Echelon · Indoor Cycle Review
Echelon EX-5 Review 2026
The EX-5 is where the Echelon range starts to feel like a serious bike. A heavier 13kg flywheel, SPD pedals and a competition-style seat give it a properly road-like ride, and because there is no built-in screen, you get that ride for hundreds less than the touchscreen models.
Echelon EX-5
Connected indoor cycle, bring your own screen
Price and any code applied at checkout via Sweatband
The verdict
Step on the EX-5 after one of the 7kg bikes and the difference is immediate. The 13kg flywheel carries far more momentum, which makes standing climbs and sprints feel smooth and natural rather than light and spinny. The competition-style seat has a 6-inch lever adjustment and the bike fits riders from roughly 4 foot 5 to 6 foot 8, so it suits a wide range of body shapes, and the SPD-compatible pedals let you clip in for a more efficient stroke.
The catch, if it is one, is that you supply the screen. You mount a tablet to run the Echelon Fit app and its classes, syncing as usual to Strava, Apple Health and Fitbit. For a lot of riders that is the smart trade: put the money into the ride rather than a screen you may not need, since most people already own a tablet. If you want the same 13kg ride with a 22-inch touchscreen built in, that is exactly what the EX-5S offers for a few hundred pounds more.
Strengths
- Heavier 13kg flywheel for a road-like ride
- SPD pedals and a competition-style seat
- Wide rider height range
- 20% off at the time of writing
- Syncs with Strava, Apple Health and Fitbit
Watch-outs
- No built-in screen, bring your own tablet
- Membership needed for the classes
- Heavier and harder to move than the entry bikes
Ride feel and real-world experience
This is where the Echelon range starts to feel properly substantial underfoot. The 13kg flywheel carries far more momentum than the 7kg entry bikes, so standing climbs and sprints feel smooth and connected rather than light and spinny, and reviewers who have ridden it consistently praise the quality of the build and the sheer amount of adjustment on offer. The competition-style seat has a generous lever adjustment and the bike fits a wide span of heights, so taller and shorter riders can both get set up properly, though the firm saddle takes some breaking in.
One quirk worth knowing is the Q-factor, the distance between the pedals, which sits wider on Echelon bikes than on a Peloton, so if you are used to a road bike the stance feels a touch broader. The upside of having no built-in screen is that you avoid the slight screen wobble that testers note on the big-screen models during hard efforts: the EX-5 stays planted because there is nothing up top to move. You clip in with the SPD pedals, mount your tablet, and the magnetic resistance stays quiet through all 32 levels.
Assembly, size and setup
Assembly takes around an hour with the supplied tools and follows the usual spin-bike pattern. At 48kg the EX-5 is heavier than the entry bikes, so it is worth having a second person on hand to lift it into place, after which the transport wheels make repositioning easy. The footprint is compact for a bike of this quality, and it does not fold or store vertically, so plan a permanent home for it.
Living with it: noise, footprint and storage
The EX-5 is quiet in use thanks to its magnetic resistance, but it is a more permanent fixture than the entry bikes. At 48kg it is heavier to move, and because it does not fold or store vertically you will want a settled spot for it rather than planning to tuck it away. The footprint is reasonable for a bike of this quality, and the transport wheels help with small repositioning, but think of it as furniture you place once rather than kit you stow after every ride.
The Echelon app and subscription
The EX-5 is a bring-your-own-screen bike, so you run the Echelon Fit app from your own tablet or phone over Bluetooth. That keeps the price down and, as owners often point out, does not feel like a compromise: you get the same classes on whatever screen you already own. The 45-day Premier Membership trial is included, and the classes need the ongoing membership and an internet connection thereafter, but the manual resistance and Strava, Apple Health and Fitbit syncing all work without it.
Is the subscription worth it?
The EX-5 sharpens the subscription question because its closest rival, the JTX Studio Pro, costs the same £799 and charges nothing per month. If you commit to the Echelon classes, the EX-5 plus membership is a coherent package and the ride is excellent. If you are unsure, run the numbers: a year or two of membership can equal the price of the bike again, and a subscription-free alternative may work out cheaper overall for a rider who does not need classes. The 45-day trial exists precisely so you can answer this before committing.
How it compares
The EX-5 lands at exactly the same £799 as our top pick, the JTX Studio Pro, which makes them natural rivals. The Studio Pro counters with a heavier 16kg flywheel, Zwift and Kinomap support and, crucially, no subscription, so you pay once and own the experience. The EX-5 counters with the mature Echelon class library and leaderboard. The honest split is this: choose the EX-5 if instructor-led classes are the point, and the Studio Pro if you would rather a heavier ride with no monthly fee. In the wider market the EX-5 also competes with the ProForm Studio Bike 22 and connected bikes from NordicTrack, both of which tie you to the iFit subscription in the same way Echelon ties you to its own.
Who it is for
Buy the EX-5 if you want a proper, road-like ride and already own a tablet to run the classes. If you want that same ride with the screen built in, the EX-5S is the natural step up. If you only want the cheapest way onto the platform, the discounted EX-30 RCX is the one.
Specifications
| Flywheel | 13kg |
|---|---|
| Resistance | Magnetic, 32 levels |
| Screen | None, holder for your device |
| Pedals | SPD compatible plus toe cages |
| Seat | Competition-style, 6-inch lever adjustment |
| Rider height range | About 134 to 203cm |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Echelon Fit, syncs Strava, Apple Health, Fitbit |
| Maximum user weight | 136kg |
| Machine weight | 48kg |
| Power | Mains |
| Warranty | 2 years parts and labour (home use) |
Warranty and after-sales
The EX-5 carries Echelon’s 2-year parts and labour warranty, rated for home use. Two years of cover on both parts and labour is a solid level for a bike at this price, and on labour it is more generous than some rivals that taper to parts-only after the first year. As with the rest of the range it is sold through Sweatband in the UK, so register the bike on arrival and keep your receipt in case you ever need a repair.
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.4
The 13kg flywheel transforms the ride, giving real momentum for climbs and sprints, with SPD pedals and a competition seat. A genuinely good cycling feel.
Build quality 4.4
A heavier 48kg frame, a wide height range and a 136kg user limit. Stable and built for regular use.
Value 4.2
Strong. The cheapest way to the 13kg ride, helped by the current 20% off. You save by skipping the screen.
Features 4.2
SPD pedals, wide adjustment and full app syncing. It loses points only for needing your own screen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the EX-5 and the EX-5S?
How does the EX-5 compare with the JTX Studio Pro?
Does the Echelon EX-5 fold?
Is it heavy enough for standing climbs?
Does the EX-5 fold for storage?
Is the EX-5 quiet enough for a flat?
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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