Indoor spin bikes are an increasingly popular way to get a high-intensity, low-impact workout at home. These bikes mimic the feeling and motion of a real road bike, right down to the seat. There are tons of options available to workout warriors in the market for one of these bikes. You can find barebones options for as little as $$ and high-end bikes that push the $$$ barrier. The right choice for you will depend on what kind of experience you’re looking for. If you want a great bike that offers a high-end experience on a mid-range price though, the Nordictrack Grand Tour might be the bike for you.
In the article, we’ll weigh the pros and cons of the Nordictrack Grand Tour and compare it to other consumer-grade spin bikes you might be considering. Which one will come out on top?
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What Is the Nordictrack Grand Tour?
Nordictrack is a trusted home fitness brand, and the Nordictrack Grand Tour is the original spin bike in their Grand Tour line. It provides a realistic-feeling biking experience indoors, in part thanks to the ability to make adjustments to the incline level without taking your hands off of the handlebars. It feels much like changing gears on a road bike.
It also comes with a top-notch display screen, which is a huge plus for a spin bike, most of which don’t have a display. The Nordictrack Grand Tour’s display features a touch screen that allows users to access the internet, watch streaming video, and more while they work out. The display also features a whopping 32 pre-programmed workouts, a built-in speaker system so you can listen to music and podcasts, and all the vital workout information you would expect. The bike also comes packed with two three-pound hand weights so users can get an upper-body workout while they bike.
The NordicTrack Grand Tour also features iFit compatibility, which allows users to track their workout statistics over time and even download new workouts. The service is subscription-based, though, so you’ll have to pay for these features. All in all, the Nordictrack Grand Tour is a bike that comes at a mid-range cost but offers a premium experience at home.
Product Specs
The Nordictrack Grand Tour measures 62″ high, 23.5″ wide, and 62″ long, with a maximum user weight of 350 pounds. Its 16-pound flywheel seems light, but the bike features magnetic resistance that provides a smooth ride with a great road feel, regardless. It offers 24 resistance levels that can be controlled on the display console, and -10 to 10 degrees of incline.
The seat is larger than what you’d find on most other spin bikes and has a comfortable cushion that makes prolonged use tolerable. The foot pedals are ergonomically designed and extra wide, and there’s a workout fan to keep you cool while you sweat. The full package has all the features you could ask for from a spin bike and more, providing enough options for anyone to get a workout they’ll enjoy.
Pricing $
The Nordictrack Grand Tour costs around $950 on the Nordictrack website, which places it on the high end of mid-range spin bikes.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar spin bikes available on the market to see how they compare.
- Keiser M3 Plus Exercise Bike
- Schwinn Fitness AC Performance Plus
- Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II Exercise Bike
- NordicTrack Grand Tour
NordicTrack Grand Tour
Ease of Use
The Nordictrack Grand Tour’s display is easy to navigate, so it’s a breeze to select the workout you want and get started. Thanks to the 7-inch touchscreen, you can even find spin workout videos to follow along with.
Assembly Time
As long as you have someone to help you with the heavier, bulkier parts, the Nordictrack Grand Tour is easy enough to assemble at home. The instructions are clear and concise, and the project shouldn’t take you too long.
Design Quality
The Nordictrack Grand Tour has a huge number of features for a spin bike of any price, much less one that costs under $1,000. With 32 pre-programmed workouts, 24 levels of magnetic resistance, adjustable seat and handlebars, an internet-enabled touchscreen display, and iFit compatibility, it will be hard to find another spin bike on the market with as many bells and whistles. Best of all, it all rests on a sturdy package that feels great to ride.
Warranty
Nordictrack offers a solid warranty on the Grand Tour, with a lifetime of a coverage on the frame, three years for parts, and one year for labor.
Pros
- Stellar 7-inch touchscreen display
- 32 pre-programmed workouts and 24 levels of resistance
- Great price for the number of features
Cons
- iFit is a subscription service that costs money to use
Keiser M3i Exercise Bike
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The Keiser M3 is a high-end spin bike that features a gym-quality build that will provide a tough, energizing workout. Keiser’s Eddy Current magnetic resistance system is this bike’s best innovation: it provides 24 levels of whisper-quiet resistance. It’s highly configurable; its seat, fore, and aft handlebars are all fully adjustable so users can get the most comfortable possible ride. It features an on-board LCD display that shows all of the workout data you’d expect, but it lacks the impressive touchscreen display of the Nordictrack Grand Tour.
Price $
The Keiser M3 costs around $$$ on Amazon, with expert assembly available for an additional charge of around $.
Ease of Use
The M3 offers a remarkably smooth and quiet ride thanks to its magnetic resistance system, and the display console is simple to navigate and read. It doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as the Nordictrack Grand Tour, but it’s simple to get a great workout on it.
Assembly Time
Keiser’s products are easy to fit together and come with a set of simple, clear instructions. The bike is also surprisingly light because its magnetic resistance system means it can get away with a light 8-pound flywheel, so you won’t even break a sweat assembling it.
