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While they are in a similar price range, the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 still vary in many areas. Choosing between these exercise bikes is relatively straightforward.
The main differences between the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 are that the Schwinn IC4 has a slightly higher weight limit, more resistance levels, a heavier flywheel, a longer workout app trial, more Bluetooth functionality, a bigger user height range, an LCD screen, and longer warranties.
On the other hand, the Echelon EX5 has compatibility with the Echelon Premier Membership and a device holder that can flip 180 degrees.
In some comparisons, one exercise bike can be better for certain situations while the other option is better for certain individuals.
However, in this case, the decision is relatively straightforward. Most, if not all, people will prefer the Schwinn IC4.
Most important differences Echelon EX5 vs Schwinn IC4
The Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 may require a similar investment but in other areas, they are often different. This will make it so one of these exercise bikes will be better for your personal situation.
At the same time, some differences are more important than others. You can find the ones that are most likely to influence your decision in the first table below.
| Feature | Echelon EX5 | Schwinn IC4 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 300 Pounds (136 kg) | 330 Pounds (149 kg) |
| Resistance Levels | 32 Levels | 100 Levels |
| Flywheel Weight | 28.7 Pounds (13 kg) | 40 Pounds (18.1 kg) |
| Workout Programs | Free 30-Day Echelon Premier Membership Trial | 1-Year JRNY Membership Included |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Yes But Only Connects To Echelon App | Yes |
| User Height Range | 59 to 76 Inches (150 cm to 193 cm) | 54 to 78 Inches (137.2 cm to 198 cm) |
| Screen | Not Included | LCD Display With Speed, Time, Distance, Calories, And RPMs |
| Warranties* | 12-Month Limited Parts And Labor Warranty | 10 Years Frame Warranty, 3 Years Parts Warranty, 1 Year Electrical Warranty, And 90 Days Labor Warranty |
| Price Category** | $$$ | $$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
**Price category at the time of writing
Other features Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4
Before choosing either the Echelon EX5 or Schwinn IC4, you may also want to know about their smaller differences and common features. These can be relevant in certain situations.
| Feature | Echelon EX5 | Schwinn IC4 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 58″ L x 20″ W x 55″ H | 48.7″ L x 21.2″ W x 51.8″ H |
| Resistance Type | Magnetic | Magnetic |
| Position Flywheel | Back | Front |
| Handlebar Style | Elevated Bullhorn With Comfort Features | Elevated Bullhorn With Comfort Features |
| Handlebar Adjustment | Height & Fore/Aft | Height & Fore/Aft |
| Seat/Saddle Style | Vented Competition | Vented Competition |
| Adjustable Seat | Height & Fore/Aft | Height & Fore/Aft |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Display On App With Your Own Bluetooth Measuring Device | Bluetooth Heart Rate Armband Included |
| Device Holder | Yes | Yes |
| Device Holder Size Capacity | 2.5″ – 12.9″ | Not Specifically Mentioned |
| Mobility Device Holder | Flips 180 Degrees | No |
| Weight | 106 lbs (48 kg) | 106 lbs (48 kg) |
| Pedals | Dual-Sided with Toe Cage & SPD-Compatible Clips | Dual-Sided with Toe Cage & SPD-Compatible Clips |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Dumbbells | Not Included | Two 3-Pound (1.4 kg) Dumbbells Included |
| Bottle Holder | 2 Large | 2 Large |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Differences Echelon EX5 vs Schwinn IC4 in-depth
If you are somewhat experienced with exercise bikes, you can likely decide between the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 by looking at the prices and feature differences.
That being said, you may also be unsure about what certain features mean, in what way they influence your experience, and to what extent they should play a role in your decision.
Below you can find some of the most important and confusing differences between the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 explained more in-depth. This can help you make a better choice.
Resistance levels
Cardio machines like exercise bikes are made to make certain movements more challenging. By doing this, you start a variety of internal processes that can make you healthier and happier in the long term.
At the same time, you don’t want to challenge your body too much. This can reduce the effectiveness of your exercise sessions and potentially leads to injuries.
To help you work out at the right intensity level, most exercise bikes allow you to switch between different resistance levels. These make pedaling easier or harder.
The Echelon EX5 has 32 magnetic resistance levels whereas the Schwinn IC4 has 100 magnetic resistance levels.
This difference can mean a few different things. The Schwinn IC4 could offer more challenging workouts, less challenging workouts, or simply allow you to adjust the resistance more precisely.
It is hard to find (m)any Echelon EX5 customer reviews about the resistance being too challenging or too easy. The same goes for the Schwinn IC4.
These things imply that the Schwinn IC4 will mostly have more precise resistance adjustment.
Winner: Schwinn IC4
Flywheel weight
A flywheel of an exercise bike is the big rotating disk that moves when you pedal. This component can vary between different brands and models in terms of details like weight.
The Echelon EX5 has a flywheel weight of 28.7 pounds (13 kg). The flywheel of the Schwinn IC4 is a good amount heavier with a weight of 40 pounds (18.1 kg).
Most people will prefer heavier flywheels. The main reason for this is that heavier flywheels build up more momentum.
In turn, there is less risk of jerking movements when/if you don’t apply pressure to the pedals perfectly.
