Velocity Exercise Dual Motion Recumbent Bike Review

The Velocity Exercise Dual motion Recumbent Bike comes with moving handlebars to work your arms and upper body as you workout your legs.

Recumbent exercise bikes with this ability aren’t that common. You can get more cardio work done in the same time and thereby burn more calories. It can help in toning and strengthening the upper body at the same time as you exercise your lower body

I like being able to get both done at the same time – it is similar to the fan bikes except it is a circular motion and not backwards and forwards and importantly the two sets of pedals work independently of each other.

Also important is that it fits well in the home and it is something that can be used easily so it does get used and doesn’t become an ornament or clothes hanger.

In ths review I look at how well those moving arms work as well as the rest of the bike in help people achieve their fitness goals at home.

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Sturdiness

The bike has a steel frame and stabilizer bars that hold the bike steady at all levels of intensity.

There is no wobbling or shaking to be concerned about leaving you to get on with your workout without being interrupted.

If the bike is rocking a little you can use the levelers under the rear stabilizer bar to balance out the bike by turning them as necessary.

The bike comes with a 5 year warranty on the frame, 90 days on the monitor and 30 days on all other parts. It’s a reasonable warranty when compared to other bikes in the price range.

The general impression is that this a pretty solid bike that will give a number of good years service.

Adjustability

Unlike most recumbent bikes the seat can be adjusted upward/downwards as well as backward/forwards to get the best fit. This is usually only available on bikes that cost a lot more.

The horizontal position change allows you to get the best length between the seat and pedals so you have full leg extension (slightly bent at furthest point) giving full range of motion of the knee so as to avoid possible pain. The height adjustment can help in getting a more comfortable position and help with the reaching the hand pedals.

The manufacturer doesn’t have a recommended range that bike can fit properly. However customer experience indicates that if you are between 5ft 2 ins and 6ft 2 ins you shouldn’t have an issue with fitting the bike properly.

If you are over 6ft 2 ins you are going to be cramped and your knees may hit the hand pedals and you won’t get the full range of motion.

Under 5ft 2 ins you are likely to struggle to reach the pedals properly through the pedaling motion without stretching and/or sitting forward on the seat – you may need a cushion to help you with this.

To make the adjustments you do need to get off the bike.

The seat height can be adjusted from 21 ins to 24 ins approximately. The adjustment is done by loosening the adjustment knob and lever, on the seat pole under the seat, and pull to release the holding pin. Then slide to desired height, release the knob/lever and move slightly so that lever engages into one of the pre-set holes and tighten both back up. It holds the seat firmly in place

This helps you to get the height of the seat you are the most comfortable with for both the upper and lower pedals.

The horizontal position of the seat only involves one knob and you can slide the seat to the position you want using the slider underneath the seat. You need to tighten the knob up tight otherwise you will likely find you are moving back slowly as you exercise. It also should be checked regularly as it does work loose as you exercise.

Velocity Exercise Dual Motion Recumbent Bike Resistance

There are two places you can adjust resistance on this bike – one is for the arms and the other is for the pedals.

The arm resistance is controlled by the knob that is at the bottom of the console. It doesn’t have levels marked.

The pedal resistance is controlled by the lever at the bottom of the front support. It has 7 different levels starting at very easy and moves up incrementally to a level most will find tough enough for their needs to get in shape and/or lose weight

The transition through the levels is smooth so no added pressure is put on the joints due to any jerkiness.

However, if you are looking for very tough workouts you are likely to find the bike doesn’t have enough resistance for you to get what you want.

The magnetic resistance is very quiet and is very low maintenance.

The adjustments to each are independent of the other – so you can have on turned up hogh and the other low or any combination you want.

Drive type

The bike has a 5kg flywheel and belt drive for a quiet and maintenance free pedaling. The motion is smooth. There is only a little bit of choppiness in this when you are at the top end of the resistance as it starts to work as brake slowing down the flywheel as you move round the top/bottom of the pedaling cycle.

The drive, including the crank is all within the shroud to prevent damage to it and it also protects pets, kids and ankles for getting caught up in it and being injured.

Pedals

The one-piece crank and pedals proved a good steady platform for push against. They are large, textured and have adjustable straps to fit most shoes sizes and to keep your foot in place as you pedal.

The straps are plastic. They have holes in them that you place over a tab on the pedal. They can be a little tough at first to get on the tab but they do soften up over time.

Comfort

Seat. Having a comfortable seat with back support is important with a recumbent exercise bike as you are likely to want to spend a reasonable period of time in it.

This seat doesn’t have that much cushioning but there is a little more in the backrest to support the lower back.

