In today’s world, it is getting harder and harder to pick the right fitness equipment. Why? Because more manufacturers ether the business each year. That’s why folks like me keep reviewing their fitness pieces.
In my review we will take a closer look at Marcy ME-709 Recumbent Exercise Bike. This particular bike has been on the market for quite some time, but so far I did not find a dedicated review, so here it is.
Features of Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709
- Let’s start with the features. First thing to note is the uncommon design. It’s a step-through design which looks quite comfortable. The entire construction is made of heavy-duty 14-gauge steel tubing with a powder coated finish.
- Magnetic resistance mechanism is in use, offering 8 levels of resistance. The mechanism comes with tension knobs that not only control difficulty, but also simulate different terrains.
- The bike comes with small, yet multi-functional 3.5” LCD screen that acts as a odometer and the display offers time, speed, distance and calories burned in large numbers for better visibility.
- The ergonomically designed seat and back-pad covered in high-density foam definitely adds to comfort. It also features contoured foam-covered handles, which adds extra support to arms and back. The manufacturer claims the bike can support up to 300 lbs.
- The pedals are weighted, providing maximum foot support, while still maintaining completely control. The bike also comes with adjustable foot straps, thus offering perfect fit for your feet.
- Marcy offers their standard 2-year warranty.
Packaging & Assembly
The bike came in one package and everything was tightly packed with cardboard and foam. The entire package must have weighted about 65 lbs, so the delivery guy must have had some ‘fun’.
The assembly itself was quite easy, doable by one person, but if you consider not strong enough, you might need someone’s help to tighten everything up. The entire assembly should not take you more than one hour. The assembled dimensions are 55.5L x 25W x 37.5H inches (141 x 63.5 x 95.25 cm) and the bike weight is 60 lbs even.
My Experience with ME-709 Recumbent Exercise Bike
The first thing is that the bike looks really great and can be a good fit to most living rooms. The construction is indeed sturdy, no argument there. One point here is that the welding could have been of better quality, but since I care more for functionality rather than design, I’m okay with that.
Since I’m about 160 lbs right now, I could not test the weight-support of the bike properly. All I can say is that it supported my weight just fine (haha, right?). The seat is indeed comfortable and the handles as well. However, if you are a heavier person, I would not recommend putting your entire weight on the handles, while they are sturdy; they do not seem to support a heavy load of weight.
The adjustable length positioning of Marcy recumbent exercise bike is 40 – 49 inches and none of the positions actually hurt your knees, which is a plus. As mentioned above, thanks to the gauge-steel sturdy construction the bike does not wobble and the run is very smooth and quiet. You can easily watch TV while exercising without disturbing anyone in the same room. I’m 5’10” and the most comfortable position is the 4th one for me, which means (and this is only guess) then even 6’5” guys/gals can easily use it.
However, the sliding system is where this bike needs an improvement; it is quite hard to adjust several positions at a time and I’m 27. I can’t imagine older people trying to adjust the position every day, if it is used by two persons.
The display is pretty simple and thanks to the large numbers on it, you can see all the details from any position on the bike. However, one thing to note is that the time does not reset automatically when you are done exercising; you need to do that manually.
That’s about it.
Pros and Cons
As with every product, if I want to be objective, pros and cons need to be pointed out.
- Quite Sturdy
- Great even for taller people
- Comfortable on the back and feet
- Knees do not hurt on any adjustable position
- Very quiet
- Great price
- Seat adjuster is very tight
- Only 300 lbs max support
- Only 2 years warranty
My Recommendation
4.5 / 5
Marcy ME-709 recumbent exercise bike is a great machine. If you do not mind tough seat adjustment system and you are less than 300 lbs, this bike is definitely worth considering. Thanks to its great design, sturdy construction and silent I would definitely recommend it to any home gym.