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Hello! Welcome to Nautilus R618 recumbent bike review. The Nautilus R618 recumbent exercise bike is one of the most modern and advanced types of recumbent exercise bikes available. Before we get to the Nautilus R618, let us first discuss some important things about the recumbent exercise bikes.
If you are a regular user of exercise bikes then you might as well know what I am going to say here. It is a little intro to exercise bikes mainly. Or more specifically, a short intro to the recumbent exercise bikes.
The recumbent exercise bikes are one of the most used stationary exercise bikes. The specialty of the recumbent exercise bikes is that they have the most comfortable features than any other exercise bikes. First of all, they have a big seat which also includes a backrest. Then comes the soft materials these seat and backrest are made of. In the other type of exercise bikes, you will not find such comfortable features.
Besides, there is a big reason behind this. While riding an exercise bike like the actual bicycles, the entire weight of your body lies on your back and the legs. But as the recumbent exercise bikes have a backrest to lean, most of the weight divide from your back and legs to your upper and lower back and legs and buttock. So the pressure on the leg and back reduces a lot.
For this reason, the doctors suggest people like elders and who have a problem in their back or legs to use a recumbent exercise bike instead of the other types of exercise bikes.
Now let us get back to our Nautilus R618 recumbent exercise bike review.
Product Descriptions
Construction
ConstructionAs we all know that the recumbent exercise bikes weigh more than normal exercise bikes. But there is also a big secret lying behind. They are ought to be strong as they need to bear more user weights than the other exercise bikes. So they are made with different types of heavy and strong materials which make them large and strong. For example, consider this Nautilus R618 recumbent exercise bike.
The framing of this machine is given by strong steel tubing. Moreover, a corrosion-resistant industrial powder coating is given to all of the steel made parts to make them further strong.
You can see from the picture that the backside of the machine is a bit inclined. This is the adjustable rail of the seat and backrest. This whole rail is made of aluminum although it looks like it has a natural finish.
Furthermore, most of the cover, safety and cosmetic parts of this bike are made of PVC. They are lighter than metals but they are very strong.
Moreover, if you look at the specs of this bike than you will see that the maximum user weight this bike supports is about 325 pounds. This is a lot of weight. So I guess you can easily understand that a machine that can support such heavyweight is obviously made of heavy and strong materials.
Resistance
The resistance system of this bike is a bit different from the typical type of resistance most exercise bikes have. It has magnetic resistance but not exactly the magnetic resistance. It has a motor assisted magnetic resistance system which is also known as the eddy current brake.
In the eddy current brake system, resistance is produced with the help of a small servo motor and a magnetic resistance pad. When you change the level of the resistance the servo motor will change the position of the magnetic brake element near the flywheel and in relation to the flywheel. This results in generating more or less resistance.
Now you might be thinking that as stuff like motor and this and that, it might be self-powering. But it is not.
And I almost forgot to mention, this Nautilus R618 has 25 different and adjustable levels of resistance. Among these levels, the levels at the first have light resistance. More suitable for the elderly people who just need light exercise for staying fit. However, the resistance levels at the last can provide challenging workouts. And the last levels, from 23-25, these levels can provide resistance as much as steep climbing.
Seat and Handlebars
The seat and handlebars of this bike are also a bit different from the regular seats found in the recumbent exercise bikes. You can see that there is a weird blue thing on the seat of this machine. But this weird blue thing is the best in the seat. The seat of this machine consists of a thick layer of gel cushioning along with a contoured surface. You will find such type of feature in very few other exercise bikes.
The backrest of this bike is also made to ensure maximum comfort to the users. First of all, it is made of high-quality heavy duty PVC for a strong structure. Then it has vented design for ensuring air circulation to keep you cool. It is also angled to provide extra support to your back in different postures.
You have already seen the sliding rail at the back of the seat. The rail slides to create various seating positions so that you can use the bike for hours comfortably.
You might ask why did I said the handlebars to be different. They look all the same just like the others. Well, firstly, there are not one but two pairs of handlebars in this machine. One with the seat and another one in front of you with the console.
The handlebars with the seat have ergonomically positioned heart rate sensors. Besides, though it does not move alone, it moves with the seat along the rail. The most interesting fact about it is that it has control of the resistance. Normally, we see that the control is always situated in the console. But this time it is with the handlebars.
Console
Here is an interesting fact; the console of this bike is also not like that of the other exercise bikes. It also has not one but two blue backlit LCD monitor to show the reading from your workout as well as the other control of the bike. And guess what, you can also change the position of the console by tilting for better view and glare.
