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Last Updated: April 2, 2024
The Freebeat Boom Bike is an entertaining and inexpensive home exercise bike.
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Star Rating: | 4.1 |
MSRP: | $699 |
Overall Rating: | 71 |
Workout Experience | 7 |
Specs / Features | 6 |
Dimensions / Storability | 7 |
On-Board Workouts & Apps | 7 |
Build Quality | 6 |
Ride to the beat of the music on a compact indoor exercise bike.
Summary Freebeat Boom Bike Review: The Bottom Line
The Freebeat Boom Bike is the cheaper alternative to one of my favorite exercise bikes, the Freebeat LIT Bike. Freebeat has captured my goal when creating group spin classes: to encourage people to ride to the beat of the music.
The workouts are gamified to collect points when you ride at specific cadences. Your goal is to match the cadence on the screen or double-time it. Freebeat offers trainer-led workouts and rhythm games to ride to the beat of the music playing. There are also scenic rides and Tour de Freebeat for doing your own thing.
So far in our testing, this is the most affordable exercise bike on the market with a touch screen. The 15.6” rotating touch screen is where you access Freebeat’s subscription training content. There is also a sensor in the saddle to detect when you stand to get more points while competing on the leaderboard.
Content aside, the Freebeat Boom Bike is good for lighter use. It doesn’t have the same geometry as your outdoor cycling bike and it isn’t the most powerful exercise bike, but it’s affordable and fun to ride. There’s also a light that syncs with your cadence, so go ahead and turn off the lights and pretend you’re in a nightclub on the Boom Bike.
If you’re looking for the best exercise bike, check out our list.
What We Like
- The subscription training content is fun with gamified classes to encourage you to ride to the beat of the music to collect points.
- This is a very affordable exercise bike that comes with a touch screen and training content.
- The classes and games have you focus on cadence and there are a lot of different training options to keep you entertained.
- The saddle is comfortable and has a sensor to detect your movement in and out of the saddle to earn more points.
- There is a light under the frame that matches the pace set on the screen.
- The resistance auto-adjusts to keep you at specific resistance levels and intensities.
Areas for Improvement
- There isn’t much functionality on the screen without a subscription.
- The handles don’t adjust very high and don’t have very many grip options.
- The bike is built for lighter use and probably won’t support heavy training.
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Pedaling To The Beat For Several Years
I am an indoor cycling instructor who has taught group fitness classes for years. Whenever I create a class, I pick songs that have good beats to ride to. This way, during the class, I can encourage clients to find the beat and pedal to it. This not only helps people keep a good, consistent pace, but it can distract you when you want to quit. With my experience taking and teaching in-person spin classes, I’ve created this Boom Bike review. I also relied on my experience using the Freebeat LIT Bike.
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In-depth Freebeat Boom Bike Review: Testing & Analysis
Workout Experience
*Editors Note: *Editors Note: Check back for a POV video of what it is like to use the Freebeat Boom Bike. In the meantime, leave any questions you have below, and we’ll be happy to answer them.
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Dimensions/Storability
It weighs just 79 lbs. It’s easier to move around than other exercise bikes with touch screens, like the S22i Studio Bike from NordicTrack.
Its dimensions are 51.5” long, 24.7” wide, and 51.5” high. It’s a little wider and longer than the Freebeat LIT Bike because the floor stabilizers are a little wider. You’ll need to factor in the dimensions when determining if you have enough room for the Boom Bike. You’ll also need a little extra space around the frame to get on and off and pedal.
Onboard Workouts & Apps
Most exercise bikes with touch screens come with subscription training content, nowadays. The screen serves as a source of entertainment while riding the bike, so brands offer content to stream, often at an additional price separate from the bike.
Freebeat Membership
The Freebeat Boom Bike comes enabled with Freebeat’s membership training content. The membership is $39 per month. As far as price, it’s comparable to popular training platforms like Peloton and iFIT. Its content is unique to trainer-led content though.
A camera points at the instructor who is in front of a green screen. During class, the background changes to different images, videos, and graphics. In addition to the bright video backgrounds in each workout, the classes are also structured for you to collect points while riding.
