| Unit | Size | Assembled weight | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunny SF-B2906 Check Discounted Price | L:35" W:20.5" H:51.5" | 43.4 lbs | 240 lbs | Manual magnetic, 8 levels | Time, Distance, Odometer, Speed, Calories, Pulse, Scan, Goals |
Although the Sunny SF-B2906 is one of the upright bikes released by Sunny Health & Fitness in 2019, it is still available in 2020. It’s an exercise bike made for home use, designed for light cardio workouts. In terms of features, it can be compared with the Marcy ME708 bike but comes with a fitness monitor with a few extra features and a pulse reading function.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 35L x 20.5W x 51.5H inches (89L x 52W x 131H cm)
- Assembled weight: 43.4 lbs (19.6 kg)
- Weight capacity: 240 lbs (109 kg)
- Seat: Adjustable
- Handlebars: Adjustable
- Resistance: Manual magnetic, 8 levels
- Fitness monitor: Time, speed, distance, total distance, calories burned, pulse, goals, scan
- Extras: Device holder
- Warranty: Frame 3 years / Parts 180 days
Frame construction
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2906 features a steel frame combining cylindrical, rectangular, and oval tubes
in its construction. The most striking feature of this particular Sunny exercise bike is the long front upright bar which aims to provide a healthier position even for the tallest users. All the steel tubes in the bike’s construction are double-coated with a corrosion-resistant paint finish. The color used is light gray, this being the only color available for this bike. The covers of the drive and resistance elements are made of thermoplastic material; they’re also gray to match the rest of the bike.
Like many other light-capacity upright bikes, the Sunny SF-B2906 is not a bulky fitness machine. With all the parts assembled, it is only 35″ (89 cm) long, and 20.5″ (52 cm) wide. Also, its highest point is given by the handlebar which reaches approx. 51.5″ (131 cm) above floor level. It is recommended, though, to leave at least two feet of clearance all around the bike for ease of access and safe usage.
The bike doesn’t have a step-through design like the Circuit Fitness AMZ-594U, for example. However, stepping over its drive and resistance unit and taking position on the seat shouldn’t be too difficult. The section between the seat tube and the front upright tube is only approx. 15″ (38 cm) above floor level.
The fully assembled bike is fairly light as well. Its net weight is only 43.4 lbs (19.6 kg). Therefore, it can be carried and assembled by only one person. Once it is assembled, it can easily be moved as its front base stabilizer integrates two transport wheels. Also, its rear stabilizer features two polygonal caps which can be rotated to serve as floor levelers.
Seat and handlebars
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2906 upright exercise bike includes a fairly large saddle, approx. 11″ (28 cm)
long, and 10″ (25.4 cm) wide, so it provides plenty of contact surface. Its top is constructed on a hard plastic shell with a high-density foam cover. Its surface is contoured to provide extra breathability.
The seat features a 3-bolt attachment system. Its post features a triangular plate at the top to which the saddle attaches via three bolts. The seat does not have a horizontal slider feature for front to back adjustment, but its upright post does have 9 adjustment positions. This being said, the bike can accommodate users with an inseam between 25.5″ and 35″ (65 – 89 cm). In other words, it should fit users up to 6’3″ (190 cm) allowing a complete range of motion. It is also rated for a maximum user weight capacity of 240 lbs (109 kg).
The bike is equipped with a 3-grip handlebar. It offers the possibility to adopt a climbing grip, a standard parallel grip, and a low grip. The handlebar is non-adjustable. It attaches to the front mast of the bike via two screws so you cannot adjust its angle or its height.
The bike’s handlebar is equipped with two metallic pulse sensors. They are integrated into the lower grips. Also, the bike’s grips feature high-density foam covers for optimal comfort.
Resistance and drive
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2906 upright bike is equipped with a manual magnetic resistance system. 
Therefore, you don’t need an adapter or a power source for it in order to adjust the resistance. But on the other hand, the bike cannot adjust the resistance automatically and the included fitness monitor does not have pre-set workout programs.
The main resistance elements are the tension knob visible at the top of the front upright bar and an internal magnetic brake connected to it through a steel cable. Therefore, when you turn the knob, the magnetic brake moves either closer or farther from the flywheel which increases or decreases the pedaling difficulty.
