AssaultBike Elite Review 2024 – We’re Still Winded

Dimensions/Storability

The AssaultBike Elite is a decent-sized air bike. It isn’t as large as the Rogue Echo, but it isn’t compact either. Its dimensions are 55” L x 26” W x 55” H.

The AssaultBike doesn’t fold. But there are two large transport wheels under the front stabilizer. You can tip the bike to engage the wheels and then roll as needed.

I don’t have any problem moving the AssaultBike Elite around.

It’s pretty heavy at 139 lbs, but the wheels make it easier to move it when you need to.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

Air bikes can be used pretty much anywhere because they don’t require being plugged in. They usually have simple consoles with onboard workout programs. For a simple console, the Assault has a bit more training options than most.

Onboard Workouts

On the AssaultBike Elite’s console, you’ll find the following programs to use. You can also just hop on and do your own thing, too. The interval workouts include Tabatas, inverted Tabatas, and custom interval settings. A light next to the rest and work signs at the top of the console light up to indicate which portion of the interval you’re on.

You have multiple different workout settings on this console.

You can also do targeted training by setting time, distance, or calorie targets before your workout to try to hit during it.

The heart rate training program allows you to sync with a compatible monitor to track your heart rate and focus on training in different zones.

The console is Bluetooth-enabled to connect to the Assault Fitness app for access to other training programs and competitions against other Assault Fitness equipment owners.

Console

The console on the AssaultBike Elite consists of a battery-powered LCD screen. Once you start pedaling, the screen will turn on. Be advised that the console is not backlit, so in low-light conditions, it can be hard to see the numbers.

In regular lighting, the digits are large and easy to see.

Overall, the console is really easy to use, although I wish I could connect my Apple Watch to it. When just using the workout programs on the screen, everything is easy to see and find. Once you start working out, you’ll see your time, calories, distance, speed, watts, rpm, and heart rate (when you are wearing a compatible tracker).

We did miss a cup holder on the AssaultBike Elite. The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 air bike has a built-in cupholder and storage pocket. I was able to rest my phone on the lower lip of the console on the AssaultBike Elite, which was helpful when I was using training apps on my phone.

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Build Quality

The Assault Fitness AssaultBike Elite is a well-built air bike. It’s the premium version of the AssaultBike Classic that has been used in the CrossFit Games. It has more steel components that are thicker than both of Assault Fitness’s other 2 air bikes, too.

This design makes it feel like a tank to use.

Frame

The AssaultBike Elite has a sturdy steel frame that’s powder-coated to be corrosion-resistant and is reinforced with sealed bearings in every pivot. The two steel stabilizers have 4 leveling feet that are adjustable to keep the bike from rocking.

In comparison, it’s not quite as hefty and “over-built” as the Rogue Echo Bike, but in our opinion, it doesn’t need to be. It’s a little heavier at 139 lbs versus the Rogue Echo Bike, which is 127 lbs, so this also contributes to the stable feel of the AssaultBike Elite. All of our reviewers agree that the AssaultBike Elite feels like a solid piece of equipment that will last.

Fan

The 27” fan on the AssaultBike Elite encases six flat steel blades that rotate around the hub as you move the pedals. The fan is connected to both the pedals and handlebars — so you can isolate either the upper or lower body as desired.

The fan blades are red and add a nice pop of color that coordinates with other red accents on the bike.

The fan on the Elite isn’t quite as large as the Rogue Echo Bike, and it doesn’t have as many fan blades as the Schwinn Airdyne AD7. The fan on the AssaultBike Elite offers unlimited resistance like these other air bikes.

So, when you pedal and move the handles faster, the resistance gets harder to work against. This makes air bikes great for high-intensity training and for users of all abilities.

An included windscreen blocks the air that blows back up to the rider. But it can be removed if you want the benefit of more air in your face to cool down while riding.

We really like this included accessory.

Drive System

The AssaultBike Elite uses a chain drive system that connects the pedals to the fan hub. The chain has consistent resistance throughout the stroke. The Xterra Air650 Airbike Pro also has a chain drive system. Chain drive systems are known for creating extra noise on top of the fan, and they’re known for requiring maintenance like lubrication and tightening.

The Airdyne AD7 and Rogue Echo air bikes use belt drive systems that are known for being quiet and requiring little to no maintenance. The chain on the AssaultBike Elite came properly lubricated and ready to use when we assembled it, making it set to use for plenty of workouts. It’s also handled all the workouts we’ve put it through really well so far.

The AirBike Elite features flat metal pedals with small cleats along the edges for proper foot grip. There is no strap to hold your shoe in — so make sure you have a solid foot placement with the ball of the foot connecting with the pedal for maximum power. These pedals work well with any kind of athletic shoe and provide a nice grip. In addition to pedaling forward, you can also pedal backward on this bike to work your muscles a little differently.

Handlebars & Saddle

As mentioned above, the handlebars and pedals move in conjunction with one another, which allows for targeted training of the upper body or lower body, as well as full-body training. The handlebars on the AssaultBike Elite are steel and have a textured coating at the top for you to get a grip on when training.