This gamified aspect encourages you to pedal at specific cadences. “Find your beat” often pops up on the screen to encourage you to ride to the beat of the song playing or double-time it. Each class offers an easy and hard pace to keep up with. When you ride at the cadences listed, you collect points that go to your overall score and you get an “on beat” accuracy percentage.
The Boom Bike also has a sensor in the saddle that detects when you stand up so you can earn even more points. (More on this later).
Like in-person studio fitness classes, each workout features a curated playlist of music. The cadence targets change with every song to keep you pedaling to the beat.
A leaderboard is on the right side of the screen. Your total points are displayed as well as your place among other members. You can hide the leaderboard or use it as motivation to keep on the beat to earn higher scores.
There are workouts in stretching and sculpting on the mat, as well as cycling classes. Most of the workouts are on the bike though.
Freebeat has also added rhythm games that encourage you to ride to the beat, without following along with an instructor. Under Freebeat Camp workouts, there are 4 different categories of the rhythm games. Each of these has you focus on the main aspects of Freebeat’s workouts: riding to the beat, collecting points, riding in and out of the saddle, and riding with the auto-resistance feature.
These workouts remind me of Peloton’s Lanebreak gaming feature, as well as some of the games on the Aviron and Ergatta Rowers.
When you want to just pedal and do your own thing, there are scenic rides, Just Ride mode, and Tour de Freebeat. The scenic rides are a lot like the Explore the World workouts on the Bowflex Velocore.
The Tour de Freebeat workouts are premade routes of locations that you go through on a basic map.
Overall, Freebeat has a lot to offer with their membership. I find the workouts to be very engaging and frankly a little addicting. Anytime I can play games while working out, I’m in.
Onboard Workouts
You can use the Boom Bike without a subscription to Freebeat. The Just Ride mode is available. Something to keep in mind is that there isn’t any streaming from 3rd party apps like Netflix and YouTube available on the touchscreen with or without a subscription.
Console
The console has a 15.6” touch screen. It tilts up and down and rotates to either side. This is a nice feature, but I wish Freebeat’s membership had more off-the-bike classes to utilize the screen more. There are some classes for when you want to follow up your ride with some guided stretching or weight training, but not many.
The speakers are clear and offer plenty of volume. You can adjust the volume on the screen or with the big buttons on the side of the screen. They’re large, which is helpful to reach for them while riding.
There aren’t any cupholders for your water, so you’ll need to set your bottle on the floor or on a table nearby. There are two cages for 3 lb dumbbells. Unfortunately, the Freebeat Boom Bike doesn’t come with weights for the cages, though. Freebeat sells a pair of 3 lb weights separately.
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Build Quality
Considering its price and construction, we recommend it for lighter use. It might not be best if you plan on cycling for several miles per day.
The Boom Bike is $699 (at the time of writing this). Pretty much all other exercise bikes under $1000, don’t come with touch screens. It’s nice to have a touch screen on such an affordable bike, but hardcore cyclists will probably want to opt for a higher-end exercise bike.
The Boom Bike comes in 3 colors, white, yellow, or gray. It’s nice to be able to pick different frame colors depending on the decor in your home.
Frame
The frame is made out of welded steel and it’s powder-coated to help prevent erosion. What helps cut down on weight and the size of the Boom Bike is the fewer amount of steel frame components.
Even with a little less of the frame design, the Boom Bike is smooth, quiet, and stable. Under the floor frame are adjustable leveling feet to help prevent the bike from rocking.
It might not be best for those who are epileptic, so keep this in mind. I don’t notice the light very much when I’m riding, but if I ride in low lighting, it is more noticeable. I think it’s fun and it pairs well with the training content on the screen, it just might not be best for everyone.
The Boom Bike has a 300 lb weight limit and is rated for people from 5’0” up to 6’7”. Our team ranges from 5’1” (me), up to 6’5” (Matt). I can fit well on the Boom Bike. I have room to lower the seat and handles more if needed.
Although the height rating is appropriate for shorter people, the Boom Bike isn’t best for taller folks. Matt wishes the seat and handlebars adjusted higher. I think the Boom Bike is better suited for people closer to 6’0” tall.
