Schwinn IC4 Review

Schwinn is a big player in the home fitness market, and the IC4 is the top-of-the-line model in their range of indoor cycling bikes. In addition to its sturdy build, 40 lb weighted flywheel, and 100 levels of magnetic resistance, it is a smart bike with connected features. With more and more people exercising from home and latching onto the interactive at-home studio and virtual cycling trend, this was a compelling model worthy of testing. We found the IC4 to provide an excellent workout, a high level of comfort, and functionality with popular apps like Zwift, Peloton, and JRNY (it comes with a 1-year JRNY membership). It's also of great value since it retails for significantly less than many of the other connected bikes on the market.

Since we first reviewed the Schwiin IC4, there have been a few changes to the seat and handlebar to improve comfort and some changes to the software that should make the bike a bit more reactive to input. Prices have fluctuated quite a bit over the past two years; you should know that this is the same bike (with different branding) as the Bowflex C6, so if you find that one at a better price, it's the one to have.

Tested and Rated

Exercise bike reviews are often made by journalists who get the bikes for free, not at GearLab. After extensive research, we throw down the credit card and buy these bikes at retail price, just like you would. What really stood out to me about the IC4 is how good the ride quality was for such a simple exercise bike. It's surprising Schwinn doesn't make a super high-end fitness bike for the North American market, but maybe the IC4 is all you need.

Performance Comparison

Exercise Quality

The Schwinn IC4 impressed us with its excellent exercise quality, which we find suitable for all fitness levels. This spin bike feels stable and sturdy, with a 40 lb weighted flywheel and 100 micro-adjustable levels of smooth, quiet magnetic resistance. It can be used as a stand-alone spin bike with manual workouts or connected to popular apps like Peloton and Zwift, as well as the included JRNY app for a studio or interactive virtual training experience. This versatility gives the IC4/C6 a leg up on the competition in this metric.

The IC4 is built around an impressively stable and beefy steel frame. Even under the hardest out-of-the-saddle pedaling efforts, the bike didn't flex or complain. The frame supports a belt-driven 40 lb weighted flywheel with ample magnetic resistance. With so many resistance levels, you can micro-adjust it to get precisely and never feel compromised. During testing, I rarely turned the resistance above 70, which I found plenty challenging for quad-busting intervals. The resistance is controlled by an adjustment knob below the handlebar on the frame, and the rider adjusts it manually, whether you're doing your own workout or following along to an on-demand studio class.

While the IC4 is a smart bike with connected features, you can use it as a stand-alone bike for manual workouts without the need to connect to a device. In the bike's manual mode, you can start pedaling and adjust the resistance to your needs. You also have the option of setting a time, distance, or calorie workout goal through the bike's console.

Companion App/Connectivity

If manual workouts aren't exciting enough, you can connect your device via Bluetooth and use apps like Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY. These apps all have a monthly fee but may be worth the cost to access thousands of live and on-demand studio classes on Peloton or the interactive virtual training world of Zwift. Having a class to follow can help motivate you to stay in the groove.

If you do choose to use apps with the IC4, it is important to note that they have an additional monthly fee (Peloton is $12.99/mo, Zwift is $14.99/mo, and JRNY is free for a year, then $19.99/mo or $149/year) and require a device with a screen to serve as the display. Peloton has thousands of live streaming and on-demand studio workouts with various instructors and music to choose from, as well as scenic rides to watch while you spin away the time. Interestingly, the Peloton app is much cheaper with your compatible bike than a Peloton brand bike. However, it doesn't provide all the features or performance data tracking. Zwift is a virtual interactive training app with thousands of structured training programs, races, and events and a huge variety of maps and routes to follow. When connected, your device shows the virtual course you're riding and metrics like speed, time, cadence, watts, and a leaderboard. JRNY has trainer-led workouts, coaching, virtual courses to ride along to, and lots of off-the-bike workouts.

Comfort

I found the IC4 to be an impressively comfortable exercise bike throughout testing. It has loads of handlebar and seat adjustability to dial in the fit for a vast range of rider heights and preferences, as well as an agreeable performance seat and multi-position handlebar.

The IC4 has a maximum rider weight limit of 330 lbs, although Schwinn doesn't specify a recommended user height range. The handlebar and the seat are adjustable vertically and horizontally to accommodate a wide range of user heights. The seat post has 8.5 inches of vertical adjustment and 3 inches of horizontal adjustability. Likewise, the handlebar has 4 inches of vertical height adjustment and around 3 inches of horizontal adjustment. All this adjustability means that you should be able to dial it in for your needs and comfort. Our six-foot-tall tester with a 32-inch inseam could fit perfectly on this bike, although he had the seat height in its highest position. Since Schwinn doesn't provide a height range, we measured the distance from the top of the seat to the pedal in its lowest position to find an approximate inseam range. With the seat pushed forward, we measured a range of 29.25 - 37.25 inches in its lowest and highest settings.

The IC4 can handle serious indoor cycling and comes with a race style seat. The seat is slim, performance-oriented, and perfect for the intense cycling workouts this bike was designed for. We found it quite comfortable, with ample padding and a pressure relief cutout. Riders who prefer a broader, more supportive seat will likely find the race seat to be a bit too narrow, and it can easily be swapped out for a top-rated bike seat. The large, rubber-coated multi-position handlebar also provides many hand positions to suit your riding style or preference.