The bike makes available 8 tension levels. The first one is fairly light, great for recovery training, workout warm-ups, or muscle toning. The 8th tension level provides considerably more pedaling difficulty, simulating a hill climb and offering the possibility to burn more calories.
The bike is equipped with a perimeter-weighted flywheel. This type of construction improves motion stability and inertia providing a more consistent pedaling feel. However, the flywheel is not too heavy. Its exact weight is not specified, but considering that the bike doesn’t weigh more than 43.4 lbs (19.6 kg), the flywheel probably weighs up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg) only.
The flywheel is bi-directional. This being said, you can pedal in reverse if you want to diversify your workouts. However, coasting is not possible on this bike, and when pedaling in reverse, you should get the same pedaling resistance while the fitness monitor should continue to track distance traveled, calories, etc.
Like most other magnetic resistance exercise bikes, the Sunny SF-B2906 model is equipped with a belt drivetrain. This means that you don’t need to take the bike’s main unit apart to lubricate the drivetrain; a belt does not require lubrication as a chain. Also, the belt drive system contributes to the overall smoothness of the ride as it generates less vibration than a chain.
The bike’s crankset features short, cylindrical arms, steel-made, and chrome plated. Evidently, it’s not made for spin workouts, so standing up on the pedals is not recommended. The pedals are made from a durable thermoplastic material. They have adjustable straps and a textured surface for improved foot stability. They also have a self-leveling design.
Fitness monitor
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2906 upright bike comes with a fairly basic fitness monitor. It features
an LCD display that tracks time, distance, total distance, speed, calories, and pulse. Speed and distance are shown in MPH and miles; there is no option for changing them to metric units. Also, the monitor unit is not telemetric. It can only monitor your pulse if you hold on to the integrated sensors. It cannot communicate with a wireless HR chest strap.
The monitor unit has three buttons. The Mode button allows you to scroll through the workout metrics and select the one that you want to view on the display. It also offers the possibility to select the Scan Mode which rotates all the metrics showing each one for 6 seconds.
The Set button covers the target setting function. It gives you the possibility to select a workout target for time, distance, and calories. When a target is selected, the monitor counts down from the selected value until it reaches zero. And finally, the Reset button clears all the values on the monitor except the odometer which can only be reset if you remove the batteries.
The unit requires two AAA batteries as its power source which are included. It starts up when you press one of the buttons or when you begin pedaling. It also automatically turns off after 4 minutes of inactivity on the bike.
Two other notable features to mention here are the device holder and the heart rate zone sticker. The device holder consists of a small shelf placed above the display. It is large enough to accommodate most tablets and smartphones. However, the monitor unit does not have a USB port or other ports to connect your device to it. The HR sticker is a nice touch to have at hand if you want to keep in a certain BPM zone without consulting the manual.
Assembly and Maintenance
The main unit of the bike with the base frame, belt, crankset, flywheel, and resistance system, comes pre-assembled. You only need to attach the two base stabilizers, the pedals, the seat post, the saddle, the front upright bar, the handlebars, and the performance monitor. This shouldn’t take more than an hour of your time. The task is fairly simple, the manual provides clear assembly instructions, and all the necessary tools are included.
Once the bike is assembled, you don’t have to worry too much about maintenance. The internal parts and the drive train don’t require any lubrication. So, you only have to keep the bike clean, and periodically check if all the parts still function properly and hold tight in place.
The Pros
- Sturdy construction – can support users up to 240 lbs;
- Compact design;
- Adjustable stabilizers on the rear base;
- Transport wheels;
- Pulse sensors integrated into the handlebar;
- Bi-directional flywheel;
- Smooth, frictionless magnetic resistance;
- Whisper-quiet belt drive;
- Weighted pedals with straps;
- Performance monitor included – it tracks time, distance, total distance, calories, speed, and pulse;
- Goal settings for time, distance, and calories;
- HRC sticker;
- Device holder;
- Easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required;
- Decent warranty.
The Cons
- No bottle holder;
- No online connectivity;
- No handlebar adjustability.
Summary
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2906 is an upright exercise bike made for home use, equipped with a manual magnetic resistance system. It offers 8 levels of resistance, a maximum user capacity of 240 lbs, and a console that tracks all the important workout metrics. It’s an excellent machine for light cardio training, muscle toning, stamina development, and weight loss. It’s also an affordable bike currently available for less than $250.