Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike Review

An impressive, modern, attractive design and the historic brand, Schwinn, have come together in the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike. For a mid-range exercise bike, it offers quite a few surprises, bells and whistles you may not expect from a bike in its class. If you’re shopping for a recumbent exercise bike to use at home, you’ll definitely want to keep the Schwinn 270 in mind as one of your options.

In this complete Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike review, you’ll learn all about the features included in this exercise bike, why it’s a popular choice, how it compares to other bikes, what real customers have to say and for who this bike is best suited.

The Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270: An Overview

The Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270 was originally released in 2014, but the latest model is from 2017. Sleek, popular and with a load of great features, the bike has quickly become a favorite for home gym enthusiasts, and with good reason. The recumbent bike style means it’s low-impact and easy on your joints. So, what makes this recumbent bike so special?

To get a feel for what the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is all about, you need an overview of the bike’s features. Here are some of the major points of interest to be aware of:

Structure and Comfort:

- - Easy seat adjustment so that users of different heights can use the bike without struggling to get a comfortable fit.
  - The seat is padded and contoured for comfort. The backrest offers great support, but also provides ventilation so you don’t overheat during your workout.
  - Heart rate grips are comfortably located on either side of the seat as well as on either side of the screen.
  - A handy water bottle holder makes staying hydrated easy.
  - Keep items like your phone or tablet conveniently located accessory tray. You can easily control music or a video from your device while still enjoying your workout.
  - When shipped, the bike weighs just over 100 pounds. Assembled it weighs 88 pounds. The maximum weight that the bike can sustain is 300 lbs.

Workout Performance:

- The Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270 offers 25 levels of resistance for users to choose from.
- The drive system features a flywheel which makes workouts consistent and ensures that it’s easy to get going.
- There are 29 programs to use in the following types: 12 profile, 9 heart rate control, 2 fitness test, 4 custom and 1 quick start program.

Technology and Other Features:

Bluetooth connectivity
Compatible with two apps: the Schwinn Trainer App and the RideSocial App. You can also sync workout information to MyFitnessPal.
Two heart rate monitor options: wireless telemetry and the hand grips.
Create up to four user profiles for different members in the family to track their workouts and data.
A sound system that can be used to play the music of your choice.
Stay cool with a 3 speed fan.

Check out this video that shows the bike’s major features and also gives you a better idea of what the bike looks like and how it operates:

What Sets the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike Apart

Now that you have a sense of what features the bike offers, let’s take a look at which of these features set the bike apart from the competition. If you’re looking at making an investment in this bike, you’ll want to be sure that you’re getting the product that gives you the best value for your money. Recumbent exercise bikes at a comparable price (in the $400- $800 range) include the Ignite GreatRich Bicycle Rack, the Diamondback 510SR Fitness Recumbent Bike, the NordicTrack Commercial Vr21 Recumbent Bike, and of course the Schwinn 230. However, how does the Schwinn 270 compare in features to these bikes and others available on the market?

Many other recumbent bikes run in the range of $150-200, which is quite cheap when compared to the Schwinn. But, as you can imagine, the features are barely comparable to the Schwinn and similar models. On the other hand, to move to the next level of features and quality, you’d have to shell out about double what you’d spend on the Schwinn 270.

However, even when compared to models of a similar price, the Schwinn offers many advantages. Here are five reasons the Schwinn 270 Recumbent exercise bike outperforms the competition:

1. More Choices

Of the bikes in the same price-range as the Schwinn 270, the Schwinn offers the most choices in workout programs as well as numbers of user profiles. With this number of choices, it’s easy to find a great workout program that you’ll love, offering the perfect amount of challenge for your level and goals. The bike also features 25 levels of resistance, meaning you can make your workout more difficult or easier just by pressing a button. In addition, the fact that you can add four user profiles means that up to four people can use the bike on a regular basis to track their progress. Information about height and weight is also recorded for each profile, making the process of starting a workout quicker. For families and group households, this is a great feature.

