Echelon EX-5s-22 Exercise Bike Review: Could It Be Better?

Dimensions/Storability

The Echelon EX-5s-22 is 58” L x 20” W. It takes up a little less space than other comparable exercise bikes. The bike does not fold, but it has wheels on the bottom, so you can roll it out of the way when needed. It only weighs 124 pounds, so it is noticeably lighter than comparable models, which is convenient if you have to move the bike frequently.

Be sure to remove any weights before you tilt the bike. Unfortunately, they can drop out of the weight cages and onto your toes.

The Echelon EX-5s-22 is great for most sized riders.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

Echelon’s fitness equipment comes enabled with their Premier Membership. Here is what you can expect with a subscription.

Echelon Premier Membership

The Echelon Fit app is $39/month, which is the same cost as the Peloton app. The Fit app has live and on-demand classes, outdoor routes, a leaderboard to compete against other members, and off-the-bike workout classes.

The classes feature an instructor in the middle of the screen who guides you through the workout.

In general, I found this app to be very similar to the Peloton app. The instructors give shout-outs to various riders during the class, and there is a leaderboard, with the metric display on the bottom of the screen almost identical.

The instructors are not quite Peloton celebrities, but they are engaging enough. The music is fun; like I mentioned, there’s some Pitbull. You can take on different challenges, and the class library is extensive.

The only element I could find that is different from what other companies offer is the wide variety of outdoor rides. These are not led by an instructor, so there’s no formatting for them. They are simply drone videos of locations all over the world that you can watch while you ride. I personally liked this option.

Onboard Workouts

There are only two pre-programmed workouts on the EX5s. All functionality is integrated through the app. If you aren’t interested in Echelon’s programming, we recommend looking at a different bike.

Console

The screen was clearly designed to rival Peloton and NordicTrack’s bikes with a screen that’s nearly the same size. Lower Echelon models only offer a tablet holder. The EX5-s and EX7-s are the only Echelon bikes with a screen.

The screen has good graphics, and classes are well-labeled and easy to find in the library.

The screen tilts up and down. It does not rotate from side to side. It doesn’t wobble when you ride. The screen is attached to the handlebars, so when you raise them, the screen lifts, too. This isn’t often a problem, but you might have to adjust the handlebars slightly to get the right screen position. You can raise and lower the screen, but you cannot move it forward or aft. This is typical for bikes with attached touchscreens.

The screen can be angled to avoid overhead glare.

Even though the screen doesn’t adjust forward and back, we like that the handlebars can be adjusted horizontally and vertically.

Even though the screen doesn’t adjust forward and back, we like that the handlebars can be adjusted horizontally and vertically.

The resolution is adequate. It isn’t quite the same quality as the Peloton Bikes’ screens, but it’s easy to reach. Yes, this is a touchscreen, which is really nice as it reduces the number of buttons and controls on the bike or the bevel. Overall, functionality is good. The magnetic resistance is displayed on the screen so you know your resistance level, calorie burn, RPMs, etc.

For storage, there is a water bottle holder and weight cages behind the saddle for two 3 lb weights. There isn’t a tablet holder or a place to put your phone; this is to keep you more locked into the subscription content on the bike. The content is a big reason to buy it.

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Build Quality

Overall, we’re pleased with the quality and features of the EX-5s-22. This bike is well-constructed and has a 300 lb weight limit to handle riders up to that size.

Frame

The frame is powder-coated steel with four points of adjustment. The bike feels sturdy when riding and doesn’t wobble or rock when riding in or out of the saddle. The rear flywheel design is a little different than traditional exercise bikes. The seat post and handlebar post angle outward slightly, which increases the span between the handlebars and the seat as you increase the height.

The frame should fit most sized riders, although those over 6 feet tall may want to try out the bike to verify sufficient leg range.

Flywheel

The 29-lb, rear-mounted flywheel pulls the weight back under the rider, which may provide more stability. The flywheel is nice and heavy with good motion in the drive, and it feels smooth underfoot. There’s no drag on the wheel from brake resistance, so the feeling is fluid as you pedal along.

The rear flywheel is less prone to damage because it is out of the “sweat zone.”

Resistance Levels

32 resistance levels are adjusted via a tension knob on the down tube. I love the feel of a knob in my hand, but it isn’t as precise as preset numbers. I’m not opposed to it, though, and it doesn’t negatively impact the experience, but it does make jumping between levels or finding a specific level a little more challenging.

The knob is placed in front of the saddle, just below the handlebars.

The dial is not overly sensitive. I gave it a big turn and only jumped two levels. This keeps you from increasing resistance inadvertently, but it also means you have to turn it quite a bit to feel a difference.

Handlebars

Handlebars are coated to repel sweat. There are multiple hand positions and an aero loop in the center. I find these handlebars to be comfortable. The upward angle helps and the widened area at the base of the horizontal bar provides a soft rest for forearms if you ride in an aero position. The handlebars do not impede the screen.

The handlebars are coated to repel sweat.

Saddle

Comfort: This is a comfortable saddle. Exercise bike saddles are notoriously hard and narrow, but the EX5s seat is surprisingly comfortable.

We like the contouring and padding on this saddle.

Adjustments: You can adjust saddle height up or down via the seat post and adjust the saddle forward/aft on the carriage post.

Warranty

Echelon only covers the EX-5s-22 with a 1-year warranty. This is much less than what other brands offer.

Should You Buy The Echelon EX-5s-22 Exercise Bike

The Echelon EX-5s is a solid contender in the crowded spin bike market. It competes well with other high-end brands and offers similar features and content. It also includes four adjustment points, which is an unusual benefit on an in-home exercise bike.

If you are in the market for a fun, quiet spin experience, the EX5-s could be perfect. It’s also more affordable than many competitors, which is a nice benefit.

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Echelon EX-5s-22 Exercise Bike Q&A / FAQ

Can you use the Echelon EX-5s-22 without a subscription?

You can use the Echelon without a subscription, although your functionality is really limited. You have to create a free Echelon account, and you get access to onboard workouts that have preset times. We recommend subscribing to Echelon’s membership or looking into a bike without subscription training content if you don’t want to take trainer-led classes.

Is Echelon as good as Peloton?

Echelon has a lot of the same features as Peloton, but their instructors and the overall quality of their bikes aren’t quite at the same level as Peloton. Echelon is a good budget option, although their subscription membership is priced around the same as Peloton’s.

Is our Echelon EX-5s-22 review paid?

We were not paid to write this review. Echelon sent us the bike, but we created this review on our own to share our experience testing it. We work with several brands to bring you these reviews so you can find the best exercise bike for you. We have affiliate links; this is how we make money, so we can keep creating reviews like this for you.

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