The Schwinn 170 Upright Bike is a solid bike that can be used for several things: weight loss, indoor training during the cold winter months, to build leg strength, and physical therapy, among other things. It can help save you valuable commuting time to and from the gym and pricey membership fees.
I wrote this review to answer any questions you may have and to make sure there are no surprises if/when you decide to buy it. I cover a number of topics including what you should know before buying, who the bike is for (and not for), popular features and specs, and some alternative options in case it’s not a good fit for you.
Article Contents
Overview
| Our Rating |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Pros | Goal tracking, smooth ride, smooth/sturdy ride, easy assembly, warranty |
| Cons | Can’t stand and pedal, customer service, minimal instructions, seat can be uncomfortable |
Should You Buy This Bike?
The Schwinn 170 Upright Bike is a stationary bike that promises a “healthier you”. It has more resistance levels (25), workout programs (29), and user profiles (5) than its previous model — the Schwinn 130. It’s extremely quiet with a dual-action monitor and a place to charge your phone and/or plugin your iPad for easy multitasking.
Reasons to buy:
- Reliable exercise bike for the entire family
- Need to train indoors during the cold winter months
- Want to lose weight, improve endurance, mobility, leg strength
Reasons not to buy:
- Hard to do HIIT training because you can’t stand and pedal (better option: Schwinn IC2 Spin Bike)
- No back support (better option: Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike)
- Want to lose weight but aren’t willing to change your diet
3 Things to Consider Before Buying
If you’re seriously considering buying the Schwinn 170 Upright Bike, here’s what you need to know beforehand:
1. User manual is limited: If you like reading and understanding how everything works before using a product, you might find yourself a little disappointed as the included user manual is limited. The full user manual can be downloaded and printed from here.
2. Broken/missing parts: Occasionally Schwinn products get damaged during shipping and come with broken or missing parts. If this happens, call Nautilus Customer Care (Schwinn’s parent company) at 1-800- 605-3369.
3. Customer service: Some people complain about sub-par customer service by Nautilus and Schwinn. Nautilus is the parent company and is usually more reliable than Schwinn in getting issues handled. You can reach them at 1-800- 605-3369.
Popular Features
Quiet: Watch TV, read a book, or have a conversation without any competing noise.
Sturdy: Frame is 60 lbs, no need to worry about tipping/rocking, especially during intense workouts.
25 resistance levels: Hard to outgrow a bike with so many resistance levels, you can continue to push yourself as your fitness level improves. 5 more resistance levels than the previous model (Scwhinn 130 Upright Bike).
29 workout programs: Makes exercise less intimidating, spares you from having to create your own workout, and keeps you engaged. Cycling through the same handful of workouts gets boring fast.
Dual-track display: Makes multi-tasking a breeze. You can cover the main screen with a book or an iPad (or whatever), and still track your workout on the second (smaller) screen underneath.
The second display is perfect for when your iPad is covering the main screen.
4 user profiles: Great if multiple people are using the bike. Save your stats and preferences to a user profile for safe keeping, no need to worry about erasing your wife’s settings.
Goal tracking: Do you like challenging yourself? You’ll love the goal-tracking features. Track your personal bests and keep tabs on your progress.
Water bottle holder: Easy access to hydration, avoid having to bend over during your workout to grab a bottle off the floor.
MP3 with speakers: Take off those uncomfortable headphones and play music on the speakers directly from your phone or music device.
USB charging port: Make sure your phone or iPad doesn’t die on you during your workout.
Transport wheels: Easily maneuver the bike around your home, tilt the bike on its front onto the wheels and push/pull.
Foam padded seat: So being uncomfortable isn’t a reason to cut your workout short.
If the seat is uncomfortable, sit on a towel or pillow, or buy a gel pad seat cover for extra padding.
Other Good Choices
The Schwinn 170 Upright Bike is an overall great exercise bike but that doesn’t mean it’s great for everyone. Common reasons people pass on this bike include price, because they have back problems, or because you can’t stand and pedal. Here are a few alternatives if this bike doesn’t work for you:
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
- Similar price range as the Schwinn 170
- More back support
- 20 resistance levels
- 22 built-in workouts
- Dual-track monitor
- Extremely quiet
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B901
- Infinite levels of resistance
- Easily stand and pedal (40lb chrome flywheel, very sturdy)
- Leather padded seat for extra comfort
- Fully adjustable seat/pedals/handlebars
- 3-year warranty with 90-days on parts.
Exerpeutic 900XL Recumbent Bike
- Extremely quiet
- More back support
- Cheaper than the Schwinn 170
- Wide padded seat for extra comfort
- Big/easy-to-read LCD screen that displays distance, calories, time, speed, and heart rate info
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse
- Easy to move around
- Hand pulse monitors
- Max. weight is 300 lbs
- Light/compact (easy storage)
- Comfortably fits anyone from 5’3 to 6’1
- Cheaper alternative (one of the most popular folding bikes on Amazon)
To summarize, if you want an exercise bike at home that you can use for weight loss, leg strength and mobility, physical therapy, or to periodically relieve tension, you’ll be more than happy with the Schwinn 170.
It has 29 built-in workout programs and 25 resistance levels to keep your workouts fun and exciting, a USB charging port so your phone doesn’t die, Bluetooth for simple data syncing, built-in speakers, and a dual-screen display that makes multitasking (reading/watching TV) very easy.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
More Reviews:
I grew up in Canada, played college basketball, and moved to California in 2014. Foam rolling is my best friend. More about my story here.