The handles definitely feel really sturdy and worked for all of our reviewers, but we wish they had more grip options.

The Xterra AIR650 Airbike Pro and the Schwinn Airdyne AD7 both have handles that offer multiple places for you to grip, which helps target different muscles.

When you do want to use the handlebars on their own, there are 2-foot pegs on either side of the fan for your feet to rest on. Their placement worked for all of our reviewers, too.

The foot pegs are steel and textured, so you don’t have to worry about your feet slipping.

Granted, like all bike saddles, it is not the most comfortable seat you’ll ever sit on, but for training purposes, this one is a step up. The wider seat provides more support and the black surface is both sweat and moisture resistant.

The seat is less contoured than others, and we found it to be pretty slippery. I noticed I would slip forward on the saddle a little bit as I was working out. It can be tilted however or swapped out for a different seat though.

The seat can be wiped down to sanitize.

One aspect that makes the AssaultBike Elite best for users of all sizes is that the saddle can be adjusted up and down and forward and back. I’m 5’1” and our tallest reviewer is 6’5” and we both were able to adjust the saddle just right for each of us, with some extra room on the seat post to spare.

The Rogue Echo Bike is known for being big and less user-friendly for shorter folks, so we are happy to say that the AssaultBike Elite seems to work for shorter and taller users.

For reference, when measured, the reach (distance from the front of the saddle to the neck that the console sits on) is 12” when the saddle is all the way forward and 17” when the saddle is all the way back. The leg span (distance from the top of the saddle down to the top of the lowest pedal) is 28” when the saddle is at the lowest setting and 38” when the saddle is at the highest setting.

The range of these distances helps to tell us how the bike will work for different height users. The leg span is your inseam length. The 5” of adjustment space that the saddle offers forward and back should be plenty for most users.

Warranty

Assault Fitness has a nice warranty for the AssaultBike Elite. There is a 10-year warranty for the frame, a 3-year warranty for non-wear parts, and a 1-year warranty for labor. This warranty is similar to Schwinn’s but not as extensive as Xterra’s lifetime frame warranty for the AIR650 Airbike.

It took two of our reviewers to set up the AssaultBike Elite, and it was pretty straightforward to assemble.

Should You Buy The AssaultBike Elite?

Our team is really impressed with the AssaultBike Elite from Assault Fitness. Assault definitely lives up to their reputation with this hearty, durable air bike. The 10-year warranty helps back up the solid frame and the fact that the bike is heavy on its own at 139 lbs makes it feel extremely stable to use. There’s no rocking and it works for any sized user up to the 350 lb weight limit.

The included windscreen is a nice touch to block the airflow from the fan, or you can remove it to cool off. Be advised that the AssaultBike Elite uses a chain drive system and air resistance. Both of these aspects make it loud and not best for home spaces where excess noise is an issue. The large 27” fan is all steel, coordinating with the frame of the bike, and provides unlimited resistance.

The bike doesn’t require electricity to use, and the battery-powered console comes on when pedaling. It offers standard onboard workout options for targeted training, interval training, or the ability to just hop on and pedal.

On top of all of this, the AssaultBike Elite will give you a low-impact, high-intensity workout for your entire body. You can just use the pedals or the handles for targeted training. We highly recommend considering the AssaultBike Elite from Assault Fitness if you’re in the market for an air bike. It’s also rated as our number one air bike on our Best Air Bikes list.

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AssaultBike Elite Q&A / FAQ

How long should you use the AssaultBike Elite?

Since you control the intensity of your workouts on AssaultBikes, you can get in a great workout in just 10 minutes or so or longer. The harder you work, the more resistance you get, which allows you to set the intensity. When using an air bike and other types of fitness equipment, it’s important to check in with how you’re feeling so as not to overdo it and over-train.

Spending hours on the AssaultBike Elite isn’t recommended, and it’s important to allow your body to rest and recover properly between fitness sessions.

Can you just pedal on the AssaultBike Elite?

You can just pedal on the AssaultBike Elite. You’ll want to keep your upper body clear of the moving handles because they’ll still move when pedaling, but you don’t have to hold the handles to use the Elite.

Alternatively, you can just use your upper body on the Elite, too. By placing your feet on the footpegs and using the handles, you’ll get in a great upper body workout.

Can you do steady-state cardio on the AssaultBike Elite?

Yes! Interval and HIIT training aren’t the only things you can do on the Elite. Since you set the intensity of how much air resistance the bike gives based on your effort, you can set a consistent pace for zone 2 training and steady-state cardio training.

Is this a paid review?

Our review of the Elite isn’t paid for. Assault Fitness sent us the air bike to test, and we have affiliate links where we can earn commissions. We weren’t paid to create this, and this review reflects our own thoughts and experience testing the bike.

We work with several brands, including Assault Fitness, to review equipment. This helps us know exactly how different machines work and which ones are the best on the market.

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