Find out all there is to know about the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike; what it has and what it can do for you. Compare it to other bikes on the market and see if it is right for you.
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Buying a stationary bike for your home is no simple task. They aren’t cheap, so you want one that is going to do everything you want and more. You don’t want to settle for something less than exactly what you want when making such a big purchase that will stay with you for a while.
Fortunately, the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike gives you what you want out of a stationary bike and then some. It might not be perfect for everyone, but its loads of features and quality construction should make it a serious contender on your possible buys list.
Schwinn is a household name, at least in the cycling world. Even non-cycling enthusiasts probably know the name, as it has dominated the bicycle industry for over a hundred years. They have a reputation for quality bicycles that have stood the test of time.
Not many people know that they have also expanded to the stationary bike exercise machine market, they will. Schwinn has made inroads with their dedication to bike quality and brand name power, and one of their most recent models is the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike. Let’s take an in-depth look at the bike to see if it is right for you.
What Is the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike and How Does It Work?
The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is a stationary bike for use at home or in the office. It’s a great, low impact way to get a good cardio workout anytime. No need to wait for good weather or better light to exercise safely.
While cycling is much better for your knees and joints, a recumbent bike goes even further to reduce stress on your bones and ligaments. Instead of cycling from the traditional biking position, seated hunched forward with your weight focused toward the handlebars, the recumbent bike puts you in a reclining position.
You pedal the bike while sitting back, with your back extended and your arms either at your side, on handlebars, or holding a book or similarly sized entertainment device. The more comfortable and open position is better for multitasking as well as your back. The recumbent position reduces stress on your back and allows those with lower back pain to enjoy cycling like the rest of us.
The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike a late model recumbent bike chock to the brim with features and abilities. It comes with a full electronic suite and uses magnets to increase resistance and give you a better workout. More on this in the features section.
This is no simple exercise machine or piece of hardware. This is a serious exercise machine for those dedicated to fitness. You don’t have to be a competitive cyclist to enjoy it, but to get the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike only to use it once every couple of weeks when you get bored of running would be a waste. This thing is meant to be treated as a workhorse.
What Makes the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike Unique?
There is a myriad of features that set this bike apart from both its competitors and its earlier models. Let’s take a look at some of the more impactful.
The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike uses magnetic eddy brakes to provide resistance, thereby increasing the difficulty of your workout. Magnetic eddy brakes use, as you might guess, magnets to slow a moving object down with competing magnetic fields and not friction as traditional brakes do. Using magnetic eddy technology reduces the stress and wear on your bike’s components and helps it live longer.
The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike also has a whopping 25 resistance settings. Five more than its predecessor the Schwinn 230 recumbent bike. More resistance means more intense and customizable workouts. However, some users complain that the flywheel is a bit light, at just 17 pounds. This may not be a problem for some, but users with particularly rigorous workouts may find it inadequate.
These days, most cardio exercise machines have built-in workout programs. These programs increase and decrease resistance and in some cases elevation to vary your workout and get the desired effect, such as weight loss or endurance training. Most machines have several, but the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike has 29 whole programs to choose from depending on your goals and ability.
Furthermore, you can program your profile into the machine so it remembers your performance and targets, so you can track your progress and adjust workouts accordingly. The Schwinn 230 allowed for two profiles but the updates 270 doubles that to four. If several family members want to use the bike or it is otherwise communal, this is a huge benefit.
Speaking of electronics, the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike uses sophisticated workout tracking hard and software to give you a better idea of your workout. The monitor has two sides to the screen, one to track your stats over 13 different parameters, and one to compare those stats to your previous workouts as per your profile.
This is a fantastic way to track your progress. Seeing progress in this way goes a long way toward motivating and encouraging you. Better still the monitor does not plug into the wall so there are no wires to get in the way and you can put the bike anywhere you want.
Once you have all of this data, you can then upload it to MyFitnessPal or to SchwinConnect, apps that track your performance and give you suggestions on how to meet the fitness goals you input. You can store all your data on a USB drive that connects to the bike.
Schwinn knows bikes, and they know the kind of person who would want a recumbent bike. These are people who value comfort and stress reduction, so Schwinn has implemented several comfort features to make using the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike a better experience.
The seat is padded, ventilated and adjustable to your liking and that of anyone else who might use the bike. The seat has been updated from the ventilated 230 seat to a better-padded seat on the 270 for added comfort.
