Echelon EX5S Review: Pros & Cons + Alternatives
Welcome to my comprehensive review of the Echelon EX5S, an exciting contender in the premium home spin bike market. With an ambition to carve a space in the rapidly growing indoor bike industry, Echelon stands toe-to-toe with well-established brands like Peloton and NordicTrack. Among their impressive range of indoor bikes, the Smart Connect EX5S holds a prominent position, offering a host of premium features that are accompanied by an equally impressive price tag.
Sitting just below the newly released and highly improved EX7S, the EX5S boasts enhancements that set it apart from its lower-tier counterparts within Echelon’s product lineup. Notably, it comes equipped with frame-mounted kick guards and conveniently located power ports at the front and rear of the bike. However, the standout upgrade is the large 22″ HD touchscreen, replacing the simpler device mounts found on Echelon’s more affordable models, the EX5, EX3, EX1, and EX15.
In this review, I’ll delve into the EX5S’s key features, performance, and overall value, comparing it to its predecessor, the EX5. While the 22″ HD touchscreen is a major differentiating factor, I’ll explore how the two models align in terms of functionality and other specifications. So, join me as I unravel the Echelon EX5S and uncover whether it’s the perfect spin bike to elevate your home workout experience. At the end I covered two really awesome compares that you should take a look at.
Echelon EX5S Specifications
The Smart Connect EX5S seems to stick with a typical minimalist design language of the most recent crop of premium magnetic home indoor bikes. It comes in matte black paint with deep red accents on the resistance knob, in the center of the flywheel, and around the crank.
This seems to be the paint scheme of choice for several comparable spin bikes on the market, like the Bowflex Velocore 22, and it is a subtle colorway that appeals to a wide range of aesthetic preferences as well as blends in well with most home interiors. I like the fact that the touchscreen monitor, while large at 21.5in, is actually fairly thin, which makes for a svelte side profile of the EX5S unlike some bulkier bikes on the market.
Fully assembled, the dimensions of the Smart Connect EX5S are 59″ L x 53″ H x 23″ W with a total footprint of 1.66 ft x 3.44 ft. The EX5S weighs in at 105lbs fully assembled inclusive of the console, which makes it average in terms of weight when comparing to direct competitors like the Bowflex Velocore 22 which is on the heavy end at 158.3 lbs and the Keiser M3i that weighs under 90-lbs.
Assembly
The EX5S has a premium construction and is impressively well put together. The materials and finish are on par with direct competitors in this price bracket. The powder coated steel frame imparts an air of dutability and stability with clean welds and an absence of sharp edges, and I especially like the classy glossy branding on the seat tube, the head tube and the flywheel. Once assembled, I was impressed with build quality of the EX5S with everything snugly fitting and no discernable wobbles or vibrations while riding. Like many similar indoor bikes, the EX5S has two wheels attached to the front horizontal stabilizer that allowed me to move the bike around with ease.
Out of the box, it took about 30 minutes to fully assemble The Smart Connect EX5S. Once you have the base stabilizers on the ground, it is just a matter of attaching the pedals, the screen and a few bolts here and there and you’re good to go. All required tools and instructions are included. While I am generally comfortable with using tools and the DIY-ethic, it wouldn’t be too hard for most people given how clear the assembly instructions and diagrams from Echelon are.
Echelon also provides a very helpful step-by-step assembly video. For those who prefer not to assemble the bike themselves, Echelon offers an assembly service that can be purchased when ordering the bike, whereby an assembly technician will come to your home at a prescheduled appointment to fully put together the bike with the just a few additional steps remaining, like plugging in the bike to a power outlet and connecting it to your homes wireless network.
Once fully assembled, it can be a little confusing to figure out where to start. This is not unique to the EX5S, but seems like a common denominator across many feature-rich Peloton alternative indoor bikes with so many options and functions that it may initially seem daunting to quickly get to know the bike.
Usefully, Echelon includes a getting-started playlist which takes the frustrating guesswork out of the process of figuring out all the features. I found this very useful. Even if you are a seasoned user of other indoor bike, it might be worthwhile to take the time to go through the starter playlist which goes over the fundamentals of dealing in a good riding position and using the on-screen interface.