User Interface

The Schwinn IC4 comes with a small LCD display and syncs to the device of your choice with a Bluetooth connection for use with the Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY apps. Thanks to the LCD display, you can use this bike independently without an app or connection to your device, which gives it a leg up on some connected/smart bike competitors. When connected to an app, your tablet or phone (not included) serves as a screen that displays the studio workout or interactive ride. The Schwinn 130 Upright Bike is the only other option with a user interface that we like as much as the IC4.

The LCD display is centered on the handlebar and has a screen that measures 3" L x 2" W. The IC4 must be plugged in for the display and Bluetooth connection to work. The dark screen has bright numbers and letters and shows a wealth of information at a glance, including cadence, elapsed time, estimated calories burned, speed, distance, resistance level, and pulse. The display turns on if any button is pushed or the RPM sensor is triggered when the pedals turn. The screen automatically begins to display and record your workout information when the pedals start turning. Your workout automatically pauses if the pedals stop turning for 2 seconds. When your workout ends, the display powers off after 5 minutes of inactivity. Five buttons below the screen control all display functions, including Bluetooth, start/enter/reset, and up and down arrows. The Bluetooth button pairs the bike with compatible devices and the included heart rate sensor, while the others are used to start a workout or input a time, distance, or calorie goal for a manual workout. The 100 levels of magnetic resistance are controlled by a knob below the handlebar on the bike's mainframe.

Above the display is a padded device holder designed to hold a tablet or smartphone. The display has a USB charging port to keep your device charged while you ride. Using its Bluetooth connectivity, the IC4 is compatible with the Zwift, Peloton, and JRNY apps for a studio or interactive cycling experience.

Features

The Schwinn IC4 is a feature-packed exercise bike. The most impressive feature at this price point is its connectivity and functionality with third-party training apps like Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY. Additionally, this bike has loads of user-friendly features that help to enhance your workout experience.

The IC4 functions well as a stand-alone spin bike, plus you have the option of connecting to your device via Bluetooth and using popular interactive training apps. If you're already highly motivated, you may not need the added inspiration that live streaming, on-demand, or virtual training can provide, but we think it's nice to have the option. Unlike the more expensive competition, the IC4 does not come with a high-tech console for streaming workouts; you'll have to use one you already have or purchase one for that purpose. It does have a device holder where you can dock your device for easy viewing, and it has a USB port to keep it charged while you ride. It also comes with a Bluetooth heart rate armband to monitor your pulse during your workout.

Beyond its connectivity, the IC4 comes with some comfort features. The seat and handlebar have a fair amount of adjustability, both up and down and fore and aft. It comes with a performance-oriented seat as well as a sizeable multi-position handlebar. Below the handlebar are two bottle holders with cradles to hang the included 3 lb hand weights. Included are dual-function pedals with cages on one side and SPD clips on the other, so you can choose the footwear that's best for you; SPD cleats are included. The front stabilizer has integrated transport wheels, making moving this heavy bike easy. All feet have independent levelers to help stabilize the bike on uneven surfaces. It also comes with an impressive 10-year warranty on the frame and a three-year warranty on the electronics.

Ease of Setup/Portability

Amongst the exercise bikes I've tested, the Schwinn IC4 was fairly involved and time-consuming to assemble, similar to, but slightly easier than, the screen-equipped models. It comes with all the tools you need and detailed instructions that are easy to follow, and while it isn't challenging to finish, many steps are necessary to complete the build. It took a little over an hour to get this bike from the box to ride-ready.

The IC4 arrived at our test location in a large and hefty box. We didn't weigh the bike in the box, but with an assembled weight of 106 lbs, you want the help of another person to move it or remove the bike from the package. Once removed from the box, one person can complete the remaining tasks. It takes several minutes to remove the protective packing materials from the bike and all its parts, and most of the remaining assembly is relatively standard. The printed directions are detailed and easy to follow, and all the tools and hardware needed are included. After attaching the front and rear stabilizers, pedals, handlebar, seat, and seat post, features like the device holder, bottle holders/dumbbell holders must also be installed.

Once the IC4 is assembled, moving it around on hard surfaces is relatively easy thanks to the transport wheels integrated into the front stabilizer. However, this bike weighs 106 lbs, so moving it up or down stairs is best suited for two people. With dimensions of 48.75" L x 21.25" W x 52" H, the IC4 takes up roughly the same amount of space as most of the other upright models we tested.

Should You Buy the Schwinn IC4?

The Schwinn IC4/Bowflex C6 isn't exactly cheap, but in our opinion, it's a good value. Considering it performs roughly on par with big-name home studio competition, it feels like a solid bargain. Thanks to a 10-year frame, 3-year mechanical and electrical parts, and a 1-year labor warranty, this product is intended to stand the test of time. With the exception of speed inaccuracies and the lack of a dedicated screen, the IC4/C6 is one of our absolute favorite exercise bikes. We recommend it to anyone looking for versatility, comfort, and a solid workout.

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