Peloton Bike+ vs. NordicTrack S22i | Which Cycle Is For You?

Dimensions/Storability

Neither the Peloton Bike+ nor the NordicTrack S22i fold. You must accommodate their full dimensions wherever you plan to train and store them. The Peloton Bike+ has dimensions of 59″ L x 22″ W x 59″ H, while the NordicTrack S22i is 61″ L x 22″ W x 58″ H. The sizes are fairly comparable, but the S22i weighs substantially more at 200 lbs to the Bike+’s 140 lbs.

Both the Peloton Bike+ and the NordicTrack S22i have transport wheels on their front stabilizer to help you roll the bike around. The S22i is harder to move because of its increased weight. You will need to be careful with the touchscreen at the front of the bike when moving it. We also suggest removing dumbbells before moving the bikes.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

Both of these monthly fitness subscription apps are similarly priced per month and offer classes on and off the bike, studio cycling classes, and outdoor rides.

Peloton offers a live schedule of classes daily and on-demand classes, while iFIT’s classes are available on-demand only.

One aspect to consider when comparing iFIT and Peloton is that Peloton doesn’t offer any onboard classes. In order to see your metrics on the screen, you have to pay for the monthly subscription. The S22i has one featured class that you can access without an iFIT membership. The S22i also has a manual mode. Similar options are available on Peloton without a subscription.

The Peloton App(left) vs iFIT on the NordicTrack S22i bike.

iFIT App

The iFIT app has a pause button for its classes. There are plenty of class types, such as outdoor guided rides, races, studio classes, and off-the-bike classes. However, music is a background component in the classes and can be skipped ahead on a preselected playlist. iFIT also offers a leaderboard and a large library of classes.

The NordicTrack S22i also has Smart Adjust, where the bike will automatically adjust your resistance and incline/decline throughout the class. If the resistance is too much, you can manually decrease it, and the Smart Adjust feature will take that into account when adjusting in the future. You can also turn this feature off and manually adjust the bike yourself.

Studio classes are on the Peloton app, and outdoor rides are on the iFIT app. Both of these apps excel in different ways.

Peloton App

The Peloton app has live and on-demand classes, a few outdoor rides that they’ve recently started to add, and a bunch of studio classes both on and off the bike as well. The instructors are fun and engaging, and they create the music playlist for each class, so we listen to it the way they intended us to, rather than skipping ahead through a preselected playlist.

Peloton features a leaderboard and a pause button for their on-demand classes. There is still no option to pause a live class. Peloton has also added an auto-follow feature where the resistance on the Bike+ is automatically added when the instructor gives the cue. However, this feature is only available in on-demand classes. You can also manually adjust the resistance yourself, too.

Peloton also offers Lanebreak, which is a game you can play while riding. There are multiple “classes” that you can take of these with different playlists of music. The objective is to keep your avatar in a specific lane to collect points.

Side by side, both of these fitness apps have been upgraded to now contain a lot of similar options, but overall they still generate different experiences. iFIT excels in its outdoor content, and Peloton shines in its studio classes.

We love that Peloton keeps the music integrated into the classes and think their instructors are fun. Getting led around the world on the S22i bike through iFIT is also a thrilling experience, and their content is unmatched. Depending on if you’re a studio spin class junkie, or a road cyclist looking to train indoors, you’ll probably have a preference between these two apps.

NordicTrack S22i Console vs Peloton Bike+ Console

The consoles on the S22i and Bike+ have a few similarities. One is that the volume of the trainer’s voice and music can be adjusted separately, so you can balance them or completely mute them. This is a nice feature that is easy to access on both bikes. The consoles also differ in a few ways, which changes how they each function a little bit.

NordicTrack S22i Console

The console on the S22i contains a 22″ touchscreen that tilts and swivels up to 360 degrees. The console also consists of a fan, handles, and a brake knob. The fan is a nice feature, and the buttons on the handles make changing your incline and resistance easy. The speaker is also front-mounted just below the screen.

Your riding metrics, like watt output, resistance level, cadence, and incline level are displayed on the touchscreen, which is clear to see across the top of the screen. You can also adjust the volume level on the right outer edge of the screen. Your headphones can be synced through Bluetooth as well.

The screen has faster processing than the previous version, but it is heavier and slightly thicker than the Peloton.

Both the Peloton Bike+ and the NordicTrack S22i feature impressive HD touchscreens on the front of the bike.

Peloton Bike+ Console

The console on the Peloton Bike+ is slim and contains a resistance knob, handles, and a 24″ touchscreen. The speakers are on the front of the screen, so they point right at you, which is nice. There’s also a USB-C charging port on the back of the screen, so you can charge your phone.

Like the S22i, your metrics are displayed on the screen as you pedal. We like this display because it is superimposed on the screen, so it doesn’t feel like it’s in your way. Metrics like watts, speed, cadence, and distance are also displayed.

The large touchscreen can tilt up and down and swivel 180 degrees in both directions. You can also adjust the speaker volume on the right outer edge of the screen, and Bluetooth headphones can be synced, too.

The biggest difference we noticed in the consoles is the resistance adjustments. The buttons on the S22i handles are convenient, making changing the resistance/incline easy. The knob on the Peloton Bike+ is a little harder to use.

The resistance is broken up into 100 increments on the Bike+. Although this is an easy number to understand, the buttons on the S22i make it handier to adjust to each increment versus the Bike+ resistance knob. For instance, to get to a specific resistance level, I have to play around with the knob a bit to finally land on that number because it is pretty sensitive.

