BowFlex VeloCore Bike Review (2024): Lean With It, Rock With It

The best exercise bikes can help you build and maintain a low-impact fitness routine that can help strengthen your aerobic capability, aid in weight loss, reduce blood pressure, and support mental health. (1)(2) While you can find a budget-friendly bike to support your indoor cycling goals, a premium machine — like the BowFlex Velocore — has 100 levels of magnetic resistance, an immersive 22-inch touchscreen to stream JRNY programming, and the ability to catch up on your Netflix shows. Most noticeably, a side-to-side lean functionality can make you feel like you’re cycling a velodrome track from the comfort of your home gym.

You may be wondering if the VeloCore’s $2,199 price tag is worth it — or if you’re going to be left disappointed. To help you along, BarBend’s roster of certified personal trainers and cyclists put this bike to the test, leaning as far as we could to each side and sweating along to JRNY programming. We’ll get into the details of our cycling experience below, but if you’re looking for an indoor exercise bike that can better replicate the road-biking experience (and you’ve got the money), this may be the machine for you.

Main Takeaways

• This upright exercise bike has a leaning mode that allows you to tilt from side to side as if you were taking corners outdoors on a road bike.
• The 22-inch HD touchscreen is integrated with the JRNY fitness app and features an array of onboard entertainment options, including apps like Netflix. 
• You can get this bike with two different screen sizes — however, the 16-inch HD touchscreen is not available on Amazon.

BowFlex Velocore Highlights

The BowFlex VeloCore is one of the top competitors of the Peloton bike, with a 22-inch HD touchscreen, integrated programming to take your training up a notch, and a unique leaning mode that allows users to tilt from side to side like they’re riding one of those motorcycle video games at Dave N’ Busters. “The VeloCore is a really fun ride,” noted our tester, a CrossFit Level-1 coach.

While it may be “fun,” the 100 levels of magnetic resistance provide a wide range of intensity for novice and seasoned riders looking to break a sweat and reap the feel-good benefits an exercise bike has to offer. 

The steel build can support users up to 325 pounds in both stationary mode and leaning mode. Plus, the 33-pound flywheel helps to create a smooth and more road-like experience, allowing for more momentum, especially as you increase resistance to simulate uphill climbs.

[Related: Benefits of Exercise Bikes]

This bike is available with either a 22-inch or 16-inch touchscreen that’s integrated with JRNY, a fitness app with on-demand studio classes, scenic rides via Explore the World, and access to popular streamers like Netflix and Hulu. 

JRNY also provides adaptive workouts, meaning it can analyze your fitness level to give you recommendations for classes and rides that are best suited to your level of ability. 

While a subscription isn’t necessary to use the bike, you’ll need the JRNY membership to access the screen’s full capabilities, from integrated programming to entertainment app accessibility. After a free two-month trial, JRNY All-Access costs $19.99 a month or $149 for the year.

We like the adjustability of this bike — its seat is adjustable four ways and the handlebars can also be adjusted. Plus, it provides multiple grip options for the most ergonomic hand placement. 

Our tester pedaled in their sneakers, but users can flip the toe cages around to clip in. “I appreciate when a bike has toe cages and SPD clips, so I can choose between running shoes or a more dialed-in experience with cycling shoes,” they noted.

There’s a 90-day return, refund, or replacement window on Amazon — so  long as the product is in its original condition. However, while Amazon mentions a 10-year frame, three-year parts, and one-year labor warranty, the actual manufacturer’s warranty is two-years frame and parts one-year labor. 

This is far less than what our tester would have liked to see: “For exercise bikes at this price point, the standard is a 10- to 15-year frame warranty, so this leaves us wanting more.” 

Training With the BowFlex VeloCore 

“There’s a reason kids are encouraged to learn how to ride a bike from a young age: It’s fun, and it’s great exercise!” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC. As adults, the fun doesn’t have to stop. 

Cycling on the VeloCore provides users with 100 levels of resistance that can be adjusted with the resistance knob, a touchscreen to totally immerse you in content and programming, and a leaning mode that targets your core and better replicates the experience of riding a road bike outdoors. This feature-rich bike makes it a strong contender when looking for the best home gym equipment to support your goals.

BarBend is filled with fitness fanatics, from certified personal trainers and CrossFit coaches to cycling hobbyists, and our team has tried and tested more than 30 of the most popular exercise bikes on the market. We got in several workouts on the BowFlex VeloCore and to provide you with a clear understanding of our findings, we scored categories such as tech capabilities, durability, and adjustability on a scale from 1 (yuck) to 5 (we love it). See our findings below. 

