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Schwinn 130 vs 170 – Explore The Differences And Features (With Reviews and FAQ)

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woman on a Schwinn 130 elliptical

Generally speaking, an upright exercise bike is the closest you can get to actual biking, all in the comfort of your home. But, all these modern upright bikes come with all sorts of features, which can often be confusing. In the following article, we are going to address the case of two Schwinn exercise bikes and settle the Schwinn 130 vs 170 debate.

Ultimately, these bikes come with an electronic console featuring a display that shows all kinds of metrics and other information about your heart rate, mileage, calories spent, and total training time. This seemingly simple contraption can offer some decent full-body training.

So, let’s dig in and see the difference between Schwinn 130 and 170. We prepared reviews to make it all easier, and after every review, you’ll find an FAQ section. Let’s go!

Table of Contents

Schwinn 130 Vs 170 Comparison Chart

Schwinn 130
Schwinn Fitness 130 Upright Bike
Schwinn 170
Schwinn Fitness 170 Upright Bike
Product
Product
Schwinn Fitness 130 Upright Bike
Schwinn Fitness 170 Upright Bike
Resistance Levels
Resistance Levels
16 magnetic resistance levels
25 magnetic resistance levels
Workout Programs
Workout Programs
13 Stanard Profile Workout Programs
29 (12 profile, 9 heart rate control, 4 custom, 2 fitness tests, 1 recovery test, 1 quick start)
Bluetooth Support
Bluetooth Support
Yes
Yes
Heart Rate Tracking
Heart Rate Tracking
Yes
Grip and Telemetry
Performance Tracking
Performance Tracking
Yes (Explore The World App)
Yes (Explore The World App)
Display
Display
5.5" Segmented LCD
DualTrack™ 2 blue backlit LCD window system
Quick Keys
Quick Keys
10 (for resistance adjustments)
10 keys for quick resistance adjustment
Handlebars
Handlebars
Adjustible in prone and upright position
Angle adjustability and forearm rest
Pedals
Pedals
Oversized pedals with toe straps
Oversized pedals with toe straps with a 3-piece crank system
Fan
Fan
No
Yes (3-speed fan)
Sound System
Sound System
No
Yes – sealed acoustic chamber
Usb Charging Port
Usb Charging Port
No
Yes
Seat
Seat
Padded contoured seat
Large contoured seat / Fore & aft adjustments / Post attachment system
Water Bottle Holder
Water Bottle Holder
Yes
Yes
Tablet/Phone/Book Holder
Tablet/Phone/Book Holder
Yes
Yes
Transport Wheels
Transport Wheels
Yes
Yes
Bike Weight
Bike Weight
58.4 lbs. (26.5 kg)
62.8 lbs (28.5 kg)
Weight Capacity
Weight Capacity
300 lbs. (136 kg)
300 lbs. (136 kg)
Dimensions
Dimensions
41.3" L x 21.4" W x 54.5" H (104.9 x 54.4 x 138.4 cm)
41.3" L x 21.4" W x 55.6" H (105 x 54 x 141 cm)
Warranty
Warranty
Frame: 10 years / Parts: 2 years / Electronics: 1 year / Labor: 90 days
Frame: 10 years / Parts: 2 years / Electronics: 1 year / Labor: 90 days

As you can see, both Schwinn 130 and 170 come with all sorts of quality-of-life features. However, if you inspect the differences closely, you can also see that the Schwinn 170 offers a bit more comfort (at a slightly higher price). All in all, you can get a solid workout session from both models.

Now, let’s see what some of the more significant differences are.

Schwinn 130 vs 170 – Main Differences

Console Comparison

Schwinn 130 Console

Schwinn 130 console

Schwinn 170 Console

Schwinn 170 console

Similar to other Schwinn models, When it comes to consoles the upgraded model (in this case the Schwinn 170) comes with an improved DualTrack blue backlit LCD screen. If you are a fan of a simpler approach, you will probably get a lot even from the less advanced 5.5″ LCD screen you can find on Schwinn 130.

Other distinct features

When it comes to the Schwinn 130 vs 170 debate, the differences aren’t bells and whistles only. For example, Schwinn 130 has a 1-piece crank pedal system, which is solid but won’t feel as smooth as the 3-piece crank pedals of Schwinn 170.

And, if you are planning to exercise every or every other day, you should probably consider the seat. The Schwinn 130 has a nice padded seat, but it comes with little adjustability. With the Schwinn 170 model, you also get to enjoy your favorite tunes, since it comes with a sealed-chamber sound system.

Schwinn 130 vs 170 – The Reviews

Schwinn 130 Review
Schwinn Fitness 130 Upright Bike

Schwinn 130 isn’t exactly a high-end exercising machine and may lag behind some market leaders. On the other hand, it will still be a great pick if all you want is an affordable and reliable exercising machine with a limited set of features.

With its 13 preset exercising programs and 16 resistance levels, it’s still fairly versatile and will be great for both beginners and experienced fitness enthusiasts. The preset routines include 4 beginner programs, 4 advanced programs, and an adjustable workout routine.

There are only 2 user profiles that allow downloading and syncing your workout data to health-tracking apps (Schwinn offers sync with MyFitnessPal app). This should not be a problem if up to two people are using the bike on the regular. 

The 5.5" LCD display, although it has no backlight, will provide you with all the usefull workout info. Through the display, you can track time, RPM, distance, heart rate (grip), speed, calories burned, heart zone indicators, etc. 

