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The Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 vary in a few important areas. This will influence what recumbent bike the right choice is for your personal situation.
Some of the main differences between the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 are that the Nautilus R618 has a slightly higher weight limit, seat handle resistance controls, a gel seat, a screen that can tilt, longer warranties, and a heart rate chest strap.
On the other hand, the Schwinn 270 is a bit lighter which makes it easier to move around and is initially a nice amount more budget-friendly.
What your budget is and exactly how much you prefer the features of the Nautilus R618 influence your decision in this comparison a lot.
The Nautilus R618 will be slightly sturdier, offer slightly more convenient workouts, be slightly more comfortable, and offer longer warranties.
If you have the budget, it will likely be worth investing a bit more into these things. Especially if you consider how many hours you will sit on the recumbent bike in total.
At the same time, you could also find the Schwinn 270 good enough. This can be a solid recumbent bike too if you are on a tight budget or want to save some money in the short term.
Most important differences Nautilus R618 vs Schwinn 270
The Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 have a few common features but they still vary in other important areas too. This will change what recumbent bike is the best choice for what people and situations.
At the same time, some differences are more important than others. In the first table below, you can find the ones that are most likely to influence your choice.
| Feature | Nautilus R618 | Schwinn 270 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 325 Pounds (147.4 kg) | 300 Pounds (136 kg) |
| Seat Handle Resistance Control | Yes | No |
| Seat Type | Nautilus Gel Seat With Ventilated Back | Padded Seat With Ventilated Back |
| Screen Mobility | Can Tilt | Static |
| Warranties* | 15 Years Frame Warranty, 3 Years Mechanical Parts And Electronics Warranty, 1 Year Labor Warranty | 10 Years Frame Warranty, 2 Years Mechanical Parts Warranty, 1 Year Electronics Warranty, 90 Days Labor Warranty |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Contact & Telemetry Enabled (Heart Rate Chest Strap Included) | Contact & Telemetry Enabled (Heart Rate Chest Strap Not Included) |
| Weight | 107.1 lbs (48.6 kg) | 86.6 lbs (39.3 kg) |
| Price Category** | $$$ | $$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
**Price category at the time of writing
Other features Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270
Before investing in either the Nautilus R618 or Schwinn 270 you may also want to know about the smaller differences and common features of these recumbent bikes.
| Feature | Nautilus R618 | Schwinn 270 |
|---|---|---|
| Flywheel Weight | 13.1 Pounds (5.9 kg) (According To Customer Support Rep) | 13.1 Pounds (5.9 kg) |
| Resistance Type | Magnetic | Magnetic |
| Resistance Levels | 25 Levels | 25 Levels |
| Dimensions | 67.3″ L x 26.4″ W x 48.8″ H | 64″ L x 27.7″ W x 49.9″ H |
| User Height Range | 54 to 78 Inches (137.2 cm to 198 cm) | 54 to 78 Inches (137.2 cm to 198 cm) |
| Adjustable Seat | Yes | Yes |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Transport Handle | Yes | Yes |
| Seat Handles | Yes | Yes |
| Screen | Backlit LCD console | 2 DualTrack Blue Backlit LCDs |
| Workout Programs | 29 Workout Programs | 29 Workout Programs |
| Number Of Screen Users | 4 Users | 4 Users |
| Device Holder | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Cooling Fans | Yes | Yes |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Differences Nautilus R618 vs Schwinn 270 in-depth
If you are familiar with recumbent bikes and know what you want in them, you could make a decision between the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 by looking at their differences and the prices.
At the same time, you may still be confused about what certain features mean, why they are important to know, and how much they should influence the decision in your personal situation.
Below you can find some of the most important and confusing features explained a bit more in-depth. This can help you make a better decision.
Weight limit
The weight limit of a recumbent bike sounds and is relatively straightforward but it matters in more ways than one.
Before these details, the Nautilus R618 has a weight limit of 325 pounds (147.4 kg). The Schwinn 270 is just a bit less sturdy with a weight limit of 300 pounds (136 kg).
First of all, going over these numbers can simply cause your recumbent bike to break down. Even if this does not happen immediately, going over the weight limits can speed up wear and tear and void your warranties.
Besides these consequences, weight limits are also somewhat of an indication of how strong the materials and constructions are of these recumbent bikes.
As you can see, the Nautilus R618 does slightly better in these areas than the Schwinn 270.
Winner: Nautilus R618
Seat handle resistance control
Both the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 have 25 resistance levels. These allow you to work out at the right intensity levels and switch up your exercise sessions.
Even so, where these two recumbent bikes vary is the options you have for changing the resistance.
The Schwinn 270 keeps things basic with buttons on the panel below the screen. The Nautilus R618 also has these buttons but also includes resistance adjustment buttons in the handles right next to the seat.
