Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike Review

The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is another very highly rated model out there. Surprisingly enough, for being such a high end model with so many great features, it is not actually all that expensive. While it does cost a pretty penny, it is well worth the investment thanks to the number of features it comes with, how comfortable it is, and how versatile it is. The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is durable, safe, comfy, and highly adjustable in many respects. It comes with everything you need for a great recumbent bike experience.

Find the best price for the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike

Overview

So you can get a little bit of a better idea of what the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is all about, you can check out the video presentation about it below.

Main Features

The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike has a bunch of really cool features that need to be mentioned, so what are they?

Dimensions & Weight

The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is not the smallest of all recumbent bikes out there. It won’t require way too much space, but it is not small. Also, the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is pretty lightweight, more so than most other high end models on the market today. In terms of the overall footprint, it is definitely manageable.

Warranty

For the price you are paying for the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike, you do get an outstanding warranty. The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike has a 10-year warranty on the frame, a 2-year warranty for parts, a 1-year warranty for the electronics, and a 90-day warranty for the labor.

Assembly

The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is quite easy to assemble. One person can assemble the whole thing in little over an hour, but it is easier to have a second person helping you. The instructions are straightforward and easy to follow, plus all parts and tools are included in the packaging. You can always choose to get expert in-home assembly for another extra fee. Here is a link with the assembly instructions for this model.

What We Like About The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike

The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike has a few key features that we really like a lot, so we are going to spend a few minutes talking about those.

We really like how the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike has awesome magnetic resistance. When it comes to high end models, magnetic resistance is the way to go. It is very smooth and quiet to provide you with a constant, stable, and noise free workout routine. The magnetic resistance system has no contact between parts, so the wear and tear the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike experiences is very minimal. Moreover, this model has 25 different levels of magnetic resistance. You can easily change the resistance level using the controls on the display. Having so many resistance levels is ideal because it makes the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike versatile and a good choice for people of all fitness levels.

Another thing that we like about the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is that it is quite lightweight. Coming in at only 92 pounds, the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike does not weigh very much at all, especially for such a high quality and useful model. Even though it is lightweight, the steel frame is still built for durability and longevity. The frame has a 300-pound weight limit, which is quite impressive no doubt. It features oversized crossbar tubing for increased durability and stability, plus it has 2 integrated levelers and a center support too. All in all, the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is extremely durable and built to last for years to come.

We also like how the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is quite comfortable to use. While the backrest does not have all that much padding, it is ergonomically designed and specially contoured to provide you with lots of lumbar support. The bottom of the seat is actually very well padded to keep your bottom from becoming painful, plus it is also specially contoured for comfort. Moreover, the backrest and the seat, the back more so than the bottom, are both vented. This means that you won’t get a really sweaty butt or back while using the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike. The seat is on a sliding rail, so you can indeed adjust it for position depending on how tall you are. Also, the pedals of the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike are oversized, shaped to fit all kinds of feet, and very comfortable to place your feet in.

The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike also comes with a great dual window backlit LCD display. The display is large, bright, and easy to read. Also, the display is built to be very user friendly and easy to navigate as well. This display keeps track of all of your fitness metrics such as speed, distance, time, calories, RPM, and more. The handlebars of the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike actually have a heart rate monitor, plus it is chest strap compatible as well. Keeping track of your heart rate could not be any easier. Moreover, the computer system comes with a whopping 29 different user programs. It has 12 profile programs, 9 heart rate programs, 4 user profiles, 1 quick start program, 2 fitness test programs, and 1 recovery test program. The console is also Bluetooth compatible so you can export your fitness data to the Nautilus Connect fitness app. This allows you to easily monitor your progress from one day to the next.

We like how the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike comes with MP3 and iPod jacks so you can hook up your favorite music device. It comes with high-quality acoustic chambered speakers so you can listen to those tunes in ease. The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike also has a 3-speed fan to keep you nice and cool, a media tray for your music players, and a water bottle holder too.

What We Don’t Like About The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike

This is one of the higher rated recumbent bike models out there, so there are not too many bad things that we have to say about it.

While we did say that the seat is very comfortable and ergonomically designed, which it is with its special back fitting contours, it could be a little better. The backrest just is not that well padded, so it may start to hurt your back after a while because it is kind of hard.

Some people have had trouble with the alignment of the pedals. Some people have mentioned that it causes your legs to be in somewhat of an odd position.

Alternatives To The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike

So you have a bit of a comparison point between the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike and others, let’s quickly compare it to a couple of other models.

Sole Fitness R92 Recumbent Exercise Bike

This model of recumbent bike by Sole Fitness is quite a bit more expensive than the Nautilus R616, but there is a reason for it. One of the biggest differences is that the Sole Fitness model has a better padded seat, plus more positions for the seat to adjust to. At the same time, the alignment and positioning of the pedals on the Sole Fitness model seems to be a little more comfortable. The Sole Fitness R92 also has a slightly more durable frame. On the other hand, the Nautilus has 5 more resistance levels and close to 3 times as many programs. Both come with speakers, a fan, Bluetooth connectivity, water bottle holders, and some other extras too.

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike

The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike is actually a very similar alternative for you to check out. Both of these models cost pretty much the same amount of money, and accordingly, they have virtually the same features too. Both of these models have levelers and a center support in the frame, both have 29 workout programs, both have 25 levels of magnetic resistance, both have a great display, and both come with all of the bells and whistles too. What your choice will most likely come down to here is which brand name you prefer more. In terms of functionality, the build, comfort, and features, both models are nearly identical.

Final Thoughts On The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike

The Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike is definitely a great high end model to go with. For the price you are paying, you do indeed get lots of value. A strong frame with a high weight capacity, a fairly comfortable seat, lots of resistance levels, lots of exercise programs, a great display, and a multitude of extras make the Nautilus R616 Recumbent Bike well worth the investment. It’s a great model for anyone who is serious about their cardio routine, but it is in fact great for beginners too.