NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle Review

NordicTrack has a long history in the home fitness market, and these days they make a lot more than their original cross-country ski exercise machine, although they still make that too. The Commercial S22i Studio is one of their high-end exercise bikes that sets itself apart from the competition with some unique features and the iFit app. iFit is a departure from the more studio-focused workouts of the other apps, offering simulated outdoor and immersive riding experience. Additionally, the S22i has adjustable incline and decline along with an AutoAdjust feature that automatically changes resistance and incline based on the workout and trainer you're following. While other connected bikes are more studio class-focused, the NordicTrack is refreshingly different.

NordicTrack released an updated version of the Commercial S22i shortly after we tested ours. The bike itself remains unchanged, but the console has been updated. The new screen and console feature “30W Premium Audio” speakers and improved Bluetooth connectivity. The update also included new, dual-function pedals, making the bike a bit more versatile. The price increased to $1,899 but we still find this bike to be a good value.

Tested and Rated

So many exercise bike reviews and “tests” are being done by influencers or gym owners who receive the bikes for free. At GearLab, we don't accept free products, we purchase everything we test, often through local retailers. I purchased this bike through NordicTracks's website and had it shipped just like you might if you were buying it. While I found it rather difficult to assemble, this isn't something you'll have to do more than once. What really sets the S22i apart from others is the unique incline feature. When you ascend a hill on a normal bike, your seat tube angle changes, and that activates different muscle groups. The S22i captures that aspect of a bicycle's dynamic.

Performance Comparison

Exercise Quality

The NordicTrack S22i is a high-quality spin bike that provides a studio-quality cycling experience. It has a large range of smooth and quiet magnetic resistance, a 32-pound weighted flywheel, and a unique incline and decline feature to simulate real-world riding. Of course, a connected exercise bike is nothing without its app, and iFit happens to be one of my favorites.

The S22i is a quality bike that looks like it belongs in a spin studio or commercial gym. It has a sturdy and robust feel to it, and it feels relatively stable whether you're seated and spinning or out of the saddle hammering up a climb. Due to the mechanics of the adjustable incline/decline, the bike does have a small amount of side-to-side play that is noticeable when you're riding up out of the saddle. The movement is fairly subtle and doesn't affect the bike's performance or overall stability. There are 24 levels of SMR (Silent Magnetic Resistance) that provide a wide range of resistance suitable for all fitness levels. My only gripe about fewer levels of resistance is that the jumps between levels are larger than on models with more levels. The S22i also has the unique ability to adjust the incline up to 20% and decline down to -10% to simulate real-world riding and mimic the terrain of the program you're following. Additionally, both resistance and incline automatically adjust based on the terrain and trainer through the AutoAdjust feature. This provides the feeling that you're almost there on the ride with the trainer.

While it is quite different from the more studio-focused apps like Peloton and Echelon, the iFit app is quite good and provides the rider with a very different, some people might say better, exercise experience. The trainer-led scenic rides take place in beautiful locations around the world, and the bike can automatically adjust resistance and incline to match the chosen ride. The screen tilts and rotates, so you can position it however you like to take advantage of the wealth of off-the-bike workouts on the app.

Companion App/Connectivity

Similar to other modern high-end exercise bikes with touchscreens, the S22i uses WiFi to connect to the iFit app, and Bluetooth to pair with accessories like headphones and heart rate monitors. The iFit app is relatively unique among the apps that we've tested, and it offers a different experience than the studio-centric apps of the competition. The immersive iFit rides, engaging trainers, and AutoAdjust features may not be for everyone, but they're my current favorite.

After receiving and assembling our test bike, I plugged it in and quickly realized that everything functioned normally, except the screen. Since the screen is the primary interface of the bike, this problem rendered the bike inoperable. If you look around online, you'll find an abundance of negative reviews about NordicTracks customer service (mostly that they are hard to reach). It took a few days of chat, emails, and calls, but once I reached a real person in customer service, they were very helpful, and a new console was shipped to us in short order. We replaced the console, and the problem was fixed. This isn't the first NordicTrack machine to arrive with a non-functioning screen, we hope their quality control improves. After logging on to our WiFi network everything seemed to be going fine, but the S22i dropped its connection on almost every ride for the first few days. After some troubleshooting and searching the internet for similar issues, I stumbled upon a thread that suggested using a 2.4 GHz wireless connection instead of 5.0 GHz. Since many wireless routers provide both, it was an easy switch to make. Once switched over to a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection, the issue was resolved and it stopped dropping out mid-ride. Needless to say, it was a bumpy start for the S22i, but once these problems were solved, it became smooth sailing.

