The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS is one of the best, decent, upright indoor bikes that will help you get fit at home.
I know you need an indoor exercise bike to improve your fitness and overall health at home. You are in the right place.
In this article, we shall discuss it in detail. Welcome to the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike Review. Below is a breakdown of what we’ll cover:
- About the Exerpeutic brand
- Pros of the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike
- Cons of the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike
- A comprehensive buyers guide on indoor upright bikes
- Benefits of using the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike
- What others are saying about the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike
- 3 alternatives to the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike
Final thoughts
Let’s go!
Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike Review
- Heavy Duty and High Durability steel frame construction with up to 400 lbs weight capacity. 20% more steel than the Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike for more maximum performance.
- An 8 level Magnetic Tension control system for an easier or more challenging workout.
- Folds to 1/2 the size, so it is uniquely compact; Folded Dimensions: 26.4 L X 24.8 W X 57.5 H
- Large comfortable seat cushion for people of any size, and easily adjustable to fit 51 to 65 user heights
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
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About the “Exerpeutic” brand
Exerpeutic is an American brand that primarily sells its range of fitness products on Amazon. These include spin bikes, trainers, foldable bikes, straight bikes, exercise mats, and much more.
Special Features (Pros) of Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS
Frame
The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike is the successor of the Exerpeutic 1200 series. It’s made using 20% more steel.
The result is a stronger, sturdier bike. Speaking of which, it can accommodate users weighing up to 400lbs. I like the x-design. It creates a better seating position.
Built right on the frame, is an accessory holder. It’s convenient for holding little things like your smartphone or wireless buds.
The bike measures 39 x 48.4 x 26.4 inches when in use. This is large enough to fit most people between 5’1” to 6’5” tall. It’s super lightweight and easy to move around. It weighs 51.6 lbs.
The bike is fitted with stabilizers. This helps maintain stability and allow for easy dragging of the bike. The front stabilizer is fitted with caster wheels to help with logistics. You need to fold it up before moving. The bases are fitted with plastic caps.
These allow for adjustable stability that works across most floors. They also offer an additional layer of anti-scratch protection.
Stability
The bike boasts a large, wide base. This makes it stable even at high RPMs. It’s not too light for accidental falls. Combine with the weight of the rider and you have a solid set up.
A standard pedal with toe straps is used. They fit nice and snuggly throughout your workout.
Note that it uses the common 9/16” thread. So you can always replace it with your favorite pedal. The drive system runs on a magnetic belt drive.
It delivers high torque and maintains a smooth cycle throughout all resistance levels. The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike uses a 3-point cracking system.
It provides a consistent, smooth pedaling action. The unit arrives with the X-frame already joined. The flywheel and drive compartments also come pre-installed.
On your side, you’ll need to install the pedals, stabilizers, handlebars with LCD, and seats. The whole process takes between 30-60 minutes.
A clear instruction manual is included. It’s easy to follow and you may not miss any step. This is meant to say that it’s a largely logical procedure.
All tools needed are packed in the box. Once the process is complete, the bike becomes very stable.
Resistance Unit
The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike runs on a manual, magnetic tension control system. It uses a magnetic brake pad to effect difficulty control.
This is determined by the proximity of the brakes to the flywheel. A dial style knob is mounted on the handlebar, right above the LCD.
It’s connected to the resistance unit via a cable. Each dial-up gradually increases resistance levels. This thing is meant for light to medium-intensity training. That said, unless you are a pro athlete, it may take a long time to outgrow the bike.
The transitions are seamless and the ride feels natural at the highest tension level.
To avoid knee injury, it’s recommended that you keep the resistance levels within the low to medium range. Then, focus on speed. But of course, this is entirely subject to personal preferences.
Console
At this price point, I’m impressed that Exerpeutic includes an on-board computer. It’s capable of tracking several variables including calories burned, distance, time, speed, scan, pulse, and odometer.