Settling In

Getting set up on this bike is easy, with four-way seat adjustments to fine-tune a perfect fit. Once in the saddle, you can opt to slip your sneakers into the toe cages or flip the dual-sided pedals around and lock in with a pair of cycling shoes with SPD clips. 

The handlebars adjust vertically — most users will want these aligned closely with their seat height. (BowFlex claims the handlebars have four-way-adjustability, but our tester only found there to be vertical adjustability.) 

“I dialed in a comfortable fit, however, I do wish that the seat had padding,” noted our tester, a certified personal trainer. They scored ergonomics and adjustability a 4.5 out of 5.

Display

The BowFlex VeloCore is one of the best exercise bikes with screens for good reason. The HD touchscreen is a whopping 22 inches — one of the largest screens we’ve seen on a piece of exercise equipment — but there’s also an identical model with a 16-inch screen which can save you a couple hundred dollars. 

According to our tester, “The screen is vivid and crisp, and provided a ton of training metrics.” You’ll find time, interval, calories burned, distance, heart rate, and more on the display. Additionally, users can tilt this monitor forwards and back to ensure they’re not straining their neck during rides. 

JRNY App

JRNY is the digital fitness platform integrated into the VeloCore’s display. It offers access to trainer-led classes, scenic rides via Explore the World, and programming from apps like Netflix and  Amazon Prime Video (subscription required). 

Additionally, JRNY offers a fitness assessment that can help the app learn your fitness level so it can recommend classes and personalized training that suits your ability. “I liked that JRNY tracked my milestones, rewarding me the more I took classes,” mentioned our tester, who gave dynamic programming a 5 out of 5.

[Related: Best Fitness Apps]

While there are hundreds of on-demand spin classes you can take, there’s also a variety of off-bike workouts, such as pilates, yoga, strength training, and more. While you can stream these classes from the HD touchscreen, you can also stream them right from your phone or tablet, giving you the ability to take your workout wherever you want. 

However, our tester wasn’t impressed with the trainer-led studio classes. “The classes felt a little bland, and I wish that the screen supported other programming so I could do my Peloton rides on this bike.”

Subscription to JRNY costs $19.99 a month or $149 a year after a free two-month trial. This is lower in cost than subscription services like NordicTrack’s iFIT ($39/month) and Peloton All-Access ($44/month). “Without a subscription you’ll only have access to a few built-in workouts,” our tester noted. 

Compatibility

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities allow you to pair this bike with third-party apps like Zwift or Peloton. While you won’t be able to stream this programming via the touchscreen, there is a media shelf where you can prop up your smartphone or tablet. Tech capabilities scored a 5 out of 5.

Resistance

One hundred levels of magnetic resistance can be manually adjusted with a turn knob to increase or decrease your training intensity, making this bike suitable for both low-intensity rides and high-intensity training. Customizations earned a 4.5 out of 5. 

Our tester noted, “It’s a wide range of resistance, but it has to be adjusted manually, meaning you won’t find any buttons that crank the resistance up for you.” 

The 33-pound flywheel is nice — it’s 1 pound heavier than the NordicTrack S22i’s flywheel, but 5 pounds lighter than the Peloton’s — and will provide ample momentum as you pedal across its 100 levels of magnetic resistance. (3) You’ll also find a pair of 3-pound dumbbells that hang from cradles at the front of the bike, which can help you tone your upper body while you spin. 

Lean

“You won’t find incline or decline capabilities on this bike,” mentioned our tester, “However, it’s one of the few machines I’ve ever seen that allows the rider to lean from side to side.”  

With its angled positioning, the Velocore’s leaning feature works to mimic the experience of taking soft curves on a real road bike, which should feel nice for outdoor bikers unable to lace up due to weather or other conditions. While immersive and fun, this lean capability can also help to target your core, arms, and stabilization muscles, all of which are activated as your body positioning tilts. Unlike recumbent bikes which aim to keep the rider in the most upright and stationary position possible, this bike was built for movement.

 [Related: Best Recumbent Bikes]

While many of JRNY’s cycling programs incorporate this functionality, users can opt to lock this mode if they’re not keen to lean. 

Additionally, our tester was surprised that they didn’t feel like the bike was going to topple over when leaning from side to side. They were also impressed that it can support users up to 325 pound — 25 pounds more than the industry standard — both in stationary and leaning modes. Durability scored a 4.5 out of 5.

What to Consider Before Buying the BowFlex VeloCore Bike

According to BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC, “There are two key groups of people I see benefitting from indoor exercise bikes the most: People who need a low-impact way to do cardio exercise, and athletes training for an event who need a way to perform structured interval training.” 

While many exercise bikes can provide basic training and cardio, it’s important to consider the following factors to determine if the BowFlex VeloCore is right for your needs.