2. Comfort

Because many people purchase a recumbent bike due to back pain, comfort is a key selling point. The Schwinn 270 offers a slightly padded seat that’s contoured for additional comfort. In addition, the seatback features plenty of ventilation in small holes so that you won’t overheat while riding the bike. If you do get too warm and start to sweat a lot, you can always turn on the built in adjustable 3-speed fan. Finally, the bike features two hand holding positions. Grab the hand holds on either side of the bike or on either side of the screen. You also have the option to go hands free. Because the bike includes technology that is compatible with a heart strap, you don’t even have to miss out on the heart rate information if you choose to ride hands free.

3. Innovative Technology

The Schwinn 270 includes an unprecedented number of innovative technological adaptations and features, especially for this price range. As mentioned, the bike is adapted to USB and also has a headphone jack so that you can hook up the bike to play music from another device or even charge your devices as well. Another great feature is that the device is bluetooth compatible.

Regarding apps, Schwinn has made the bike compatible with the popular app MyFitnessPal. In addition, Schwinn has created its own app: Schwinn Trainer. The third app that can be used with the Schwinn 270 is RideSocial. In a partnership, Schwinn has collaborated with this company to create a unique experience that allows you to experience trails around the world through maps and special virtual reality programs. Travel to Italian or Greek trails from the comfort of yoru home. View it on your phone tablet or VR headset. You can also ride with friends virtually using this app.

The other perk of this bike of is that it can be used with a heart rate strap rather than the handholds if desired. For individuals with heart conditions or those looking to maximize their workouts alike, this technology is definitely a plus.

4. Versatility

The Schwinn 270 reportedly allows people of different sizes and heights to use the bike with ease. With a capacity of up to 300 pounds, the bike is a good option for heavier users. In addition, the bike is easily adjustable for people of different heights. The adjustments allow the seat to be moved forwards or backwards in one simple move. Users report success in using the bike for people between 4 foot 9 inches and 6 foot 3 inches.

5. Value for Money

What really makes the Schwinn impressive is its price. When you add up the features and functionalities that the bike offers, it’s an extraordinary offer. No other bike in the price range offers anywhere near the same level of features. While it may not be the cheapest recumbent bike on the market, it’s not pricey for what it offers either. On the contrary, most would argue that it offers great value for money.

The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike Price: Is it Worth it?

When compared to similar exercise recumbent bikes, the Schwinn 270 really packs in the value. With all of the special features and innovative technology on top of a solid construction, the Schwinn 270 is definitely a worthwhile investment.

Bikes within the same price category, such as the Diamondback 510SR, may be somewhat cheaper, but it shows in the features. The Diamondback only offers 16 levels of resistance and 20 workout programs compared to the Schwinn’s 25 levels and 29 workout programs. What’s more is the Schwinn offers various methods of connectivity through USB and bluetooth while the Diamondback only offers USB connection. For $100 more, you can get many additional benefits in functionality and workout options, such as the option to open 4 user profiles and integration with apps, among other benefits.

Schwinn 230 Vs. Schwinn 270

If you’re set on a Schwinn, that’s pretty easy to understand. Schwinn has a great reputation in bicycles,, particularly their classic outdoor bikes. They’ve earned the reputation with good reason. Their bikes feature great construction and the brand is well-known for its strong industry presence over many years.

Schwinn offers several recumbent exercise bike models including the Schwinn 230 and the newer Schwinn 270. The models are similar in many ways. But, when looking at the Schwinn 230 vs. Schwinn 270, which is best?

It depends. Here is some basic information about each one so that you can compare:

	Schwinn 230	Schwinn 270
Price	$449.00	$799.99
# Workout Programs	22	29
Connections	USB, Jack	USB, Bluetooth, Jack
Performance Tracking	Goal Track Program	Schwinn Trainer App, also compatible with MyFitnessPal
Display	2 DualTrack LCD Displays	2 Blue Backlit LCD Displays
Resistance Levels	20	25
User Profiles	2	4
Seat Style	Plastic with holes for ventilation	Cushioned with ventilation in seat back only

Given the difference in price you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs and budget. Obviously the Schwinn 270 offers a greater number of features, options and improvements from the 230. However, not everyone will make use of these additional features. For example, a couple sharing an exercise bike will only need to make use of 2 user profiles, but a family with 2 teenagers and 2 parents may prefer the option to create 4 user profiles. Level of fitness also plays a role. Beginners don’t need as many resistance levels or workout program options as those who are in better shape and may need additional challenges.