All this information is neatly summarized in the large monochrome LCD. It’s strategically positioned on the handlebars for better viewing angles.
It remains visible even under direct sunlight. There’s also an in-built heart rate sensor. It’s located on the handlebars.
It’s not super accurate but works well. The readings are transmitted to the LCD. There’s only one button- a mode button. It can be used to power on the device.
You can also scan through the different pages to choose what to display. The LCD powers off if you stop cycling for 4 minutes.
This is a power-saving strategy and I like it. By the way, the LCD uses a pair of AA batteries. They are easy to swap and last for months depending on quality. You can also put it in page mode. This displays each metric for a few seconds in rotation.
Comfort
The bike has a large, well-padded seat. It measures 14” wide and 9” long. It has a slight curvature on the front end. It’s perfect for long rides and for most people.
You are not likely to experience any pressure around unnecessary areas. Lol!
Unfortunately the seat only two-way adjustable-up and down.
However, the seat to handlebar proximity is decent and you’re likely to feel comfortable. The handlebar is fixed although still highly accessible.
Depending on your in-seam length, you may need to lift the seat. The x-frame design offers sufficient legroom for people up to 6’5” tall.
Price
The Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B1203 Trainer and the Schwinn A10 Upright Bike are the two closest competitors to the Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike.
Both are similar but in terms of value, The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike is chief.
It’s made of high-quality materials, it’s highly portable, requires no maintenance, and has all the essentials you need. This is a good deal.
Drawbacks (Cons) of Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS
User height limitations
Not suitable for people with extreme heights. Anything below 5’1” and above 6’4” may not work so well.
Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Buyers Guide
Indoor bikes offer competent workouts from the comfort of your house. They are easy to use and most require small space allocations.
When shopping for such bikes, you must find a model that best aligns with your environment, intentions, and circumstances. Which may be a challenge since there are many models. Fortunately, we are here to help.
Consider the following factors before investing your hard-earned money on an indoor bike:
1. Price
The number of dollars you pay for an indoor bike is somewhat directly proportional to its quality. A high price is likely to land you a bike made of durable materials, smooth rides, and generous accommodation for most people. The contrary is true for cheaper bikes. However, note that competition is getting stiffer in this segment.
This is a great thing for consumers. For instance, the bike we just reviewed costs way below $200 with shipping.
It offers a high-value proposition than some post $2,000 models. Instead of using the brand name as a guide, why not pick a unit with high ratings. It only means many people have bought it and can educate you about a thing or two on the bike.
2. Size
An upright bike should have enough space to accommodate your body. This includes your height and weight. Such information is typically displayed on the product information section on the vendor website.
3. Comfort
An ideal bike should have large, well-padded seats. Again, this works for the most part but remains subject to personal preferences. The handlebar should preferably be manipulatable as well. If not, then it should have a wide contact base for better reach.
You may find some models with padded handlebars which are also nice.
4. Durability
A durable bike needs to be made of durable materials. Although there are other durable materials such as carbon fiber, nothing beats metal.
And by metal, I mean steel. It’s relatively cheaper and widely available. It can also accommodate heavy weights without failure. The rest of the parts can be made of other tough materials aside from metal, as need be.
5. Adjustability and Mobility
The vertical and horizontal positions of the seat on an upright bike should be adjustable if possible. This allows different users to find the right comfort setting.
The same goes for handlebars as well. As obvious, the resistance levels should also be as wide as possible to ensure you stay challenged.
A foldable configuration is best for use in tight spaces. It’s also highly portable. Do you know what else improves portability? You guessed it right, a pair of wheels on the base.
6. Customer Service
A foldable bike should have a free-return policy along with a warranty. You are likely to get a longer warranty on the frame than on parts.
The whole process should be easy and free. Note that you may have to privately cover the shipping cost.
7. Support Programs
If an upright bike offers an app, please jump on it. Such platforms unlock more possibilities on the bike- videos, tutorials, and an interactive community. However, this may not be necessary especially if you’re shooting for an affordable bike.