[Related: What to Look for When Buying an Indoor Cycle, According to a Spin Instructor]

Space

“It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamor of sparkly, massive [exercise equipment], but the reality is that most people don’t have the space… Many people are making do with what they have: A corner of their bedroom, a slice of living room, maybe a spare walk-in closet,” says Capritto. 

While exercise bikes tend to take up less floor space than treadmills, ellipticals, and rowing machines, it’s still imperative that you measure your available space and compare that with the footprint of the bike you’re considering. 

The VeloCore takes up 10.01 square feet, however, BowFlex recommends having a workout area of 35 square feet to accommodate your training. We can safely assume that this is to give you room to lean without knocking your head into a wall.

Tech Capabilities

“Bikes [with streaming capabilities] have become ultra-popular among people who love the fitness studio vibes that come from interactive workout sessions,” notes Capritto. 

This bike’s 22-inch touch screen and JRNY app integration provide just that. If you’re interested in a different brand of fitness programming, such as iFIT or Peloton, you won’t be able to stream these services from this bike’s touchscreen. 

However, thanks to the Bluetooth capabilities on this bike, you will be able to pair the Zwift and Peloton apps with this bike and take classes or cruise through virtual courses from your own device. Subscriptions required, obviously. 

You can also access entertainment apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video via the homescreen, not to mention Explore the World, an app packed with scenic rides that span the globe. You will, however, need subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to access that content. 

While there’s a good amount of tech capabilities on the VeloCore, it’s all dependent on whether that tech works for you and if you have the subscriptions (or are willing to get the subscriptions) that’ll make this bike really sing. For those disinterested in programming, and are just looking for a bike to hop on and ride, this may not be an ideal choice for you.

[Related: Best Exercise Bikes with Virtual Courses]

Price

If you’ve got cash to burn and you simply want a high-tech exercise bike, you do you, boo — pull the trigger and supplement your training with this bike’s 100 levels of resistance, leaning mode, and 22-inch HD touchscreen. If you’re on the fence about the cost, you’ll want to consider if this $2,199 bike supports your training goals. 

The side-to-side lean is something you won’t find on other high-end exercise bikes, plus the JRNY app subscription ($19.99) is around half the monthly cost of Peloton ($44) and iFIT ($39). Still, you’ll need JRNY to make use of the large 22-inch touchscreen, as it won’t do much but take up space without a subscription. Before buying this bike, consider the added subscription costs on top of the bike’s price tag. 

Setup

“You’ll want an extra pair of hands to help you move the box this bike comes in,” noted our tester, “And if they’ll stick around to help you set everything up, that’s an extra bonus since it took me three hours to build this bike by myself.” 

They added that everything was packaged well and protected during shipment, but that certain parts lacked clear labeling, which made for a difficult build.

On Amazon, you have the option of paying for Room-of-Choice Delivery ($19.99), in which delivery professionals will move your item into the room of your choice. You can also splurge on Deluxe Delivery and Assembly ($129.99) and have your new equipment delivered to your room of choice, checked for defects or damage, and assembled. This assembly is a steal compared to BowFlex’s similar service, which costs $199.

[Related: Best Exercise Bikes on Amazon]

BowFlex VeloCore Vs. The Competition

We’ve put together a chart of some of the best high-end spin bikes so you can compare how they stack up against one another. The following options were chosen due to their HD touchscreens with streaming capabilities and similar price points.

	BowFlex Velocore	Peloton Bike	Stryde Bike	NordicTrack S22i
Price	$2,199	$1,445	$1,895	$1,999
Weight Capacity	325lbs	297lbs	350lbs	350lbs
Footprint	55.3″ H x 59.8″ L x 24.1″ W	53″ H x 59″ L x 23″ W	46” H x 49.6” L x 24” W	58” H x 61” L x 22” W
Lean Capable	Yes	No	No	No
Bike Weight	158lbs	135lbs	135lbs	205lbs
Resistance	100 micro-levels	100 micro-levels	100 micro-levels	24 levels
Display	22”	21.5”	21.5”	22”
Streaming Capabilitites	Supports JRNY programming, as well as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video (with subscriptions)	Supports Peloton programming, as well as Netflix, Disney+, Max, YouTube TV, and NBA.com (with subscriptions)	Supports most fitness and entertainment apps (with subscriptions)	Supports iFIT programming (with subscription)
Fitness Programming Subscription Cost	JRNY All Access is $19.99/month	Peloton All Access is $44/month	Depends on which subscription you choose	iFIT is $15/month for an individual plan or $39/month for a family plan
Warranty	2-year frame and parts, 1-year labor.	5-year frame,1-year screen, parts, and labor	5-year frame,1-year screen, parts, and labor	10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor

The BowFlex VeloCore is the most expensive bike upfront, but JRNY, the app integrated into its touchscreen, is one of the most affordable apps on an exercise bike. We also like that it gives users access to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, unlike the NordicTrack S22i, which won’t allow users to stream entertainment outside of iFIT’s fitness classes and scenic rides. Also, it’s the only comparable bike with a leaning mode function.

