NordictrackS22i, X24, and Studio 24 Exercise bikes, Spinning bike, Studio bike, 24 levels of digital resistance, Silent Magnetic Resistance

I rarely leave reviews but found myself so conflicted about how I feel about the bike I thought I’d break my experience down. I was torn between four and five stars and came down on four. Ultimately, it’s a fantastic workout experience (for what I’m looking for) but there’s room for improvement.Ordering and delivery:Bought from Amazon and the process couldn’t have been better. Delivery guys turned up on time and put the (large and heavy) box into our conservatory. Worth noting that there is a new version of the S22i (you can tell by the front-facing speakers and newer fan) – make sure you get that as it’s apparently streaks ahead of the older model.Assembly:Not too difficult. Needed a second pair of hands putting the big stuff together but the instructions were easy enough to follow, no missing part. There’s a little clip/cover that goes under the monitor that is easily missed but can be added after assembly. If you have SPD shoes, the clip-in process takes a while to figure out if you’re new or haven’t used them in ages.Using the iFit software:iFit isn’t brilliant but it’s OK. I was unable to register for warranty as I’m in the UK. The helpdesk was pretty hopeless and sent me around the houses. The software itself is fairly intuitive but quite glitchy. The screen isn’t super responsive – you sometimes have to press the on-screen button a couple of times for it to work. The brightness is fine if the room is dark; when it’s bright, you have to position it at just the right angle to view, not necessarily the best angle i.e. downward facing. The music is limited to mainly unknown artists. Once you get the hang of the on-screen format and units, it’s pretty good. Note you can change the units by pressing them to get what you want e.g. calories, distance left.Workout programmes:If you like following scenic routes around the world with interesting and sympathetic instructors, this bike is for you. If you like live classes with energic instructors pumping you up in real-time, competing with others on a leader board and reading out your messages, go with Peloton. In the week since I’ve had it, I’ve cruised around Hawaii, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and my local town which you can programme yourself using Google Maps.The community:This is the biggest letdown. There’s no real platform for sharing info and rides, chatting with others, connecting with people near or like you. The blogs are limited, hard to find and generally underwhelming. This is the greatest area for improvement – it would be nice to motivate yourself with others: friends or others who share your interests.The ride:This is the high point – the ride is amazing. The drive train is silent and the seating position options are great. You can go from upright and comfortable to Tour de France leant forward and anything in between. The ability to change resistance and incline/decline is brilliant – amazing how much harder it becomes when you go uphill, as in real life. The trainers can automatically adjust the settings for you to get the real-life experience. As someone who spent a lot of time cycling the Swiss Alps, the virtual experience is simply incredible. My only niggle, apart from the screen glare, is the fan which only points straight out and doesn’t tilt up or down. This means, for me at least, that the fan is blowing on my legs and not my face and I use a towel wedge in front of it to force the air up. Not ideal, but it works.Tips:Keep adjusting the bike settings, saddle height and lateral position, handlebars, cleat tightness etc. until you get the ideal setup – it makes such a difference when it’s perfect. Get a heart monitor, that automatically appears on the screen and is great to keep you in the zone you want to be on. Use the SmartAdjust feature (which allows you to go at a slower or faster pace if you’re a bit off or full of energy). Position the bike with the sun in front of you for less glare. Use cycling shoes instead of trainers in the cage – riding is so much easier and more efficient. Don’t let your kids play on it – my eldest broke her leg messing about after 5 days of having it (and expect long ambulance times if you do!). Enjoy!

Disappointing Experience with a Premium ProductI purchased the NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike in October 2023 from Amazon, believing it to be a premium product that would enhance my fitness journey. Instead, it has been a source of constant frustration, with unresolved issues that make it nearly unusable.Persistent Issues:Mapping Feature Disabled Without Notice: One of the core features—the ability to manually create or select maps—has been effectively disabled. Despite being marketed as a highlight of the bike, this functionality has mysteriously disappeared in the latest iFit software release, without any communication from NordicTrack.Video Buffering and Playback Problems: Workout videos frequently freeze or buffer, rendering sessions incomplete. Even worse, session data is often lost, and the system fails to save progress. It appears the bike lacks sufficient processing power or memory to support its software.Brake Mechanism Failure: The red braking knob stopped working entirely, creating a serious safety hazard as it no longer makes contact with the flywheel.Startup Failure: The bike is now stuck on the startup screen with an endless "installing new software" message, making it completely unusable despite multiple attempts to reset it.Additional Concerns:Subscription Fee Hikes: To add insult to injury, iFit has increased the annual membership fees. This feels outrageous given the poor performance and functionality of the bike itself.Warranty Upgrade Offers: NordicTrack persistently markets warranty upgrades, but these offers seem absurd when they don’t adequately address existing warranty claims. What’s the point of paying for extended coverage if the company doesn’t resolve the issues within the original warranty period?Customer Support Failures: Despite reporting these problems while under warranty and following all suggested troubleshooting steps, NordicTrack has failed to provide meaningful solutions. Their customer service has been disappointing, offering little more than apologies and generic advice.Verdict:This bike is unreliable, and backed by poor customer service. With disabled features, unresolved defects, and increasing subscription fees, it’s a complete waste of money. I cannot recommend the NordicTrack S22i to anyone. Save yourself the stress and look for a more trustworthy brand.

Feels like a 10 year old phone.Clunky and un responsive screen.Annoying.