Air bikes have gained the reputation for being some of the toughest exercise bikes around- and few models exemplify why more than Schwinn’s Airdyne AD7 and Rogue’s Echo Bike.
These 2 bikes are always at the top of the list when it comes to the year’s best fan bikes and it’s easy to see why.
Not only do both come from trusted brands, but both models also come sporting impressive performance specs and generous warranties, making it tough to decide between them.
When choosing between the AD7 and the Echo Bike, it ultimately comes down to the finer details- which is something I can help with.
In this article, I’ll provide a head to head comparison between the Airdyne AD7 and the Echo Bike with regards to all the key specs and features you should consider before purchasing.
After reading, you’ll know which air bike is the right fit for you.
Off we go.
| Schwinn Airdyne AD7 | Rogue Echo Bike | |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance | 27" fan Belt drive | 27" fan Belt drive |
| Frame | 113 lb assembled 350 lb weight capacity | 127 lb assembled 350 lb weight capacity |
| Warranty | 10 year frame 2 year parts 6 month labor | 2 year frame/parts |
| Features | LCD console Multi-grip handles Water bottle holder Air diverter | LCD console Fully adjustable seat Bottle holder/air guard sold separately |
| Price | $999 | $745 |
The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 vs The Rogue Echo Bike
Above image courtesy of Rogue Fitness
When talking elite air bikes, there are 3 models that always come up- the AD7, the Echo Bike, and the AssaultBike.
Everyone has their personal favorite, but it’s pretty safe to say these are the 3 most popular models available these days (you can check out how the Assault Bike compares to the Roge Echo by clicking here).
Anyway, when trying to decide between the AD7 and the Echo, you can rest assured there aren’t any wrong answers- both bikes are awesome.
Schwinn is obviously a huge name when it comes to home fitness. They offer several exercise bikes to choose from and their original Airdyne was actually the first air bike of its kind.
So yea, we have Schwinn to thank/hate for every gloriously painful air bike workout you do.
The AD7 is Schwinn’s highest-end residential air bike to date, coming with several upgrades over their lower-end AD6 and AD2.
Rogue on the other hand, has made a name for themselves for their elite weight training equipment- think racks, rigs, barbells, plates, kettlebells, etc- pretty much anything weight training related.
The Echo Bike is the only cardio machine Rogue produces- I guess when you get it right the first time there’s no reason to do it again.
When comparing these 2 elite bikes, I think it makes the most sense to start by going over they key performance specs and then moving on to the additional features each has to offer.
I hope this works for you too, because that’s how I’ve decided to organize this article.
Resistance
With most exercise bikes, you have to consider flywheel weights and resistance levels and all that stuff when comparing models.
But with air bikes, you don’t have as much to worry about in the resistance department, because these bikes don’t come with weighted flywheels or magnetic resistance levels.
When you think about it, air bikes are really simple devices.
As you pedal (with arms and/or legs), a flywheel with fan blades attached to it spins. The fans cutting through the air is what creates the resistance for you to work against.
And all air bikes work the same here- the harder you pedal, the more resistance you get.
This is what makes these types of bikes so popular with CrossFit folks or people doing interval training- you get your heart rate up really high, really fast with these things.
Since the resistance is dependent on how fast you pedal, the only thing limiting how much resistance the bike can provide is you- there is no maximum resistance level.
Again, this is what makes these bikes so loved/hated by athletes around the world.
This means both the AD7 and the Echo come with unlimited resistance, so there’s really nothing to compare there. But something else to consider is the size of the fan.
A larger fan should be able to provide more resistance than a smaller one, because the blades are making contact with more air.
The AD7 and the Echo both come with a large, 27″ fan, so there’s no difference there either. By the way, this is really as big as fans get on these bikes.
Another spec worth mentioning is the type of drive each bike uses. By this, I mean whether the bikes use a belt or a chain to connect the pedals to the spinning flywheel.
Honestly, both drive trains work well, but a belt drive is usually preferred because it’s a little quieter and requires less maintenance.
Well, both the AD7 and the Echo use a belt drive, so when it comes to the resistance systems, these 2 bikes are pretty identical.
Frame
Both bikes come with large fans and belt drives, ok great. Let’s take a look at how their frames stack up against each other.
Personally, I think it’s a good idea to go with a heavier bike because it’s going to feel more stable during your workouts. After all, no one wants a wobbly air bike.
When comparing the “heavy-dustiness” of bikes, I like to look at the assembled weights and the weight capacities of each- with higher numbers in both specs being a good thing.
The AD7 comes with an assembled weight of 113 lb and a max weight capacity of 350 lb, both of which are quite impressive.
The Echo comes with an assembled weight of 127 lb and the same 350 lb weight capacity.
This means the Echo is a bit heavier than the AD7, which isn’t too surprising when you look at the 2 bikes.
The Echo is notably beefier looking, especially when comparing the thickness of the arms.
In terms of size, the AD7 is a bit larger than the Echo, taking up a little more floor space. To be more specific the AD7 takes up the following footprint: 53″ L x 26.5″ W.
