| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness meter | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunny SF-B2618 Check Discounted Price | L:42.5" W:25.5" H:47.5" | 220 lbs | Air | Speed, Time, Distance, Calories, SCAN | Frame: 3 years Parts: 180 days |
Although the Sunny SF-B2618 is one of the oldest air resistance exercise bikes from Sunny Health & Fitness, it still is available. It’s a basic, light-capacity trainer made for home use. It’s also one of the most affordable air bikes at the moment, next to the Zephyr model, or the Marcy NS-1000.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 42.5L x 25.5W x 47.5H inches (108L x 65W x 121H cm)
- Assembled weight: 46.9 lbs (21.2 kg)
- Supported weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Drive: Chain
- Resistance: Air & strap
- Fitness meter: Time, speed, distance, calories, SCAN
- Warranty: Frame 3 years / Parts 180 days
Frame construction
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2618 fan bike features a steel frame combining rectangular and 
cylindrical tubes in its construction. The main frame is a one-piece element, which improves the overall sturdiness of the bike. The only frame parts that need to be attached to the main unit via screws are the base bars.
The fully assembled bike isn’t too large. It is approx. 42.5″ (108 cm) long, and 25.5″ (65 cm) wide, while the top of the moving arms reaches approx. 47.5″ (121 cm) above floor level. This being said, it can fit pretty well even into a smaller room. But nonetheless, it is recommended to leave at least two feet of clearance all around it for ease of access and safe usage.
Since it’s a light-capacity exercise bike, it’s not too heavy either. With all the parts assembled, the Sunny SF-B2618 weighs approx. 47 lbs (21.2 kg). Thus, it can easily be carried and assembled by only one person. Plus, once it is assembled, its relocation can be done with ease by using the small wheels on its front base bar.
It’s important to mention that this Sunny exercise bike doesn’t have footrest elements like the Marcy Air 1 model. Therefore, in case you only want to exercise by using your arms, you will have to put your feet on the floor. Also, the bike doesn’t have a step-through design. However, the casing of the chain is only approx. 13″ (33 cm) above floor level, so stepping over it to take position on the seat shouldn’t be too difficult.
Last but not least, all the steel bars in the bike’s construction are coated with a corrosion-resistant paint finish. The color used is light gray, this being the only color available for this bike model.
Seat and handlebars
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2618 upright bike is equipped with a classic saddle. Its top is slightly 
larger than the slim seats included with some spin bikes. It is approx. 9.75″ (24.7 cm) long, and 8.5″ (21.5 cm) wide offering plenty of contact surface. It also integrates a thin layer of foam padding and has a durable vinyl cover.
The bike’s seat offers 4-way adjustability (front, back, up, down). Its upright post has 5 adjustment positions and its horizontal slider also allows a few inches of front to back adjustment. The upright post offers an adjustment span of approx. 6.5″ (16.5 cm), for users with an inseam between 26.5″ and 33″ (67.3 – 83.8 cm). This being said, the bike should accommodate users up to 6’0″ (183 cm) with no problem, allowing a complete leg extension.
The bike does not have fixed handlebars, only the mobile arms. These are connected directly to the pedal bars. Therefore, the will move for as long as you pedal, or for as long as the flywheel is spinning. They cannot be locked into a stationary position.
The bike’s moving arms are fairly long; their height reaches approx. 47.5″ (121 cm) above floor level. They have standard rubberized grips. They don’t have pulse sensors, though, and the included fitness meter does not have a pulse reading function.
Resistance and drive
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2618 is an air resistance upright exercise bike. This being said, its
main resistance-generating element is the large flywheel at the front of the unit. When you begin pedaling, this flywheel spins and the air current adds resistance to the pedaling motion.
It’s important to mention that just like any other fitness machine with an air resistance system, this Sunny exercise bike offers a dynamic response during pedaling. This means the resistance increases if you pedal faster.
Along with the dynamic air resistance, the bike also has a strap-based resistance adjustment system. An abrasion-resistant nylon strap partially covers the flywheel and is attached to the tension knob at the front of the bike. Therefore, by turning this knob clockwise, you can tighten the strap which increases the drag for the flywheel and implicitly adds resistance to the pedaling motion.
The bike’s drive system uses a chain transmission. The chain is completely concealed by the ABS cover. This chain drive comes with two main advantages. First of all, it is a solid transmission and with proper lubrication, it can last a lifetime. Also, it is a standard bike chain, so in case you will ever need to replace it, compatible options are widely available.
The bike is equipped with a durable crankset. However, this is technically an upright exercise bike, so standing up on the pedals is not recommended. The included pedals are made of durable nylon material. They have a non-slip surface and adjustable straps for extra foot stability. They are also weighted, so they always turn face-up if you remove your feet from them.
Fitness meter
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2618 air bike includes a basic fitness meter. Its display is similar to
the one on the Sunny SF-E3872 under desk elliptical. It tracks time, distance, speed, and calories burned. Its display has two main sections. The top section always indicates the current speed, while the bottom section shows time, distance traveled, and calories burned. Speed and distance are shown in MPH and miles; there is no setting for metric units (km/h and kilometers).
The meter unit does not have goal settings or preset programs. It only has one button. By pressing the button repeatedly, you can select the values that you want to view on the bottom display, or you can select the Scan Mode. When the Scan function is selected, the unit will rotate time, distance, and calories at the bottom, showing each one for a few seconds. The unit’s button also has a Reset function. By pressing and holding it for four seconds, it clears all the values on the meter.
The bike’s fitness meter unit is battery-powered. It uses two AA batteries which are included. It starts up when you begin pedaling, and automatically turns off if it doesn’t detect any activity on the bike.
Assembly and Maintenance
The main body of the bike comes pre-assembled. The flywheel, the crankset, the chain, and all the other drive and resistance elements are already attached to the main frame. You only need to add the base bars of the bike, the seat post, the seat, the two moving arms, the fitness meter, and the pedals. This shouldn’t take more than an hour. All the tools required for the assembly are included. Also, the manual provides step-by-step assembly instructions and suggestive illustrations.
For maintenance, it is recommended to periodically lubricate the chain. Standard chain oil should be a good choice for this. The flywheel may accumulate dust, so you can vacuum it (from the outside) without any disassembly. Other than this, it is recommended to periodically check for loose bolts and parts.
The Pros
- Fairly sturdy frame for a light-capacity bike;
- Transport wheels on the front base;
- Adjustable levelers on the rear base;
- Mobile handlebars for arms workouts;
- 4-way adjustable seat;
- Air resistance system, great for interval workouts;
- Nylon band resistance adjustment system;
- Standard chain drive;
- Exercise meter which can track time, distance, speed, and calories burned;
- Little maintenance required;
- Fairly quiet operation;
- Easy to assemble;
- Decent warranty.
The Cons
- No pulse reading function;
- No footrests;
- No backlight on the fitness meter.
Summary
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2618 is light-capacity upright bike featuring adjustable air resistance, a durable steel frame, and a 4-way adjustable seat. It also includes a standard fitness meter for tracking speed, distance, calories, and workout time. It’s a bike made for light to medium-intensity cardio workouts, muscle toning, intervals, and weight loss. And finally, it’s one of the most affordable air bikes available at the moment.