Peloton raised its All-Access Membership to $49.99 a month in late 2025, and by the middle of 2026 the company’s subscriber count and stock price were both sliding, according to financial reporting on the business. That backdrop changes the calculus on a $2,000+ smart bike purchase: the subscription cost now matters as much as the hardware, and it’s no longer a given that the most expensive platform is the safest long-term bet. The NordicTrack S22i sits in the middle of that conversation as the bike that skips the subscription question entirely for its signature feature — the deck physically tilts, so incline and decline training doesn’t depend on a content library staying funded.
This review covers the S22i’s real specs and current pricing, then compares it against the Peloton Bike+, the class-library leader, and the Schwinn IC4, the budget pick that skips the built-in screen entirely.
Quick Comparison
| Spec | NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle | Peloton Bike+ | Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 |
| Price | $1,699 | $2,695 | $849 |
| Display | 22" HD touchscreen, 360-degree swivel | 23.8" HD touchscreen, rotates 360 degrees | Backlit LCD console + device holder (bring your own tablet) |
| Incline/Decline | Motorized, +20% to -10% | None (resistance-only) | None |
| Resistance | 24 digital levels | Magnetic, auto-adjusts to instructor cues | Magnetic, 100 levels |
| Flywheel | 32 lb | — | — |
| Weight Capacity | 350 lbs | — | 330 lbs |
| Bike Weight | 193.6 lbs | — | 113.6 lbs |
| Dimensions | 55"L x 29.1"W x 56.9"H | 54"L x 22"W x 60"H | 54.6"L x 30.6"W x 51.8"H |
| Warranty | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor | 5-year frame, 12-month components/touchscreen | 10-year frame, 3-year mechanical/electronics, 1-year labor |
| Assembly | Hard, 2 people recommended | Moderate, 1-2 people | Moderate |
| Footprint | — | 4 ft x 2 ft | — |
| Check Price at NordicTrack → | Check Price at Peloton → | Check Price → |
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle
NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle
Pros
- Only bike in this comparison that physically tilts the deck, up to 20% incline and -10% decline, matching real hill and descent training instead of just raising resistance
- 32 lb flywheel with 24 digital resistance levels delivers a smooth, momentum-driven pedal stroke
- 10-year frame warranty is the longest of the three bikes here
- AutoAdjust syncs resistance, incline, and decline automatically to the on-screen trainer during iFIT workouts
- One year of iFIT Family membership is included before any renewal decision is required
- 360-degree swiveling touchscreen doubles as a display for off-bike floor workouts
Cons
- Assembly is reported as a genuinely two-person job — the console and incline motor housing are heavy and awkward to align solo
- Owner reports describe handlebar wobble developing over time, especially on units that see heavy standing-climb use
- NordicTrack's warranty terms exclude unheated garage storage, which matters for the exact buyers most likely to want a compact indoor bike
- iFIT renewal after the included year runs $180/year for an individual plan or $396/year for the family plan that unlocks AutoAdjust and incline/decline-driven content
- 350 lb weight capacity is the lowest of the three bikes compared here
- Console needs a full reboot after power-off, which owner reports describe as a slow, several-minute wait before a ride can start
What Makes It Different
The S22i is the only bike in this comparison whose frame actually moves. A motor drives the deck up to a 20% incline and down to a -10% decline, so a scenic ride through hill country or a Google Maps route with a real elevation profile changes the pedaling angle under you, not just the resistance. Paired with AutoAdjust, the bike syncs incline, decline, and resistance to the on-screen trainer automatically during iFIT-programmed rides.
Pricing and What’s Included
NordicTrack lists the S22i at $1,999 but runs it on sale often enough that $1,699 is closer to the typical street price, with occasional dips toward $1,499. A one-year iFIT Family membership ships with the bike. After that year, renewal runs $180 a year for an individual plan or $396 a year for the family tier that keeps AutoAdjust and the incline-driven content active — cheaper than Peloton’s $49.99 monthly rate, though it adds up over a multi-year ownership period.
