Schwinn 131 Upright Exercise Bike Reviewed

I had the unpleasant experience of using the Schwinn 130 upright exercise bike.  To say I wasn't eager to try out the Schwinn 131 model is an understatement.  So I was curious to see if they had done anything to correct some of the problems that plague the Schwinn 130. 

First, the Schwinn 131 is only $400.  So I'm not expecting to get an excellently constructed exercise bike.  I'll settle for something that will last for a few years, feel comfortable and give me they good workout without making a lot of noise.  Unfortunately, the Schwinn 130 did none of these things. 

The 131 had a quieter operation.  So far so good.  In fact, it was pretty silent compared to most other exercise bikes around this price range.  However, it was not as silent as some of their recumbent models for around the same price.

One of the main complaints I had the Schwinn 130 was that the seat was simply uncomfortable.  I'm not the only one who had this gripe -- practically everybody I talk to who used this model made the same complaint.  You would think that they would take some action to improve upon this with the Schwinn 131.  However, if there is any improvements, I don't feel them.  The seat is just as hard and just as uncomfortable. 

As far as setup time goes, I found that the Schwinn 131 was pretty easy to put together.  Perhaps this is because I had experience putting the 130 together.  In any case, it was still a lot more intuitive than other exercise bikes that I have assembled in the past.

Oh, and don't expect this bike to last that long.  It is very cheaply constructed, and sometimes it feels like it is going to give when I put pressure on it.

However, if you can get past that discomfort, the poor construction and the fact that bike was not designed for those who are tall, then the Schwinn 131 isn't all that bad.  Unfortunately, I do not want to settle for "all that bad" when I'm spending $400 on an exercise bike.  For the same price I can go with a Schwinn 230 recumbent exercise bike and be satisfied with my purchase.

And I make the same suggestion to you -- while the Schwinn 131 is a minor improvement over the 130, it is still not worth the price you have to pay to purchase this model.

Click here to get the lowest price on a Schwinn 131 Upright Bike