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Last Updated: March 16, 2024
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is a compact and affordable home air bike.
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| Star Rating: | 4.3 |
| MSRP: | $649 |
| Overall Rating: | 71 |
| Workout Experience | 7 |
| Specs / Features | 6 |
| Dimensions / Storability | 6 |
| On-Board Workouts & Apps | 6 |
| Build Quality | 7 |
The smaller fan makes it less intimidating than other misery machines.
Summary Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike Review: The Bottom Line
Bells of Steel has created the Residential Air Bike to include a more affordable and compact air bike for home use only in their lineup. That is exactly what this air bike is, but there are some things you should know that I’ll get into in this Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike review.
The bottom line is that this is a really budget-friendly air bike. Bells of Steel’s other bike, the Blitz Air Bike 2.0, has earned the best budget air bike title for 2024, but the Residential is even cheaper. Along with being less expensive, the Residential Air Bike has a compact and lightweight design, as well as a smaller fan. I’m not going to say that it’s easier to use, because it is still challenging, but it’s less intimidating than other air bikes on the market, the Blitz 2.0 included.
Like other air bikes, the Bells of Steel Residential provides a full-body workout. You can vary your intensity by how hard you work, the harder you pedal and move the handles, the more resistance the bike gives you. For home use, the Residential uses a belt drive system that cuts down on noise and makes the bike feel smooth. I think people who are looking for a more compact and budget-friendly air bike than the Bells of Steel Blitz 2.0, should consider the Residential Air Bike. It’s also a good option for beginners.
Editor’s Note, 3/16/2024: We spent time testing the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike to create this review. We also compared it to the Bells Of Steel Blitz Air Bike 2.0.
What We Like
- This is a budget-friendly air bike for home use.
- It has a belt-drive system that helps to cut down on noise.
- It’s compact and lightweight.
- It provides a total-body workout that varies in intensity by how hard you work.
- The seat is comfortable with nice padding.
Areas for Improvement
- A windguard isn’t included.
- It isn’t designed to be as durable or heavy-duty as other air bikes, like the Blitz 2.0.
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Pedaling Through Air At Home For Years
When it comes to fitness equipment, we test all kinds and have been for over a decade. Air bikes are the type of equipment that we love to hate because of how challenging they are. Over the years, we’ve dripped sweat on so many fans that we’ve lost count. We’ve tested air bikes from popular brands such as Rogue, Schwinn, Assault Fitness, Bells of Steel, and Concept2, among others. Whenever we create a review, it is after we’ve spent extensive time using the machine.
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In-depth Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike Review: Testing & Analysis
Workout Experience
*Editor’s Note: We have a video showcasing our firsthand experience using the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike coming. This will help give you insight into exactly what to expect from this air bike.
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Dimensions/Storability
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike has a smaller and lighter weight design than other air bikes on the market, including the brand’s other air bike, the Blitz 2.0.
Its dimensions are 49.7” long, 24” wide, and 50.7” inches tall.
The Residential Bike will save you a few inches of floor space. It’s a good idea to factor in the dimensions plus a couple of extra feet surrounding the bike to ensure you can move the pedals and handles, as well as get on and off of it.
The Residential Air Bike has front transport wheels to move it around.
Because the fan is smaller, it is easier to move than the Blitz. You just have to lift the back stabilizer to engage the wheels. A handle on the stabilizer would be nice to move the Residential Bike more easily, but it’s fine to move when you need to. It only weighs 108 lbs, so it’s lighter than most air bikes, especially the overbuilt Rogue Echo, which is 123 lbs.
Onboard Workouts & Apps
Most air bikes have simple, battery-powered consoles. Instead of indoor cycling bikes that tend to have touch screens, most air bikes don’t. They also don’t require being plugged in.
Bells of Steel is also one of the few brands nowadays that don’t have their own training app. The Residential Bike’s console is simple with onboard workouts. You could use it with different training apps though.
Onboard Workouts
The Residential Bike has the same console and workout programming as the Blitz Air Bike 2.0. All of your workout metrics are clearly labeled, as well as the workout programs. On the screen, you can track your time, distance, estimated calories, watts, speed, RPMs, and heart rate. You’ll need to pair a compatible monitor to track your heart rate.
