NordicTrack · Exercise Bike Review
NordicTrack X24 Review 2026
The NordicTrack X24 is the most capable bike we have reviewed, and the only one that tilts. A 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen, silent magnetic resistance and a motorised incline and decline that simulates real hills, all driven automatically by iFIT. At £2,499 it is a serious investment, but nothing else here rides quite like it.
NordicTrack X24
Studio indoor cycle with incline
Price and availability via Sweatband
The verdict
What makes the X24 special is the incline and decline. Where every other indoor bike only changes how hard the pedals turn, the X24 physically tilts from a 10% downhill to a 20% climb, and in an iFIT route SmartAdjust shifts that gradient automatically as the terrain changes. The result is the closest an indoor bike comes to riding outdoors: a climb actually feels like a climb, loading your muscles the way a real hill would, not just adding resistance.
The rest of the package matches the headline feature. The 24-inch HD touchscreen pivots a full 180 degrees so you can follow strength, yoga and HIIT classes off the bike, the inertia-enhanced flywheel and SMR silent magnetic resistance give a smooth, quiet ride, and there are SPD pedals, a cooling fan, dual speakers, a USB-C port and even a pair of dumbbells included. The catch, as with any NordicTrack, is that the experience leans on an ongoing iFIT membership, and at £2,499 this is a big commitment. But for immersive, hill-simulating training at home, nothing else in this range comes close.
Strengths
- Motorised incline and decline simulates real hills, unique here
- 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen for on and off-bike workouts
- SmartAdjust sets resistance and incline automatically
- Smooth, quiet SMR resistance and inertia-enhanced flywheel
- SPD pedals, fan, speakers, USB-C and dumbbells included
- High 159kg user limit
Watch-outs
- Expensive at £2,499
- The full experience needs an ongoing iFIT membership
- Large and heavy, needs a permanent home
- iFIT and streaming require Wi-Fi
Ride feel and real-world experience
On the bike, the X24 rides like a premium studio cycle. The inertia-enhanced flywheel carries good momentum and the SMR silent magnetic resistance is smooth and genuinely quiet through all 24 levels, so high-cadence intervals and steady climbs both feel controlled rather than notchy. The forward-leaning position, multi-position handlebar and SPD pedals put you in an athletic, spin-style posture built for proper effort.
The defining sensation, though, is the tilt. As an iFIT route climbs, the bike noses upward and you feel the load shift through your legs and glutes exactly as you would outdoors, and on a descent it noses down and lets you spin out. It is a markedly different, more engaging experience than a flat bike simply getting harder to pedal, and it is the single biggest reason to choose the X24 over a Studio 24 or a rival.
Comfort and immersion are well handled. The 24-inch screen is large, clear and pivots for off-bike work, the AutoBreeze fan picks up as you work harder, and the dual speakers and Bluetooth headphone support keep the audio sorted. The padded seat adjusts in both directions, though as with most performance saddles some riders will want to break it in or swap it. Independent UK owner feedback on this exact model is still building, but the specification is as complete as a home studio cycle gets.
Incline and decline: how it actually feels
The X24’s party trick deserves a closer look, because it is the reason to buy it. The motorised frame tilts across a 30% total range, from a 10% decline to a 20% incline, and it is controlled in three ways: automatically by an iFIT trainer through SmartAdjust, manually with the on-screen Quick Incline controls, or left flat if you just want a normal ride. In a scenic iFIT route the effect is immersive in a way resistance alone cannot match, because climbing a hill on the X24 recruits your posterior chain and changes your whole position, just as it would on the road. For anyone training for outdoor cycling, or who simply finds flat indoor riding monotonous, it transforms the session. It needs the bike plugged into the mains and, for automatic control, an active iFIT membership.
Assembly, size and setup
The X24 is a large, heavy machine at 81kg, so assembly and positioning are firmly a two-person job. The build itself is manageable with the supplied tools and the included components, console, frame, pedals and seat, but the weight and the screen make it the kind of bike you set up once and leave. Allow space not just for the 143 by 55cm footprint but for the incline to raise the front of the bike and for the screen to pivot. Levelling feet and front transport wheels help you get it settled and square.
Living with it: noise, footprint and storage
Despite its size the X24 is quiet in use, thanks to the silent magnetic resistance, so it suits a flat or a shared home better than its bulk suggests, though the incline motor is audible as it adjusts. At 81kg with a tall, long footprint and a screen that pivots, it wants a permanent, dedicated spot rather than anywhere you plan to move it often. It runs off the mains, which it needs for the incline and screen, so factor a socket into where it goes. Upkeep is minimal beyond keeping it clean and the bolts checked.
