Schwinn’s Airdyne AD7 is considered by most to be one of the top air bikes available these days and when you look closely, it’s pretty easy to see why.
With a 27″ fan and a quiet belt drive, the AD7 certainly has what it takes to provide an elite workout, but it also comes with one of the most sophisticated consoles you’ll find on any air bike.
This bike comes with a few extra features too, like an included air guard, a water bottle holder, and multi-grip handles.
And perhaps more importantly, the AD7 is backed by a longer warranty than most of its competitors.
I don’t imagine it hurts that this bike is sporting the famous Schwinn brand name either.
All things considered, if you’re looking for one of the best air bikes on the market, the Airdyne AD7 is a pretty safe bet.
But before you decide, you have to do your own homework to ensure it’s really the best fit for your home – and that’s where I can help.
In this review, I’ll go over all the key specs and features you should know about before deciding on this bike. After reading, you’ll know whether or not this is the right bike for you.
Off we go.
The Schwinn Airdyne AD7
These days Schwinn is more of a budget-friendly brand, although they do still offer some higher-end products.
Like the AD7 we’re here to discuss now.
The AD7 is Schwinn’s premiere air bike and as such, it comes with some pretty significant upgrades over their more affordable AD6 and AD2.
You might also see this bike labeled as the Airdyne AD Pro, but the AD Pro and the AD7 are the same exact bike.
I think the AD Pro name was used when the bike was marketed for commercial use – it might’ve come with a slightly different commercial warranty, but the 2 bikes themselves are identical.
Anyway, let’s move on see what the AD7 has to offer.
Pros
- 27″ fan
- Belt drive
- Unlimited resistance
- Multi-grip handles
- Large console
- Heavy-duty frame
- 350 lb weight limit
- Heart rate strap compatible
- Heart rate zones
- Fully adjustable seat
- Wind guard included
- Water bottle holder
- Great warranty
Cons
- Higher cost than many competitors
Resistance
As an air bike, the AD7 creates resistance through the use of spinning fan blades.
These blades are attached to the flywheel, which spins as you pump the pedals/handles.
Like all air bikes, the harder/faster you pedal on the AD7, the more resistance you’re going to feel (and vice versa). This quality is what makes these types of bikes so popular for HIIT style workouts because you can work against really intense resistances.
And it doesn’t take long to exhaust yourself doing this.
Since all air bikes utilize this same resistance mechanism, there isn’t a lot to compare between bikes when it comes to the resistance systems (there are no resistance levels or weight flywheels or anything like that).
But something worth considering is the size of the fan itself because different bikes come with different sized fans.
And a bigger fan is going to be able to provide more overall resistance than a smaller fan – bigger fan = more air = more resistance.
The AD7 comes with a 27″ fan, which is as large as they come (matching the fan size of all the other elite air bikes).
This large fan makes the AD7 a great choice for beginning and elite athletes alike because it’ll be able to provide enough resistance to challenge both.
Something that sets the AD7 apart from some competitors (like the AssaultBikes) is the fact that it uses a belt drive.
Belt drives are a little quieter than chain drives and they don’t require as much maintenance (chain drives don’t require that much maintenance either, but you might have to oil it occasionally).
Belt drives are also very durable, so it’s unlikely you’ll ever have to mess with swapping it out either.
Overall, the AD7 scores very highly with its large fan and smooth belt drive system.
Frame
I think it’s important to consider how robust a bike’s frame is before purchasing. Personally, I know I expect my new bike to be stable during workouts and I’d be very disappointed if it wasn’t.
It can be hard to tell how heavy-duty a bike is by looking at it, but there are a few specs we can look at to get a better idea.
The assembled weight is crucial to look at because it tells us exactly how heavy the bike is – and heavier bikes are going to feel more secure during use.
The AD7 comes with an assembled weight of 113 lb, which is easily heavy enough to feel stable during workouts.
It’s also pretty impressive when compared to the other top air bikes on the market.
For the sake of comparison, the AssaultBike Classic weighs in at around 96 lb and the Rogue Echo Bike weighs in at around 127 lb.
Based on these numbers, the AD7 scores pretty highly (the Echo Bike is ridiculously heavy-duty, fyi, more so than most mortals will ever need).
Another spec worth looking at when talking frames is the weight capacity.
