If you’re a dedicated cyclist or even just a casual cardio-lover looking for a new exercise bike, you might want to consider snagging the NordicTrack S27i Exercise Bike. This bike includes a 27-inch touchscreen monitor for an immersive experience throughout your workout, and features automatic adjustments to your incline, decline, and resistance to accompany your virtual training. Plus, it’s compatible with SPD cleats and cycling shoes.
With your purchase, you’ll receive a free month of iFit but are required to pay a membership fee afterward. This membership provides access to over 16,000 workout classes, including strength training, yoga, and even stretching (in addition to cycling, of course). You can hop off the bike, bust out your trusty dumbbells or exercise mat, and rotate the monitor 360 degrees to work out on the floor. Because of the high-tech nature of this bike, and the endless number of virtual workouts available with iFit — we think it’s one of the best exercise bikes on the market and could make a great addition to your home gym.
Main Takeaways
- The 27-inch touchscreen monitor is loaded with over 16,000 workouts from iFit. It can tilt to your comfort level, and rotate 360 degrees for any workout off the bike.
- Adjustments to the incline, decline, and resistance will happen automatically during a virtual class with iFit, but you can always manually adjust them if necessary.
- The pedals on this bike are compatible with SPD cleats and cycling shoes.
This exercise bike features a 27-inch touchscreen monitor, and offers automatic adjustments to your resistance level, incline, and decline during the middle of your trainer-led workouts.
NordicTrack Commercial S27i Exercise Bike Video Review
Our reviews writer, Jake, breaks down everything there is to know about this high-tech bike during his detailed video review. Follow along as he details all of the features the S27i offers, and decide for yourself if it’s worth the hype.
NordicTrack Commercial S27i Exercise Bike Highlights
NordicTrack makes some of the most high-tech cardio equipment, and that is especially true with the S27i. This exercise bike is loaded with features that can ramp up your cardio efforts — from the automatic incline/resistance adjustments that correspond to each specific workout, to the tens of thousands of workout classes at your disposal on the 27-inch touchscreen monitor.
You can join a virtual studio class for the feel of being in an actual spin class, or “travel” the world with a trainer in one of the destination classes for a more one-on-one feel. We also enjoy the manual option where you can to create your own workout. With this option, you can select any of the 24 levels of resistance, and adjust the ride from a decline of -10 degrees to an incline up to 20 degrees.
NordicTrack also integrated Google Maps™ into their equipment, which will be great for anyone prepping for a competition. This feature allows you to “travel” to pretty much any city in the world and create your own route within that city. If you’re a dedicated cyclist then we think you’ll enjoy the pedals here as they’re compatible with any SPD cleats or cycling shoes you may already own.
iFit offers a growing list of live and on-demand workouts consisting of strength training, yoga, and meditation classes, among other categories. Since this is such a luxury product, you will have to pay around $2,500 for it. So if you don’t plan on using it multiple times a week, you may be better off with a more basic bike. However, if you do choose to drop some cash on this bike, we think you’ll be thrilled with your experience.
Who Should Buy the NordicTrack Commercial S27i
- Those who want an instructor to lead them through a workout for added motivation will love the iFit classes loaded onto the monitor of this bike.
- The automatic incline/resistance adjustments that correspond to the workouts are an awesome tool for anyone wanting a product that mimics an outdoor bike ride.
- Anyone looking for an exercise bike that’s compatible with their SPD cleats or cycling shoes will be happy they can wear any gear they already own with this bike.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the NordicTrack Commercial S27i
- Those on a tight budget will want to source a cheaper option.
- Anyone who doesn’t care for a bike that has trainer-led classes may want to buy themselves a more basic exercise bike.
- Space is always a factor with any workout equipment, and the 27-inch monitor may make it too difficult to find a spot for the S27i to go in your home gym (especially if you’re working with a small area).
Price
The price you’ll pay for the NordicTrack S27i is determined by the iFit membership you choose, any extended warranties you want to add, and whether or not you want white glove assembly. If you want to go down the cheapest route up front, the monthly plan and included warranty (without white glove assembly) will cost you about $2,500. The one-year membership to iFit will run you around $400, the three-year extended warranty is an additional $180 or so, and the white glove assembly will run you around $200 on top of the listing price.