To adjust the resistance when using the Schwinn 270 you have to reach towards the panel and potentially bend forward to some extent.
On the flip side, the Nautilus R618 allows you to stay in the recumbent seat with your hands on the handles.
It is true that this is not the biggest difference for everyone.
At the same time, recumbent bikes are a popular choice for people with limited mobility. For these individuals, the seat handle resistance control of the Nautilus R618 can be a big benefit.
Winner: Nautilus R618
Seat type
This next difference is again not the biggest in terms of consequences but it is good to know that the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 come with different seat types.
More precisely, both recumbent bikes come with a ventilated back but the Nautilus R618 has a gel seat whereas the Schwinn 270 has a regular padded seat (which should be less comfortable).
Something to note is that you could also get extra gel padding for the Schwinn 270 separately. That being said, including this is a nice addition to the Nautilus R618.
Winner: Nautilus R618
Screen mobility
Cardio machines like recumbent bikes often come with a screen to display workout measurements. These measurements can help you adapt your workouts and motivate you to keep going.
The Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 are not different. Both of these exercise bikes have screens to display things like speed, distance, and resistance level
Besides a slightly different layout, the main difference in this area is that the screen of the Nautilus R618 can be tilted. The Schwinn 270 has a regular static screen.
This allows relatively small and relatively tall individuals to adjust the screen to an angle where it becomes just a bit easier and more comfortable to read the measurements or look at their smart devices.
How important this difference in favor of the Nautilus R618 is depends on your height and how much you plan to look at the screen/device holder.
Winner: Nautilus R618
Warranties
Warranties are how long a brand is willing to replace certain parts if they break down under normal use. This detail can vary a lot between recumbent bike brands which could influence your choice.
The Nautilus R618 has warranties of 15 years frame warranty, 3 years mechanical parts and electronics warranty, and 1 year labor warranty.
On the other side, the Schwinn 270 has warranties of 10 years frame warranty, 2 years mechanical parts warranty, 1 year electronics warranty, and 90 days labor warranty.
Even if you never have to use these warranties, they are some indication of how much each brand stands behind the quality of its products.
How much the differences ultimately influence your choice depends on things like how long you plan to use your recumbent bike, how much of a handy person you are, your budget, and your risk tolerance.
In any case, the warranties of the Nautilus R618 are clearly better than the ones from the Schwinn 270.
Winner: Nautilus R618
Weight
The weight of a recumbent bike is another relatively straightforward but you may be confused about how this influences your experience of the model.
In some cases, the floor that will hold the exercise bike has a limited weight capacity. If that is the case for you, you definitely want to check the weights of the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270.
That being said, most people will care about this in regards to moving the recumbent bikes around.
This will be slightly easier to do with the 86.6 lbs (39.3 kg) of the Schwinn 270 compared to the 107.1 lbs (48.6 kg) of the Nautilus R618.
Individuals who plan to move their recumbent bike around a lot and have limited strength will care more about this difference than people who will just keep their bikes in one location.
Winner: Schwinn 270
Price
Besides the slightly heavier weight, most people will prefer the features of the Nautilus R618 over the ones of the Schwinn 270. Even so, most people also care about price when choosing an exercise bike.
How much each recumbent bike costs depends on where you get them and can change over time. That being said, at the time of writing, the Schwinn 270 is a nice amount more budget-friendly than the Nautilus R618.
You do want to keep the longer warranties of the Nautilus R618 in mind. From a long term view, this option could be the budget-friendly option.
Winner: Schwinn 270
User reviews
Because Nautilus and Schwinn are owned by the same company, the feature and price differences of the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270 should be enough information about what model the best choice is for you.
At the same time, customer reviews sometimes uncover unexpected downsides or trends in quality issues. In the case of the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270, the reviews are similar.
These recumbent bikes do not have the most advanced screens. The Bluetooth function does not always work as desired and connecting to the compatible app can be challenging.
Additionally, some people find the assembly a bit challenging and there are a few exceptional cases of faulty parts and early wear and tear.
That being said, overall, customers are positive about both the Nautilus R618 and Schwinn 270.
Is the Nautilus R618 or Schwinn 270 better for you?
In short, the Nautilus R618 has a slightly higher weight limit, seat handle resistance controls, a gel seat, a screen that can tilt, longer warranties, and a heart rate chest strap.
On the flip side, the Schwinn 270 is a bit lighter and initially a nice amount more budget-friendly.
What recumbent bike is the best depends on your budget and preferences for the features of the Nautilus R618.
The Nautilus R618 will be slightly sturdier, offer slightly more convenient workouts, be slightly more comfortable, and offer longer warranties.
For many people, the price difference will be worth these things. Especially if you consider how often you will use the recumbent bike over time.
That being said, many people will also find the Schwinn 270 good enough. If you are on a tight budget and/or want to save some money in the short term, this can be a solid recumbent bike too.
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