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B94 Sole Upright Bike
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Comfortable
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Easy to Use
Sole B94 Review
Designed to help beginners and intermediate trainees lose weight, get toned, and build strength. Its specs include a 20-pound flywheel, a 9" screen and…
Sole B94 Specs
| Rating | 8.75 |
|---|---|
| Type | Stationary |
| Console display | 9' LCD |
| Resistance | Eddy Current System |
| Seat type | adjustable |
| Programs | 9 |
| Flywheel | 20 LBS |
| Weight capacity | 300 |
| Dimensions | 48" L x 23" W x 60" H |
Why You Should Trust Our Reviews
Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Sole B94 Review
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 Sole+ 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.
In Brief
The 2023 Sole B94 brings a lot of value to the home gym for a competitive price, not to mention a lifetime frame warranty. I’m a fan of the brand Sole for a number of reasons, and their warranties are chief among them. Another big upgrade to this year’s model of the stationary upright bike is the addition of an integrated tablet holder, which lets users incorporate their own tablet or smartphone into the workout. I’ve used my own tablet with no trouble on these and really like the fact it lets me use whatever app I want, or simply Netflix.
This model is lightweight and durable, and I was able to reach my exercise capacity easily with the 20 different levels of resistance offered here. Smooth and stable, it’s easy to adjust the seat to match your own height, and at only 101 pounds, the machine is simple enough of to move about the house.
Pros of the Sole B94
- 9-inch Backlit LCD Touchscreen: Equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen, users can either access the Sole+ fitness app, or simply read their performance metrics quite easily. Consider that most smartphones are about 7-9 inches in length, so you’ll be able to participate in your ride using this screen about as easily. One of the benefits to a screen this size is it doesn’t get in the way like some of the larger ones I’ve used.
- Compatible With the Sole+ App: Priced at $14.99 per month, the Sole+ app brings more than 3,000 on-demand classes in categories ranging from biking and running to elliptical and more. You can download this onto your phone or tablet and take it with you, storing your workouts as you go. Workouts range from 10 to 60 minutes and incorporate heart rate metrics.
- Quiet Magnetic Resistance: This utilizes ECB (Eddy Current Brake) magnetic resistance, which is the preferred type these days. The big plus to magnetic resistance is it’s silent and instant. With a 20-pound flywheel and 20 levels of resistance, you’ll never outgrow this bike, nor will you wake up the neighbors with the whirring of the older styles. No friction also means longer lifespan for the machine.
- Built-In Programs: Another big plug for Sole is the built-in programs, which mean you don’t necessarily need to pay for an app. With seven pre-programmed programs and two which you can customize, you won’t run out of variety here.
- Bluetooth: I just assume Bluetooth these days, and with this bike it’s great. You can use the Bluetooth speakers for your headphones or transfer data from the Sole+ app to your phone. Or just use a tablet and watch Hulu.
- Weight Capacity: I tend to use the weight maximum as an indicator of overall stability, and with a 300-pound max I’m happy with this bike. I typically weight between 165 and 200 pounds between competitions and there’s little chance of outgrowing this unit.
- Compact Steel Bike: In my experience, you want a bike that fits your house. This unit measures 48” x 23” 60” and is easy to wheel about when done. At only 101 pounds in machine weight, it’s easy to move.
- Great Pedals: The cushioned pedals of this bike fit my feet easily and were comfortable to use.
- Great Warranty: A lifetime guarantee on the frame, with a two years for parts and wear items, you’ll get one year for labor and 90 days for cosmetics. As far as bikes go, that’s a good deal.
Cons of the Sole B94
- Slow Customer Service: In fairness, this has become a complaint of mine across all boards. With all things in the world going AI, don’t be surprised if your questions are answered by a robot.
