| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness meter | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunny SF-B2630 Check Discounted Price | L:43.5" W:25" H:53" | 220 lbs | Magnetic, 8 levels | Time, Distance, Speed, Total distance, Calories, Pulse, SCAN, Goals | Frame: 3 years Parts: 90 days |
The Sunny SF-B2630 is one of the upright magnetic bikes with mobile handlebars released by Sunny Health & Fitness in 2017. It’s an affordable trainer, designed for home use but does offer an excellent level of comfort. It’s a bike that features a similar range of features and training possibilities as the Marcy Air 1 or the Sunny SF-B2706, but as opposed to these, it has a manual magnetic resistance system.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 43.5″L x 25″W x 53″H (110.5L x 63.5W x 135H cm)
- Assembled weight: 72 lbs (32.6 kg)
- Supported weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Handlebars: Mobile
- Seat: 4-way adjustable
- Drive: Belt
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Fitness meter: Time, speed, distance, total distance, calories, pulse, SCAN
- Warranty: Frame 3 years / Parts 90 days
Frame construction
Since it’s a trainer made for home use, the Sunny SF-B2630 doesn’t offer an extraordinary weight capacity. It’s only rated for a maximum user capacity of 220 lbs (100 kg). However, it
does have a sturdy construction and stable construction. Also, the rear base caps serve as adjustable stabilizers; they have a polygonal design and can rotate offering the possibility to perfectly level the trainer on any type of flooring.
This trainer is not an extremely heavy one. Fully assembled, it weighs approx. 72 lbs (32.6 kg) and therefore it’s not difficult to assemble or move. Plus, its front base features a set of wheels which facilitate its relocation.
Although the bike’s main frame is steel-made, its construction also integrates several plastic parts. These are the covers of the flywheel and pulley and several other small covers. All the steel parts are coated with a rust-resistant paint, light gray in color, this being the only color available for this trainer. Despite the corrosion-resistant paint finish, this is a trainer for indoor use only; if stored and used outside, some of its other parts or bolts may eventually catch rust.
The Sunny SF-B2630 upright bike isn’t a large fitness machine. With the frame fully assembled, it only takes 43.5″L x 25″W (110.5 x 63.5 cm) of floor space, while its highest point is given by the handlebars which reach a height of approx. 53″ (135 cm). These being said, the bike can fit well even to a small room or apartment, but it is recommended to allow a clearance of at least two feet on each side, and at least one foot of clearance at the front and rear, for safe operation and an easy entry and exit.
Seat and handlebars
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2630 upright bike is equipped with a standard saddle. This type of saddle is a bit wider than the average seat of most spin bikes, such as the Spinner Edge,
for example. It’s 10.5″ (26.6 cm) long and 9.5″ (24.1 cm) wide offering plenty of contact surface; it also integrates a thin layer of padding for optimal comfort.
The standard attachment system to the adjustment bar offers plenty of replacement possibilities. It also allows you to slightly tilt it backward or forward. Apart from the tilting possibilities, the seat is 4-way adjustable (up, down, forward, and backward). Therefore, it can accommodate users with an inseam between 29″ and 38″ (73.6 – 96.5 cm); in other words, it should fit users between 4’10” and 6’5″ (147 – 196 cm).
This upright bike cross-trainer only has a set of mobile handlebars which are attached to the pedals. This being said, the handlebars will move for as long as the pedals are moving, and vice-versa. They cannot be locked in place or moved independently from the pedals.
The handlebars are non-adjustable; they’re equipped with rubberized grips to provides optimal adherence and comfort. They integrate stainless steel pulse sensors so that the unit’s console can monitor your heart rate.
Resistance system
The Sunny SF-B2630 upright bike cross-trainer is equipped with a manual magnetic resistance system. This means you don’t have to connect it to a power source. Also, the console does not
control its resistance.
The bike’s resistance system consists of a small magnetic brake attached to the lever on the console mast through a steel cable. By pressing the lever down, the magnetic brake comes closer to the bike’s metallic flywheel increasing resistance.
There are 8 distinct resistance settings marked on the adjustment lever. The top, 1-3 levels provide a light resistance, great for recovery training. Conversely, the lowest 7-8 settings offer the possibility to achieve a higher burn and execute training routines of superior intensity. But as a general idea, the highest resistance setting isn’t extremely difficult; it can be labeled as mid-range resistance.
