Indoor cycling is a great form of cardio exercise. Not only do stationary bikes get your heart rate up, but those with multiple levels of resistance offer an element of strength training, too. There are so many at-home studio cycle bikes available that it can be tough to know what’s right for you.
The ProForm Studio Bike Pro is a popular iFIT bike that comes at a reasonable price. After reading our ProForm Studio Bike Pro review, you’ll know whether or not this piece of exercise equipment is a good choice for your home gym.
We Wheelie Love Exercise Bikes
Our team of product testers, which includes certified personal trainers and fitness professionals with a number of other credentials, has tested dozens of the top-rated exercise bikes for homes. From the most budget-friendly bikes to the most luxurious, we know how to tease apart the specs of an indoor cycling bike and make solid recommendations.
ProForm Studio Bike Pro Review
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 14
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.
A Quick Look at the ProForm Studio Bike Pro
The ProForm Studio Bike Pro is a good way to experience iFIT classes on a studio bike at more of an entry level, according to Nicole Davis, GGR editor and product tester who traveled to the iFIT headquarters in Utah to test this bike (and many others).
This bike is an entry-level model from ProForm that is available for “free” with the Pro program. The program essentially makes the hardware—the bike—free with a required three-year subscription to iFIT. To get the bike, you sign up for a three-year membership and pay $39 per month for those 36 months. That’s the normal cost of an iFIT family membership, so instead of paying for the hardware and then the membership on top, you only pay for the app.
The Studio Pro bike isn’t our favorite, and it definitely has some flaws—but we think it’s a good deal for the right people.
My Tips
- Make sure to level the adjustable feet to reduce shakiness during use.
- Experiment with the many seat and handlebar adjustments to get the right fit for you.
- Take advantage of iFIT! This platform offers incredible trainer-led workouts and programs, and is the main selling point of this bike.
Pros:
- Works with iFIT
- Adjustable handlebars and seat
- Leveling feet on base of bike
- HD touchscreen display
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Comes “free” with 3-year iFIT subscription
- Financing available
- Easy to assemble
- 22 levels of resistance
- Automatic remote trainer control
Cons:
- No incline or decline riding capabilities
- Somewhat shaky during use
- Small-ish screen (10”)
- Subscription required
- 250-lb weight capacity is below industry standard
Is the ProForm Studio Bike Pro Worth It?
This bike is part of ProForm’s Pro program, which essentially means the hardware (the bike, or actual piece of fitness equipment) is on them while you pay for three years of iFIT workouts. This program requires you to subscribe to the iFIT family membership, which costs $39 per month for the required 36 months.
This setup makes a smart exercise bike more affordable for more people, and gives you the programming with it, whereas with something like a Peloton or even the ProForm Studio Bike line, you have to pay the monthly fee on top of the hardware cost.
If you look at this bike compared to something like Peloton Bike or NordicTrack s22i, the actual bike itself isn’t as nice—but because you’re getting iFIT with your purchase, the value increases.
Great for:
- Casual cyclists who want on-demand workouts
- People who want a low-impact form of cardio
- Home gym owners who need a quiet indoor bike
Not recommended for:
- Serious cyclists who require in-depth metrics to meet their fitness goals
- People interested in luxury equipment
- Trainees who don’t want to pay a subscription fee
ProForm Studio Bike Pro Specs
| Footprint | 21.9” W x 56.5” D x 52” H |
| Weight | 140 lbs in box |
| Weight capacity | 250 lbs |
| Display | 10” smart HD touchscreen display with swivel |
| Frame | Upright frame; commercial-grade solid steel frame |
| Resistance | 22 levels of resistance (digital magnetic resistance) |
| Seat | Adjustable seat (10 positions) |
| Handlebars | Adjustable handlebars (5 positions) |
| Pedals | Interchangeable; optional toe cages |
| Flywheel | Inertia-enhanced flywheel |
| Base | Adjustable leveling feet |
| Audio | Dual speakers, audio auxiliary port |
| Conveniences | Water bottle holder, included hand weights for cross-training |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and WiFi |
| Heart rate monitor | No |
| Programming | iFIT subscription; 3-year iFIT membership included |
| Transport | Front-mounted transport wheels |
| Warranty | 10-year warranty for frame; 2-year frame warranty; 1-year labor warranty |
Workout Experience: Using the ProForm Studio Bike Pro
One of Nicole’s major callouts—and one of the first things she noticed while riding—is that this bike is super quiet. It should be, as it utilizes silent magnetic resistance (SMR). There are 22 levels of digital resistance, and overall, Nicole said she feels that the Pro is “fine for an entry-level studio bike that comes with three years of iFIT.”
“If that wasn’t part of this package,” she continues, “there are many other bikes that have better specs than this one.”
ProForm’s concept of selling iFIT first—then the bike—seems to be working, since an iFIT representative told Nicole during her visit that the Studio Pro bike is (at the time of writing) the best-selling ProForm bike.
This doesn’t surprise me, seeing as iFIT is one of the best interactive on-demand workout programming options available, and the price is comparable to competitors that don’t offer as many workouts (or workouts that are as good).
Nicole’s major complaint with this bike is that the ride is somewhat wobbly. In particular, the handlebars and screen shake quite a bit, especially at higher speeds. One of our other testers, Anthony O’Reilly, had this same issue with the ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 (similar bike with a bigger screen).
RELATED: Best Exercise Bike With Screens
Footprint and Portability
The Studio Bike Pro is a good-sized bike. It measures 56.6 inches long, 21.9 inches wide, and 52 inches high. It weighs 140 pounds in the box and has transport wheels on the front, which makes it easy to move around.