It is an oversized seat. The back rest is at a fixed angle that provides the support required for the back for most people.

All in all most people find it a comfortable seat do they can exercise as long as they want.

However, it’s not everyone’s favorite as you’d expect due to it being a personal preference.

Some find the seat a little on the small size for their sit bones and the lacking of padding can get a little tough too when sat on it for long periods. To help with comfort people use a folded up towel or a small cushion.

The step thru design makes it easy to get in and out of the seat. There is no need to lift your foot over the frame to get on to it.

There aren’t any fixed handlebars at the bike to help with getting in and out of the seat although you maybe able to use hand pedals as long as you can manage the fact they will move around a bit.

Handlebars There are fixed handlebars at the side of the seat. They are covered for an easy grip and can help with support when you need it or leverage when pushing hard with your feet. They also have hand pulse sensors that you grip when you want to monitor your heart rate.

The handlebars are at about the same height as the seat and are easy to grip for support and leverage when working hard. They should also not get in the way when you are getting in and out of the seat.

Noise. It is a very quiet bike allowing you to watch TV without turning the volume up or disturbing others. You can workout in the middle of the night while others are sleeping and you shouldn’t wake them. If you’re in an apartment your neighbors are unlikely to know you’re exercising – if you are concerned about noise or vibration being heard through the floor then a rubber exercise mat should put a stop to that.

The moving arms can be squeaky sometimes but this can be fixed with WD-40 or vaseline as used by various customers.

Cleaning. The bike itself doesn’t generate much in the way of dust and dirt. It does need cleaning and wiping it down to keep it free of dust and sweat. Sweat is likely to be the biggest problem as it can drip on the bike and floor. It is very corrosive and needs to be cleaned up to prevent it damaging the bike. To stop it damaging the floor you may want to invest in a rubber exercise mat.

Storage

When not in use it needs an area of 24.25 by 50.50 ins for storage.

The bike weighs 75 lbs. Fortunately you can tip the bike on to transport wheels on the front stabilizer bars. It’s fairly easy to do using the back of the bike as most of the weight it at the front of the bike.

The wheels end up supporting most of the weight of the bike allowing you to wheel the bike where you want to go.

They work well on hard surfaces but because they are small they can sometimes stick or jam on carpet so will need to be dragged over or you may need someone’s help to carry it.

On wood floors it is a good idea just to check that they don’t scratch before moving it across it.

Assembly

The bike comes partly completed. It takes about 1 to 2 hours to finish it. Some people do it much quicker.

It is easy to finish up the assembly.

You follow along to 6 diagrams, there is no text. The hardest task is getting it out of the box followed by identifying the hardware (which isn’t hard).

You are required to add the stabilizer bars, pedals, moving arms (crank), seat, backrest and handlebars to the frame.

The parts all fit together and the holes all line up. One person can do this but it is easier to have two people so one can person hold pieces in place while they are fixed in place.

It is recommended in addition to the tools included you may want a Phillips screwdriver, an adjustable wrench and a rubber mallet.

Console

At the front of the bike is a small console that displays distance, calories, odometer (cumulative distance), heart rate (when hand pulse sensors are gripped), speed, time or scan.

To select which measure is displayed you push the mode button to scroll through them.

Or, you choose scan and it rotates the measures with each displayed for five seconds before the next one is displayed.

The numbers can be read from your seat when in good light conditions but because the display is not backlit it is hard to read them when light conditions aren’t ideal.

You can only monitor your heart rate when you have both hands gripping the sensors in the handlebars beside the seat – so you can’t do this when you are exercising your arms.

However, hand pulse sensors have a reputation for not being reliable as many people struggle to get a consistent and accurate reading. This bike is no different so at best they are a guide only.

The console uses 2 AA batteries for power. You can use the bike if the console isn’t powered – you can change the resistance and pedal but won’t have you workout measurements displayed.

It doesn’t come with any pre-set programs nor does it record your workouts to be able to analyze and track progress over time. You need to do this manually.

If you are wanting to watch TV you are best angling the bike away from the TV slightly so that the front post and console aren’t in the way.

The measures (except for time) are estimates and should only be used for feedback while exercising and tracking progress as you go.

Dimensions

The dimensions and weight of the bike are:

Height 53 ins
Width 24.25 ins
Length 50.50 ins

Bike Weight 75 lbs
Max User Weight 250 lbs

Accessories

The major extra with this bike is the moving arms for getting an upper body workout. There are no other accessories.

If you want to have a water bottle or somewhere to rest your electronics etc you will need to hold them or exercise near a table or bench.