The S22i comes with a 30-day iFit membership included, but after 30 days, you will need to start paying a monthly or yearly fee to continue using the app. Family plans can have up to 5 user profiles and are $39 a month or $396 for a year, or you can get an individual plan for $180 a year. Your iFit membership can be used across multiple different iFit-ready pieces of equipment like treadmills, ellipticals, rowers, fitness mirrors, or on a tablet for off-the-bike workouts. The iFit app wouldn't be my prime recommendation for those seeking the at-home studio cycling experience. iFit offers something different for those who find studio classes mundane. iFit does have a modest number of live and on-demand studio classes, but its specialty is the immersive, trainer-led scenic rides. These rides take place in scenic locations all over the world with enthusiastic trainers who provide prompts, tell stories, and give training tips, making the time pass quickly. Many of the trainers are recognizable athletes like Chris Davenport, Yuri Hauswald, or George Hincapie, to name a few, who are leading a series of workouts in the same geographic region or helping you work towards a goal (Couch to 40K is an example). You can filter the rides by type (road, mountain, studio), location (desert, mountains, beach, city, forest, etc), length, and instructor, and they have a variety of language options to choose from. iFit is always creating new content, so there are new videos, challenges, and locations constantly being added to the already extensive library.

The S22i features an AutoAdjust setting where the resistance and incline of the bike change automatically in response to terrain and trainer prompts. This feature allows you to focus on riding and helps you feel immersed in the experience. SmartAdjust will adapt the remainder of your workout should you choose to deviate from the program, or AutoAdjust can be turned off so you can control the resistance and incline yourself. The screen shows a variety of metrics including resistance level, power output, cadence, elapsed time, incline, and a leaderboard for those who like to see how they stack up (the leaderboard can also be hidden if you don't care). iFit workouts are based on your Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) on a scale of 1-10, so it is up to the user to decide how hard to push themselves.

Google Maps integration is another interesting feature of the iFit app. You can create a route on Google Maps, and then follow it on a ride. The bike will respond to the terrain in your route, and the screen shows Google Street View photos along the way. I toyed around with this feature, and while it is interesting, the jumpiness of the images (they are still photos patched together) is a bit distracting. iFit also has a selection of TED talks to listen to while you ride, along with a big variety of strength training, pilates, yoga, and more to do off the bike as well.

Comfort

I found the Commercial S22i to be quite comfortable with a huge range of fit adjustments to suit a broad range of rider heights. A maximum weight limit of 350 lbs is listed in the bike's literature. One thing I appreciated about this bike compared to the competition is its impressively narrow Q-factor, the horizontal distance between the crankarms where the pedals attach, of 150mm. This measurement is very close to what you'll find on most road bikes and will feel more normal to riders who are accustomed to that width. Bikes with wider Q-factors can feel a bit odd to conventional cyclists and may place a bit more strain on your hips and knees.,

NordicTrack doesn't specify a recommended user height range for the S22i, so I took some measurements to determine the range of fit adjustment. The seat height is adjustable by 13 inches and can be moved fore and aft by 2 inches. With the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke, I found a height range of 28 to 41 inches from saddle to pedal. One of our six-foot-tall testers with a 35-inch inseam had several inches of seat height adjustment to spare. The bike's step-over height of 21 inches makes it relatively easy to get on and off. The handlebar height has a 3.5-inch adjustment range but doesn't feature any fore/aft adjustment like some of the other models tested. Regardless, all of our testers were able to easily find a comfortable fit, and both the seat and handlebar posts have numbered adjustment lines that make it easy to return to your desired fit should any of the settings get changed. The saddle angle can also be adjusted with an included wrench.

Like other high-end exercise bikes, the S22i comes with a fairly slim, performance-oriented seat. This seat's narrower width, medium cushioning, and shape work well for the high-intensity style of workouts this bike is intended for, but may not be for everyone. Those who prefer a more supportive platform may be left wanting a larger saddle. Fortunately, there is nothing proprietary about its fit and you can swap out the saddle for your favorite bike seat if you wish. The large, rubber-coated handlebar offers a variety of hand placement options that change how much weight you're putting on your palms. A built-in adjustable speed fan at the bottom of the touchscreen is surprisingly effective for keeping cool, and two bottle holders positioned below the handlebar keep beverages within arm's reach for hydration while you ride.

User Interface

The number 22 in S22i denotes the size of the touchscreen, which is the primary way that riders interact with this bike. NordicTrack sells several versions in the Commercial S series, with the primary difference being the size of the screen. At 22 inches, this HD screen is quite large, which makes it great for following along with scenic iFit videos and feeling immersed in the ride. The screen tilts for viewing at the perfect angle while riding, plus it can be rotated for viewing any of the off-the-bike workouts (though it doesn't tilt down for floor-based exercises). The color and picture quality are generally good, although we encountered occasional pixelation but that could be due to bandwidth. Scrolling through iFit is very intuitive, although choosing what ride or workout to do could occasionally be a challenge with so many great options. I found the screen sensitivity to be relatively good, although at times, too sensitive as it would occasionally select a ride while we were trying to scroll. Nearly everything is controlled through the screen including resistance, incline, and speaker volume. On the side of the screen are two buttons that allow you to adjust the volume of the speakers. Below the screen, there are also two buttons to control the speed of the fan.

