XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike Review

The Xterra Fitenss FB350 Folding Exercise Bike is a compact solution to exercise.

It’s a real space saver.

If you don’t want it left when not in use it can be folded up and stored out of the way.

It’s at a reasonable price too.

If you leave it out it looks good and won’t dominate a room.

It can sit nicely in a corner.

The addition of the back rest and seat handlebars provide more support and comfort.

It’s similar to the Xterra FB150 with the differences, besides price, being the back support, additional handlebars, accessory pocket and it takes up a little more room to accommodate the extras.

It certainly looks a good way to get some more exercise and movement into your life without compromising your living space too much or your wallet.

Read on to see if it matches up to its ratings and the price is really a bargain.

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Sturdiness

The x-frame is made from steel tube that provides a good solid platform for exercising. It doesn’t wobble when set on a flat surface. You should feel safe and be able just concentrate on pedaling to your heart’s content.

It is advised that the bike is not used on plush carpets to avoid damage to bike and carpets. It can also rock from side to side as the support bars don’t always get a proper footing on it. On other less plush carpets there shouldn’t be any movement.

There isn’t any levelers so the surface does need to level or it will rock from side to side.

When getting on and off it holds steady. It won’t tip forward or backwards as you get in to place.

The bike is not designed for standing on the pedals as you do with an indoor cycling bike. There isn’t the space and you may find it becomes unsteady. It is a bike made for sitting and cycling.

Unfortunately, as with any bike that is delivered there can be times when it has been damaged or parts have gone missing. Which is very disappointing if you are the person it happens too. The company do seem to take reasonable steps to get things sorted when they are informed.

As for long term durability it seems it does provide a good period – a customer who has had the bike for 15 months and used regularly have had no issues except for the console not working (which is not needed to use the bikes) which wasn’t an issue for the person who left the review, and other reviews state they’ve not had any issues after months of use.

Maintenance requirements are fairly minor with it including checking that everything is properly tightened and wiping down with a damp cloth (It is detailed in the instructions that come with the bike.)

The bike comes with a limited 1 year warranty on frame, 90 days on parts and none for labor. It’s not the best but for the price it seems to me to be reasonable.

Adjustability

The bike is able to be adjusted to fit people between 4 ft 10 ins and 5 ft 10 ins. The only adjustment on the bike is for the seat which is up and down.

To adjust there is an adjustment knob on the seat post that you loosen and pull to release the pin holding the seat in place and slide to where you want and line up with pre-drilled holes and insert the holding pin and tighten back into place.

It provides a solid base when tightened up with the pin properly inserted.

This allows the bike to be used by more than one person in the home as it can be adjusted to their height. There aren’t markings on the pole so you’ll need to remember the number of visible holes to quickly get seat into position if it has been moved – or you can mark with marker pen.

It is quick to adjust if you need to, so won’t slow you down too much if you have a few minutes spare to fit in some exercise.

If you are less the 4 ft 10 ins you’ll struggle to use the bike properly as you’ll be stretching and over extending the leg to keep foot on the pedals. Also, some people at below 5ft have felt they have to sit too far forward on the seat to reach the pedals making it and uncomfortable.

Over 5 ft 10 ins you can use the bike but you will find you are cramped and that you aren’t getting full mobility in the knee with it not being slightly bent at full cycle.

The lower back rest isn’t adjustable – it can’t be moved forward or up and down in relation to the seat. It does move in line with the seat when that is moved up in down.

Resistance

The XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike has 8 levels of resistance which are measured and controlled by the tension knob at the front of the bike just below the handlebars. The level is changed by you and not electronically.

At level 1 it is fairly light to push against (great for beginners and anyone wanting a light workout) and gets up to moderate levels of hardness at 8. To increase you turn the knob clockwise and to lighten the load you turn it counter-clockwise. You can notice the change through the levels.

The levels marked on the knob make it easier to know where you are up to. The resistance level is not measured by the console.

The resistance is provided by magnets that are situated close to the flywheel (this is within the covering at the front of the bike). The magnets are moved closer and further away to adjust the amount of resistance.

