| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Drive | Resistance | Console |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunny SF-B2956 Check Discounted Price | L:42.5" W:21" H:51" | 265 lbs | Belt | Manual magnetic, 8 levels | Time, Distance, Calories, Speed, RPM, Pulse, Goals, Recovery, BMI |
The Sunny SF-B2956 is one of the upright exercise bikes released by Sunny Health & Fitness in 2020. In terms of features, it is similar to the Sunny SF-B2952 upright bike; it has the same console and resistance system. However, if includes a slightly wider seat and a handlebar with longer grips.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 42.5L x 21W x 51H inches (108L x 53W x 130H cm)
- Assembled weight: 68.1 lbs (31 kg)
- Supported weight: 265 lbs (120 kg)
- Seat: 4-way adjustable
- Resistance: Manual magnetic, 8 levels
- Console: Time, distance, speed, RPM, calories, pulse, goals, BMI, recovery
- Extras: Tablet holder, bottle holder, HR zone sticker
- Warranty: Frame 3 years / Parts 180 days
Frame construction
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2956 upright bike features a steel frame, combining ovalized, triangular, 
and rectangular bars in its construction for improved aesthetics and sturdiness. The bike’s base with the drive and resistance elements features large ABS covers. All the steel bars are coated with a corrosion-resistant paint finish. The color used is gray, this being the only color available for this bike.
Similar to other upright bikes, the Sunny SF-B2956 is not a large fitness machine. It is only 42.5″ (108 cm) long, and 21″ (53 cm) wide. Therefore, it should fit pretty well even into a small room. However, it is recommended to leave at least 24″ (61 cm) of clearance all around it, for safe usage.
The bike is not extremely heavy; with all the parts assembled, it weighs only 68.1 lbs (31 kg). Plus, its front base is equipped with transport wheels for easy relocation. Both base bars are equipped with rubberized pads to improve the unit’s grip on the floor. The rear stabilizers are also adjustable.
Seat and handlebars
The Sunny SF-B2956 upright exercise bike is equipped with a large saddle made 
of polyurethane material and padded with a layer of foam. It is fairly large as well, 12.5″ (31.75 cm) long, and 12 (30.48 cm) wide, offering considerably more contact surface than a race bike saddle. It is also contoured for extra breathability.
The seat is four-way adjustable (up, down, front, back). Its upright post has several adjustment positions, while its horizontal slider offers a few extra inches of front-to-back adjustment. This being said, the bike is designed to accommodate users with an inseam between 27″ and 39″ (68.5 – 99 cm). Differently put, users between 5’0″ and 6’4″ (153 – 193 cm) should be able to use this Sunny exercise bike comfortably, with a complete range of motion. Also, the seat is rated for a maximum user weight capacity of 265 lbs (120 kg).
As opposed to the seat, the bike’s handlebar is non-adjustable. It attaches to the front post via two bolts. It does offer, though, a multi-grip design, with climbing grips at the top.
The bike’s handlebar is fully covered by a layer of rubber foam material to provide extra comfort. Its side grips integrate metallic pulse sensors, so by holding on to them, the console can monitor your heart rate and run its Recovery function.
Drive and resistance
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2956 upright bike is equipped with a belt drivetrain. This means
you don’t have to lubricate its transmission. Also, as opposed to a chain drive, the belt generates less vibration and contributes to the overall smoothness and quietness of the ride.
The bike is equipped with a perimeter-weighted flywheel. Its exact weight is not specified, but considering the 68.1 lbs (31 kg) net weight of the bike, it probably isn’t heavier than 15 lbs (6.8 kg). Due to the perimeter-weighted structure, the flywheel provides increased inertia which adds consistency to the ride. It is also bi-directional. However, when pedaling in reverse, you will benefit from the same resistance as when pedaling forward. Coasting is not possible on this exercise bike.
Similar to the Marcy NS-40504U bike, the Sunny SF-B2956 is equipped with a manual (non-motorized) magnetic resistance system. This means you don’t have to connect the bike to a power source and you don’t need a power cord or adapter for it. However, this also means that the bike cannot adjust the resistance automatically and does not have preset workout programs.
The main element of the resistance system is a magnetic brake which is connected to the tension knob on the front mast of the bike through a steel cable. By turning the knob, the brake moves closer to the flywheel which adds resistance to the ride.