Build and Ownership Reality
The 32-pound flywheel and 24 resistance levels deliver a smooth pedal stroke, and the 360-degree swiveling touchscreen doubles as a display for iFIT’s off-bike floor and strength workouts. NordicTrack backs the frame for 10 years, longer than either competitor here. The friction points show up in ownership reports rather than the spec sheet: assembly is consistently described as a two-person job because of how heavy and awkward the console and incline motor housing are to align, some owners report handlebar wobble developing with heavy standing-climb use, and the warranty terms exclude storage in an unheated garage — worth checking against where the bike will actually live. The console also needs a full reboot after being powered off, which owner reports describe as a slow start to a ride.
Peloton Bike+
Peloton Bike+
Pros
- Largest, sharpest display in this comparison at 23.8 inches, and it rotates a full 360 degrees for strength and floor classes
- Auto-Follow resistance adjusts in real time to instructor callouts without the rider touching a knob
- Deepest and most consistently produced class library of the three platforms, with new content added continuously
- 5-year frame warranty beats Bowflex's 2-year term, though it trails NordicTrack's 10-year coverage
- Compact 4-by-2-foot footprint is the smallest of the three bikes
Cons
- No incline or decline — the deck stays flat, so hill and descent training is simulated through resistance alone rather than physically tilting
- All-Access Membership rose to $49.99 a month in late 2025 and stayed there through 2026, now the most expensive ongoing subscription of the three bikes
- $2,695 starting price is the highest of the three, before delivery or the membership that's required to use most of the bike's features
- Component and touchscreen warranty is only 12 months, shortest coverage window in this comparison for the parts most likely to fail first
- Peloton's subscriber base and stock price both slid through mid-2026, a business-stability factor worth weighing on a purchase meant to last years
The Bike+ is the platform play in this comparison. Its 23.8-inch display is the largest and sharpest of the three, it rotates a full 360 degrees for strength and floor segments, and Auto-Follow resistance adjusts in real time to what the instructor calls out — no incline motor, but the class experience is the most polished of the group. Peloton’s class library remains the deepest and most consistently refreshed of the three platforms, which is the actual reason people pay Peloton prices.
The tradeoffs sit on the cost side. At $2,695 to start, it’s the priciest hardware here before the $49.99 monthly All-Access Membership that most of the bike’s features require. The component and touchscreen warranty runs just 12 months — the shortest coverage window in this comparison on the parts most likely to need service first. And the deck never tilts; hill training is simulated entirely through resistance, not the physical incline the S22i offers.
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
Pros
- Least expensive bike in this comparison by a wide margin, at roughly half the S22i's street price and under a third of the Bike+'s
- No built-in screen means no forced platform — it connects to JRNY, the Peloton app, Zwift, and Kinomap, so riders pick whichever subscription (or none) fits their budget
- 100 magnetic resistance levels is far more granular than the S22i's 24 levels
- 10-year frame warranty matches the S22i and beats both the Bike+ and most bikes at this price point
- 330 lb weight capacity is the highest of the three bikes compared here
- Lightest bike of the three at 113.6 lbs, easier to reposition without the front-mounted transport wheels the pricier bikes rely on
Cons
- No motorized incline or decline, and no auto-adjusting resistance tied to an instructor's cues — riders dial resistance manually, same as most budget bikes
- No built-in touchscreen; riders need to supply and mount their own tablet or phone to run any connected app
- Mechanical and electronics warranty drops to 3 years and labor to just 1 year, well short of the 10-year frame coverage
- Console is a basic backlit LCD showing metrics only — no on-screen video classes without an external device and a separate app subscription
- Owner reports note the stock seat is uncomfortable for longer rides, a common upgrade purchase across budget spin bikes
The IC4 takes the opposite approach from the other two: no built-in screen, no bundled platform, and a price under $850 — roughly half the S22i’s street price and less than a third of the Bike+‘s starting cost. Instead of a proprietary touchscreen, it ships with a backlit LCD metric console and a device holder, and connects over Bluetooth to JRNY, the Peloton app, Zwift, or Kinomap. Riders pick whichever subscription fits their budget, or skip a subscription entirely and ride on metrics alone.
