About Bicycles Online > Fitness Bikes > Horizon Elite R7 Review

Horizon Elite R7 Recumbent Review

Johnson Fitness ~ makers of the Horizon and Vision Fitness brands ~ has just come out with an excellent new line up of fitness bikes including the Horizon Elite R7 Recumbent.

The Elite R7 is the high-end recumbent in the new Horizon Fitness Brand line-up. What I think is really cool about the new Horizon bikes ~ including the Elite R7 ~ is that they come with a modular approach to their entertainment and motivational technology.

I'll explain what I mean by the modular approach in more detail below but I wanted to mention that right away since I think it is a big feature that you get with Johnson Fitness Brands.

I love it when Johnson Fitness comes out with new fitness bikes because they are always high quality products and  their headquarters is close enough for me to stop by to check out the new products occasionally (they are located in Cottage Grove Wisconsin, near Madison).

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Note: The Horizon Elite R7 is selling for $1,029 in retail stores only. is no longer selling directly from the Horizon Fitness website (was selling for $1,029 at retail stores).

Please see the links in the Right and Left columns of this page for our latest exercise bikes reviews and for the Fitness Bikes that are available online now.

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The most obvious features of the Horizon Elite R7 are the breathable mesh seat back, the easy step-through frame and the overall Johnson Fitness quality like the heavy flywheel, easy to adjust seat, easy to read console.

Some of the less obvious features that really help make this bike attractive are the energy saver console, the wireless heart-rate monitor that is included with the bike, the built-in speakers with audio jack and even a nice mobile phone holder on the console located between the speakers.

There is also a USB port on the console so you can easily charge your phone from the console as you workout. The water bottle holder is also out of the way but still easy to reach when needed.

As for the modular approach that I mentioned above, this applies mostly to the motivational and entertainment features.

First, you get the Wi-Fi enabled ViaFit™ option that allows you to easily upload your workout data to many popular online sites and apps like fitbit, Facebook and myfitnesspal, It is nice that you can choose from multiple non-proprietary internet locations (keeping this option fairly generic and modular).

Next , since this bike is Passport Ready, you have the option to upgrade to the Passport system for a major motivational and entertainment upgrade.

Briefly, the Passport system is a unit that you purchase separately that hooks up to your bike and to your TV screen. You then have the option to ride through various Virtual locations around the world with beautiful scenery while the bikes resistance is adjusted to match the virtual ride. You can also view your workout stats on the attached TV screen.

One more note on the modular approach that I have mentioned here a few times, although it does not apply specifically to the Horizon Elite R7. The Vision Fitness bikes that are made by Johnson FItness and available on the same website as the Horizon bikes also allow you to pick the type of console that you want with their bikes. See the Link above for more on the Vision Fitness bikes.

 

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About-Bicycles Review

Some of the features that I like the most with the Elite R7 are the mesh seat back ~ I think that these seat backs are not only comfortable but your back stays cooler ~ the cell phone pocket and USB port on the console, and the motivational and entertainment upgrade options. This is in addition to the overall Johnson Fitness quality, warranties and support.

The motivational and entertainment upgrade options should not be overlooked. One of the most important things with indoor fitness routines is staying motivated and anything to keep you entertained to hopefully make the time fly by as you workout.

The ViaFit option comes built in so there is no upgrade needed for that feature and, although the Passport feature is a little expensive, it is really cool and just may keep you going with your fitness routine in an entertaining way.

I would recommend the Horizon Elite R7 for a comfortable, good quality recumbent bike, with some nice built-in and up gradable features at a very good price.

 

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Horizon Elite R7 Features at a Glance:

• 8.5 inch LCD Console Display
  
• Handle bar and wireless Heart Rate monitors
• WIreless heart-rare strap included
  
• 25 Programmed Workouts
• Passport Ready
• ViaFit Built-in
• Built-in speakers, music port, USB port and mobile device pocket
• Comfortable Mesh seat back.
  
• User Capacity 300 lb.
  
• Flywheel Weight 18 lb.
  

Warranty:

Lifetime - Frame
3-year parts & 1-year labor