Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike

I am very pleased with the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike, for the most part, but it does have a couple of shortcomings. First, the good points: The Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike arrived a day early. The instructions provided are clear (although some line spacing would have made them much easier to read) and logically arranged. The bike is quite easy to assemble. I assembled it on a tabletop for easy reach. All tools needed to assemble it are included with it. I especially like the little wheels in the rear stabilizer bar that make it easier to move around. The bike is very stable despite having wheels on its rear stabilizer bar, but I have it set up on a thick rug. I can't speak to how it would be affected on a hard wood floor, for example. Rated at weights up to 300 pounds, it is also quite sturdy. The unit folds to about half the "footprint" it takes up when set up, but it's not really small. Folded, it takes up about the floor space of a dining table chair with arms. One thing I find particularly positive is the fact that one can exercise while sitting upright or even leaning back a little, rather than leaning forward to grasp handlebars. Leaning forward, even supported by my arms, for any length of time is difficult for me because of a back problem. Not the case with this bike! It's great. The seat bottom is relatively comfortable, much more so than a standard or even a well-cushioned bicycle seat. One's weight while exercising is on the buttocks, not the crotch! The computer functions are also logical, clear, and easy to read from the exercise position, even for someone with less-than-good eyesight. The bike's action is very smooth and perfectly silent, except for whatever noise the rider might make. Using it when others are sleeping-- even close by--shouldn't pose a problem. Now for its drawbacks (neither of which are of serious concern to me): The first deficiency in the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike is that the handlebars, which have sensors to record pulse provided both palms are firmly in their respective places on the bar, are far too low for me. They are at a fixed height which is level with the top surface (where the bum meets the cushion) of the seat bottom. At 5'3", I am short; my arms likewise. Even stretching to my utmost, my hands do not come within two inches of the bar. I can lean to one side or the other and grasp the handlebar one-handed, but the pulse sensor does not work without both palms firmly in place. I could reach the handlebar with both hands if I leaned forward and slumped over drastically, but that throws the placement of my hands out of position to grasp the bar properly: so, again, I cannot place my palms on the sensors while exercising. I am not all that interested in knowing my pulse rate: my concern is in the comfort of the bike itself and the ability it gives me to exercise. I have tried other exercise bikes in the past and they were so uncomfortable that I gave up on them in short order. When I decided to purchase my own, it had to be something that I would USE and not become discouraged by it. More on this a bit farther down. The second negative aspect is that while the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike may be, technically, a "recumbent" exercise bike, "recumbent" is something of a misnomer. Advertised as recumbent (and the photo is a bit misleading, don't you think?), it is one of the two main reasons that I bought this bike, the second being the wide seat bottom, which is quite acceptable (not exactly comfortable, but not UN-comfortable either). In other words, it is "do-able." However, the seat back is in a fixed position that is nearly a 90 degree angle to the seat bottom. I have a subluxation in my back, and an adjustable seat back would have made this bike nearly perfect. As it is, I scoot a little forward on the seat bottom and so can lean back into the seat back, achieving a workable posture. Someone with more serious back problems might find the fixed angle of the seat back unacceptable. In fairness, I acknowledge here that nothing in the advertisement claimed that the seat was adjustable, nor did it claim that the seat had any particular angle, though the photograph certainly gives that appearance, which is why I assumed it was different than it is—but that is my error for assuming. My intention in writing this review is based on my personal reasons for praising the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike, which follow, and I must touch on those reasons now in an effort to, perhaps, help others in their considerations. These are my non-expert, non-professional opinions and meant to provide information only; they are not recommendations in any way and should not be construed as such. What it all comes down to is this: Due to life-long health problems, I have lived a sedentary life since early childhood. Basically, I suffered from a chronic exhaustion [the basis for its cause not truly understood by the medical community until about fifteen years ago. (I am 60.)], which precluded any significant exercise simply because I didn’t have the energy to do it. (PE in school was hell for me.) As a result, I have always been overweight and have little stamina, although genetics also play a large part in it. About fifteen years ago, a treatment was discovered that alleviated my symptoms to a moderate degree, but by then my weight itself had been a long-term problem and still is. Recently, I have developed more health problems and my doctor advised that I take up some form of regular exercise which will mitigate some of them. Swimming would be my first choice, but that isn’t feasible for me for a number of reasons that I won’t go into. Between my lack of stamina, my weight (which is also a great contributor to that lack), and the problem with my back, walking was right out. I needed an alternative exercise option that would WORK FOR ME. The Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike has provided the solution I so desperately needed. In addition, exercising on it does not exhaust me as much as my favorite method, swimming, would. Although, I would enjoy the swimming more. Oh, well, we can't have everything, Besides, that would be ungrateful, and I'm certainly not ungrateful: just the opposite! One of my health issues is COPD, and from the very first time I got on the bike (only 15 minutes and 2.5 miles for the initial session, now up to 30 minutes and 4 miles per session twice a day), my bronchia produce less fluid for anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours afterward, and so I can breathe better for a time. And riding the bike is so easy! People, this is from a life-long couch potato! [[ NOTE: These assertions are from my own, personal experience and are NOT intended as recommendations about this exercise bike to anyone else whosever, whatsoever, nor for any other COPD sufferers or any other people who have any other health problems! ]] Except for the relatively minor deficiencies I’ve described above, and without regard to any health issues, which should always be given the greatest consideration, the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike provides an easy (for me), relatively comfortable exercise alternative for overweight people who are not used to exercising. I even read while I’m riding it (since my hands won’t reach the pulse sensors), but that could prove to be risky, I suppose, for folks who can’t balance easily. For myself, I am most pleased with the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike! In summary: PROS: Price is quite reasonable considering the unit's quality Arrived timely Clear instructions in logical order Easy to assemble All tools needed are provided with the bike Can exercise in upright posture, or even leaning back a bit, rather than having to lean forward as on a typical bicycle Unit stability, even in operation, is excellent It is also quite sturdy (rated at up to 300 pounds) Virtually silent in operation Action is very smooth (also adjustable) Seat bottom is relatively comfortable; weight rests on buttocks, not crotch All together, makes it EASY to exercise! In the abstract, and by far the most important consideration for me: the positive attributes of this unit do not discourage me from exercising as all other exercise bikes and every other exercise option I’ve ever tried or investigated have done. I am actually encouraged, especially because I can read while exercising and not get bored with it! CONS: Handlebar and pulse sensors too low, out of reach, for short people with short arms While technically “recumbent”, the seat back is fixed at nearly 90 degrees to seat bottom For me, the PROS outweigh the CONS by a long measure. Overall, the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike has solved a life-long problem for me. Despite the deficiencies I’ve described above, I am giving it a five-star rating—because nothing else in 60 years has even come close and it certainly does serve MY exercise needs!