Ultimately, the decision to purchase the Schwinn 230 or the 270 is a matter of personal preference and depends on each individual’s needs. Each bike has its advantages and disadvantages. While the 270 is the obvious choice because of the enhanced features and versatility, the 230 is still a solid option and accommodates a more modest budget.

Real Customers Review the Schwinn 270

What do real users have to say about the Schwinn 270? Any serious shopper is always curious to know how the product they’re interested in buying has worked out for others who’ve the taken the plunge. Here’s what 4 real-life reviewers had to say about the bike:

Pajama Guy

This customer offered a complete Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike review covering the main features of the exercise machine. The customer notes that the bike is very quiet when in use. In addition “Pajama Guy” remarks that the bike is very comfortable and he likes the padded seat and seatback. This user shares the bike with his wife and finds that it’s easy to adjust the bike for their two very different heights of 6 foot 1 inch and 5 foot 4 inches. Finally, the customer notes that assembly was very simple.

Among the possible drawbacks on the Schwinn, Pajama Guy admits that there are some minor complications with syncing information from the provided Schwinn Trainer app to the corresponding website. Another small problem is that the exercise type is identified incorrectly when syncing data to MyFitnessPal. Finally, the user notes that his unit didn’t come with a user manual and it had to be requested.

Randy

Randy was overall pleased with the bike. First, let’s go with the positives:

The bike was fairly easy to assemble.
It’s quiet.
It’s fairly comfortable, although Randy admits that he’s over the suggested weight limit for the bike, so this may result in an experience that’s less comfortable than what the average user will encounter.
The data linking to MyFitnessPal works well.

On the downside, Randy mentions a few points where things could be improved:

The heart-rate side handles aren’t as accurate as he expected. A belt is more accurate in this customer’s opinion.
The speakers aren’t very good, Randy reports.
When using the shelf meant for media, one of the displays is covered. This wouldn’t be problematic except for the fact that Randy notes that this seems to interfere with transmitting the heartbeat information from the belt to the bike.

Frannie

This customer offers a glowing review of the Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270. Some of the highlights of the bike for her are its quiet operation, the speakers and the variety of pre-programmed workouts.

John

This reviewer was less enthusiastic about the bike. Although it was easy to put together, John notes that the bike’s heartbeat monitors didn’t seem accurate. The reading seems to jump around and may even display a heart rate when the hand holds aren’t being touched. In addition, no instructions manual was provided. John also noted that the app didn’t sync up with the bike.

As you can see, most reviewers had an easy time putting the bike together and were positive about the bike’s quiet operation. Overall, customers seem to enjoy using the bike and its workout features. However, there are complaints about the app, comfort-level and the accuracy of the heart rate feature.

Who Is the Schwinn 270 Right For?

The Schwinn 270 is ideal for individuals who plan on making use of all four user profiles and who appreciate a quiet bike that can be adjusted to various sized users. Tech-savvy users who enjoy the idea of the apps including the RideSocial app will love this innovative bike. This model is also a good choice for those who enjoy using a variety of workout programs such as mountains, interval training or even a custom program. Those who are serious about fitness will love the wide range of resistance levels, giving them the chance to really grow in strength and ability. Because it’s a recumbent bike, this exercise machine is great for those who struggle with back pain or joint pain, as little pressure is exerted on key areas such as the back, knees or hips.

Obviously, even if the Schwinn 270 is right for you with relation to all of the features, it must also meet your budget requirements. The Schwinn isn’t expensive given the features it offers, but it isn’t cheap either. If you absolutely can’t make it fit into your financial plans, you can always opt for the Schwinn 230, which offers reduced features, but is still quite functional.

Overall, the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is a great choice for anyone looking to expand on their home exercise equipment with a solid fitness bike that’s versatile, is compatible with fitness apps and offers a wide variety of workout programs and levels.

Have you used the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike? What do you have to say about this popular home exercise bike? Tell us all about your experience and opinion on this bike in the comments below.