Check pricing for the Sole SB700:
Check pricing for the Sole SB900:
At TreadmillReviews.com, we aim to provide accurate, in-depth, and actionable reviews of popular home treadmills and other home cardio equipment. Today we’re looking at the Sole SB700 & SB900 Exercise Bikes, which are highly similar. But they have some different features.
We’ll help you understand those differences so you can make a well-informed choice. The main features both models share are:
Footprint: 6.5 ft²
Dimensions: 42″ L x 40″ H x 21″ W
Adjustable resistance knob
Drive: 48 lbs flywheel
Four bike adjustment points
Bottom Bracket: Front and rear stabilizer brackets, forward-facing wheels
Seat: Padded Road Bike Style, Adjustable
Frame: Heavy steel tubing with aluminum shroud nearly identical with both
Same console with tablet holder
Sync with a wireless chest strap style heart rate monitor
No need for electricity or an internet connection
300lb max weight
Full lifetime warranty on the frame
Model overview:
Trying to decide between the Sole SB700 & SB900 Exercise Bikes can be easy with the knowledge of what each model offers. In this video, we take a look at both and show you what separates them.
Price
The first consideration is how buying either of these will impact your wallet. The price for the SB700 will generally be about $300 less than the SB900, making it the budget-friendly choice. What you get for that extra $300 may help you make your decision. So let’s take a look at what features separate these two bikes.
Resistance
The second and foremost difference between these bikes is how it generates resistance.
The SB700 uses friction resistance. You turn the resistance knob by pressing a felt pad onto the flywheel. The more you turn the resistance knob, the more friction is increased. This is a simple approach to resistance, but it’s a bit noisy, and over time the pad will wear out.
The SB900 has magnetic resistance. When the resistance knob is turned clockwise, the magnets are moved closer to the flywheel, and the polarity causes an increase in resistance. The magnets never touch the flywheel, so it’s a virtually silent operation. The bonus is that there is no heat build-up, and because of no friction, the magnets don’t wear out either, saving you money in maintenance.
Flywheel
The flywheel is the third difference. Both have a 48 lb flywheel. However, SB700 doesn’t have a perimeter-weighted ridge around the outside of the flywheel like the SB900. This gives them a different look as well. The primary reason a perimeter-weighted ridge is to allow the magnetic resistance to increase the smooth rotation of the flywheel.
Pedals & Adjustment Levers
The fourth difference is the pedals. The SB700 has single-sided flat pedals with cages and a strap instead of SPD clips. So no cycling clips out of the box.
However, the SB900 comes standard with SPD clips on the underside of the strap and the cage of the pedals.
While both bikes have four bike adjustments, two for the seat and two for the handlebars, the adjustment levers on the SB700 are more complicated.
The SB700 requires more attention as you must pull the lever loose, then tighten and push the lever back in place.
The levers on the SB900 have pop-pins which are quicker.
Weight
The last difference is the weight of the two bikes. Due to the magnets, the SB900 is about 46 lbs heavier at 160 lbs. The SB700 is lighter at 114 lbs.
Make Your Choice
These are two well-built stationary bikes. You can’t go wrong with either one. Your choice depends on your preferences and what features are important to you.
Click on the links to see current pricing for the Sole SB700 & SB900, and visit Treadmillreviews.com to read a more detailed and in-depth written review of each…(read more)
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