There is also a built-in fan to keep you cool during your bike workout with three speeds. Users report the fan to be a little weak, however, so AC or a standing fan might be needed to cool you all the way down.
Schwinn also knows that biking is a long-haul exercise, and you probably want things that will help you stay on track and focused. The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike comes with a wide array of little extras and great add-ons to keep your workout pleasant.
- Sound System: Built-in speakers and sound system to play MP3s help keep you in the zone by letting you play your favorite music without having to worry about headphones or wires.
- Water Bottle Holder: No bike, stationary or mobile, is complete without one of these.
- USB Charging Port: On your phone or tablet during the workout? Never worry about charge again! Charge as you pedal!
- Accessory Tray: This convenient add-on helps you keep that phone or tablet stable if your hands are occupied. Not essential but nice.
- Wireless Heart Rate Monitor: While the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike does have grip heart rate monitors, it is also compatible with wireless heart rate monitors that you strap to your chest. This extra is not included, however, and must be bought separately.
The Schwinn 270 recumbent bike is both light and built to last. It weighs in at only 88 pounds, but it has a 300-pound weight load capacity. It also has a center support built-in for added stability. All of this together drastically reduces the chances or a break or tipping over.
You might find the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike priced at upwards of $799, that is the suggested market price. You can probably get it for much cheaper online. In fact, it is possible to find this model for as little as $500, and that includes the electrical adapter it needs.
Just a heads up though, ordering it online comes with its own set of perils. Some customers report damage to the bike when it arrives from wherever it was shipped from. This damage was mostly caused by inadequate packaging for such a large and oddly shaped item. While mostly cosmetic in nature, the damage is something to consider.
There are cheaper options available, namely the earlier models in the line like the 230 and below. But for what you get with the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike, $500 or even a bit more is a great deal. You’ll get great value with this bike.
Public Perception (Other Schwinn 270 recumbent bike Reviews)
As you can tell from the review so far, we were hard pressed to find flaws with the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike, and others had the same experience. Most user reviews are glowing, and they were mostly all impressed by the function and quality of the bike. The Schwinn name carries a lot of weight in the biking community and they did not disappoint many people with this model.
They did have some sticking points, as we did. Some of the more common complaints include the grip heart rate detectors which did not always work as intended. Also, taller users complained that the bike is not sized for people over six feet tall. They may experience some discomfort depending on leg length.
How It Compares
Compared to other exercise bikes, the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike occupies a nice little niche. It’s a pretty serious bike trainer, with above average resistance settings and a lot of workout options. It isn’t some showpiece with a built-in TV screen or touchscreen. Performance is more important to this bike.
However, it can’t really be classified as a hardcore outdoor bike simulator. Other brands have heavier flywheels and more intense resistance settings. It doesn’t’ fill the niche of a training machine for competitive cyclists like some other specialty companies.
What it does do, however, is find a nice middle ground between the two. It takes the comfort and ease of use of more casual machines and gives enough settings and capabilities to ensure that the serious cyclist won’t get bored. Additionally, the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike’s quality and trusted name are difficult to replicate in other brands and competitors.
What We Think
If you are looking for a souped-up recumbent bike that won’t break the bank, this bike is for you. There aren’t many better recumbent bikes out there. You could save some money with a less sophisticated model, but not much.
The Schwinn 270 is a particularly good choice for families or shared gyms, as its wide range of workouts and multiple profiles cater to most user types. Even if it’s just you, though, you’ll still likely enjoy this exceptional bike.
The only reason you may want to avoid this bike is if you are a particularly tall person. As with any stationary bike, you’ll want to maybe try this model out in a store somewhere before considering it. It would be best to know for sure that it’s too small for you before giving up on this great model.
Coupons and Deals
Fortunately for consumers interested in the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike, it is not so new that it is only available at the full retail price. You can find his model on sale on online marketplaces and on liquidation websites. There are also deals on buying them in bulk if you need that many for some reason.
The deals crop up and disappear fast, so if the price doesn’t suit you now, wait a while and return to see if the price has gone down. As mentioned above, if you can get it for around $500 or less than you got a good deal. Certainly, do not pay more than $800. Keep on the lookout; it’s worth waiting a bit to get a deal on this fantastic recumbent stationary bike!