Once you start moving the handles and pedals, the screen turns on.
You can just hop on and do your own thing, or you can choose from the different onboard workouts available. The buttons on the right side of the screen are where you can select from different workout programs. These include Tabata, inverted Tabata, and a custom interval setting to select how long you want the working and rest portions of the intervals to be. There are also targeted training settings to choose goals for your time, distance, calories, and heart rate.
These are all pretty standard for most air bikes, like AssaultBikes. Unlike the console on AssaultBikes though, the Bells of Steel Residential Bike doesn’t connect to third-party apps through Bluetooth.
Console
I like how easy this console is to see and use. It doesn’t tilt up and down, but it’s well-positioned for most people. A big plus to air bikes is that they’re simple to use and don’t require electricity.
The Residential Bike stays true to being easy to use, this with the console.
It isn’t backlit, however. If you want to use the bike in a dark room or garage, you might have a hard time reading the console. In standard overhead lighting, it’s easy to see though.
Even though it doesn’t connect to third-party apps, the console has a small tray to put your phone or small tablet. This way, if you want to stream outside training content or watch something on your device, you can. You could also park the Residential Air Bike in front of a TV. The console and overall design are pretty short, compared to other equipment like treadmills.
The console also includes a metal holder for your water. It’s nice that this is included along with the device
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Build Quality
The Residential Air Bike is rated for residential use only. That’s pretty obvious given its name. It doesn’t have the same design as most other popular air bikes. This is mainly because the fan is smaller. The Residential still provides a low-impact, total-body workout though.
The Bells of Steel also has just a 297.6 lb (to be exact) weight limit. This is lower than what other air bikes offer, like the AssaultBike Pro X and the Blitz 2.0.
Frame
The Residential Air Bike has a steel frame.
Although it’s compact, the two steel floor stabilizers are plenty wide to provide a good base of support. This air bike doesn’t tip from side to side when riding it. There are 4 adjustable leveling feet that the Bells of Steel sits on to prevent it from rocking, too.
The steel base makes this bike feel really solid. It does have plastic over the drive train, but everything else is steel.
Most air bikes have plastic coverings in between the pedals, like the Residential Bike.
Fan
The standout feature of the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is the smaller fan.
The fan is just 20” in diameter.
Most other air bikes, except the Concept2 BikeErg have larger fans in diameter. The Blitz Air Bike 2.0 has a 25” fan, comparatively.
Fans on air bikes provide an unlimited amount of resistance to move the pedals and handles against. Bells of Steel states that the smaller fan provides less resistance than the larger fan on the Blitz Bike.
We still find the Residential Air Bike to be challenging.
I think air bikes are what you make them. You can hop on and pedal slowly for a warm-up or cool down, or hop on and go all out and be out of breath in minutes. The exercise is what you make it and air bikes adapt to your intensity. So, rest assured, you’ll still get in a good workout on the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike.
The black fan blades inside of the fan are smaller than the yellow fan blades on the Blitz 2.0, but they still move through air and more air gets sucked into the fan the harder you work.
With that said, I do think the smaller fan size makes the Residential Bike look less intimidating than other air bikes on the market with large fans. I think this is great for beginners or those who are new to using the Devil’s Tricycle.
What’s missing is an included windguard. This is a cover that slips over the portion of the fan that is closest to you while riding. Without a windguard, you feel air blow back at you while pedaling and moving the handles. The Blitz Air Bike 2.0 comes with a removable windguard, it would be nice if the Residential Bike did, too. No windguard is fine on a hot day, but if you’re cold already, you’ll feel pretty frigid when you first start pedaling on this air bike.
Drive System
One aspect that I really like about this air bike is that it uses the same rubber belt as the Blitz Bike. This belt drive system makes each pedal and handlebar stroke feel smooth. The belt is what attaches the pedals to the fan. It also cuts down on noise. Don’t get me wrong – the Residential Bike still makes noise because it’s an air bike, but it is quieter than others with chain drive systems like the AssaultBike Elite.
I wouldn’t put this in an apartment, but in garages and homes where noise isn’t an issue, this bike is perfect.
