Sole’s SB900 is a heavy-duty, affordable indoor cycle that’s backed by a great warranty – wow, I feel like I really summed things up nicely there, but I should probably go into a little more detail.

More specifically, this bike comes with a 35 lb flywheel, 100 levels of magnetic resistance, and a weight capacity of 300 lb.

It doesn’t have the most sophisticated console in the world, but it still comes with a simple LCD screen that displays all your workout data and it’s also heart rate strap compatible.

And with an included tablet holder, it’s easy enough to follow along with streaming workouts from your tablet.

All things considered, I think the SB900 is easily one of the best indoor cycles on the market today, especially for folks looking for a no thrills bike that’s built to last.

But before you start pulling out credit cards, you have to know exactly what this bike’s all about – and that’s where I can help.

In this review, I’ll be going over everything this indoor cycle does and doesn’t have going for it, as well as how it stacks up to some of the other top options in its price range.

After reading, you’ll know whether or not the SB900 is the right exercise bike for your home.

Let’s do this.

Sole’s SB900 would make a great option if you’re looking for a high-performing indoor cycle, but it has a pretty basic console, so it’s not well-suited for streaming.

The Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle

I’m a fan of pretty much everything Sole does.

Actually, that’s a bit of an understatement – I think they’re probably the best moderately priced home fitness brand around.

I say that because I like how Sole emphasizes performance and build over tech features… which is becoming increasingly rare these days.

That said, Sole has put a lot of effort into updating a lot of their consoles and they now offer several models with large touchscreens that are streaming equipped.

But if you’re looking for a straightforward piece of cardio equipment that doesn’t require a monthly membership fee, Sole is a great brand to consider as well.

Anyway, they have a pretty generous lineup of cardio machines to choose from, but as I’m writing this, they only offer 2 indoor cycles – the SB900 and the higher-end SB1200.

FYI, the SB1200 is just the SB900 with an updated console.

Anyway, the SB900 we’re here to go over now is their entry-level cycle (since they stopped carrying the SB700) and it comes with a nice collection of specs and features for the price.

Pros

• 35 lb flywheel
• 100 levels of magnetic resistance
• Belt drive
• Heavy-duty frame
• 300 lb weight limit
• Fully adjustable seat
• Fully adjustable handlebars
• Heart rate monitor compatible
• Dual-compatible pedals
• Dumbbell rack
• Tablet holder
• Bluetooth friendly
• Compact
• Great warranty

Cons

• Simple console
• No built-in workouts

Resistance

I like to start all my reviews off with a rundown of the performance specs and it just turns out this is where the SB900 really shines.

Especially if you prefer the old school feel of a heavy flywheel.

More specifically, the SB900 is packing 35 lb under the hood, which should be heavy enough to count as “heavy” in anyone’s book.

And even though a lot of affordable cycles come with heavier flywheels these days, 35 lb seems to be the sweet spot a lot of quality cycles are aiming for (Peloton, NordicTrack, Diamondback, etc.).

With a flywheel this heavy, you won’t have to worry about the SB900 being able to create enough momentum for a smooth pedaling motion.

And with such a heavy flywheel, you won’t have to worry about this bike being able to create enough resistance either.

Sole pairs that heavy flywheel with a magnetic resistance system, which I prefer.

The fact that it’s a magnetic system and not a friction brake is an immediate advantage in my opinion because magnetic resistances are a bit smoother and quieter.

And I love that Sole updated this bike and gave it 100 resistance levels because this gives us a ton of control over the intensity of each workout.

This is also the same scale Peloton uses and as a Peloton user, I’ve come really used to it – and a lot of other brands have started using the 100 level scale as well.

But this makes it a lot easier to follow along with Peloton’s digital app, if that’s something you might be interested in.

Users seem to agree though, that the SB900 offers a quiet, smooth riding experience and can offer enough resistance to challenge riders of all skill levels.

Overall, I’m impressed by the heavy flywheel and smooth acting magnetic system.

Frame

The SB900 scores highly in the resistance department, but it scores just as highly with its ridiculously heavy-duty frame.

And I hate to use that term (“heavy-duty”) because I know fitness bloggers and marketers use it to death – so much so that it loses all meaning and credibility whatsoever.

But in this case, it’s just the best adjective to describe this cycle.

And I mean it quite literally when I say this bike is heavy-duty, the SB900 comes with an assembled weight of 123 lb, which is quite heavy for an indoor cycle.

Especially one in this price range.

For the sake of comparison, my Peloton weighs around 135 lb and that thing is rock solid.

And Schwinn’s similarly priced IC4, which is a great bike in its own right, only weighs in at around 106 lb – and we could come up with a ton of similar examples.

My point is, the SB900 is about as heavy a bike as you’re gonna find in this price range.

I like to look at the assembled weight spec because it can give us a good idea as to how stable a bike will feel during use – with heavier always being a good thing.

With such a heavy weight, you shouldn’t have to worry about the SB900 feeling stable and secure during workouts.

It also comes with a respectable weight capacity of 300 lb, allowing it to accommodate folks of most sizes safely.

And in terms of physical size, with a footprint of only 54″ x 21″, the SB900 is pretty average compared to most indoor cycles, so you won’t have to worry about it taking up too much space.