And the Echo takes up the following footprint: 44.5″ L x 23.75″ W.
So, the Echo is smaller and heavier, meaning it’s quite a bit denser than the AD7. If you’re looking for the heaviest-duty model, this could be a big pro for the Echo.
But in terms of total weight capacity, both bikes can hold users of the same weight.
Warranty
Let’s compare the warranties of each bike to see which is better.
The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 comes with the following guarantee:
- 10 year frame
- 2 year parts (mechanical & electrical)
- 6 month labor
And the Rogue Echo Bike comes with this warranty:
- 2 year frame/parts
It’s pretty easy to spot the better warranty here.
Schwinn offers a significantly longer frame warranty than Rogue, which I have to say is a bit surprising.
I don’t know why Rogue offers such a limited warranty on this bike, considering how great the warranties on their strength training equipment is.
Maybe it’s because this bike is designed for such intense use?
I’m not sure, but a 2 year warranty on the frame is really short (not that I think you could mess this frame up even if you tried, but it’s still nice to have the security a long guarantee offers).
Two years on parts for each bike is solid. 6 months on labor for the AD7 is shorter than the expected 1 year we normally see, but it’s still better than the non-existent labor warranty Rogue offers.
Overall, when it comes to the warranty, Schwinn’s got Rogue beat hands down.
Features
That about does it for the performance side of things, so let’s switch over and look at the features each bike comes with.
| Schwinn AD7 | Rogue Echo | |
|---|---|---|
| Console | LCD | LCD |
| Workout programs | 6 | 6 |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes (chest strap not included) | Yes (chest strap not included) |
| Fully adjustable seat | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-grip handles | Yes | No |
| Pedals | Standard | Standard |
| Air diverter | Included | Not included |
| Water bottle holder | Included | Not included |
Looking at the above chart, there are only a few small differences between these bikes in terms of features.
Both bikes basically come with the same workout programs, which consist of a few different interval programs as well as target oriented programs (target distance, time, or calorie).
The AD7 offers the ability to switch between calories and kilojoules or miles and kilometers for distance as well.
The consoles on both bikes track similar metrics, so nothing really worth noting there, although the console on the AD7 is longer and a little more attractive if you ask me.
Both bikes come with fully adjustable seats and standard pedals (that are to be used with sneakers) that could easily be swapped out.
You’ll notice that the AD7 comes with an included air diverter (to help keep the air from blowing in your face during use) and a built-in water bottle holder in the console.
You can purchase both separately from Rogue, but they aren’t included standard.
Oh, the AD7 also comes with multi-grip handles, allowing you the switch your grip to target different upper body muscles. The Echo doesn’t offer this feature.
Overall, I’d say the AD7 wins this category pretty easily.
Price
Ah, time to talk numbers.
The price for each bike could vary a little depending on where you purchase, although I will say the prices for these bikes seem to be pretty stable.
In order to give a fair comparison, I’ll be using the retail prices noted on each brand’s website as the price for each bike.
Doing this, you can expect these bikes to cost the following:
Rogue Echo Bike – $745
Schwinn Airdyne AD7 – $999
So, the Echo is about $250 cheaper than the AD7, which makes things really interesting.
If you’ve been keeping score, the AD7 comes with a better warranty and a few more features, while the Echo is a bit heavier-duty.
Are the extra features on the AD7 worth the extra cash?
Tough call, keep reading.
Other Considerations
I like to use this section for any additional info I want to include for either bike. In this case, I don’t have a lot more to say.
I would like to mention that both bikes are very well reviewed by users and that both have a very dedicated following.
There have been some complaints about parts breaking unexpectedly on the AD7 (like the pedals), but this seems to be rare.
And for the Echo, there have complaints from shorter users saying the arms move too far away from the seat, making it less comfortable on the shoulders.
Both bikes will be loud during use- after all, these are air bikes we’re talking about here. That said, users seem to complain about the noise on the AD7 more so than the noise of the Echo.
Overall though, there aren’t many complaints regarding either model.
Final Thoughts
Alright, that about does it for the AD7 and the Echo Bike.
It’s pretty safe to say both are elite air bikes at the top of their game. And again, you really can’t go wrong with either option.
But we’re here to figure out which bike is better, so which one is?
The Rogue Echo Bike
I admit, this is a tough one to call, but if I had to choose between these 2 bikes today, I’d be going with the Echo.
Personally, I don’t think the additional features the AD7 comes with is enough to warrant an extra $250. The only real feature I think the Echo is missing are the multi-grip handles, but that’s not even that big of a deal.
And the air guard and water bottle holder can be purchased for a total of like $30, so that’s not a big deal either.
And yes, I know Schwinn offers a better warranty, but I’m not worried about the Echo breaking down considering the size and gauge of the steel this thing is built out of.
So, given the prices and the overall badassness of the Echo, when it comes to the Schwinn AD7 vs the Rogue Echo, I’m going with the Echo.
