The Schwinn 170 Improves Upon the Popular 130 Upright Exercise Bike

The Schwinn 170 exercise bike is the big brother of the popular 130 upright model, with more resistance levels, more workouts, wireless heart rate capability and other stepped up features.  At just under $300 on sale, it's a great choice for those looking for a solid bike that won't break the bank.

Schwinn 170 - The Bike

There are two LCD windows on the display, offering workout metrics such as speed, pulse, completion %, calories, distance, RPMS, time, course and heart rate zone.

Let's take a look at some of the specs on the Schwinn 170...

• ECB Magnetic Brake
• 25 Resistance levels
  
• 29 Programs & 12 Profile Courses
• Contact heart rate grips and wireless
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Adjustable handlebars, seat, and console
• Rear stabilizers, frame levelers, transport wheels
• Max user capacity: 300 lbs.
• Dimensions/Weight: 41"L x 22"W x 58"H / 76 lbs.
• Warranty: 10 yrs frame, 2 years mechanical, 1 year electrical and 90 days labor

Check out the popular Schwinn 170 Upright Bike on sale now!

The Buzz

The Schwinn 170 exercise bike is a nice upgrade to the 130 model, and reviews highlight the fact that the company has made improvements in many key areas.

The company packs in a lot of great features, without bumping up the price which happens often when manufacturers introduce new models.

The Pros

The most noticeable upgrade for the new model year is the console, which has been completely revamped with a more sleek and modern look.  

It also includes Bluetooth capability, something the previous model did not have.  You can now sync your workout results via Schwinn Connect with your favorite fitness apps and share them with friends and family.

You get a large number of built-in programs, a total of 29 as compared to only 22 on the 130 upright model. You also get 5 more levels of resistance, 2 additional user profiles, a larger contoured seat, 3-piece pedal crank as opposed to 1-piece and forearm rests on the handlebars.

Some of the highlights from current user reviews include the 3 speed fan, water bottle holder, sound system, transport wheels and stabilizers...all of these are much appreciated features.

So you really get just about everything you need without having to pay alot for it.  That's why the Schwinn exercise bikes are so popular.

The Cons

We'd be remiss not to mention the warranty on the Schwinn 170 upright bike, a problem that plagues all of the company's cardio machines, as well as those from their sister company, Nautilus.

You only get 10 years on the frame, 2 years on mechanical, 1 year on electrical and 90 days on labor.  It's not the worst coverage that we've seen, but it's not great.  You might want to add additional coverage if it is available just to cover yourself down the road.

How Does the 170 Compare to the Other Schwinn Exercise Bikes?

Although there used to be more Schwinn uprights, there are only two remaining:  the entry level 130 and the upgraded 170.

Let's take a look at both of them to see how they stack up...

Schwinn 130

The entry level 130 gives you 22 different workout programs, 20 levels of resistance, hand grip heart rate monitoring, DualTrack display, 2 user profiles, 1 piece pedal cranks and a padded seat.

Schwinn 170

The up-level 170 gives you 29 different workout programs, 25 levels of resistance, hand and wireless heart rate, enhanced blue backlit DualTrack display, 4 user profiles, 3 piece pedal cranks and a large, contoured padded seat and Bluetooth workout tracking.

So when it comes to the Schwinn 170 vs the 130, the 170 comes out on top as it gives you pretty much more of everything:  workouts, resistance levels, user profiles, wireless heart rate and workout tracking that the 130 does not offer.

Note that the 130 upright shares the same specs as the 230 recumbent; similarly the 170 upright is identical to the 270 recumbent.  The only difference between the models is the fact that you are seated with back support on the recumbent models, as opposed to being in an on-road position on the upright bikes.

If given the choice, we would opt for the Schwinn 170 not only because it gives you so much more to work with, but also because the price difference is not significant enough to impact your budget.

Schwinn 170 - Bottom Line

The Schwinn 170 is a nice improvement on previous models as well as the 130.  Because it offers more resistance levels,  workout programs, wireless heart rate and tracking of your workouts, it's definitely worth the additional $50-$100 or so.

If you are between the 130 and the 170 the latter is probably the better choice, unless you simply don't have the money for it.

It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles and modern features that you might find on more expensive exercise bikes, but for the price it definitely does the trick.  

The workout programs and resistance levels are enough to give you a great cardio workout, and in the end that's what it's all about.

Again, look into an extended warranty if you do end up buying the Schwinn 170 upright bike or any of the cardio machines from Schwinn or Nautilus.  It will give you peace of mind knowing that you are covered if anything breaks down over time or you need a replacement part.