There are 8 levels of resistance available on the bike’s tension knob. The first one delivers a fairly light resistance, great for recovery training or muscle toning. Conversely, the 8th tension level provides considerably more pedal resistance, simulating an uphill ride.
As opposed to the Sunny SF-B2952, this exercise bike is equipped with thicker crank arms. However, it still is an upright bike, so pedaling while standing up or other spin workouts are not recommended.
The included pedals have a weighted structure. Therefore, they are self-leveling; they’re designed to always turn face-up when you remove your feet from them. They’re also equipped with adjustable straps and have a textured surface for an improved grip.
Console
As we’ve mentioned above, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2956 is not a motorized exercise bike. 
Therefore, its console doesn’t have preset programs. It also does not have Bluetooth or online connectivity, and it is not compatible with any fitness app.
The unit features an LCD display (without backlight) divided into 6 sub-sections in order to show as many workout metrics at once. It tracks time, speed, distance, RPM, calories, and pulse. Also, when in idle mode, it shows the current date, clock, and room temperature. Speed and distance are shown in MPH and miles; there is no setting for metric units. Also, the console is not telemetric. This means it can only track your pulse if you hold on to the sensors incorporated into the handlebars. It cannot communicate with a wireless HR chest strap.
The console is very easy to use. It has 5 buttons – Recovery, Body Fat, Set, Mode, and Reset. The Recovery button initiates the pulse recovery function at the end of the workout. This counts the amount of time your heart takes to return to a normal BPM and based on the result, it will give you a fitness rating between F1 (excellent) and F6 (poor).
The Body Fat function calculates your body fat percentage based on your age, gender, height, and weight. In order to use it, you will have to input this data when prompted.
The Set button gives you the possibility to select workout targets for time, distance, calories, and pulse. If a target is selected for time, distance, or calories, the console counts down from the selected target until it reaches zero, notifying you with a beep that you have completed your goal. For pulse, the goal is a bit different. If a goal is selected, the console will notify you when you have reached the desired BPM.
The Mode button covers the selection function for the various values that you may input. It also allows you to scroll between the workout metrics that appear on the top, larger section of the display. You can also select the Scan Mode, so that the metrics on the large display section will automatically rotate, appearing for 6 seconds each. Finally, the Reset button clears all the values on the console.
Two other notable console features that we should mention here are the heart rate zone grid sticker and the tablet holder. The HRC sticker is placed on the top section of the console and shows a grid with the heart rate zones that you should aim for depending on your age, in order to benefit from a better aerobic output, fat burn, etc. The tablet holder consists of a small shelf between the HRC sticker area and the LCD display. It is large enough to accommodate any tablet. But it is important to mention that the bike’s console does not have any ports for connecting your phone or tablet to it.
Assembly and Maintenance
The main body of the bike comes pre-assembled, with the drive and resistance mechanism already in place, covered by the ABS guards. You only need to attach the seat post, the saddle, the front mast of the bike, the handlebars, the console, the two base bars, and the pedals. This shouldn’t take more than an hour. It is a fairly straightforward task. All the necessary assembly instructions are shown in the manual and a basic tool kit is also included.
Once the bike is assembled, you don’t have to worry too much about maintenance. The internal mechanism doesn’t need any lubrication. So, basically all you need to do is keep the bike clean and periodically inspect it for loose bolts or broken parts.
The Pros
- Sturdy construction – can support users up to 265 lbs;
- Compact design;
- Adjustable stabilizers on the rear base;
- Transport wheels on the front base;
- Pulse sensors integrated into the handlebar;
- Bi-directional flywheel;
- Smooth, frictionless magnetic resistance;
- Whisper-quiet belt drive;
- Weighted pedals with straps;
- Multi-window display console;
- Goal settings on the console;
- Recovery function;
- Body Fat percentage function;
- Date, clock, and room temperature readings;
- HRC sticker;
- Tablet holder;
- Bottle holder;
- Easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required;
- Decent warranty.
The Cons
- No backlight on the console display;
- No online connectivity.
Summary
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2956 is an upright exercise bike made for home use. It features an 8-level manual magnetic resistance system, a fairly sturdy frame rated for users up to 265 lbs, and a console with pulse recovery and BMI calculator. It’s an excellent machine for light to medium cardio workouts, muscle toning, stamina development, and weight loss. It’s also an affordable bike compared to most light-commercial models, offering excellent value for the price.