They adjust really low, which isn’t needed for most people. I even have them raised fairly high from the lowest setting when I ride the Boom Bike. When I teach indoor cycling, I like to encourage most people to ride with the handlebars at least parallel, if not a little higher than the seat. Riding with the handles lower than the seat is more advanced positioning. The Boom Bike is better suited for beginners and those looking to save on an exercise bike. Because of its target audience, I would like to see the handles adjust higher.
The handles are a little hard to adjust, too. They use a lever instead of a knob, like the saddle. You have to unscrew the lever and pull it out slightly to raise and lower the handles. We have unscrewed the lever to the point that it falls out a few times while trying to adjust the handles. I think a resistance knob, like the one for the saddle, would be better.
Flywheel
The flywheel is positioned at the front, under the touch screen. It’s fairly small and light. It weighs 15.4 lbs. This weight is a little lower than what we like to see for exercise bikes with weighted flywheels. 20 lbs or more is better for longevity. Weighed flywheels help contribute to the overall stability of the bike.
The Boom Bike has 100 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance. It also features automatic resistance. The auto resistance automatically adjusts the resistance of the bike based on the instructor’s cues. It works to keep you within specific ranges of resistance throughout the workouts.
This is the same resistance knob as the Freebeat LIT Bike. It isn’t my favorite because it’s plastic.
Drive System
A Beat V power transmission belt is what connects the pedals to the flywheel. Belt drives are typical for indoor cycling bikes. They’re quiet, smooth, and require little to no maintenance.
The Boom Bike has toe-caged pedals. You can ride with regular athletic shoes, but you can’t clip in with cycling shoes.
Handlebars & Saddle
They are u-shaped to accommodate riding in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions. I wish they had a horizontal bar in the middle to allow for more grip options though. They’re a little thick, but I can wrap my hands around them just fine. The handles offer the bare minimum but they’re comfortable and textured.
It’s narrow for distance riding, too. A wire extends from the back of the saddle. This is for the sensor that determines when you stand up out of the saddle. It only works with the subscription training content.
Warranty
Freebeat includes a 10-year frame, 24-month bike components, and a 12-month touch screen warranty. This is a nice warranty for a budget bike.
Should You Buy The Freebeat Boom Bike?
The Freebeat Boom Bike is an affordable exercise bike with a touch screen. What makes the Boom Bike what it is, is the subscription training content. It features trainer-led workouts but each workout is like playing a game where you collect points for riding on the beat. If you’re competitive, or if you want an enticing reason to hop on your exercise bike regularly and avoid using it as a coat rack, I would consider the Boom Bike.
This isn’t an exercise bike for hardcore cyclists, but it’s good for light to moderate use. Most people can get a good fit, although the handlebars don’t adjust very high. For a bike priced well under $1000 with a 15.6” touch screen, the Boom Bike is comfortable, lightweight, and easy to move. It comes in different colors and features a light under the frame that syncs with your cadence.
It might not be one of the most heavy-duty exercise bikes, but it is certainly a fun bike to ride. So, go ahead and pedal to the beat with Freebeat’s upbeat instructors.
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Freebeat Boom Bike Review FAQs / Q&As
Can you use the Freebeat Bike without a subscription?
The Freebeat Boom Bike can be used without a subscription. Just ride mode is available without a subscription. I highly recommend checking out the subscription though. It’s unique and allows you to get the most out of the bike. Plus, the classes are fun and the content really enhances the overall experience on the Boom Bike.
Are Freebeat Bikes worth it?
Freebeat Bikes are worth it if you’re looking for a unique take on trainer-led spin classes. They’re also worth it if you’re looking for budget-friendly exercise bikes with touch screens and subscription training content.
Is this Freebeat Boom Bike review a paid review?
This Freebeat Boom Bike review was made with our unbiased thoughts and it reflects our direct experience using the bike. Freebeat sent us the Boom Bike and we have affiliate links to receive a commission when you purchase through them. We work with all kinds of exercise bike brands to test and review popular models. This way, when we recommend the best exercise bikes on the market, it is based on our experiences using them.
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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.