It gets to about moderate hard at level 8, it is enough that you can get a good workout but won’t be enough for those looking for intense workouts. You are better looking at an indoor cycle if you want tougher resistance and a more intense workout. A good bike to get started on is the Sunny SF-B1002 Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike

Having said that, it is possible to get the heart rate up and get a sweat going at each of the levels depending on speed of pedaling, along with gentler workouts too.

The magnetic resistance is quiet and low maintenance as there are no toughing parts.

Drive type

The drive has a belt drive which is quiet and low maintenance. This connects the pedals to the 3.3 lbs flywheel. It is smooth and consistent with no unexpected bumps or slips.

All this is within the shroud at the front of the bike. This helps to prevent dust getting into the drive system and keep small fingers or pets being hurt by the moving parts. This part of the bike is fully assembled when it arrives. You shouldn’t need to remove the shroud and maintain parts in this area of the bike.

Pedals

The 3 piece crank system provides a stronger platform for pedaling and help prevent breakages.

The pedals have a non-slip surface and a strap to keep you feet from slipping from the pedals. It is recommended that you use athletic shoes to get the best experience.

The pedals and straps should fit most people’s shoes although there are some who have noted that it can be a bit of a tight fit. You may want to remove the strap but will need to be more careful as you pedal.

The plastic-type straps are basic with holes in the strap that fit over a knob on the pedal. These types of straps can be a little hard to use as it take some effort to undo and do up but they do soften up.

The pedals aren’t beneath as you have on a road bike. They are out in front of you due to the x-frame. To some people (in particular those on the shorter side of the height range) this can feel an unnatural position but most don’t find it an issue.

Some people do move forward on the seat to provide a more natural angle but this can be uncomfortable and you don’t have the support of the back rest – a rolled up towel behind you may help with this.

Comfort

Seat It is an oversized seat that is padded with a padded back rest. Many people find this a comfortable fit for their sit bones.

But as with all bike seats is not for everyone. It is normal for people feel some pain and numbness when they haven’t sat on a bike seat for some time especially if you are on it for 30 minutes give or take. It is normal for it go away after a couple of weeks as your sit bones adapt to the seat.

If it doesn’t go away or it is too painful and not just a general soreness you can try a small pillow or folded up towel if you are stable on the bike – as low cost ways to get the comfort. Other options are to wear padded bike shorts or buy a gel seat cover. The seat size is 9.5″ by 12″ by 2.5″.

The seat isn’t easy to replace as it is joined to the seat post with three bolts which is usual for this type of bike. It means there are no ready replacements although there are products available that allow you to change the seat they aren’t that economical especially when compared to the cost of the bike.

You can sit on the bike in 3 positions – upright with hands on the handlebars, leaning forward towards the handlebars and leaning back against the rest. It helps having more positions to have to keep comfortable.

Even when leaning back you aren’t in a recumbent position as with a recumbent exercise bike – it is in between that and an upright position.

The back rest can help provide more comfort and support and help alleviate soreness that you might feel if seated upright for a period of time. It only supports the lower back. If the back support feels a little far away a rolled up towel can help.

To get on to the bike you need to lift foot over the meeting point of the x-frame which is about 24 inches off the floor. Also, you need to avoid the phone holder too. It you are shorter or have a problems with lifting foot this can make it difficult to get on the bike. To help with this some people use a small step to give a little boost.

Handlebars There are two sets of handlebars. Both sets are covered and have a little padding which makes them easier to grip especially if hands are sweaty.

The front handlebars allow you to adjust your hand position to get the best grip and support as exercise. The handlebars beside the seat give an alternative position to hold for support. This helps with staying comfortable and able to move position easier. It can help you stay exercising for longer.

There can be an issue with the positioning of the handlebars (and seat) in particular when at the lower end of the adjustment. It doesn’t allow much space between them and the front support which can make it a little tight to get between them. You might find your shirt getting caught on them as you get off. Here again a small step can help.

Noise The bike is very quiet. You can use it while watching TV. It won’t disturb others in the house even during the night when others are sleeping. If you live in an apartment your neighbors shouldn’t even know you are exercising. Although you may want a mat to stop any vibration from transmitting to anyone in an apartment below you. You might hear a light whirring sound when pedaling very fast.