The 100-level magnetic resistance system is more granular than the S22i’s 24 levels, the 330 lb weight capacity is the highest of the three bikes here, and the 10-year frame warranty matches NordicTrack’s. What it doesn’t have is any form of automatic adjustment: no incline motor, no auto-resistance tied to instructor cues, and no on-screen video without supplying your own tablet. Mechanical and electronics coverage also drops to 3 years, with labor at just 1 year. Owner reports call out the stock seat as a near-universal early upgrade. For riders who want a capable, well-warrantied spin bike without paying for a screen or a subscription they might not use, it’s the clearest value in this comparison.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | NordicTrack S22i | Peloton Bike+ | Schwinn IC4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,699 | $2,695 | ~$849 |
| Display | 22”, swivels 360° | 23.8”, rotates 360° | Basic LCD + device holder |
| Incline/Decline | +20% / -10% (motorized) | None | None |
| Resistance | 24 digital levels | Magnetic, auto-adjusts | Magnetic, 100 levels |
| Weight Capacity | 350 lbs | Not published | 330 lbs |
| Frame Warranty | 10 years | 5 years | 10 years |
| Ongoing Subscription | $180-$396/year | $49.99/month | Optional (JRNY, Peloton app, Zwift, Kinomap) |
| Amazon Available | No (direct) | No (direct) | Yes |
Buying Guide: Which One Fits Your Training
Want real hill and descent training, not just resistance changes? The S22i is the only bike here that physically tilts the deck. If incline/decline is the feature you’re buying for, nothing else in this price range replicates it.
Want the deepest class library and don’t mind the highest ongoing cost? The Peloton Bike+ delivers the most consistently produced content and the most polished instructor-matched resistance, at the highest hardware price and now the highest monthly membership of the three.
Want to spend the least on hardware and choose your own app, or none at all? The Schwinn IC4 costs a fraction of the other two and works with JRNY, the Peloton app, Zwift, or Kinomap — or no subscription, if you’re fine training on resistance and metrics alone.
Storing the bike somewhere unheated, like an uninsulated garage? Check NordicTrack’s warranty terms before buying the S22i — storage conditions can affect coverage in ways that don’t apply to the other two bikes.
FAQ
Does the NordicTrack S22i’s incline feature require an iFIT subscription?
AutoAdjust, which syncs incline, decline, and resistance automatically to on-screen instructors, is tied to an active iFIT plan. The incline/decline motor itself can still be adjusted manually without a subscription, but most of the content that uses it is iFIT-programmed.
Is the Peloton Bike+ worth it over the S22i if I don’t care about incline?
If class quality and a large, frequently updated library matter more than physical incline simulation, yes — that’s Peloton’s core strength. The tradeoff is a higher hardware price and the highest ongoing membership cost of the three bikes compared here.
Can the Schwinn IC4 run Peloton classes?
It can connect to the Peloton app over Bluetooth for metrics tracking, but it does not include a screen, so classes need to play on a separate tablet or phone mounted in the device holder, and a Peloton App membership is a separate purchase.
Which bike has the cheapest total cost of ownership?
The Schwinn IC4 wins by a wide margin — no bike-specific subscription is required at all, and JRNY, Zwift, or the Peloton app are optional add-ons rather than built-in requirements. NordicTrack’s individual iFIT plan at $180 a year is the cheapest mandatory subscription of the two full-platform bikes. Peloton’s $49.99-a-month membership adds up to roughly $600 a year, the most expensive of the three over time.
Why doesn’t the Peloton Bike+ list a weight capacity?
Peloton doesn’t publish a rider weight limit on the Bike+ product page the way NordicTrack and Schwinn do for their bikes. Buyers close to either competitor’s published limits should factor that into which bike they choose.
Conclusion
The NordicTrack S22i earns its place here on a feature the other two don’t have: a deck that actually tilts for incline and decline training, backed by the longest frame warranty of the group and a subscription that costs less than Peloton’s over a multi-year ownership period. It’s not the most polished experience — assembly is a real two-person job, and owner reports flag handlebar wobble and a slow console restart — but for incline-focused training, it’s the clearest pick.
The Peloton Bike+ remains the strongest choice for riders who prioritize class quality and content depth over incline simulation, provided the now-$49.99 monthly membership fits the budget. The Schwinn IC4 is the value play for riders who’d rather keep hardware cost low and choose their own app, or skip a subscription entirely.
Top Pick: NordicTrack S22i for incline/decline training and the strongest warranty. Peloton Bike+ for the deepest class library if subscription cost isn’t the deciding factor.