Design Quality
The M3 is incredibly well-designed and provides a near-silent ride with a fantastic road feel. The only knock against this spin bike in the design department is its display which, while functional, pales compared to the Nordictrack Grand Tour’s. Since this bike costs so much more than that one, the lack of a truly great display is disappointing.
Warranty
Keiser’s warranty is acceptable but not outstanding: ten years of coverage on the frame and three years for the parts.
Pros
- Whisper-quiet ride
- 24 levels of resistance
- Smart ergonomic design
Cons
- Display isn’t a standout
- No pre-programmed workouts
- Expensive
Schwinn Fitness AC Performance Plus
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The Schwinn Fitness AC Performance Plus is another high-end spin bike, this one with a heavy 37-pound flywheel that provides a very smooth and quiet ride. Its aluminum frame is rust-proof and surprisingly light, and the belt needs virtually no maintenance and should last for years. This bike, unfortunately, doesn’t come with a display console; you’ll have to spend another $ for the back-lit display. It also has no pre-programmed workouts, but if you’re looking for a sturdy yet light gym-quality spin bike, this one will suit you.
Price $
The Schwinn AC Performance Plus costs around $$$ on Amazon, with expert assembly available for an additional fee of around $60.
Ease of Use
With no display console, this bike is about as easy as it gets: just hop on, adjust the magnetic resistance level to your liking, and start riding. If you opt for the display console, you’ll be able to track your workout statistics with ease.
Assembly Time
This bike arrives largely pre-assembled and takes mere minutes to put together. As long as you have someone to give you a hand if you need to lift the bike, you’ll have no trouble assembling it.
Design Quality
This bike is incredibly sturdy and well-made, yet still only weighs 112 pounds. Impressively, it has a 350-pound weight limit. The biggest knock against this bike is its lack of a display console. Having to pay $ for a display on a bike that already costs over $$$ is a big issue with the AC Performance Plus.
Warranty
Schwinn’s warranty is comparable to Keiser’s: ten years of coverage on the frame, two years for parts and electronics, and one year for labor.
Pros
- Heavy 37-pound flywheel
- Lightweight yet sturdy construction
- Magnetic resistance system
Cons
- Expensive
- Display console costs $200 extra
Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II Exercise Bike
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The Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II is an entry-level spin bike that lacks many of the high-end features you see on the other bikes on this list. That doesn’t matter much when the workout is so good, though. It uses a chain and flywheel system that’s surprisingly quiet thanks to its massive 39.6-pound flywheel, and it even allows users to pedal forward or backward. Its seat and handlebars are also adjustable although the handlebars unfortunately only move up and down. It also lacks a display console although that’s a forgivable sin on such an inexpensive spin bike.
Price $
The Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II costs about $$ on Amazon, with expert assembly available for around $ more.
Ease of Use
With no display console, the Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II is the definition of simplicity. It’s easy to adjust resistance and brake instantly, and all you have to do is start pedaling to get a great workout.
Assembly Time
The Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II comes nearly fully assembled upon delivery, making it a snap to put together on your own. It is heavy, though, so you should have a friend on hand to help you with the heavy lifting.
Design Quality
The Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II lacks any of the bells and whistles of its higher-priced competitors, including a display console of any kind. It does have some excellent features like a heavy flywheel and the ability to pedal backward. For the price, this sturdy and heavy spin bike is of excellent quality.
Warranty
Phoenix offers only a one-year limited warranty on this product, which pales compared to the other warranties on this list.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Sturdy build with a heavy flywheel
- Ability to pedal backward
Cons
- No display console
- Poor warranty
Conclusion
It’s hard to go wrong with any of the bikes on this list. The Schwinn Fitness AC Performance Plus and Keiser M3 are expensive, but they will provide you with years of high-intensity, low-impact exercise. If you love a premium feel to your exercise equipment and want a great-looking machine with the newest fitness technology on board, one of those two spin bikes will be a great choice for you. If you prefer an entry-level machine that lacks bells and whistles but still boasts an excellent workout, the Phoenix 98623 Revolution Cycle Pro II is a good match for you. It can’t compare to the higher-end models, but if all you want is a bike that will make you sweat, it will do the trick.
For sheer value, though, it’s hard to beat the Nordictrack Grand Tour. Not only does it cost hundreds of dollars less than the Schwinn Fitness AC Performance Plus and Keiser M3, but it also boasts one of the best displays in the spin bike world. With internet access for streaming video and web browsing and compatibility with iFit, this bike makes it easy to track your progress toward your fitness goals and have fun doing it. Not only that, but it’s one of the few spin bikes with pre-programmed workouts on board.
It also boasts a ton of resistance and incline levels and highly customizable seat and handlebar settings so any workout warrior will be able to get the workout they want. The cherry on top is the high-quality construction, which compares well with the higher-priced spin bikes on this list. With the Nordictrack Grand Tour, you can get a high-end workout experience at home for nearly half the price of the nearest competition.