To make you work out up to your full potential there are 29 pre-installed Nautilus training programs set in the bike. These training programs include weight loss training interval training, heart rate training and also customizable training options.
These 29 programs are from Nautilus. But there are 12 more workout programs installed in the console. These are named- Stairs, Pike’s Peak, Ride in the Park, Easy Tour, Stream Crossing, Mount Hood, Pyramids, Rolling Hills, Uphill Finish, Summit Pass, Intervals, Cross-Training.
The upper monitor shows the workout program profiles, resistance, goal, progress, etc. While the lower monitor displays the time, speed, distance, revolutions per minute, resistance level, amount of calories burnt, and the heart pulse rate.
There are four user profiles set in the machine. To create your user profile, you have to give the name, gender, age, weight, height. So that it can calculate results from your workout accurately.
Aside from its regular uses, there are many more additional features in this console. One of them is the Bluetooth connectivity. You can use the Bluetooth connectivity to connect with your phone or tablet or laptop with the console of the bike and use the Nautilus Trainer 2 online app.
There are also other online biking apps like the RideSocial with which this exercise bike is also compatible.
Pedals
The pedals with this exercise bike are weighted and with safety straps. Moreover, the rubber made safety straps are also adjustable so any size of feet can use the pedals.
Others
The above mentioned are the principal features of this Nautilus R618 recumbent exercise bike. But without them, there are also many other minor features in the machine. That includes the speakers, media tray, and cooling fan.
There is a sound system with two speakers along with the console of the bike. It is compatible with most of the MP3 players, phones, tablets. You can use the speakers to listen to music or for motivational purposes during workout.
The media tray is situated just under the display monitor. You can put your phone or tablet on it and use them as much as you want at the time of exercising.
And to charge your phone or tablet, there is also a USB charging port in the exercise bike.
There is also a small cooling fan with the console. Although the fan is not so strong, still it can help you cool down while workout. You can also change its position by tilting the console.
There are also two small transportation wheels with the bike which will help you to move this heavy piece of machine from one place to another easily.
Specifications
- Brand name : Nautilus
- Model name : 100494
- Dimensions : 41 x 23 x 13 inches
- Weight : 90 pounds
- Max user weight: 325 pounds
- Resistance : Eddy current brake
- Resistance levels: 25 levels of resistance
- Programs : 41 (29 Nautilus training program + 12 workout programs)
- Seat : Large, gel cushioned
- Pedals : Weighted, safety strapped
- Toe cage : No
- Handlebars : Two handlebars; lower one has ergonomically designed heart pulse sensor and the resistance adjustment levels control
- Monitor : Two Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor
- Statistics : Time, distance, speed, revolutions per minute, resistance level, amount of calories burnt, and the heart pulse rate
- Transportation wheels: Yes
- Warranty : 15 years frame, 3 year mechanical, 3 year electrical, 1 year labor warranties.
- Amazon ratings : 3.6 out of 5
Product Features
- Very rich two LCD backlit monitors show different workout statistics.
- Total 41 programs installed in the console among them 29 are Nautilus training programs and 12 are preset workout programs.
- Extra comfortable Nautilus gel cushioned seat which provides maximum comfort to the user so they can work out for a long time on the bike.
- Sliding inclined rail for getting in a comfortable position with the seat.
- Extra strong body made of steel, PVC, aluminum and powder coating for giving the bike a firm structure and to last for a long period.
- 15 years frame, 3 years mechanical, 3 years electrical, 1 year labor warranties for the users of this bike.
- There are speakers, USB charging port, media tray, cooling fan, Bluetooth connectivity system in the bike for providing the users with maximum comfort.
- Two handlebars and one of them ergonomically designed and have the heart pulse sensor as well as the control of the resistance adjustment levels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ques: What do the two monitors show?
Ans: The upper monitor shows the workout program profiles, resistance, goal, progress, etc. And the lower monitor shows the time, speed, distance, revolutions per minute, resistance level, amount of calories burnt, and the heart pulse rate.
Ques: What type of resistance does this bike have?
Ans: It has a special type of magnetic resistance called the eddy current brake.
Ques: Is this resistance good?
Ans: Yes, the quality of resistance offered by the eddy current brake is excellent.
Ques: How is the intensity of the resistance levels?
Ans: The intensity of resistance increase by every level. First levels have low intensity while the last levels have very high intensity.
Conclusion
That was all on the Nautilus R618 recumbent exercise bike review. Hope this article was helpful to you.
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