The BowFlex VeloCore goes toe-to-toe with Peloton, Stryde, and NordicTrack S22i’s screen size, and all options have crisp HD screens that help provide an immersive training experience. Users looking for micro-adjustable resistance up to 100 levels will find the NordicTrack S22i falls short with its 24 levels.

Where BowFlex VeloCore disappoints, compared to the competition, is with its two-year frame and parts and one-year labor warranty. This frame warranty is less than half of what the Peloton Bike and Stryde Bike offer, and eight years less than the NordicTrack S22i’s warranty. 

Our expert reviewer Amanda Capritto CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC, likes to recommend bikes with “at least five years on the frame, two years on parts, and one year for labor.”

[Related: NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike Review]

Places to Buy the BowFlex VeloCore

You can purchase the BowFlex VeloCore via Amazon or Scheels.

Customer Experience

Our tester ordered this BowFlex VeloCore off of BowFlex, but this bike is no longer sold through their website. However, everything was packaged really well from the manufacturer, which should be the case even when purchased from Amazon or Scheel. 

When shopping with Amazon, you can expect the following options for delivery. 

• Free Inside Entryway Delivery: The exercise bike is delivered to the first dry area of your residence.
• Room of Choice Delivery ($19.99): The exercise bike is delivered to the room of your choice, so you don’t have to struggle dragging the box to where your bike will live.
• Deluxe Delivery and Assembly ($129.99): Handlers will deliver your exercise bike to your room of choice, unpack the machine, inspect for any damage or defects, and assemble the bike for you. When it’s all set up, they’ll even take all the packaging materials away with them (if you want.) Plus, this option is eligible for instant returns, so if you’re having second thoughts, you can return the bike on the spot with the delivery team.

Since our tester struggled with assembling the BowFlex VeloCore, we’d recommend purchasing Deluxe Delivery and Assembly if it’s within your means. 

Warranties

The BowFlex VeloCore’s two-year frame and parts and one-year labor warranty is subpar for what we like to see on high-end equipment. However, we do appreciate the 90-day return policy offered by Amazon. Warranty, financing, and returns earned a 3 out of 5 with our tester.

Company Information

Previously known as Nautilus, BowFlex Inc. is based out of Vancouver, Washington and manufactures BowFlex and Schwinn equipment, from home gyms and adjustable dumbbells, to treadmills and exercise bikes. It’s also the owner of the adaptive fitness platform JRNY, which is integrated into many pieces of its cardio equipment. 

[Related: The Best Bowflex Gyms for At-Home Training, Small Spaces and More]

To contact BowFlex customer support, you can reach them at (800) 605-3369, plus there’s a live chat feature on their website to help answer any questions you may have. At the time of this writing, their customer support was unreachable, with pre-recorded promises to be back up and ready to assist in about 2 weeks.

In Conclusion

“Peloton-esque bikes have become ultra-popular among people who love the fitness studio vibes that come from interactive workout sessions, both live and pre-recorded,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC. “If this is something you’re interested in, be prepared to shell out a significant amount of cash and also pay for a monthly subscription.” The BowFlex VeloCore fits the bill with its immersive HD touchscreen and integrated JRNY programming, but ups the ante with its unique leaning capabilities.

While the upfront cost of this exercise bike is high, the lower cost of the JRNY can save you some cash in the long run compared to other high-end exercise bikes that incorporate iFIT or Peloton programming, which have monthly subscriptions roughly double the cost of JRNY. The bike is ideal for users of all fitness levels and can help add some child-like enjoyment back into your fitness routine. You’ll just need to decide if the cost and the lower-than-standard warranty are worth the fun.

[Related: iFIT Review]

FAQs

References

1. Chavarrias, M., Carlos-Vivas, J., Collado-Mateo, D., & Pérez-Gómez, J. (2019). Health Benefits of Indoor Cycling: A Systematic Review. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 55(8), 452. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55080452
2. Schuch, F. B., & Vancampfort, D. (2021). Physical activity, exercise, and mental disorders: it is time to move on. Trends in psychiatry and psychotherapy, 43(3), 177–184. https://doi.org/10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0237
3. Choosing the right flywheel weight for your spin bike. (n.d.). Flair Fitness. https://www.flairfitness.com/blog/choosing-the-right-flywheel-weight-for-your-spin-bike