| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Apps | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Body Solid B4R Check Discounted Price | L:69" W:26.25" H:48.5" | 300 lbs | Eddy current, | 21 | Home Frame: lifetime Parts: 5 years Electronics: 2 years Wear: 6 months Labor: 1 year Commercial Frame: 15 years Parts: 3 years Electronics: 2 years Wear: 6 months Labor: 1 year |
The Body-Solid B4R Endurance recumbent bike has a light-commercial construction, similar to the SOLE LCR. It lacks amenities such as sound system, cooling fan or tablet holder that the LCR model has. But nonetheless, it also costs approx. $900 less.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 69L x 26.25W x 48.5H inches (175L x 67W x 123H cm)
- Assembled weight: 134 lbs (60.7 kg)
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Seat: Cushioned, adjustable
- Backrest: Mesh, non-adjustable
- Pedals: With adjustable straps
- Resistance: Magnetic, electronically assisted, 24 levels
- Console: 21 workout programs
- Amenities: Bottle holder, accessory holder
- Warranty:
- In-home: Frame lifetime / Parts 5 years / Electronics 2 years / Wear 6 months / Labor 1 year
- Light commercial: Frame 15 years / Parts 3 years / Electronics 2 years / Wear 6 months / Labor 1 year
Frame construction
This Body Solid recumbent bike features a sturdy frame, made of steel tubing, with a step-thru design. Although its weight capacity isn’t specified for this bike, its construction is pretty much similar to the AFG 7.3AR or IRONMAN H-Class 410, which means it should handle at least 300 lbs (136 kg) of user weight with no problem. After all, it’s a light commercial rated exercise bike. But nonetheless, transporting the assembled machine shouldn’t be a problem, as the front base is equipped with a set of wheels. By lifting the frame by its rear base and leaning it onto its front wheels, you will basically be handling only half of the bike’s total weight.
All its steel parts are coated with corrosion resistant gray paint, while the plastic covers of the drive system and console are blue and dark blue. These are the only colors available at the moment.
The bike has a heavy construction. It weighs 134 lbs (60.7 kg), weight that adds a lot of stability to the frame. On top of that, its base is a few inches wider than other models. Therefore, you can be sure that it won’t wobble or move even if you engage in a more intense workout.
The main frame of the bike is one-piece, aspect that also adds to the bike’s overall sturdiness. The base tubes and the console mast are the only parts that require to be attached to it. Both rear and front base tubes rest on rubberized stabilizers, which supply an excellent grip onto the floor, also protecting it from scratches. The main tube of the frame has a stabilizer in its mid section as well.
This exercise bike has a larger footprint than other similar models. It takes 69″L x 26.25″ (175 x 67 cm) of floor space, which means it pretty much can accommodate users of all sizes.
Seat and handlebars
This Body Solid exercise bike features a contoured and padded seat, approx. 16″ (40 cm) wide, which offers optimal comfort. The backrest has a mesh structure, having a similar construction 
to the backrest of the Exerpeutic 4000. It’s also curved in its lower part to provide superior lumbar support.
The seat is attached to an oblique rail. It’s distance in relation to the pedals is adjustable. The adjustment rail is fairly long; as we’ve mentioned above, the bike can accommodate pretty much users of all sizes. The backrest itself is non-adjustable. You cannot adjust its height or angle. However, since it’s attached to the seat, it moves along with it on its rail, when you adjust it.
The bike is equipped with two sets of handlebars: front and recumbent. The front handlebars come fairly close to the seated user, thus holding onto them for various workouts doesn’t result in an awkward posture as for other recumbent bike models. The recumbent handlebars are attached to the seat assembly just as the backrest, and move along with it on the rail. They integrate stainless steel pulse sensors, thus the console can read your heart rate if you hold onto them. Both handlebars have rubber-foam grips, with excellent ergonomics.
Drive and resistance
The Body-Solid B4R Endurance recumbent bike is equipped with a motor-assisted magnetic resistance system. It’s not self-powered, which means it requires to be connected to a power circuit in order for the resistance on the pedals to become available. Also, resistance can only be 
adjusted from the machine’s console. An adapter is supplied with it, designed for American-type, 3-prong outlets.
The main elements of the resistance system are a small servo motor and a magnetic flywheel. As you select a specific resistance level on the console, the magnet’s pull is changed, increasing or decreasing resistance. Resistance can be adjusted manually, as you pedal, or it can adjust automatically, if you select one of the console’s pre-set workouts. There are 24 distinctive resistance levels. The first ones offer a light workout, great for recovery training, or for users with disabilities. The 20-24 resistance levels on the other hand, offer more intense workouts, great for consistent cardio training or weight loss.
