Is the Peloton Bike+ Worth the Cost?

There are many reasons people decide to purchase a Peloton Bike+, with access to world-class workouts and the chance to join the incredibly supportive Peloton community chief among them. But to find out what made Peloton Members choose the Bike+ specifically, we talked to a number of them to discover what makes it worth the investment.

The Auto Resistance Feature

This feature, which automatically adjusts your resistance based on the instructor’s recommendation, is unique to the Peloton Bike+ and came up over and over again with Members. “I don’t do anything except the pure cycling workouts, and I use this on every ride,” says Member Pat M., who upgraded to the Bike+ after having the Peloton Bike for eight months. “It’s a subtle but important feature for me.”

Member Kristi R., who had a gym membership for over 25 years until she got the Peloton Bike+, says auto resistance is one of her favorite features. “Setting this allows you to stay focused on the workout instead of having to keep adjusting the knob. It helps you stay accountable and push yourself,” she says. “Plus, it stays functioning even after you manually adjust it, unlike say when you use cruise control on your car, when you have to reset it every time you hit the brakes.”

Increased Motivation to Complete Floor Workouts

“I am definitely more inclined to do strength classes and other classes because my screen turns,” shares Member Cheryl B. of the screen’s ability to rotate 360 degrees. “The way my Bike+ is situated, I can’t do anything behind it. So before I had to do classes on my iPad and prop it up, which was just annoying. Now I get off the Bike+ after a ride, turn the screen, and it’s at a great height for me to do a class. It’s 100 percent convenient.”

Having the plethora of workouts that come with access to the Peloton App also helps folks achieve their goals faster. “The app has really helped me to push myself on those days where I would otherwise have taken it easier,” says Member Julie H.

A Smooth, Comfortable Ride

Members rave about the internal and external construction of the Peloton Bike+. “My girlfriend has the Bike+, and after using it a few times, I decided I liked it better than the Peloton Bike. The most notable difference for me was a more accurate resistance calibration; Rides always felt easier on the Bike+,” shares Pat M.

Member Susan S. adds that the digitally-controlled resistance system on the Peloton Bike+ means she doesn’t have to worry about calibration. “Our other Bike was sometimes out of whack and we would have to recalibrate it,” she says.

And for Member Kristen M., it’s all about the physical construction. “It’s super durable. My sisters and I use the Bike+ all the time and the quality is by far the best out there,” she says. “Stationary bikes can be so uncomfortable, but the seat on the Bike+ is great.”

In-Studio Feel

“We love the picture and sound quality. It makes you feel like you’re in the studio!” says Kristen M. That’s in reference to the 23.8-inch HD screen and front-facing stereo speakers coupled with rear-facing woofers with four-channel audio.

Susan S. agrees: “My husband and I love the better speakers.” For people who prefer not to work out wearing headphones, or who can’t because they need to keep track of kids or pets during their workout, the high-quality speakers are a huge plus.

Apple Watch Connectivity

“The feature that triumphs over all is the Apple Watch gym kit,” says Member Tyler S. “With this pairing option, workouts can be tracked with the Apple Health app.” Members who wear Apple Watches agree that this feature makes tracking their workouts (and “getting credit” for them) more efficient and more accurate.

Shop the Peloton Bike+ today! You can also compare Peloton to your current fitness costs using our value calculator.