Schwinn 231 Recumbent Exercise Bike

It is well made and went together without problems. I just followed the directions. It is almost silent in use, all I hear is my huffing and puffing. Would highly recommend to anyone without reservations.

I searched for a recumbent bike for several weeks before making my decision to purchase the Schwinn 231. Schwinn has a reputable product and was not available locally. I found some other brands at local stores, but they had one thing or another that I didn't like. After reading the responses to some other recumbent bike purchases, I was skeptical to purchase this online. I read the positive feedback concerning the 231 and decided to go for it and I am so glad I did!

I placed the order for this bike on June 2nd. The CEVA delivery service called my home on the 4th to schedule a delivery for the next morning and my bike was delivered June 5th although the schedule in Amazon was for June 11th. Package was perfect, delivery service was very polite, professional and courteous. My son followed the manual with no problems and had the bike ready to go within 2 hours. I exercised the first day and love everything about this bike. The seat is very comfortable and the ergo padding on the backrest really makes a difference. I am limited on my exercise machines due to osteoarthritis in my knee. Orthopedic Dr said no more treadmill and I had to find an alternative. This is the best purchase I have made for exercise equipment. Easily affordable, great price and the free shipping was a serious plus! There is not much more to say about this bike; it is the best! Here it is 5 days after the online purchase and I have used this Schwinn 231 two days in a row. I am definitely pleased.

After researching several home recumbent bikes and trying many, I bought the Schwinn 231. (This unit also happens to be the equivalent of the Sears SR23.) I had been using a "fitness center" level machine before and reasoned the cost of this unit would pay for an entire year at the center, after which I'd have a machine of my own and no dues to pay for every following year.
The carton arrived well packaged and the components were completely undamaged...be prepared to take a trunk-full of polystyrene blocks to your recycling facility. Assembly took about 2 1/2 hours, mainly because I used the wrong profile bolts to attach the stabilizers and dropped a washer into the flywheel housing. Recovery from both mistakes was easy, but took time. Lay out some padded cloths on a table top to assemble the seat components. It's awkward to work on because it never seems to stay upright/balanced in the best working position.
I've just begun to explore the exercise modes of the bike, but am impressed with the "Quick Start" and "Manual Program" functions. The fan does a very good job of keeping my face cool!
The unit has a great deal of adjustability so both my wife and I are able to use it. I'm 6' and she's 5'2". The only difficult adjustment is the pedal straps, but with time, I expect they'll loosen up a bit. The adjustable seatback is very helpful in getting one's back all the possible support needed for a comfortable workout.
Other reviews suggest problems have been encountered and have frustrated buyers. I found none so far.

Here's a July 24th update...
I've been exercising about 3-5 days per week and now have a steady 35 minute workout. The equipment has held up extremely well. I found a few bolts had become loose, but can't remember whether I never tightened them enough at the outset or if they got loose over time. The clue was a squeaking noise. It quieted down with the retightening. I suggest buying the recommended floor mat with the bike. It'll prevent the bike from moving during a vigorous workout.
The computer has worked since the beginning and I find the read-outs very usefull...especially the elapsed time/count-down. Don't be alarmed by the pulse counter. If your hands happen to move around during exercise, each time they lose contact with the "pads", that disconnection will be counted as a heartbeat, so the rate may show higher than it really is. Grab tightly with both hands for a few seconds and the rate will indicate correctly.
Finally, I found the hex wrench that came with the unit to be of very poor quality: it isn't hardened, so it'll be "rounded over" after set up is complete. You can either hacksaw off the damaged end or buy a 6mm (metric) replacement that's hardened to prevent damage.

If you are looking for exersize equipment that's of excellent quality, relatively compact, and won't end up in the garage after a few months, look no further. My wife decided she needed to get back into shape once and for all, again. She was bent on getting an eliptical. I was very skeptical since every piece of equipement we have tried (the stepper, the Nordic Track cross country ski machine, the tread mill, and the Total Gym) all ended up in the garage.

We went to a store that sells high-end exersize equipment to look at an eliptical. After a few minutes on a $1,200 eliptical I just knew it would end up in the garage like the rest. It was boring and it took up alot of space. We decided to try every piece of equipment in the store and we kept coming back to the schwinn 231 recumbent bike. It took up alot less room than the eliptical and it cost significantly less. I was betting that we'd actually use it because we could comfortably exersize while watching TV or reading a book.

I found the assembly instructions were excellent. It took me about 90 minutes. It's been 6 months now since we purchased the bike, and both my wife and I continue to use the bike regularly at least 3-4 times a week. It sits in our bedroom and faces the television. It's super quiet, comfortable, and solid. We really like the program choices. For a real workout choose the cross-training option and crank up the level. If you're not feeling real energetic, try the ride-in-the-park option.

We are very impressed with this fine piece of equipment.

I've had this bike for a couple of months now and would say ditto to the 4 or 5 star reviews. Very smooth, easy to sit on, great console, numerous programs. I had thought I would use it only on the manual setting, but to my surprise I really enjoy the variety of the programs. Here is the main thing: the 230 could have satisfied me and saved a little money. Rides about the same (I rode both 230 and 231 at several stores to be sure). But the console is simmply nice to look at on the 231 and has more programs. IMO, this is worth an extra $75-$100. If you are tight on money, the 230 will do fine. The built in fan is really a joke, but maybe it does move a little air.

The real contrast is between the Schwinn models and some of the cheaper models. I rode on some of them at stores (you should too). Think cheap is better? I almost bought one of those $250 models, but remember that your investment is in yourself, your health, and you don't want a model that has a track record of breaking down. Next, there are models that cost more than a thousand. This Schwinn rides a good balance between quality and cost effectiveness. We feel good about it, but just in case I bought the warranty as well (not sure it is needed).

This machine really gives you a work out. Get some music going, jump on it for even 10-15 minutes, and you'll find out this is a good piece of the exercise puzzle that we all need. The other reviewers helped me feel good about this purchage so I wanted to return the favor to others. Oh yes, the shipping handled this boxed item well, and it was really easy to put together.