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Keiser M3i vs Peloton: An In-depth Review

If you’re in the market for a top-performing indoor bike, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll review two of the best home spin bikes available – the Peloton and the Keiser M3i to help you decide which exercise bike is right for you.

Comparing the Keiser M3i Vs Peloton Bikes

Each exercise bike stands out to buyers for very different reasons. We’ll start with an overview of each and then compare all the bells and whistles to help you make the best purchase decision.

Peloton: An Overview

Peloton shines as a life-style based company targeting riders who crave the group fitness class experience from home. Watch any Peloton commercial and it becomes obvious that they are selling more than just a great bike. They boast about their live classes (available through a monthly membership fee) that promise a strong sense of community and camaraderie. Peloton also offers apparel and shoes to enhance the feeling of being part of this elite club. The bike itself has the features you would expect from a high-end spin bike – a sleek look and feel, quiet and smooth ride, magnetic resistance, and adjustable handlebar, seat and screen.

Pros of Peloton Bike:

  • Access to live or on-demand classes taught by expert instructors
  • Large, adjustable and sweat proof display screen
  • sleek, modern design
  • One membership accommodates all riders’ individual needs

Cons of Peloton Bike:

  • The bike itself is pricey and the Peloton membership adds an additional monthly cost (just under $500 per year)
  • Riders are limited to using only the Peloton app
  • Peloton shoes are required with their pedals – another added expense, especially if you have multiple riders at home

Keiser M3i: What Stands Out

Keiser succeeds as a leader in the fitness industry due to their commitment to innovation and quality. The Keiser M3i indoor spin bike is built for riders who want to get a great indoor workout without sacrificing on performance. Keiser made their first model over 20 years ago. Since then, they’ve invested in perfecting this bike to meet the demands of the indoor cyclist and the desires of the modern rider.

One of the most impressive features of the Keiser spin bike is its flexibility with regard to technology – the M3i features a brand new M-Connect Computer giving rider the ability to transmit to multiple Bluetooth devices at once, connecting to your favorite fitness apps with ease. The frame truly adjusts to accommodate riders of different shapes and sizes (4’ 10” to 7’ to be exact) – perfect for those looking to share with others. An incredibly accurate power meter, whisper quiet operation, rear flywheel design and Poly-V belt drive train are just some of the other features to love on this bike.

Pros of Keiser M3i:

  • Budget-friendly as it costs less than Peloton (compare $2,495 to $2,095)
  • Technology-wise they offer lots of flexibility. Riders can use just the standard, yet highly accurate display screen or attach the included media stand to add device. Riders can choose from the included Keiser app or choose from many other compatible options.
  • Superior drive-train technology with single Poly-V belt allows for higher speeds that more closely mimic the road bike feel
  • Potential for longer life span and less maintenance - rear-wheel design offers protection from sweat corrosion
  • Their V-shape frame truly accommodates riders of all shapes and sizes
  • Their pedals fit all shoe types and sizes

Cons of Keiser M3i:

  • It doesn’t come standard with a large, adjustable touch screen display
  • Does not include speakers

Conclusion

Keiser clearly excels in the area of construction, innovation and quality control and they aren’t afraid to brag about it. Look on the Peloton website and you will see an article entitled 11 reasons why Peloton users think the bike is worth the price. One of the reasons in this article is noted as “And my husband and I do less laundry because we basically work out in our underwear.” Yes, that could be a pro, but posts like this don’t leave us feeling overly impressed by Peloton. Personally, we think Keiser takes themselves more seriously and delivers a supreme spin bike at a more affordable price. And with the ability to easily integrate the Peloton app to the Keiser M3i (if Peloton style classes are still your preference) there really is no need to spend the extra money on a Peloton. We love that the Keiser spin bike offers simplicity for those that prefer it along with the advanced features others crave.




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