Schwinn 231 Recumbent Exercise Bike

I received the product in perfect condition and on time. Amazon had easily the best deal. Assembly took about 2 hrs with the tools provided and the directions were easy to understand and accurate. I read the user's guide and was comfortable with the operation in about 15 min. The bike is so quiet that I watch tv at normal volume levels while I ride. If you prefer to ride with the fan on, that will, of course, change. There are so many programs to choose from that any desires for variety can be easily satisfied. The display is big and easy to read.
I cannot at this early stage in my ownership, vouch for durability, but out of the box, I couldn't be happier. This bike appears to be a great value for the money.

I did my research, and the toughest choice once I narrowed it down was upright or recumbent. Next was Schwinn 231 or Schwinn 230.
I went recumbent because of a bad back. I have been a runner for years, and all that pounding has taken it's toll on a bad back condition. So buying this bike was a huge step for me in finding an alternative to running.
Upon shipping receipt, box was slightly damaged, but very well packed and protected. All parts were in fine shape and nothing was missing. It took just under 2 hours to assemble. No issues here.
I have been using the bike for about a month now. It is excellent and deserves the 5 star rating. It's sturdy and very well built. It's extremely quiet as many other reviewers have noted. The program choices give you many options from challenging plateaus to a ride in the park. You choose what type of ride you feel like doing. The difficulty levels switch gears very smoothly and also very quietly. The back lumbar support is very comfortable and my back has felt great with no issues since I started riding this bike. I would recommend this to anyone.
There are 3 differences between the 231 and 230: adjustable back support, wider pedals, and backlit with program enhanced control panel. Worth the extra $100. I say yes, you make the call.

Everything about the bike (we actually got two) is fine and matching the many positive reports on this site. Assembly is easy and everything - even the tools - in the box. Bike and display are as good as the $2000 models you find in the gym.
HOWEVER: BEWARE OFF ABF, the courier! In our case, they claimed that 1. we could not be reached and 2. that we refused delivery. Despite the fact that we called them immediately when receiving an e-mail from Amazon asking us to contact them directly leading to delivery on the following day, they threaten us with storage charges.
This, to me, reeks of a systematic attempt to up their shipping charges. "We are not amused" - to say the least. I don't have a clue how people who work away from the house during the day can manage not being ripped off by their tactic...

Items was deliverd as ordered in about 6 business days. Package and contents were is good condition. After laying out the parts and reading the instructions, assembly took about 1 hour; mechanically challenged should expect about 2 hours. Quality of the 231 is good to excellent. The chassis is sturdy and the connection points are very well designed for strength. The seat & backrest are very comfortable and seem to be well constructed. The cons are: 1) the fan is useless & 2) why have the power adapter external; it should be internal with a long power cord to the wall plug. I intend to mount power strip across the front to plug in the adapter and a floor fan to move some air. Overall the 231 is as good as some of the commercial bikes I have used at the workout center. I have used the bike for several weeks, and as it sets in front of the big screen TV, it continues to "invite" me to pedal even during the presidential debates. Considering the price I paid, I call it a "best value buy".

I read all the reviews and in spite of reading about some having received damaged goods and difficulty with assembly, I took a chance and ordered it anyway. It arrived via AFB shipping with the box intact. My husband offered to help assemble but since I'm the mechanical one of the family I declined his offer and assembled it myself in about an hour. It was very simple. The instructions were perfect and everything works including the elusive pulse monitor that everyone else seems to have trouble with. It's a great piece of exercise equipment. When assembling just lay out all the parts, make sure everything is there, and follow the instructions. You can't go wrong.