The only other sound is a soft clicking from the tension knob when you change levels. It is like a pen clicking. It could disturb light sleepers if you are exercising in the same room as they are but if you are in another room they shouldn’t hear a thing from the bike itself.

Floor and Dirt The bike won’t be adding to your cleaning chores much at all. It is fairly clean. It is best to wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove sweat and dust to keep it looking good and in good working order.

Your floor shouldn’t suffer from the bike but you may want a mat to prevent the possibility from scratching and catch any sweat that might fall.

XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike Storage

This is a compact bike that can be fit in just about any home no matter the size. It only needs 40.5 ins and 21 ins to set it up but it is advised to have an area of 2 ft clear around the bike.

I like the look of the bike and it won’t dominate the room so could be okay to leave it out if you have the room.

But if you want a tidy house or keep it out of the way of children it can be folded up to 20.5 by 21 inches. It can then fit in a closet or behind a door.

Folding up involves removing the holding pin at the back of the bike, closing together and reinserting the pin once holes have been aligned. It is quick to do.

To help in moving it there are 2 transport wheels at the front of the bike that you tilt the bike on to. The bike weighs 42.3 lbs and the wheels hold most of the weight leaving you to push/pull and navigate.

The wheels work best on a hard surface (be sure to check wooden floors first to ensure oyu don’t scratch them) as on carpet with a deeper pile the wheels can jam up.

Getting it out of where you have stored and set up is quick too. With you just reversing the procedure. You can get on with your exercise when it suits you and can fit it in to your life when you have the time – a few minutes at a time if that is all you have – all adding more movement and exercise to get the benefits from that. The longer you do the better of course for getting fit and burning calories with weight management or recovering from injury.

Assembly

The XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike is partly assembled when delivered for transport purposes. The more involved parts of it have already been put together.

The shipping weight is 44.6 lbs. You may want someone to help you move it to where you are to assemble and their help in assembling will help the process but it can be done by one person, it’s just easier with two and there’s less chance of over balancing or straining. It can also be difficult to hold and bolt at the same time.

Most people describe the assembly as easy. You need to put on the pedals, seat, back rest, seat post, handlebars, stabilizers and console. You definitely don’t need to be mechanically minded. It’s easier than most kitset furniture.

It can be assembled in an hour. The tools needed to complete are included. The instructions are clear although it could do with pictures of the hardware but laying out everything first you should be fine.

Console

The console included with the XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike is basic with a screen of 2″ by 1″ that displays 1 measure at a time. It can be seen from the seat but it does need to be in good light. It isn’t backlit.

It is powered by 2 AA batteries that are included. They are straightforward to replace. The bike does not require to be plugged in to an outlet to work. It will continue to work even when console is not working.

If you so want to use it in a darkened room then you may want to invest in a clip-on light to have the light needed without turning on a room light.

The measures included on the screen are time, distance, speed, calories and pulse. Pulse indicates heart rate and will only show when you are gripping the pulse sensors that are located at the side of the handlebars at the front of the bike.

You can choose the measure you want to see constantly on the bike or set it to scan through each every 4 seconds using the mode button below the screen.

Below the screen is an index of the measures that go from side to side. A small arrow on the screen indicates the measure being displayed.

The measures are as follows:

Time This displays your elapsed workout time up to 99:59.

Speed Displays current speed in miles per hour with a maximum value of 999.9 mph

Distance Measured in miles. Counts up the distance. The maximum value is 99.99 miles

Calories Counts the total calories from start to end. The maximum value is 999. This an estimate. The company use the calculation of 36.8 per mile.

It is not the most accurate console. Calories doesn’t take into account resistance. It is good as an indicator and can help show improvement over time. But you will need to record this separately as it doesn’t keep a record of individual sessions nor can it be uploaded onto an App.

The feeling is that the calculations are too much on the generous side which is worth keeping in mind if you are counting calories.