The manual does include some general information on warming up and setting the bike up. But there is nothing specific on the best set up for an individual nor are there any example workouts to get you started. For a beginner this can be frustrating as you have to work that out for yourself.

Moving Arms

It works independently of the pedals.

You can decide to work both upper and lower body at the same time or one at a time. When exercising the arms the pedals don’t turn and vice versa. When not using the moving arms you can use grip the handlebars at the side of the seat to measure your heart rate.

The upper moving arms/pedals are covered which makes for an easier and more sure grip, It makes it comfortable and helps to prevent blisters.

The cycling motion is smooth. It can get squeaky at times but customers have applied a lubricant and that quietens it up.

To make allowance for people with different arm lengths or to make it harder/easier to rotate, in addition to the resistance adjustment you can change the length of the arms by loosening the adjustment knob on each side and sliding the arms to the required length and tighten up again. The shorter the length the harder they will be to turn but won’t give you as much movement in your arm.

Turning up the resistance gives you reasonable amount to push against when maxed out and can help your strengthen your arms a little but it is more for cardio then strength building.

A number of people have used this to help with shoulder rehab as you can start with minimal resistance and increase as it recovers (under doctors/physio advice)

The console doesn’t measure your effort so it doesn’t add on to the calories burned.

When you are taller but still below 6ft 2 ins you may need to take a little care to make sure you don’t bang your knees when exercising your legs and arms by getting the timing right.

Pros

• Moving arms for an upper body workout at the same time you exercise your legs which can help increase the benefits of a cardio workout
• Bike is very quiet and can be used at any time without disturbing others
• Easy to assemble
• The upper moving arms and foot pedals move independently of each other so you can just exercise the upper body or lower body or both
• Resistance on both sets of pedals is adjusted separately
• Can adjust the height of the seat to get a more comfortable seating position
• Bike seat can be adjusted to comfortably fit people between 5ft 2 ins and 6ft 2 ins
• Includes a basic console for feedback and motivation as you workout.
• Bike is stable as you workout
• Has an affordable price for two methods cardio workouts (for the price of one)
• Transport wheels to help with moving the bike
• Levelers help to balance out the bike on uneven floors

Cons

• There are no accessories for holding your water bottle or personal electronics.
• Manual doesn’t include help on setting up the bike properly or workouts you can do
• Does not have any pre-set workouts
• Need to tighten adjustment knob on seat to prevent it moving backwards as you workout
• Your arm workouts are not monitored by the computer
• To track performance you need to record this manually

Velocity Exercise Dual Motion Recumbent Bike Consumer Ratings

In their reviews customers, on the whole, are pleased with the bike.

However, not everyone is happy with the bike. The concerns are:

One of the concerns mentioned in reviews is that people aren’t able to use the bike because they are too short or too tall. It would help if there was some guidance by the company on this.

Although you can send it back it is a bit of a hassle to say the least to take it apart, fit it in a box and send it back – it’s not like sending back a pair of shoes that don’t fit (where at least you get the sizing too).

The other concern is to do with the delivery of the product and it being damaged in transportation. It’s not really an issue with the bike but it certainly is a problem when you’ve bought a new bike there is a reasonable expectation that you’ll get one that works and is like new as well as being new.

On top of that some people have struggled to contact the company to get it resolved. Although others do report that they have received great service.

The majority of customers receive everything all in one piece and are very happy with the recumbent exercise bike with moving arms. They like the quiet and stable exercise they get to help them with their recovery or to get in shape and/or weight loss.

Velocity Exercise Dual Motion Recumbent Bike Price

The ability to exercise your upper body and lower body included in the affordable price which is the big benefit of the bike I think this makes it very good value – another recumbent bike that also has moving arms costs much more. It’s also sturdy, quiet and it seems from feedback to date to be durable giving you a good good reliable low impact cardio workout.

When I checked at Amazon it can qualify for free shipping when available.

Click here to check current pricing and availability
Velocity Exercise Dual Motion Recumbent Bike

Review Summary

The moving arms is a big plus for this recumbent exercise bike. They work independently of the pedals so you can decide on what you want to workout – all the body or just the upper body or just the lower body .

It’s great that the two sets of pedals work independently of each other including the resistance adjustment so you aren’t having to dodge moving parts when you want to workout the arms or just the legs.

Adults of all ages can use the bike at all levels of fitness from beginners to those wanting moderate workouts.
The exception is that it isn’t really for people who want high intense hill type challenging cardio workouts.

The Velocity Exercise Dual motion Recumbent Bike is a good solid and quiet bike for getting an upper and lower body that is low impact cardio workout. For the most part it is comfortable and supports your back too allowing you to workout for as long as you want.