Sole B94 Specs
| Rating | 8.75 |
|---|---|
| Type | Stationary |
| Console display | 9' LCD |
| Resistance | Eddy Current System |
| Seat type | adjustable |
| Programs | 9 |
| Flywheel | 20 LBS |
| Weight capacity | 300 |
| Dimensions | 48" L x 23" W x 60" H |
Our In-Depth Review Of The Sole B94
The Sole B94 is a mid-level indoor studio bike designed to complement a lineup in between the Sole SB900 and Sole LCB. Bluetooth-enabled and ready to roll, this bike comes with both a 9-inch LCD screen as well as an integrated tablet holder, so you can either use the Sole+ app, the built-in workout programs, or bring your own program to the workout. With a total of nine programs already on board, you won’t get board and I was able to find my way quite easily around them. But for just $14.99 you can unlock thousands of on-demand workouts with the Sole+ app this is designed to be used in conjunction with.
Priced at $1,099.99 before discounts, the B94 is a top-flight studio bike with a solid steel frame. At 5’10 I’m pretty average in terms of height and leg length and feel most folks will be able to fit on this bike easily enough. The difference between the B94 and Sole LCB is pretty significant, with the latter priced at $1,599.99 before discounts, and coming with a 27-pound flywheel and 40 levels of resistance. Meanwhile, the B94 brings a 20-pound flywheel and 20 levels. Frankly, for most users, this is more than sufficient since the bike uses ECB magnetic resistance and adjusts so smoothly. As a bodybuilder and powerlifter, I like hard quad-burning bike routines where I really crank up the resistance, and frankly 20 levels is more than enough considering how hard I’m pedaling.
The B94 doesn’t come with a lot of fancy bells and whistles, like a flashy high-definition screen which takes up the entire handlebar space. And for the right buyer, that’s perfect. If what you’re wanting is a hard bike workout on a quality machine without spending a fortune, this is it. If you’re looking for something splashier, then check out the NordicTrack S22i and you’ll see what the difference in pricing can bring in terms of a 22-inch screen and automatic trainer controls, incline and decline. But remember, it costs about $1,499 and the iFit app is typically $39 per month.
What I like about the Sole machines across the board is they’re designed to be used with or without app support. One of the big downsides to the NordicTrack and ProForm lineups is how iFit-dependent they are. Most bike fans are simply looking to get on and ride. With the Sole B94’s tablet holder and LCD screen, you can either use the built-in programs, the Sole+ app, or just watch whatever you want on your tablet. Also, I like to wheel my bikes into my living room and watch television. You can download about any app you want onto a smart television and get a much bigger view than any high-definition screen could afford anyway. The Sole instructors and professional trainers, but I wouldn’t say they’re celebrities. If that’s not your primary concern, you’ll be happy.
Who Should Use The Sole B94?
The Sole B94 is a great bike for those seeking the Goldilocks machine. Not too big, not too small, with just the right features. For the average user, 20 levels of magnetic resistance is a’plenty. I’ve never failed to earn the burn with that many, and unless you’re a really high-octane user more is of little value. The 9-inch backlit LCD screen is good enough for most people since it comes with Bluetooth and a tablet holder meaning you can use the Sole+ app or your own programming.
With a 300-pound weight max I’m satisfied most people can use this, as folks who weigh more than 300 pounds should probably be looking at a recumbent bike.
Bottom Line
For $1,099.99, or just $999.99 during specials like Cyber Week, a Sole B94 customer gets a solid bike with a lifetime warranty on the frame. Machine-oriented rather than app-centric, you can use a built-in program or bring your own tablet if you don’t want to pay for the Sole+ app. Sole has a terrific reputation for machine quality across many different categories, and if you’re looking to bring the spin class to your living room for the $1,000 mark, this could be a great buy. This is particularly true if large high-definition screens turn you off and you’d rather have a clear line of sight over the handlebars.
What’s Changed in 2023
Each year manufacturers upgrade their models by adding more features, particularly to the tech and screen elements. This can be confusing for those shopping online. Let’s take a look at some recent changes that have made the B94 even more exciting in 2023.
New for 2023 over 2022
- Added Tablet Holder: This allows you to bring whatever program you want to the bike.
- Bluetooth: Users can now utilize the Bluetooth audio speakers for their music.