Pulse shows beats per minute and starts showing after 6 – 7 seconds

Although it is useful to measure heart rate, pulse sensors can be inaccurate for a number of reasons and that is true of all bikes (no matter) the cost, so if you want a more accurate measure you are better off with a heart strap monitor or an arm monitor. Also, with pulse sensors it does restrict where your hand are if you want to know an indication of heart rate.

The console starts when you start pedaling or push the mode button at bottom of the console. It stops recording after 4 seconds of no activity and turns off after 4 minutes. To reset time distance and calories you hold the button for 4 seconds otherwise these accumulate until maximum is reached and then they reset to zero. It does start from where you left off.

There are no pre-set training sessions to follow along to and this is to be expected at this price range. There is plenty of examples online that you could follow if you want some motivation and guidance.

XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike Dimensions

In use

Height 50.5″
Width 21″
Length 40.5″

Folded

Height 50.5
Width 21″
Length 20.5″

Bike Weight 42.3 lbs

Max User Weight 225 lbs

XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike Accessories

The bike doesn’t come with much in the way of extras. But it does come with:

Accessories Pocket This is a small holder positioned lower down on the front frame. It is for a cell phones or remote. It won’t fit larger phones or it seems the Tivo remote.

It can get in the way of getting on the bike and some people remove it completely.

There isn’t a holder for a cup, a bottle or a tablet. If you want these close by you’ll need a table or shelf to put them on. The console sits a little above the handlebars so that isn’t a good place to rest a tablet.

There are tablet mounts that can be bought separately to hold your tablet on your bike so you can watch or use while you exercise.

Leaning back against the lower back rest can provide more support for you to make it easier to hold a book in your hands as you workout.

Pros

• Folds up when not in use to help in space saving
• Has lower back rest to give support
• Includes basic console
• Compact size when in use
• Transport wheels help to move it
• It is adjustable to fit people between 4 ft 10 ins and 5ft 10 ins
• Includes lower back support
• Two sets of handlebars help to provide support and seating positions
• Affordable price
• Basic console
• Has transport wheels
• Doesn’t need to be plugged into an outlet
• 8 levels of resistance from light to moderate
• Easy to assemble in an hour

Cons

• No water cup/bottle holder
• No tablet holder
• Only moderate levels of resistance
• Can’t use for standing up on pedals
• Seat is not straightforward to change if not to your liking
• Back rest doesn’t adjust
• Can be difficult to get on as need to lift leg at least 2ft and not enough room at lower seat settings
• Console not the most accurate and doesn’t keep record
• No pre-set exercise programs

Consumer Ratings

One of the reviews that is voted the most helpful is very critical of the company’s response to the customers issue. It’s disappointing the customer has had an issue with the bike and company.

The manufacturer does seem to respond quickly to issues that customers have with sending out parts on a timely basis. It does assume that customers are willing and are able to make the repairs themselves. And this has caused an issue with this customer and some others. (Labor is not covered in the warranty.)

However, most like the price, the fact that it is compact and quiet. It provides them with the flexibility to exercise when they want, where they want and help with their fitness. Many customers in heir reviews , have commented on the good customer service they recieved.

They do feel they get good value for the price. It is a well rated bike overall.

Price

This bike is affordably priced. It doesn’t come with a lot of extras as you’d expect for the price. However, the addition of back rest and seat handlebars do add some value by making it possible to get a more comfortable position and can reduce soreness that might otherwise develop,

When I checked the bike on Amazon it qualified for free shipping within a week or so and quicker depending on location.

Click link below to check latest price and availabilty
Xterra Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike

Review Summary

It is a basic folding bike that is compact, well made and at a good price. The lower back support can help improve comfort along with the two sets of handlebars which can help you to get in the best position for your exercising.

It is easy to set up and fold up, as well as store out of the way. It’s a real space saver. It’s quiet allowing you to watch TV or online videos and not disturb other even when sleeping.

The bike is a great option for beginners, those looking for moderate levels of exercise, to keep mobile and if appropriate can be used by those rehabbing after an injury (but check with your doctor).

It’s not for high intense workouts or for standing on the pedals. It is made for those wanting up to moderate levels of intensity looking to improve their cardio fitness and mobility.