While it’s not the most compact exercise bike available, it’s certainly not the largest, and we think this bike would work just fine for apartment dwellers and people with small home gyms.
Durability and Construction
Aside from the bike being wobbly during use, we noticed that the maximum user weight is a little shy of industry standards at 250 pounds. (The industry standard is 300 pounds.) The flywheel weight is not disclosed anywhere online, but Nicole says a representative at iFIT headquarters said the Pro features a 30-pound flywheel. This, too, falls a bit short of industry standards.
Although the Studio Pro bike is constructed of a solid steel frame that ProForm calls “commercial-grade,” it’s not the most stable bike our testers have tried. It feels fairly stable when you get in and out of the saddle, Nicole says, but urges potential buyers to consider that she’s nowhere near the max weight capacity.
The handlebars move side-to-side without much force, and the screen shakes a bit during use.
Luckily, there are adjustable leveling feet on the base of the bike to help with any potential stability issues.
The Ergonomics
For the price, the ProForm Studio Pro Bike shines in the adjustability category. The seat and pedals are both interchangeable (meaning you can take them off and get your own if you want).
If you decide to keep the stock seat, it offers 9 inches of vertical adjustment amounting to 10 total positions, as well as 3 inches of horizontal adjustment. The handlebars feature 3.5 inches of vertical adjustment over five positions.
As for the pedals, the toe cages are optional, so you can use clip-in cycling shoes if you want.
Tech Specs
The ProForm Studio Pro Bike features a 10-inch HD touchscreen, which is “a bit small but workable,” Nicole says. It has dual 2-inch speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, and an audio auxiliary port if you want to connect your own device that way.
This isn’t the most high-tech indoor bike, but it at least has the same AutoAdjust technology you get with all iFIT-enabled cardio machines.
ProForm Studio Bike Pro vs ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22
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.
The ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 is very similar to the Studio Bike Pro. The major difference lies in the display: The Pro 22 features a much bigger 22-inch screen compared to the Pro’s 10-inch screen.
Other than that, these bikes share many of the same specs. The Pro 22 is a bit bigger overall and has a slightly heavier flywheel at 32 pounds. It also has two additional levels of resistance (24 versus the Pros’ 22).
Our product testers experienced the same instability and wobble on the Pro 22 as on the Pro, the overall sentiment being that “ProForm seems to have forgotten that this is an exercise bike before anything else” and focused too much on the display to compete with other smart bikes.
Read our full ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 review.
ProForm Customer Experience
All ProForm cardio equipment comes with the same warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor. Financing is available as part of the brand’s Pro program, at $39 per month for 36 months. This bike is subject to the standard 30-day return policy.
ProForm doesn’t offer a live chat for customer service, but you can read the FAQs on the website to see if they answer your question, or contact them the traditional ways via email or phone.
Assembling the ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Assembly on this bike is pretty straightforward and can generally be done with one person. The main piece is a little heavy, Nicole says, but not hard to carry. It doesn’t ever hurt to have a second hand, though, so consider enlisting a buddy, especially if you want to assemble it in an upper-floor room.
Customer Reviews of the ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Bluntly, the reviews on the Studio Bike Pro aren’t great. On Amazon, there seem to be a lot of issues with customer service and the bike either not working upon arrival, or breaking shortly thereafter. On the ProForm website, things look a little more positive, but of course, brands can curate what they show on their sites.
Final Verdict of Our ProForm Studio Bike Pro Review
Straightforwardly, this isn’t the best indoor exercise bike we’ve tried. However, we realize that the Pro program—equipment is “free” if you subscribe to three years of iFIT—is an unparalleled deal.
- We have some durability concerns with the Studio Bike Pro, although we love how adjustable it is.
- The screen is small, but workable, and the graphics are fine.
- The real selling point here is iFIT—the programming is fantastic and, for some, the less-than-ideal hardware is worth it for the app membership.
Full Rating
Studio Bike Pro
Our ProForm Studio Bike Pro review dives into all the must-know features about this mid-range smart exercise bike for home gyms.
Product Brand: ProForm
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 1403
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.7
ProForm Studio Bike Pro FAQs
Is ProForm as good as Peloton?
ProForm as a brand is a direct competitor to Peloton. Both companies produce great exercise equipment and interactive workout programming. Not all of ProForm’s bikes are as high-quality as the Peloton Bike, but ProForm manufactures many more options that suit different budgets and needs.
Is the ProForm Studio Pro a good bike?
The ProForm Studio Pro bike is a decent entry-level smart bike. It’s not the best exercise bike we’ve tried, but we think it’s suitable for beginners who are interested in it more for the iFIT programming, anyway.
Can you use a ProForm bike without iFIT?
You can certainly hop on a ProForm bike and pedal without iFIT, but you won’t get to experience and enjoy the full capabilities of the bike. On the ProForm Studio Bike Pro specifically, you can manually control the resistance via the touchscreen and use “free mode” with no internet connection.
Does cycling help with weight loss?
Yes, cycling can aid in weight loss when done in conjunction with other healthy lifestyle habits. To oversimplify, losing weight successfully requires you to maintain a caloric deficit by eating nutritious foods, sleeping enough, and exercising regularly.
Is a recumbent bike better than a spin bike?
A recumbent bike is one that operates in a reclined position to alleviate stress on the lower back and hips. A “spin bike” is a trademarked type of exercise bike similar to upright bikes like the ProForm Studio Pro. One is not necessarily better than the other, but a recumbent bike can be helpful for people who have lower back pain.
RELATED: Best Recumbent Exercise Bike