The seat looks comfortable and nicely padded. It is also removable. This means that you can take the seat off any time you want to replace it with another one you like better. And you can easily adjust its height for your size. By the way, the handlebars are adjustable too, so it’s great to know this model can be tweaked and tuned according to your personal needs.

Lastly, the frame looks stable and solid so the machine doesn’t jiggle and wobble even during high-intensity workouts at the highest resistance levels. And the bike is very quiet too.

 Pros:

  • Nice and affordable workout machine for personal use
  • 13 preset exercising programs and 16 resistance levels are great for beginners
  • Sturdy enough to endure up to 300 lbs of weight

Schwinn 130 FAQ

1. What’s the seat like? Is it fit for long training sessions?

The Schwinn 130 looks like a regular mountain bike seat, so you can’t exactly expect premium comfort. It’s quite small and contoured so it might not feel very comfortable during a lengthy workout. It’s doesn’t seem to be a problem, though, as you can easily replace it with a larger one whenever you feel like it.

2. How easy is it to assemble?

This stationary bike comes with a pre-assembled frame, so you shouldn’t worry about spending hours trying to figure out what goes where. You only have to attach a few things to complete the assembly, so it’s both easy and fast.

3. I’ve plugged the bike into the outlet but the console still doesn’t work. What’s the issue?

You’ll have to push the Power button on the console to make it work as it doesn’t switch on automatically.

Schwinn 170 Review
Schwinn Fitness 170 Upright Bike

It’s safe to say that this model is a more advanced and feature-packed version of the Schwinn 130 bike. While they have a lot in common, Schwinn 170 offers more versatility, more comfort, and a wider choice of features. Naturally, all of this comes at a higher price as well. However, it remains within the mid-range budget category.

This upright exercising bike has 29 workout programs and 25 resistance levels, which makes it a better choice for advanced users. There are also 4 user profiles, so it’s better suited for an entire family. The workout programs include - 12 standard profiles, 9 heart rate control, 4 custom, 2 fitness tests, 1 recovery test, and 1 quick start program.

Schwinn 170 also has a Dual Track LCD but this time it had a bright blue backlight that makes all information easily visible in low-light conditions. 

The manufacturer paid more attention to comfort enhancement with this bike. The padded seat is larger and more comfortable. The adjustable handlebars are padded too. When it comes to the pedals, they are connected via a 3-piece crank system, which offers a smoother riding experience. 

Besides the hand-grip heart rate sensors you can see in the Schwinn 130, this bike also offers to use a telemetric heart rate tracker with a chest strap. The chest straps, however, don’t come in the package and have to be purchased separately.

Pros:

  • 29 workout programs with 25 magnetic resistance levels
  • A total of 4 user profiles
  • Sound system, a USB charging port, and a backlit Dual LCD monitor

Schwinn 170 FAQ

1. How noisy is this bike?

Schwinn 170 works very smoothly, therefore, the noise levels are pretty low. And, if you are into listening to music or watching a podcast while you ride, the onboard sound system will provide you with clear and decently loud output.

2. Is Schwinn 170 sutiable for shorter individuals?

Thanks to the fact that it has many adjustable parts, including the seat and the handlebars, you will be able to ride the bike, regardless of how tall you are.

3. What’s this bike’s weight?

It’s less than 80 pounds, so it’s quite easy to lift and carry around. it weighs 68.2 pounds to be exact.

Types Of Exercise Bikes On The Market:

1. Upright

These are very similar to regular bikes. If you are a big fan of road bikes who enjoys the challenging intensity of a racing bike ride, so you can try it in the comfort of your home with a machine like this. Schwinn 130 and 170 are perfect examples of upright bikes.

2. Recumbent

This type of exercise bike offers more comfort for your back and joints and is generally great for beginners and those who prefer to take it easy and slow. Thanks to the reclining position where your legs are stretched forward, users don’t feel any pressure on their spinal and lower back muscles. If you are interested in what Schwinn has to offer, we covered their recumbent bikes in the Schwinn 230 vs 270 articles.

3. Portable

Portable bikes are machines that don’t look like regular bikes. There are no handlebars and no bike seats, and they don’t offer any challenging cardio workout. So, they are widely used as post-trauma training equipment at rehabilitation clinics. They are usually much more affordable than their stationary counterparts, don’t take much space, and can be easily carried around.

4. Ellipticals

While not exactly bikes, ellipticals are based on the same principle. The exercises ellipticals offer are low-impact, and the benefits of using an elliptical are all over the internet. Ellipticals can tackle all larger muscle groups, all while keeping the exercise low-impact on your joints.

Other Recommendations

If you are interested in Schwinn exercise equipment, but you aren’t sure whether to go with an upright bike (like Schwinn 130 and 170), take a look at these interesting choices:

Conclusion

Both Schwinn 130 and Schwinn 170 are well-made, solid workout machines. Ultimately, they’re well-designed and made with a focus on quality. However, there are distinct differences between them, and the Schwinn 130 vs 170 debate boils down to all those extra features we mentioned. It’s worth noting, however, that these differences don’t make one of the models worse or better. They are just targeted at different categories of users. Long story short, both options will serve you well, all you have to do is go through the features and see what suits you (and your budget, of course).

At The Home Dweller, we go through and research all sorts of homestead topics to supply you with valuable info and help you make informed purchases. If you found this article helpful, feel free to share it on social media – who knows, maybe a friend is about to start exercising at home.

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