Like most recumbent bikes with a magnetic resistance system, this Body-Solid exercise bike features a belt-drive mechanism, using a heavy-duty belt, rated for many years of use. The flywheel has a balanced structure, offering a steady, consistent momentum. The pedaling motion is quiet, almost silent, thus the bike is great for apartment use, as you won’t bother the neighbors when exercising.
Pedaling in reverse is also possible. But since the drive system doesn’t integrate a derailleur like road bikes, the resistance on the pedals remains the same when you back-pedal, given by the selected resistance level on the console.
Last but not least, this exercise bike is equipped with a solid crank set, with steel crank arms. It has a narrow Q Factor which means pedaling is comfortable, without any extra lateral strees on the knees. The pedals are weighted and equipped with adjustable straps.
Console
The console unit of this fitness machine doesn’t excel in amenities. As opposed to other bikes in this price range, it lacks a sound system, cooling fan. It also doesn’t have online connectivity. Although these aren’t expensive features, they’re still minuses, and we have to point them out 
here.
On the other hand, the console is equipped with a LED display, offering excellent readability. The display has a multi-panel view, thus it can show time, speed, distance, RPM, Watts, calories, pulse, the program layout, and of course, the selected resistance level.
The console unit has 21 workout programs, separated in 7 categories: Manual, Program, Fitness, Watt, Personal, HRC and Random.
The Manual program gives you complete control over your workout. If using this program, you can adjust resistance freely as you pedal.
The Program category features 12 segment-based, pre-set workouts (P1-P12). Each pre-set workout will adjust resistance automatically.
The Watt program allows you to adjust the Watt value to achieve a different resistance level.
The Personal program offers 5 user profiles, allowing you to create 5 custom workouts and save them for later use. It’s also a function great to have if several persons use the machine. Thus every user can save their workout, without interfering with the workouts of other users.
The HRC program is designed for heart rate control, offering 4 settings: 55%, 75%, 90% and Tag. The Fitness program is basically a Fitness Test function, which rates your performance, determining your current fitness level. And finally, the Random program generates a random exercise profile for you to try on.
The console has goal functions for time, distance and calories, for several programs. Heart rate can be monitored via the integrated pulse sensors in the recumbent handlebars, but the console is also telemetry enabled and able to read pulse from a HR chest strap transmitter. This accessory is not supplied with the bike though. Also, in order to provide more accurate data for your workouts, it will prompt you to input your gender, age, height and weight.
Assembly and Maintenance
The bike’s drive and resistance elements come already attached to the frame, and enclosed by their plastic covers. Thus, for assembly you only have to attach the base tubes to the frame, assemble and mount the seat with its backrest, pedals, console mast and console, connecting the wires. The manual offers excellent and comprehensive step-by-step instructions. However, tools for assembly are not supplied, and you’ll need an adjustable wrench and a Phillips screwdriver for it.
Maintenance doesn’t require much. The machine’s internal components come pre-lubricated and won’t require any further lubrication for many years. Basically all you have to do for assembly is check the machine’s joints from time to time and re-tighten any loose bolts.
The Pros
- Sturdy construction;
- High user capacity (300 lbs);
- Step-thru design;
- Padded and contoured seat;
- Flexible mesh backrest, providing excellent lumbar support.
- Adjustable seat, accommodating users of all sizes;
- Automatic, magnetic resistance, with 24 available settings;
- 21 workout programs;
- Handlebars with pulse sensors;
- Bottle holder and accessory holder included;
- Smooth and quiet drive;
- Basically maintenance free;
- Excellent warranty.
The Cons
- No amenities such as cooling fan or sound system;
- No online connectivity (other models in this price range have such features);
- HR chest strap accessory not included.
Summary
The Body-Solid B4R Endurance has a few minuses compared to other recumbent bikes in this price range. It lacks features such as fan, speakers or tablet holder. But on the other hand it has a really solid construction and a wide array of fitness programs. It has automatic magnetic resistance system, with 24 distinctive levels, offering training possibilities for users of all levels. Differently put, it’s a great bike for cardio training, regaining or maintaining your general level of fitness and stamina, recovery training, intervals, weight loss and even strength training. It’s not exactly one of the most affordable bikes, but overall, it offers a decent price / quality ratio.