The ProForm 215 CSX Exercise Bike - Okay for Lightweight Riders

The ProForm 215 CSX exercise bike is a compact upright that offers several entertainment features at a reasonable price.

The Bike

The Grafixx™ LCD display shows single or multiple field readouts while tracking time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse, as well as a direct power (watts) measurement sensor.

The specs of the ProForm 215 CSX are:

• 12 Digital Resistance Levels
• 16 Workouts
• Dual-Grip EKG™ Heart Rate Monitoring
• Compatible plug-in for Mp3/iPod®
• Intermix Acoustics™ Music Port w/speakers
• iFit Live™ Compatible*
• Adjustable Seat & Handlebars
• Max user weight – 250 lbs
• Warranty: 5 years frame, 90 days parts and labor

* Requires iFit Live wireless adapter - sold separately.

The Buzz

UPDATE:  The ProForm 215 CSX has been discontinued and is no longer being sold.  Check out the comparable ProForm 8.0 EX instead.

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The ProForm 215 CSX exercise bike is built with the same features as the 200 CSX and the discontinued ZX2 upright. ProForm has replaced the iFit workout cards with the interactive iFit live, and dropped the GameFit games feature, but otherwise it’s the same bike.

It has 12 digital resistance levels and a freewheel clutch just like an outdoor bike for added safety and comfort. The seat and handlebars adjust for different size users, although users rate the seat as somewhat uncomfortable. 

The extra features on the ProForm 215 CSX exercise bike include two 2" speakers, an MP3 plug-in, and a dual-grip EKG heart rate monitor. The iFit card technology is optional; you don’t have to buy the adapter or pay for the annual subscription, but it’s there if you want to spend the extra money on more programs. You’ll likely find that the manual selection and the 16 pre-set programs are enough to keep your workouts challenging.

Our Take

The Proform 215 CSX exercise bike at $299 is okay for a lightweight rider. (Reviews recommend you ignore the 250-lb user weight limit. The user shouldn’t be more than 170 lbs on this model.)

But be warned: it isn’t built with quality parts and won’t last long, which is why it is only covered by a 90-days parts warranty. That should be a red flag on this model.

Compare ProForm’s weak warranty to either a Schwinn 140 or 150 ($315 to $375) which offer a 2-year parts and 1-year labor warranty. Since you will likely be disappointed in this bike, we suggest you check out what Schwinn offers in the $250 to $400 price range for a nice selection of better quality bikes.