not very comfortable but can be improved by the use of gel seat cover or padded short

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Product Dimensions and Specifications

• 50’’ Length
• 26’’ Width
• 51’’ Height
• Weighs 115 pounds
• Movable handlebars
• 2-way adjustable seat
• Supports up to 300 pounds maximum user weight
• Air/wind resistance system
• Self-weighted pedals with adjustable straps

Warranty

• 15 Years on Frame
• 2 Years on Electronic Parts
• 1 Year on Mechanical Parts

Shipping, Assembly, and Maintenance

Shipping

The shipping cost of the Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise bike is determined by the retailer your purchasing from; although Amazon ships this product for free.

Assembly

The assembling of the unit is relatively easy and straightforward as the major components are preassembled. An instruction manual and the tools needed for the assembly are all included.

The only parts you need to assemble are the stabilizer bars, the console frame, console, handlebars, and the pedals. It won’t take more than an hour to assemble, in most cases, it takes less.

Maintenance

No serious maintenance is required. You only need to examine the unit every time before use for any broken, worn out, or loosed part(s) and repair or replace accordingly if there is any.

Also, endeavor to keep the machine clean from dust and sweat at all times.

Conclusion

Do we recommend the Schwinn AD6 Airdyne Exercise Bike? Yes, we do recommend it if you are looking for an upright bike that possesses the air resistance system in this price range. It could be better we know but that will incur an extra cost.  But if you are willing to pay the extra $$ then you might consider buying the Schwinn AD7 or the LifeCore Assault Bike.

That being said, this machine can provide you with outstanding challenging workouts that ultimately burn a lot of calories.