Build Quality

The NordicTrack S22i exercise bike is solid and heavy at 200 lbs. This is mainly due to the incline/decline motor. The Peloton Bike+ is sleek and lighter in weight but has a lower weight capacity.

The S22i can handle up to 350 lbs, compared to the Bike+’s 297 lbs weight limit.
However, on the Peloton Bike+, the two stabilizers have four leveling feet, and they can all be adjusted. The S22i has only two adjustable leveling feet located on the back stabilizer.

NordicTrack S22i vs Peloton Bike+ Frame

When both of the saddles are raised all the way, the leg spans are the same. The leg span is the distance from the top of the lowest pedal to the top of the seat. Both measure 42 inches, which is a wide range and helps accommodate taller riders.

Although the frames look a little different on these bikes, we are impressed with their geometry.

The maximum reach on the Peloton is 2 inches longer than the NordicTrack. This isn’t too much of a difference, but it might be a little noticeable for taller riders and riders with longer torsos. The reach is the measurement from the nose of the saddle to the handlebars.

Both bikes have three adjustment points. You can move the saddle forward/back and up/down, but you can only raise and lower the handles. Since the handles can’t move horizontally, it can make it more challenging for taller and shorter riders. I’m just over 5 feet and have to ride with my seat all the way forward to reach the screen on both bikes.

NordicTrack S22i vs Peloton Bike+ Flywheel

The NordicTrack and Peloton have front flywheels that are similar in size and weight. They are both heavy enough to maintain inertia so the pedal stroke is fluid, smooth, and can support pedaling while standing. The S22i weighs 32 lbs, which is 2 pounds heavier than the Bike+ flywheel.

Both flywheels use silent magnetic resistance to keep your ride smooth and silent.

These bikes also use magnetic resistance, which is silent and usually doesn’t require any maintenance. Both of the bikes are smooth and operate practically silently, which is expected with bikes of this quality.

The incline motor on the NordicTrack S22i is also very quiet after being updated. So, noise is not an issue with this feature either.

NordicTrack S22i vs. Peloton Bike+ Drive System

The S22i has hybrid pedals that include toe cages on pedals, so you can use athletic shoes and SPD clips. SPD clips are commonly found on spin bikes, and most shoes are compatible with these cleats.

We like that toe cages can now be purchased for the Peloton Bike+, although we wish they were deeper and extended over the bottom of the foot further. The Bike+ still uses Delta LOOK cleats. These aren’t as popular as the commonly used SPD clips on indoor bikes, so you’ll most likely have to purchase the Peloton shoes in order to clip in.

Overall, we prefer the hybrid pedals on the S22i because the toe cages are more comfortable, and the SPD cleats are more commonly found. Both the Bike+ and S22i use a belt drive system, so they’re smooth and quiet to operate.

NordicTrack S22i vs Peloton Bike+ Handlebars

On the Peloton Bike+, the handles have been updated to include more of a horizontal bar than the original bike. This is great because they offer more grip options. Both bike handles have a sweat-proof coating over the handles that provides enough cushion and a good texture.

As far as storage, you won’t find any on the Peloton Bike+. An extra spot for your phone was sacrificed to keep the design as sleek as possible. Although the S22i does have a little bit more of a cluttered look than the Peloton, there is a tray in between the weights to set your phone.

The cup holders are below the handles on both bikes and can hold standard water bottles. However, we find the Bike+ cup holders a little flimsy.

Warranty

Peloton offers a 12-month limited warranty on the screen and most components and a 5-year warranty on the frame. Delivery and assembly are also included, so their team will set the bike up for you.

NordicTrack offers a 10-year warranty on the bike frame, a 2-year warranty on parts, and a 1-year warranty on labor when you take home the S22i. It also offers white glove delivery and assembly to almost all zip codes.

Should You Buy The Peloton Bike+ or NordicTrack S22i?

When considering each bike as a whole—the ride, the classes they offer, the cost, and their features—we have to lean towards the NordicTrack S22i. While the Peloton app is now adding outdoor rides to its class options, iFIT holds the crown in this category. The graphics and videography in iFIT’s numerous outdoor classes make them stand out.

The trainers lead you through different parts of the world, and you can partake in challenges while still taking studio and mat classes. The added component that the S22i actually inclines and declines while you ride makes the overall experience more realistic and fun.

We enjoy Peloton’s instructors and the music in their studio classes. The Peloton Bike+ is sturdy and has some nice upgrades from the original bike. The NordicTrack S22i bike, however, comes at a lower price, and the upgrades and features with iFIT, as well as the incline/decline motor, make this bike really stand out.

Peloton Bike+ vs. NordicTrack S22i Q&A / FAQ

How does the NordicTrack bike compare to Peloton?

The NordicTrack S22i and S27i specialize in outdoor on-demand content. They have incline and decline features that tilt the bike and impact the resistance level. Peloton specializes in studio training content backed by music. While the Bike+ has automatic resistance adjustments, it does not incline or decline.

Are there any bikes better than Peloton?

Our favorite Peloton alternatives include the NordicTrack S22i and S27i, the CAROL Bike, the Bowflex VeloCore, and the Echelon studio bikes.

Does NordicTrack require a subscription?

NordicTrack requires an iFIT subscription to access the onscreen training content, music playlists, and workout tracking. Without a subscription, you can adjust the resistance and train in a manual training program.

Can you use a Peloton subscription on a NordicTrack bike?

No, you cannot access the Peloton platform on a NordicTrack bike. Even if you use a phone or tablet to access the classes, the app will not pair with a NordicTrack bike. The best you can do is watch the classes and try to follow along manually without tracking any of your metrics in the Peloton app.