While this is one of the most expensive exercise bikes on the market, it’s also one of the best options out there due to all of the high-tech features. However, we still realize that not everyone wants to spend $2,500 on an exercise bike. If you don’t want to spend that much on this bike upfront, you can always finance it directly through NordicTrack. NordicTrack does a great job laying out the financing options, and your iFit membership selection, any added warranties, and white glove assembly will determine those monthly payments.
Overall Build and Quality
The NordicTrack S27i features a steel frame with a 27-inch touchscreen monitor. The 24 levels of magnetic resistance, and the incline and decline adjustments are all relatively quiet — so early risers and late-night fitness junkies won’t have to worry about making too much noise.
It weighs a hefty 217 pounds, so thankfully, it has a set of wheels to make it portable. This bike also has a weight capacity of 350 pounds and features a 10-year warranty on the framework. Due to the large monitor, you’ll need to clear out a decent amount of space in your home gym — it’s about 65 inches tall, 57 inches long, and 28 inches wide.
Features
The S27i is about as modern as it gets. You have a 27-inch touchscreen monitor that gives you access to all of the available classes, but it also tracks all of your stats for each workout. The Bluetooth connectivity allows you to pair up your headphones, and since there aren’t any built-in heart rate sensors, you may want to pair a heart rate monitor to get an accurate reading on your burned calories. The two 30-watt speakers under the screen provide a clear sound, and the built-in fan will help cool you off as you sweat. The automatic incline/resistance adjustments offered during virtual workouts are great, but you can always manually adjust the difficulty level on your own if needed.
Stats Tracking and Metrics
During each bike ride, you’ll notice a bar on the top of the screen that tracks your incline and decline, your time spent riding; how much time is left, your calories burned, distance, pace, and speed.
Display
The S27i features a 27-inch touchscreen display that tilts up and down, and the 360-degree rotation will come in clutch for anyone who wants to sneak in a quick pump off the bike with some dumbbells.
You’ll notice a camera on the top of the screen, but that doesn’t serve a purpose as of now. But don’t let that discourage you, we wouldn’t be surprised if NordicTrack rolls out a more personalized form of coaching before too long involving the camera.
Included workouts
This bike does not include any preloaded workouts, but you do receive a free month of iFit with your purchase. This gives you access to over 16,000 live and on-demand classes for cycling, strength training, yoga, and more.
Workout Apps and Subscription Options
Not only can you join a virtual class on the touchscreen monitor, but you can also download the iFit app to your smartphone to stream any of the classes that don’t require the bike. This is also a great way to track your progress over time and check out any new challenges you may want to complete.
After your free month of iFit expires, you must have a subscription to gain access to the available classes. Even though you don’t need a membership plan to use this bike, we recommend it since that’s what makes this such a cool piece of equipment. You can always pay $39 a month for your membership, but there are also three different yearly plans. The one-year plan is about $400, the two-year plan will run you around $700, and the three-year plan is around $900. These plans will increase your initial price for the S27i, but will save you money long-term.
Heart Rate Monitoring
The NordicTrack S27i doesn’t have any heart rate sensors built into the handlebars, but you can always connect an existing heart rate monitor via Bluetooth to track your heart rate throughout your ride.
Fans
This bike features a fan with four speeds to keep you cool as you pedal through your workout.
Speakers
The two 30-watt speakers underneath the monitor provide a solid amount of sound and will keep your iFit classes loud and clear, no matter what’s happening in your house.
Water Bottle, Cup Holders, Tablet and Phone Holders
This bike has one water bottle holder and a tray to store your phone and keys if necessary. One thing that may be a negative for some people, though, is that there’s no tablet holder.
Bluetooth and Audio Options
This bike features Bluetooth connectivity to sync your headphones, heart rate monitor, or fitness tracker for use throughout your bike rides. NordicTrack also includes over 10 music genres on this bike, so you can listen to popular music while riding.
HDMI, USB and Other Inputs
The S27i does not feature any input or output ports, but we don’t think there’s a need for those here with all the technology included in the bike itself.
