ProForm Exercise Bike Review (2024): Which One Is Best For Your Home Gym?

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the best exercise bike for your home gym, with affordability and high-quality, built-in workout programming being at the top of that checklist. And in our professional opinion, very few brands hit both of those criteria as well as ProForm. They’re priced well and come with iFIT programming, which is one of our favorite fitness apps. 

But which one is best for you? Our ProForm exercise bike reviews hope to answer that question with an in-depth look at each model and who they’re meant for. ProForm has five exercise bikes on its website, not including the models that are on closeout sale, so make sure you’re comfortable before riding on.  

We’ll Never Get Tired of Exercise Bike Reviews 

We have reviewed a lot of indoor cycling bikes over the past six years, and in that time we’ve narrowed down the best Peloton alternatives, best budget exercise bikes, best exercise bikes for seniors, and much more. And we’re proud to say we’ve personally used and tested most (like 95 percent) of the bikes you can find on our website. We believe in hand-on testing before writing a review. Plus, as certified personal trainers and CrossFit L-1 coaches we’re able to identify what groups would benefit from a certain cardio machine over others.  

ProForm Exercise Bikes 

• ProForm Pro C10R Recumbent Bike
• ProForm Pro C10U 
• ProForm Studio Bike Pro
• ProForm Carbon CX
• ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22

ProForm Exercise Bikes Specs Comparison

ProForm Pro C10R Recumbent Bike 

Good for: Senior citizens or anyone else who wants a comfortable recumbent exercise bike 

ProForm C10R

ProForm Pro C10R Recumbent Bike

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Product Highlights

• 10” HD touchscreen 
• Dual 2” speakers 
• Vertical and horizontal seat adjustments 
• Ergonomic pedals with adjustable straps 
• Front-mounted transport wheels

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 25 levels of Silent Magnetic Resistance
• Bluetooth headphone capabilities
• 10” HD touchscreen
• Step-Thru design
• Free 30-day iFit family membership included
• Free shipping
• 30-day return policy

Cons

• Screen is fixed cannot rotate for off-bike workouts
• Extremely limited customer reviews
• Middle resistance levels didn’t change much according to users

Bottom Line

The ProForm C10R has a lot of great features but users don’t seem to enjoy the bike.

The ProForm Pro C10R recumbent bike is a great option for seniors or anyone else who needs a joint-friendly exercise bike that comes packed with tech features and conveniences. Like other recumbent bikes, the C10R puts the pedals in front of the user, which creates a more comfortable riding experience by reducing stress on the knees. 

RELATED: Best Exercise Bike for Seniors

But unlike many of its competitors, the C10R has a step-thru design that allows the user to easily step on and off the bike. This is especially useful for those who may be rehabbing an injury and have limited mobility. 

What’s more, the C10R has an oversized cushion seat and a ventilated backrest to keep you comfortable during your entire ride.  

While there’s a lot to like about this bike, there are a few things we should bring to your attention. The first is the $900 asking price, which is on the high end of recumbent bikes. 

The C10R is also made with a lot of plastic parts, but that’s common in recumbent bikes. However, its 10-inch touchscreen, while small in the grand scheme of things, is larger and more advanced than the LCD option you see on similar models. 

If accessing iFIT workouts and comfort are two of your top priorities, then the ProForm Pro C10R recumbent bike might be worth it for you. 

RELATED: Best Recumbent Exercise Bike

ProForm Pro C10U 

Good for: Those who want an affordable recumbent-style bike that can also be used upright 

ProForm C10U

ProForm Pro C10U

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Product Highlights

• Exercise bike that can work as an upright and recumbent
• 10″ touchscreen
• iFIT-enabled
• 25 levels of magnetic resistance
• Bluetooth compatibility

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact footprint
• Functions as an upright or recumbent
• Touchscreen
• iFIT compatibility
• Good value for the price

Cons

• Handlebars are not adjustable
• No backrest if using as a recumbent bike
• Weight capacity below industry standard

Bottom Line

If you're looking for an upright bike with nice tech features and some added versatility, the ProForm Pro C10U might be a good option.

The ProForm Pro C10U is listed under ProForm’s recumbent bikes, but that’s only partially accurate. The bike’s seat can be adjusted horizontally and vertically and at the right position could put you at a recumbent riding style, but can also be used as an upright bike if you wanted. Hey, we’re not ones to complain about versatility. 

