The G1 is part of YESOUL’s newest lineup of affordable indoor streaming cycles, which also includes the G1-Pro and G1-Plus.
As the entry-level bike, the G1 doesn’t come with a console, but I wouldn’t hold that against it – it comes with several other pleasantly surprising features you don’t expect to find in this price range.
Like 100 levels of magnetic resistance, compatibility with multiple fitness apps, an included bluetooth heart rate band, and even a pair of dumbbells.
As affordable cycles go, I think the YESOUL G1 has a lot going for it, but it’s got its fair share of downsides too – most notably the short warranty and small size.
Before you buy, there’s a lot you need to consider, but I’m here to help.
In this review, I’ll go over everything this bike does and doesn’t have going for it.
After reading, you’ll know everything you need to in order to decide for yourself whether or not the G1 is the right bike for your home.
Let’s begin.
The YESOUL G1 Indoor Cycling Bike
YESOUL is a Chinese based brand that’s been around since 2015.
It looks like they’re taking a page out of Echelon’s playbook with their approach to streaming cycles – start with bikes that don’t have consoles and design them to pair with users’ own tablets.
It makes sense to me.
Doing this allows you to keep prices on the cycles more competitive and most folks these days already have a tablet or smartphone anyway.
Like Echelon, YESOUL has also expanded their lineup to include cycles that do come with touchscreen consoles as well (the G1-Pro and the G1-Plus).
Before YESOUL began their G1 series, they offered the S3 (which you can still find through sites like Amazon).
As far as I can tell, the G1 is pretty identical to the S3 in terms of performance, but the G1 comes with a couple of extra goodies.
Pros
- 100 levels of magnetic resistance
- Belt drive
- Bluetooth compatible
- Access to free instructor-led workouts through YESOUL app
- Tablet holder
- Arm band heart rate monitor
- Pair of 2 lb dumbbells
- Fully adjustable seat
- Toe cage pedals
- Affordable price
Cons
- Light flywheel
- Light weight frame
- Weight limit only 265 lb
- Height limit only 6’2″
- Short warranty
Resistance
The G1 uses a magnetic resistance system, which right off the bat is a nice feature for an indoor cycle in this price range.
At this price, a lot of bikes are still using friction brakes.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of friction brake systems because they never tend to be quite as smooth as magnetic systems, plus you have to swap out that felt pad every so often too.
But the G1 uses a magnetic system, so no worries there.
More impressively though, the G1 comes with 100 resistance levels.
There are several other budget cycles on the market now that also use a magnetic system, but I haven’t come across any this affordable that come with 100 resistance levels.
Most magnetic bikes in this price range use micro-adjustable resistances that don’t allow you to track which level you’re on.
These can work well too, but the folks out there that like to see a resistance level (like myself) might have a harder time following along with fitness apps.
Peloton’s app, for example, uses a 100 level resistance scale, so having 100 levels on this bike would make it easier to follow along with what the instructors are instructing.
The G1 uses a belt drive too, which is kind of expected these days, even from affordable cycles, but it’s still a nice perk.
Belt drives are a little quieter than chain drives and usually feel a bit smoother too.
With a magnetic resistance system and belt drive, the G1 is well-equipped to provide a quiet workout.
The last thing I want to mention here is the flywheel.
Most cycles these days are coming with really heavy flywheels because the extra weight helps create a smoother feel (the extra weight builds more momentum as the flywheel spins).
YESOUL doesn’t disclose how heavy the flywheel is on the G1, but I’d bet dollars to donuts that it’s the same flywheel they use on the S3.
And the flywheel on the S3 weighs about 16.5 lb, which is light for an indoor cycle.
That said, most users applaud the S3 for how smooth it feels.
So, when it comes to performance, the G1 scores very highly with its 100 magnetic resistance levels, but it’s well below par when it comes to flywheel weight.
Is flywheel weight alone enough to choose another cycle over this one?
That’s a personal choice of course, but I think the G1 has enough else going for it that it’s still worth considering.
Frame
When looking at an indoor cycle’s frame, I’m mostly concerned with how stable it’s going to feel during a workout.
I don’t think any of us are actually looking for a bike that’s going to wobble or feel less than sturdy when riding it.
And unfortunately, a lot of really affordable bikes tend to feel like this.
I know the idea of having a lighter weight bike might sound good when thinking about having to move it around your home, but trust me – having a heavier bike is a good thing.
Heavier bikes feel more stable.
This is why I encourage you to consider a bike’s assembled weight when comparing models – this spec gives you a great idea of how “heavy-duty” the bike truly is.
