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Precor RBK 815 Commercial Recumbent Exercise Bike Review
Get What You Pay For
Yes, you will pay more for the Precor RBK 815 Recumbent Exercise Bike, of course, but you will also get what you pay for. You will not get a lot of "bells and whistles" with this exercise bike but you will get a rock solid commercial grade exercise bike that will handle plenty of heavy use  and that will last for many years.
If you have been to the local health clubs then you are probably already aware of Precor fitness products and may be familiar with the ergonomic design of their equipment.
The vast majority of Precor products are commercial grade although you can buy Precor Commercial Grade Exercise Bikes, including the Precor RBK 815 online for light commercial or in-home use.
Note: As of 5/15/2012 the Precor RBK 815 Recumbent is selling at Amazon for $3,099.99 new, with free shipping options (was selling for $3,395 on 3/15/12). Click on the link above for the latest price, customer reviews or to purchase the Precor RBK 815. *
Precor Ergonomic Design and Comfort
There are other commercial and light commercial exercise bikes for sale online but what stands out with Precor is their dedication to the best ergonomic design for a comfortable and productive workout. Precor usually lists their Ergonomics and Biomechanics at the top of their list of product specifications.
So before I get into the key quality features of the RBK815 recumbent, here is how Precor describes the ergonomic features of this recumbent exercise bike:
Ergonomics of the RBK815: "The riding cockpit is designed with sound ergonomics. The seat pads are angled for optimal comfort, maximum low-back support, and minimal interference with the movement of the user's legs. The console is mounted at an optimal viewing angle, with the machine controls within easy reach. "
The Seat: "The new, molded seat back features a ""floating"" suspension system that allows the seat back to move with the user for unsurpassed comfort. The ergonomic, curved design and ample ventilation further enhance user comfort, and the polypropylene material is virtually indestructible."
The Handlebars: "The console handlebars help with entry and exit, while the riding handle bars provide optional hand and arm positioning and heart rate monitoring. "
Biomechanics of the RBK815: "To achieve proper pedaling biomechanics, Precor designed the recumbent bike to maintain some of the advantages developed for the upright bike. That means setting the angle of the seat rail with an offset from the crank to aid with efficient pedaling and reduced shear force on the knee. The seat rail angle is at 15 degrees with a slight offset from the crank axle. This places the knee directly over the ball of the foot (or pedal spindle) when the pedals are in the 2 and 8 o'clock positions. "
Key Features of the Precor RBK815 Recumbent Exercise Bike
So as you can see, good ergonomic design and comfort are on the top of the list for the Precor RBK815 in addition to high grade commercial quality.
Regarding the Key Features of this exercise bike, the Precor RBK 815 uses a Belt Drive System for smoother, quieter operation and reduced maintenance, the bike is Self Powered via a 3-Phase Generator, has a 350lb User Weight Capacity (even if you weigh much less this gives you an idea about how durable this bike is), Dual Sided Pedals, Handle Grip and Telemetry Heart Rate Sensors, Steel Frame with rust-resistant undercoat and cosmetic topcoat, plenty of Entertainment and Motivational options and an excellent home-use warranty.
These are just some of the Key Features of the Precor RBK 815. This recumbent exercise bike still includes the more common features found on most residential (and commercial) exercise bikes (i.e. accessory holder, reading rack, transport wheels, etc.) see the Amazon link above or the Features at a Glance below for more details.
About-Bicycles Review:
The Precor RBK 815 Recumbent Exercise Bike is a comfortable, high quality commercial grade exercise bike that comes with an excellent warranty from a reputable manufacturer that will be around for many years to come (which you can not can for all brands).
If you are considering the Precor RBK 815 Recumbent for residential use, and are willing to pay the additional cost over the usual in-home models, you will get an excellent fitness bike that will last for many years (you may even end up passing this exercise bike on to your kids!)
The Precor RBK 815 Recumbent Exercise Bike is an excellent choice for the commercial market for which it was designed but also makes and a good choice for residential use if you are willing to pay the extra cost.
In this case, you will get what you pay for.
Customer Reviews:
At the time of this review there was only 1 review at Amazon with an overall rating of  (5 of 5 stars). Precor exercise bike owners consistently rate these exercise bikes very high.
See Precor RBK 815 Recumbent for new customer reviews, the latest price or to purchase the Precor RBK 815 Recumbent Bike.
Precor RBK 815 Recumbent Features at a Glance:
Equipment Features
- Seat: Ergonomic Recumbent Seat Design
- Handlebars: The console handlebars help with entry and exit, while the riding handle bars provide optional hand and arm positioning and heart rate monitoring
- Pedaling BioMechanics: for efficient pedaling and reduced shear force on the knee
- Bearings: Pedal axles and bearings are designed for smooth operation and exceptional service life.
- Pedals : Dual-sided pedals
- Steel Frame: Two-step powder-coating process applies rust-resistant undercoat and cosmetic topcoat.
- Accessories Holder
- Reading Rack
- Covers: Attached with minimal hardware and can be removed without taking off the pedals or cranks.
- Transport Wheels Integrated
- Maximum User Weight (lbs / kg) 350 lbs / 159 kg
Resistance System
- 3-Piece Crank: Tightens positively, reducing the need for periodic adjustments.
- Two-Stage Drive System: Yields a smooth, comfortable, quiet operation with a lower start-up resistance and more consistent resistance progression than single-stage drive systems.
- 3-Phase Generator: Eddy current resistance system requires no backup battery in order to efficiently power the bike.
- Belt Drive: for smoother, quieter operation and reduced maintenance.
- Resistance Levels: 25
- Minimum Watts 18 watts (level 1 at 20 RPM)
- Maximum Watts 750 watts (level 25 at 150 RPM)
Console Features
- Console Type: Streamlined / Advanced LED Display
- Tactile Dome Keys
- QuickStart™
- Numeric Keypad
- Console Language(s) English, Dutch, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Romanized Russian
- Units Selection: Metric or U.S. Standard
- Preset Programs; 6 programs accessed directly by 6 buttons: Manual Interval Basic Heart Rate Control Weight Loss Random Hill Climb
- Electronic Readouts: (13) Calories, Distance, Speed, Heart rate, Profile, SmartRate®, Resistance, RPM, Time elapsed, Time remaining, Percent complete, Workout summary, Heart rate analysis
- Maximum Pause Time; 30 seconds
Heart Rate Monitoring
- Touch heart rate sensors located conveniently on handlebars next to seat.
- Telemetry Integrated heart rate reads heart rate from a user's heart rate chest strap.
- SmartRate® instantly displays heart rate. When age and weight are entered, SmartRate helps the user to stay in fat burn, cardio or peak target zone for a more efficient cardio and weight loss workout.
Integrated Entertainment Options
- Personal Viewing Screen (PVS): Optional (Specification) 12" Screen
- iPod® / iPhone® Compatible: Optional
- Entertainment Cap / Wireless Receiver: Optional
Network Capabilities
- CSAFE Ready and FitLinxx Compatible
- Diagnostics: Ability to set club parameters, e.g. limit exercise time, set default language and pause time.
Equipment Dimensions and Weight
- Length 73.5 inches / 187 cm
- Width 28.5 inches / 72 cm
- Height 31 inches / 79 cm
- Shipping Weight 240 lbs / 109 kg
Warranty:
- Frame 7 years
- Parts (mechanical & electronic) 5 years
- Wear Items 1 year
- Battery 1 year
- Labor 1 year
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