The pedals are flat and made of metal. They’re textured to help your feet from slipping and are compatible with athletic shoes.
Handlebars & Saddle
The handlebars move in conjunction with the pedals.
These handles are simple and identical to the Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike. They have a rubber gritty texture overtop so your hands don’t slip. They don’t provide multiple grip options unless you switch between overhand and underhand gripping. The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 Pro has u-shaped handles to give you different spots to hold them.
The handlebars are fairly slim. I appreciate this since I’m fairly petite. I can wrap my hands around them, comfortably. Some other air bikes have thicker handlebars that are harder for me to grip.
Like most air bikes, the Residential Air Bike has two metal foot pegs attached to either side of the fan. These are for resting your feet when you want to move the handles only. This gives you the option to focus on isolating your upper body. They are knurled to give your shoes some grip.
The saddle is big and padded.
It’s wide, like most air bike saddles. I still prefer the Blitz Bike saddle which is a little narrower, but this one is comfortable enough. Wide saddles aren’t meant for long-distance riding, but most people aren’t going to spend hours riding an air bike, so this saddle is just fine. The material isn’t slippery.
The saddle is the only adjustable aspect of this air bike, like most.
It adjusts forward, back, up, and down. Our team ranges from 5’1” up to 6’5” and we wish the saddle adjusted up and down, further. I am 5’1” and I am on the lowest setting. I wish the seat lowered another notch or two. Matt, who is 6’5”, wishes it raised another notch or two. I think if you’re shorter or taller than our height range, you might not get the most comfortable fit. The Blitz Bike offers more adjustability.
Warranty
Bells of Steel includes a 1-year warranty for the Residential Air Bike. Having two people for set-up is a good idea, but one person could set this bike up, especially if they’re familiar with putting together equipment.
Should You Buy The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike?
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is a good piece of cardio equipment for beginners and those looking for a compact and affordable air bike. Because of its belt drive system, the Residential Air Bike is quieter than others. It’s still an air bike though, and probably won’t work well in an apartment with shared walls.
Like most air bikes, the amount of resistance and intensity of your workout on the Bells of Steel depends on how hard you’re working. This machine will take you through just warm-ups and cool-downs, or full high-intensity workouts. The smaller fan is less intimidating than other air bikes with large fans attached, so if you’ve been meaning to try the Devil’s tricycle, this one is a good starter pick. You can’t beat its affordable price.
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Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike Review FAQs / Q&As
What is the difference between the Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike 2.0 vs the Residential Air Bike?
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is about $150 less than the Blitz Air Bike 2.0. It is a few inches shorter, about 10 lbs lighter, and it has a smaller fan. The Residential Bike fan is 20” in diameter versus 25”. The Blitz Bike is rated for commercial use while the Residential is only suitable for home use. We prefer the Blitz Air Bike 2.0 for most people. It is the best budget air bike, in our opinion, however, the Residential Air Bike is good for beginners and those who want a less intimidating air bike.
What is the warranty on the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike?
Bells of Steel includes a 1-year warranty with the purchase of the Residential Air Bike.
Is our Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike review a paid review?
We were not paid by Bells of Steel or anyone else to create this review. Bells of Steel sent us the Residential Air Bike, but we compiled this review with our own unbiased thoughts. We get paid through our affiliate links, so if you purchase through one of our links, we earn a commission. This allows us to test and review all kinds of fitness equipment. When it comes to air bikes, we work with several brands so we can test most models on the market. That way, when we recommend the best ones, we can ensure they are the best options out there.
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Sydney Kaiser, ISSA-CPT, ISSA Nutritionist Certification
Sydney is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, and sports nutritionist who combines her passion for fitness, health, and wellness with her passion for writing. After graduating from UC Riverside with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, she began teaching indoor cycling and Lagree Fitness group fitness classes to people of all ages and abilities. Raised in Central Michigan, Sydney grew up training and competing on the Arabian Horse Association circuit through both Regional and National levels in Dressage and Sport Horse classes. In college, Sydney went on to compete at the collegiate level as a Division 1 equestrian athlete. Here at TRG, Sydney relies on her extensive background in fitness when reviewing and recommending all kinds of fitness, recovery, and health-related products.