| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness meter | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Body Rider BRF980 Check Discounted Price | L:47" W:25" H:49" | 250 lbs | Air & strap | Speed, Time, Distance, Calories, SCAN | Frame: 1 year Parts: 90 days |
The Body Rider BRF980 is one of the exercise bikes released by Body Flex Sports in 2019. It’s an air resistance bike with an additional adjustable strap resistance system, similar to the Stamina 876. It also has a seat with a backrest, a feature that most air resistance bikes don’t have.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 47L x 25W x 49H inches (119L x 63.5W x 124H cm)
- Assembled weight: 69.4 lbs (31.4 kg)
- Supported weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
- Seat: 4-way adjustable
- Drive: Chain
- Resistance: Air & strap
- Fitness meter: Time, speed, distance, calories, odometer, SCAN
- Warranty: Frame 1 year / Parts 90 days
Frame construction
The Body Rider BRF980 features a steel frame combining cylindrical and rectangular tubes in its 
construction. All the steel parts are coated with a rust-resistant and chip-resistant paint finish. The color used is black, this being the only color available for this bike. The casing of the fan is also metallic while the covers of the drivetrain are made of durable thermoplastic material.
Compared to other fitness machines, like treadmills or front-drive ellipticals, the bike isn’t too large. It is only 47″ (119 cm) long, and 25″ (63.5 cm) wide. However, it is recommended to leave at least two feet of clearance all around it for ease of access. Also, it is not an extremely heavy bike but does weigh approx. 69 lbs (31.4 kg), so the packaged unit should be carried by two persons. But on the other hand, this weight plays an important role in its overall stability.
The bike’s front and rear stabilizers are cylindrical tubes. The rear tube is larger and curved featuring polygonal caps that can rotate acting as levelers. The front stabilizer is a short straight bar equipped with small transport wheels.
Seat and handlebars
The Body Rider BRF980 air bike is equipped with a four-way adjustable
(up, down, front, back) seat. Its upright post offers several adjustment positions while its front to back slider adds a few extra inches of adjustment. The front-to-back slider is also slanted, not horizontal, so if the seat is adjusted all the way to the back, it also gains a bit of extra height. These being said, the bike should be able to accommodate users between 5’0″ and 6’1″ (153 – 185 cm). It’s also rated for a maximum user weight limit of 250 lbs (113 kg).
The seat and the backrest are cushioned. They integrate a thick layer of foam padding with a durable vinyl cover. The bottom pad attaches to a triangular plate via three screws while the backrest pad attaches to the seat’s backbone via four screws. The backrest does not adjust independently from the rest of the seat. It does not have a reclining or folding feature.
The bike is equipped with two sets of handlebars. One set is attached to the seat assembly, the other is connected to the pedals and to the front section of the frame. The seat handlebars attach directly to the seat’s frame. They don’t adjust independently from the seat. They have short foam grips.
The front handlebars are mobile. They feature standard short grips also with foam sleeves. Since they are attached to the pedal bars, they move for as long as you pedal. They cannot be locked to remain stationary. Also, none of the handlebars has pulse sensors and the bike’s fitness monitor does not have a pulse reading function.
Resistance and drive
The Body Rider BRF980 is an air resistance exercise bike. Its main resistance-generating element 
is the large fan visible at the front and encased by the metallic cage. When you pedal or when you move the front handlebars, the fan spins and adds resistance to the ride.
The fan is bi-directional. This means you can pedal and/or move the handlebars in reverse, which gives you the possibility to diversify your workout routines. However, coasting on this exercise bike is not possible. The pedals and the arms continue to move for as long as the fan is spinning.
Like most other fitness equipment with an air resistance system, this Body Rider exercise bike delivers a dynamic response. This means the resistance generated by the fan depends on how fast you pedal or move the arms. The faster you pedal, the faster the fan will spin, and the more resistance you will get.