Drive system and elements
Since it’s a trainer equipped with a magnetic resistance system, it has a belt transmission. It uses a durable, stretch-resistant rubber belt. Just as any belt drive system it comes with several
advantages. First of all, it promotes a silent pedaling motion. Second of all, it generates less vibration than a chain. And finally, it doesn’t require any lubrication.
The bike integrates a small metallic flywheel. Its weight is not specified, but as for other trainers in this range, such as the Kettler AXOS M-LA for example, it should weigh between 10-16 lbs (4.5 – 7.2 kg). This flywheel is perimeter weighted which means that it provides quite a bit of inertia and consistency for its momentum. It also delivers a smooth and steady motion. The flywheel is not bi-directional, though. The manual specifies that the bike does not support reverse pedaling; this may cause damage to the internal components.
The crankset consists of a fairly large pulley and two solid steel crank arms. The pedals are made of durable nylon material, featuring a non-slip surface and adjustable straps. They’re weighted in order to always turn face-up for ease of foot placement. They also have standard threads, so replacements for them are widely available.
Console
Although the trainer’s console does not have fancy features such as Bluetooth connectivity or pre-set workout programs, it does offer quite a bit more than a basic unit. First of all, it has an
LCD display with large digits, easy to read. It can read your pulse via the sensors integrated into the handlebars, a feature that the basic units do not have. It also integrates a media rack so that you can place your tablet, smartphone or a magazine, for a bit of entertainment during the workout sessions.
Along with the pulse reading, the console also tracks time, distance, total distance, speed, and calories. There are only miles/MPH options for distance and speed. It also doesn’t offer the option of user data input such as weight, age, or gender, so the calorie reading is only an estimate, not extremely accurate. But on the other hand, there is a table with the optimal heart rate ranges depending on age, under the unit’s tablet holder. This should help you maintain your heart rate within the required interval for your desired training goal.
The console offers the possibility to set goals for time, distance, pulse, and calories. In other words, you can set up a target value for any of these metrics and it will countdown from it until it reaches zero.
The unit is easy to use. First of all, it’s battery powered; it uses 2 AA batteries which are included. It has three buttons – MODE, SET, and RESET. Mode toggles the unit’s SCAN function ON/OFF. When the SCAN function is ON, all the workout metrics are rotated in a sequence, each one being shown for 4 seconds. The SET key allows you to set goals for time, distance, calories, and pulse. And the RESET button clears all the values to zero.
The unit also has a sleep mode function. It will enter its sleep mode after several minutes of inactivity. To turn it back on you can either press any of the buttons or begin pedaling.
Assembly and Maintenance
The trainer’s internal mechanism along with the base bar and half of the console mast comes pre-assembled and covered by the plastic side shrouds. Therefore, you will only need to attach the base bars, the other half of the console mast, the bars that connect the pedals to the moving arms, the moving arms, the pedals, the seat, and the console. This may take up to an hour, but it’s not at all difficult; the manual provides very suggestive schematics and step-by-step assembly instructions. Also, all the tools you’ll need for assembly are included.
This Sunny exercise bike is basically maintenance-free. Once it is assembled you only need to periodically dust it and check for loose bolts or parts.
The Pros
- Sturdy steel frame;
- Adjustable stabilizers on the rear base;
- Transport wheels;
- 4-way adjustable, standard seat, easy to replace if needed;
- Smooth, silent magnetic resistance;
- Standard weighted pedals with adjustable straps;
- Hand-grips with integrated pulse sensors;
- Fitness meter with a large LCD display which can track time, distance, total distance, speed, calories, and pulse;
- Goal settings for time, distance, calories, and pulse;
- Tablet holder included;
- Little maintenance required;
- Easy to set-up.
The Cons
- No bottle holder;
- The console doesn’t have backlight.
Summary
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2630 is an upright cross-trainer featuring a manual-magnetic resistance system, a 4-way adjustable seat, and mobile handlebars with pulse sensors. It’s equipped with a basic console type which can track your pulse, time, distance, total distance, speed, and calories. It’s an excellent trainer for light to medium cardio workouts, stamina development, muscle toning and weight loss. And finally, it’s one of the most affordable trainers of this type, currently available for less than $300.