Again, seeing a higher weight capacity is usually indicative of a stronger, more sturdy frame.
The AD7 scores highly in this category too.
With a weight limit of 350 lb, this bike is capable of safely holding folks of all sizes; it also matches the weight limit found on the heaviest-duty air bikes (like the Echo mentioned above).
And with a footprint of roughly 53″ x 27″, the AD7 is pretty average sized for an air bike.
Overall, I think the AD7 scores pretty highly when it comes to heavy-dutiness. It’s not the bulkiest air bike around, but it’s easily heavy enough to provide a secure feel during intense workouts.
Warranty
Schwinn backs their AD7 with the following residential warranty:
- 10 year frame
- 2 year parts
- 6 month labor
Ok, so this is one of the best home warranties I’ve come across on an air bike.
Schwinn’s 10 year frame guarantee beats out the warranty on the AssaultBike Classic and Pro and matches that found on the AssaultBike Elite.
And it blows away the 2 year warranty offered on Rogue’s Echo Bike.
Two years on parts is also as long as most other brands offer.
6 months on labor is a bit short, considering a year is pretty standard operating procedure (although Rogue doesn’t offer any labor guarantee on their Echo).
Overall, I think the AD7 comes with a great warranty that puts many other brands to shame.
Features
The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 comes with the following features:
LCD console- the console on the AD7 isn’t that fancy or anything, but it actually has a little more to offer than most other air bikes. The LCD display is easy to read and you can see all your workout metrics at the same time during workouts. The AD7 also has a cool calorie burn meter that gives you an estimate of how many calories you’re burning per minute in a speedometer type display.
6 workout programs- you can choose between 2 different preset interval workouts, make your own custom intervals, or choose between 3 different goal oriented workouts (time, distance, calories/kJ).
Heart rate monitoring- the AD7 is compatible with Polar non-encoded straps for accurate heart rate readings during workouts. The console can also display your different heart rate zones based on your age, giving you a good idea as to how hard you’re workin’.
Multi-grip handles- this air bike offers different grip options, allowing you to customize your workout and target different upper body muscles.
Fully adjustable seat- you can adjust the height and fore/aft position of the seat, making it easier to find a comfortable riding position.
Standard pedals- the pedals on this bike are standard (compatible with sneakers), so you don’t have to mess with getting riding cleats.
Wind guard- unlike some brands, Schwinn includes a wind guard standard with the AD7, which can help keep the air out of your face during workouts.
Water bottle holder- surprisingly a lot of other air bikes don’t come with water bottle holders (or make you pay extra for one). It’s sure nice of Schwinn to include one on their AD7.
Price
Alright, time to talk a little about cost.
At the time of writing this, the AD7 is going for $999.
Now keep in mind prices can change, so knowing my luck Schwinn will change this as soon as I publish it…
That said, the AD7’s price has been very stable over the last few years, so it probably won’t change that much.
At roughly $1k, the AD7 is one of the more expensive air bikes out there.
For the sake of comparison, the AssaultBike Classic goes for around $750 and Rogue’s Echo goes for around $795.
And there are plenty of more affordable air bikes out there too, but the above represent the top bikes out there.
So, is the AD7 worth the extra cash?
Keep reading.
Final Thoughts
Ok, I think it’s pretty safe to say the AD7 is a very nice air bike.
I like that it comes with a large fan and a quiet belt drive. I also think it’s quite heavy-duty when compared to most of the other top air bikes out there.
What really sets it apart from most though, is the extended warranty Schwinn offers.
That and the fact that the AD7 comes with multi-grip handles, an included wind guard, a water bottle holder, and a pretty sophisticated console (for an air bike).
So, to answer my question from above – yes, I think the AD7 is worth the cost.
I think the extended warranty is probably enough in itself to justify the additional cost, but it’s certainly justified if you consider the other features just mentioned.
When comparing the AD7 to the other top air bikes, there really isn’t a wrong answer, it just depends on which features are most important to ya.
If you’re trying to save a little cash, it could make sense to go with Assault or Rogue.
If you like the security of the longer warranty or are just interested in the extra goodies the AD7 comes with, then the AD7 makes more sense.
Overall, I think the Airdyne AD7 is world class air bike and most certainly a smart buy. Highly recommended.