The bike also integrates a band/strap resistance system in addition to the fan. There is an internal strap connected to the tension knob at the front of the bike. As you turn the knob clockwise, the strap tightens on the base of the fan which increases the overall resistance.
Since the additional tension system is not magnetic, there aren’t any resistance levels or “clicks” on the knob. So, this being said, you can tighten it up to the point where you feel that the overall resistance corresponds to your needs.
The Body Rider BRF980 integrates a chain drivetrain. This means that you will have to lubricate it from time to time, to prevent it from catching rust. But nonetheless, with the correct maintenance, this drivetrain can last a lifetime. The chain is also a standard bike chain, so in case you will ever need to replace it, you should find one in any bike shop.
The bike is equipped with a durable 3-piece crankset featuring curved crank arms. This type of crank arm design eliminates the standard pedaling dead-zones promoting a smooth pedaling with a lesser impact on the joints.
The included pedals are standard upright/recumbent bike pedals made of durable thermoplastic material with a metallic core. They are weighted in order to self-level when you remove your feet from them. They also have a textured surface and adjustable straps for improved foot stability.
Performance monitor
The Body Rider BRF980 includes a basic performance monitor. It does not have pre-set programs,
target settings, or online connectivity. It features an LCD display (without backlight) that tracks time, distance, total distance, speed, and calories burned. Speed and distance are shown in English units (MPH and miles). There is no setting for metric units. Also, the monitor does not have a pulse reading function, despite the fact that the one in the attached photo has “pulse” written on it.
The monitor unit is very easy to use. It only has one button which covers three functions. By pressing it repeatedly, you can select the workout value that you want to view on the display. This way, you can also select the Scan Mode which automatically rotates all the metrics showing each one for 6 seconds. And finally, you can press and hold the button for a few seconds to clear all the values to zero.
The monitor unit is battery-powered. It requires two AAA batteries which are included. It starts up either when you press the button or when you begin pedaling, and also automatically turns off after 4 minutes of inactivity on the bike.
One last notable feature about the monitor unit to mention here is the device holder. This accessory consists of a small shelf at the base of the unit which can serve as support for your smartphone or tablet. However, the monitor unit does not have any ports to connect your device to it.
Assembly and Maintenance
The main body of the bike with the fan and all the other resistance elements comes pre-assembled. You will only have to attach the two base stabilizers, the front upright bar, the performance monitor (connecting the wires), the two moving arms, the set post, the seat frame, the seat pads and handlebars, the pedal bars, and the pedals. This may take more than an hour of your time, but the task is pretty straightforward. The manual provides clear assembly instructions and illustrations. Also, all the necessary tools for the assembly are included.
For maintenance, one of the most important aspects is lubricating the chain every few months. Standard bike chain oil should suffice for this task. Other than this, you only have to keep the bike clean and periodically inspect it to make sure it functions properly.
The Pros
- Sturdy frame for a small bike – can hold users up to 250 lbs;
- Transport wheels on the front base stabilizer;
- Adjustable levelers on the rear base stabilizer;
- Mobile handlebars for arms workouts;
- Large padded saddle and padded backrest;
- Four-way adjustable seat;
- An extra set of handlebars attached to the seat;
- Air resistance system, great for interval workouts;
- Internal strap for adjustable resistance;
- Heavy-duty chain drivetrain;
- Performance monitor included – it tracks time, distance, total distance, speed, and calories burned;
- Device holder integrated into the performance monitor unit;
- Little maintenance required;
- Fairly quiet operation;
- Easy to assemble.
The Cons
- No pulse reading function;
- No backlight on the performance monitor display;
- No bottle holder.
Summary
The Body Rider BRF980 is a basic air resistance exercise bike designed for home use. It’s equipped with a large fan, it has a strap-based internal resistance adjustment mechanism, it’s equipped with a four-way adjustable seat with backrest, and also includes a basic performance monitor. In all, it’s a fairly decent trainer for light to medium-intensity cardio workouts, muscle toning, stamina development, and weight loss.