Well, unfortunately the spin bike I bought after 10 mo of use, despite always feeling sturdy with no flex, and nothing feeling loose, started developing a loud click with every push of the right crank arm. I pulled off both crank arm caps and tightened their fastening nuts, as well as the 4 bolts of the crank pulley on the right side. I tightened the 4 bolts holding the leg tubes onto the frame, and the outer nuts where the flywheel mounts. The pedals felt tight and smooth spinning, but I installed a pair of flats I've yet to ride on. I also pulled the drive train cowling off and checked for anything stuck in the belt. I also pulled the entire seat and post assembly out to make sure the noise was not from there. Still I heard the noise, which while hand cranking and listening closer seems to come from the crank spindle.
So I continued the same chat where I left off with the Amazon vendor for this product 10 mo ago as she offered this bike for free after seeing I'd returned their friction pad model. I'd already bought the mag resistance model though. She first responded saying thanks for the detailed explanation, and agreed it was likely the crank spindle/bearing assembly. After some trouble getting the link she sent to provide a video of the problem via email, which wouldn't open, she's says, OK I got it. So I assumed after she'd also said they have that part and it's considered user serviceable, shed send it, but she again later asks me for another video. She wanted me to try tightening all the fasteners and then push the crank by hand with no resistance to see if the noise still persisted! I then told her I'd already explained that I tightened all the fasteners, and that not many people use a spin bike with no resistance!
I started wondering since all of their models of bikes now show as currently unavailable on Amazon, if she's caught in the middle of the company deciding whether to try to adjust prices higher due to tariffs, or fold their tents. I've yet to hear back from her, but now I feel dumb for not accepting her offer to get the mag bike free. She was offering it free in exchange for editing my review on the friction pad bike to a more favorable one. I thought 3 out of 5 stars was accurate given that the pad shot out the front of it under resistance pedaling after only 2 weeks of use. Like a dummy though I just told her I'd already sent the pad one back and ordered and received the mag one, and that offering the difference between the two in price would be adequate (CURSE my angelic side!
).
Today I was so upset I didn't bother with my upper body strength or spin bike workouts. The bike still works and feels OK, but that loud click just reminds me it's really cheap crap! I also don't want to disturb the neighbor below me. It may have been a good thing I avoided the workouts though, because it prompted me to do a lot of research on good quality spin bikes. I looked at more Amazon bikes like Yosuda and Jeroto, which have WAY more positive reviews than the one I bought, but also some pretty bad ones, talking about and showing some consistently nasty problems with them.
So I started looking for CPO spin bikes, and stumbled on a place called Studio Cycles, which is affiliated with Total Body Experts. What these guys do is work with a lot of fitness places like LA Fitness, etc, and buy their used spin bike fleets, and refurbish them. They even built their own press tool to customize the bottom bracket (crank) shell on the Spinner NXT bikes, to make them way longer lasting than stock. Studio Cycles also works directly with Schwinn as consultants on spin bike design. Jim Wimmer, owner of Studio Cycles, also wrote an extensive several part guide on how to DIY a first gen Spinner NXT to equal their upgraded latter model.
Now I know these bikes cost quite a bit more, over $1000 for CPO ones, but they also have high end parts that cost a lot to replace should you find one used on the cheap. The Spinner NXT is also plagued with knockoffs made in India, so it makes it even harder to buy used willy nilly. In fact I had just prior contacted a person selling a Spinner NXT on craigslist, but noticed the manu's model decal had been taken off. I then wondered if Jim and his YT video guides on what to look for when buying one used saved me. So I spoke with a guy named Jeremy at TBE, and he worked out a pretty good deal for me on a Schwinn AC Performance Plus (saved me over $100 with free shipping).
The Schwinn AC Performance Plus is a commercial grade bike made to handle abuse at fitness clubs and fits a wide range of riders. It's designed for long wear and low maintenance with formed aluminum frame, mag resistance, robust ISIS bottom bracket, a lobed drive belt made of carbon/PU, an industry leading handlebar with wide, flat hand rests, combination flat/click-in pedals, and the leg tubes have PU pads on the top for getting on and off the bike if you're wearing cleated shoes. I had a feeling the Fizik MTB shoes I bought would still get some use when I decided to go with flat shoes and pedals on my next mt bike.
Here she is, the new bike in my mini fleet!
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