Benefits of Exerpeutic Gold Foldable Exercise Bike
- Great value proposition.
- Stable and easy to assemble.
- It rides quite with the V-belt drive system.
- Compact and occupies a 5’*2.5’ area when fully unfolded.
- Made of durable steel with an impressive 400-lb weight limit.
Has excellent monitoring capabilities at its price point. It rocks a heart rate sensor and an LCD for vitals.
Low impact workouts with full leg extension. This improves your speed and duration on the bike while minimizing leg injury.
Super comfortable to ride. Thanks to its 3-point cranking system which delivers high torque and thus, a consistent pedaling motion. The seat is also large and well-padded.
What Other Are Saying About the Exerpeutic Gold Foldable Exercise Bike
After scouring the internet for reviews, I found the general response to be rather positive. Here’s a snip of what some verified buyers had to say about the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike:
One customer said:
Another customer said:
Another customer said:
Alternatives to the Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS
The Exerpeutic Gold Foldable Exercise Bike may not be for everyone. If that’s you, don’t worry. The following are 3 worthy alternatives:
1.Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Exercise Stationary Bike 4.5/5
First off, this bike can only accommodate up to 220 pounds. If you are above that, move on to the others. Anyways, you get a smooth chain drive system.
It’s coupled with a 22lb chromed flywheel. This delivers smooth rides with sufficient inertia to almost replicate actual bike riding.
It spots a large, well-padded seat that’s comfortable and can be adjusted in four ways- front, back, up, and down.
The handlebars are ergonomically designed for maximum comfort. With rubber foam paddles on the bars, you might find yourself overdoing it.
Meanwhile, there’s an LCD that keeps track of time, speed, distance, and calories burned.
Key features of the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Exercise Stationary Bike with Digital Monitor
- Comfortable
- Highly adjustable
- Durable steel frame
- Sufficient resistance
- Excellent build quality
Notable differences between the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Exercise Stationary Bike with Digital Monitor and The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike
- Larger
- Pricier
- Uses chain instead of belt drive
This bike is much like the Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike. The drive system and crack are on the front.
This time you get straight stabilizers that do a good job at preventing rocking at high RPMs. The magnetic belt drive resistance unit is set to deliver endless challenges.
There’s a tablet holder on the ergonomic handlebars. This is meant to hold your device as you access the ShareVgo app. It connects to accessories such as Bluetooth monitors to display your vitals.
People with heights between 4’11” and 6’1” with a weight of up to 220lbs can use this bike.
- LCD
- Foldable
- Easy setup
- Free-return policy
- Companion app with Bluetooth capability
- Pricier
- Bluetooth-enabled
- Has a companion app
3. Marcy Upright Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-708 4/5
The design of this thing is radically different. Both the seat and the handlebar unit are all connected to the centrally-located drive unit.
There you’ll find an 8-level belt-drive magnetic resistance compartment. The pedals are attached here. It’s smooth and delivers a wide range of simulated terrains. A convenient
LCD is also included on the handlebars.
It displays different information including odometer and displays time, speed, distance, and calories burned.
You get a standard counter-balanced pedal with 9/16” threads. They are comfortable and come with a strap for a custom fit. Overall, the steel frame promises a long service life.
Key features of the Marcy Upright Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-708
- LCD
- Well-priced
- Smooth ride
- Comfortable seat
- Standard pedals with straps
Notable differences between the Marcy Upright Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-708 and the Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike
- Smaller
- Cheaper
- Narrower supported user height ranges
Final thoughts
The Exerpeutic Gold Foldable Exercise Bike is a terrific indoor upright bike. It’s made of a durable steel frame with a high weight limit. It’s easy to assemble and offers comfortable rides.
You can always move it around as you wish due to its foldable design. With wide resistance limits, most riders are set to get some work on this bike.
I would highly recommend the Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike to anyone seeking to start getting fit from home- small or large.
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