The only disadvantage of this is if you wanted to use it as a recumbent bike there’s no backrest. That might not be a problem for some, but there are people out there who may miss the additional support during longer rides. On the bright side, the adjustability allows people of most heights to use the bike comfortably. 

One thing we really like about the C10U is its compact footprint. While it’s not foldable, the bike is only 21.2 inches wide and 34.5 inches long so most people should have no problem fitting it in their home gym. 

It also comes with all the tech features you’d want in an exercise bike, from the optional automatic tension control (which allows iFIT trainers to set the resistance for you) to Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Some might find the 10-inch HD touchscreen a bit too small for their liking, but anything bigger would compromise this bike’s small footprint. 

Besides, it’s not the size of the screen but what you do with it—and by that we mean following iFIT’s hard-hitting cardio workouts. 

ProForm Studio Bike Pro 

Good for: Those who want a budget-friendly Peloton alternative with built-in workout programming

Studio Bike Pro

ProForm Studio Bike Pro 14

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Product Highlights

• Swiveling 14″ HD touchscreen
• 32-lb flywheel
• Adjustable toe cages
• iFIT-enabled

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14” smart HD touchscreen display
• Commercial-grade steel construction
• Instructor-controlled resistance

Cons

• Uncomfortable seat
• No incline or decline feature
• No Bluetooth connectivity

Bottom Line

The ProForm Studio Bike Pro is a solid entry-level option for customers looking for a bike with a screen. Users love iFIT’s programming but you may want to upgrade to a bike with incline feature to take full advantage of iFIT trainer led classes.

The ProForm Studio Bike Pro is the best deal ProForm has, at least on a price basis. You can get the bike for “free” with a three-year commitment to iFIT, which at $39 per month (the same cost as a family membership) works out to a little more than $1,400. 

The bike itself goes for around $700 on Amazon and while you can ride it in manual mode without iFIT, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to do so. Buying a smart bike and not using the built-in workout programming is like ordering a burger but holding the patty. 

The bike itself is what we like to call an entry-level bike, meaning it’s not the best but it’s certainly not the worst either. You get 22 levels of quiet magnetic resistance, an adjustable seat and handlebars, and an inertia-enhanced flywheel that should provide a challenge for most trainees (a ProForm rep told us it weighs about 30 pounds, which is middle of the road for most exercise bikes). 

Our product testers found the bike to be a bit shaky, and its 250-pound weight capacity is below the industry standard of 300 pounds. The screen is also not the most stable while the bike is in use, which is something we noticed with its cousin, the ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22. 

If you’re someone who’s looking to enter the world of exercise bikes, this is a great way for beginners to start before upgrading to a more high-end model. 

Check out our full ProForm Studio Bike Pro review for more information on this bike. 

ProForm Carbon CX

Good for: Those looking for a budget-friendly upright bike that still has lots of tech features 

Carbon CX

ProForm Carbon CX

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Product Highlights

• Optional tension control for live and on-demand classes
• Interchangeable pedals and seat
• Uses magnetic resistance and durable belt drive

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Costs around $600
• Automatic tension control
• Interchangeable pedals and seat
• Uses magnetic resistance and belt drive

Cons

• LCD display is basic, small, and not well-lit
• Only has a 250 pound weight capacity
• No dynamic programming
• Only 16 resistance levels, and not that challenging

Bottom Line

Great tech features and solid construction for a budget-friendly price point, though not the most challenging workout experience.

The ProForm Carbon CX is a perfect example of why you should never judge a book by its cover. Looking at it, you might see an exercise bike with a dimly-lit LCD display, low resistance levels (only 16), and an uncomfortable seat, and while all those things are true, it has a lot of redeeming qualities as well. 

What sells us on this bike is its $600 price point, automatic resistance control, iFIT capabilities, and Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. There are very few bikes out there that have that many tech features at that price. And while you can use it with iFIT if you want (you’d have to put a tablet or smartphone on the media holder), it’s not required to access most of the bike’s features. 

The lack of an HD touchscreen might be a drawback for some people, but in a day and age when most of us are walking around with a portable computer in our pocket, it’s not difficult to access iFIT workouts. 

While the Carbon CX’s 250-pound weight capacity is below the industry standard of 300 pounds, I actually found it to be a bit more sturdy than the more expensive ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 (but that’s not saying much, and there was still some wobbling). 

Our ProForm Carbon CX review has more in-depth thoughts on this bike. 

ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22

Good for: Home gym owners who want an exercise bike with a large screen that can also be used for off-bike workouts 

Studio Bike Pro 22

ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22

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Product Highlights

The ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 is a exercise bike that comes with 24 levels of digital resistance, automatic tension control, and an impressive 22-inch HD touchscreen that swivels so you can follow off-bike workouts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Automatic tension control
• 24 levels of digital resistance
• Large and well-lit touchscreen
• Belt drive system
• Seat and pedals can be removed and replaced with your own

Cons

• Incredibly unstable and wobbly during use
• Resistance wasn’t too challenging
• Flywheel wasn’t the quietest
• Poor welding throughout the bike
• Bike is made with a lot of plastic

Bottom Line

A Peloton alternative that comes with IFIT programming, 24 levels of digital resistance, and automatic tension control.

There’s a fine line that smart home gym equipment needs to walk between style and functionality. And unlike Johnny Cash, the ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 does not walk the line and in some cases stumbles. 

Let’s touch on the good first: an attractive 22-inch HD touchscreen with iFIT capabilities that can swivel to easily allow riders to follow off-bike workouts; 24 levels of digital resistance; and a compact footprint (21.9 inches wide by 56.5 inches long). The bike also comes with interchangeable seats and pedals, so you can customize it to your liking. 

On paper, this should be ProForm’s best exercise bike, but that’s sadly not the case. Although it has the most resistance levels, we found the 32-pound flywheel to be quite loud during use, which is especially surprising considering that it uses a belt drive system and magnetic resistance. 

And the resistance, in full honesty, wasn’t the most challenging. On top of that, the bike was very unsturdy during use and some of the welding was poor (we found better construction on some of ProForm’s more affordable options). 

At around $1,300, there are similarly priced studio cycle bikes that offer much more durability and comparable tech features.  

Read our full ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 review for more of our thoughts. 

iFIT Programming

All of the above ProForm exercise bikes come with iFIT programming. Personally, we think the Peloton app has the best cardio workouts for those looking for an at-home studio bike experience, but the iFIT app is a close second. 

While not as motivating as Peloton’s instructors, the iFIT coaches still do a great job of getting you pumped up for grueling bike and off-bike workouts. There are also options for scenic rides that follow paths in rural Europe and metropolitan U.S cities.

With an iFIT subscription, you can take the following workout classes: 

• Runs
• Walks
• Strength
• HIIT
• Cycling
• Rowing
• Elliptical
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Mindfulness 
• Barre

Each bike also has automatic tension control, which allows the iFIT instructors to set the resistance for you. This feature can be turned off. 

Check out our full iFIT reviews for more. 

Which ProForm Exercise Bike Should You Buy?

There’s no one answer for this question, but for most home gym owners, we’d say the ProForm Studio Bike Pro is the best option. For one, you’re essentially getting a free bike so long as you stick with iFIT for three years, and in terms of the construction and durability, it’s about as good as you’re going to get with ProForm. 

Seniors and those looking to avoid any unnecessary stress to their lower body should opt for the ProForm Pro C10R over the ProForm Pro C10U (unless you’re OK without a backrest). 

ProForm Policies

Here are the policies you need to be aware of before purchasing a ProForm exercise bike. 

Warranty

All ProForm exercise bikes come with a 10-year warranty for the frame and most have one-year coverage for parts and labor (the ProForm Studio Bike Pro,  ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22, and C10U have two years of coverage). 

Returns

You can return all ProForm exercise bikes within 30 days of receipt for a full refund, minus a $250 shipping fee and 10 percent restocking fee. 

Financing

Financing plans are available for all ProForm exercise bikes, but you must pre-qualify at checkout. 

Final Verdict of Our ProForm Exercise Bike Reviews 

Are ProForm exercise bikes the best out there? No, but there are a lot of great options for those who are on a budget or want a middle-of-the-road bike that’s packed with tech features. Sure, you could go for a more high-end brand like NordicTrack (which is owned by iFIT along with ProForm) or get a Peloton bike, but those cost considerably more than most of ProForm’s models.   

ProForm Exercise Bikes FAQs

Anthony O'Reilly, CPT, CNC

Anthony O'Reilly is a NASM-certified nutrition coach and personal trainer whose work has been featured in Muscle & Fitness and BarBend, and previously was an award-winning reporter and photographer for newspapers on Long Island and Queens, NY. After spending most of his life overweight, he dropped 80 pounds and took control of his health and fitness. Outside of work, he still enjoys Little Debbie cakes but offsets them with rigorous hikes and workouts. He's an avid Manchester United supporter, through thick and thin.

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