Additionally, heavier flywheels are just a bit harder to get and keep going. Keep in mind that this effect is relatively small due to the extra momentum of the heavier flywheel.
So the Schwinn IC4 has a heavier flywheel than the Echelon EX5. This leads to smoother workouts which most people will prefer.
Winner: Schwinn IC4
Workout programs
Most normal ways of using a stationary bike offer at least some health benefits. Even so, some workouts with specific sequences of intensities and time periods will be more effective for this than others.
Additionally, you may enjoy certain exercise bike workouts more than others. Simply changing up what workouts you do can also make your exercise routine more interesting.
Lastly, some exercise bikes allow you to do scenic rides which make your workouts feel more real.
All of these things can benefit your health or help you stay more consistent with your exercise routine.
The Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 are similar in terms of how accessing workout programs works. Both bikes can be used manually without a subscription or any extra gadgets.
However, the main purpose is to connect the bike to a workout app.
In the case of the Echelon EX5, to the Echelon Premier Membership App. In the case of the Schwinn IC4 to their JRNY Membership app or one of the other compatible workout apps.
Besides being compatible with more apps, the free trial to the workout app you get with the Schwinn IC4 is also longer (1 year) than the trial that comes with the Echelon EX5 (30 days).
Winner: Schwinn IC4
User height range
Exercise bikes often come with different frames, handlebar adjustability, and saddle adjustability. These things make it so different models can be suited for different types of people.
The Echelon EX5 has a user height range of 4 feet 11 to 6 feet 4 (= 59 to 76 inches = 150 cm to 193 cm).
On the other side, the Schwinn IC4 offers a bigger user height range of 4 feet 6 to 6 feet 6 (= 54 to 78 inches = 137.2 cm to 198 cm).
Most people will find both the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 big enough for their height. However, individuals on the outer edges of the height distribution will likely find the Schwinn IC4 a bit better.
Winner: Schwinn IC4
Screen
Cardio machines like exercise bikes often come with some type of screen. This displays workout measurements that can help you adapt your workouts and motivate you to keep going.
The designs of many of the Echelon EX bikes are interesting in the sense that they leave out this part to save money. You can still track measurements through the app but for this, you still need your own smart device.
On the other side, the Schwinn IC4 also allows you to track workout measurements through smart devices but adds an extra LCD display on top of that.
These days, most people have at least a smartphone so this is not the biggest difference.
That being said, for individuals who don’t have a smart device or don’t like using this for their exercise bike sessions, this can be a nice addition to the Schwinn IC4.
Even if you do have a smart device, the extra LCD display of the Schwinn IC4 allows you to track workout measurements while looking at entertainment on your smart device in the holder.
Winner: Schwinn IC4
Warranties
Warranties are how long a brand is willing to replace certain parts if they break down under normal use. These can vary a lot between brands and models as is the case in this comparison.
The Echelon EX5 has rather lacking warranties which come down to 12 months limited parts and labor warranty.
You get warranties that are a lot longer with the Schwinn IC4. These include 10 years frame warranty, 3 years parts warranty, 1 year electrical warranty, and 90 days labor warranty.
Even if you don’t plan to use the exercise bike for that long, these warranties are some indication of how much a brand stands behind the quality of certain components.
While the labor warranty could be better, most people will prefer the Schwinn IC4 in terms of warranties anyway.
Winner: Schwinn IC4
Price
So far, the Schwinn IC4 has the upper hand over the Echelon EX5 in the most important areas. One thing to keep in mind is that price generally matters too when choosing an exercise bike.
Exactly how much of an investment each option requires depends on where you get them and can change over time. That being said, at the time of writing, the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 have a similar initial price.
Additionally, you don’t want to forget about the longer free trial of the JRNY Membership App that comes with the Schwinn IC4.
Winner: Schwinn IC4
User reviews
In a comparison between two exercise bikes like the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4, the price and feature differences often give a good idea about what option the best choice is.
Even so, customer reviews sometimes reveal downsides that are not in the product description and trends in quality issues.
In terms of overall positivity, the reviews of the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4 are similar. What things get mentioned in the few negative customer reviews are slightly different.
The Schwinn IC4 has a few exceptional cases of faulty parts, squeaking, early wear and tear, and Bluetooth connection challenges.
On the other side, the Echelon EX5 also has these issues here and there. However, people tend to mention more often how challenging it is to connect to the Echelon App and cancel the premium membership.
Echelon customer support also seems to be relatively slow in their responses and solutions in these situations.
That being said, while you do want to keep the things above in mind, people tend to be happy with both the Echelon EX5 and Schwinn IC4.
Is the Echelon EX5 or Schwinn IC4 better?
In short, the Schwinn IC4 has a slightly higher weight limit, more resistance levels, a heavier flywheel, a longer workout app trial, more Bluetooth functionality, a bigger user height range, an LCD screen, and longer warranties.
While the Echelon EX5 is a decent Schwinn IC4 alternative, it is hard to argue against just getting the Schwinn IC4 instead due to the similar price.
The only exceptions include if you really like a device holder that can flip 180 degrees and the Echelon Premier Membership. However, most people will just like the Schwinn IC4 more.
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