Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Nautilus U618 Exercise Bike
At ExerciseBike.net, we bring you comprehensive reviews of exercise bikes so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the exercise bikes we review. We install them, ride them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every exercise bike we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles riding. We listen and record the sound of the motor, try out all aspects of the console and try the bike’s features, such as the workout app.
Every exercise bike we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think.
Our reviewers are exercise bike and fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a competitive bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert at exercise bikes, has been on this bike, and you can trust his opinion on all of the bikes he reviews.
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In Brief
The 2024 Nautilus U618 Upright Bike makes me think of the perfect gift for a friend. Low priced at just $299 when on special, and $699 normally, it brings a great little package to the home. As I review these bikes year over year it occurs to me that a lot of shoppers just want a solid machine they can use a few times per week, with as few bells and whistles as possible. I compete in bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions and strong legs are critical of course, but I’m not necessarily trying to win an Olympic gold medal for cycling. If that sounds like you, check out this bike for sure. With 25 levels of Eddy current brake (ECB) magnetic resistance, you’ll never outgrow this bike, irrespective of your fitness level.
This is a Bluetooth-friendly model designed to be used with the app, Explore the World. There are also 29 built-in Nautilus workouts and the bike comes with a wireless heart rate monitor, with heart rate sensors built into the handlebars. This isn’t a bike with a large, flashy screen. My experience with the unit is that the adjustable tilting console with blue backlit screens is easy to use. The illuminated screen affords great visibility and I’ve had no trouble seeing the workout data as it streams. Whether or not you like apps, the 29 built-in programs will be more than sufficient to satisfy users.
A focus on comfort is one thing I noticed on this bike, with Nautilus gel in the adjustable seat saddle, as well as a three-piece chrome crank system with weighted pedals. The bike itself is easy enough to move about, weighing only 83.1 pounds and measuring 38.5″ x 24″ x 58.3″ with a maximum user weight of 350 pounds. And for a bike this low on the pricing scale, I’m pretty happy with the 15-year frame warranty, which comes with three years for parts and electronics, and one year for labor.
Pros of the Nautilus U618 Upright Bike
- Adjustable Line-of-Sight tilting console with blue backlit dual track screens: Easily adjusted, the screen moves to whatever angle you need.
- Adjustable Media Shelf: If you’re wanting to incorporate a tablet or smart phone into the workout, have no fear, the media shelf is here. I had no trouble clipping my iPad into the device holder.
- 29 Nautilus Training programs: The built-in programs include those for heart rate, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and those you can customize. This is a real plug for those who simply want to get on the bike and ride without paying for an app.
- Eddy Current Brake (ECB) Magnetic Resistance: This utilizes the ECB magnetic resistance, which is the most popular type these days. With 25 levels of resistance, you’ll never outgrow this model. The way ECB works is your resistance is changed by the movement of magnets which cause eddy currents to create a braking effect, as opposed to the rotational direction of a flywheel alone. The closer the magnets get to the flywheel, the more resistance is created. The value of the 20-pound flywheel here is the stability it provides to the machine.
- Bluetooth connectivity: Another big benefit I’ve just come to expect these days, I synced up with my iPad in a matter of seconds. The connectivity worked easily with the heart rate monitor provided.
- Weight Capacity: I like to use the weight maximum as an indicator of overall stability, and with a 325-pound max I have no concerns with this bike. I typically weight between 165 and 200 pounds between competitions and there’s little chance of outgrowing this unit. But more importantly, a 325-pound max tells me this bike is solid as a rock.
- Compact Steel Bike: In my experience, you want a bike that fits into your life. This unit measures 38.5” x 24” x 58.3” and is easy to move around at only 83.1 pounds.
- 3-piece chrome crank system: The weighted pedals and engineering afford smoother cycling.
- Optimized drive train: This bike features a high-speed, high-inertia drive system with the flywheel weighted along the perimeter.
- Great Warranty: A 15-year guarantee on the frame, three years for parts and electronic items, you’ll get one year for labor.
Cons of the Nautilus U618 Upright Bike
- Smaller frame: Taller users might find this a bit small for them.
Nautilus U618 Exercise Bike Specs
| Rating | 7 |
|---|---|
| Type | Upright |
| Console display | Backlit display |
| Resistance | ECB - 1-25 |
| Seat type | Adjustable |
| Programs | 29 |
| Flywheel | 13 lbs |
| Weight capacity | 325 |
| Dimensions | 38.5 L x 24 W x 53.8 H |
Our In-Depth Review Of The Nautilus U618 Upright Bike
The Nautilus U618 Upright Bike is a great little exercise bike for those on a budget, or frankly anyone who simply wants to get on a bike and ride. Nothing splashy for sure, but Nautilus has a great reputation for quality. Normally priced at $699, the bike is available online for as low as $299 and you can opt for in-home assembly for an extra $129. Frankly, the bike is so easy to assemble I’d recommend just doing it yourself. In terms of the bike’s overall comfort, I’d give it a thumb’s up.
The bike does have Bluetooth connectivity, which makes for good use when the provided heart rate strap is incorporated. What’s special here, I think, is the heart rate sensors in the handlebars. I’ve yet to see other bikes with that feature. The user-friendly tablet holder securely keeps both my iPad and iPhone firmly in place while riding. And another huge plus to the ECB magnetic resistance is there’s so little shaking during the ride it’s not likely that your screen will fall out of place. With 29 pre-programmed workout routines, it’s unlikely you’ll run out of options. Or you can always use the Explore the World app which is designed for this bike and costs $9.99 per month.
The Nautilus U618 is an entry-level recumbent bike with a solid steel frame. Measuring 38.5” x 24” x 58.3” at a machine weight of 83.1 pounds, the bike supports up to 325 pounds in user weight. As a rule, I use maximum user weight as a good judge of overall bike stability. This bike also utilizes supports a solid flywheel weighted around perimeter. What this tells me is that the ride will be smooth as well as silent. Now, given the light weight of the bike, keep in mind, larger users might have trouble with it. This bike is low-cost and high-quality, but you are looking at a smaller budget model.
One of the big values to this Nautilus U618 bike is the built-in workouts. You get the best of all worlds here and aren’t locked into a particular app. You can easily wheel this in to place near a television too.
I’m also liking the warranty here for a bike of this price. With 15 years on the frame, you can assume that with proper care it will last even longer yet.
Who Should Use The Nautilus U618?
The Nautilus U618 is a great entry-level bike for people who don’t want all the bells and whistles associated with large screens. You can use any app you want with your own device thanks to the tablet holder, or you can use the Nautilus programs built into the machine. Built with comfort in mind, the seat and pedals are quite easy to use. That said, it’s a smaller, lighter bike, and large users might want to reconsider something more fitting their own size if that’s a concern.
Bottom Line
For under $700, customers get a solid bike with 25 levels of magnetic resistance. If basic is what you want, this is it.