Bowflex’s C6 is one of the more impressive spin bikes for its price range, but believe it or not, Bowflex has a newer, less well-known spin bike to choose from as well.

Enter the C7.

The C7 costs a little more than the C6, but comes with a built-in, 7″ HD touchscreen console that gives you access to their fitness streaming app (JRNY), as well as several popular entertainment apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Performance wise, these 2 cycles are pretty identical- so, the real question is whether or not it makes sense to invest more in the C7 to get that HD console, or is it smarter to save the cash and go with the C6?

This is a tough one to answer, but that’s exactly what I aim to do with this comparative review.

In this article, I’ll compare the C6 and C7 with regards to all their key performance specs and features, but I’ll also include my 2 cents regarding which bike I think is best suited for which type of buyer.

After reading, you’ll know which spin bike is better suited to meet your needs.

Let’s roll.

	Bowflex C6	Bowflex C7
Resistance	40 lb flywheel 100 levels of magnetic resistance	40 lb flywheel 100 levels of magnetic resistance
Frame	112 lb assembled weight 330 lb weight capacity	111 lb assembled weight 330 lb weight capacity
Warranty	10 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor	3 year frame 3 year parts 1 year electric 1 year labor
Features	Small LCD console Fully adjustable seat Fully adjustable handlebars Dual-sided pedals (toe cage and SPD clips) Dual dumbbell holders Pair of 3 lb dumbbells Arm band heart rate monitor Dual water bottle holders Tablet holder	7" HD touchscreen console Fully adjustable seat Fully adjustable handlebars Dual-sided pedals (toe cage and SPD clips) Dual dumbbell holders Pair of 3 lb dumbbells Arm band heart rate monitor Dual water bottle holders Tablet holder
Price	$999	$1299 $999 sales price JRNY app $19/month

The Bowflex C6 vs The C7

Above image courtesy of Bowflex

I want to start by saying I like Bowflex as a brand.

I like their power rod gyms that got them started in the first place and these days, I think they offer some of the best cardio equipment in their respective price ranges.

And whether you like Bowflex or not, you have to admit they’re not a boring brand.

Bowflex has been about as innovative as any home fitness brand I can think of- I mean seriously, think of the original products they’ve introduced to the world…

Power rod gyms, SelectTech dumbbells, TreadClimbers… they even have a spin bike that can lean from side to side (VeloCore).

Anyway, if nothing else, Bowflex definitely isn’t afraid to think outside of the box.

But back to the cycles we’re here to discuss.

You can purchase the C6 directly through Bowflex’s website, but surprisingly they don’t offer the C7. Instead, you have to find the C7 through other retailers like Amazon.

I’m also surprised that I haven’t seen any marketing or advertising regarding the C7. I stumbled upon it randomly on Amazon while researching another bike.

Anyway, let’s start by looking at the performance specs the C6 and C7 have to offer and then we’ll move on to the consoles and features.

Resistance

The C6 and C7 are both indoor cycles (aka spin bikes), meaning they’re designed to mimic the sensation of riding a road bike.

Indoor cycles are capable of providing intense cardio workouts, making them a popular choice for home gyms – well that, and the fact that they don’t take up much floor space.

The key to picking a quality spin bike is finding one that feels smooth during workouts and that can provide enough resistance to challenge ya effectively.

This can be easier said than done without being able to take one for a test spin before purchasing, but there are a few things you can look for that’ll make it a bit easier.

Flywheel weight is a big one.

Generally speaking, bikes with heavier flywheels tend to feel smoother during workouts because the extra weight builds more momentum, which helps keep the pedals spinning between pedal strokes.

Heavier flywheels should, technically speaking, be able to provide more overall resistance as well (takes more energy to get a heavy flywheel moving).

The C6 and C7 both come with the same 40 lb flywheel, so this isn’t really a consideration you have to make when choosing between them.

But rest assured, 40 lb is more than heavy enough to provide a smooth workout.

The flywheel is important, but it’s a good idea to consider the resistance mechanism too.

Spin bikes can use friction brakes or magnetic systems- the C6 and C7 both use magnetic systems, so there’s no real reason to dive into the friction brake systems here.

But the takeaway is that magnetic systems are better.

The C6 and C7 both come with 100 magnetic resistance levels that are adjusted via turning a resistance knob in the front.

This is a great feature for both bikes because it gives you the ability to fine tune the intensity of each workout, as well as make small adjustments to your resistance during use.

It also happens to be the same setup the Peloton uses, so if you plan on using Peloton’s digital app, it’ll be easy to follow along with the instructors with both the C6 and the C7.

Overall, these bikes are identical when it comes to the resistance systems. Both bikes score very highly with heavy flywheels and 100 levels of resistance to work with.

Frame

A sophisticated resistance system is important, but a quality indoor cycle also needs a stable frame that won’t feel wobbly or insecure during workouts.

Again, this can be hard to judge without testing a bike out, but there are a few key specs you can look at to help get an idea as to how heavy-duty a bike will feel.

These include the assembled weight and the weight capacity.

The assembled weight gives you a literal idea as to how “heavy-duty” the bike is. And heavier is better if you ask me, because a heavier bike will be less likely to rock and wiggle during use.

Similarly, seeing a bike with a higher weight limit should indicate better overall structural integrity (it makes sense that a bike with a 350 lb weight limit should be a little more stable than a bike with a 300 lb limit, right?).