Product Specs
The NordicTrack S27i features automatic adjustments to the magnetic resistance, as well as the incline and decline. The pedals have standard toe cages, but if you’re a hardcore cyclist, you’ll be happy to know the pedals are also compatible with SPD cleats and cycling shoes.
The handlebars and seat are both easy to adjust to fit your comfort, and this bike is also relatively quiet — which is great for at-home workouts.
Bike Type
The S27i is an upright bike, so if you deal with lower back ailments, you might want to consider a recumbent bike.
Resistance
NordicTrack features 24 levels of magnetic resistance with this bike that can be manually adjusted, but will also adjust automatically during your virtual cardio sessions. Another awesome feature is that the incline and decline range from -10 to 20 percent.
Pedals
These pedals come with standard cages but are compatible with cycling shoes and SPD cleats. This is great for dedicated cyclists who want to break in their new kicks from home.
Seat and Handlebars
The bike’s seat and handlebars can be adjusted vertically to accommodate all heights, while the seat can also be adjusted horizontally.
Ride Feel and Comfort
The S27i offered a smooth ride during our time with it, and the magnetic resistance felt natural. The seat also felt like a standard bike seat, but we needed to break it in a little bit.
Dimensions and Weight
This bike measures 65 inches tall, 58 inches long, and 29 inches wide (due to the monitor). It also weighs 217 pounds. This is a little bigger than average, so if you have a small space, you might be better off looking for a more compact option.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of the S27i is 350 pounds, which is above average for indoor bikes.
Portability
A set of front wheels will assist you in moving this bike around your personal space, but we did still find it a bit difficult since there isn’t a dedicated handle to help with maneuvering — plus, it’s heavy.
Electrical Requirements
You can utilize any average household plug to power this machine. Just be sure to turn it off and unplug it after use to avoid a power surge.
Noise
The NordicTrack S27i creates resistance by using a quiet magnetic, inertia-enhanced flywheel system. We found this to be a relatively quiet bike, and we don’t think you need to worry about it waking up your family members or roommates if you like to ride in the morning or late at night.
Warranties
With your purchase, you’ll get a 10-year warranty on the frame, two years on parts, and one year on labor.
Places to Buy
You can purchase the S27i directly through the NordicTrack website.
Company Information
NordicTrack is one of the leaders in producing bikes, rowers, treadmills, ellipticals, and strength equipment, all compatible with iFit. You’ll receive a free 30-day trial for iFit with your purchase, and recurring payments will take place afterward. For additional information, you can call their customer service line at 1-888-308-9616.
Final Word
The NordicTrack S27i Studio Bike is one of the most luxurious exercise bikes on the market. It features a 27-inch touchscreen monitor loaded with over 16,000 iFit classes and challenges. You can create your own manual workouts, or even “travel” the world by searching the city of your choosing thanks to the Google Maps™ feature. The automatic incline/resistance adjustments are a great tool as you’re following along to virtual iFit classes. This provides a real-life bike ride feel, but you can always manually adjust them when necessary.
This is a great option for a dedicated cyclist since the pedals are compatible with SPD cleats and cycling shoes. Tracking your stats is super easy on-screen, especially if you pair a heart rate monitor via Bluetooth. Because of all of these luxury features, this bike is best suited for those with a large budget who plan on using it multiple times a week, and want their workouts to be led by a virtual instructor. If you decide to spend your hard-earned money on the S27i, we think you’ll be more than happy with all of its modern technological features.
FAQs
How much does the NordicTrack S27i cost?
This high-tech exercise bike is priced at around $2,500. We realize this is an expensive bike, but we also think it’s worth that high price tag. The S27i features a 27-inch touchscreen monitor that provides access to over 16,000 iFit workouts with automatic adjustments during trainer-led rides and stat-tracking. If you have the budget, we think you’ll be more than happy with your purchase.
Are there any preloaded workouts on the NordicTrack S27i?
Unfortunately, no, there are not any preloaded workouts. However, there is a manual workout option that doesn’t require iFit and allows you to customize your workout without a trainer.
How helpful is iFit on the NordicTrack S27i?
We personally love the inclusion of iFit on this bike. It provides thousands of virtual classes, so no workout has to be the same. If you’re looking for some added motivation from a professional trainer, or want to make the time pass by faster during your workout, we think you’ll love this type of training as well.