The G1 comes with an assembled weight of 68 lb, which is very light even for cycles in this price range.
Personally, I like to aim for a bike that weighs at least 100 lb to ensure a nice stable base, but getting a bike that heavy isn’t really realistic in this price range.
But it isn’t impossible either – Sunny Health & Fitness’ SF-B1805 weighs in at a whopping 126 lb.
There’s also the JOROTO X2 that weighs about 94 lb.
My point is, the G1 is below average in terms of assembled weight, even for its price range.
Something else worth knowing is that according to YESOUL, the G1 is only designed to fit folks who are between 4’9″ and 6’2″.
This means taller users aren’t going to be able to ride this cycle.
The G1 also comes with a weight limit of only 265 lb, meaning larger folks can’t ride it either.
Overall, the G1 is a very small, lightweight cycle, designed for smaller riders. Larger folks should be considering another bike.
Warranty
YESOUL backs their G1 Indoor Cycling Bike with the following residential warranty:
- 1 year parts
This is a really short warranty, but this is what we should expect in this price range.
Keep in mind, there are reasons why affordable cycles are affordable in the first place – and short warranties is one of those reason.
Most of the top options in this price range offer the exact same 1 year warranty.
Sunny offers a 3 year frame guarantee on their cycles, but only 6 months on parts.
Overall, yes, this warranty is very short, but it’s par for the course when compared to the rest of the pack.
Features
The YESOUL G1 comes with the following features:
Bluetooth- the G1 doesn’t come in a console, but it’s bluetooth compatible with YESOUL’s free fitness app, where you can track your metrics and access free instructor-led workouts, using your own tablet/smart phone. It’s also compatible with other apps, like Zwift, giving you access to scenic rides and game style workouts.
Tablet holder- there’s a large tablet holder in front of the handlebars, giving you a convenient place to put your tablet/phone.
Heart rate monitor- the G1 comes with a bluetooth arm band heart rate monitor, allowing you to get accurate readings during workouts (which is pretty unheard of in this price range).
Dumbbells- this cycle also comes with a pair of 2 lb dumbbells and a dumbbell rack on the back, allowing you to access them easily during workouts. Another great bonus feature not often seen in this price range.
Fully adjustable seat- you can adjust the height and fore/aft position of the seat, making it easier to find a comfortable riding position.
Height adjustable handlebars- the handlebars aren’t fully adjustable, but you can adjust the height of them.
Toe cage pedals- the pedals are designed to be used with sneakers, but you could easily swap ’em out if you prefer to ride with cleats.
Water bottle holder- there’s a place to store your water bottle for easy hydration.
Floor mat- YESOUL even throws in a free floor mat with purchase.
Price
At the time of writing this, the G1 has a full asking price of $649 and is on sale for $499.
And I realize prices can vary a lot, so by the time you read this these numbers might be a little off, but I hope YESOUL keeps this cycle priced right around $500 because I think that’s a great price point for it.
I’ve already mentioned a few of the other top cycles in this price range, but I want to compare the G1 to some of these bikes a little more here.
In the $500 range, Echelon’s EX-15 is one of the top contenders, coming with 32 levels of magnetic resistance and bluetooth connectivity with the Echelon app.
The EX-15 also comes with a lightweight flywheel and lightweight frame, but it does come with a 300 lb weight limit.
The already mentioned JOROTO X2 comes with a much heavier flywheel/frame and does come with magnetic resistance, but you can’t tell which resistance level you’re on.
Schwinn’s IC3 is a little more expensive at around $600, but it comes with a heavier flywheel, a heavier-duty frame, and a much better warranty- but it uses a friction brake resistance system.
Finally, there’s Sunny’s SF-B1805 mentioned above.
This cycle is really heavy-duty and packs a heavy flywheel and a magnetic resistance system, but it doesn’t come with a console or any tech features.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the G1 holds it’s own really well in this price range.
The fact that it comes with 100 levels of magnetic resistance and access to free instructor-led workouts via YESOUL’s app is pretty amazing for a $500 bike.
This cycle also comes with several bonus features I wouldn’t expect in this price range, like an included arm band heart rate monitor, a pair of dumbbells, and a floor mat.
Peloton makes us pay extra for all these goodies, just sayin’.
That said, the G1 is a very light weight bike, designed for smaller users.
With a weight limit of only 265 lb and a max height recommendation of only 6’2″, larger and taller folks simply won’t fit.
But if you’re looking for an affordable streaming bike and do fit the size requirements, I think YESOUL’s G1 could make a lot of sense.