Well, the latter might not always be 100% accurate, but all other things even, I’d go with the bike with the higher weight limit.

Ok, with all of this in mind, the C6 comes with an assembled weight of 112 lb and a weight limit of 330 lb, which is pretty impressive on both accounts.

And the C7 comes with an assembled weight of 111 lb and a max weight limit of 330 lb.

So yeah, there’s no real difference here at all- both bikes are heavy enough to feel stable during workouts and both are capable of holding larger riders safely.

And when you look at each bike’s footprint, they’re almost identical as well (48″ x 21″).

Overall, there’s no real difference between the frames of the C6 and the C7. Both bikes are well-built and capable of holding larger users safely.

Warranty

I know, warranties aren’t the most exciting thing to talk about (or write about for that matter), but they are important.

A quality warranty can add confidence and peace of mind with a purchase. After all, the warranty is your insurance plan for whatever you’re purchasing.

Let’s compare the warranties on these 2 bikes from the same brand.

Bowflex backs their C6 Bike with the following residential warranty:

• 10 year frame
• 3 year parts
• 1 year labor

And they back their C7 with this residential warranty:

• 3 year frame
• 3 year parts
• 1 year electrical
• 1 year labor

Ok, a couple of things here.

First, I want to say the warranty on the C6 is awesome, especially considering luxury bikes like the Peloton only offer 5 years on the frame and a year on parts.

Second, I don’t understand why the C7’s frame warranty is so much shorter. I mean, as far as I can tell it’s almost identical to the C6’s.

Regardless, the C7’s frame warranty isn’t nearly as impressive as the C6’s.

When it comes to parts and labor, both bikes come with the same coverage.

Overall, it’s easy to see that the C6 comes with the better warranty (for reasons unknown).

Features

Ok, so far the only real difference I see between these bikes is in the warranty department- when it comes to performance, these bikes are pretty identical.

Let’s take a look at the biggest difference there is between the C6 and the C7- which of course would be the built-on console found on the C7.

The C7 comes with an included 7″ HD touchscreen console.

This is small when compared to the HD screens on most other spin bikes, but I don’t know of many other bikes in this price range that come with a touchscreen display (but more on prices in a minute).

With this console, you can access Bowflex’s fitness app JRNY, which gives you access to instructor-led workouts, virtual coaching, scenic rides, and metric tracking.

Through JRNY, you can also access built-in entertainment apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu.

This is an awesome feature, but it kinda sucks you have to join JRNY just to use the built-in entertainment apps.

The C6 doesn’t come with a HD touchscreen display, but it does come with a small LCD screen that shows your workout metrics, including cadence, speed, resistance, time, calories, etc.

The C6 and C7 are both bluetooth compatible and they both allow you to connect with Peloton’s digital app and the popular Zwift app.

Although you can’t download Peloton’s app directly to the console on the C7- you have to use your phone or tablet to access it.

Other than the console, both bikes come with the following features:

• Fully adjustable seat
• Fully adjustable handlebars
• Dual-sided pedals (toe cage and SPD clips)
• Dual dumbbell holders
• Pair of 3 lb dumbbells
• Included arm band heart rate monitor
• Dual water bottle holders
• Tablet holder

The larger, touchscreen console found on the C7 is the biggest difference there is between these 2 cycles. When choosing between them, you ultimately need to decide whether this feature is worth the extra cost or not.

Price

Speaking of cost, let’s talk numbers.

Before I quote the price of each bike, keep in mind these prices can vary a little depending on time of year, supply, and promotions that may be going on.

That said, here ya go:

Bowflex C6- $999

Bowflex C7- $1299

So, generally speaking, there’s a $300 difference between these 2 cycles, which again, is really just the price for that 7″ console.

If you decide on the C7, keep in mind you’ll have to sign up for a JRNY membership to access the workouts and the entertainment apps.

The JRNY membership costs $19/month I believe.

Other Considerations

I save this area for any extra info I want to include before I finish the article up.

In this case, I don’t have anything else to really add- this is a pretty straightforward comparison really.

The C6 and C7 are identical except for the C7’s console and the C7’s shorter warranty.

Both cycles come from the same brand, so brand integrity or customer service won’t really play a part in choosing.

As I’m writing this, I see that Amazon has the C7 on sale for $999… this of course changes things…

Final Thoughts

Wow, ok, so, that about does it.

Sorry, seeing the C7 on sale got me a little flustered.

Overall, the C6 and C7 are the same bike when it comes to the resistance systems, frames, and all other features other than the console.

The C7 comes with an HD touchscreen that allows you to access JRNY’s streaming app, as well as a few built-in entertainment apps.

The warranty on the C6 is surprisingly shorter too, so that’s something to consider.

If you already own a tablet, I think it makes more sense to go with the C6 because you can easily just throw your tablet on the media holder and you can access all the streaming apps you want to without a $19/month fee to do so.

If these 2 bikes are the same price though, that muddies the water a little.

At the same price, does it make more sense to get the C7 whether you’ll be using the console or not?

Maybe, but keep in mind the C6 still comes with a better warranty.

It’s hard too, because I don’t know how long the C7 will be on sale- by the time you read this, the C7 might be back at its original price.

Overall, I like the C6 better, unless you specifically plan on using JRNY for the workouts. If that’s the case, the C7 could make more sense, especially at the sale price.

If I already had a tablet (which I do), I think I’d go with the C6, but that sales price does make things more interesting.