The iFIT app and subscription
The X24 is built around iFIT, and this is the bike that shows the platform at its best. An iFIT Pro membership unlocks more than 10,000 trainer-led workouts, the scenic global routes that pair so well with the incline, and SmartAdjust, which drives both resistance and gradient automatically. The 24-inch screen also streams entertainment services so you can watch while you ride. A 30-day iFIT trial is included, after which the membership is sold separately and renews until cancelled, and iFIT needs a Wi-Fi connection. Your data syncs out to Strava, Garmin and Apple Health.
Is the iFIT subscription worth it?
On a £2,499 bike the iFIT question is central, because the incline, the SmartAdjust automation and the routes that justify the price all live behind the membership. Ridden purely as a manual bike the X24 is a very expensive way to turn some pedals, so realistically you are committing to the ongoing iFIT cost to get what you paid for. The 30-day trial is the time to be sure the platform suits you. If you will use iFIT and value the immersive, hill-simulating training, the membership earns its keep; if you suspect you would let it lapse, a subscription-free bike makes far more financial sense at this price.
How it compares
At £2,499 the X24’s most obvious rival is the Peloton Bike Plus, and the comparison is clear: Peloton offers the slicker pure spin-class experience and community, while the X24 counters with motorised incline and decline and iFIT’s scenic routes, neither of which Peloton matches. Against its own stablemate the Studio 24, the X24 adds the incline and a higher 159kg user limit for several hundred pounds more. If you would rather avoid a subscription altogether, our top pick the JTX Studio Pro gives you a heavier flywheel and Zwift for £799 with no monthly fee, though without a screen, incline or classes. And the Echelon EX-Pro is the comparable commercial-grade subscription bike, with a bigger screen but no incline.
Who it is for
Buy the X24 if you want the most immersive bike in this range and the budget allows, especially if simulated hills, scenic iFIT routes or training for outdoor cycling appeal to you. It rewards riders who will use the iFIT membership fully. If you want the same big screen without the incline and a lower price, the Studio 24 is the step down; if you want to avoid a subscription, look at the JTX Studio Pro. If comfort matters more than intensity, a recumbent like the GX10 is the better NordicTrack.
Specifications
| Bike type | Studio indoor cycle |
|---|---|
| Flywheel | Inertia-enhanced |
| Resistance | 24 levels SMR silent magnetic |
| Incline / decline | -10% to +20%, motorised |
| Screen | 24-inch HD pivoting touchscreen |
| Pedals | 2-sided SPD with cages and straps |
| Heart rate | Bluetooth (chest strap optional) |
| Extras | Cooling fan, dual speakers, USB-C, 2 x 1.4kg dumbbells |
| Maximum user weight | 159kg |
| Machine weight | 81kg |
| Assembled size | 143 x 55 x 159 cm |
| Power | Mains |
| Connectivity | iFIT, syncs Strava, Garmin, Apple Health |
| Warranty | 2 years frame, parts and labour (register within 28 days) |
Warranty and after-sales
NordicTrack covers the X24 with a 2-year warranty on the frame, parts and labour, provided you register within 28 days of purchase, which is a solid level for a studio cycle and on labour matches or beats most rivals at this price. It is sold through Sweatband in the UK, so warranty and support run through NordicTrack and the retailer, and you get the usual 30-day return rights on top. Register promptly to secure the full cover and keep your proof of purchase. As a powered bike with a screen and an incline motor, there is more that could need attention than on a simple magnetic bike, so the parts-and-labour cover is worth having.
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.7
The incline and decline, inertia flywheel and SMR resistance make this the most capable and immersive ride in the range, close to outdoor cycling.
Build quality 4.6
A heavy, planted 81kg frame with a 159kg user limit, mains powered with levelling feet. Built to a genuine studio standard.
Value 4.2
At £2,499 plus iFIT it is a major outlay, and the value depends entirely on using the platform. Feature for feature, though, it justifies the price.
Features 4.8
The most complete feature set here: incline, a 24-inch pivoting screen, SmartAdjust, SPD pedals, fan, speakers and dumbbells. Nothing significant is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NordicTrack X24 have incline?
Does the X24 need an iFIT subscription?
What is the X24’s user weight limit?
Is the X24 better than a Peloton?
Does the incline need mains power?
How heavy is the X24 to move?
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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