Overall, I love how heavy this bike is because it’s going to make for a more commercial-like feel during workouts (just keep this in mind before you try to move it).

Warranty

Sole backs their SB900 Indoor Cycle with the following residential warranty:

• Lifetime frame
• 2 year parts/electronics
• 1 year labor

Hey, I told ya Sole doesn’t mess around when it comes to their warranties.

It’s rare to see a lifetime frame guarantee these days (most brands stop at 5- 10 years on the frame), so right off the bat this puts Sole ahead of most.

Two years on parts is also pretty good, considering most offer somewhere between 1- 3 years on parts.

A year on labor is pretty standard stuff, so nothing too interesting to see there.

But overall, this is one of the better warranties you’re gonna find in this price range.

Well played Sole, well played.

Features

The Sole SB900 comes with the following included features:

LCD console- the console on this bike measures ~ 3″ x 4″, which is small compared to the huge HD touchscreen displays found on some cycles these days, but it’s still large enough to easily see all your workout data. There aren’t any built-in workouts or anything fancy here, but it’s large enough to see clearly. It’s worth knowing that some users have complained that the console isn’t very user friendly and it isn’t much good for anything other than simply viewing your stats.

Heart rate monitor compatible- that said, the console is compatible with chest strap heart rate monitors (bluetooth and ANT+), although one isn’t included.

Fully adjustable seat- you can adjust the height and horizontal (fore/aft) position of the seat, making it easy to find a comfortable riding position.

Fully adjustable handlebars- you can also adjust the height and fore/aft position of the handlebars for even more customization.

Dual-compatible pedals- the pedals come with a toe cage on one side and are SPD compatible on the other, so you can wear cleats or sneakers while riding this cycle. You can also swap ’em out easily if you prefer another style of cleat.

Tablet holder- there’s a built-in tablet holder above the console, allowing you to watch your tablet or connect with other streaming apps during workouts.

Bluetooth compatible- the SB900 is bluetooth compatible with the Sole+ App (as well as others), allowing you to track workout metrics and whatnot as you please.

Dumbbell rack- there’s a place to store your small dumbbells in case you want to follow along with any streaming workouts on your tablet.

Dual water bottle holders- yups, there’s a place to store your water bottles, so there’s no excuses for not staying hydrated.

Comps

Ok, by now it’s probably kinda obvious that I think the SB900 is an awesome cycle, but I still want to discuss price a little and compare it to some of the other top bikes in its price range.

At the time of writing this, Sole has the updated SB900 on sale for $1099 (although this may change throughout the year), which I think is a fair price.

FYI, you can probably still find the 2020 model of the SB900 on Amazon for a couple hundred bucks cheaper – it uses a micro-adjustable resistance (so no set levels), but otherwise comes with great specs.

Anyway, I’m going to use the ~$1k price range for our comps here and in that price range, the Schwinn IC4 I mentioned a little earlier is one of the top bikes.

The IC4 comes with a 40 lb flywheel, 100 levels of magnetic resistance, dual-compatible pedals, bluetooth, and an included pair of 3 lb dumbbells.

It’s also backed by a good warranty- 10 year frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor.

In other words, the IC4 is also an awesome bike, but it’s not as heavy-duty as the SB900 and Sole’s frame warranty beats it out.

At around $1k, there’s also Diamondback’s 1260sc, which comes with a 31 lb flywheel, 16 magnetic resistance levels, a heavy-duty frame, and a self-generating power source.

But Diamondback only backs the 1260sc’s frame with a 5 year warranty.

Finally, I want to mention BowFlex’s newer IC Bike SE.

The name isn’t catchy, but this cycle is well-priced at $999 and comes with awesome specs.

This cycle comes with a 36 lb flywheel, 100 resistance levels, dual-compatible pedals, a heavy-duty frame, and fully-adjustable everything.

Its console is simple too but it’s bluetooth compatible with apps and BowFlex includes a free trial of JRNY with purchase

And BowFlex’s warranty is pretty identical to Sole’s as well.

So, there’s definitely some stiff competition in this price range, but based on these comps, I’d argue the SB900 holds its own just fine…and then some.

Final Thoughts

Ok, I think that’ll about do it.

I don’t have much to complain about when it comes to the SB900.

This was a great cycle for the price and with Sole’s 2023 update, they made it just a little bit better.

I love how heavy-duty this thing is from top to bottom and I love the confidence Sole exudes by backing it with such a long warranty.

The most notable upgrade with the most recent update was the addition of the 100 resistance levels and I think this was a smart move by Sole because it just makes it easier to follow along with Peloton’s digital app.

The biggest drawback I see is that the console is very basic – so if you’re looking for a more advanced console with more sophisticated streaming capabilities, the SB900 probably isn’t your best option.

In this case, you might want to check out ProForm’s Studio Bike Pro 22.

This bike’s performance specs aren’t nearly as impressive, but it does come with a 22″ HD console for iFit streaming – which in itself is impressive for a ~$1k bike.

But if you’re looking for an indoor cycle that’ easy to use and built to last a lifetime, the SB900 is as good as it gets in this price range.

Easily one of the best indoor cycles on the market.