Comfort, Saddle and Handlebars
I found it very easy to adjust the position of the saddle, handlebars and managed to quickly find a good riding position to start using the bike without much experimentation. Both the handlebars and the saddle are 4-way adjustable (fore/aft and up/down).
The quick-release levers make it a breeze to make quick adjustments, especially useful if the bike is being used by other people in the household. I noticed that compared to other indoor bikes I have used the EX5S has a particularly roomy riding position (the distance between the seat post and the front upright tube is generous, which is something that I believe taller riders will very much appreciate.
Understanding the on-screen interface are especially critical to getting the most out of Echelon’s own software platform, the Echelon FIT. There is a sizeable library of on-demand classes as well as live ride sessions that you can join that vary in length, intensity and even music choices. Once you start each workout, you are in a virtual room with an instructor and a live leaderboard showing others who have joined the same session.
The touchscreen has integrated speakers which of course won’t offer an audiophile surround sound experience, but are more than adequate for the purpose. You can also pair your favorite Bluetooth wireless headphones to the system if you prefer. The Bluetooth connectivity is also very useful for connecting heart rate monitors and having your heart rate displayed in real-time on the touchscreen during your workouts.
Flywheel and Pedals
I found the flywheel to have a very good ride feel and a more than adequate resistance range. The drive is very smooth and there are no weird noises or stutters when pedals are being turned. It does take a considerable amount of turning the resistance knob to ramp up the resistance to the harder end of the spectrum which can be an issue during fast-paced and challenging workouts, but I didn’t think it was a deal breaker.
The pedals come with both clip-in and cage options which is a feature I always appreciate because I do use both styles depending on the length and intensity of my planned workouts (cages for shorter and more gentle sessions, clip-ins for longer and harder workouts).
While the touchscreen hardware is great and the software user interface is very acceptable, the touchscreen itself is wirelessly connected to the bike, unlike market leaders like Peloton, which use a wired connection. Wired connections are generally more reliable. The software also seemed to suffer from intermittent connection issues.
EX5s Features and Specs:
- Q-Factor: 202MM
- Pedals: SPD and toe clips
- Flywheel: 33lbs
- Resistance: 32 Levels, Magnetic
- Transmission: Standard Belt (not Toothed)
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Height capacity: 4’6″ to 6’6″
- Bike weight: 105 lbs (47.62kg)
- Bike dimensions: 59″ L x 53″ H x 23″ W
- Monitor: 21.5in Full HD screen
- Monitor Pivot: No
- Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, 100 Mbps ethernet
- Applications: Echelon Fit app, only
- RPM tracking: Yes
- Speed tracking: Yes
- Watt tracking: Yes, estimate (no power meter)
Comparable Alternative Indoor Bikes
When it comes to considering comparable products to the Echelon EX5-S for different uses or circumstances, there are a few standout options worth exploring. If you’re on a budget but still want a versatile spin bike compatible with popular applications like Zwift, Peloton, Echelonfit, Kinompa, and Strava, the Echelon EX3 is a fantastic choice. It not only offers excellent value for money but also features electronic resistance that can automatically adjust to simulate Zwift uphills and Peloton Power Zone classes.
On the other hand, if you’re specifically looking for a spin bike that works seamlessly with the Freebeat application and offers automatic resistance, the Freebeat Boom is the way to go. With its impressive 15.6″ touchscreen console, comfortable saddle, and integrated automatic resistance system, it’s an excellent value option. However, it’s important to note that the Freebeat Boom is not compatible with Peloton or Zwift apps. Both of these alternatives + Echelon EX5-S are some of the best spin bikes with automatic resistance that can add enjoyment to the ride.
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Robbie Ferri from “Riding with Robbie” has been cycling for almost ten years. In that time, he has broken World Records, Bikepacked all over the World, and also raced ultra distance at a top-level. Robbie picked up a bike and started cycling when he was about 25 years old and said it was the best thing he ever did. The experiences and the fun he’s had have given him a huge passion for helping inspire others to ride further, farther, and get fitter.