Unlike the other high-end exercise bikes tested, the NordicTrack does not have a knob to control the resistance. Instead, it can be adjusted on the screen, and there are buttons on the handlebar that control both the resistance and incline/decline. The resistance controls are on the right, and the incline/decline buttons are on the left. There is, however, a large button below the handlebar that looks like a resistance knob, but it only works as the brake when you want to stop the flywheel and pedals from spinning. One of the nice things about the S22i and iFit is that it has an AutoAdjust feature that automatically changes resistance and incline based on the ride you're following. You don't even need to touch the buttons during a workout unless you choose to alter the resistance or incline from the program.

Features

The Commercial S22i has some features that help to enhance the overall experience of riding this bike. Of course, the bike works with the iFit app, which provides a different training experience compared to the more studio-focused workouts of the competition. Working along with iFit, this bike's unique incline and decline adjustability helps to simulate the real-world riding conditions and topography of the ride you're following. The bike can tilt up to a steep 20% incline or down to a -10% decline by pressing the handlebar-mounted control buttons, or the bike will automatically adjust incline and resistance based on the trainer and program you're following using the AutoAdjust feature. This provides an immersive workout experience that is quite a departure from the other bikes we tested.

The 22-inch tilting touchscreen swivels 180 degrees in either direction, allowing multiple orientations to take advantage of the wealth of off-bike workouts on the iFit app. The adjustable fan was surprisingly effective at helping to keep you cool while you spin away the miles. The screen's built-in speakers provide decent audio, or you can connect headphones, and heart rate monitors (not included), via Bluetooth or the auxiliary plug. Below the screen between the handlebar is a device shelf to hold your phone or other items, as well as cradles for the included 3-pound dumbbells. Below the handlebar are two bottle holders to keep fluids close at hand. Our test bike came with toe cage pedals, but newer models have dual-sided pedals that are SPD-compatible. Two wheels on the front stabilizer make it fairly easy to roll the bike around on firm surfaces. Independent levelers at all four corners allow you to help stabilize the bike on uneven surfaces.

Setup and Portability

Of all the bikes tested, the NordicTrack S22i was the most time-consuming to assemble, and with a packaged weight of 205 lbs, it is also the heaviest. NordicTrack recommends having two people for assembly, and I won't argue with that as the weight of the bike and several steps require two sets of hands. For those not inclined to tackle assembly themselves, you can typically get the S22i professionally assembled for an additional fee.

With a shipping weight of 205 pounds, the Commercial S22i is massive, and moving the box is certainly a task for two, maybe even three, people. Removing it from the box is also a bit of a challenge, and we found it easiest to open the bottom of the box and pull it off from the top. This leaves the bike standing in an upright position which makes it easy to remove the parts and the packing materials from the main body of the bike. It comes with a printed manual with written instructions and diagrams of all the steps in the assembly process, or you can scan a QR code that brings you to the BILT app where you can follow 3D instructions of all the steps. While the instruction manual is adequate, we tried the BILT app and found the 3D instructions to be very easy to follow. While there is nothing particularly difficult about the assembly of the S22i, it simply takes a bit of time and patience to put it together. All told it took us right about an hour and a half to get the bike ready for use but we spent many additional hours troubleshooting the screen and wifi issues.

The S22i weighs 194 pounds once assembled so you'll want to put it together where you intend to use it, and move it sparingly. Moving this bike up and down stairs isn't impossible, but it's something that most users will likely want to avoid. Tipping the bike forward onto the transport wheels integrated into the front stabilizer makes it fairly easy to roll the bike around on firm, flat surfaces, but again, it is fairly heavy. It has very similar dimensions to most of the other models we tested at 22 inches wide x 58 inches long with a maximum height of 60 inches at the top of the touchscreen. It is hard to make it disappear when not in use, but such is the case with most other exercise bikes.

Should You Buy the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle?

The NordicTrack S22i is a great option for riders who are interested in the unique indoor cycling experience that a top exercise bike like iFit offers, as opposed to the studio-style classes offered by the majority of the competition. The bike's narrow Q-factor, adjustable incline/decline, AutoAdjust feature, and killer trainer-led iFit rides may almost make you forget that you're riding indoors. If you want to ride at home, but don't want to feel like you're in a spin studio, then this might be the bike for you.

What Other Exercise Bikes Should You Consider?

If you're more interested in live and on-demand studio classes there are better options than the NordicTrack S22i. The Peloton Bike+ is a fair bit more expensive, but it is an excellent bike and the Peloton app is second to none for the studio cycling experience. Likewise, the Echelon EX-5s and MYX II Plus are quality bikes, and their Echelon and OpenFit apps are similar to Peloton in their studio focus. If you're looking for something different, the Bowflex VeloCore offers its unique lean feature that allows you to tip the bike side to side and work a variety of muscle groups, and the JRNY app provides a wide selection of studio, scenic, and virtual coach rides along with the ability to use the Zwift and Peloton apps (through your own device) or stream entertainment on the screen.