FB150 Folding Exercise Bike
With a solid x frame design, the easy-to-use FB150 Folding Exercise Bike is one of the most affordable bikes from Xterra. It is a folding upright bike designed for light cardio workouts allowing you to pedal away the calories with perfect exercise. This bike is a great choice for people that want to get into shape, but don’t have much room.
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In this article, I will break down some of the best bike features and why or why not this bike might be the best choice for your needs.
Technical Specifications
Frame
The X-Terra Fitness FB150 has a sold X frame design, with the two-piece frame joined in the middle. Though the bike is built from steel, it is still fairly light, weighing only 32 lbs. To facilitate easy relocation, there is a small set of wheels on the front base bar. You'll be surprised how much room the xterra bike saves.
With the frame fully assembled, the bike is 18” (46 cm) wide, and 31.5” (80 cm) long. Its highest portion is the handlebars, standing 50.5” (120 cm) above the floor. When you fold the bike for easy storage, the unit’s folded dimensions become only 16.75” D x 18 W (42 x 46 cm). The fact you can get a great workout on something relatively small is this bike’s greatest strength.
You should try to keep at least two feet of clearance on both sides of the bike and at least one foot of space at the front and at the back. These recommendations will ensure safe operation and ease of access.
Unlike the Fitness Reality U2500, the rear of the Xterra Fitness FB150 Folding Bike is a straight bar, not a curved one. Without the reinforcement bar for the seat, the maximum weight capacity is a little lower at 22lbs (102 kg). Other competing bikes in this category tend to have a weight capacity of 400 lbs, so you might want to keep that in mind before purchasing.
The last topic of interest is this bike’s paint finish. This unit comes coated with chip-resistant, rust-resistant paint finish. The ABS precision balanced flywheel covers and the belt are blue, while the base color of the frame is gray. As of now, these are the only colors available for this model of the Xterra Fitness bike.
Handlebars and Seat
The seat of the Xterra Fitness FB150 is extra large and comfortable. At a width of about 14”, it can accommodate most people, as long as they don’t exceed 225 lbs (102 kg). With an integrated layer of padding under the thick, durable vinyl material, the seat provides maximum comfort.
The seat doesn’t share the same kind of collar design you might see with most exercise cycles. With a triangular plate connected to the post, held in place by three bolts, it is not meant to be replaced. That said, you might still be able to find seats that can be used with the bike, as there are similar items for sale on the market.
The post under the seat has 7 different positions, while the seat itself can only be raised or lowered. So the user can achieve a complete leg extension while exercising, Xterra created the bike to be used by people between the height of 4’10” to 5’10” (147 to 178 cm).
The handlebars on the Xterra Fitness FB150 folding bike can not be adjusted. The curved, metallic bar is held in place on the frame with two bolts. The handlebars are covered by a layer of foam rubber for a multi-grip design that supports a secure grasp. With integrated stainless steel hand pulse sensors, you can use the console to track your heart rate. Without details on heart rate, it is difficult to keep track of whether you're getting an effective workout.
Drive & Resistance
To provide a tougher workout, this folding bike has a magnetic resistance system. With a small magnetic brake at the front of the frame attached to a large dial, you can turn to modify the brake’s position to the flywheel.
The magnetic resistance from the tension knob causes more or less pedal resistance, and because the bike’s system is manual, you don’t have to plug it in. You might also want to note that the console doesn’t impact the bike’s resistance in any way.
This bike comes with 8 resistance levels, starting with light resistance for warming up or recovery training. Based on the experience of some users, the 8th level isn’t as difficult as you might expect. So, it might not be suitable for muscle-burning exercises like that you might get on heavy-duty upright bikes or spin bikes. With the belt drive, the pedaling motion is quiet and smooth, without the requirement of added lubrication.
The flywheel isn’t very heavy, weighing only 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg), so it doesn’t create strong momentum or the kind of aggressive inertia that might be dangerous. Keep in mind the bike is bi-directional, so you can also get a workout while pedaling backward, the console continuing to provide feedback on your speed.
This bike comes with a 3-piece crankset with steel crank arms. The pedals are durable with a metallic core and a non-slip surface. Because the contain weights, they’ll always be face-up when it comes time for you to use them. They also come with straps you can adjust to fit securely around your feet. They’re also easily replaceable should they break or if you have any other issues with them.
As a relatively compact bike, the Xterra FB150 has a narrow Q-factor (the space between pedals). The dimensions are not exactly specified, but it is estimated to be between 150-160 mm. While using this bike there shouldn’t be any lateral stress on your knees or ankles.
Meter
To track your progress, the Xterra FB150 comes with a basic fitness meter with an LCD display. It can help you measure your speed distance, calories burned, pulse, total distance, and more.
The convenient scan feature will rotate the fitness metrics as you require, allowing you to monitor whichever metric you like. To track your pulse, you have to hold the sensors in the handlebars, as the console is not telemetric.
The meter is simple to use with only one button. When you push it, it automatically detects flywheel movement. Selecting the Scan function will allow you to rotate values for several minutes, or you can select the one you want to monitor your heart rate. Two AA batteries are included to power it, as the console goes into sleep mode after several minutes of inactivity.
Assembly & Maintenance
With a preassembled mainframe already connected to the crank, belt, and resistance system, this bike isn’t very difficult to assemble. You only need to attach the seat, handlebars, the bases, console, and pedals. It shouldn’t take very long, only 30 to 40 minutes. You can get all of the guidance you need in the included assembly instructions.
The bike is very low maintenance. The components come pre-lubricated, and the belt drive system doesn’t require any extra lubrication. So all you have to do to maintain this equipment is to check for loose parts and wipe the dust from the frame.
Questions and Answers
How to Increase Resistance on the Xterra Fitness FB-150?
On the main x frame of the bike, there is a large dial knob. You simply turn it to get to the level of resistance you require. The 8-levels of manual resistance have been developed to accommodate all users. For more information on these details check the official owner’s manual.
How do you fold this bike?
At the joint where the bars meet, there is a screw-like component that you can pull out. After that, the bike's x frame will fold for easy storage.
Can I use this bike if I’m 6 feet tall?
It will be very difficult. It is not recommended for users so tall, as they may not be able to get a satisfactory leg extension. Though the seat adjusts, it can only go so high.
How quiet is this machine?
The quietness of this bike is not just a gimmick. Many users report this bike is nearly silent during use, and it shouldn’t disturb anyone else during use. You should be able to use this bike in an apartment without getting any complaints.
Is this bike an upright bike or a recumbent bike?
This bike is an upright model. Recumbent bikes are those where you sit closer to the ground with your legs out in front of you. Recumbent bikes were created to support the lower spine, which is something that this bike requires you to do this on your own using the padded seat. For more recommendations of great recumbent bikes, click here.
Final Thoughts
As a foldable magnetic upright bike, it comes easy to assemble. The Xterra FB150 has 8 levels of resistance with a fitness meter than can track all metrics, such as distance, speed, pulse, and calories. Capable of light cardio training, it provides the necessary support for weight loss and building stamina. You can burn a maximum of 5,000 calories a day using this bike, and at a low cost, it is a great choice for compact exercise equipment. Lastly, the transport wheels make it very easy to move this model from one room to another.
